Hello everyone,
Christmas is just around the corner and for many of us it will be a very different Christmas to the one we envisaged, but take heart ladies things are going to get better and if we all stick to the rules we will come out of this stronger than ever and ready to take part in our club life again. There are so many wonderful stories around about people young and old helping each other and in the same way our clubs, by keeping in touch, are helping in a big way. So get your decorations up and the lights on and let us enjoy the Festive season the best way we can.
We are not sure when clubs will be going back there is a lot to consider and maybe the Spring might not be a bad idea the nights will be lighter but of course this is a decision for each club to make.
In November quite a few clubs laid wreaths for Remembrance Day and we will be including photos in the News & Views as soon as clubs are back. Just a short letter this time, as many clubs are going to include it with a Christmas card for their members, so keep smiling ladies and may you and your family keep safe this Christmas time.
Answers to October Quiz
1 The All England Club, Wimbledon, hosted which sport before it was taken over by lawn tennis? Croquet
2 The worldwide Stock Market crash on 19th October, 1987 became known as what? Black Monday
3 Name the two ‘Dylan’s’ depicted on the cover of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Bob Dylan & Dylan Thomas
4 Who was Paula Yate’s famous father? Hughie Green
5 Which song by a palindromic pop group had a palindromic title? ABBA SOS
6 Which German composer’s best known work is the opera Hansel and Gretel? Englebert Humperdink
7 Which British actor died during the making of the film Gladiator? Oliver Reed
8 What is a young penguin called? Chick
9 King Louis XIV of France reigned for 72 years but what age was he when he came to the throne? 5
10 If you had a rummer from Germany, what would you do with it? Drink from it
Quiz for December
1 A not so well-known parody begins ‘Scintillate, scintillate global vivific’ what well-known nursery rhyme does it translate into?
2 Who was the last US President before TRUMP who only served one 4-year term of office?
3 How many brass instruments are followed by ‘rows and rows of the finest virtuosos’
4 When did sweets first come off of rationing?
5 Who was Marion Robert Morrison?
6 How many Harry Potter books have been sold worldwide?
7 How many Prime Ministers have there been in the UK?
8 If you printed out everything on the internet how many sheets of A4 paper would you need?
9 Where does Princess Anne come in the line to the Throne
10 On which day do the Netherlands have their major ‘Christmas’ celebrations and the children receive their presents?
Answers next time
A special Christmas recipe this time courtesy of Linda Starkey
Terry’s Double Chocolate Cheesecake Serves 12
2 sheets of leaf gelatine
1 medium orange
2tbsp caster sugar
225ml double cream
2 x 175g balls of chocolate orange broken into segments
75g dark chocolate broken into chunks
450g full fat soft cream cheese
For the base
200g bourbon biscuits
100g butter
2tbsp light brown sugar
1. Line the base and side of an ungreased deep, 20cm diameter loose base round tin with baking paper and make space in the fridge.
2. For the base, bash the biscuits to crumbs with a rolling pin. Melt the butter and sugar together in a pan, then mix well with the crumbs and press them into the tin and chill while making the filling.
3. soak the gelatine sheets in a bowl of cold water. Zest the orange and reserve half, keep covered for the decorating. Put the other half in a pan with 2tbsp of the squeezed orange juice, the sugar and half the cream, heat gently till just steaming. Remove from the heat then squeeze the excess water from the gelatine and add them to the hot cream, stir through till dissolved then add to the rest of the cream and leave in a jug to cool to room temperature.
4. Set aside twelve of the best chocolate orange segments for decoration. Roughly chop the rest and place in a bowl with the dark chocolate and leave to melt over a pan of barely simmering water for 10 to 15 mins. Take the bowl of the heat, it will look lumpy, just give it a quick whisk till smooth. Leave to cool.
5. Put the soft cheese into a mixing bowl and mash to soften a little. Add the cooled cream mixture, melted chocolate and whisk briefly till smooth. Spread evenly in the tin wiping the top edge to give a neat finish. Chill for 6 hours or until firm.
6. To serve, carefully remove from the tin and peel away the paper. Sprinkle the reserved orange zest over the top and evenly space the chocolate orange segments around the top to allow one each per serving.
This was a recipe from last year’s Sainsbury’s magazine. Enjoy.
On behalf of all of us at Head Office, Officers and Staff we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Covid free 2021.
Chris & the Committee
