CYHA News

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody and welcome to 2003.

A bit of a squelchy start to the year, but then this wet winter weather seems to be becoming a new tradition. Those of us away with the group in Castleton this year can vouch for some very soggy days. Thank goodness for caverns and the bright lights of Sheffield.

New Years Eve turned out to be the best day of the lot. The flooding started to subside, there was no rain and there was even a brief glimpse of blue sky. Needing no further encouragement most of the group leapt into their Goretex and headed for the hills. The summit of Win Hill gave superb views over the Hope Valley and all returned to the centre refreshed, mudspattered and ready for a substantial meal (when are they not?). Dave, Jane and Lynn plus numerous gallant helpers, worked their fingers to the bone to ensure a successful departure from our standard two-pot formula meal into the glittering sophistication of a fondue. I particularly liked the cheesy ones, but the urge to impale chunks of raw meat on forks and fry them in hot oil seemed to appeal to the caveman in most of the guys.

Having survived numerous meths stoves and boiling oil beneath them, it's slightly ironic that the smoke alarms waited until the party really started going before they sounded at about five to midnight. I have memories of shouting Auld Lang Syne over the top of the ringing whilst Dave and Ian ran around with phone's stuck to their ears trying to shut the thing off. In spite of our assurances that there was no fire, a brave team of retained firefighters raced from their cosy houses to come and save us. This caused much excitement amongst the ladies, particularly when one fireman strode into the hall to the tune of "YMCA". After plying the crew with champagne and chocolate cake they didn't seem too annoyed at such a well-timed false alarm.

Another New Year to remember.

Ali

Photo Competition

Many thanks to all those who brought along their pics. It proved to be a most entertaining evening and a great opportunity to mull over all the wonderful trips we've had this year. Scotland and Pembrokeshire featured prominently in virtually every category.

	Best Landscape: in spite of many delightful sunny scenes it was a picture of a white trig point caught in the sun but under a stormy sky that captured the votes.
Best portrait: a moody black & white from Jim of Marion preparing dessert at Woody's Top.
	Best Caption: Some excellent contenders here but the winner was a picture of George next to a statue of Julius Caesar on the London Wall walk, with the caption "a fine example of ancient Roman craftsmanship, and the statues not bad either". Luckily George hasn't killed me for writing it yet.
Spirit of YHA: Our overall winner, for the best summing up of why we do all this hostelling lark, was Gerry with a very atmospheric picture of 4 people admiring the view on a cold winter's day, silhouetted against a clear blue sky.

Christmas Blowout

A whopping 49 people attended this year's Christmas dinner. Two and a bit turkeys were brutally stripped to the bone and 10 kilos of roast potatoes were only just enough!

Many thanks to all those who helped with chopping, scrubbing, roasting, boiling and the essential washing up without whom there would have been no dinner. Particular thanks go to George whose popular fish and sauerkraut course has to stretch further and further each year, and Helen for taking over the daunting task of organising it all. I've heard many people say that this was the best meal ever - and who knows, they might actually mean it!

Congratulations to Chris & Janet!

Matthew Ryan Strellis was born at 9:24 am on 17th January 2003 at West Suffolk Hospital Bury St Edmunds, Weight: 8lb and 11 oz. A younger brother for Bethany.

Janet is recovering well, Matthew is doing just fine, and Chris has gone down the pub to celebrate!