The weather was chilly and damp, but the atmosphere and camaraderie were warm and friendly on Sunday December 8th when Manchester Local Guides met up to renew old friendships and celebrate another year of local guiding.
The meetup started with a drink in the mid afternoon as the short winter day began to fade, at a new (or possibly renewed) venue in Hardman Square - The Tavern.
Having set the afternoon off to a convivial start, we took a route through the Manchester Christmas Markets, which run throughout the 6 weeks leading up to Christmas itself. Firstly the French Section, then St Anne’s Square, and finally into Albert Square, which is mainly (but not entirely) German themed. There are many and varied food stalls, and an equal number of places to grab another warming drink, and many of us took advantage of these en route.
After splitting up and wandering in various small groups, renewing old local guide friendships and making new, we gathered together for the walk to The Wharf, where we enjoyed an evening Christmas dinner together.
During the meal Quizmaster Iain divided us into two teams - the Santas and the Reindeer. The hats were all important for making the teams feel together!! Quizmaster Iain could be easily identified by his flashing Santa hat, as challenged us to a round of “name the celebrity” from pictures printed and passed round.
At the end of the meal, our brains fed and watered, they were ready for two more challenging rounds of questions, at the end of which, with some merriment the answers were marked, moot points discussed, and the winners announced: by a small margin, the Reindeer triumphed this year.
I think it is true to say that we all enjoyed each other’s company and the afternoon/evening itself - but we are not an exclusive group, and Google Local Guides from Manchester or far beyond, are always welcome to join us at any of our MeetUps. Maybe this time next year, you’ll be on the winning quiz team at our Christmas Meal 2020!!
Thanks for your company @RussKH, @deadmanjones, @AdrianLunsong , @Castlefield_David, Jamie, Iain, @Johnbhewitt, and @ZoeOooe,
You can see a selection of the group’s photos here:
