It’s been traditional for Manchester Local Guides to get together at the end of every year to share friendship, community, memories……and good food, and often with a quiz to keep the brain cells active.
This year was different – but not different. Whilst we couldn’t meet in person because of Covid19 restrictions, we did all meet online, and the feeling of the meeting was very much the same as it would have been in real life.
Even better, whilst many of our “regulars” were there, we were also privileged to have some of our Local Guiding friends from around the globe, including @AdrianLunsong , erstwhile Manchester Local Guide, but now resident in Kuching, Malaysia Also very very welcome, but not mentioned elsewhere in this recap, were regular Mancunians @Johnbhewitt and Iain, and our further flung friends @IrenaS and @FazZ , @TorM and @JanVanHaver
The idea was to each provide our own cream tea, or other seasonal food, and enjoy it at the same time wherever we were in the world.
We’d have a couple of games, and a photo competition of a traditional seasonal food – UK mince pie, or seasonal food from any part of the world.
After a round of introductions – we introduced ourselves, a bit of our background, and our Local Guides history, but perhaps more importantly on this occasion, the food we were eating – afternoon tea in whatever style suited where we were!
Maria ( @Maria68 )showed us the results of her baking and cooking skills by introducing her magnificent festive Chocolate Christmas Log - a British festive tradition.
Our Manchester Quiz – questions about where we, as a group, have been, and the city we live in, was entertaining. You didn’t need to know the answers to win, as the answers were discussed together and then marked on a bingo card. The winner was the one who completed their card first. The winners were Alan and Zoe ( @deadmanjones ) and they won a massive round of applause and the admiration of us all, as their reward!
Next was a memory game – along the lines of the British TV Generation Game programme – with 20 items flashed across the screen. The aim was to remember as many as possible, and recall them a few minutes later. The items were either connected to our experiences of Covid19, to Manchester, or to Christmas. Again, the winner who remembered the most was Kristen ( @TheRealKristin ) and she won a second giant round of applause.
You can try the game yourself by watching this video!
Part of the invitation to the virtual MeetUp was to submit a photo of a mince pie (British festive food) or some festive food from your own country. The criteria for a win was the most delicious, appetising, mouth-watering submission, a seasonal festive salad, judged anonymously by the wonderful Mrs @PeteMHW. She chose this delicious looking presentation from our guest Jane ( @JaneBurunina )
I think it’s fair to say that everyone enjoyed the event, and making or maintaining friendships – online is second best but it’s kept us all together until we can meet again in reality! Until then let’s all KEEP OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER SAFE, KEEP GUIDING, AND KEEP SMILING!
), we really had a wonderful time and loads of fun with the games!
