December 2006 Issue

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How quickly another year has passed. It seems no time at all since I did the last Christmas newsletter. In fact it was two years ago since I personally did the last one, my dear wife having died just before last Christmas. Bryan Coleman stepped in at the last minute last year to produce the newsletter.

So much has changed in my life this last year. Thankfully I have plenty of interests to keep me occupied but it does make life seem to pass so very quickly.

It is nineteen years since I first formed the club. I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would keep going for so long. We must have had near on a hundred different members come and go during the period. A one time membership of nearly fifty has now reduced to less than twenty with a lot of members never attending meetings. I am nevertheless very thankful for their continued support.

We only get about half a dozen members regularly attending meetings these days. Since we stopped giving demonstrations members have chatted among themselves at meetings and seem quite happy.

Bryan Coleman has noted however, that although members seem quite happy with this arrangement it does rather split the meeting into 2's and 3's.

Bryan has suggested, and I whole heartily agree, that it might be better if a member who needed a little help or who has something of interest to say or show, would let me know on arrival so that I can let all of the members attending that meeting either take part in the discussion or at least listen to the advice given to that member. If the subject is of no interest to any member he or she can, of course, then carry on themselves as they do now.

I have at last transferred my large collection of VHS video tapes to DVD. It has taken a long time as I had about 250 tapes. I now have about the same number of DVD's but they take up very much less room. At the computer fair I purchased an excellent case to hold 200 CD's or DVD's. I thought the case a bargain at £10 and bought one straight away. Later Nigel King bought the same type case, although a different colour, at another stall for £8.

It is amazing how the price of audio, video and computer equipment has come down over the years. When VHS tapes first came out I was selling them to the trade at £9 each. Now they are £1 or less new and they practically give them away at boot sales. My two granddaughters will be taking my VHS video collection to sell at a boot sale. It is a wonderful collection of mostly musicals built up over many years and it will be sad to see my collection practically given away.

Membership

I make no apologies for again, and for the last time adding the following:

It is vital that we retain members if we are to keep the club going. Our expenses are going up and we have a very small membership now. Quite a few members never attend meetings these days and may feel that membership is not worth while. Please think about it carefully, the subscriptions are very low and help keep us going.

Remember that we are here when needed.

Don't Forget

Magnificent Refreshments,
well, mince pies.