THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ANDRÈ RIEU FRIENDSHIP GROUP
CHRISTMAS PARTY
SATURDAY DECEMBER 19th 2009

A spectacular garden setting, a balmy summer night, 42 happy people,  good food, much laughter and Andrè DVD's. Even a visit from Santa Rob and his VERY little Santa's Helper - me. Perfect ingredients for our  most successful 2009 Sth Australian AR Friendship Group's Christmas party.

When I went into hospital last month, the arrangements for this year's party were taken out of my hands by Kaye and Beth. Both had been to functions at the home of a woman who lives in the northwestern suburb of Brompton. Jane, who offers  her home and gardens as a venue for parties, does all the catering herself  and with the help of 2 nephews, served up a delicious buffet style, 3 course meal.

Kaye had made the lovely and most novel table arrangements, in particular, the very clever place name/serviette holders. It's amazing what you can do with a bit of tinsel, a peanut in it's shell, and a lot of artistic skill. She and Beth had spent the afternoon setting and decorating the tables, with Beth liberally sprinkling Christmas confetti all over the table cloths. It looked most effective, but was a killer to try and clean up afterwards.

The starting time was 6 for 6.30, but by the time Rob, Margaret, Andrè (both of whom we picked up on the way) and I arrived, just before 6, the gardens were already abuzz with early arrivals.

The first thing we did was remove Andrè from his protective covering, stood him by the folding door, in  a position to 'welcome' his guests and put on his flashing Santa hat and tinsel.

As our guests either sat at their tables or wandered the incredible gardens, Beth, Kaye and I handed out the Hors D'ouvres and dips, which gave me a chance to speak to our group members and also gave me the opportunity to meet the other guests who had been invited by Kaye, to make up the required numbers. It has always been my motto: - at any Andrè function you come as strangers and leave as friends and last night was no different. Everyone intermingled and by night's end, I again witnessed names, phone numbers and email addresses being exchanged. It was a pleasure to meet  Doris and June, both of whom will be joining our group next year.

I'd told Kaye that I wanted a Christmas theme for the evening and most certainly wasn't let down. At the arrival of the final guests, the main course, a traditional Christmas dinner of roasts turkey and beef and baked ham, roast vegetables and salads was served. As the diners were finishing off their meal, Rob and I disappeared to our car, where we donned a flashing Santa hat for him and his little helper hat for me. I'd bought a present for each of our Andrè group, all of which were packed into Santa's bag and for our other guests, I carried a Xmas stocking which I'd filled with chocolates, from which they had a 'lucky dip'.

Santa's helper may be little, but has a booming voice when needed, which was put into good use as I asked for shush, when I made the official 'welcome' and we handed out the presents. I then asked them all, to join with Rob and me, as we thanked Kaye and Jane for their hard work in making the evening such a success and I presented them with a 'goodies' parcel, of biscuits and a selection of confectionery, I'd made earlier in the week.  In retrospect, giving them both 'goodies' parcels would be no different than giving someone from Newcastle a nugget of coal. Oh well, it's the thought that counts.

Brandy soaked Christmas Pudding, with cream, ice cream, custard and or brandy butter and a delicious cheese and fresh fruit platter was the dessert to die for and was quickly consumed.

Christmas music had been playing throughout the meal, but now it was time for the "Man" himself to take centre stage. As evening had now descended upon us, the gardens were spot lit with different colours, the flashing hats, brooches and earrings resplendent, adding to the spectacle of the night and the TV. screen became emblazoned with AR and the orchestra, with firstly "A Christmas with Andrè" and then "Christmas around the world".

At our request for everyone to wear something a bit Christmasy, I am thrilled to report that everyone was happy to comply. The costume of the night has to go to Peter W. Peter was dressed in a Santa top, with a string of flashing Christmas tree lights around his neck and a Santa hat with a large flashing teddy on it's tip.  At last year's AR picnic and AR's 60th b'day party in October, Peter and Honey arrived in style in their Caddy, with Maastricht flags flying proudly from the car windows, so we now expect the unexpected from him. Great one Peter and thank you for bringing the full size Maastricht and Dutch flags again, which were hung behind the Great Man. In fact, thank you everyone for getting into the spirit of the night.

During the course of the evening, most of our guests joined us in having a group photo taken in the gazebo and on the bridge around and over the fish pond. No guessing who once again had centre stage, but what a perfect setting for the photo.

Nearing the end of the night, a birthday cake, I'd asked Jane to provide, magically appeared, with sparklers a-sparkling in lieu of candles and a rendition of "Happy Birthday" broke out to a very surprised Margaret, who celebrated her birthday on the 3rd and Rob who gets another year older on Monday 21st. Even though we'd eaten very  well earlier, most had room for a bit of cake, although I have to admit, some of the pieces I'd cut were pretty skimpy and we had a lot of cake left over.

It was a very special night for us all and I don't think anyone would have gone home disappointed. I can't imagine a better way to finish this, our first year, as the Sth Australian AR Friendship Group and look forward to our first meeting on Monday 22nd February 2010.

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GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE TAPESTRY

Margaret has finally sent off the Tapestry to Maastricht by FedEx. After what has been a long and drawn out drama, hopefully it will arrive safely and undamaged into the hands of Andrè in the not too distant future. It would be good to think it may arrive in time for him to open it at Christmas.

All Margaret hopes for now, is acknowledgment  of its arrival and  we sincerely trust that she receives it.

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On behalf of the South Australian Andrè Rieu Friendship Group, Robert and I would like to take this opportunity in thanking Sally, Jeanine-Ann and all connected with the Andre Rieu Fans and Friends site for their continued excellence and wish them and their families, as well as all fans of Andrè and Andrè and his family a

VERY MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS
and a
SAFE, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS 2010
May it be full of
LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, PEACE AND MUSIC

Love to everyone during this Festive Season and Beyond

 Lyndall  and Robert Freemann

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