Audlem Ladies WI Lunch

Audlem Ladies WI Annual Lunch

As we gathered once again for the much-anticipated Audlem WI Annual Lunch, our esteemed ladies had truly outdone themselves, turning what could have been a simple luncheon into a glamorous, bejewelled gastronomic adventure filled with laughter. Picture this, thirty raucous WI Ladies, armed with handbags and a penchant for mischief, descending upon the pub like a flock of seagulls eyeing a picnic.

Welcome to 'Diva Decibels', the Lord Combermere's front bar where the volume of laughter, chatter, and camaraderie could drown out a rock concert. The bartenders, brave souls in this sea of animated discussions, navigate through the tumult with the finesse of tightrope walkers. Every drink order is a mission, every refill a triumph. If you can make it through the bar unscathed, you deserve a medal and a certificate of bravery and If you can discern individual sentences amid the symphony of exclamations, giggles, and high-pitched anecdotes, you're either a linguistic prodigy or have a future as a UN translator.

As our valiant members navigate this bustling sea, their mission becomes clear, deliver the precious cargo of alcoholic beverages to those distant tables without a single drop falling victim to the merciless forces of gravity. Finally emerging triumphantly, they can take their seats. Cheers to the unsung heroines of liquid equilibrium!

Little did they know that today's gastronomic adventure would be unlike any other as Chef Tom, undeterred by the whirlwind of oestrogen-fuelled chaos, bravely emerged from the kitchen wielding a spatula like a knight brandishing his sword. Meanwhile, Nicky, the manager, with the grace of a ballet dancer, navigated our sea of lively ladies with their first courses.

As the industrious waiters, one of whom was starting his first shift (poor man), weaved through the lively chatter of the WI ladies, they resembled culinary ninjas attempting to deliver their gastronomic masterpieces undetected. Balancing platters with the grace of tightrope walkers, they navigated the perilous landscape of animated conversations about car park charges and the merits of different types of corsetry.

Attempting to discreetly present the main courses proved to be a comedic ballet of culinary espionage. One waiter, attempting to deliver a perfectly cooked plate of fish and chips, inadvertently did a waltz with one member as she passionately debated the proper way to arrange a flower bouquet. Another, armed with sausage and mash executed a covert slide to avoid disrupting another member's spirited tale of a squirrel invasion in her garden.

The synchronised chaos reached its peak when the desserts made a surprise entrance, causing a temporary cease-fire in the conversation as the ladies' eyes widened with anticipation.

In the end, the waiters emerged victorious, having successfully served a gastronomic feast amidst the whirlwind of WI banter, leaving the ladies to savour both the delicious flavours and the unexpected entertainment.

As we wrap up another year of culinary delights and gastronomic adventures, our waistlines may be expanding, but so is our excitement for the frivolity that lies ahead. With each passing dessert, I am reminded that life is too short to count calories or take things too seriously.

Here's to another year of laughter that rivals the volume of our post-feast food coma snores, and may our resolutions be as flexible as our waistbands. Cheers to a New Year filled with delicious absurdities and the perfect blend of humour to accompany our meals! The Annual Lunch is not just a meal, it is a celebration of the extraordinary women who bring joy, laughter, and a touch of chaos to our lives.

Many thanks to Doreen Hubbard, our secretary and Brenda Heathcock, our President for their organisational skills – beyond the call of their duties!

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