XK8 Forum Lunch
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Palace Hotel, Buxton, Derbyshire
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Note: Please accept my sincere apologies for not seeing everyone off after lunch, when it had been my intention to take the names of those I don't have, mainly the ladies in the life of the men whom I have email addresses for, so that I could include them in the picture captions! Those who's names are missing I will gladly add if you will email them to me! Sorry!
I had equally hoped to have had a group photograph taken before we all left; they say the way to
BuxtonHell is paved with good intentions!
Mike Serene's party in the hotel lounge waiting for lunch to be served
Peter & Mrs York, Nick & Joanna Totty, and Vicki Horlor catching up on the news before lunch
Allan Jones, Tom & Sheila Carrington & John Brennand
John & Lisa Stout & Mike Serene's party
John & Lisa Stout, and Mike Serene's party
Both Sheila Carrington & Vicki Horlor want to be the fairey on top of the tree!
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XK8 Forum Lunch
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Palace Hotel, Buxton, Derbyshire
Buxton! Hell no, no hell hole!
A Report by John Brennand
with apologies to Angela for the poor quality!
Living in Lancashire, as I do, an area of outstanding natural beauty, you will know that it is adjacent to Cumbria where they have been experiencing record-breaking levels of rainfall, a month's rain in one night, something like 300 millimetres or 12” to me, and possibly some of you too! All this and only a few days before the XK8 Forum lunch outing to The Palace Hotel in Buxton. Buxton is a spa town of some charm and character, not to mention history which I had previously, and frivolously, described as being a ‘hell hole if wet'. So what is new? Tell me which town isn't when suffering in these conditions?
Well I am pleased to report that on the day, from time to time the sun did shine and the rain was, by comparison, lightweight. The town and The Palace Hotel did us proud!
A dozen XK8s together with their owner's and crew were scheduled to attend this rid the winter-blues, pre-Christmas gathering, and only two of those failed to make it due to the inclement weather, not bad really considering one of them was from North Wales!
I am pleased to report that Buxton proved to be a good focal point as the response was geographically well dispersed around this pivot, with one exception being that of Nick and Joanna Totty who had made a three and a half hour journey from Cambridge, though they did arrive the day before and stayed overnight at The Palace, The Palace Hotel that is!
Almost everyone arrived soon after noon and lunch was arranged at 1.00pm for 1.30pm. Many of us knew each other having been on one, or more, of the ‘Lancashire Hot Pot Runs' so there was a little catching up to be done. Then, there were those for whom it was their first experience of a Forum meeting, who didn't take long to be fully engaged with the rest of us. Conversations blossomed, mainly about the pleasures of driving an XK8 on the journey to Derbyshire with its magnificent scenery and picturesque hamlets along the way.
Our lunch was served in a sunbathed conservatory dining room and the main course was taken from our own dedicated carvery offering an unbelievably wide choice of food. I had the roast beef which was cooked to perfection as were the vegetables and I think the company rated it as good value for the money.
As usual, time was the enemy and around four o'clock it was becoming dark and we decided that it was time to head for home. So, with some reluctance, the lingering ‘goodbyes' commenced and it was unanimous that we must meet again. I don't know where, I don't know when but meet again we will.
Thanks to everyone for coming along and making it such a great day it was nice to see you all again.
Best wishes for Christmas!
John
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