POPPs table tennis team enjoyed a social night out 4.03.09 at The Works, Sowerby Bridge.  Host: Robin

Having negotiated the use of a private and spacious room off the main bar area of his local ‘real ale’ pub, Robin touristically informed us of all local facilities, available to residents and visitors; these included zimmer-frame hire, frequency of bus and all other public and personal services, promoting Sowerby Bridge as a ‘dream world’ for the over 60’s!

Apart from the sorely missed Lesley and Gail, through incapacity, it was almost a ‘full house’ attendance, lured by a curry – chicken or lentil – plus two light and absorbent chapattis, all for £3.50. We were also introduced to John’s lady friend, Doris, and welcomed her into the ‘team’.

With room and tables to spare in our salon, we all, bar one – guess who? – settled down to our warming and spicy curries. John’s endless and on-going research into the world of pie and peas continued as he stuffed his smiling face with another plateful of his staple diet! As we all explored our curried ‘whatevers’, the consensus was “quite hot but not at all bad for £3.50”. The only complaint was from our ‘professional’ diner-out, Peter. Used to twenty minute breaks between his courses at The Brasserie at The Bull (provided he’s allowed in!) he was somewhat confused at receiving his garlic bread and his curry at the same time – but there’s always one!

As we soaked up the last remnants of our curries, our host and MC brought the event to order, regaling us with hideously accurate verse chronicling the ping-pong year to date. In return, Peter, with his mouth now emptied, lampooned our esteemed secretary with a shaggy dog story prepared earlier. After the ’boys’ in the group regressed briefly into a ruder and more dangerous dialogue, our host restored order and proposed our participation in the forthcoming Summer League, John and he agreeing to pursue the possibility and keep the team informed.

The ‘business’ completed, we settled into our various conversations, meaningful or otherwise, drained our glasses and basked in the reflected limitations of our competitive dullness in the league so far. Gavin, Mieszek’s visiting nephew, already looked confused. At a third of the age of most others present, he was showing concern at how the journey from 20 to 60 could allow one to end up like this! Meanwhile, Uncle Mieszek relaxed into a familiar aura of kind smiles, thwarted thoughts and unfinished sentences as, away from the intensity of competition, we all relaxed our guards and enjoyed the vibrant presence of our female ‘better halves’, or, as they are sometimes known, ‘she who must be obeyed’. A good evening; let’s do it again.

DG