This is the big night of the Kurrimine Beach winter season. We had made sure we would be there in time. 'Boomerangs' never have to worry about a seat at the table.....it's all part of the fine service provided by the ever helpful and engaging Tracey.
Of course, evenings like this don't 'just happen'. Many of the park regulars gather early in the afternoon on question to help set up the (now much expanded and improved) camp kitchen. Bags of tinsel, steamers, lights and all sorts of other Xmas decorations come out of storage. The place is a hive of activity....at times even organised!
The scene was set. And whilst all this was going on 'the boys' were hard at it on the BBQ spit. Roast beef, pork, chicken and, believe it or not, a glazed ham, were all on the menu. For those of us who were staying for more than a week, the princely sum of $5 per head was requested. Short term visitors were asked to pay $10, a very fair system indeed. We all contribute a salad or a desert dish to round off the food side of things.
As the evening approaches one can almost feel the buzz in the park. There is the usual rush to reserve seats with friends (dinner plates on the tables do the trick) and the shower block is bedlam.
Some go to much more trouble for the occasion than others!
The table at which the redoubtable Tracey dolls out her special Xmas punch is particularly popular. And believe me, 'punch' is the operative word here.....this is serious 'happy juice'.
Santa is on hand to greet all and sundry at the newly erected archway entrance
where various social groups gather for the obligatory pre-dinner photo (for no other reason than to be able to prove that at one point in the night we were all able to stand upright unaided and speak reasonably coherently!) The Marshies, Vogts and Allendens were no exception.
The bench seats of the camp kitchen tables were soon full. Late comers were scrambling to find an empty slot.
We were in party mode!
The meats were served
whilst those who had been slaving over a hot spit all afternoon took a well earned drinks break.
The salad table was ready and so were we. With 120 hungry folk champing at the bit, the feeding frenzy could turn ugly, but not here.
The salad table was ready and so were we. With 120 hungry folk champing at the bit, the feeding frenzy could turn ugly, but not here.
The indefatigable Tracey is a real student of human nature and a very experienced caravan park manager....tables are called up one at a time on the basis of a number drawn from a hat. That puts any potential grumbling about favouritism into another hat....of the 'cocked' variety....and believe me there are always some in every caravan park who will complain about anything, and everything, constantly!
Whilst awaiting our turn it was time for some serious conversation. Dennis A and I had weighty matters to discuss,
but standards soon began to slip.
JV began the charge into the evening's stupidity (apologies for some of the formatting from here on.....I have no idea why)
and, of course, there is no show without punch....some people are just easily led!
Even one of the park's elderly neighbours, who is invited to all the functions here, got into the act, and there is no stopping Winn once she develops a head of steam, I can tell you!
See if you can manage to read the words on her top.....she is a wag of the highest order.
I have to say here that the spit roasted meat was a triumph, something I was quick to pass onto Corey (one of the park managers). "Well done old mate".
The sweets came and went (there were many more than this eventually....this is not my photo!)
and before we knew it, it was time to sing for our suppers. We have previous form with the karaoke microphone and Liz was soon under way with her rendition of 'Those Were The Days'.
and then it was my turn......nothing like a spot of Elvis to get the crowd moving.
One of the regular features of the Kurrimine karaoke is that no-one gets to hide. The shrinking violets are hauled up as a group (men and women separately) and told to get on with it. Modesty aside, I can still sing a bit (my memories of my old days with a rock band have not been sullied by the afflictions of age!) and I am invariably asked to pick up the action if things start to flag a bit.
Mine host (or one of them) Corey is nothing if not versatile. He bangs out a more than passable version of Willy Nelson's 'You Were Always On My Mind'.
But as the evening wears on and the vocal chords become more lubricated, stage fright evaporates. An impromptu Barber's Shop Quartet was soon on stage. I'm not sure who was better equipped for their rendition, Dennis with the mike or Bob with his beer can substitute!
Needless to say this was a very, very good night. Hopefully you get the picture from these few shots.
But it was not over yet. It's not a real Xmas without a munch on 'Boxing Day' leftovers. One never goes hungry when the Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park puts on a show. This was just the cure for what ailed us....well, most of us....a fine tuck into cold meat and salad and good humoured critiques about last night's song choices and performances! It probably goes without saying that the beverages of choice were soft!
As I said at the beginning, 'Xmas in July' is superbly managed and presented. It is a real testament to the hard work of Tracey, Corey, Wayne and Neil in particular. It remains the highlight event of the season and is real feature of a stay here over winter. We have already booked for 2016!
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