Ascot Day Centre, Sunninghill

2009 HOLIDAY TO WEYMOUTH

On Sunday, the 29th March, 2009 at 11:00a.m., 22 Day Centre Members set off with Pete the Coach Driver with a destination of The Crown Hotel, Weymouth for a 5 day holiday. Jackie Mann, the Day Centre Manager and a willing supporter, Gill Love joined them. It was a beautiful Sunday sunny morning. A good start!

A leisurely drive with a snack at a garden centre as our enroute break. This was a “themed” holiday – the Crown Hotel was a ship and we were on a world cruise! After pre-dinner cocktails, we left port for Bali, amidst seagulls squawking, Rod Steward singing “sailing”, party poppers popping and dinner being served.

A separate bar and a separate lounge area for those who wish to relax in their own company but Bingo at 8:00pm for those wishing to play and very eventful! 6 games in all and our Ascot table won 4 of them! What a start for the Ascot team! Everyone knows we are here! We were then entertained all evening with a couple of singers who were just delightful and enticed everyone – and I mean everyone! Onto the dance floor!
The stabilisers are on, and so to bed!

Day 2 began with breakfast on the lower deck followed by disembarkation and a day ashore! We explored the various delights of Weymouth, taking in the shops, the harbour, the beach and the panoramic view of the bay.

That evening, three male members of our party were invited onto the dance-floor and performed with the dancers. Grass skirts and flushed faces all round, they of course, declared it was the sun! (We know otherwise!) Onward to Hong Kong!

Day 3 gave us our visit to Athelhampton! There was a lovely old house with delightful gardens surrounded by the River Piddle. It even had an apiary and local honey was sold in the shop. Lunch at Athelhampton was home-made and very tasty! We returned to the ship (hotel) via Lulworth Cove with a lot of memories for many people! 

The highlight of the evenings entertainment was of course, the Fancy Dress.

In first place was Fag Ash Lill (Geoff Osbaldstone) Second, was Old Mother Riley (Eileen Laney), Third was David Beckham  (John Wigmore) Fifth and Sixth was BOGOFF (May and June, the twins)  So!  5 out of 6 entries were from Ascot!  

Each of the Ascot winners received a bottle of wine.  The evening continued with Ted singing in several numbers via the stage!

Well…the next day , April 1st… nothing appeared to be too abnormal before lunchtime, so the Aprils fools day went without a hiccup!

We arrived that morning in Puerto Rico but disembarked for a trip to Forde Abbey and gardens. A beautiful drive through the Dorset countryside through to Chard, in Somerset. The weather was just gorgeous!
There was a tour of the Abbey which was a working Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry 8th. It is now owned and inhabited by a private family. We had snacks in the tea room before returning to base for an afternoon cream tea.

Thursday! Our farewells to Captain and the crew before we set off home. Everyone had raved about the food, the hospitality and weren’t we lucky with the weather? We made a detour to Portland Bill. Quite breezy on the edge but wonderful clean sea air and a typically English café serving tea as it really should be served. Last minute gifts from the gift shop and the views of the bay were those you wanted to treasure forever. Homeward bound, again stopping at the lovely garden nursery for snacks and light relief….All in all, a very eventful, memorable and pleasurable holiday!

Gill Love
May 2009