Red Hats Get-together

[Elizellen]

Well on Monday my Red Hat Society chapter (Scarlet Belles of Bournemouth ) went out for lunch and for the first time since I joined in the summer I managed to get there and join them!

We met at a local 'Carvery' for lunch to celebrate the chapter's first anniversary and 25 of us turned up resplendent in our red hats and purple dresses/tops. We created quite a bit of interest when we posed outside the place for a group photo, as it is on a big roundabout where we got hooted at by most of the cars/vans whizzing by!!



In case you are wondering I am in the second row behind the little lady with the purple scarf!

Unfortunately it was very cramped in the part of the restaurant they put us so we didnt get the chance to mingle but I enjoyed chatting to the others on my table.

It was a good choice for an Atkineer as we went up to the carvery to be served with slices of meat (roast beef, turkey or ham) so it was easy to just have some beef and turkey and choose the broccolli, sweet potato mash and cauliflower in preference to the potatoes and pasta choices.

No-one raised an eyebrow when I went up for seconds of meat either! Several of the others also went up for seconds but they wrapped theirs up for their pets whereas I ate mine!!

When it became time to cut the cake, I managed to be the one holding the plates, so I was kept busy and not tempted to eat any of the cakey bit. I just had a few strawberries from the top, scraping off the cream it was iced with in case it had sugar in it.



The next 'do' I think I can go to will be an 'afternoon tea party' at our Queen's new house in the summer, as most of their outings are in the daytime when unless it is on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday I cant go to as we have the shop open on the other days.

Though I have not been able to become very involved in the group I think there are some 'kindred spirits' amongst them with whom i shall become friends in time.

[cincywbbw]

My My My, all those red hats. It looks like alot of fun, I tell ya. A regular rose garden in bloom. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[dream]

It sounds like you had a great time. Love the pics... thanks for sharing!

[dreamof145]

OH Elizellen!! Your group looks like so much fun~and look at your smile! I'm thrilled that you got to join them this time. Keep posting the photos...I enjoy them so much.

[biogeek]

Thanks for sharing your photo of the red hats!

[sallyseachange]

Oh that sounds like so much fun Elizellen! You all look wonderful in your red hats!

[Alexa]

That looks like fun Elizellen!

I've heard of the Red Hats Society before and always wondered if the attire is based on this poem - which forms the basis of my retirement plan (if I ever get to retire!).

http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiOLDWOMAN.html

NB am not saying you are old! You look positively youthful in your after picture

[dream]

I have that poem on a really cool poster. One of these days I'm going to have it framed. It's really beautiful.

[justkeepswimming]

Thanks for sharing the pics Elizellen!

Some interesting info on me: I used to work for hatquarters here in fullerton, ca!
It was quite an interesting experience, and I loved getting to meet all the red hatters who would come vist us from around the world!!

And yes Baarb, the Red Hat Society was infact based on that Poem. The Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper started it when she gave her best friend a red hat and that framed poem for her b-day. It grew trememdously since then! It always amazes me when I see how many red hatters there are!

[Katlam]

WHat a fun outing! Congrats on getting there and sticking to your plan as well! Love the photo!

Kathy