Other appropriate seasonal greetings are also implied by the headline. 🙂

We enjoyed a lovely social evening on 3rd December, in the Dovetail Cafe.

A selection of pictures show us having (quite sedate) fun. There was a huge turnout of artworks, which garnered a very wide-ranging set of votes, and right up to the last few votes counted, it seemed like a tie was inevitable. But after the photofinish, the result went to Tom Winlow as the winner, with Nicola Williamson in second place and Nicky Gage in third.

Some of us of with more Grinch-like tendencies were exceedingly depressed by the idea of guest carol singers, but we were in for a pleasant surprise! The Show Off Choir performed a wonderful 25-minute set, of festive songs from shows, films, and a few of the more harmonious carols thrown in. We were pleased to donate £100 to their chosen charity (Maggie’s Cancer Care).

The refreshments team were superb, the MC (Bev) was brilliant, and the video maker was in his element making sure all went well.

And most people remembered to take their Flora postcard pictures home with them, although if you weren’t there, and would like your entry back, then Roy or one of the other committee members will be laden with them for the next several events: please ask for yours back when you see them.

Footnote: application forms for the spring Life Drawing sessions, and also for the New Year lunch went out last week. Please reply promptly 🙂

Happy New Year!

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by Bev Dunstan

Thirty-six members attended the members-only Christmas social event on Wednesday, 4 December to enjoy an evening of good company, tea & coffee and the festive nibbles so well organised and served by Joy, Tessa, Sue and Helen.

There was a lovely array of artwork covering all three themes of “Reflections”, “Rain or shine” or “Christmas“.  Each piece was numbered and all of the attendees chose their favourite 3 pieces.   Once the votes were counted it became apparent that we had a draw for second place! These numbers were put into the hat and drawn again for 2nd and 3rd places.

The winners were:

Angela in First place:

Tricia in Second place:

and Mike in third place:

Mayor’s Christmas Card

The Mayor of Eastleigh had also asked if the Chandlers Ford Art Group could provide some images for his official electronic Christmas card. 

The following images were chosen by the Committee members and shared with the Mayor’s office:

Well done to everybody who brought an artwork along, and we hope everybody had a good time, and a happy Christmas!

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by Gill Brophy

We had fifty-five members arrive for the Festivities on Thursday night, with very nearly that number of entries for our competition with the theme of ‘Snow’, ‘Winter’ or ‘Christmas’. The Church and adjoining rooms had been beautifully decorated by Church staff, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, including several new members who braved the cold evening to come and join in the fun.

Animated conversation, coffee and mince pies were the order of the evening, with lots of decision making to ensure three votes were placed for their favourite paintings. Thanks are sincerely due to the wonderful ladies who manned the coffee and tea hatch for the evening – very much appreciated. The corridor looked wonderful with so many bright and beautiful works of art adorning both sides.

Janet and Bev nobly stepped in to do the ‘counting’, and eventually decisions were reached … the winners were Christine Marlow, Gill Evatt and Barbara Unsworth. The applause was long and loud!  Well done to everyone who submitted a painting. 

The committee wish all members a very splendid Christmas and Happy New Year.  

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