There has been a May Day tradition at my badminton club since a twinning agreement was signed in the 1970's (I do believe) with Club Athletique Lisieux, and so, every year on May Day Weekend, we have an exchange, with visits going to and fro with each alternative year! This year, it was the French turn to come visit, and although numbers have dwindled, I was desperate to get involved with their visit, and practice some of the French I have been learning alongside the children at school!
The weekend plan was to go on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and a boat trip up the river! Although the weather was a little bit dodgy, and my owl themed umbrella did make a few appearances, it was still a really lovely trip. I've not been since I was a little munchkin, and it's a very special place, where my Grandparents met on one stormy evening. I've seen so many pictures of the classic viewpoint looking back onto the mainland from my Grandad's endless collection of beautiful black and white photographs, and going there was rather special, sentimental and slightly emotional moment.
In the evening, we took the French out to tea at a local pub, and had an entire room to ourselves which made for a lovely evening of Pimms (with so much delicious fruit chucked in), candle lit dinner and delicious food! I had a chickpea and lentil curry followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding which was the scrummiest thing! By the end of the evening, I was very full and very happy...I love my badminton club, and I love that we showed the visiting French some true authentic Britain!
Just a weekend later, and the badminton love was revived with the End of Season Dinner and Dance. The theme was a "A Taste of the Empire" and although another club had also interpreted that to mean one thing, (possibly my favourite thing in the world) TEA, me and my friend decided to go dressed up as boxes of Tetley tea. This not only took all my exceptionally limited creative and artistic ahem, talent, ahem, but also provided an afternoon of quality entertainment as we tried to sort out our truly daft costumes! The evening itself was much fun, with individuals from my club winning quite a few awards, with Darth Vader, Princess Leia, some Princesses and quite a few Romans in the mix, the barn dancing was definitely a sight to behold. Big badminton love right here!
