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Convention 2009 - Portsmouth
Lesley's report
If any of this sounds twee please excuse me - but for us in Portsmouth the reason we undertook all this was to make the event as good as we could for red hatters. The most important memory I have now of the convention is the wonderful, supportive, colourful and friendly people I met during the weekend. There were so many happy faces and warm hearts that it is overwhelming in the world of nit-picking and negative thinking that surrounds us. Generosity of spirit makes the world go round! I have met enough of it at the convention to last me many years!
We started the weekend with a coach trip to HMS Warrior – for a buffet dinner and dancing. The creativity and hard work that girls had undertaken to produce was a testament to all red-hatting principles! The tables were either side of the guns of war.
The food was tasty and there was enough choice for all. We finished the evening with disco-dancing, drinking and conviviality. It’s difficult to plan the tables effectively so that we meet as many new people as possible. When we went to Worthing, I was impressed with the ‘lucky dip’ seating idea – so decided to do that on the first night in order to aid the mix. Each table had at least one hostess from Scarletts. As far as I know everyone arrived back safely at their dwelling places.
Carol, one of the Scarletts said she had carpet burns on her knees! This was from praying in as many religions as possible to ask for sunshine on Saturday. Whatever she did, or whoever was watching, the morning dawned with a sunny glow.
As the girls gathered outside M&S in Gunwharf Quays, the public were amazed at the sea of red and purple. As usual, many questions were being asked and visitors requested photo opportunities to take home. Two of the Norfolk Broad girls had been shopping in M&S and the manageress took their pictures with their shopping... aiming to send it to head office... watch this space...
We had a delightfully ditsy photographer, called Malcolm, from the Portsmouth News – who totally diverted the brolly parade for a photo call. Most of us eventually arrived at The Spinnaker Tower for yet more photos... and headed for refreshments.
Alongside the trip to the top of the Tower, the girls ate, drank and shopped till we were to gather again at the Holiday Inn for dinner. Yet again, the glamour was apparent and I have yet to find two hats the same!
The dinner has to have been one of the slowest meals of my life! I think at some point we may have sang... “why are we waiting”?.. which is so refined compared to the ‘anxt’ I was feeling as a hostess. Most girls said they had a chance to talk more – which I think is gracious of them. Luckily, we had the ‘tongue in cheek’, risqué review of the Norfolk Broads after dinner. They had worked hard and had made a commitment to be there, even though 2 of them had missed out on a convention ticket! How’s that for kindness? The musicians who were there for entertainment stayed an extra half-hour as dinner took so long. The saxophone was particularly good.
I know some people had to go early the next day, but it was a shame they missed the morning’s entertainment. Scarletts did the hornpipe in uniform... much, much better than their attempt to belly-dance at Swindon! But the singing of the A Capella group was out of this world. As I sat on the sidelines, I watched all the red hatters’ faces. It made the whole weekend worthwhile.
When I was being interviewed by BBC Radio Solent about red hats and the convention, I expressed my interest in the public’s response to all of us wherever we go. The roving reporter said that happiness is attractive and that sums it up for me! We all glow when we are happy...
Thank you all for making it such a great weekend.
The Top Totties had a big event in March . Our Pinkie Sheila - Princess Sparkle celebrated her 50th birthday and graduated into her first Red Hat . The venue was The Artichoke - Carol, Queen Cass