Tuesday 13th January: Paul and I meet Andrew Murr, the Local Resilience Officer. He recruits Emergency Response Volunteers. I circulate the information to the club, and am waiting for responses.

Wednesday 14th January: The programme for the 40th is completed and circulated. I take the position that if no one can find an appealing, available and affordable alternative to Clem Johnson, then that's who we're going with.

This is checked with David Lovering & Charles and both are supportive, as is Paul, who admits to hating Rat Pack & Swing, but as an Officer will go with the flow.

Just waiting for the master address list from Mike Cropper and we'll get on with the invitations.

Monday 12th January: Fundraising meeting at The Wheatsheaf, and nothing changes. Nothing of any relevance was agreed at the meeting, and no new ideas were tabled, no one volunteered to do anything they are not already doing, this will be my last Fundraising meeting.

Wednesday 7th January: The first business meeting of the new year at a new venue, The Railway, the back room and a very good turnout of 31 members. The room is dark and dingy, but the hospitality is welcoming and the beer is a lot cheaper than The Whipper.

The food is basic pies, peas and chips, but the apple pie and custard is very good. Overall assessment, glad we tried something new, but not for speaker/guest meetings, fine for a fun evening; anyway god the Programme have tried something new.

A good meeting with a good atmosphere, and a return to each Officer giving their report, which meant plenty of comment. Toward the end of AOB, Peter hems asked if we were to have a Fundraising report, poor old SuperSec had missed him off the agenda.

Interestingly, most of the members dress reflected the downbeat room, not many ties.

One vote took place and we will now allow prospective members to attend business meetings.

Monday 5th January: A long Officers meeting at The Wheatsheaf with all ten of us present. Main issues discussed, should we even consider subsidising our subscriptions, long winded due to Martin not even wishing to consider it. Too many assuming we have to take it from the proceeds of an event.

Should we continue with Christmas parcels due to the now instituted Food Bank who were also asking for treats, the fatigue of the public, and the seeming lack of interest of members prepared to deliver parcels; we decide to go for one more year although some new thoughts are generated.

Should we have a Christmas party, after the "poor" turnout; Mike Saywood still doesn't seem to get it, but we decide not to book a venue, see what turns up.

The 40th is discussed and we will go for 120 guests at £32/head.

Should we go straight to a presentation of DF's proposals on 4th March, he asks. No bloody way, Mike, Paul & I first, then the Officers, before we let him and Michael Gillon loose on the members.

Charles continues to grate with DF, and MO, the end of the year cannot come fast enough.

Monday 29th December: Coffee with Jane Woodcock, and a chat to find out about how she organised her Mayor's Ball this year. It was clearly a fundraiser whereas ours will be a Charter birthday party; Jane was raising money for her chosen charity, Rutland4Rutland, or something like that.

She priced tickets at £35 and had donation envelopes, I'm hoping we can keep our ticket price down, and will probably settle with £32. Jane had 90 people comfortably, with a dance band, but commented that Mark's Ball had 120 people also with a dance floor.

So some differences and quite a bit of small detail to be aware of, thanks Jane.

Wednesday 24th December: No sleigh commitment tonight, but I do go down and take a photograph of the hardy souls out for the evening, and use it both on the website and the Facebook page.