On Saturday, 24 November 2018, the CTARC held its final event of the year, namely the End-of-Year Braai, as has become the tradition with our club.
At 11h00, committee members arrived to start setting up the gazebo, chairs, tables, braai grids and all the other paraphernalia required of the event. Although the weather was sunny and warm, a strong south-easterly wind had been predicted, and the sage decision to relocate the event to the leeward side of the clubhouse was taken. In addition to this there is a pleasant shady row of trees under which the chairs could be positioned for those wishing relief from the heat. This was to be the location of a number of discussions and meet-ups in the afternoon.
As in years past, Anne and Rob organised the catering and Anne, ably assisted by Elsabe, prepared and served up delicious burgers and liquid refreshments to all the visitors. Tony ZS1TM, Noel ZS1FW and Nick ZS1ZD manned the braai fires.
Paul ZS1S brought along his magnificent solar-powered amplified crystal set with its loop antenna, which provided free background music for the duration of the afternoon.
At around 12h00 the rest of the club members had arrived, the braai fires were going merrily and it promised to be a good afternoon. Our club chairman, Rob ZS1SA gave a brief welcoming speech, explaining that all awards (including the Len Wells Ham Spirit Award) will from now on be presented at the club's AGM in July each year.
With that, it was up to the assembled throng to meet and chat, queue (very briefly) for Anne and Elsabe's delicious hamburgers, slake parched throats with liquid refreshment and catch up on all the news.
We were very pleasantly surprised to be visited by an international team of three DX-ers who are going to Bouvet Island operating as callsign 3Y0I. They were able to take an afternoon off from their very busy training schedule in preparation for the mission ahead. We wish them and all their team the very best of luck on their entrepid endeavour.
Your humble correspondent had the opportunity to chat with Tom ZS1TA on his very interesting contact on two metres with St Helena Island recently. We're hoping he will write this up as an article for inclusion in a forthcoming Ragchew newsletter.
The braai continued into the afternoon and fortunately the wind didn't live up to its rather fierce predictions. At around 17h00 we began to wind down the event, pack away the furniture, clean up the litter, wish each other compliments of the forthcoming festive season, and wend our ways back to our respective homes.
This was the final formal CTARC event of 2018, although the Sunday morning bulletins and the Monday evening 2-metre nets will continue up to just before Christmas. Grateful thanks to all who assisted with the event, to all who brought gazebos, umbrellas, ice, cool-boxes, etc, and to all who attended. We wish all our club members good things for December and the festive season. Look after yourselves and your loved ones; stay safe.
We look forward to seeing you all again at our next meeting in on Saturday, January 26, 2019, details of which will be announced presently.
Photos of the End-of-Year event [here].
