For the third year, we visited Totland Bay Youth Hostel for a weekend break as a group.
Friday evening sing-song...
... with percussion accompaniment
Saturday morning walk in gale force winds and intermittent heavy rain - but we're not worried
We fought our way across Headon Warren (Head On might refer to the wind, but it was mostly a cross wind, trying to blow us off the ridge) before dropping down to Alum Bay, where we found a garden full of gnomes...
... and the girls found one of their own!
Here the party split, taking the high road, the low road and the middle road (appropriately as we were having a Burns Supper tonight!). The highest road went out to the Needles Battery then up to Tennyson Down - here the tail wind kept spirits high!
And so down to our regular lunch stop, the Highdown Inn
Coming in to the warmth from the cool, damp outside meant it was all a little blurry (I'm sure it wasn't the Guinness)
After going separate ways for the afternoon - more walking, swimming, sleeping it off etc, we reconvened for a fine Burns Supper prepared by Peggy with haggis shot by Sue and brought south from Scotland for out delectation. Patrick was again persuaded to address the haggis in those traditional words
... the rendition of which left his listeners speechless!
The haggis, neeps and tatties were enjoyed by all.
After supper we had another session upstairs, including a performance by the Bin Bag Babes as Klingons (don't ask...)
Sunday morning: the big clean up. Then down to Freshwater Bay, some to visit Dimbola Lodge, others to admire the rough seas. As you might expect, some got too close!
And so on to Arreton, to dance with Wight Bells at the Craft Centre and lunch at the Dairyman's Daughter pub.
The session concluded with all in for a Not For Joe.
