The Christmas outing has become something of a tradition with dinner and a play at The Mill, Sonning, Once again organised by Alan Matthews, 12 couples enjoyed the meal and the play. for some of us this was a new experience and we were not disappointed. The Mill, a renowned, dinner theatre venue is set in delightful surroundings alongside the river Thames, not that you can see much of this on a cold December evening. Catering for 215 diners at the same time before the performance is not easy and the staff coped well in the circumstances. The food was good though not not exactly a gastronomic delight. there was plenty of choice but vegetarian option was not up to the standard the rest of us enjoyed. Seating was a little cramped but what does that matter when you are out with friends and enjoying yourself.

The play, "A Bed Full of Foreigners", a comedy by Dave Freeman, was an absolute delight. A classic farce, in the Brian Rix tradition, that only the British can do. Set in a French Hotel (Cléry??? I think not) with the usual eclectic mix of misunderstanding, obstinacy, double entendre, trousers down, corsets on, had the audience in fits of laughter. This recipe of comedy was catalysed by a hotel in need of some TLC a village festival in celebration of St Wulfrum, and an ensuing shortage of hotel rooms. The characters of dissolute hotel porter, camp hotel manager, an english couple in the plateau of a middle class marriage, the English diplomat, soon to be unmasked as a biscuit sales man, playing away on his birthday, his exotic german wife and even more exotic French girl friend, all played with great gusto and furious pace that must have left actors and audience exhausted by the end.

As we stepped out in to the night air, we had time to catch our breath, the Christmas season had got off to a good start. Our thanks to Alan Matthews for organising a brilliant evening and to Sue Burton for the photographs that prove we did enjoy ourselves.