12 November 2012

WOHFTF 2012

Just back in from Stranraer where Fiona and the gang were taking part in their annual Curling (and eating) weekend.
This is a serious weekend - dinner Friday night, cooked breakfast Saturday morning, roast meats and salads for lunch (with lots of deserts) and another big dinner Saturday night. Same again on Sunday and this year most of us stayed Sunday night so another cooked breakfast Monday. There's also curling, sponsored by Courvoisier, with the winning team invited back in March for the Winners Weekend.
There also the WOHFTF (We're only here for the food) Challenge Trophy. High stakes indeed!

WOHFTF Challenge Trophy...

...and Runners up Trophy

Started off a bit rough - I was feeling ill most of last week and didn't travel well on Friday evening. I had to skip dinner and retire for the evening, missed breakfast too, only surfacing briefly for lunch.
By the time dinner rolled around I was feeling better and both teams had won all their matches well, so were well placed going into the final day.

Dinner was fabulous. It started out with a pre dinner room party, which was a ruse to remind Fiona, that her 40th, and David, that his 50th, hadn't been overlooked. The dining table had balloons  centrepieces, and handmade cubes of photos going back 20 years. After dinner, it was birthday cake and dancing.

As the final 4 matches were being played Sunday it was clear the David's team had made it through to the semi finals. Now if Alan's team could win 1 more end they were guaranteed a place in the semis even if they didn't win the game. They did win and that set up up both teams for the semi finals after a few anxious moments when it looked like they would have to play each other.
My ability to strategise the game fails to develop. After realising that Alan had deliberately lost an end in order to retain last stone, an advantage,in the next end, I thought I was seeing much more devious playing. After the game Fiona dashed by confidence - " I think he just muffed it" Alan himself later confirmed he made a mistake. I think I'll stick with the food!
Both teams won their semis and a nail biting final was on the cards - or was it? The winning team would be invited back in March but what would the dinner table be like tonight? No one bothered to mention to me that both teams from this weekend would be invited back, so the final became more of a friendly than the chess on ice I was expecting, but everyone was happy and dinner was saved.
750ml bottle of Brandy each to David and his team, and a 1.5l bottle each for Alan and his team.

Alan, Christine, Iain, and Fiona with the WOHFTF Challenge Trophy

David, Drew, MaryAnn and Fiona with the runners up prize
Rooms are already booked for 2013...