Mince pies, pensioners and puns

EX farmers, a Second World War bomber rear gunner, engineers and men and women from all walks of life, now in their senior years and all members of the Thame and District Thame Centre, came together on Tuesday (December 20) to celebrate Christmas.

The Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, admires a guest’s novelty Christmas jumper

Members, their carers, staff from the day centre, Trustees, the Mayor of Thame and other special invited guests all enjoyed a three course Christmas lunch followed by mince pies and coffee, at The Oxford Belfry before being entertained by members of the Thame Players with songs, poems, jokes and sketches, all revolving around that great British obsession, the weather.

Not only were there renderings of great show tunes like ‘Singing in the Rain’, and a medley of Flanagan and Allen songs, but a recitation of ‘January brings the snow..’ and other poems. Of course, jokes about our weather generally go down well with most British audiences – even if they’re as corny as this one: “Where do you weigh a pie?” Answer: “Over the rainbow!” (Way – up – ‘igh ? Please yer self!)

In amongst the fun and laughter, there were some very interesting facts about the weather too. Did you know that in 1983 the air temperature in the Antarctic plunged to −89.2 °C? Or that the Shipping forecast has been broadcast every day since 1911? But the biggest buzz of surprise came from the audience when they learned that during the great London Smog of 1950, which many in the audience remembered, 10,000 people died of its effects and in fact, it was so difficult to see to find your way around for the three days that the Smog lasted, that blind people were enroled to lead Londoners around the city.

Just to finish off, I’d like to share a weather-related incident that happened to me recently.  As we waited for a bus in the frosty weather, the woman next to me mentioned that she makes a lot of mistakes when texting in the cold.

An elderly gentlemen, over-hearing our conversation, nodded knowingly. “It’s the early signs of typothermia you know.”

Happy Christmas one and all.