Yes, here is a picture of most of the book group doing what we do so well - eating! And before anyone reports identification problems, apologies for the picture quality. Blame the lighting, camera phone, photographer, a long thin table so we couldn't get everyone in, or whatever. There was a better one, but Frances looked as though she was handing down a pretty stiff sentence in court, and we don't want to upset our friends......

After all that, our pre-pre-Christmas bash was on 4th November at Miller & Carter - the old Dick Turpin. We met in the bar, which was just as well as that long thin table made communication a bit difficult but it was a happy evening, the food was good, our waitress was lovely and conversation was entertaining and (as always!) enlightening. We don't know what the other end of the table talked about, but our 'half' discussed anything from dog training to what sort of bath we would fit when really decrepit; manipulative children to gardening; Christmas to WI; local, national and international politics to books, and more.

So to books. Our book-to-read was 'Exposure' by Helen Dunmore. Those of us old enough to remember the Cold War found it quite chilling, but a rattling good tale and highly recommended - a war refugee, a family fighting to stay together, the psychological and physical shenanigans of the country's spymasters and an unexpected twist at the end. We found ourselves discussing it over the phone, at the WI film group on the 1st and the WI meeting on the 2nd as well as at the bar on the 4th.

At the end of the meal the Secret Santa books were distributed - to be read and reported on at our next meeting. The books were the result of Gill and Margaret spending a happy and dusty evening trying to reduce Margaret's 'library'. They managed to remove 120 books and what Santa didn't use went to Richard House. Gill is quite a ruthless organiser!

It's a bit early, but best wishes to all readers for a very happy Christmas and New Year.