Dear friends
There is information below from Graeme about the Stroove weekend (17th-19th May)
Next week, 18th Feb, there will be sheet for
people to sign up for Stroove. The
cost is likely to be around £40, depending on numbers, and it would be helpful
if we could collect deposits from next week. £10 will secure your place – cash,
or cheques made to Graeme Thomas please.
Stroove May 17-19 2013
Going to Stroove
for the weekend is a way to put some good things together - walking or
cycling in wild places or pottering about in a slow holiday kind of way, eating
delicious food in convivial company, singing in a place where you don’t have to
rush off to get the bus home, and getting acquainted with some new people. We
self cater but more of that later.
WHERE?
Stroove is in the small town of Skelmorlie, on the
Ayrshire coast between Greenock and Largs, less than two hour’s drive from
Edinburgh. Regular buses and trains run in the immediate area, and neighbouring
Wemyss Bay has a ferry service to Bute.
It's not hard to get there by public transport, and there will always be
people to pick you up at Largs or Wemyss Bay Station.
The wooded gardens at Stroove surround the house on
all sides giving privacy and plenty of scope to relax outside. The lawn has a BBQ area near the house
and there are lovely views over the Clyde Estuary and the Isle of Bute. For
people who don't want to be energetic, reading or snoozing in the garden is an
attractive option.
BEDROOMS AND THINGS
The house is spacious and warm, and there are real
beds and no bunk beds!!
Although there is no hanging space, there is plenty of room for your
bits and pieces. There will be a few single rooms for “noisy sleepers”, and
no-one will have to share with more than two people. There are six shower rooms, possibly as many of 30 of us,
and therefore, morning cups of tea in dressing gowns is a nice option while
waiting. The singing/sitting room
is large with loads of comfy chairs.
WHEN DO WE SING?
The singing is organised for the early part of both
evenings, after supper.
Matthew,has agreed to lead the singing with some simple to learn new
songs plus any favourites
which come to mind!
THE USUAL ROUTINE
Our routine has been a Friday evening meal together
around 7.30, some singing afterwards and usually getting to bed earlyish, since
a lot of us have been at work all week.
We get up late on Saturday, have one (or two) breakfasts and lots of
cups of coffee, decide what we want to do, then spend most of Saturday
hill-walking, window-shopping, snoozing, cycling - whatever people feel
inclined to do.
After our Saturday out and another delicious meal, and
what with a bit more wine than usual, we often stay up singing quite late. But you're allowed to go to bed!! Stroove is a substantial old house with
good, thick walls, so disturbance from the (possibly somewhat uninhibited)
singers shouldn't be a problem for people who want to sleep.
On Sundays most of us get up late again ... have a
very leisurely breakfast, then decide whether to meet up on the way home for
another walk, or lunch or whatever.
Once we’ve tidied up we usually leave around 12.00.
More details of what to bring, lifts, and how we
organise the food will be sent out nearer the time.
Do come!!
Thanks for the information, Graeme. So inviting !
Sally
