Hardly had December started than it was time to gather at Bentley Golf Course for our Christmas Lunch. With a tree covered in twinkly lights, tables laid out with crackers, and a good smattering of Christmas jumpers it was beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

Having got our drinks from the Bar we all settled down in our places where Maria had thoughtfully written our starter and dessert choices on the back of our place cards. As starters arrived, John, our guest magician, started working the tables with some close up magic - how did he manage to join those rings together?

Our main was from the carvery with a choice of turkey, gammon and beef (or all three if you felt like them) and the portions were generous. Helping ourselves to vegetables (including brussels!), we resumed our seats and table by table the room went quiet as we all tucked in.

In between the courses, John was around again to entertain and mystify us with his tricks which made the time fly by. And if we did not have enough to entertain us, Martin had provided some quiz sheets to work out song names and dingbat phrases - some people got quite competitive!

As we drank our coffee, John talked to us a little about his magic career and also demonstrated a number of tricks - those pesky rings kept joining and undoing again, the rope was cut and then back in one piece and part of the playing card was found inside an apple - all very magical.

Our raffle, in aid of Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust, had a great selection of donated prizes and raised a staggering £281.

A great time was had by all, people got to talk (and to make some new acquaintances), the room was filled with happy conversation and we all left very satisfied.

more photos here