A great weekend for 20 Explorers and a bunch of network was held at the Waterside Lodge, Southport. There was bowling, dancing, partying, shopping, scavenging and even some number swapping.
I was one of the first to arrive on the Friday night which started with a game my groin didn’t like. We had to pick the box up with our teeth with only our feet on the floor, this is harder than it sounds and yours truly came second. We then heard facts about each other and a bit of movie time with “TEAM AMERICA”. We then had time to ourselves, with one of the activities becoming “straightening Tom’s hair”. Then we dropped off one by one to bed, with a fabulously sleepless night (of tuneful snoring).

Breakfast was at about 9:30 which was followed by, amusing dancing on a dance mat and a trip to the bowling alley, were we were joined by a few extra members. We then took a detour on the way back to lunch along the pier, with a photo break across the tram line. The afternoon was nice and relaxed, with a trip to the shops (for people who forgot their P!NK item) and general socializing. After a day of full on activities everyone was getting hungry and ready for the sit down for the formal meal (after showering and smartening ourselves up a bit of course) were we were waited on like royalty by the Networkers. This was followed by speeches, Rutter’s fab cocktails and our very disco, thanks to Lee. We danced late into the night to the cheesiest music Lee could possibly find, with as many different actions as we could remember. With most of us still to hyper off the cocktails to go to sleep, we watched “50 first dates” but as the movie went on people dropped off and either, fell asleep were they lay or went down to the group chatting downstairs. As the credits scrolled down the screen people woke up one by one, by this time we felt it necessary to waddle downstairs to join the others for another 2 hours sleep.
2 hours later……..the first of us woke up and crawled up to breakfast in our pyjamas. This was followed by a quick change and upstairs for Wisey to explain his and Beccie's scavenger hunt (WABASH). This involved photos like….Police officers, comfy buses, pizza hut waitress, twins and even road kill. We also needed to retrieve…..Balloons, Southport rock, bus timetables and yummy Thornton’s chocolate. It was packing time ready for being dismissed. Phone numbers were swapped and hugs were made as people were awarded their prizes. This was the end as everyone was dismissed around the flag pole and sent off by PJ to our 20 houses all over Merseyside.

Tom Meaney
West Wirral Explorers