by Linda Challis, Membership & Personal Development Chairman
Blessed with glorious weather …. it’s Portsmouth here we come, the port city and naval base on England’s south coast known for its maritime heritage and historic dockyard.
The group convened in front of Westminster Cathedral and, whilst waiting for the coach, some sneaked into a nearby McDonald’s for breakfast. The journey started with a roll call and a head count, followed by a short prayer led by Bing Cabatic and then a welcome speech from our chairman, Dulia Prado. Passengers were informed of the itinerary and reminded of our timetable for departures; water and snacks were distributed.
After an hour and 45 minutes, we arrived on the beautiful sunny beach at Portsmouth where you immediately noticed the marvelous scenes along the coast, the deep blue sea, blue sky, and the relaxing atmosphere. The place is surrounded by all kinds of people young and old, from all walks of life, having a grand time. Children in our group changed right away into their bathing suits and wasted no time plunging into the cool seawater. Some adults propped in their sunshades to protect themselves from the sun and had their lunch. Next to the shore we sat down on the pebbles and soaked ourselves in the sunshine, enjoying the refreshing breeze and gazing at the mesmerising beauty of nature and creatures, hovering all over the beach. When everyone has had enough of the scorching heat of the summer sun, it was time to head to a restaurant serving authentic fresh fish and chips.
It was a short journey from the coastline to the renowned outlet shopping centre of Portsmouth where the Gunwharf Quays and the imposing Spinnaker Tower can be found. As we entered the complex, we passed by the amusement park where recreational rides await, followed by hundreds of designer shops lined up to entice everyone to part with their hard-earned cash. You know how it is with outlet shopping, everything is at discounted prices the whole year round. While some of us moan about having more than enough shoes, clothes, and handbags, we succumb to the temptations of getting a bargain here and there. Amidst the hustle and bustle around us, we hopped in and out of shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Then it was time to rush out of the shopping mall and find our way back to the coach with our designer handbags, shoes, clothes, and other things. As our last activity of the day, we sold raffle tickets and held the raffle draw which was conducted by Nanie Tamayo and Rina Grosser who also handed out prizes to the winners. We thanked the passengers for joining us on our day trip and extended our invitation to other scheduled events such as the FWA-UK Annual General Meeting on the 18th of September and our Christmas party on the 17th of December. We were able to sign-up three new members and one membership renewal. Altogether, we ended the day on a high note as we promised to see each other soon in other Association activities, including another day trip next year.
More photos to view!
(Photos credit: Chelo Valencia)