79th FICC rally in Slawa Poland

 This was our first FICC rally and what great fun we have had. Les and Joyce have been really helpful in sorting things out and keeping everyone updated on plans.
as usual what happens on tour stays on tour but there have been a few incidents which just have to be shared. Photos to follow in updates.
The opening parade saw everyone in national dress or our blue MCC shirts.

Northern counties group had a great representation at the rally.

Other groups put on a great show with their costumes even though it was 39 degrees.

Each group or country held a street party. Ours was a great success as we offered loads of freebies and cups of British tea. There must have been hundreds turn up as they demolished the food within half an hour. Most waited for their cup of tea rather than have a beer.

The only problem was the MCC party followed the Germany party. A few went over to Germany party and tasted the waffles and cream. There were lots of little tastes of German liquors and spirits. Of course Roger and Gordon managed to stay at the German party for over two hours drinking all the free drinks they could find. I even heard on the grapevine that one of them managed to 'claim' the little shot glasses as well. As you can imagine they were well drunk by the time they staggered back for our MCC party.

Following our party we headed off for the Turkey party. Lovely young ladies offered turkish delight. Gordon by then was the worse for drink after being topped up with a couple of Raki shots. He staggered over to a Turkish van and fell asleep in their chairs under their van awning. The poor turkish lady thought he had taken ill. Janice dragged him back to the van and he then refused to go to bed but slept under Jim and Elaine's awning.

Gordon was in no fit state to continue on to the Russian party. We all walked down but Roger staggered and giggled all the way. He even fell over into the bushes and couldn't get back up. Once we reached the Russian party we tried to steer him away from the vodka but he found it. We were worried he would pull down the awning on the Russian van he was holding and swaying. Ann was not impressed when she caught up with him. But Roger didn't care as he said he had had the best day ever.

On Saturday evening we were all invited for a typical Polish meal and free drinks in the marquee on the beach. The organisation left a lot to be desired. Cans of beer were given out and the meal consisted of a large crusty bread bun with the top cut off and filled with soup. It may sound nice but the soup had offcuts of different types of sausage and even hard boiled eggs in the soup. Not many of us ate it.

To make up for the meal we didn't like. We planned to make a plan of panacalty. Which is a traditional northern dish made from potatoes onions and corned beef. Each family has their own recipes for it. Chuck gathered the ingredients and put four pans on the hobs. Everybody kept coming round with the wholesome smell. Once it was made we put the lot into a large bucket to ensure all the lot was mixed. It was dished out and everyone enjoyed the meal. People from elsewhere in the country came for a taste. We didn't tell them that Laine  had washed her knickers out in the bucket that morning.

All the planned coach trips had been booked up so the lovely Gill and Paul from NWMNW group arranged our own MCC coach trip to Zelena Gira. This is the city which has Baccus the god of wine as a local emblem.  There were little bronze statues all over the old town. On most of the statues Baccus the god of wine was displaying his manhood!

The final closing ceremony on Tuesday had a beautiful choir. It was really good to hear that the MCC won the award for being the group with the smallest number of members and the largest percent of members attending. That's another trophy Les has to transport back to England.