The Probus Club of Albany’s Annual Christmas Dinner has long been a highlight of the social calendar, but this year’s gathering at the Le Grande Motel may well be remembered as the one that sent several members rummaging through the dusty archives of their romantic pasts—some with confidence, others with considerable trepidation.
As tradition dictates, the December meeting was followed by the Christmas lunch, attended by members along with their wives/partners, all arriving in good spirits and sensible footwear. The Le Grande Motel provided a welcoming setting, with festive cheer in the air, a fine lunch on offer, and an atmosphere that suggested they were in for a relaxed and convivial afternoon. Little did they know what lay ahead.
Enter Tony Wilson, Newsletter Editor and—on this occasion—chief instigator of merriment. Somewhere between the entrée and the first round of table chatter, Tony announced that photographs would be taken of members and their partners. This, in itself, raised no eyebrows. However, the twist soon followed: each couple was asked to pose “as if they were on their honeymoon.”
The room fell momentarily silent as the request sank in. Expressions ranged from delight to disbelief. Some couples embraced the idea with enthusiasm, adopting affectionate poses that suggested love had not only endured but sharpened with time. Others required quiet negotiation, whispered consultations, and in one or two cases, a short walk down memory lane to recall what exactly a honeymoon involved.
For several members, the challenge was not the pose but the recollection. “That was a very long time ago,” became a popular refrain, while others confessed that the memory was hazy at best, possibly due to the passage of years—or the influence of celebratory beverages back then and now. Nevertheless, good humour prevailed, and no one escaped Tony’s lens.
Laughter rippled through the room as each couple took their turn. There were bashful smiles, exaggerated romantic gestures, hands held with mock seriousness, and the occasional look that said, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.” The audience, of course, offered encouragement, applause, and running commentary, ensuring that no moment passed without a chuckle.
The lunch itself was thoroughly enjoyed, conversation flowed freely, and the shared absurdity of the photographic challenge only strengthened the sense of camaraderie that defines the Probus Club of Albany. It was one of those occasions where the company mattered just as much as the meal, and where laughter did more than any festive decoration to set the tone.
As the afternoon drew to a close, it was clear that Tony’s inspired idea had transformed a pleasant Christmas lunch into a memorable event—one that will no doubt feature prominently in the next newsletter and be talked about well into 2026. All agreed it was a wonderful way to end the year: full of merriment, friendship, and just enough romance to remind us that, honeymoon or not, some things are worth revisiting—even if only for the photo.