By Mrs Joyce Chesney, Stockton on Tees
Over the many years of boating the Norfolk Broads, we have made many friends from all around the country, from the local area and even from abroad.
We met our Swiss friends in 1990. We were moored at Womack and saw this large craft about to moor alongside us, so as usual we went out to see if we could help. Actually, no help was needed because the skipper was obviously very experienced and we soon got chatting and discovered they were from just outside Zurich and had been coming to the Broads for nearly as long as we had. They loved to cook on the boat, even making the most wonderful bread and we enjoyed many meals and their hospitality over the years. We decided that in order to repay their kindness, we would surprise them and after much discussion, a typical English Christmas meal was proposed.
We enlisted the help of two other friends who were going to be cruising at the same time and gradually the plans took shape.
On a Sunday in September 1995 we all moored at Womack and told the Swiss to be ready for dinner at 6pm. Then we spent all afternoon decorating the boat with Christmas streamers, candles, hanging Christmas cards and being busy in the Galley. Despite our best efforts, I was unable to get a Norfolk turkey in Norfolk! Instead I bought one at our home Sainsbury's and transported it packed in a cool box.
The first course was aboard C and D's boat and was smoked salmon, avocado and prawns, then we took everyone aboard our boat, where Christmas Carols played and the table was laid with Crackers and festive napkins. Along the bank came Father Christmas, ringing his bell and carrying a sack and delivered presents for all of us. The turkey, even though I say so myself, was very good and was accompanied by D's wonderful roast potatoes, stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon, sprouts, carrots and gravy. The piece -de -resistance was the Christmas Pudding which was set alight, with the help of a little meths! It was a riotous meal with lots of laughter.
The next day, people in the village were talking about those idiots on a boat who were having Christmas three months early, but who cares? We enjoyed ourselves and so did our Swiss Friends.
Joyce Chesney 2009