Garston and Liverpool Mark Lodges Llandudno weekend
   
The 21st of February saw Mark Masons and their families converge on the seaside town of Llandudno for a weekend of Mark fun and friendliness.  This was the first time Sandra and I had attended, and we decided to go this time, as the pictures on the website showed how much everyone enjoys this trip, and we wanted to tag along. 
Colin & Tommy enjoying the weekend
A few of us arrived early, to spend 2 days sightseeing before the weekend began in earnest. As the PGM and Lynne were also there, we were always going to make use of the local train lines....Thursday took us to Port Merion, an amazing vision of villas, brightly painted and huddled into the rugged Welsh coastline. The hotel where the town all started is right next to the sea, and served a superb glass of Brains bitter, and of course tea for the ladies! A brief stop on the way back allowed just 10 minutes in the Betwys-y-Coed train museum, but only one of us paid the admission fee for such a short time......no prizes for guessing who!
Eric Drinkwater, Lynne & Peter, happy with friends
The trip along the Conway valley the next day (by train) was absolutely stunning, and reminded me of the Yorkshire Dales or the wilds of Scotland. Eric & Tegwen Drinkwater loved the day, and we got Tegwen to translate the Welsh signs, as she does speak a little welsh, much to the surprise of the locals....
Dinner back at the hotel was a mere 5 courses, and the run and gym in the morning was really needed. Naturally, I didn't bother!
Barry Ellman gets help from Tegwen Drinkwater
The next evening we all congregated back at the Bay Tree hotel for dinner and entertainment, which turned out to be a dose of karaoke for those brave enough to take part. There were a few professional efforts  - Sarah and Janet were superb, and then some others took part, including me....sorry about that.  Great fun was had by all, and we were all mentally preparing for the big fancy dress night on Saturday.
The PGM congratulates the participants
They even got Giles up for a song!
Breakfast was a welcome start to the day on Saturday.  In some countries, the 10.22 train to the slate mines would be something handed out to a convicted felon or political dissident, but for us it was a new day and a new adventure!  Blenau Ffestiniog was the destination, (I hope I spelled it right...) and the slate mines were just a 1.3 mile walk away, with a nice gradient to ascend. 
Baden Powell never looked so good!
Then underground!  We all donned hard hats, and followed in the steps of the generations of Welsh miners who extracted the 500 million-year-old slate from the dark underground.  Welsh slate is the best in the world, due to its stability and durability. Giles & Sandra used this very ancient material to hand-paint two table mats, to what was really a very modest standard.....one with a Mark keystone!
Votes for women? - more likely than landing on the moon.
most insistent that fancy dress was obligatory, and everyone, including the PGM and Lynne complied. The three winners - Cleopatra, Dennis the Menace, and Maggie Thatcher, had all taken the theme to heart, and really made an effort.  I was really sad that my Alan Armstrong, despite winning the accolade of being the first man on the moon, could not win in Llandudno at the Bay Tree.....
Sandra even scared the PGM with that stare....
And then the big event!  Fancy dress costumes from all over the world were in evidence.  Colin Svenson and Tommy had been
The meal was a hoot - eating next to Cleopatra was a bit of a trial - Peter Connolly himself said she was a bit intimidating!
Then the show started, with comedy from Jack Parker starting a superb list of artists, including Dolly Parton and the Blues Brothers. Barry Ellman also played a doctor who dispensed some wonderful jokes, to the groans of the audience.
The Beatles were in residence
I have to say that breakfast on Sunday, and then the lunch at 1pm came round all too soon, with the PGM thanking everyone who took part, especially Colin, Tommy, Barry, and Claire & Trevor, the proprietors.  We all left having had a really enjoyable weekend!
And The Blues Brothers
All the artists enjoyed the evening - so did the audience!
Next year the venue has moved to LLanberis, which I believe is in Snowdonia, very picturesque, and surrounded by wonderful train lines - so don't be surprised if you see Peter & Lynne Connolly there again to support this wonderful weekend on the 13th & 14th of February 2015. The booking form is now available on the Mark website, and as a first time attender this year, I can heartily recommend it as a really good fun weekend.
You can read Barry Ellmans report here
Words & pictures by Giles Berkley, Karaoke participant (Sorry!)