The OVS Geneva area Autumn lunch was held on 26 November 2024 at the Brasserie d’Henriette in Ferney-Voltaire on the French side of the border. It was attended by 11 members: Sue Block Tyrrell, Margaret Giorgi, Margaret Kearns, Harry Leefe, Susan Saidi, Richard and Carole Saynor, Matthew Kahane, Richard Harrison, Patricia Brice and me.       For those of you who are interested in history, the brasserie is named after Henriette d’Angeville, an alpinist who in 1838 became the second woman to climb Mont Blanc and the first woman to do so unaided (i.e., although accompanied by guides, they did not carry her over the more difficult spots). Mary Hamouda, Secretary, OVS  

    Happy New Year to you all, wishing you good health and peace. Please join us at the Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne on Thursday, February 27th at noon for our informal AGM and lunch. We welcome any ideas and suggestions for our future lunches. The hotel sits on a clifftop location with views of the sea and the cliffs. There is plenty of free parking either at the hotel BN20 7HZ or in the surrounding roads. For those arriving by train, taxis are available from the front of the station, or it is about a 30 minute walk. Please let Heather Johnson (heatherjay1234@btinternet.com) know if you would like to attend by the 15th February, copying in Joan Wilson (joanewilson@btinternet.com ) who has very kindly organised the lunch for us. Looking forward to seeing you there. Best wishes Heather, Terri and Richard

Letter from FAFICS President, Jerry Barton, January 2025

A perfect start to the festive season.  BAFUNCS’s London Region organised its third and last event of the year, beautifully staged.  Even the sunny blue sky did justice to “The Summerhouse” a delightful restaurant located on Little Venice’s canal in the heart of London. Members enjoyed a traditional Christmas feast in a particularly cheerful atmosphere.  The food was first class, delicious, the restaurant staff could not do enough to please.  Management offered a glass of prosecco so that guests could mingle before lunch with mince pies to follow dessert.       What’s more, we were treated with a special gift presented individually to each guest by Shahnaz Lockwood, our London member, who made the most delicious truffles imaginable, four individually wrapped in each pretty gold box for every member of the party.  Thank you Shahnaz for your generosity and thank you Carole (our Secretary and Treasurer) for working hard with attention to detail to ensure a superb and memorable day.  We all came away feeling that BAFUNCS/London was doing good things. Hannah Shabathai    Regional Representative.                                                                                                                                    BAFUNCS London