HELTA Christmas Brunch & AGM

On a typically wet, grey, and miserable December morning in Hamburg, HELTA brightened the day by hosting its AGM. This year, we ventured to a new venue! Although it was a bit tricky to locate, its cozy and welcoming interior provided a warm and dry haven. Thanks to Rosie and Annemarie’s helpful signs, everyone found their way with ease. The Committee added a festive touch, decorating the room with lights and cheerful ornaments. The array of Christmas jumpers worn by attendees only added to the holiday spirit!

The AGM was the fastest we’ve ever had, with a great mix of participants joining both online and in person.

Once the formalities were done, it was time to turn up the Christmas playlist and warm up the glühwein. A delightful buffet awaited, featuring treats like vegan quiche and coleslaw made with carrots fresh from one of our Share Chair’s garden!

The real fun began with this year’s Christmas Quiz, crafted by our resident quizmaster, Lewis, and brought to life by our incredible events coordinator, Rosie. She reimagined the original format, turning it into an exciting, competitive, and occasionally controversial Xmas Bash Bonanza.

The quiz featured five rounds:

1. Events of 2024 – But is NASA really sending a manned spaceship to Mars?

2. Famous People – Did Rafael Nadal truly win 24 Grand Slams?

3. Bah… Hamburg – Is Hamburg really the largest non-capital city in Europe by population? What about St. Petersburg?

4. Language – This round had Wilton’s group “Enterprise” hilariously discombobulated!

5. Picture Round – A crowd favorite and the downfall of “Enterprise,” who hadn’t even heard of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. (We won’t mention here that the team with fewer members—but boasting two Share Chairs—actually won!)

A huge thanks to Lewis for a fantastic quiz and an extra special shoutout to Rosie for making it so much fun.

To top it all off, our resident professional singer, Sabrina, graced us with a beautiful rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It was the perfect end to a festive and memorable day.