Photo archive 2016

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Panda Jo hits the road!

Jo the Panda enjoying a wild ride around the lanes of Kent

Jo on a car dashboard with a road behind

Christmas Dinner 2016

This year we went to the White Hart in St Ives where we enjoyed a lovely (and filling - large portion sizes here!) meal. Many thanks to Gem for organising this year's dinner.

Diamonds pandas at the White Hart Sheila, Katie and Rupert Christmas dinner 2016

Panda Sam out and about

Some pictures from Sam's recent adventures!

Sam in a rhododendron bush Sam in a cheery tree Sam in a miniature train Sam in a some flowers Sam by a red panda enclosure Sam on a rainbow pony

Pink Festival Sunday Party at the Boathouse

The 2016 Pink Festival Sunday Party (Sun 4 Sept) was a great success, featuring live on-stage music in the car park, BBQ, children's activities, craft stalls, disco, and more! Diamonds put in a good presence, with members helping to set up and stewarding as well as enjoying the entertainment. Our banner put in an appearance too!

Diamonds banner with stage in background Panda Sam at the Pink Festival Diamonds banner

Panda Mona... Mum!

Mona with Sheila, Sam and Boris Panda Mona
Panda Mona is much bigger than the others... clearly she's the Mum

Katie the Panda and Susan went on holiday to Rome!

Katie in Rome Katie in Rome Katie in Rome Katie in Rome
Katie on holiday in Rome...these pandas get everywhere!

Panda introductions at Thursday at Meet, Chat and Discuss, 14 July

Sparkle-born pandas Rose and Tally attended their first Thursday meeting, while Panda Boris made his first appearance as Foreign Secretary. Plus, fabulous ice cream cupcakes supplied by Megan!

Boris the Panda Boris with a cupcake
Presenting your new Foreign Secretary, all hail Boris!
Tally with a bottle Tally drinking from a wine glass Tally by a drain
Newest panda mascot Tally's full name is Talisker Oban Laphroaig Glenfiddich. No wonder she ends up in the gutter at the end of the night!

Sparkle 2016: National Transgender Celebration in Manchester, 7-11 July 2016

Many diamonds attended and in spite of the rain had lots of fun variously enjoying the atmosphere and live music in Sackville Gardens and on Canal Street, attending the talks and workshops at the LGBT Foundation, eating out in the pubs, restaurants and tea rooms, browsing the shops (and scouring the city in search of navy blue wool for the Diamonds Pandas), visiting museums, making new friends and catching up with old ones from across the country, and partying the nights away in the pubs and clubs of Manchester's Gay Village. Three new panda mascots were born: Lulu II (who disappeared off with a fellow passenger on the train out), Rose (who is very pink due to a temporary blue wool shortage), and Tally.

A huge thanks must go to Gem for organising the accommodation at Weston Halls for us. Please click here to give feedback and register your interest for next year!

Katie the Panda at MK railway station Panda Lulu (II) being adopted Katie the Panda Gem, Stephanie and Susan having dinner Out and about in Manchester Katie with a Sparkle wristband Dinner at Try Thai Katie the Panda at the People's History Museum Katie the Panda on the bridge by Canal Street Katie the Panda on the bridge by Canal Street Katie the Panda and a police car Jazz in Sackville Gardens Jazz, Susan and Katie Katie at the Spectrum Pride stall LGBT Foundation: Equality Wins! Dinner at Arnero Katie and Rose at Arnero Rose sitting on a glass Link to movie of Tally's birth Transgender memorial
Sparkle 2016: In and around the National Transgender Celebration event in Sackville Gardens, Manchester

July Dining Club at Moza, 2nd July 2016

Mick sitting in a menu A row of Diamonds pandas Another shot of the Diamonds pandas
8 fabulous diamonds throroughly enjoyed a lovely evening at Moza tasting a variety of Indian dishes -including popadums, onion bahji, a wide range of curries (chicken, lamb, fish, etc.), different kinds of freshly made pilau rice and naan bread (plain, garlic, peshwari), and completed with a variety of fruits and rice puddings... The pandas only emerged once they heard that the curries had been cleared. Apparently they did not fancy any curry stain!

April Dining Club at Klub Polonia, 4th April 2016

Diamonds pandas with a slice of cake Jenna and Mick, with pudding Jenna and Mick, with another desert
A wet evening outside but a delicious meal inside. The Diamonds pandas gathered for their puddings.

Susan's Birthday at Nines

Several Diamonds celebrated Susan's birthday with a meal out at Nines Global Buffet. New panda mascot Sam was also born, thus sharing a birthday with Susan!

Rupert, Mick and Sam with a bowl of water New panda mascot Sam with Mick and Rupert
Panda mascots at Susan's birthday meal

Panda Mick in Brighton

Diamonds table mascot Panda Mick went to Brighton for the day with one of our Diamonds members.

Panda Mick by the sea in Brighton Mick with some plastic diamonds
Panda Mick in Brighton

January Dining Club: Benji's Thai Food at The Grapes, 9th Jan 2016

Mick with a bowl of yellow curry Jenna, Mick and Rupert
January Dining Club: Benji's Thai Food at The Grapes