November Blogs

Rotary Blog 27th November 2006.

Having swapped my “blog night” with Nigel Pledger I find that it is a business evening!
Before we proceeded to any business a discussion took place about the ‘lost property’ left at the Peking Rendezvous the previous week. It seems we now have to locate the owner of a ‘wad’ of notes. Those present could not present a convincing case as to any valid claim. It was decided that few of us would even carry that much cash! However various insults were traded as to the selling of timber for cash - as Barnes was absent!
To Business! A business meeting with a difference for we were inducting a new member. WELCOME JOHN CROWLE!
Brian Bowman gave a humorous and concise introduction to his friend and neighbour.
Our worthy President, overcome by the rarity of such an event, could not separate the Rotary pin from its holder and failed to be able to pin same upon our new member. An excellent introduction on the lines of ‘”if you want anything done in Rotary, then DIY”!

A delighted John Crowle on the left,
is presented with his pin and papers by President Roger, whilst his happy sponsor, Brian Bowman beams in support.
Welcome John!

So, we split into our committees. Our new member being placed with Club Service just for the evening as he is to be “Rotated” through the committees. (Club Service has set itself the target of a new member each month in order to train our President in the ritual of induction!)
The chairs of committees were called upon to report ‘’short and sharp’. In the case of community service a new meeting involving the whole club was attempted after Nigel had finished his 'brief' report!!
The meeting ended with the Grumpling Trophy being presented by Peter Jones on behalf of Roger Williams - who was unable to be present. Against ALL tradition it was awarded to our President. NOT because of his ‘pin’ problem, but because of a certain manner of dress at Charter Night.

Rtn Keith Cullup

CHARTER NIGHT. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

"Learn to obey rules whilst channeling aggression" was the key point of the speaker at Charter Night.
Well, I don't know about the aggression as my guest, John Crowle, (aka Kevin - about as bad a name as Brian - who is to be inducted into Rotary next week), Brian Andrews and myself, left early so we might have missed out on the almost inevitable aggression due to the earlier failure to obey rules.
First, we had our President, despite his email telling us to wear "Black Tie", turning up in a tie the colour of which would have brought joy to Chairman Mao. Secondly, the President did not call on anyone to say Grace either in Chinese or the Latin we so much enjoy from our most learned member. Thirdly, despite some encouragement, (sotto voce according to Keith), he failed to welcome guests who comprised not only the two above-named, but also Phil Bowles's son-in-law!

President Roger, a little crestfallen in his lounge suit

The evening was however enhanced, not only by the speech by Douglas Dalrymple, a former academic and J.P., but also by a, new to me, Chinese Custom known as the Ceremony of the Pipe when an ancient and venerated burnt object (and I don't mean the Peking Duck) was brought in wrapped in a towel and presented to Keith of the sotto voce.

'Duggie' Dalrymple seemed not to have lost any of his infamous wit
and proved to be one of 'Smith's' better bookings.

We left just as Keith suggested - not sotto voce - that "everyone kill time and have a chatter."
At last I understood the meaning of Charter Night. "Charter" is obviously the posh way people in Haddenham say "chatter".

Rtn Brian Bowman

Our two newly appointed Paul
Harris Fellows, Brian Holt and
Ron Roberts, feeling extremely
silly having decided to wear the
wrong suits!

Rotary Blog 13^th November 2006

The president pulled the same trick on me as he did on Jack last week. Could I do the Blog tonight as Brian Bowman wasn’t attending!! As I was scheduled to do next week’s, when I’m on hols, I’ve handed the baton back to Peter Jones who should have done it last week. Justice is done!!

	This week was a classic meeting. Super food and a superb speaker. We started with a Barnsley chop. Brian Holt told us, at our end of the table, all about the ‘Barnsley cut’. It’s apparently a classic dish from the north, a double loin chop butchered across the saddle. Very nice all the same.
A Barnsley chop

The speaker was Colin ‘Ninja’ Reynolds. Colin has been an enthusiast of the Thames since travelling the river as a boy with his Dad nearly sixty years ago. He gave us a very entertaining and informative history of the river from Roman times to the present, with plenty of amusing anecdotes in between.