The GFC 4th Tuesday Lunch Group
After Larkey suggested it about 2 years ago, a bunch of people go to lunch. The number is about 12 now, with about 14 in the usual group, but always some with more important phone calls to take in their office or shed, so we just get the 'majority'.
With now 2 years up, it has been interesting (to say the least) to see the changes, and life matters which circulate around the members of the group.
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| The Lark Ascending |
Photo: Larkey the progenitor.
Principal purpose is to have a break from the usual, and to have a group of people enthusiastic for a light meal and a couple of refreshments, to share a chat, and to leave back to their usual occupations or recreations, more comfortable and enthusiastic for life. I think it works.
We have tried a few different restaurants. Before I intersplice that of the history of the group which comes to mind, I'll review the most recent lunch, which was two days ago.
Joth Jennings owns two restaurants; the Flat Heat in South Hobart and the Fishy one under the Silos. So we went to the latter (having tried the Flat Head about a year ago and found it terrific).
It was a bright sunny day, and warm end of summer, following on from one of the hottest weekends in Hobart history: two days in a row at 37 degrees Celsius. I rounded the corner to see the 12 fine people seated in what seems like a goldfish bowl - the main table in the restaurant.
Pictured: Max, Larkey, Hugh and Porter.
Discussion ensured, and the menu was entirely reasonable. A few platters of dips, crustacean and breads with nice long glasses of beer got the discussion going. Main course stripy trumpeter was a favourite, but it was hard to go past 'fish and chips with salad' at less than $20 a hit. Service too was terrific; and quality exceptional.
Each one in turn gave a summary of their summer activity and plans for 2012, with great amusement and teasing from the listeners.
The "Great Imposer" of course in modern 'intercourse' is the telephone. Whilst rules can't be imposed on adults, the reason for our existence is to communicate - one way or another. Our preference at the lunch group is to communicate with each other in person whilst we are there. Sadly, however, the great unseen hand of charitable enterprise, attempting to compete in commerce's evil ways, dealt a swift blow to one member's desire to 'be there'. Lynchie spent 40 minutes of the lunch on his 'dog and bone' out the back of the restaurant.
Photo: Lynchie talking to unseen friends, before being called away on charitable business.
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| No phone? |
Sadly, I say, for a man of such obvious capacity to exude sophistication, he was no doubt in a life and death threatening situation, best resolved from the back bar of a restaurant, in the relative solitude of the empty tables and chairs, and adjacent to the corridor to the toilet rooms, with phone pressed firmly to ear. We worried about him from a cancer perspective and made donations to the Cancer Council for research into the relationship between talking, listening and dying.
The Group welcomed his return, but out of the blue all their phones rang at once, and they (we) all had to retire to the dark back corners of the restaurant to transact matrimonial, family, commercial and recreational discourse. Ahh well,... we all learned a lesson. It is simple, we like each other's company, and are less happy when it is denied. Selfish, but mutually so.
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| Our man in the CIA - Mustachioed Miles, or M2 |
Cheerfully amongst the 'Annual Reports' delivered was one from friend of Qantas's Alan Joyce, one Mustachioed Miles ("MM or M2") who reported that having enjoyed some family relief in Canberra (unlike Krudd or Julia recently) he had excellent health and was able to resume his responsibilities as radio promotor for the lunch group.
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| Ian from Richmond, Vic |
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| Friendly Dick |
Welcome guests this month were Max's son Ian and Friendly Dick, both over from Melbourne for a short stay. Both reported recent family marriage arrangements, presumably further evidence of the triumph of hope over experience. Ian's was collateral, his mother taking the course to legitimise his existence.
Your scribe reported on a successful sail across Bass Strait with Rosa, Don and Di, and the enjoyment of living through long ralphing sessions and gales near Flinders.
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| Your Scribe |
Anyway, Hasta Luego Baby!
Next month (March 2012) I suspect we might find a return to the "Blue Eye Seafood Restaurant". Proposed date; Tuesday 27th March 2012, 1245hrs.
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