Long Weekend in the Athens of the South
Now, let me tell you this........[remember the Pythons meaning of life, when Death arrived at the party, and criticised the Americans for always saying "let me tell you...]
So began the long weekend in the Athens of the South.
Under encouragement from the Deputy Consul of Vice for Getting Out and About (Jimmie-Bovver Boy Paltos) your writer headed off on the 12 noon flight from Llanherne to Tullamarine: sounds like something from middle earth with JRR Tolkein.
Whoosh went the big bird, then landed comfortably in the still cool wintery day. Forgot my jumper, and only had a cotton jacket.
Jimmy-Boy picked me up at the Southern Cross in the Nazi Staff car (purloined when in Paris one weekend in 1939). From there it was a tour of the city establishments.
We visited the South Melbourne hostelries, and found barkeeps from as far away as French Canada, Ireland and last Wednesday.
Preserving our integrity, with a view to making sure we were in fully functioning order and condition, we repaired to the Hampton residence of Paltos-by-the-sea, and donned the dinner suit.
Under the watchful eye of Her Majesty, Stella Peugeot Atrois, as men, we looked like penguins, and joined by Gerard of the Peninsula, we attacked the back bar of the Sandringham Club. Not the only ones. Not now, and not in the past, or the future.
A furious half hour of re-settling the bodily fluids (as in Dr Strangelove - Stanley Kubrick), horse dervs, and then the main course and 7 other dining adventures, punctuated (punctured?) by the chef and bottlo describing how it was all prepared by their assistants, and then the witching hour permitted us to depart in our pumpkin. Well, it was like a Rolls Royce; very nice car Gerard.
Anyway, I deviate. Not in my writing, but generally.
Friday, 7th August 2015 was rapidly preceded by the Thursday Grande Bouffe, and lunch at the Paris Go! restaurant with the Murphy Twins and hangers on (I can only claim to be one of those, as my opportunity to contribute to paying the bill was brushed aside rapido - well that's how I read it).
Delightful time in Athens-South Friday arvo, and a restful evening, in anticipation for further furore at the Club on Saturday. Note: Rugby: Australia v New Zealand Saturday 8th August 2015 - and when you add 2 - 0 - 1- 5, that makes 8 - all very good luck numbers for the Chinese. Also Wallabies when roused.
Saturday evening was the dinner concert with Brian Cadd and what excellent enjoyable fun. It was like reminiscing for something that I hadn't experienced> That is, deja vu. That is a great way to enjoy an evening and company. A hundred people at a venue, 2 course dinner, then the band fires up, and it is like being in your own living room. Bring it on!
Now: Sunday is the day of rest. But not for those on a mission from G-D to conquer the world. Jimmy Boy had a session to talk with the Katralezian Club members at their Dondas Street HQ at 11am Sunday.
It was a fantastic speech; encapsulating the reasons why, and implicitly but not in a grandiose way, the method how. and expressing gratitude to those along the way who helped. Stating that the purpose of it all has been family.
That His Honour the Honourable Paltos J looks like Prime Ministerial material is no accident. No accident at all.
I am very fortunate to have had the enjoyment of time out of home and in the company of good friends, generous and thoughtful.
So began the long weekend in the Athens of the South.
Under encouragement from the Deputy Consul of Vice for Getting Out and About (Jimmie-Bovver Boy Paltos) your writer headed off on the 12 noon flight from Llanherne to Tullamarine: sounds like something from middle earth with JRR Tolkein.
Whoosh went the big bird, then landed comfortably in the still cool wintery day. Forgot my jumper, and only had a cotton jacket.
Jimmy-Boy picked me up at the Southern Cross in the Nazi Staff car (purloined when in Paris one weekend in 1939). From there it was a tour of the city establishments.We visited the South Melbourne hostelries, and found barkeeps from as far away as French Canada, Ireland and last Wednesday.
Preserving our integrity, with a view to making sure we were in fully functioning order and condition, we repaired to the Hampton residence of Paltos-by-the-sea, and donned the dinner suit.
A furious half hour of re-settling the bodily fluids (as in Dr Strangelove - Stanley Kubrick), horse dervs, and then the main course and 7 other dining adventures, punctuated (punctured?) by the chef and bottlo describing how it was all prepared by their assistants, and then the witching hour permitted us to depart in our pumpkin. Well, it was like a Rolls Royce; very nice car Gerard.
And just to give you the picture of how 'swell' we must have looked, here is another photo of the author with well wisher, underneath the lemon tree, with dog in background. Background.
But before we go one with the potato mash, the lamb slow cooked over 3 years, and the multifarious red wines which made our 'red scarf match your eyes - loving you is making me bananas' story, let's just divert to earlier in the year.
Below is a photo of Brother Dr Con Number 1 on board Amity, on the hottest day in 2015, so far. The temp rose to 43 degrees by lunchtime, and the safest way to cruise down the River Derwent from the ancient New Norfolk (?) was with one's eyes closed. Just as he does his diagnoses.
When I first say this photo, I thought "looks like me only brown" - then realised, I look like me, only grey!
Friday, 7th August 2015 was rapidly preceded by the Thursday Grande Bouffe, and lunch at the Paris Go! restaurant with the Murphy Twins and hangers on (I can only claim to be one of those, as my opportunity to contribute to paying the bill was brushed aside rapido - well that's how I read it).
Delightful time in Athens-South Friday arvo, and a restful evening, in anticipation for further furore at the Club on Saturday. Note: Rugby: Australia v New Zealand Saturday 8th August 2015 - and when you add 2 - 0 - 1- 5, that makes 8 - all very good luck numbers for the Chinese. Also Wallabies when roused.
Saturday evening was the dinner concert with Brian Cadd and what excellent enjoyable fun. It was like reminiscing for something that I hadn't experienced> That is, deja vu. That is a great way to enjoy an evening and company. A hundred people at a venue, 2 course dinner, then the band fires up, and it is like being in your own living room. Bring it on!
Now: Sunday is the day of rest. But not for those on a mission from G-D to conquer the world. Jimmy Boy had a session to talk with the Katralezian Club members at their Dondas Street HQ at 11am Sunday.
It was a fantastic speech; encapsulating the reasons why, and implicitly but not in a grandiose way, the method how. and expressing gratitude to those along the way who helped. Stating that the purpose of it all has been family.
That His Honour the Honourable Paltos J looks like Prime Ministerial material is no accident. No accident at all.
I am very fortunate to have had the enjoyment of time out of home and in the company of good friends, generous and thoughtful.
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