Good roll up again last Wednesday as we said goodbye to our outbound as he will soon be on his way to Germany
Friday saw more than fifty Rotarians partners and exchange students kick up their heels eat drink and be merry at our Christmas party bob McMillan was once again best on ground and along with potholes last to leave the guard posted at the door to my wine cellar could finally go home.
We will likely make some money out of this event via the fine session this Wednesday see you all then for our last meeting of the year
Cheers
Tim Goodall
Notes from the Secretary.
Next week’s meeting menu will be a Christmas delight. (Rumour is Roast something) I’m hoping it involves antlers.
Also meeting apologies are now directed via the Club Secretary (Me) preferred no later than Tuesday night prior a meeting.
Robbo sent us this photo, observing that Lew ‘Mufasa’ Officer has been very keen to go to Africa lately.
If lions can mate every 15 minutes for 8 hours, it does beg the question; why the hell did we join Rotary?
Roster.
We will keep printing this roster in the lead up to its reintroduction in 2020.
Christmas Break Up.
As expected, Di and Tim were wonderful hosts to a very large number of members, partners and guests on Friday night. It was a great night and we thank Di and Tim for all their effort to make it so.
Stanley very politely lined up for some meat off the barbeque.
Hey Ashaan, get us two sausages and a steak would you.
Tim's rousing political speech reminded our Charter President of his youth.
Santa stood outside by the fire with his only friend, Jack Daniels.
By the end of the evening, the big fella was a bit too friendly with Jack Daniels.
Rotary Horse update.
After a fast finishing 7th at the Jericho Cup race day at Warrnambool recently, Vassa Blue went down to Moonee Valley on Friday and raced as we celebrated Christmas at Di and Tim’s. I initially thought that the trainer may be trying him out as a trotter, but apparently he is still persisting with Vassa as a galloper. Our trainer advised that Vassa has been ‘eating up well’ and is ‘a very lazy horse in trackwork’ and ‘appears to save his best for race day’. We were kind of hoping that what he often produces on race day was not his best. If the key to athletic success is eating a lot and slacking off during training, then Vassa looked to be a sure thing.
Given Vassa’s aversion to work, he was appropriately entered into the ‘Enjoy Retirement Handicap’. It came as a surprise to no one other than Paul Blain that Vassa’s ‘silage not mileage’ approach to race preparation did not pay dividends. The big gelding leisurely returned home in fifth place out of a field of eight. The jockey reports the horse ‘didn’t travel well’ during the race. Indigestion I suspect.
If you look carefully at the faces, you can detect the range of emotions that come with being one of Vassa Blue's owners.
Do it Yourself Guide.
Summer is the perfect time to tackle simple do-it yourself projects around the house. This week we explain how to install a new rotary clothes line. In this section, Robbo and your correspondent provide you with their professional, expert, step-by-step guide to completing this simple project at home.
1. All applicable documentation including death and serious injury liability wavers and non-disclosure agreements were drawn up and signed by all parties.
2. Consideration was given to local anaesthetic options prior to beginning the procedure. After determining that the earth was not a person for legal purposes and could not sue for pain and suffering, no local anaesthetic was administered.
3. The old clothes line was extracted from its socket.
4. Various materials for filling the hole were considered. Mineral trioxide aggregate, approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and available at $7,180/kg from all good dental supply companies was considered. Chemically identical Portland Cement, available for 68c/kg at Bunnings was the other option. After considering our legal obligations under the relevant regulatory framework, we went to Bunnings.
5. The cement was mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, with careful note being taken of the mixing ratio, working time and setting time. Documents were drawn up to initiate civil action against the manufacturer in the event that the material did not perform as advertised.
6. Consideration was given to whether the project provided billable hours that could be invoiced to any party, or whether any step of the project was described in the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and could allow a claim under any applicable private health insurance policy. After determining that neither was the case, the whole project was declared a failure.
7. Responsibility for the failure is disputed, and the case is now in the hands of the various party’s solicitors. The matter now appears likely to be tied up in the courts for years.
The night before Christmas.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and seven tiny rein-deer,
with a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen!
"On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder, Oh, poor Blixen!
All that is left of him now is a ghostly pall,
And the excellent trophy Mary has on her wall.
I suppose we should be grateful the Tickler didn’t get bag all eight,
And serve them for Christmas to celebrate.
Merry Christmas.
We once again find ourselves at the end of another year. Thank you to all those who have contributed to the Central Spoke this year. There are too many to name, but I do appreciate every contribution. We wish you a safe and happy Christmas. Remember, if something goes right for you over Christmas, savour the moment. If something goes horribly wrong, take a photo and send it to the Central Spoke, so we can savour the moment!
