Last week at the Jericho cup, Gracey turned up wearing perfectly respectable clothes that he managed to wear in a way that made him look like a hobo. Tony was wearing a yellow ski jacket and a ‘big freeze’ beanie. He looked like a Melbourne supporter who had fallen on hard times. Now, we are not suggesting Gracie’s life had gone off the rails to the point where he had become a Melbourne supporter, but it is possible he had fallen on hard times. If things were a bit tough for Gracie, then a remedy was readily at hand. Lew reports that Gracie was last seen leaving the races carrying a black bag stuffed with large denomination bills after winning a trifecta. All's well that ends well.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes you can make things worse with even the best of intentions.  In the mid 'noughties' the Bank if International Settlement in Basel introduced the Basel II banking regulations.  These regulations were designed to manage risk in individual banks.  Most experts now accept that these regulations made the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis worse by encouraging banks to engage in unconventional practices to try to circumvent the regulations.  

 

 

A decade ago Lew Officer was in charge of preparing Christmas lunch.

Feel good story to finish.

One afternoon a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass.  Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and got out to investigate.

He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?" 

"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We have to eat grass."

"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you," the lawyer said.

"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree."

"Bring them along," the lawyer replied.

Turning to the other poor man he stated, "You may come with us, also."

The second man, in a pitiful voice, then said, "But sir, I also have a wife and six children with me!"

"Bring them all as well," the lawyer answered.

They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine.

Once under way, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said,

"Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you.”

The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place. The grass is almost a foot high."