reynardo | Winding down the waffling. (Reply)

waitingman, you made the right decision not to come tonight.

We blasted up from Canberra tonight to make it to Wafflers, the after-dinner speaking group I belong to. I've enjoyed being part of it, through 14 years of yummy or mediocre dinners, 4 different locations, and hundreds of speeches.

But the logistics just don't work. For us to get to Sydney on time, I need to be on the 4pm finish, which means the 7am start. Unless

lederhosen gets up with me at 5:30 that day and drives me to work, I'll have the car. That means I then drive from the east side of Canberra back to the west side, pick him up then back onto the highway for a drive that will only barely get us there in time for the 8pm start. So we're tired, and not as likely to enjoy it.

I don't want to give it up totally. Frith's sake - I love the sound of my own voice and performing to an audience, and quite often the speeches are stirring or heartbreaking or brilliantly amusing. I couldn't bear never hearing Rosemary McLean's hilarious tales of hers and David's courtship. I'd miss Bob Potter's mysogynistic rantings (which are thoroughly spoiled by the care and attention he gives his lovely wife when he doesn't think anyone's watching). And someone has to be there to keep my mother from killing my father as he blathers on yet again about cricket.

There is a Southern Highland's Wafflers, but it's a different animal all together. The average age is a lot older, and the vibe is a lot more conservative. And it's just starting out, so it's still finding its way.

Tonight's meeting varied from curious through lacklustre to mediocre. Dennis told the same hoary joke he told a couple of years ago, which was annoying when

quatranoctal had made the effort to come and had been present the first time. Jill Osborne spoke beautifully about her collecting habit, and Anne Baikie described her grandfather's magic tricks. My beloved talked statistical stories.

Minor annoyance - the menu says "white or red wine or soft drinks provided", but both my men were charged for their soft drinks. The hotel does need to arrange that better, in the interests of Responsible Service of Alcohol, if nothing else.

But I think we would have been better taking the time to come up slowly, having dinner for the same price at Berrima or Moss Vale, and being relaxed when we got home.

So we'll only make it a up a couple of times a year. Annoying, but the way it will have to be.