reynardo | Talking for fun and entertainment.,

It started in Durban about 40 years ago, and has only had one branch - the last surviving group of Wafflers in the world. And for those who have been asking, here are the things that make up Wafflers.

A group of people meet once a month, at a formal black-tie dinner. The position of Chairman of the meeting is rotated around, and the Chair for that meeting has decided on a nicely open-ended topic for the night. (A few examples that spring to mind are "Once and Forever Free", "My Heart Stood Still", "The Bottom Line"). Four or five of the members (again, on a rotating roster) have had about 6 weeks notice that they will be talking on the topic that night. You have a scrummy dinner, then, replete with excellent food and good company, you sit back in your chair and prepare to be entertained.

Speeches are supposed to be 10 minutes long, and you are asked to steer clear of sex, religion and politics (especially as a wide range of age and interests are present, and this is supposed to be enjoyable). There is no rating of speeches or commenting officially about them after (except perhaps a quiet word privately to someone who has constantly exceeded the time limit, or gone past the boundaries of good taste). It's often recommended that you speak from personal experience, and certainly the best speeches I have heard were things like a couple describing their courtship - each from their own viewpoint, which has made a highly amusing series of talks. One man spoke of watching the Apollo 10 mission take off in 1968, and almost had tears in my eyes with the passion of it. People have described disastrous camping trips, pot-luck Olympic visits, and how they fended off yobbos whilst walking down the street in Kings Cross.

And so sometimes you see a particular speaker rise, and you sit up and listen because it is always good. Sometimes you sit quietly and sip your coffee and clap politely, because after all it will be over in 10 minutes (and quite often you're pleasantly surprised). And sometimes you try very very hard not to laugh with disbelief because their particular belief in internet-distributed falsehoods is matched only by their passion in passing them on.

With approximately 65 members (not all husband-and-wife teams are both members. Some come just to watch and listen) and 11 meetings in a year, you can expect to chair the meeting about once every 5 to 6 years. You can expect to be asked to talk about twice a year, and will remain at the top of the talking invites until you do talk. And you can wear your best clothes and have a lovely civilised evening out once a month. It currently costs $55 per person, so it's not cheap, but it's not that expensive either.

And I'll be sorry to be missing it.