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2019

JANUARY

Hogarth: Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, January 17, 2019.

Attending: (7 persons): Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, Bob McKenney, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, John Potter, Ian Sando.

Apologies: (24 persons): Bob Adams, Wayne Anthoney, Andrew Bishop, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Malcolm Elliott, Rob George, Samela Harris, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Johnston, Paul Kolarovich, Andy Ligertwood, John McGowan, Rob Morrison, Mike Norman, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, Wilf Prest, Geoff Shepherd, Neville Sloss, Arwed Turon, Milton Wordley, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.

An advantage of the very small group was that most times all in attendance were involved in a single conversation.

Topics ranged from the fate and history of the Union Hall, Footlights Reviews (1963 in particular), the Gang Show in which Wayne appeared, the remaining two Music Halls in London and Pantomime in Eastern Europe, 

Grum is a retired pharmacist so of course three questions about medications endured by and sustaining elderly men were posed.  He was only able to deal with two.

One of Mrs Thatcher’s policies was praised for having allowed a member to acquire a Council House in London.  Enoch Powell’s actions concerning Jews in the East End led, somehow, to Jews who fled to China where Chinese women with stainless steel teeth saw their  first Sudanese man.

A Trump and a Treloar were given some positive and some negative ticks.


Pre dinner oiling; Bill Kay, Ian Sando, Bob McKenney.


Greetings:  John Potter, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, Ian Sando.


Main course (duck leg); John Potter, Phil Grummet.

Some of those medications may have been needed after a very sweet pudding; Bill Kay, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, Ian Sando, John Potter.

Ian Sando, John Potter, Phil Grummet.

Ian ‘Bones’ Owens makes it all clear.

FEBRUARY

Hogarth:Upstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Attending: (21 persons): Wayne Anthoney, Tony Brooks, Leo Davis, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Rob George, Phil Grummet, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnston, Bill Kay, Paul Kolarovich, Andy Ligertwood, Bob Lott, John McGowan, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, John Potter, Ian Sando, Arwed Turon, Wilf Prest.

Apologies: (11 persons): Bob Adams, Malcolm Elliott, Samela Harris, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Rob Morrison, Mike Norman, Geoff Shepherd, Neville Sloss, Milton Wordley, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.



Tony Brooks rose to announce that two departures needed to be noted and introduced Tony Parkinson who told of his recent bereavement.


Tony’s mother, Celine  Parkinson, died last Sunday, aged 97.  Always a great story teller, Tony told a number of anecdotes that illustrated what a remarkable woman his mum had been and his great affection for her. Once, driving to church, she was stopped for speeding.  Winding down the window she told the policeman that she was late to church, where she was to play the organ, so she’d be back later. Window wound up, she drove off to church, leaving a dumbfounded officer.


The lads (Andy, Mark, Paul and John) laughing at one of Parky’s anecdotes about his mum.

 

A toast to Celine Parkinson.    Ian Sando, Michael Johnston, Wayne Anthoney, Wilf Prest, Andy Ligertwood, Mark Coleman, Paul Kolarovich.

After Parky had finished, Brooks told of a flying visit, the long way through Brisbane, to Darwin, for a celebration, on Tuesday, of the anniversary of the first Japanese bombing of Darwin (February 1942).  His dad served in the airforce from Darwin and was killed some time after the raid.

Leo made a tenuous link between Brooks’ and Parky’s stories in that his aunt was born in the same year as Parky’s mum (1919) and should have been in the Darwin PO where her friends were killed , in the adjacent slit trench, when it was bombed.  She had applied for a transfer from the Pt. Augusta PO, with her friends, but was sent to the GPO in Adelaide instead.  She arrived in Adelaide, which she knew was much milder than Pt. Augusta, on January 12, 1939 when the temperature peaked at 46.1^oC, a record not broken till January 24, this year.  Rob George expanded the ‘connections’ by telling us that, on that day, the thermometer at the BOM was read by his grandfather.

 

Post pudding; coffee time:  Phil Grummet, Keith Conlon, Arwed Turon, Mark Coleman.

Leo checks his photos

Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, Tony Parkinson, Rob George, Michael Jacobs.

Brooks was asked to fill in background to an ABC 891 item last Friday morning. He gave an entertaining history of the two mechanical elephants that came to Adelaide.  This led ‘Bones’ to tell of a French Circus company, Royal de Luxe, that brought oversized human and elephant puppets to London.

Tony Brooks, Keith Conlon, Bob Lott.

The party was breaking up.  McGoon, Parky, Bill, Pegge (luckily he was drinking white wine) Arwed, Rob George.

MARCH

Hogarth: Dwnostairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, March 21, 2019.

Attending: (8 persons): Wayne Anthoney, Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay,  John Potter, Ian Sando, Milton Wordley, Ghil’ad Zuckermann. (2 scratchings at the barrier; on Veterinarian advice).

Apologies: (20 persons): Bob Adams, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Malcolm Elliott, Rob George. Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnson, Paul Kolarovich, Andy Ligertwood, John McGowan, Bob McKenney, Rob Morrison, Mike Norman, Ian ‘Bones’ Owens, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, Wilf Prest, Neville Sloss.

It is customary for the gents to stand around in small groups, discussing this and that, for a good half hour before sitting together at the table.

Here we see Leo discoursing with Milton and Pottsie, possibly on the subject of shoes and ships and sealing wax, and whether pigs have wings. Or it could have been something quite different.


Milton Wordley.

Dogs became a continuing conversation topic; Milton showed photos of his (their) dog, discovered snoozing beside sleeping Anne-Marie, having hopped into bed while Milton had popped out for a piss. Grum showed images of his hybrid pup.  Sando assured us that a dog is better than a wife; always glad to see you when you get home, never minding if you’re late and greeting you just as heartily whenever you roll in, having popped out for 5 minutes or all night.  Grum pointed out (fact?) that dogs have no perception of time passed and so are equally pleased you see you whenever you return.


Ghil’ad Zuckermann and John Potter.
 
Dates for Aboriginals in Australia were discussed with Ghil’ad claiming there is evidence for a presence on Eyre Peninsula about 40,000 years ago, but not by the current or most recent aboriginal inhabitants.  Potter mention a figure like 100,000 years being reported recently and Ghil’ad ridiculed the suggestion.

Discussion about Aboriginal languages (initiated by a question to Ghil’ad) led slowly to Hebrew and the Bible and God.  Richard Dawkins would have been encouraged by the aggressive atheism of about half the group.  Silence from some may have indicated some level of faith and a couple confessed to doubting agnosticism.

Ghil’ad’s difficulty in understanding some jokes, most likely a result of not having been culturated to British/Australian humour, was interesting.  The collective for a group of prostitutes, ‘An anthology of Pros’, that Potter offered, had to be dissected and explained to him.  Grum calling the equator ‘an imaginary lion running around the earth’ was quite beyond him.

The pudding, one of the best in recent months, if only for NOT being Pavlova again, sported chocolate sails, here tested for tacking qualities by Wayne. Grum and Sando to his right.
 

Phil Grummet and Wayne Anthoney.

Discussion of Be Your Age shows took some time to work out when the first show occurred; 2006 then 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 was finally settled upon.  For Ghil’ad’s amusement Wayne recounted the sketch about Mary and Joseph finding Basil Fawlty running the Inn.  Leo claimed he’d proposed the punch line for the very clever and witty sketch, which Wayne had written, and Wayne conceded it was Leo’s idea to call the Christ child Basil rather than Jesus.

 
Bill Kay, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, John Potter, Milton Wordley.

The best breakfast in Adelaide, says Ghil’ad, is to be had at Balaboosta (289 Halifax St) and on one of his visits he discovered that Wilf Prest lives almost next door.  Ghil’ad discussed the root of the word, Balaboosta, tracing it back to Yiddish which derived it from Hebrew.  This surprised some folks who think the café is run by Arabs or similar.  It’s an alternative form of baleboste the feminine form of balebos which means ‘master of the house’.   So it means ‘mistress of the house’ ‘ideal housewife’, etc.

Milton asked a seemingly simple question that nobody could find an answer to; ‘Exactly when did white become better than black?’  Potter suggested it began with the Middle Eastern religion arriving in Europe and the resulting paintings of Christ all being of a white European man.  Ghil’ad was sure it arose more recently and was to do with the hegemony of western European nations.

APRIL

Hogarth: Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Attending: (10 persons): Wayne Anthoney, Leo Davis, Bill Kay, Paul Kolarovich, John McGowan, Ian Sando, Neville Sloss, Arwed Turon, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Milton Worley.  (Stewards withdrew 3 nominations, close to barrier call, on Veterinarian advice).

Apologies: (20 persons): Bob Adams, Tony Brooks, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Rob George, Phil Grummet, Samela Harris, Tony Parkinson, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnston; Andy Ligertwood, Bob McKenney, Rob Morrison, Ed Pegge, John Potter, Wilf Prest, Geoff Shepherd, Dave Turner.

Noting the recent destructive fire (last Monday evening Adelaide time) in Notre Dame Cathedral led to discussion of the wealth of the Catholic Church.  That led to the proposition that the person with the greatest knowledge of where that wealth lies is Cardinal George Pell which led questioning the accuracy of legal decisions which led to observations about Geoffrey Rush winning a defamation action, against media outlets, this week.

Bill Kay, a professional in architectural restoration, suggested that it will take 20 years to restore Notre Dame Cathedral.


Pre dinner oiling.  Milton Wordley, Ian Sando, Bill Kay, John McGowan, Wayne Anthoney, Neville Sloss, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.


Bill Kay, John McGowan, Wayne Anthoney, Arwed Turon.


Milton Wordley, master lamb chef, Neville Sloss.

A round of applause was called for when it became known that the lass above had cooked the lamb dishes.


Vegans are a clear minority at table and the wonderfully tender slow cooked legs and shoulders of lamb were relished and much praised.  They also offered artefacts for making informed academic points. 
 

It was agreed that Leo should be toasted for his nearly twenty years' worth of Hogarth Club photographing and note-taking. Leo has said on several occasions that he cannot include all the notes he took over the years, for fear of libel actions and subsequent incarceration. He therefore has to REDACT his own notes.

John McGowan, Milton Wordley, Bill Kay, Arwed Turon.

Milton brought an aged Cabernet which he generously shared around table.  As a knowledgeable and discerning drinker, he’d had I slightly chilled by Jolley’s staff before being opened.  After John McGowan had shared a sparkling red with us (see below) Milton told us that when he travels to Europe he always takes a few outstanding bottles of the wine style because that’s what his winemaker and writer friends are looking for.  The style is not made in Europe.  This surprised most at table though some were aware that fortified Muscat is an Australian speciality.


Arwed Turon, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Paul Kolarovich.

A small problem arose before it was realised there were two alternate and excellent desserts served.  Before this became clear there were complaints of ‘Where is my chocolate slice?’  


Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Neville Sloss, Wayne Anthoney (wearing, as pointed out by Ghil’ad, the same colour shirt as his) John McGowan, Bill Kay (obscured), Arwed Turon.

McGowan brought a sparkling red to celebrate the 21^st birthday (a couple of days hence) of his grandson.  He spoke of this with lovely pride and affection.

A toast to John McGowan’s grandson.

Ghil’ad told some of some of his father’s experiences as an Italian Jew, in Italy during WWII, and the extreme hunger he’d experienced.  Post war he felt hunger for something like five years and bolted his food at every meal.  Arwed spoke of the privations of his relatives in Berlin at the close of WWII.

A discussion was conducted about the impossibility of persons distancing their opinions from their cultural and political background.  Ghil’ad reported that he’d had 50 (he repeated ‘Five Zero’ to make it clear) reviews of his most recent academic book.  In each case he learned more, in reading them, about the reviewer than his work.  And then an example arose right there at table with quite opposite views of the artistic and moral integrity of Leni Riefenstahl making her documentaries, most famously of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

MAY

Hogarth: Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Attending: (7 persons): Bob Adams, Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, Tony Parkinson, John Potter, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.

Apologies: (22 persons): Wayne Anthoney (idling in Europe), Tony Brooks (on the same continent as Wayne), Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Malcolm Elliott, Rob George (also in Europe), Samela Harris, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnston, Paul Kolarovich (another tourist in Europe), Andy Ligertwood, John McGowan, Nigel Hopkins, Rob Morrison, Ed Pegge, Wilf Prest, Ian Sando, Geoff Shepherd, Neville Sloss, Arwed Turon, Milton Wordley.


Tony Parkinson, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Bob Adams.

Surprising interests and doings were revealed.  Tony Parkinson sailed in the Sydney Hobart race of 1999.  The boat, on which he was helmsman for much of the trip, had to put into Eden because of bad weather and was one  of the later arrivals of 49 of the 79 boat fleet that made it to Hobart.  He had a substantial pokeys win in Eden and promised to put it on the bar in Hobart if they arrived before some arbitrary deadline that was set.  He lost his bet and money because the deadline was met by a few minutes.  At Constitution Dock Parky succeeded in a ruse convincing Dick Smith that he owned the boat he was crewing.  Dick (who stupid Leo confused with Dick Lang) offered to buy the boat if and when Tony was in a selling mood.


Tony Parkinson, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.

Ghil’ad, we found, is a petrol head, desperate to test the top speed of his car, which he cannot do with current speed limits.  He was thrilled to hear of the closed track at Tailem Bend, a town he had no knowledge of, which he may pay to use to test his car and nerve.  Tony gave him details.


Bil Kay, Phil Grummet, Tony Parkinson, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, John P{otter, Bob Adams.

Slow cooked beef cheek went down well.  A choice of dessert had some swapping going on. 
Ghil’ad showed us a video featuring a melon, in a SE Asian setting, called something like farqueue which prompted predicable responses from tourists when they asked ‘What’s that called?’



Tony had brought a wine more for the text on its label than the contents.  He read it to us.


Tony Parkinson, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, John P{otter, Bob Adams.

A cheese platter to finish the meal was a welcome surprise. 
Inquiries about sourcing non alcoholic drugs were a surprise from lads of such advanced years.


Ghil’ad Zuckermann, John Potter.

Potter, well tied, even when undone, had a lovely variant on the school boy caught having said ‘Tickle your arse with a feather’ claiming he’d said ‘Particularly nasty weather.’



Ghil’ad had copies of his new Barngarla Alphabet & Picture Book for all of us.  It was launched in Port Lincoln on May 25 and Port Augusta on May 27.
 

JUNE

Hogarth: Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Attending: (13 persons): Wayne Anthoney, David Beaumont, Mark Coleman, Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, Bob Lott, John Potter, Wilf Prest, Ian Sando, Geoff Shepherd, Arwed Turon, Milton Wordley.

Apologies: (17 persons): Bob Adams, Tony Brooks, Keith Conlon, Rob George, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnston, Paul Kolarovich, Andy Ligertwood, John McGowan, Rob Morrison, Mike Norman, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, Neville Sloss, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.



Geoff Shepherd, Wilf Prest, John Potter, Mark Coleman, Arwed Turon, David Beaumont, Bob Lott, Phil Grummet, Milton Wordley, Ian Sando.

Today’s gathering was unexpectedly large with Wilf Prest able to please us with his attendance despite having submitted an apology.


Mark Coleman, Bill Kay, Arwed Turon, David Beaumont.

The very slow cooked beef cheek was much appreciated and perhaps well suited to older dentition.


Geoff Shepherd, Wilf Prest, John Potter,

The gathering was too large for all to be involved in a single conversation and the two chaps who spoke to the whole table both battled the usual heckling and were unable to grab or hold every all diners’ attention.

An entertaining tale was told of the theft of a car, of some sentimental value, and attached trailer,  There were several thousands of dollars worth of tools, some of those having sentimental value, in the boot of the car and brand new tires on the trailer.  The tools were never recovered but car and trailer were located, a considerable distance apart, mainly undamaged.  Another yarn, from more than 50 years ago, was of a sister of a teller, employed as a teenager, in a NE suburbs pharmacy.  When a customer asked for Durex she supplied the well known adhesive tape, a matter the unsatisfied customer took to the pharmacist himself for satisfaction.  When the customer was gone the pharmacist showed the naïve lass where the ‘Home entertainment section’ of the pharmacy was located.  By pure chance today the teller of the tale was sitting at table beside that pharmacist.

Arwed Turon, David Beaumont, Bob Lott, Phil Grummet.

Architectural matters, particularly heritage, and then to do with theatres, were considered, this partly due to the presence of Bill Kay’s guest, respected architect and one time leader of The National Trust.

Wayne Anthoney, one of our waiting staff, Geoff Shepherd.

Wayne was quieter than usual today.  He’d made a special effort to be with us having recently endured a bout of influenza piled on top of a continuing outbreak of shingles.  The shingles was so uncomfortable that he and Meredith had been forced to cut short a holiday in Europe and return to SA.

JULY

Hogarth:Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, July 18, 2019.

Attending: (11 persons): Bob Adams, Wayne Anthoney, Tony Brooks, Leo Davis, Rob George, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, Paul Kolarovich, Bob Lott, John Potter, Ian Sando.

Apologies: (15 persons):  Arwed Turon, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Samela Harris, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Jacobs, Michael Johnston, Andy Ligertwood, John McGowan, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, Wilf Prest, Neville Sloss, Milton Wordley, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.


Bob Adams, John Potter, Bob Lott, Phil Grummet, Paul Kolarovich, Rob George Wayne Anthoney, Ian Sando.

The discovery of the remains of George Herbert Leigh Mallory in May 1990 came up and lengthy discussion of the May 1924 British expedition to Mt Everest followed.  It centered largely on the nature of equipment used, particularly clothing.  Australian born George Finch, reputed to be, with Mallory the greatest climber of the era, came into discussion.  He was an early pioneer of use of oxygen in climbing.

Tony Brooks, Bill Kay.

As one of the two at table associated with wineries Tony proposed a toast to a well-known ‘mad winemaker’ who is in the legal news again.

John Potter, Bob Lott, Phil Grummet

Phil Grummet, Paul Kolarovich, Rob George

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Wayne Anthoney, Ian Sando, Brooks

Here we see Wayne playing a lovely tune on an oversized wine bottle. Typical.

In reference to his recent visit to the island, Brooks’ bottle today was a fine example of the premier red Sicilian variety Nero D’Avola.  Even though we all agree the climate change lie is an invention of the Chinese, the variety is being planted here in increasing amounts.

Rob George, Wayne Anthoney, Ian Sando.

Wayne has been making a habit of priestly roles in recent years.  He had just returned from shooting at Port Augusta in which he has a part in a TV series, ‘Stateless’. 

Leo struggles as string theory and dark matter are explained by John Potter.
 

AUGUST

Hogarth:Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, August 15, 2019.

Attending: (11): Wayne Anthoney, David Beaumont, Mark Coleman, Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Andy Ligertwood, Bill Kay, John McGowan, Wilf Prest, Ian Sando, Arwed Turon.

Apologies: (15): Bob Adams, Keith Conlon, Rob George, Robert Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Johnston, Paul Kolarovich, Rob Morrison, Mike Norman, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, John Potter, Geoff Shepherd, Milton Wordley, Ghil’ad Zuckermann.


Arwed Turon (showing pics), Andy Ligertwood, Mark Coleman, David Beaumont, Ian Sando, Bill Kay.


John McGowan, Wilf Prest, Bill Kay, Arwed Turon (still showing pics).

John McGowan, Wilf Prest, Bill Kay.


Ian Sando, Phil Grummet.


Wayne Anthoney.



Andy Ligertwood, Leo Davis, Mark Coleman. (pic by Wayne;  phone).
 

SEPTEMBER

Hogarth:Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, September 18, 2019.

Attending: (10 persons): Bob Adams, Wayne Anthoney, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, John Potter, Ian Sando, Geoff Shepherd, Mark Coleman, Malcolm Elliot, David Beaumont.

Apologies: (18 persons):  Red Hodge, Paul Kolarovich, Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Sa Harris, Leo Davis, Wilf Prest, Mike Norman, Milton Wordley, Nigel Hopkins, Rob Morrison, Mike Johnston, Keith Conlon, Mike Jacobs, Andy Ligertwood, Arwed Turon, Brooks Himself, Rob George, John McGoon.

This gathering was notable for the absence of Leo, a very rare occurrence. Leo was apparently gathering nuts in may, mangelwurzels, or lesser variegated peonies deep in the Flinders Ranges.

Unfortunately your September Scribe W. Anthoney (me) unthinkingly chose to seat himself at the end of the table and thus missed out on a lot of the conversation. Furthermore I took but three photos, all from my seated position rather than darting about as Leo does.

However I was able to record a few snippets here and there. Pottsie read out a letter from me to him, sent when he was working in Kiribati in the mid Pacific, in 1985.

David Beaumont was admitted as a full member to our august club, having been brought along by Bill Kay on several occasions and reportedly having enjoyed himself greatly.

Part of David Beaumont, Geoff Shepherd, Malcolm Elliot, Grum, Pottsie, Ian Sando, Bill Kay's head. As aforementioned I did not hear what was being said, but it would appear that Grum's hearing aid battery is flat. Note the happy Jolley's staff in the background.

Bob Adams, Mark Coleman, David Beaumont, Geoff Shepherd, Malcolm Elliot

We count ourselves lucky to see Mark from now on, as he and his wife Leonie have transplanted themselves to Melbourne, to be near to their children and grandchildren. Mark had returned to take care of some business.

I asked the Gents to adopt a wild or extreme expression for this photo; this is as wild as it got.

OCTOBER

Hogarth:Downstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Attending: (7 persons): Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, David Beaumont, Ed Pegge, John McGowan, Milton Wordley, Wayne Anthoney

Apologies: (15 persons): Bob Adams, Mark Coleman (now living in Melbourne), Geoff Shepherd (beset by grandchildren), Andrew Lidgertwood (lecuring in China), Ghil'ad Zuckermann (teaching until 3), Mike Johnston, Ian Sando, Paul Kolarovich, Wilf Prest (busy), Mike norman (Thursdays are a big day for his U3A commitments), Sa Harris, Andrew bishop, John Potter, Leo Davis, Tony Parkinson.
 

Leaving approximately 10 persons who could not make up their minds.

We were the only patrons, as apart from us Jolley's was closed, in order for them to be able to prepare for a big function in the evening. Jolley nice of them to have us, we thought.

As Leo was unfortunately absent Wayne Anthoney (me) took some photos and Milton submitted a couple of far better ones. I am also writing these notes.

It was a robust lunch with much interesting discussion, as often happens when the group is small. Pegge, who is quite clearly in favour of the Brexit, tried to convince us in a loud voice that Boris Johnson is a brilliant chap. I for one was not convinced.

When the discussion turned to climate change I explained that most of the earth's atmospheric oxygen comes from the sea, produced by plankton. This came as a surprise to most of the gents. Of course trees also contribute.

Grum, Bill. Something about stage makeup.

This is a dreadful photo but as Leo was not here I decided to take a selfie, otherwise there would be no photo of me at the lunch

and that would not be a good idea in my opinion. I shall have to learn more about taking selfies, not that I want to.

McGoon, Pegge, Grum

The meal today was superb rare beef served on an extraordinary bed of assorted vegetables, herbs and spices

Our new member David Beaumont with Milton.

For some reason Mcgoon thought it would be funny to bring a fright mask to lunch and attempt to scare the piss out of everyone.

A good idea, I thought. It certainly worked on Pegge.

McGoon, Pegge, Grum, Bill

Pegge, McGoon's head, Wayne's nose, David, Grum, Bill

NOVEMBER

Hogarth:Upstairs at Jolley’s Boathouse, Thursday, November 21, 2019.

Attending: (21): Wayne Anthoney, Reno Aquilina, David Beaumont, Tony Brooks, Leo Davis, Rob George, Phil Grummet, Joost den Hartog, Michael Johnston, Bill Kay, Paul Kolarovich, Andy Ligertwood, Bob Lott, Rob Morrison, Tony Parkinson, Ed Pegge, John Potter, Wilf Prest, Ian Sando, Arwed Turon,  Ghil‘ad Zuckermann.

Apologies: (8): Bob Adams, Mark Coleman, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Nigel Hopkins, Michael Jacobs, John McGowan, Bob McKenney, Milton Wordley.

Tony Parkinson, David Beaumont, Reno Aquilina, Ghil‘ad Zuckermann, Phil Grummet. Paul Kolarovich, Mick Johnston, Ian Sando, Bill Kay.

Arwed Turon, Wilf Prest, Andy Ligertwood, John Potter, Joost den Hartog, Wayne Anthoney, Ed Pegge, Rob Morrison.


Tony Parkinson, Tony Brooks, David Beaumont, Reno Aquilina (Brook’s guest today).


Tony is freewheeling with one of his yarns.  He had started, introduced by Brooks, with a reading of funnies from his phone.  That stirred others to dig into their repertoires and deliver with varying degrees of competence, some less than Tony’s; but all raised laughter.

The cleverest joke of the day was told by Ghil’ad, off piste, before we settled at table.  An apparently true story, it involved the Dutch Prime Minister substituting an English word when he meant to say, to President Kennedy, simply, ‘Ik fok paarden.  Ask him about it.


John Potter, Joost den Hartog, Ed Pegge, Rob Morrison, Bob Lott, Paul Kolarovich.

Bob Lott offered to make his Holden Street premises available for our December 19 gathering and the offer was accepted with cheerful applause.

Joost den Hartog, his father-in-law Wayne Anthoney, Ed Pegge.


Phil Grummet. Paul Kolarovich, Mick Johnston. Plain, check or stripe, it’s blue this season.


Tony Brooks, David Beaumont, Reno Aquilina, Ghil‘ad Zuckermann.


Proof of the mood lifting effect of a smoke under the City Bridge is demonstrated by Pegge and Bill.  The current bridge was constructed, in 1931, to replace earlier versions, dating to 1856, that were simply not suited to the recreation habits of modern gents.


Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Phil Grummet. Paul Kolarovich and the waitress who took the group photo.


Seated: Arwed Turon, Andy Ligertwood, John Potter, Joost den Hartog, Ed Pegge, Rob Morrison, Bob Lott, Tony Parkinson, Tony Brooks, David Beaumont, Reno Aquilina, Ghil‘ad Zuckermann, Phil Grummet. Paul Kolarovich, Mick Johnston, Ian Sando, Bill Kay. Standing: Rob George, Leo Davis.  Lots of blue shirts today.

One of the waitresses noted that today was our last Jolleys lunch of the year and volunteered to take a group photo.

Ian Sando, Bill Kay, Rob George, Arwed Turon (saying farewell after winning ‘Tie of the day’).

 

DECEMBER 

Christmas Hogarth: Holden Street Theatre, Thursday, December 19, 2019.

Attending: (11): Wayne Anthoney, David Beaumont, Tony Brooks, Leo Davis, Phil Grummet, Bill Kay, Bob Lott, Rob Morrison, Ed Pegge, John Potter, Ian Sando.

This, my 20^th consecutive Christmas Hogarth, was the smallest and least jolly.  Numbers were down, we are all that little older, and we did not have an antique bass drum entry from Keith, magic tricks from Humboldt (and McGoon), readings from Dylan Thompson, 19^th century rhymes, etc.  And some of our best raconteurs and jokers were absent or silent.  Perhaps only three Carols were sung, not all that tunefully, none from this Continent; How not good is Australia! 

(Wayne: 1. Who is Dylan Thompson? 2. It certainly was not a rollick like last year's Christmas lunch but I personally enjoyed it very much.)

At front: Bob Lott, Wayne Anthoney, Ian Sando, Phil Grummet, David Beaumont. Way back: Bill Kay, Rob Morrison, Ed Pegge.

The pre dinner nibbles were the best we’ve ever had at Holden Street and seemed to be endless in supply.  And the main meal, pudding and cheeses were very satisfying.  Seconds were delivered to our emptying plates and lads were so full that offers of more turkey were turned down, despite its high quality.

Tony Brooks, Wayne Anthoney, Rob Morrison, Bill Kay, Ed Pegge.

Rob Morrison and Ed Pegge posing for a requested record of friendship.

Tony Brooks and Wayne Anthoney. 

Wayne is not reading his very droll Jewish Buddhist material here.  Nor telling the Irish Goalkeeper joke.

(Wayne: But I did read the droll Jewish Buddhist material at some point. I do not know the Irish Goalkeeper joke.)

In previous years Pegge has had to be dragged to the podium, like the newly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, but this year he was up before we noticed with another enjoyable reading, performance, of ‘Rindercella and her sugly isters’.

The full spectrum of the climate change debate was represented, even in such a small gathering, not necessarily arguing fully logically, at either end.  One hot day does not prove a trend but on the hottest December day ever recorded, in Adelaide, one might have smiled at the certainty that there are no ill effects to fear in coming years.  Those who have grandchildren (some kept from today’s muster because of them) must hope so.

Given attendances at Holden Street in the previous five years Bob has hosted us at Holden St., (25, 24, 24, 22, 20), he quite reasonable arranged catering for 20 persons.  Some of us had more pressing commitments than Hogarth and so, with just 11 paying customers Bob was out of pocket for how much we do not know.