'Twas 45 days prior to Christmas, and just a fortnight after Halloween. What would the GFC Members do with their time between buying up at the supermarket to entertain their family and enrich the cultural imperialists?
"I know" said Chris Cunningham - "have a GFC lunch at the Astor and explore the fragile existence we all have between birth in pain, and death in pain".
And so it was to be. The painful subjects were raised and dealt with, and general agreement forged (in the sense of being acknowledged and shaped, not in the sense of telling pork pies).
Waiter Bradley on behalf of maitre d'hotel Rocky Donaz assisted our GFC Survivors (you are nothing in Australia unless you can be described as having survived something, even if it is only death from which you have survived). Wonderful fare, fresh mushrooms recently imported from eastern Victoria - exporter image:
A few brave souls missed the lunch, due to engagements at their health clinics (some would appear to own such clinics, given the amount of time they need to spend in them). Fitzgibbon fresh from returning from the Indian cricket festival (and foot repair clinic), Haig caught up at 'work'. Paltos, still celebrating a win in the Melbourne Cup. Flanagan still under starters' orders. Hodgman resident in ACT for tax and free drug clinic reasons. Bowen P stamping his image on the Victorian society. Bourke S visiting his son at WAPA in Perth.
Meanwhile, discussion centred around the new raft of taxes and increases in taxes likely to assist in putting house ownership and even rental outside the reach of the new poor. John Upcher reminded the GFC Members of the Window tax: a property tax based on the number of windows in a house. It was a significant social, cultural, and architectural force in England, France, and Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries. To avoid the tax, some houses from the period can be seen to have bricked-up window-spaces (which can be (re)glazed later). In England and Wales it was introduced in 1696 and in Scotland from 1748. Apparently, Upcher advised, the State Treasury was again contemplating a Window Tax to capture more revenue for the coffers, whilst imposing only on glaziers and thoughtful GFC members who spend time in the 'hall of mirrors'.
So, in their absence, we celebrated.
Well, we celebrated until 5pm and then we slept in Hadley's Hotel front bar. Image: MD Simmons - replete
Initially a guest and now on the crew member list, Ian Warner of ISW debating the benefit of freedom around the neck or a bow tie, with J Julian Esq of number 1 Nixon St.
Image: the ISW logo - known worldwide as having some similarities to the IBM network
Max Reed entertained and amused the crew at the Astor Private Lounge - with adoring members critically analysing each word - for substance, content and accuracy. 8 out of 10
Head waiter Bradley taking notes, not for our orders for food and wine (which was pre-ordained in any event - steak, wine, beer) but rather notes for his Ph.D. in human intercourse. Kozlow T awaits Bradley having some spare time to pour a glass of wine...
Fay R contemplating more deeply that Douglas Adams's Deep Thought, the meaning of life, the universe and everything. His pamphlet on the subject will be released over the summer holiday season - already attracting significant attention in the London Review of Books.
Hugh Griffiths and Kimber M, both listening and talking at the one time. Americans? We can chew gum and walk at the same time.
Porter S, in the more fashionable garb of the Sydney trendoid, beside M Simmons, still in the pre 2020s striped regalia
Confronted with the reality of economic conditions and serious questioning about the inability of every member to have all of a shack, a home and a residential unit in another capital city, Hayden Peck, our onetime economic conditions informant sat seriously contemplating whether his broker income would be affected if more people started to live in tents in St David's Park.
Another Kimber (this on R) reviewing discussions from the back of his eyelids
Artist and dancer Kozlow T fresh from the concert halls of Europe, with his '70s shirt, nicely matching the stylistic hair arrangement and goatee beard. But do they call him Kozlow the dancer? No they do not!
M Tayor formerly CEO of Another Huge Bank, reflecting on his capital generating enough income whilst he is out of the office to pay for his 4 hour luncheon. "Yes, all good today" was Marcus's conclusion.
Julian J of the High Court of Nixon St, sporting the very fashionable (amongst gynaecologists) Bow Tie.
The bow tie, often considered the more playful cousin of the traditional necktie, has seen a dramatic transformation over the years. Once relegated to formal events and academia, bow ties have transcended their boundaries and now make powerful fashion statements. Sometimes.
Richard von Witt, renowned for his untested chess skill, plant identification abilities.
Honorary First Member (HFM) of the GFC, Larkey indicates the length and breadth of the famous GFC institution- bringing to mind the old one about 'marriage being an institution' - and 'who wants to live in an institution...'
And so it is with the peripatetic GFC Institute for Higher Economic Discourse.
Rosie Crosby (in company with Sarah Kimber of Nixon St) proposed a toast to the Astor Grill and immense skill of Rocky Donaz - giving his all to keep the shambolic
GFC Institute of Higher Economic Discourse on a safe and healthy diet of steak, red wine and beer. As John Kenneth Galbraith said of the GFC IHED - "
There is nothing new under the sun, those who do not reflect regularly on economics in the comfort of the Astor Grill are doomed to repeat the failures of previous economies". Wise words indeed from one of our patrons.
On the way home, for those who walked, past the Franklin Square fountain, one may have noticed the 'Banana Skin Floating in the Water' - a new art piece, likely to fetch in the order of $120,000 on initial release as a piece of cool non fungible investment. See for example, the duct-taped banana art work known as The Art Basel, currently selling for $183,000 in Miami. Get in first, pick up the Banana Skin Floating in the Water from the GFC HQ before the price goes higher, or human interest moves to tulips or south sea bubble companies.
Modern discourse, when not in the luncheon situation with observers able to encourage face to face talkie talkie.
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