2025 GFC at the Tas Club - October has come and nearly gone without the deflation promised

 When Ernie Shackleton said he wanted to be remembered for being a sensible man, good to his men, and 'not to have been called Ernest for nothing'. So it was at the session at the Tas Club yesterday, as the memory of the man spilled from the GFC to the groaning table, laden with the wine and food that Ernie would have liked to have with all that 100 bottles of whiskey he had stored away.

Image: from the original of the Endurance stuck in ice

Image: Fenton Jones's partly complete rendition of Endurance - 500 brass tacks yet to impale

But after a huge one hour session of forced refreshments in the bar, we repaired (I wonder why they say that? I certainly required some repair today, but not at 1pm Wednesday) to the main dining room.

The Gong was only used 3 times (and then staff warned me) as a call to dine, not to curtail the valid discussion.

They say one should eat for oneself, and dress for others. It was certainly an occasion made better by those present being dressed, and even better by their quality of fit out

Image: Brother Kozlow in session on 'Summer Holidays'

Glad to have a short prayer session before dining, Brother Warner led us in the Lord's Prayer - 'Be we ever so humble...'

Image: Brother Paltos flew in from crippled Victoria, now under insolvency administration, to warn us of the risk of not spending our way out of potential recession.

This, an image of Brother Marshall Kimber's Astor Hotel, taken today, showing how good it was in the 1929 recession. New fit out expected to be purchased this coming downturn, when liquidators will be busy

Image: stunning scenes in St David's Park - the green of the new leaves set against the blackened trunks - with the hottest and sunniest day of spring (so far) made for a pleasurable walk to collect the car

Brother Rosa came from the Northern Hemisphere to join us at the Club, and also enjoyed the walk in the park that it has all become. Beware the Ides of March.

So, we had a full table of 22 and the chef Stephen excelled in imitation producing the Erin Patterson Mushroom Surprise Beef Wellington - Paddy Hodgman commented "It is very possibly the best beef wellington I have ever had" - and that from a man who fought with Wellington in the big battle.

But now, the cutting up of the pie, as it were.

Rubbery figures (remember that on the ABC, back in the time when Australia was spruked by the treasurer of the day to be a Banana Republic?), as I'm sure we have been let off one or too of those last refreshments taken in the bar after lunch at around 5pm:

All I can say is 'who wasted that share of the gross domestic product on coke?

$3,049 / 22 = $137.68

Please pay to my account by Pay ID under my phone number 0419 434 665 or email address phillip.kimber@gmail.com

or transfer to the same account 067 167  a/c 1122 6317

Your early attention will please the business manager himself.

Returning, lastly, to Shackleton and in further encouragement to enjoy everything in moderation, including excess, this story about Ernie's last words:

Macklin suggested to Shackleton that he “take things easier in the future”, to which the reply was: “You are always wanting me to give up something, what do you want me to give up now?” These were the last words spoken by Sir Ernest Shackleton. A few moments later he suffered a fatal heart attack.

The lesson for us: don't give up on life, its the best thing we have yet.

All the best for the balance of Springtime, and may summer provide fresh memories for our future enjoyment.