Teaching Civilisation to the barbarian

The Devil makes work for Idle’s hands

So to Adelaide, where the Chair of the Wines & Spirits Committee is about to commence something resembling full time employment whilst Ruby is entrusted to professionals during the business hours of the day. All in all, a quite important turn of events in Ruby’s short life thus far, and also important for Marie, who had a bonding lunch with her new team on Saturday with Ruby in tow. All the VC had to remember to do was to do the shopping, as the Adelaide abode was bereft of provisions.

A simple enough task, one would have thought, but what should the CWSC find upon her return? No food, the car engine still cold and the VC unmoved bar the visit to the cellars to choose a bottle of wine for the afternoon which was spent playing Civilisation, a computer game which can last for days if the quest for global domination goes well. As the VC said to me only yesterday, “It’s lucky Ruby likes cold Chinese food for breakfast. And that I was wearing a suit of armour when Marie got home.” And to think that the VC feels hard done by the soubriquet “Idle Vice”…..

Tempus Pro Blendio

Not a classical method for testing the nose of a port, I would respectfully suggest.

No Captain, surely not the sherry as well?

Save time on port blending by decanting both of your ropey old bottles of port at the same time

It’s not only the Cox who lays claim to that of master vintner of the WRC (and laid out guests who historically over-imbibed on her splendid vintages of yesteryear). As the above picture taken at the AGM shows, the Captain of Boats celebrated hosting the first Annual General Meeting since 2004 by creating his own blend of port for the occasion, which the VC and Chairman sampled following the early departure of the Captain due to over-exercising, the ladies having forsook the port for the sake of their relative sobriety. Following on from the last efforts the club made in the field of blending drinks, this could properly be considered a success. Even if the Captain's blend was a tad tart.

It was seven years ago today....

Close but no cigar - The WRC at the wedding of the Chairman to the First Lady in 2002

Congratulations to the Vice Chairman & the Chair of the Wines and Spirits Committee on the occasion of their wedding anniversary. It seems like only 7 years ago, I’m sure you will all agree. As I do not have any digital images at my workplace of their own nuptial celebration, you will have to make do with a picture of your correspondent’s own wedding, which followed two years later. At least Ed & Marie are on it, and were hugely helpful with our own wedding, as I hope we were with theirs. And to think, this momentous occasion will pass without a drop passing their lips, the VC & CWSC being on a self-imposed detox as a result of mild over-indulgance whilst in Blighty. Worry not though , as the First Lady and I shall raise a toast in their honour this evening. Even if the occasion is a dry one in Adelaide.

The seventh (or eighth?) WRC AGM - 6.vii.2007

Attendees at the Annual General Meeting, the definitive contradiction in terms if there ever was one

The Chair of the Wines & Spirits Committee, who as ever did her job most ably as ever, and the Chairman sporting the newly commissioned WRC shemagh

The CWSC, the Treasurer and the First Lady prior to dinner

The 5th item on our extensive agenda

The VC posing with the loving cup

The Captain, just prior to his early departure

So, somewhat belatedly, the Chairman is delighted to reproduce for your entertainment pictures from the recent AGM held in Carterton. The Agenda ran to the customary seven courses, brilliantly executed by the Treasurer who worked very hard to ensure a splendid time was had by one and all. The Captain was keen to ensure a similar conclusion, but accidentally went to a dinner night the previous evening, thus precluding any assistance in respect of the forthcoming festivities by his own hand. Going out for a run at lunchtime on the day of the AGM cannot have helped much either, which proved to be a self-fulfilling prophecy after he fell asleep with a thud after the sixth course. No matter – we struggled on as a quintet following his early departure, which followed only shortly after that of the Secretary, who took the minutes at her first AGM, the first for three years and the first minutes taken in joined-up handwriting. Toasts to absent friends were drunk from the newly commissioned WRC loving cup, as were toasts to our hosts, the Club and the Queen, after which the CWSC, First Lady and Treasurer went out for a swift Romeo y Julieta with Aligene whist the VC and Chairman washed up and looked after the children. And to think, this is only the first AGM due to be held this year. Even when it rains, as it does in a biblical fashion as your correspondent writes, the sun always shines on the Witham.

The Chap Olympiad (with the Chairman & Captain)

The Captain of Boats and the Chairman at the Chap Olympics - Hats and smoking are almost compulsary on such occasions

The Captain approaching his lady during "Bounders"

What a bounder - on the receiving end of a glass of Champagne from Dame Fforbes

Hello girls! I think we might be a little late this evening (and the Captain's just pulled)

Competing In the freestyle dash (c) Getty Images

I am always flattered to hear from members that the collective goings of the WRC and its diverse membership are a source of amusement to others who have never met members such as the First Lady or the Treasurer (grrrrr). As such, your correspondent is delighted share with his loyal readership a selection of images from an event the Chairman & Captain of Boats compeated in at the weekened, The Chap Olympiad held in Bedford Square, London. Such readers to which I allude may not be aware of the other collective musings of your correspondent, entitled Howards’ Way (same high quality writing, but less clique-y), which explains the history of this particularly British event, a gathering of exhibitionist eccentrics fuelled by free gin and up to no good for the benefit of the gathered crowds (700 plus) and the gathered media.

The result? Well, on the official photography site, images of either your correspondent or the Captain numbered 5.5% of the total (11 out of 200), one splendid entry on Getty Images and an appearance on YouTube. Oh, and a photograph of the two of us (one of only three featured) in the commuters gazette, the Metro. Suffice as to say that we got fried to the tonsils and fell asleep on the tube on the way home (yes, dressed as we are on the photographs, co-respondent shoes and all), but as I hope members and readers will concur, club honour was maintained and our profile raised once again. Will we be back? Suffice as to say we are planning our ensemble for next year already…

Leaving, on a jet plane.....

Mr Benn eat your heart out - The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the WRC at Howards End prior to the AGM/Henley weekend

It is with the deepest regret that the Chairman announces that the VC, CWSC & CFIC have departed from Blighty. It’s sure to have been a testing journey, and so to amuse the VC, a small reminder of the recent fun & frivolity. It goes without saying that it was lovely to see you all. Do feel free to come back if you ever have any more money or holiday.

Tempus Pro Cartergardenpartyio

The Vice Chairman back at his parental home with the Chair of the Wines & Spirits Committee and their daughter, the Chair of the Fine Arts Committee

The Captain of Boats and our host Richard

The Treasurer and First Lady, with the Vice Captain of Boats and a crocodile, which will presumably be made into a pair of the Captain's shoes one day

The Captain & VC, wearing the Captain's blazer

Our hostess & Cox, Beryl with the First Lady

Your corrospondent's parents at Carter Towers

Mixed weather greeted the Carter Garden Party held in honour of the visit of the VC, CWSC & CFAC to Lincoln on 24th June, which co-incided with the birthday of the WRC classics consultant, Bob Howard (BA, Oxon), who is endowed with both O-levels in Greek & Latin, which is no more than you would expect of any servant of the Club. Unsurprisingly, the food and drink were well up to the usual standard of fayre the Cox provides and also unsurprisingly, the Chairman, First Lady and parents were the last to leave. It was good to see not only the VC back at the parental home, but also the family Elliott, whose oldest daughter seems to be embracing all the best of family traits, those of a friendly, sociable & outgoing disposition and a marked disinclination towards going thirsty on such occasions.

Vivat Carters, and good to see the family pile back in good working order after the horrors of earlier this year.

Tempus Pro Belatedbirthdaygreetingsio

The Consul General's 3rd birthday party at the Ambassadorial Abode

The Consul General, appearing in a photoshoot straight out of a Bill Granger Book

The Bishops of Derby, Repton & Burton, the latter of whom was "Priested" over the weekend of the Consul General's birthday

Remember, remember the 1st of July. Or not, as the case may have it. Poppy’s birthday coincided with the ordination of the Bishop of Burton and numerous other events, and therefore was omitted from mention on this blog. The Chairman is quite contrite, and is delighted to reproduce for inspection two recent photographs of the Consul General thoughfully forwarded by her Mama, who appears to have changed her hair once again in much the same way her former consort did after his appearance on Crimewatch all those years ago when he shaved off his moustache. Belated happy birthday Poppy – and sorry for looking like I forgot.

Hooray! It's Henley.

The gathered members of the WRC next to the Club tent in the overflow carpark on the Wargrave Road

The Vice Chairman, Captain of Boats, Vice Captain of Boats, Secretary and First Lady in the boat tent area.

The Chair of the Fine Wines & Sprits Committee and Vice Chairman at lunch, whilst the Captain of Boats hoovers up a bagette with gusto

The Chair of the Fine Arts Committee being annointed with Pimm's by the Chairman, thus properly welcoming her to the Club

The First Lady sporting a pith, captured here with the Treasurer

The Chairman & Vice Chairman beneath regatta HQ, sporting the new WRC alternative headgear

So to Henley, for the 18th consecutive year of representation for what we now know and love as the WRC. A record year of attendance for club members was also very much the order of the day, with 6 adult and three junior members ensuring a comprehensive green and white presence on the towpath, and following a week of what could best be described as “changeable” meteorological conditions, we awoke on Saturday to brilliant sunshine which generally characterises red letter days in the club’s history. Despite the AGM having been held the previous evening, we managed to make it to Henley in record time, and after holing ourselves up in a car park about half a mile from the enclosures where we proceeded to have a splendid picnic during which absent friends were remembered, we visited the Regatta enclosure (no children allowed in the Stewards’) and walked as far as the barn bar where we stopped for a couple more bottles of fizz (the Champagne had sold out, would you believe). What with the junior members all seeming to enjoy the occasion and the Vice Chairman and Chair of the Wines & Spirits Committee being in attendance for the first time in recent years, it proved to be a vintage year, resulting in all four members who returned home by taxi sleeping throughout the proceedings due to the amount of fresh air we had enjoyed during the course of the day. Either that or we were sloshed, as custom would of course dictate.