FW: The Empire Strikes Back - de-night of de-bate

Yes,  Tuesday night belonged to the autocracy, aristocracy and the "good old days"of the Raj, Rudyard Kipling and the British Empire - despite the efforts of the enlightened few [the losing team].

So congratulations to TimH, Brendon,Pam and Jessica, from Debs,Olivia,Erika and Gerry.

A good time was had by all, [I think] Personally I always enjoy debate evenings, and really we don't have enough of them. 

Table Topics was administered  by Erika, on the the how did we manage without... theme.

Pam, tried to remember the good old days when there were no computers [funny that, because not many minutes previously she had been turning back the clock quite happily].

Richard [visiting royalty] tried to remember life without a cellphone. Personally I had only to remember my life earlier in the day. Really, anyone would think the world would end without a cellphone.

Debra, life without coffee, she seems to look pretty good without it, but she may have other habits!

Brendan, I can't remember whether he was locked in or out or if it was his car or  home.

Olivia's vegetable essentials may have caused a vitamen deficiency. The thing about growing things in the garden, they work when you sleep, or work or do other things. 

Another first for Rga toastmasters followed supper. We had two general evaluations!

A pep talk from Richard Area Governor concluded a rather extended evening. 

Finally welcome Jessica and Brendon, we're glad to have you both on board.

See you all next week.  Gerry

FW: Last Tuesday's Mixture

Hello fellow toastmasters. We enjoyed another verbal variety last Tuesday.

After a bright and breezy opening from Sue, who spoke I think about the Society for Starfish Protection [Save the Starfish]. TimH treated us to tales from the High Country, and Copy Cat Farmers - I wonder if they do the same for colonic irrigation as for the more visible kind? 

Ellie took us down the generation road, I always consider the baby boomers as the younger generation, but they seem to be leading towards the same path as I'm on. Remind me Ellie what generation I'm in, [and I'm not alone - no names no pack-drill]. 

I spoke for 11 min 18 - and did not practice what I preached [or is it prawt] - however I did sort of ask for permission to do so.

Ellie doubled up [metaphorically speaking] as table topics master. TimH globally warned us off I think. I can't help remembering the year 2k bug. Thanks for the common sense Tim. Corran spent a couple of minutes not really knowing if NZ was safer than others or not. On balance I think he wasn't sure. Gerry gave an in depth treatise on rating interest. They will I am sure go up or down.

Jessica spoke authoritively and gave a cautionary tale about sprinklers. Sue looked forwards 12 months as to whether smacking or not was a good thing, she was on the side of love and kindness.

Ray gave us an excellent run down on the Area Convention. I can confirm what Ellie said about  conventions.

After the farm bake supper [I propose making TimH permanent toastmaster] Ah those lemon curd [or cheese] tarts [I had one in duplicate]. We were entertained by Mike King no sorry Corran Vincent. Less every day, elderly people cohabiting etc.  

A word of advice for the soap box presenter. Ray keep your speeches separate. I always do ever since I mixed my speech to the institute of lawyers with that of the prison inmates association [although they  were  similar speeches]. However Ray did sort himself out, and used such phrases as 'the cork is the gateway to the mystique' - and I learned what a stevlin closure was and how it is now favoured by Ray. The subject was the whine - sorry I misspelt it - wine culture. 

After the usual reveal of our good and bad point by the evaluators, and a surprisingly first time timer's report by Pam we came to the end of yet another evening at Rangiora High. 

I've taken the liberty of attaching the notes of my educational - but you don't have to read 'em. 

NEXT WEEK DEBATE NIGHT - IT'S ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN COME ALONG AND JOIN IN.

Regards to all, Gerry. 

 

FW: Tuesday Night

 

    After three weeks absence preceded by email and computer problems I feel I'm getting back to normal if living in a new house with jim the builder working on the deck and a blank vista of now damp soil waiting to be turned into an oasis of... I'll not go on, although we have grown some late-early potatoes that eat very well.

 So it was another night of toasties highlighted with a persuasive argument in favour of a pack of hungry dogs and about fifty people on horses chasing one fox - sorry Ray I'm only joking, it was a good speech. Also we heard how not to make money in the mag business. Praps the title should have just a little hint of sex or violence, or better still sex and violence Erika?.

Corran in his inimitable style welcomed us, and Pam in hers kept the show on the road, and Pam, never, never suggest you only just remembered the bikkies and milk.   

Our speakers knew what they were talking about and therefore were confident of their words.

TimR did not disappoint in his choice of table topics, but really Tim asking the evaluator up first its not on you know, just not cricket. Gerry had definite ideas of what to do with a chauffeur driven hire car. Whilst first time Jessica was not over-awed,  and quite explicit in telling us of her secret passion. Brendan another first timer for Rga was allowed to criticise - and praise - Rangiora. Whilst it was Coals to Corran, he even dragged humour out of the black stuff. Ellie explained and demonstrated the derivation and history of the hooter. Neil completed the table topics with some eco reporting on bio-security [I thought he said biro security].

At supper we ate all the choccie bikkies, sorry Pam, but surely you didn't really think that wouldn't happen. [I am not allowed them at home because they don't have the heart tick]

And so concluded a another good night in the High School Library.

See you all at Ray's on Saturday night.  Regards, Gerry