Almanac Life: Saving the world and improving football, one lunch at a time (Some tongue in cheek thoughts in support of the lunch)
Last Tuesday 28th April I was out to lunch with the Linke Lot (see comments below). It was a lively lunch full of good humour. Imbibing several $6 schooners each helped us solve many of the AFL’s problems.
Thinking about this lunch a day later sans foggy mind, and the couple of other lunch engagements I have scheduled over the next couple of weeks, has stimulated my writing of this piece.
It dawned on me that these days I seem to go out a lot for lunch far more often than dinner. It wasn’t planned that way. It just sort of happened. When I pause to think about it, I am surprised by how many different lunch groups I am involved with and the range of places we meet. Some are casual, others a bit more organised. Some cross state borders.
Bit mind boggling really.
There’s the Irregulators Lunch Mob made up of mostly retired six to a dozen or so professional males who were previously in a broad spectrum of roles in the compliance, security and public safety space – mostly in a managerial capacity. I’m possibly the only outsider in the group who was not specifically in this area of work as a profession, so I’m an invited member by virtue of knowing several members for many years. For a long time, we met at the Dahu Peking Duck restaurant in Chinatown (its high ceilings made it easy to be heard). But since its recent closure, we are investigating other options. Preferably a BYO which the group favours.
The Irregulators Mob – age has not wearied them but the years may have condemned
The newly formed Tassie Devils Lunch Club is yet to favour a specific establishment and is still in venue testing mode. Thus far, it has met intermittently at P J O’Brien’s Irish pub on Southbank and more recently at the Sherlock Holmes on Collins Street. The group consists of expatriate Tasmanians whose AFL loyalties may differ, but we’ve firmly behind the new Devils. Foundation members every one of us and our hearts beat green and true for the newly formed Devils.
The Lygon Street Round Table is a smaller, looser group, just me and a few mates of Italian extraction. We meet now and then at Papa Gino’s. Conversation usually turns to football, especially Collingwood and Carlton, and lately the downward spiral of the Blues has been copping a bit of attention.
Left to right -Chair of the Lygon Street Round Table, Luigi (Lou) Torelli and the writer. This time attending an Almanac AFL grand final lunch at the Royal Melbourne Hotel.
Unlike Groucho Marx*, when I can, I also go to lunches connected to clubs and organisations which have accepted me as a member. The Footy Almanac group used to meet at the North Fitzroy Arms and now gathers mostly at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond. Their annual AFL Grand final lunch at the Royal Melbourne Hotel is a highlight.
The Australian Cricket Society runs regular lunches too, often with great guest speakers. The next lunch is the annual footy lunch on May 8th with Luke Ball, ABC commentator and former St Kilda and Collingwood player. Should be a great event.
Then there is the Lords Taverner’s, both in Melbourne and Geelong.
I’ve recently joined the Melbourne Celtic Club, so I expect a few more luncheons will find their way into my calendar.
There’s what I have called the Linke Lot (see reference above), because the number of Linke family member’s attending outnumber the rest of us. We meet from time to time on a Tuesday at the Great Western Hotel in Geelong. Perhaps we should be called the Tuesday $6 Schooners Lunch Lot! In theory, we solve the world’s problems – politics, economic, social, Donald Trump, – talk footy and debate the AFL administration and its woes. So far no one seems to be following our advice.
Left to right – members of the Linke Lot, the writer, Peter Linke (former player with Hawkesdale, Port Fairy, Geelong, Geelong West), Darrel Linke (former Penshurst player), Brian Schultz (former player with Warracknabeal, St Marys, St Peters, Bell Post Hill and Torquay), Jason Costello (former player with Bell Post Hill and Lorne).
When I visit Tasmania each year, I usually lunch with former football teammates and old school friends at their regular get togethers at the Maypole Hotel or the Park Hotel.
On visits to Brisbane to visit my daughter I have lunch with friends at the Brisbane German Club. I also try to manage lunch with friends and former work colleagues from my Darwin days at the Alexandra Heads Surf Club near Mooloolaba. One of these is Richard ‘Dick’ Turpin who is now an Almanac contributor.
Left to right – the writer, Lindsay Mulder and ‘Dick’ Turpin at the Alexandra Heads Surf Club.
When I lived in Canberra for many years I was an original member of the Happy’s Restaurant Lunch Group which, for nigh on 30 years now, still meets every second Wednesday. I’m usually in Canberra a couple of times a year and enjoy those very convivial catch-ups.
Am I a lunch animal – well, possibly. But in truth, they’re spread across days and months so they are mostly manageable. I don’t make them all but I do my best. At this point I want to emphasise to readers that I do lots of other things in my day to day life other than seek out lunch opportunities.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy dinner engagements. Sitting down in the evening with a good glass of red vino or a beer, in good company, is hard to beat. But more and more I’m finding lunch suits me better.
For one thing I’m less keen on driving at night these days. Lunch is usually cheaper as well and I don’t drink as much (I do fail at times however!). It seems easier too, when the bill comes. There’s less or no fuss about who had what and therefore the bill is able to be shared evenly.
Another thing is food. I just can’t eat a heavy meal at night like I used to. A big dinner now often leads to a restless night. Going to bed on a full and bloated belly causes gas eruptions and the build-up of phlegm. Lunch feels lighter, easier and is probably healthier too.
Usually it’s quieter too. At dinner, some restaurants are noisy and it’s not always easy to hear, especially for those mates of mine now wearing hearing aids. How often are you out to dinner when someone complains about not hearing the conversation? It’s quite frustrating all round and takes the edge off a bit. I do admit though, that some luncheon venues can also be noisy.
Then there’s the small stuff. I find menus are generally easier to read in daylight. No need to pull out the phone torch to see what’s on offer. Trying to read the blasted small printed menu in a dimly lit restaurant is most annoying.
Also, I don’t get lost during the day when trying to find an eating establishment I haven’t visited before. I’m not sure if it’s my phone’s GPS or me. But I wonder about its accuracy sometimes. Once when trying to locate a restaurant in Melbourne city my phone took me to a discount pharmacy.
Recently, we had some friends from the Sunshine Coast drop in to visit us mid-afternoon. After the usual chat and coffee, it was suggested we go out for dinner. It was only 4 pm so we were able catch the Happy Hour at the ‘FarmDog Brewery’ and grab a meal at nearby Mavs Greek restaurant. Both establishments were not crowded, it was still light so the menu could be read, the prices were good, we split the bill down the middle and we were able to finish up before dark. Bliss!
Mm, perhaps the occasional dinner out is still okay – provided it is an early one!
So…anyone for lunch?
*Groucho Marx famously once said: ‘I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as a member’.
To read more by Allan Barden click Here.
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Cracking read Allan! There is certainly something special about catching up with a few mates for a chat over lunch. Catch up soon.