Vice Presidential Prattle

Now I have finished my contract in Bristol, I can concentrate on being Vice President of 41 Club. Last weekend I met up with the other three VPs from the Round Table Family to plan our year. All seems well in hand and we are trying hard to avoid clashes.

My Presidential Liaison Committee - PLC for short - is up and running and we are sorting out finances, sponsorship, charity, transport, diary etc. I have great support from my 41 Club, Shirley Late Knights (that must be the best name in our association) and Shirley Tangent.

I have deputised for President Terry on a couple of occasions so far - Norwich 70th Dinner and Harrow and Wembley, where I tried out my speech!

That's all for now - I just wanted to ensure this blog was still active as I shall be using it next year to record what I get up to.
Barry

Postscript to World 94 India

I've been back in the UK for a week now and we have all had trouble settling down into normal life again. Rachel has kindly given me another cold, sore throat, cough which I have had for 5 days.
It was a trip of a lifetime. The comparison to my trip to Oz is difficult as both were brilliant and organised by Table/41 Club. The incredible hospitality of the Indians from Madras Cosmopolitan Round Table certainly confirms their award as being the best Round Table in India - we were just lucky to be in the same numbered club as them.
Next year it will be Sweden, then Shirley Round Table in 2012 and South Africa 2013 - wow! If anyone gets the chance to go on a part home hosted tour anywhere, the message is clear - sign up for fun and fellowship galore. Bye till next time

I'm Still Here

I have been in Goa for 4 days on my own. The hotel was a bit away from the main beaches but by using the bus, taxi and tuc tuc I have had a bit of an adventure. My stomach has been playing up but nuff said.
I went to Old Goa town and saw some impressive churches, then onto the hippy Anjuna beach. Got there by speedboat and got drenched. There was a market there and I ended up in a bar drinking beer listening to a live rock band playing Jimi Hendrix etc - what a life.
Next day back to Baga beach on the bus - met an ex Commodore of the Indian Merchant Navy Fleet on the bus - he was a unassuming but interesting character. Another day sunbathing in front of one of trhe beach shacks. I also had a full body massage on a sunbed for 8 quid.
Next day did a bit more sunbathing and retrurned to Chennai. Ashish picked me up from the airport.
Had a meal out last night, but ate little!!
I am now in the departure lounge with the fight back home now boarding.
So this is the end of my second blog. A
ABSOLUELY FABULOUS IS HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE IT - THE FELLOWSHIP AND HOSPITALITY WAS AMAZING.
Thanks Ashish / Shalini - see you in the UK where we hope to reciprocate
Bye from India

On my Own

Rachel is in the air as I write this on Tuesday morning. We took her to the airport after having a last supper (Chinese!)with Ashish and Shalini. It was wierd saying goodbye to her - I have never seen her off on a plane journey before - safe home I trust xx.
We have been so lucky to have Ashish and Shalinin as hosts - they are just so nice. In their house their boys have vacated their room for us, his Mum and Dad have been lovely and it will be sad to leave. We only hope they come to the UK so we can return the favour. They have not allowed us to pay for one single thing - no I lie, I did pay 20 or 30 rupees at the toll once.
Anyway it is off to the airport soon to catch the 14.00 plane to Goa for three nights on my own. Hotel is booked so everything should be OK. Oh and in case you readers have forgotten is is still 30-32 degrees here.
Back soon

Gala Dinner and Farewell Brunch

Sunday night we had the Gala Dinner. Everyone got dressed up posh with a lot of girls in Saris. There was a drinks reception then a 4 course sit down dinner - the first we had all holiday. The room was laid out in black and white.
The highlight of the evening was when each country had to do a skit. Sweden's was about the meeting there next year and we were on fourth doing 4 decades of UK pop music - 4 of us were the Beatles, then 4 were Brotherhood of Man, the 5 Spice Girls(including James!) and finally Alan Short as Freddie Mercury with us all joining for a chorus of We are the Champions - it went down very well. The Belgiums did a skit at the Gents! The Dutch finished by getting the Chairmen of each country to act out a play - funny cos they had to read out the stage directions as well as the words - you had to be there.
Bed at 2.30am.
Up a bit late for the farewell brunch and we left the Temple Bay Hotel in the afternoon. Three days in paradise - it really was the best.

World Meeting

All the Tablers and 41 Clubbers had a formal meeting where we each said how our clubs operated. The National President of RT India flew in to address us. We exchanged banners gifts and pins and lots of us had to drink a shot as a fine. All the money going to support their Day Care Centre which we had seen yesterday.
Then more brilliant food at lunch followed by some silly inter country games, one of which Shirley won. We all headed for the sea for a swim and lazed about for a few hours.
We are about to get dressed up for the Gala Dinner - girls in saris etc. More about that on the next blog - and hey I am up to date. Goodbye readers - hope there are some as hardly anyone has left a comment.
Rachel will be heading home tomorrow night but I am flying to Goa for 3 nights - weeeeyyyyy

Temple Bay for the World 94 Club weekend

Just when we thought it could not get any better - it blooming well did !! This place is paradise - it is a 5 star Radison resort hotel with two amazing pools - one in amongst the chalets and one overlooking the beach. The beach is sandy and great for swimming with warm shallow ish water and decent waves. We have all been in - Flick 13 times she says.
Off in the afternoon to look at the local World Heritage Site which was quite something - great big carvings of temples out of rock and other amazing carvings related to Hindu mythology. The tour has actually been quite cultural amongst the partying.
Evening time was - guess what - party time. The party was almost outside our chalet in the balmy evening - food again, but Indian dancers with flame throwers and a snake which lots of us put round our necks - then dancing which adjourned inside after 11pm. Bit loud, so lots went to bed but R and I did dance through till 12.30am.