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Sydney Luncheon Table
16 August 2005 Report
When you consider the Old Trafford Test's ending the previous night, it is amazing that we had any roll up to our meeting on Tuesday 16 August. Even more so, everyone, including me, stayed awake for the whole meal. Stumps at 6pm in England is at 3am next day in Sydney. All of our group except John McEldowney barrack for Australia. The Lancashire born wife of a grazier friend of mine was incensed by the perceived disloyalty of her father in Manchester going to the Old Trafford Test and barracking for Enland. Nonetheless, it is a great tonic for Test Cricket support that England have such a talented team. It is almost as if this recovery is like the return of a much-loved relative after an absence of 18 years.
Now that we are half way through August, spring is upon us. Median temperatures are about the same as those in England in late May. One noticeable difference, though, is the huge temperature range that occurs in inland New South Wales. Recently, Armidale in New South Wales had a minmum of minus 7 and a maximum of plus 20 degrees Celcius on the same day. Although I am wearing shorts and sandals today ( 19 August), the previous Sunday when I was staying in the country, I had to run the car heater for a quarter of an hour before an early morning departure when there was three degrees of frost.
We are planning our Trafalgar Day lunch on 21 October. This is an innovation as wives and the occasional colleague are invited to come. We do hope that any of our overseas friends who might be in Australia at the time will come.
The next 4 meetings are on Friday 21 October 2005, Tuesday 21 February, 9 May and 15 August 2006. Gap year students, backpackers, distressed gentlefolk and others who may be short of a bob in Australia should not be deterred by the thought of an unsought expense; I am sure we can work something out.
A Walker-Powell (1939 - 1950)
bandp@triode.net.au
© Copyright The Old Portmuthian Club 2010. Last updated on 8 October 2005. 
