Food, Fun and Fellowship

Food, fun and fellowship all combined for an evening of fun and philosophy at the Nagy home in Craighall Park on Wednesday, all facilitated by lots of wine and laughter.

President Julian Nagy turned 70 (his family confirmed that after he tried to pass himself off as a 65-year-old to Joan Sainsbury, who brought along a cupcake cake with candles because when she asked him by WhatsApp how old he was, he said 65).

That doesn't necessarily make the president mendacious, just over-optimistic.

    The rain stayed away and the party got going. Here's President Julian and Ronnie Kasrils having a chat

                                   The cake that caused the confusion

                       Adele Dabbs and Helene Bramwell survey a laden table

Everyone brought a plate of snacks, so it was a case of share and share alike, with plenty of variety and lots to taste and savour.

Graham Donet handed over a giant birthday card to President Julian that was signed by everyone present and for a bit of Rotary business, PDG Jankees Sligcher announced that he has had golf umbrellas branded with the Rotary insignia to give to guest speakers as a thank you gift.

From then on the wine and converstaion flowed as can be seen from the photographs. My apologies for the quality (or lack thereof), but I'm not really a photographer.

                     Graham Donet with the signed card. Joan Donet is to his left and Gavin Atkins on the right

                     Jankees Sligcher hands over an umbrella to President Julian

                      Adele Dabbs, Hillary Bell and Linda Vink having a chat

                      Jacinta Opany-Akbara, Nola Ostle and Helene Bramwell
     

                      Paul Kasango, Ivone Vosloo and Barbara Angove enjoying the beautiful garden
     

                              Karlien Kruger and Amina Frense

                              Carol Stier and Jankees Sligcher

                               President Julian announcing that the party doesn't have to end at 7.30 pm

    Sarah de La Pasture, Linda Vink, Judy Sligcher, Debby Nagy, Carol Stier and Jankees Sligcher

It was an evening of remembering and catching up, of networking in true Rotary fashion and of solving the problems of the world (and of South African rugby and cricket) with a few witty lines of conversation.

New Dawn is 13 years old already and it's hard to believe that many of us (Julian included) were in our fifties when it started.

A Blast from the Past: Many people have come and gone over the years, some moved, some got bored, some died and some joined other Rotary clubs in other parts of the world, but the essence of the club has remained the same, despite us growing so much in the past few years. Long may this last.

     A true blast from the past ... Paul Kasango, Julian Nagy, Sue Peiser and Allan Beuthin

I have Paul Kasango to thank for the photograph above, showing himself and Julian looking a bit younger than now, with Sue Peiser (moved to Cape Town) and husband Allan Beuthin, who died some 5 years ago and had the reputation of being one of the wittiest people around. We miss him, but then we probably all miss the people we were!

Next week: It's back to normal next week with a breakfast meeting at the Parkview Golf Club in the form of a business meeting where committees will be able to have their own discussions.

A Thought for the Week: An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence; a vain man, in order that it may. - William Hazlitt (1778 - 1830)