你好 China, Farewell Dinner Club!

"Goal 8: Visit restaurants monthly with friends."

With many goals achieved far more quickly (some in the space of less than 45 minutes with the Mother's Day Classic), I never imagined this goal would a) be achieved OR b) be so much fun, in fact, probably be my favourite!

With just one last dinner club to go, the competition was hot.  Where would it be?  That decision was easy.  In the true spirit of communal dining, we decided Chinese would be the best cuisine to finish on.

The bar was set high.  Not only were the traditional "Hi!  My name is ...." tags on offer, but members of the final dinner club were treated to a special memento - a burnt wood block bearing the logo and the catchphrase that many shall remember fondly... "Friday Night Dinner Club: Meet.  Eat.  Repeat".  A simple motto, yet one that has driven this goal!  A big thank you to S. Porrino (not in the running, otherwise I would have suspected she was attempting to take first prize!) for producing these and using school resources... :)

The mayor with the souvenier dinner club tags - thanks S. Porrino!!!

However, the bigger question was "Who would win the illustrious 100% attendance prize?"  With four people still in the running, it was one that saw the mayor almost have to intervene on a few occasions for fear of dinner clubber safety!!!

With dinner clubber S. Haughey knowing a great, local restaurant, she took the reigns organising the venue (as the mayor was busy with mayoral duties).  I also think it was so she could attempt to secure her position as 1st in the race to the finish line.  The mayor does not fall for such feeble attempts to win the prize - it was a good try though but everyone knows the tortoise wins, not the hare Haughey!!!

So with the venue set as The New Turtle Den in Ringwood, 11 dinner clubbers (K. Williams, M. Read, B. Goodall, C. Mutter, S. Haughey, S. Porrino, K. Wilson, L. Read, T. Hillyer (soon to be King!!!) and R. King and the mayor) ventured out for a banquet of delicious Chinese delights.

Good conversation, crassness and talks the many exciting events happening (including the recent engagement story of dinner clubbers Hillyer and King - one that actually shut up the whole table until the use of the iPhone as a proposal device was talked about!) soon quietened as the meal came out - prawn toast, curry puffs, chicken and beef satay, rice, bird's nest, lemon chicken and banana or pineapple fritters for dessert! 

The food was delivered via the tried and tested method of most Chinese restaurants - the lazy Susan.  According to some dinner clubbers, its origins range from medieval times to Ancient Greece!

All the food was delicious (minus the amazing amounts of MSG - seriously, whoever invented that stuff was definitely not an asthmatic!!!) but it was certainly put to the side when the time came to announce the winners.

With a massive prize promised, the pressure was on to deliver.  A big thanks must go out to the mayor's parents for dedication to the dinner clubbing clause by assisting the cause and producing some ridiculously expensive (plastic) trophies!

At this point, it must be mentioned that the final four competitors prior to the final dinner club still in the running was as follows:

1. K. Williams
2. J. Coleman
3. L. Read
4. S. Haughey

Amazingly, it was a simply game of touch rugby that caused the downfall of dinner clubber J. Coleman, much to the disappointment of the mayor but to the SHEER DELIGHT of the remaining three!!!  A fine effort to make 11/12 dinner clubs so thanks must be mentioned here.

With additional, in case of emergency place holder (granted due to special consideration approvals for overseas commitments) should all of the above dinner clubbers not meet the strict requirements as per the charter:

5. V. Dennis

Name tag as proof of attendance for V. Dennis!

So with dinner finished, the awards ceremony began.  Firstly, the certificates for 100% attendance were delivered:

The announcing and presentation ceremony begins!

L. Read receiving his certificate of attendance.

K. Williams and her certificate.

S. Haughey being awarded her certificate of attendance.

The 100% attendance prize winners - as yet undistinguished!

Next was the medallion presentations.  With the words, "perfect attendance" inscribed, each of the three were presented with their medallions.

The mayor and the newly medallioned participants.

Next came the trophies.  They were a real hit and the dinner club recipients were certainly getting nervous now - who would be the winner?

The expensively plastic trophies after being delivered.

But as the movies tell us, there can only be one winner.  This came down to the final presentation.  The presentation of the ribbons.  Starting at the base of the podium, "4th" place (with a 3rd and 4th place ribbon given for comedic value) was awarded to... S. Haughey.  Already well aware of this, the mayor further justified this decision by explaining that no other participant could wear the green ribbon like she could!

So it came down to two.  As you can tell by the expression on the mayor's face, the tension was high...

I don't even know if I had decided the winner yet...

But with his performance throughout the year in showing true dedication to dinner club (including texting the mayor to remind her to post the event of Facebook and ringing one week prior to inform he may miss an event only to work extra hours the day before to ensure his attendance), the winner was declared as L. Read! 

It must be mentioned at this point that K. Williams aka Monica Geller from Friends, with her notorious competitive streak, was a very gracious runner up to L. Read (although I imagine she would have gotten her revenge by training him extra hard the next morning!).

In truth, these three competitors know that there is no real separation.  Their dedication to this goal has been a massive support and I must thank them immensely for providing frivolity and really getting involved - having the competitive nature running through was a real highlight!

I must also thank all people who have attended.  Whether you have attended one or twelve dinner clubs, I have loved having you there to share a good meal, a conversation and a laugh.  I have been impressed by the reactions to some pretty tough cuisines and letting even a two and a half hour wait for food not dampen their spirits!

With the immense popularity of dinner club in 2011, it is a goal that I shall be continuing next year.  Willing to hand over the mayoral duties at times, it shall hopefully become a tradition of gathering together on the last Friday of the month to try something new.  Luckily, in Melbourne, we are blessed with so many different cuisines and there are many more to try - Cambodian, Vietnamese, Russian, Brazilian - the options are seemingly endless!!!

With that, I say goodbye to the dinner club goal very fondly with just a few of the photos of December at the New Turtle Den.

S. Porrino's excited for food!!!

B. Goodall getting into the Christmas spirit with a spookily accurate Jesus Christ impersonation.

Chopsticks - eating tool or perfect walrus tusks???

SOMEBODY likes the prawn toast!!!

S. Haughey doing her best V. Dennis impression by dropping food everywhere...

Some people think this was what sealed the dinner club victory.  The mayor is not susceptible to such low attempts at bribery.

Damn those woodblocks smelt amazing  - CLEARLY the mayor loved them!!!

She's going to kill me, but the obligatory K. Williams eating photo makes its appearance for the last time.

Chopstick holders make the perfect buck teeth for M. Read.

Yep, the one sitting is going to be a mum soon.  This is one to show the child!!!

The bird's nest - a very popular dish of the night!

The perfect way to sum up the dinner club.  K. Williams looks on disapprovingly as boyfriend M. Read nearly collapses from laughter at another B. Goodall moment of hilarity.

One happy camper!!!

You said WHAT?!

No, don't put them there....Oh, he already did.

That's apparently the B. Goodall way of eating a banana fritter!

T. Hillyer in a pretty poor attempt of a sneak attack to snatch victory from L. Read.

The mayor, T. Hillyer and newest dinner clubber, currently named "Sea Monkey" until further notice.

The mayor trying to decide if it is "Sea Monkey" moving or just indigestion...

The year of dinner clubs from a name tag perspective - amazing dedication of K. Williams and S. Haughey to keep these handy at all times!!!

The December dinner club crew - thanks for attending guys!

Goal 10 achieved in two hours...

So with a MASSIVE year achieving goals, there was one that I had let go slightly by the wayside.  "Goal 10: Get published in VCTA journal "Compak" 3 times and present at Comview."

According to the Victorian Institute of Teaching (the dreaded VIT for those in the profession, the body that is only prompt when invoicing us each year!), teachers must meet eight standards, included for those interested (or those teachers just as a refresher!).

Standard eight: Teachers are active members of their profession.  I think that describes EVERY hard working teacher.

So with this in mind, I answered the call for presenters at the annual VCTA conference, Comview.  Having submitted and shared work through our email forums throughout the year and having adapted the goal to get published online with the book (a more than fair trade in my opinion!), there was only the Comview part of the goal to meet.

I quickly received a phone call from the co-ordinator of VCTA (Victorian Commercial Teacher's Association), Leonie, who was very keen for me to present on VCE Accounting.  We also discussed presenting a unit next year on Marketing Melbourne - a unit I had designed and written for the year nines to complete alongside the Melbourne Project (a series of excursions and presentations they all undertake).

So with that quick phone call, I thought nothing else of it until the program came out.  Not only was I presenting on using technology in unit 3 (year 12) Accounting.... I was also now presenting this as yet unwritten Melbourne unit in 2, one hour long sessions!!!  ARGH!!!

Year 12 Accounting blurb - I don't know where they got web 2.0 from!!!

Marketing Melbourne blurb.  It's SO wanky!!!  (Please note I did not write either of these!)

With the book in its final stages, work ramping up for the end of the year again with exams and reports and general busy work occurring, I did not feel ready!  Luckily, I was presenting with another teacher on my year 12 session.  So one Sunday afternoon, I met with Kirstie over a coffee/tea and we discussed our session and put a plan together.

It was lovely to not only see another young, female, Accounting teacher (trust me, we are a rarity!!!) in the profession, but also to see one that was just as unorganised, overworked and underprepared to meet as I was!!!  However, a bit over an hour and we had a plan of who was doing what and we both left feeling confident.

The next week was spent developing resources and sending them between each other for checking.  I still felt good about it and was excited to present to other teachers.  It took until the Sunday night before (I was presenting on Tuesday) before nervousness set in.  This was mainly due to the fact that I received the numbers for my session... 20 in my Marketing Melbourne session and 85 in my Accounting session!!!  Thinking about it gave me dry mouth.  The fact that 85 professionals, many much more experienced than me, were going to be listening to me tell them essentially how to teach their subjects!!!

Going to sessions on Monday, I looked at the venue and was even more daunted.  Not in a classroom, I was in a lecture theatre - way to make it feel personal!!!

The venue - imagine it filled with Accounting teachers - daunting AND boring!!! ;)

My sessions were informative and I got some great ideas for future units and teaching ideas.  It is amazing how much each presenter provides and is willing to share and it instills faith in the profession that people are not miserly when they create something useful - it certainly makes all of our teaching lives MUCH easier!!!  I also managed to catch up with a mate from uni (which this conference is our annual "what's happening in your life" catch up) as well as sit in on a session lead by another girl from uni days - it really is a small world.

By Monday afternoon, the nerves had well and truly kicked in so I took myself shopping to relax before meeting S. Porrino to watch the latest "Twilight" - a great night spent laughing at the ridiculousness of the plot, acting and general concepts - I mean, glittering vampires?!?!

After this, S. Haughey had graciously organised us to stay at her Aunty and Uncle's apartment in the city (I was going to stay in a hotel so I didn't have to travel back and forth) and the three 2008 draft ladies went out for a late dinner and drinks on Hardware Lane.  We talked teaching but this soon gave way to the hilarity that these two women bring to my life - the perfect way to calm my overactive brain that was now running a million miles a minute!

Sleep didn't come easily that night as I started to doubt why the hell I had volunteered to even do this.  However, the walk to Victoria Uni (the venue) was a great help.  It was here I was met with the first real nervousness of that day...

Yep, that's me....going to level 10.  It's really happening.

After signing in, I headed to the venue to find Kirstie already there setting up.  I was SO glad to see her obviously just as nervous, if not more nervous than me.  However, there was no need.  We were prepared, organised, efficient and the presentation was well received.  We used internet, interactive whiteboards, Excel, quizzes and (much to my disdain for fear of looking like a wanker), iPad and iPhone apps.

After the presentation, we were commended by a few of the participants including a man that asked us why we weren't assessing.  Anyone who teaches Accounting knows how difficult assessing is - not for the task, but rather getting a gig - it is a definite boy's club.  Upon further discussion, we discovered the man talking to us was not only a writer of a textbook used in many schools, but also the chief assessor!!!  I was SO glad we did not know this before otherwise I think we both would have been having kittens knowing he was in our session!

After this, I met up with K. Wilson who skipped her session to join my 2nd run through.  Another girl from uni days, C. Bird, joined in as she is a recent member of the profession.  The second session was far more relaxed as I was more comfortable with the content and delivered to a smaller audience and by the end, I was happy with how both ran.

So, with goal 10 achieved (and a nifty bottle of wine and diary to show for it, so nerdy), I was extremely proud of this achievement.  I will definitely present again and have even convinced K. Wilson to do a co-presentation next year on consumer law to start us off!  For any teacher out there, I highly recommend it if you ever get the opportunity.  The teachers I know are all MORE than capable and if they too could feel the high I did after presenting.  It is one that generally makes you feel great about being a teacher and helping others to be better, well resourced and inspired members of our profession.

A musical day in November...

With my last post about music all the way back in August/September, there was a long gap in playing.  Not motivated and not having any desire to pick up my trumpet after the passing of Eric was a natural reaction.  Something that brought such joy was now bringing feelings of anxiety.  Anxiety that if I played again, I may burst into tears, not like it or not want to play again.  Because of that, the cases sat gathering dust more than ever. 

So when I received a call from my old school, Rowville Secondary College, to be a part of their 21st birthday celebrations (with a reforming of a stage band made up of ex-students), I initially didn't decline.  I did something worse; I ignored.  Ignored the phone calls and simply hoped they wouldn't ask.

Nevertheless, I knew that soon, I would be receiving a phone call that I simply couldn't say no to and one day after school, it arrived.  David Rowlands, an institution of the RSC music program for as long as I can remember gave my phone a call and it is simply a case of "you don't say no to David."  The thought of playing back in a band under his direction was one that one who have been a part of the RSC music program would understand.  Inspiring to so many musicians, he gave and still gives so much to his students.  He is the kind of teacher that kids remember, whether it be from the dreaded recorded lessons in year 7 right through to the mentoring and teaching of complex military suites in year 12 music performance.  The kind of teacher you want to be really!!!  So when he called, I finally accepted.  Of course, it didn't come without the rearing of the trumpeter's ego. 

Mentioned in my previous blog, the trumpeter's ego is one that any trumpet understands.  The desire to be heard, to be the loudest (not hard when you are in the upper registers screeching your head off).  It was this trumpeter's ego that made me foolishly say, "I'll do it...only if I play 1st - my ego couldn't handle being 4th!!!"

So with just one rehearsal set, the crew assembled to have a solid bash through a couple of solid jazz charts we all knew well - "Sing Sing Sing" and "Golden Wedding".  There were people there I knew very well and some I met for the first time (mostly because they were in more recent graduating years!) but the aim was the same - have some fun and play some music.

So with the first run through getting the cobwebs out, we were all buzzed by playing in an ensemble again.  Most of us have let it go by the wayside as university, careers, location changes etc. have dominated.  However, the excitement was palpable - we were all having a blast.

Rehearsal turned into nostaglia - pulling out old charts, trying new ones that were favourites of others to play and working as a group, the friendly banter occurring naturally between songs.

So with the day arriving, we all gathered in the VCE Centre of the old school and belted out a few tunes.  Loyal supporters S. Haughey and K. Wilson tagged along to see a big part of my life - my 6 years of secondary schooling.  The music went well (despite feeling like my lips had fallen off due to lack of practice and the ridiculously high nature of 1st trumpet charts!) and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves.  Even afterwards, the embarrassing trip down memory lane showing the girls my high school photos and year 12 yearbook reminded me so strongly of the great fun we had - everything from Home Ec and an infamous K. Williams incident to what classes used to be where and when.

After the first jazz band, I sat in on the staff band on trumpet where my sightreading skills were definitely put to the test.  A VERY rusty attempt was made but it was great to play another style of music - pop rock with horn section.  It also reminded me so much of the many events we as a music group had.  Presentation nights, end of year concerts, choir singing carols at Christmas and probably the most notable of nights for any RSC musician - Pub Night.  A night where all the jazz and rock bands headed down to the Central Club in Richmond (later moved to Spencer's Live and the Night Cat amongst other venues) for a night of dinner, drinks, dancing and frivolity - the last event on the music calendar.  This always featured the staff band and reminded me how much fun we used to have.  It also reminded me of our own CHS staff band and the nature of it. 

"Shit, we are meant to be playing tomorrow.  What song?  How about this?  Rehearsal?  Half an hour the night before sounds good!"

A true sign of musicians rather than musos is their ability to be able to work as a group and put things together by simply knowing they sound good rather than following notes on a page.  This was what I was taught during my time (1994-2003) in the RSC music program and is something I am very grateful for.
As always, here are some photos of my first steps towards goal 9:

Excited to play pre-performance!!!

"Sing Sing Sing" - early on so not looking like I am going to pop!

The full ensemble (including the dorky bomber jackets we all used to wear!)

Supporters S. Haughey and K. Wilson - real professional looking ladies...

Solo in "Golden Wedding" - hoping I don't stuff up too badly!!!  Improvising - not my strong suit!!!

The ensemble in full swing...  Nice pun ;)

So while I am not classing it as an achievement of goal 9: "Find a band to play trumpet in", it is certainly a step in the right direction and will be a priority for 2012.  It has motivated me to find a band like this that I enjoy and get back into something that was and is such a big part of my life - music.  Something I think I needed to be reminded of.

We are the Jamaican Dinner Club Team!!!

Jamaica.  Land of sunshine, "ganja", rastafarians (including the infamous Bob Marley) and a team of bobsledders that people remember by usually saying, "Were they the ones coached by John Candy?" 

It was with this knowledge that the dinner clubbers of November (ten in total) armed themselves with when they travelled down Fitzroy way once again (all the international foods seem to have found their home there) to a place that was not originally on the cards.  A late change (due to the only other Caribbean restaurant in Melbourne having closed earlier this year) meant that the new venue was a little place called "Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen" or "Sassy's" for short.

That's Sassy in the middle!!!

The Mayor lookin' sassy at Sassy's!!!

So with no idea what kind of meal Sassy (the owner, still no idea why he is called Sassy!) would be serving, we simply went with what dinner clubbers have discovered is the best option - the banquet.

A feast of "jerk" chicken and fish was on offer.  Now, my limited knowledge of Caribbean cuisine extends to meals in Belize (not even Caribbean, but a strong rasta influence in their cooking) tells me "jerk" simply means rubbed in spices.  Not that the chicken is generally antagonistic or an arsehole!!! (Thanks, I'll be here all week...)

Now Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen, while we were to discover, was the source of some phenomenal food, was not famous for its timeliness or service.  Ordering the banquet for 10 and some extra goat curry for fun, Sassy informed me he had been visited by not one, but two reggae bands that day, in town for a music festival.  As a result, he had practically been eaten out of house and home!!! 

Luckily for us, the wait of over two hours for food as Sassy prepared our feasts was made bearable by something that restaurants seem to underestimate as a valuable customer service tool: butcher's paper tableclothes and a container of textas. :)

See below for the graphical genius of November's dinner club participants!

Next month's dinner club made official by putting it on the butcher's paper diary!

S. Porrino's impressions of Jamaica.  Judges say 99% accurate!!!

Corny catchphrases and insults permanently recorded for future posterity.  The battle of wits between the Mayor and S. Porrino.

This is the result when male dinner clubbers have to wait more than 2 hours for their food.  B. Goodall's artist impressions of fellow dinner clubbers.  Reminiscent of a year 9 classroom really!!!  (Also note the rather lifelike sketch of J. Coleman by his hand!)

B. Goodall - art imitating life???

He thinks he's so funny.  And he's right. Yes, the Mayor loves a good penis joke. :)

With more than a couple of dinner clubbers making the most of BYO drinks, it was a sleepy and rather tipsy (K. Williams) collection of people that were finally served dinner at just before 9.45pm.  This is what we were met with...

How many wines can K. Williams handle on an empty stomach?  One less than when this photo was taken...

The Jamaican feast - Jerk chicken and fish, vegetable patties, rice and beans, curried vegetables and an AMAZING veggie paste in the centre - the Mayor's favourite!!!

Everyone tucks in for fear of keeling over from starvation!

SOMEONE liked the fish...

So with very full bellies, everyone rated the food as excellent.  M. Read and B. Goodall particularly raved about the fish. Over...and over... and OVER... ;)

So with just one more dinner club left, it is time to look at the final line up still in the running for the 100% attendance prize!  Still in contention:

1. K. Williams

2. L. Read

3. J. Coleman

4. S. Haughey (still 4th for comedic purposes)

Of course, special consideration has been granted AGAIN for participant V. Dennis, still currently in the US on diplomatic duties.  Whilst not looking like she can take the prize (given the hot competition from the four contestants above), her attendance has been evidenced by the name tag now currently in her wallet in Washington D.C.  For futher evidence, see below.

V. Dennis' proof of attendance at November's event.

With just one month of dinner clubs to go, the Mayor is excited to see this goal come to fruition, but also sad that this institution is coming to an end.  However, for dinner clubbers fearful of withdrawals, 2012 will bring a new monthly outing.  Given the success of this adventure and considering the many restaurants and cuisines to still sample, another dinner club may still be on the cards!!!

With that, I leave you with a snapshot of the dinner club that was November at Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen:

Insert obligatory K. Williams eating photo (food took too long so food not present yet!)

"Where's the food?"  quips L. Read.

B. Goodall proves butcher's paper is for kids and adults alike.

The special at Sassy's - mmmmm, fried plantains.

Nerds at dinner.  M. Read and B. Goodall browsing a fellow dinner clubber's recent oversea trip pics of China.

Don't mind if I do!  A nice touch, the communal esky at the front of the restaurant.

Dinner clubber #4 S. Haughey LOVES Sassy's!!!

The Mayor re-enacting a famous shot from a recent trip to QLD with S. Porrino and S. Haughey as she sets up the timer!!!

Sassy's Jamaican Kitchen - the ACTUAL kitchen lies just back there and is staffed by.... Sassy!  (Original name huh?)

The Mayor and Sassy himself - sweaty from working VERY hard to feed us hungry dinner clubbers!!!

The November dinner club crew: S. Porrino, E. Haynes, S. Haughey, K. Wilson, J. Coleman, B. Goodall (imitating the fish he loved so much), L. Read, M. Cook, K. Williams and M. Read.

Next month sees us head to The New Turtle Den aka "George's Chinese Restaurant" in Ringwood where the Mayor hopes to see all dinner club participants to send of this goal in style!!!

xox