My Big Fat Greek Dinner Club...

It was a dark and stormy night in the outer East of Melbourne when a collection of brave souls stepped out on the last Friday of September to Niko's Tavern in Ringwood.  Indeed, on the night before Grand Final Day (a time honoured tradition at T. Hillyer's house), I was surprised at the broad turnout as dinner club moved back west to Europe and to the home of the Acropolis, the founding fathers of philosophy/democracy and who could forget possibly the greatest contribution to man (but usually only pre-taxi trip home at approximately 3am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning).....  the common Gyros or KEBAB.

Another stereotype Greece often conjurs (and one that one waiter at Niko's did not help prove wrong)...

As they say in "The Wog Boy"... "Curls get the girls!"

It was with that knowledge, the mayor was excited to return to the land of crumbling infrastructure via food after a wonderful time there with fellow dinner clubber J. Coleman in the summer of 2008/2009.

With new recruits C. Smith aka Smithy (or Smiddee as I pronounce it) and special import C. Mutter courtesy of B. Goodall, it was a dinner club of friends, friends of friends, work friends, new friends and old (very old in some cases) friends.

The return of O. Luczak, in her first appearance since April's Afghan dinner club, was a welcome surprise.  Although... her occupation (dietician) may have meant Greek food was not the best food to be witnessed being shovelled into the mouths of hungry participants!!!  I felt the burning eyes of O. Luczak watching with a mixture of disappointment and potential horror as I tucked into the 6th piece of wonderfully cooked saganaki (super salty, rubbery cheese).

Another notable return (her first dinner club since the inaugural event at Mexicali Rose all those months ago) was A. Hanczakowski aka Mike Wasowski in town for the national roller skating championships....Zzzzzzzzz.........  No, in all seriousness, seeing that sport, it is pretty damned tough and I certainly couldn't do half of what even the 10 year olds at those comps do.  I mean, I can't even skate backwards!!!

So with a late entrance due to weather and traffic upon returning from a week in exile writing a textbook in Glenmaggie, the mayor was greeted by the shrieks of one S. Haughey of, "Hurry up, I need a photo!"  No time for makeup (yet to be applied due to poor light in the car), a quick snap and literally 5 minutes and both S. Haughey and aforementioned skater were out the door!

It is at this point L. Read and B. Goodall (despite only one of the two still being in the running) cried in protest, "THAT'S NOT ATTENDANCE!"

As mayor of dinner club, I must then refer to the Dinner Club Charter, paragraph four, section 71, sub-section 2a, "Rules of Attendance"...

Participants may prove attendance of dinner club participation - required to remain in the running for the 100% attendance prize to be awarded at the final dinner club of 2011 - in only one of the following ways:

1) Receive and maintain possession of official dinner club name tag (food stains and all)
2) Be a part of a group or singular photo at the dinner club time and location (with the mayor is preferred)
3) Receive special consideration for international travel plans (the mayor is a sucker for overseas holidays)
4) Bribery (yet to be resorted to by any participant, much to the mayor's disappointment)

According to the above charter, I bring forth as mayor, the following evidence...

Nowhere does it say in the charter attendance must be long-lived or classy.  Note that S. Haughey even managed to "eat" (if one counts chewing a hunk of complimentary bread as eating).

Note that nowhere in the charter does it say that one must actually EAT at dinner club.  A major oversight on the mayor's behalf but one that has now allowed one of the most enthusiastic and dedicated members to remain....IN THE RUNNING!!!

So with the skaters departed, it was onto ordering.  Instead of wine, Mythos lager flowed as all within the group chose their most preferred banquet.  Always daunting for the vegetarian, V. Dennis, it was surprising to see a vegetarian banquet amongst cuisine most famous for being 'meat-centric'.  It wasn't until the menu was inspected more closely that it was discovered the vegetarian banquet featured more than a few of these guys...

Yep, that's a seafood platter in the vegetarian banquet.  V. Dennis looks impressed!

In true "Greek Wedding" style, to quote Aunt Voula...
"What do you mean he don't eat meat?!?!"
"That's ok, I make lamb."

Note to the Greeks, seafood.... IS MEAT!!!

With course after course arriving, all participants started to loosen the belts, undo the top button and regret the lack of toothpaste and breath mints in the handbag (boy, do those Greeks love garlic!  I'm pretty sure all participants stank for days!).  It was only when all thought the courses were over, those with the full banquet realised, there was two to go!!!  Amazing food - gyros, salads, dips, bread, saganaki, spanakopita (cheese and spinach in filo pastry), sweets and fruit platters all littered the table at the end of the night.

 Spanakopita.  Just like your long-lost Greek grandma used to make!!!

The meal is complete with a little Greek salad (extra garlic!) 

All the while, the ambience at Niko's was completed with a sampling of traditional bouzouki (form of Greek lute/guitar) music, some masculine Greek dancing and, of course, the good old fashioned plate smashing.

As always, a fantastic night out and a massive thank you to all participants.  Special thanks to the participants for their dedication given the horrible weather and pre-Grand Final timeslot!

Group photo #1 - minus the mayor and M. Read (late due to public transport delays and possible extended grooming using hair styling products)

Group photo #2 - proof of attendance for M. Read and the mayor!

As usual, an update as to those still in the running for the 100% attendance prize.  With just three dinner clubs to go, the field is still strong:

1) S. Haughey
2) K. Williams
3) J. Coleman
4) L. Read - probably the most vocal about trying to sabotage other contestants
5) V. Dennis (absence October, November, December due to overseas commitments - apologies already lodged with the mayor.  In the case of a tie between this participant and another, the latter will be awarded the prize by default).

With that, I leave you with a sampling of Niko's Tavern...

The mayor and J. Coleman reliving many a night on an Athens balcony heckling prostitutes over a beer chilled by the freezing December weather.  Good times.

L. Read doing his best 'head of the table' impersonation.

B. Goodall and German dinner club first timer C. Mutter - not the only first time of the evening I'm sure!

The universally Greek symbol for "Yes", "Whatever" or "I don't care" as J. Coleman and I learnt during our time in the land of Zorba.

Course #3 and even the eating machine J. Coleman is struggling!  Those Greeks know how to eat!

Next month sees us switch continents again with probably the most adventurous dinner club yet as we head to the hot and dusty land of Ethiopia!  Hope to see you all there!!! 

It may not seem like I love my job...until you read this.

So the last post was a glimpse into what most teachers feel by the end of term - exhaustion.  Lack of sleep and a massive term filled with general business and the loss of a very important part of my life in Eric meant I was a mess physically and emotionally.

I'll admit it now, I was not loving my job.  In fact, it was the opposite.  On more than a couple of occasions, I questioned my career path, my year next year, whether teaching was for me.  It took the last day of term to make me realise I do love my job more than I often realise.  That's because as well as getting to educate and help young people learn about 'stuff' that hopefully they'll one day love like I do, I get to work with some pretty cool people.  I also get to work in a profession where it is perfectly acceptable to go from this period 1-4....

Teacher-mode Eloise

To this periods 5 and 6...

Rockstar-mode Eloise

Indeed, all it took was three and a half minutes of sheer joy whilst wearing a hideous platinum blonde, crimped mullet wig on the last day of term to realise that I DO love my job.  All the crap that goes along with it - the marking on weekends/holidays, unpaid overtime, being a teacher/mother/bodyguard/counsellor/policewoman/jail warden on a daily basis - is made worth it with these moments.

I also got to act as a judge on this day (CHS Battle of the Bands competition - an end of term 3 tradition) - something I was honoured to be asked to do.  All the kids did so well and it was a joy to watch.

Myself with fellow judges P. Frost, Alex (SRC representative) and D. Hirst announcing the winners.

A MASSIVE thank you to those who participated - musicians and back up musicians (the ones with the green blow up guitars) - for getting into the spirit of it, even though I know some of you probably didn't want to!  As I say again, it is rare to find a job where you can combine education and pathways with silliness and passion as you can in teaching.

A BIG congratulations also to J. Rankine for her musical debut as part of the teacher band.  She rocked out (albeit concentrating VERY HARD) as you can see below...

J. Rankine rocking out with fellow PTL G. Menon and music teacher D. Hirst

I hope to get the video footage soon for all of you to have a good giggle at.  In the meantime, here are a few pictures of teacher band finishing up CHS Battle of the Bands 2011 with Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".  Enjoy.  We did.

At the start of the track.  Can't fake that smile. 

Enjoying the freedom of wireless microphones as my backing musicians rock out!  Go S. Nichol! 

An easy start to verse two - saving it for the key change obviously!!! 

BIG acapella chorus at the end - clap along everyone!!! 

The teacher band (minus D. Hirst and I (still judging acts) and J. Taggart (still working on tech crew). 

 Guitar solo and dance break anyone?

Moments I want more of in my life.  Rocking out with D. Hirst and T. Patralakis loving my job.

End of Term...A Retrospective

Please bear in mind this was written in the last week of a MASSIVE term.  Camps, year 11s, year 12s, big work events, even bigger life events...  With that, enjoy the ranting retrospective of a CHS teacher.


Grrrrrrrr....... This is the emotion that most teachers feel.  BRING ON END OF TERM I SAY!!!

Let's hope the holidays bring more sleep, less work (hahaha, considering I'm writing part of a teacher text, I think this won't happen) and more fun.

May even get back on the goal bandwagon.  There is an opportunity to play in a band for the RSC 21st birthday celebrations.  May even stop eating copius amounts of this Fry's Turkish Delight.  I love the fact it says "60% less fat" on the packet.  Than what..... PURE FAT?!?!

We're nearly there.  Then it's time to relax (unless you are working on a teacher text as I am in the first week), have fun and get some well earned sleep.  Bring on term 4 - a fun term of Melbourne Project, year 12s finishing and planning for the years beyond.  Hooray!

After what has been a very difficult week for many teachers at CHS, I say, keep fighting the good fight.