BC#14 – 12 july 2006
Host – Ingrid Blackett
Book- Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

We were a very small group this evening: Janet, Helie, Paula, Anna and Ingrid. Denise, Prue and Donna McC were holidaying and Donna McL had to stay back at work. Even though the group was small, the talk was lively and, if I remember rightly, everyone had liked the book. It was not as 'tough' as some had imagined. We touched on the political situation in South Africa and how the storyline and the main characters related to it.

Ingrid had tried to do South African food, to stick true to the theme of the night. Unfortunately her 'true' soup had to go down the insinkerator a couple of hours prior to the girls arrival. As she had omitted to store it in the fridge, it had gone off, just like South African politics... Never mind - a make-believe South African corn soup did the trick and warmed everyone on this cold night.

Anna was very animated and talked with arms and legs (well, not quite) and sent her wine glass flying... THIS was the real excitement of the evening! As the glass contained red wine and landed on the carpet, it stirred everyone into frantic activity! Toiletpaper, salt, talcum powder and the vacuum cleaner were all put into action. Mums and sisters were called on the phone to assist with advice. John consulted the computer. Sore knees and shoulders were had from the rubbing and dabbing. And Janet using the salt grinder over the stain, once the saltshakers were empty, is a picture I for one will never forget. Paula all the while stayed busy taking pictures - lest we forget - and Ingrid got the giggles badly, watching all this frantic activity. She wanted tiles anyhow... she had 'told John all along...'
Result: carpet cleaned up fine, we did some extra bonding and we have a 'sure' recipe for future clean-up operations! (Ingrid)



BC#14 B – 10 August 2006
Book - Q and A by Vikas Swarup
Host – Prue Dear but Denise's book at Prue's home.
Comments - Prue had the burners alight and book was discussed with Donna McL telling tales of her time in India for Phillip Adams’ radio show and Prue recounting her time as wardrobe mistress in the film The Far Pavillions. We were all caught up in the atmosphere of India- perhaps too much smoke was in the air- and the night was an enormous success.

Hels debated resigning from BC as she felt she had said too much, but in reality we all loved her humorous self-depreciating life stories. In comparison to Paula's stories of technicolour screams the next day, she realised how well behaved, comparatively, she had been.

Guest appearances by Tony/ Luigi/ Coathanger, Prue's long time flatmate from Heaven/ Hell and his new love, Kerry added to the atmosphere. Not many men are brave enough to show their faces for more than 10 minutes on BC nights, and to his credit, Tony was brave enough to cope. (Denise)


BC #15 - Wednesday 6 Sept 2006
Book - My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl written in 1980
Host – Denise but Prue's book at Denise's place
Great to have Francie as new member. BC now has full membership of eleven women, anymore and we'll b 2 unwieldy and it'll take too long to have your book choice. If u want to bring your new best mate, an out of town/ country visitor or you've just had too many reds and had the urge to ask a fun wild girl along, check with the hostess of the night that that's OK. One of our original aims was to be inclusive, not exclusive and I know we all believe this is important, so guest appearances are fine.

Apologies from Denise for her rude pike at 11:00pm to join Anna and the Riverfeast Cha Char crew on the Victoria Bridge. Now she is 50, she will do exactly as she pleases even more often.

Bon voyage to Ingrid who will be travelling to Perth and Germany and will make it back for Christmas breakup. We all luved the champagne and Hibiscus flowers in syrup.
Hope Donna McC is in better health and Peanuts sitting up happily waiting for caesarean section on 30 October. She has also been busy with the legal work for Rusty's company, Meridien's 50 million buyout of Able Point Marina in Airlie Beach.

Thanx to Paula for carpet cleaning presentation, shame Anna missed it.. Also for the bookmarks for us all from Vietnam.

A nite of many milestones. (Denise)