………….KUNG HEI FAT CHOI !……………………………………………………….
Tick Tock said it was the professional promotion and the fact that he is ‘well-known in concentric circles’ that brought the multitudes to the Year of The Dragon Spectacular at Belrose. Pee Dub said it was the prospect of his future Salads. But Carefree said it was quite simple, “ in future you clearly need to introduce a little ‘dian xin’ you know, cater for ‘shan zhen hai wei’ and ‘shao rou’ ”, he said with an expressive wave of the hand. And went on, “simply adding a little subtle Chinese Flavour into the mix, from time to time, will bring them flocking,” he said knowledgeably.
Fry-a-Duck possibly had the last word. “All of the above had bugger all to do with it, “ he insisted. “If I hadn’t hired a Piper to play a lament at the Redfern Robbie Burns Memorial to lift the Haggis Curse, it would have continued to piss down and no bastard would have turned up.” Of course anything played on the bagpipes would sound like a lament to a New Zealander after missing out on the World Rugby Cup for twenty four years until this year. I just hope we got our monies worth, that the lament covers future Runs and OnOns as well. The Scots can be a tight lot.
Be that as it may, sixty-one turned up on the evening at Belrose to celebrate the Chinese New Year. It was particularly pleasing to see some faces that have been missing for some time. Even a disguised Wally Grout and a limping Non-Galloping Tarantula put in an appearance. Special mention must be made of Dr Jekyll, a living, breathing, golfing, swimming example of what the addition of a little titanium here and there can do for arthritic plagued limbs. With the draining lines of pain lifted from his face, he looked ten years younger.
Of those who came from Far and Wide, well alright Mosman and Cremorne, Tickers said it was gratifying that most who answered the call came suitably dressed in Red to commemorate the Year of The Dragon. Even Stunning Jack managed to dive down into his sailing locker and retrieve a well-read version of the Class of 2007 T-Shirt. So promptly at 6.30 a Red Tide was let loose on the unsuspecting neighbourhood of Belrose.
Starting with a leisurely stroll along Cotentin then into Wyatt, it was easy going even for the “visitors”. Once the fencing around the Sydney East Substation was reached the serious walking and running commenced. Unexpectedly, the Walkers were taken out on a jaunt which kept them occupied for well over the hour and some of the Runners according to Flasher were out for approaching two hours. Missing out on the Prawn Chips at the bucket.
AND SO IT WAS ON TO AWAIT THE BANQUET AND THE DRAGON AT THE LOTUS GARDEN CHINESE
The food was a bit slow in coming but it was just as well because half the Pack was still out and The Lotus Garden had never had it so good on a Monday Night. With over sixty to cater for, additional tables and chairs had to be found to seat the hungry multitude, which seem to be growing by the minute.
Then came the moment all had been waiting for. No not the food, the living FIRE BREATHING DRAGON !
THE YEAR OF DRAGON APPEARS TO ENTERTAIN THE HASH AT BELROSE
Masterfully propelled by Captain Fizz and his merry Dragon Drivers, the Dragon (beautifully created by Boomerang of the Sydney Harriettes)circled the diners bringing fortune for some and possibly creating havoc for others as a portend of the year’s events to come.
I AM AN UNQUENCHABLE FIRE..THE CENTRE OF ALL ENERGY..THE STOUT HEROIC HEART..I AM TRUTH AND LIGHT..
I HOLD POWER AND GLORY IN MY SWAY..MY PRESENCE DISPERSES DARK CLOUDS..I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO TAME THE FATES
I AM THE DRAGON
Part of the merry throng, featuring the youthful Doctor Jekyll. With such a Mob, and a packed programme, the jokes came thick and fast. A significant contribution was made by the Queensland Chapter of Basket Pressed, which possibly took the award for the night, even with the all too rare presence of Polish Joke. Not to be out done by the flow of humour, Music Man and Tickers, following a poetic narration from Gone Slow, gave an extraordinary rendition of “I like Bing Lee” with chop sticks on a non-existent piano. Apart from the opening line, the rest was lost in translation. The make-up however was impressive.