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Beautiful sunshine, elongated shadows protecting the previous night’s frost cover, the table set – complete with meeting agendas, everything was set for a productive and enjoyable session of business, banter, news and anticipation for the coming summer’s festive event.
Spence had prepared the venue with care and the MCC members gradually homed in on the sweet smells of the roast potatoes and chicken that were wafting out over the valley. With the arrival of Richard and George, fresh from nets in Dijon, the party of eight - Spence, Francois, Tony, Andy, Leigh, Krishna, Richard and George – was finally made up and the meeting commenced.
In true form, despite the Agenda, the Red Herring count started to mount up with questions as to the relative efficacy of Sarko’s proposals to divert the major effects of the global downturn compared to those being applied in the Old Country …….. ( all to no avail as we are all a lot worse off, some more than others due to the pound /euro debacle – if only we’d ….).
Much bottle rapping gave the floor and the table to Francois and business and progress was made with
Item 1: Number of teams.
a) The following have expressed an intent/the possibility to arrive: Les Ormes, Rhone CC, Adastrians, ABC plus two MCC sides.
b) Caveats were entered on behalf of Adastrians who are to decide at their meeting this month, Cavaliers who needed to ensure that enough players were available and willing to drink Montbard dry and Marseilles who were said, by George, to be a ‘good side’.
c) Our own contribution was discussed vis a vis two sides or one? A and B or two equal ‘ability’ sides? It was hoped to field two sides with an A and a B team, the players of which would not be interchangeable.
Much discussion resulted in the decision to have an A and a B team, each with a reserve. The members of these to be decided by the Club Captain from a list of available players (real power eh?).
Extended discussion of the likely costs began and resurfaced several times throughout the meeting but in general it was decided that:
Entry fees per team, payable in advance would be 15 euros per player (reserve too?).
Extended members, i.e. supporters, wives and camp followers, bat polishers, would also pay 15 euros each for their meal tickets which would be exchanged at appropriate times to avoid the ‘passing on’ of tickets to those who hadn’t paid.
Item2: Competition format.
The exact format would be decided when the number of Teams was known for certain. However it was envisaged that:
a) Games would consist of 5 overs of eight balls (plus the usual extras) with the wicket keeper NOT bowling and each team to have a wicket keeper in situ;
b) Matches to start at 11-00am and going on until 7/8pm, each match lasting around 45 mins. or so.
It was felt that it would be unlikely to fit all games in on the one day but, once again, team numbers would dictate the final format.
Item3: Catering.
There was much discussion over this matter with the pro’s and con’s of having a professional caterer vs. some form of self provision. In the end it was decided that we would:
a) Use our usual form of members making contributions to a tea table which would serve those interested in the wears on offer throughout the afternoon. Payment for this would be by voluntary contributions. In respect to this Krishna offered to provide six quiche and others muttered about the possibility of making a contribution. These would have to be collated before the day to assess the extent of provision and whether or not we would have to ‘buy in’ additional items.
b) The bar would have to be staffed and kept separate from the rest of the catering provision. Each drink would have to be paid for at the time of purchase: no-one being allowed to work on the ‘I’ll settle up at the end of the day’ principle.
c) As stated above meal tickets would be available at a cost of 15 euros in respect to two lunches and the BBQ.
d) Leigh is to contact John B to see if he would be interested in being i/c of the BBQ.
Item4: Preparations.
Tents: Chris Northway was to be contacted to see if the village marquee is available for our use.
Francois was to check on the possibility of purchasing some more ‘tonnels’ so that each team would have somewhere to keep its gear.
Richard is to meet with the Mayor of Montbard to ascertain if the town is in possession of suitable tents, chairs, tables, benches, and toilets that we would be able to use.
Item 5: Accommodation.
Francois is to liaise with each visiting team over the type of accommodation available with the municipal campsite coming high on the list of possibilities.
Item 6: The Bar.
Spence is to look into the provision of a pumped beer delivery system that cools the beer before it hits the ‘glass’. Payment for drinks as above.
Item 7: Raffle.
It was agreed that Krishna would take responsibility for buying in a series of Champagne bottles: magnum, bottle, half bottle, with other prizes being provided by club members on a voluntary basis, i.e. raid the cave for anything that our visitors might consider worth shelling out a sous or two.
In the context of this item it was also decided that Krishna would extend the purchase of the fizz to provide one bottle per team, to be awarded for some spurious act of excellence during the competition, with a magnum being awarded to winning side.
AOB.
Dave Austin and Leigh were to investigate the availability/hire of a vibro-roller.
Krishna suggested that when meeting the Mayor of Montbard Richard should invite him to be ‘Honorary President’ – this being on the grounds that he would be more likely to come up with the goods if he felt involved. If he were to accept then he would also be invited to open the event.
At this meeting the question of the height of the cut-grass should be discussed to avoid the necessity of relying on Leigh’s mammoth task of attacking the area with his sit-on-lawn mower
Krishna proposed a ‘fund raiser’ of Heads’n’Tails to give a competitive edge to getting people to shell out more of their rapidly diminishing fund of cash.
Sadness was expressed at the untimely death of Bill Frindal and the meeting held a minutes silence in honour of one of the best known members of the TMS Team whose statistical prowess was a legend throughout the world of cricket.
Date of next Meeting:
To be confirmed, along with venue, but likely to be either Sat 28th March or April 4th. Venue, alas, not decided. Any takers?
Another important day to be entered into diaries is that of the 28th July when Spence makes his family a legal entity: further details to be given along with info on the lad’s Stag do which is to take place in Southend, Angleterre – something to do with the League 1 current leaders, Leicester, playing the Shrimpers.
The meeting gave a unanimous vote of thanks to Spence for his amazing hospitality which had set a standard which few would be able to match.
Countless other irrelevancies passed through the subject matter of the meeting though the naked hikers, skiers or cricketers failed to feature in any adopted motions. Nor was the Wii type cricket game thought to hold out much in the way of transferability of skills since no-one could really work out how not to bowl no-balls or avoid being run out. Roll on warm, sunny weather. |
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