Chapter 5… 04 ,, not only NIGHTS & days ..of Round tabling…INTERNATIONAL!
Chapter 5… 04 ,, not only NIGHTS & days ..of Round tabling…
Its not that I believe in some “allegedly Christian” groups, but more probably KELTS legend of Arthur, the sword, Excalibur, because “Merlin” I f existed would certainly be akin to a CELT practicioner, druid or the goons might call a “wizard” and of course for many a time, the IGNORANT , and their “Christian” church burnt or drowned “witches” ..
I joined because I was socially invited, and the atmosphere was Immediately good, I recall a few jokes at my expense, at my first meeting I attempted to “de-snob” the wine image.. funny how, though, even then a very small element In EVERY group, was “jealous” and wanted to bring this “wizz – kid” down..
Sure , I was a bit “flashy” at the time I had been driving a gold coloured BMW 635 CSi coupe… and at one Italian meeting after parking my white Porsche 928 sports near the Milano Duomo, turned up, at , I think the Bologna gathering in it.
Round Table... formed about 100 years ago ..by a Swiss Marchesi, the premise to have a “codex” similar, everyone equal, and the motto “adopt , adapt & improve” I could live with..not because I am a Knight, I am not a "christian" I am of spirit, I respect Islam, Hindu, or Buddhist, or atheist if their aim is GOOD>>
There are many TYPES OF gathering , they refect the members, ...we had meetings..& gatherings of the Tables,,, gloabal events where EVERYONE could attend, national region and numbered meetings, for example when my office was in Hamburg I joined Bernds table in nearby Elmshorn, RTi 24 ..so every year all the “24’s” would meet at one of their locations..
I had been helping Bernd with his English, not only with language, but the nuance of the “political English” ,how to read between their lines..what their “agenda “ was. ..and NEVER simply translate word for word..look at the whole..And then pull it apart…
I recall Bernd, he had invited me to stay in his guest room, when I was in Hamburg, calling me his friend.. he was surprised when I corrected him.. “Bernd, you are only truly my friend , when you are there for me,when I NEED you” ..but when did I ever need…?
And he was excited when the English RTi 24 was hosting the next “number meeting” at first my reaction was “why would I join a meeting in England, on the south coast? “ … its not interesting, then I reflected, “this could be fun, but , Bernd, add me, as “Herr Schmitt” …
\ah.. I knew also some of the Dutch n.24 tablers, and asked them NOT to speak English to me during that weekend, as usual , at the welcome party, we got separated and each allotted a local members family, after the intro party, it was a bit late & I was shown my room by the local family, with minimum contact, “see you at breakfast, good night”..I nodded back with a smile..
At Breakfast . “this is an English breakfast”..its was the “full monty” …eggs, bacon, tomatoes, sausage, (often with black pudding too) toast on the side, and TEA, with milk of course! …so I smiled , then stared at th plate, and with my knife , prodded the strips of bacon.. “Ja , aber, vas ist das, den?” … reply “er ..bacon.. from pig,..” then the couple attempted noises of pig etc, it was SO hard not to laugh, I just shook my head in apparent confusion… and skirted around the bacon.. ..they kept trying to explain,,and I wouldn’t have it..
Then the poor dears went into the kitchen, arguing.. “you talk to him, ..no. ..you explain…you! “ .. I finished my breakfast, whilst they sat embarrassed in the kitchen waiting for the others to pick me up for the days outing.. ( I don’t remember what we did, but I recall seeing the dutch lads and reminding them to “keep it german”…anyway, came back to change into “dress suit” <”smoking jacket”> & black tie for the “gala evening” a typical part of the RTi weekend programme, and after dinner, before the party & dancing (my favourite part) were the speeches by the presidents of each represented number 24 table.. and as the last one finished , before the band started playing , I put my hand up, stood up,
And gestured to the nice couple who had hosted me, sitting nearby..
In perfect English, even more perfect than my natural accent.. “ I would VERY much, like to thank this wonderful couple for HOSTING me this weekend under difficult circumstances!” and sat down, after the shock, the looks they gave me, could have killed me.. but..
That was “Table” .. our UNOFFICIAL motto was “lets get drunk in another language”…
But it was also great fun, TOGETHER, in humanitarian events, and charitable actions..Like borrowing the one tonne bicycle from the BBC comedy show “the goodies”, a 3 man cycle” to cycle from London to Southend with 50 other Tablers and collect funds ion buckets along the way, each of us taking turns on the bike,
Was difficult to start , had to have a few others help push us off.. and difficult to stop I recall.. wheni got my turn , to ride the 3 seater, raecaal us approaching traffic lights, in panic as they changed…knowing we couldn’t stop , so going flat out as the rest of the group who cycled on their own bikes with us, “covered” the the traffic from hitting us,,
and so we were going quite fast , then trying to corner and instead going straight on. Down the wrong road😊
After 50 kms on a cycle, on the 3 seater or my own bike, collecting cash , we (it was an Rti national charity event ) raised collectively 0ver 100,000 GBP for the childrens hospital wing in London… but I had sit on pillows for the rest of the weekend..!
Cyprus. My fits global RTi gathering. Gerry, an Irish lad was chairman so I guessed it could be fun,
I had swapped badges at a local meeting of Rt Italy in Rovereto, Trentino, where I was based for the vino exports,, so even so, with my limited Italian language, I was learning, and could later speak it almost fluently.. my average height, black hair and a slight tan could pass ..as “Stefano”,,,
The atmosphere was great at Limassol, locals friendly , I suppose everywhere when you are “visitors spending money” ..but here the locals seemed genuine & enjoyed our “comical exploits” we sang beatles songs on the way to the first , as usual, homeparty..a standard of RTi meetings. At one of the locals houses, well, in his garden, in warm weather…about 30 people from different origins but was all so “familiar” a great international feeling…like being “at home”
The first “game” was to ask each guest to step up on their chair an sing a line from their national anthem, half way round, & the host called “Stefano?” I hadn’t a clue about the Italisn anthem, so sang “arrivederci Roma”…. Ha ha ha … a few smiles, a few curious faces and a stare from the Host..
Next, there was this weird game of spoons which the Host insisted I be one of the first competitors.. you hold a big wooden spoon in your teech and have to hit your opponent on the heads (with your hands behind your back) ,, I had a couple of strikes against the other member, but when I held my head down , WHALLOP, owe a real hard smack on the head and after the 2nd time, the opponent started laughing and everyone around did, I looked up behind me, and there was theHost..with a big metal spoon, saying “you are NOT Stefano”…
The party went on I was fun…
New york,, New York, for new years eve, ,what an idea!..to form the new “Round Table NY” with 10 local guys, the usual format..welcome party, next day special outine,, maybe something else, gala nigh then a brunch & home.. but this was something else,,,New York was just like how it looked on Tv or fils.. a 24hr buzz, non-stop electricity..
THE WECOME party was at the EIGHTY-forth floor of the Empire state…84! ,,500 or so Europeans came for that weekend, and as I was still based in Hamburg I was with the german group, wives & all.. and although “normally” the welcome party was usually a bit “casual” we were all in dinner jackets & bow ties & the laddies in their long gowns,,, a new bottle of champagne opened every time it was midnight somewhere..
Someone mentioned about “Times square”, I didn’t know , back then, about the famous midnight “ball drop” there, and the group asked me , as the only fluent English speaker to take them to Times square, so about 20 or so , finely dressed, march through the streets , *with new Yorkers” commenting as we passed them by, …t wasn’t far, to Times square..but..
wHen we arrived there..was a police block..one street away from where we wanted to be..a sargeant came up to me and said something like “where are you guys going , mack?” ,, (this may be my memory but something like that) “Times square, of course” ,,, “oh no no no, my orders are to keep this sealed off no more party”.. (there were 2 live bands playing at each end of the square, and an estimated 200,000 revellers)
I said “but we are all from Europe, maybe this is the oNLY time in NY!!” ..he shrugged his shoulders.. at which time I noticed 3 or 4 people let through on the other side of this barrier.. “hey ,Sarge, I said , what about those guys?” ,,,he checked & replied, “they have reservations at a restaurant by the square!” ,,, I smiled & looked him square in his eyes, “oh, didn’t I Mention….”? …he laughed …”ooooohhhh K, go on!”
When we got there, there was that manym and everyone had a bottle of champagne, all a bit drunk, and to our girls “ you europeeeannn?” “icky Leeber diiiishhh” … etc.. or “are u eurpean celebreties?” ”are u famous in Europe?” , because of our attire…a great nigtt, the next think we were taken by one of the new RTNY members to a church , or what was a church ,and now a disco, (someone said it was “studio 54” but I don’t think so) we arrived by taxi, there was a long line waiting to go in, we were ushered straight inside.. and I felt my whole body vibrate with the sounds, GoGO girls in cages, the whole thing..
The next day our outing ..an excursion on a boat around the bay & Statue of Liberty, party on board..and an evening on the “USS Enterprise” ,,again dressing up for the “Glenn Miller orchestra” ..and dancing..(my favourite time)
dancing with their ladies..because most men, most RTi members didn’t dance so I had a choice of dance partners ,,, I stayed an extra couple of days, had a Karaoke evening with the lads In their “china town”
and a lunch with a couple of wall street brokers, where we “brainstormed” ,,and one come up with the idea (his sister was at NASA) to have “funerals <ash caskets> in space” for the rich… some years later it happened..! I went back to NY a couple of time during my days of “strategic planning” but never had the urge to visit the rest of the USA, its history and later my empathy for its natives, plus for me New York was “extra” a multi-cultural republic with little to do with “U S of A”…
As I may have mentioned, at that time I had an office at a “service bureau” in Hamburg, they answered the phone for me, & saved messages etc, when I was out…(pre “handy” mobiles) and I joined Bernd’s table (N.24) at nearby Elmshorn, I have told the story of going to the England as “Herr Schmitt” elsewhere, and catching him out during the “24 hours sunshine “ when we had the annual International Round table event in TROMSO, the most northern Norwegian city..
But another English tabler & myself also decided to go to the Ravensburg event, which was RT Deutchlands annual meeting, and a RT football tournier … by Bodensee (Constance lake) … I drove their in a “COSWORTH” ford …which I had taken back from a Sales Director, who had it on lease, as I was managing a 3 way joint venture of communications & security companies that I had initiated.. he was lazy and just “posing” on high salary, expenses, and this special car he had ordered for himself, it had only a few months left on the lease.. so I took it to Bielefeld, where I was (staying with Sabina?) then drove one afternoon, 3 hours only…
To Ravensburg,…it was fun, with a virtual formula ONE equivalent engine under the bonnet, looked like a low slung ford saloon… and I bombed down the autobahn, at up to 270 kms p/hr , scary! … really fun, coming up behind, say a Ferrari, or big Mercedes seeing the driver arrogantly sneer into his rear-view mirror, accelerate away, then see my face grinning at him , just a few metres behind.. ! anyway..
Bernd was handing over his RT presidency of RT Deutchland.. to xxxxx (the vice president) or so we expected… the lad , well seemed “bi” and the southern germans (Baverians) were not far off their grandfathers of 100 years before,.. it wasn’t what I called “Round table atmosphere” … they ruined the election & instead promoted one of the baverian members.. (I called him “little bismark” as I imagined him with one of those pointed helmets on) ,,, I played in the RT tournament , and was SO HAPPY to score a penalty against the baverian RT team, … and later put on a show dancing side by side with the lasd who they had “mobbed” at the party,, “ I was born to be alive” is all I can remember… they probably though I was gay , too (not that I think he was) I didn’t care and I made sure they saw that I didn’t like them!
After the Verlin wall came down RTi made a huge effort to form new RTi “tables” ( we don’t really call them “clubs”) in Prague, Warsaw, Budapest,,,,and Kiev..!
Prague, was a bit funny , they changed the venue at the last minute, I don’t recall much, pleasant, I may even have been at nearby Dresden at that time, a short contract for the “Wirthshaftfirderung Saxon” (Saxon development co) also due to a RT guy I had met , a quite humourous “anwalt” Micheal Sadlo (or as I called him “saldo” for sale…) who was , with his buddy in the Dev. Corp ripping everyone off… I was offered 20k for a few hours work , had ny german language been as good as it was later, or now, I could have made a fortune too.. it was TERRIBLE how the wessies exploited their naïve eastern compatriots, so much for “unity”…
Warsaw, I recall was good and I had TWO other experienced there, One when INVITED by an M.E.P. to join her “entourage” & interviewed a host of local “would be entrepreneurs” they had so much enthusiasm, that impressed me, and they wanted to impress me, but I also “escaped” the official programme, and found a student café-bar, talking to the youngsters there, learnt more that the whole “official tour info etc” .. and…
I went back… for another “research” trip, as an excuse to invite Mary/Marija from malta, who was my “intended” when I moved to Freiburg, ( she had managed the health studio of Ian, RT Matla , which I how I met her, and we had an affair for almost a year) ..she even learnt german, but she was still married, and although her (English) husband had been gone from contact over 2 years, her fundamental catholic family wouldn’t let her divorce, “shame on the family” ..and when she told them (after we had spent a number of visits to Malta , together, at a secret hotel, and after a weekend with me In France AND joining me in Warsaw when I was there the 3rd time, she said it was too cold! ) ..
All hell broke out… her brother “you will hurt the family reputation, I will not speak with you again if you go to that man” … Priest … “you will burn in hell!” …her Mother “ I will commit suicide” .. three months after our weekend together, she called me ..”I so want to be with you, I will love you forever, but I am sick, physically sick, I lost kilos in body weight, I worry what to do, but now I must tell you, Chris, I cannot come, that was the last time I heard her voice, she couldn’t talk to me any more, she was no nice, beautiful & with good heart, so much like Jacqui whom I also lost, in a different way…
But so MANY GOOD moments with ROUND Table International…and I am such a lucky boy, I may have stated Previously that I got to celebrate my birthday when I was younger at the same time my LIVERPOOL TEAM were winning trophies in may , always near my birthday… well.. RTi traditionally had their gatherings, local, number meets, national or International were also towards the end of may, and I got to celebrate my birthday in such great atmosphere & surroundings.. even if those members were maybe “friends for one gathering only…” I had over 50 pennants & souvenir pins from each meting to remind me of those parties & other memories..
Much of that time & many meetings were hosted by the Italian Round tables… especially as I was exporting incredible amounts of Italian Vino… I was presented with their special pennant (see pic) with a note in English on the reverse side “ChRiS you are the Best” …and made me an Italian honorary member (apparently for life,… although membership shd stop by 45 at the latest, to keep the movement fresh.._) one particular memory stands out at a time when I was learning their language, It may have been in Roverto or at the impressive “Martini & Rossi” villa, one of their “favourite locations” ..at that event there was a large candle burning on each of the steps leading up to the villa..
The spread was impressive, but the members were not snobs, they were extra friendly to me, (including “Stefano” whom I switched name badges with before going to Cyprus) maybe unusual for them to know a native English speaker bothering to learn their language.. near the end of the evening, a WIONDERFUL evening,, I got the job.. of “responding” on behalf of the guests (foreign members) Stefano asked if I could try it in Italian..but I knew I was not “ready” so I said “ Stefano, please, quietly tell your Italian members that I will pretend to talk fluently , it will be gibberish..but when I am finished will they please applaud me, ..and they did agree, even , when I paused , with polite clapping, as if they were following my speech… and with “Bravo Chris” at the end, the others were impressed , they were great!
nice moments.. only small “regrets” well, not really regrets, just decisions, that took me one way or another.. down another , “road less travelled” I had been separated with Jacqui when the offer came to Join the FRENCH RTi national members I knew , who were inviting any member, to go on a cruise ACROSS the Caribean!!!! ..one week , with about 500 tablers & wifes/Gfs on a party mood , & the French I knew are good at making a party! Like their music & liked to dance..jive!
Franzi had left me from my Freiburg home, but I decided to invite her, anyway, the week was good, quality food & drink , lots of fun on board, big cruise ship, flew from paris to Martinique, then stopped every night at an Island; St Martin, St Thomas, & Barbados , I think , then return…but Franzi was moody & I think flirting with a tabler from Karlsruhe near where she was living.. then at the last stop, we were at the Hilton beach bar, palm trees, white sand, blue sky & sea, on loungers sipping cocktails.. I looked over at her, was about to say “cheers” or “zum wohl” or “Slainte” ,,”skol” but stopped , seeing she had a feck-face on, said, instead; “ well Franziska H, I suppose if you aren’t happy HERE, you aren’t EVER going to happy with me again!” and that was it , we were finished , there & then, I heard years later, that indeed she had hooked up with the RICH guy from Karlsruhe, sorry about that, my Jacqui!
I have snippets In my head, of meetings, I vaguely recall trying to tell a joke in French, that was probably not understood unless you are Irish.. I did HOST a whole meeting, when I was still with Jacqui at Wickford.. introduced to that “Table” by Les, the local pub manager, who is black, and whose humour allowed him to be “Santa” when we decided to have a summer Xmas for the disadvantaged kids,, the look on the kids faces when he arrived on horse driven Sleigh, in June, in a complete red Santa suit complete with white beard & black face, of course! Priceless.. .. there was a special friendship between RT Wickford & RT Bielefeld-Sennestadt something to do with one of the members previously being stationed there in military,
Anyway the invitation had been made for their members to visit,, so I took it on, the welcome party was at our home, then after the group split up, early June 1989?, Petra & BIG Franz were our guests in our guest room.. I cant forget the date, because my LIVERPOOL team had won the cup , after the 97 had been lost at Hillsborough, an emotional season, delayed ..and if the REdS win or even draw or even lose by only 1 goal we win “the league & cup double” (again) … I was organisor & host, so it was on live (rarely) on BBC (I think, or maybe Itv , there were only 3 channels back then , can you imagine?)
So I had a VHS tape recording as Jacqui & I talked to our visiting couple.. (I admit from time to time glanced at the VHS recorder to make sure it was running) .. and as the couple had been travelling since early morning said they wanted to go to their bad, about 10 PM , uk I suppose, I just switched on the Tv to make sure the tape had covered the whole match, as MICHAEL THOMAS os ARSE NAL, scored to make it 0-2 , we lost and they won that league trophy…
The weekend was good & it helped cover my shock, I had turned the TV on & off in a few seconds & Jacqui came back downstairs to our living after showing them to the room, I was just staring into space..
Saturday I had a friendly contact with a private plane (a piper) at nearby Southend who took the male members up , in relays for an aerial tour of the district, and Jacqui helped other wives take the lady visitors to a fashion event in the afternoon. That evening we had a dance party in the local town hall, drinking & dancing & making friendly contacts with visiting members, (don’t mention the war!)
Sunday as traditional had it too was the farewell brunch which I organised for us in the beer garden of Les’s pub,and I was “master at arms” (to give out funny penalties, although any member could do this)
So I picked On Petra “ a fine for occupying the bathroom, for much of the weekend, and making us late!”
And BIG (built like a tank..) Franz,, “ for eating his own & everyone elses Brunch this morning” ..
I guess you “had to be there” to appreciate the good times we had,,,
..and..
Bordeaux..`1990” … Because I was always moving location, visiting rather than staying at one particular “TABLE” …I got the nickname “RT “Euro tunnel-international officer” ..and that year the Annual ROUND TABLE Internatonal gathering was in BORDEAUX , which I also knew well, from my youthful days learning about the wine shipping days, (especially with Isis shipping & their Bordeau agent; Danielle Duniau, and even had holiday with GF Gaye & the Duniau family.. in the Pyranees back then.. late 70?_) ..
Stolen by Sasa Jovanovic & Miro Lukic..
I was surprised at the gathering with “European ROUND TABLER of the Year award 1990” …and the trophy which was kept by the reciver for one year , with “ChRiS – Round table Euro – Tunnel” engraved on it… the RT Chester lads swiped the trophy form my dinner table, and I had to later rescue it..no big problem, being close to Liverpool, I also tried to make contacts with Danielle & her family, but that’s another episode?
Thank you ROUND TABLE International … for so many stories.& so many GOOD times..!
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