I had the honor and pleasure to meet Mr. Bingley (proprietor of Coalition of the Swilling) and his lovely wife and daughter for dinner in Washington last night, and we were joined by every red-blooded American blogger’s favorite Australian, Tim Blair (who, if anything, is even funnier in person than on his blog). A friendlier, more down-to-earth group it would be impossible to imagine.
Tim and I, while enjoying a smoke after dinner, were hit up by a couple of lively and amicable panhandlers. One of them claimed to be a veteran – an assertion I have no reason to doubt – and he demonstrated some of his marksmanship tactics. Highly instructive, although of rather doubtful utility in Washington, a town with some of the most restrictive gun-control laws in the nation. The fellow did offer one useful piece of advice, though: “stay close to the ground” – which I took to mean something on the order of “keep your head down”. For this Republican, located only a block away from the Eye of Sauron, that is wise counsel, indeed.
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Heh! Yes, I imagine that you had a good time indeed with Tim and Mr. B. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim in Kuwait, in 2005; I hope to repeat the experience with the Bingley Family early next year.
ReplyDeleteIf all goes well, that is. I'll drop you a line, Paco, as if that happens, I will be in your general vicinity as well. If you're available, maybe I can buy you a double cheeseburger.
For this Republican, located only a block away from the Eye of Sauron, I view that as wise counsel, indeed.
A good idea, Paco. I'm already hearing a few complaints about "Republicans" and "small government" around my office.
From Sen DeMint:
ReplyDelete"Second, hire conservative staff. The old saying "personnel is policy" is true. You don't need Beltway strategists and consultants running your office. Find people who share your values and believe in advancing the same policy reforms. Staff who are driven by conservative instincts can protect you from unwanted, outside influences when the pressure is on."
Cheers
So that's what that great golden glow was from the east: the convergence of Paco, Blair, and Bingley. I trust your various commentariats (by which, I mean me) will be intellectually enriched by this confluence.
ReplyDeleteJeff: that would be great!
ReplyDeleteOkay Paco, fess up! - he drank you under the table, didn't he!
ReplyDeleteAlbury: No, no! It was all very civilized. Nothing but Slurpees all 'round.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a wonderful evening.......but Slupees???
ReplyDeleteNow we know why wronwright is a bit cross [on Tim's latest post] you forgot to tell him, that Tim was in town.
By the way did he give a hint as to when he would be headed back, we have to tidy the place up.
They were Bourbon Slurpees.
ReplyDeleteand he has no plans to meet the rest of his children in the dc area?
ReplyDeleteHalf your luck. I live in the same town, and don't rate a drink with Tim.
ReplyDeleteViva Blairistan!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's just an oversight B o'Bike. I haven't got around to meeting Guru Blair yet either, but I was invited to spend an hour with Norm Geras when he was in Sydney, and he'd just left Tim's pad. And I'm nobody, although I just found out I'm descended from William the Conqueror, but who isn't?
Boy on a Bike: Ah, but I brought your blog up in conversation, and Tim agreed with me that you are an amazing writer, wonderfully amusing.
ReplyDeleteNot jealous. Nope. Not a bit. Looking up the price of dartboards on Amazon...
ReplyDeleteMiss Red: I had originally heard that there might be a general gathering on Wednesday, but I don't think that happened. Tim is driving across the U.S. and, unfortunately, was planning on leaving D.C. on Friday or Saturday, I think. I've encouraged him to return - certainly for the 2012 election, if not earlier - so maybe we can have a big get-together then.
ReplyDeletePaco, you should have told him I also have a great collection of red plonk. I'm sure that would carry more weight.
ReplyDeleteI'm so envious. I don't drink or smoke, and I know I can't match y'all for witty conversation, but I'd be a very willing audience.
ReplyDeleteB on a B: If only I had know about your, er, red plonk.
ReplyDelete(What's "red plonk"? Anybody?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plonk_(wine)
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that my plonk is good plonk - no flagons of goon. (Or "plagons of goon", as the original inhabitants would say).
ReplyDeleteB on a B. I know about plonk but boy did I have to trawl the recesses of my mind. I have not heard it called that since, well I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteAs for goon, where did that expression come from? I know that it is not a BBC comedy show. I first heard goon used by my children. I prefer to call it chateau cardboard. It's an Australian invention.
Paco, it was a most wondrous evening and truly an honor and a thrill to sit at a table with you. It only took me 25 minutes of rather intimate checking by your security team for me to reach to table, which I thought was quite reasonable, especially as they kept refilling my martini glass during the entire process.
ReplyDeleteWV: "bugati" which, oddly enough, is what Paco drove off in.
Bingley, old top! Sorry about the frisking and metal detectors, but one can't afford to take chances these days. You turned out to be a much younger man than I had expected, so the security checks were a must.
ReplyDelete"Goon" - two definitions:
ReplyDelete"the cheapest possible cask wine."
"Cheap wine. Often comes in a 4 Litre Cask for around $10 Australian dollars.
'Magic Goon' is wine mixed with lemonade, OJ etc.
Most commonly said in Australia."
A flagon was the precursor to the cask - a glass bottle holding 2 to 4 litres. As in, "Hey bloke - gimme plagon of goon".