Observations of mild to middling Relevance

I attended a very formal, very larney function last night. It was an award ceremony for something-or-other (the wine was free, ok?) But what struck me as weird was that the whole evening was about giving someone an award for something, and the guy didn't even show up - in absentia! I mean really! There were the top brass of Stellies all kitted up, made-up, bejewelled and tied, and the oke sends a buddy to pick up the prezzie. So maybe he is a bigwig with more important commitments, but then couldn't they have just arranged the prize-giving for a time when he would be more, say, available?

Anyway, the food was good. The wine, not so much, but it seemed to improve as the evening progressed. The company at our table, sadly, did not. In fact, quite the opposite. It became rather embarrassing being seated at the table of what had started out to seem like some classy older folks, who turned into a pack of disrespectful, remarkably vulgar troglodytes as the wine and the speeches flowed. It raises the question for me as to why perfect strangers feel it is important to impress others with discussions over the size of their bank accounts? I really don't care about that. And for someone approaching the autumn years of their life, surely you would know better than to brag about your most recent investment. Is it just me, or does it come across as pathetic?

Before we had left home that evening, T-Bird had begged to come with us. "I'll be on my best behaviour," she had promised. Truth is, she would have been far better company and far more civilised than the gaggle we shared the evening with.

But, on the up-side, we had the pleasure of listening to a speech delivered by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mr Pius Langa. Getting a chance to learn a little more about the blokes who make headlines and lead lives that feel very distant from our own is always an enlightening experience. They're only human too. Which is a refreshing revelation. And somewhat comforting for the individual on the road to self-discovery.