What a tremendous high for the Voxers to end on last night – There was so much inspiration and philosophy flying around the room – Between two jaw-dropping ice-breakers from two stallion-boggers who … Guess what…. Spoke with a comportment and ease casually carried from their country origins to the big smoke…Their speeches were humourous, personal, sincere and… pleasurable to listen to… in spite of the country accents!!…( A note to the wise however… Should the Canadian police coming knocking… We are not.. And I repeat NOT… harbouring a fugitive who hangs out with a lesser-known self-proclaimed accident, not mistake!!)

Moving onto the big guns – Nora and Big D (Donal) seriously brought inspiration to a high-end level with two knock-out Stage 10 speeches…Donal showed how to bring an audience to the floor with his dry-wit and acerbic style …Who knew that working with the WHO to save animals and the Masai tribe in Kilimanjaro and skipping through the Competent Communicator Manual had so much in common?? … Truly inspirational – To be able to make such a plausible link between these two feats  … You’ve totally brought a whole new depth of meaning to my understanding of being in Toastmasters Donal!..

And as for Nora… well … there really isn’t much one can say about a lady so eloquent, emotionally-intelligent and brave….And seriously.. Glamorous to boot…Who checked out that skirt on our Kilkenny lady?.. Nora was endearingly raw and honest in her portrayal of the changes she has made in her life in the last few years … Changes that have brought her more love, poetry, wisdom and inner beauty… Not that she ever needed more….

And all of this, of course, could not have come about, without our very own President presiding over proceedings… Bringing festivity and embarrassing Christmas jokes to the fore, Paul reminded us of the many rewards that can be gotten from sticking with Toastmasters.. And I think that our numerous orators last night just proved his point..… The topics –  thrown out by our very own Queenly Clare gave great fodder to an audience eager to devour and respond to questions like – Is happiness self-created?… What role do guns play in our society? And especially for the birthday boy Frank Sherwin……. Long hair or short hair??.. Nice one Clare!?…

The night as usual ended up with a few too many in the bar upstairs but not before Rosie rounded up the meeting with her usual succinct, grand and honest  way….

And before I sign off, may I please pay homage to the wonderful, weekly blogs that Merrilyn writes… It was both an honour and an intimidating ask to step in for just one week…. Thank you Merrilyn….

And Happy Christmas folks…

Many thanks to the Vox Mystery Blogger for this post, see you all in 2013!

Christmas Tidings, 19 December 2012