Last evening, the BRB sub-committee commandeered the pub's back room, set up a video feed, the deckchairs and munchies and settled down for the estimates session. Finished late so there was not a lot of time for 'general' discussion and everyone wanted to 'review' the video again; and there is a cartload of it; so detailed analysis may have to wait a day or so. However:-
There were a bakers dozen in attendance, no doubt when the e-mail loop kicks in later I'll get a better take, but 13 good men and true will suffice, for the moment. We have a stack of golf score cards which we use to support a simple system of ticks and crosses – like and dislike – being the yardstick; some interesting 'stats' from those to start with.
The committee score was close; Fawcett, Heffernan, Sterle and Xenophon made the gold star and chocolate frog awards, Edwards just squeaked a choc frog. The (My Kitchen Rules) MKR award eventually went to Wong; the creature who sat and ran a little court from the centre of the witness table ran a close second Decorative but highly unnecessary was the consensus; gas bagging to Merde'k and talking her way through the Q&A; bad manners did not impress. In the end though Wong got the MKR award for pure spite, time wasting and political point scoring with malice and aforethought. Can we please have Fiona Nash back.
For most of us the focus was on Skidmore; the ribald comments and one liners stopped when he appeared, everyone had a full glass, the volume went up, the ears tuned out background noise and eyes sharpened. Ever watch a pack of fox hounds (Harriers) pick up the scent of fox: like that. There were only two crosses consistent across his score card, but they were both from the same passage of play and will stand further discussion; but the 'like' ticks were impressive. Consensus: he did well, very well considering it was his first rodeo. Without being aggressive or arrogant, he managed to convey a sense of command and purpose without talking down to the Senators. He was open, frank and had taken the trouble to be well briefed on what the Senators were likely to be interested in. We felt his answers on CVD and Angel Flight were balanced and reasonable in that he left the committee in no doubt that he was in control of CASA and would make sane, balanced rulings on what are, for CASA, potentially vexed questions, in his own time. Now re-christened 'Skim-more' for the time being, simply on account of the short time on the job and the sheer volume of reading he must do. All up – a good egg and possibly a very good choice. Well done Sir, good maiden innings. (No pressure though).
We all noted the body language between Fraq-u-hardson and Skim-more, have a watch; it speaks volumes, I've watched opposing prop forwards face off with less open animosity. Speaking of body language; if you put the mouse arrow on the Merde'k nose when he talks, watch his head movements, when he's on thin ice listen to the change in delivery, speech patterns and the nodding motions. We all would love to have him at one of our poker evenings.
I expect Peetwo will provide the video links in due course; lots to sift through and when the Hansard is published we shall, as usual have a discussion (or two). Anyone hear Heff mention Pete? (the Nash cherished, winsome, lonesome pot-plant).
MTF – Oh yes.
There were a bakers dozen in attendance, no doubt when the e-mail loop kicks in later I'll get a better take, but 13 good men and true will suffice, for the moment. We have a stack of golf score cards which we use to support a simple system of ticks and crosses – like and dislike – being the yardstick; some interesting 'stats' from those to start with.
The committee score was close; Fawcett, Heffernan, Sterle and Xenophon made the gold star and chocolate frog awards, Edwards just squeaked a choc frog. The (My Kitchen Rules) MKR award eventually went to Wong; the creature who sat and ran a little court from the centre of the witness table ran a close second Decorative but highly unnecessary was the consensus; gas bagging to Merde'k and talking her way through the Q&A; bad manners did not impress. In the end though Wong got the MKR award for pure spite, time wasting and political point scoring with malice and aforethought. Can we please have Fiona Nash back.
For most of us the focus was on Skidmore; the ribald comments and one liners stopped when he appeared, everyone had a full glass, the volume went up, the ears tuned out background noise and eyes sharpened. Ever watch a pack of fox hounds (Harriers) pick up the scent of fox: like that. There were only two crosses consistent across his score card, but they were both from the same passage of play and will stand further discussion; but the 'like' ticks were impressive. Consensus: he did well, very well considering it was his first rodeo. Without being aggressive or arrogant, he managed to convey a sense of command and purpose without talking down to the Senators. He was open, frank and had taken the trouble to be well briefed on what the Senators were likely to be interested in. We felt his answers on CVD and Angel Flight were balanced and reasonable in that he left the committee in no doubt that he was in control of CASA and would make sane, balanced rulings on what are, for CASA, potentially vexed questions, in his own time. Now re-christened 'Skim-more' for the time being, simply on account of the short time on the job and the sheer volume of reading he must do. All up – a good egg and possibly a very good choice. Well done Sir, good maiden innings. (No pressure though).
We all noted the body language between Fraq-u-hardson and Skim-more, have a watch; it speaks volumes, I've watched opposing prop forwards face off with less open animosity. Speaking of body language; if you put the mouse arrow on the Merde'k nose when he talks, watch his head movements, when he's on thin ice listen to the change in delivery, speech patterns and the nodding motions. We all would love to have him at one of our poker evenings.
I expect Peetwo will provide the video links in due course; lots to sift through and when the Hansard is published we shall, as usual have a discussion (or two). Anyone hear Heff mention Pete? (the Nash cherished, winsome, lonesome pot-plant).
MTF – Oh yes.