Sunday, May 13

The new committee of our Probus club has decided we need more 'fun' in our meetings. Of course, everyone's idea of 'fun' is different so it's left to the president to put her spin on it.

We've decided to cut our business meeting from 30 minutes to 15 to allow more time for 'fun' activities. Then, couples will not be allowed to sit together and, at morning tea, we'll be issued with a card. Our task will be to match our card with someone else and spend the morning tea time with him or her. All of a sudden, 'fun' has been defined as forced socialisation. What's 'fun' about that?

More jokes is another strategy. We don't have jokes very often but it's been decreed that we'll have them more regularly. It's like castor oil; you need to take it regularly to get maximum effect.

Each committee member has been charged with finding a supply of jokes. The internet is an obvious source so, I googled 'jokes for Probus Clubs' and was directed to the website of Ringwood Probus Club. Now, there's a club who think they knows how to have 'fun'. Their website is packed with funny poems, humorous monologues, riddles and limericks and jokes of all kinds.

Unfortunately, I had to discard most of them for being sexist, racist, rude or just plain unfunny. Obviously, humour is in the eye of the beholder.

I must stop stop myself from being cynical. Probus is a social club and my preference for being a hermit should not stop me from trying to act more like a human. Although, I don't think I'll be visiting the Ringwood Probus Club any time soon.