It’s carnival time!

Yes, its Wednesday again and Lady Toastmaster Marion Chevalier who just has been back from a trip to beautiful Venice invited us to one of those cool Carnival-After-Hour-Private-Parties which to her experience are much more fun than the official Venice carnival were locals dress beautifully and tourists just stare and take photos. Let’s have some fun then!

So, just wait until we have put on our carnival hats and the show can begin. However, not before the guardians of the party are presented. Policewoman Celine warned us that she would not forgive any grammatical mistake and surely take us into handcuffs whereas Sheriff Xavi was sure to give a “multa” to anyone passing the red timekeeper light. Maria-little-red-riding-hood asked us to not only beware of the wolf but tonight especially of all the “ahs” and “ohs” and “ehms”.

The talks started with Marcos Mota the “stubborn dreamer” who fascinated us not only with his childhood dream of leaving his Brazilian home Sao Paulo for going to college in the US. With jokes and impeccable American English, he was magically managing his slides and talking with such an ease that most of us hardly could believe that this was his Ice Breaker!

Then Inma Lopez, who one day woke up from a dream realizing that she was living in a city which to her is the “7th wonder of the world”, started teasing us with mouth-watering images of Andalusian tapas. The journey went on with some live flamenco and photos of a real architectural jewel. A very warm and moving speech were you could literally feel the affection she has for her home town ….. and with many of us already having mentally planned our next trip to Granada!

But this was by far not he last empowering speech of the evening! Peter Brenchley started to make us think with his introductory question “Are you happy?” In a very playful and inspiring way, he persuaded us not to wait for that particular moment to be happy, such as a better job ... the perfect partner … the day your children leave home … the divorce from your formerly perfect partner... or even the day you retire. Live is just too short for that! Start being happy today!

Theater time! Sue Chien Lee alias “The fool” invited us to Shakespeare’s world with her interpretation of King Lear where she easily jumped between the roles between of the fool, the king, his daughter and even Jackie Chan! Almost had to pinch myself to believe that I am in Toastmasters and not some London theater watching a professional play.

“But wait!”- Laura Martinez the table topic master of the evening claimed - “after all the Carnival action going on, we should not forget about this other big event … the Oscars!” So, Laura led us into the world of movies, film stars, starlets and directors while challenging some actors-to-be among us to go for an audition.

Meryl Streep, for example, had to convince a director of that special touch she would give to the role of a prison keeper and was marvelously performed by Ana Vilar. Concluding “oh, but I first have to speak to my manager”, the applause was on here side!

Antonio Banderas alias Riccardo Agostini was trying to convince star director Laura with his Italian charm to be the perfect fit for playing a Maroccan boy in her new movie.

Last but not least, Liz Calvey jumped into the shoes of Cristina Aguilera and told us so much about her talents and amazing acting experience we would never have imagined. We definitely recommend her as leading actress for that new opera movie that surely is going to be shown in a theater near you very soon!


Just after the table topics round, it was time for David “Bad Boy” González who stepped to the lectern in his Mafia outfit in order to introduce his clan “the Evaluators” consisting of Ana from Ikea alias Pilar de Obeso, Honey Bunny Kathryn Lum as well as Dave-the-carnival-grouch and Cormac whose outfit was impossible to guess.

To close the session David threatened us to send his mafia boys if we don’t put the room in order before leaving which - of course - we devotedly did. ;-)

Tanja