I was buggered last night and all I really wanted to do was stay home and put my feet up in front of the TV. Unfortunately I had other commitments and so in the car I popped and headed off across town to North Melbourne.
As it turns out it was well worth the trip. I had another one of my functions to attend, this one on the positive side of the ledger - vibrant, fascinating, thought provoking.
Like always we turn up for a spot of convivial networking and catching up over a house wine or a draught beer before we're all invited to sit down and enjoy the presentation of a particular topic of interest to us. Usually there are three presenters who each give a brief overview of their experience and perspective, before questions are taken from the floor.
Last night we had but a single presenter (Goran Roos), but he was really excellent. Business model innovation I suppose isn't going to rock most people's boats, but it does something for me. The whole related subjects - and there are tentacles going in every direction - is fascinating on a purely intellectual level to me, but it also has much relevance to what I do for a living.
In any case I was happily transfixed in my seat listening, learning so much and at the same time having my mind opened to seemingly infinite possibilities. As always I found my mind setting off of its own accord like a playful dog chasing a field full of rabbits. I love these events for that reason - I feel myself invigorated by the knowledge and the ambition and the sheer scale of wonder contained in a roomful of entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs, small business owners and very enterprising people in general. I always leave buzzing.
That was fortunate for my dinner date last night. I was full of beans, a different man from just a few hours earlier. I marched across the road from the Leveson hotel to my old favourite, the Courthouse, where I met the publisher for dinner.
It was unusually busy and deliciously warm. The Courthouse is one of my favourite pubs in Melbourne, and I really miss it now it's not my local any more (though the bar staff still recognise me). It was a great vibe, sort of modern old-fashioned, a terrific set of interesting beers on tap and the food which it is renowned for.
We sat and caught up and I expostulated about this and that. I see the publisher much less these days - she is engaged now and trying for a baby next month - so when we catch up there is always much to talk on. It's to her fiancées place I journey this weekend.
I was in the car home by 10.15, the night much warmer than a couple of nights before. Excellent evening.
