Source of the Nile

Yr sec'y ordered and tasted a White Nile, southern Sudan's first beer from its newly built brewery, last night in a bar on the eastern bank of the eponymous river in Juba. Tastes a bit too fluvial, and it was quickly abandoned for a Tusker Malt, which, funny enough, was also had in Kampala earlier in the week. Kwaheri, Mr Earle!

v/d Z downs Viking

Mr v/d Z reported, via text message, "ICELAND, 86!"

Tanzania Chapter Meeting

Mr Secretary,
I am not sure this constitutes irrefutable evidence – the foto is blurry but we were still quite decent at this point - but I was in Tanzania recently and met up with a fellow country clubber for a sun-downer and, as it turned out, an excellent Ethiopian meal. The world weary will recognise this this as the terrace of the Irish pub on the water in north Dar es Salaam.

So my thanks to Robert for taking the initiative. Great evening. Grant.

Negus Elected 16th Member

Mr Negus, having received an aye from a 3/4ths majority of the members of our fine club, has been duly elected. Welcome!

My apologies to Mr Bob van der Zwaan who through an oversight was omitted from our correspondence on this.

The List of Countries Visited and The Club Ladder have been duly modified. Mr Negus enters at sixth with a total of 70 countries, half of which in Africa. Mr Grant asked about the delta of Mr Negus, who estimated it at three to five countries per year.

Bon voyage, Yr sec'y.

Mr K Embibes Entire City

Mr K writes "Oh BTW, I did manage to get to Namibia and drink a Windhoek. At this rate I will catch up to the leader in about a hundred years and five years to catch up with our nominee."

v/d Z gets Gold Star, 85th Country

Mr v/d Z is on the move again, this time to Israel, his 85th country. Anyone want to wager which region he aims to complete next?

Yr sec'y sipped a vieux magon in old Tunis last month too, putting him once again in a tie for fourth with Mr Earle.

Hoe Hoe Hovig visits Sierra Leone

I was in Sierra Leone a few months back. Had a bit of a swill at the bar in Freetown where Leonardo Di Caprio first met the hottie in the movie Blood Diamond. I tried my best to look rakish like Leo. Alas, I'm sure I resembled a less attractive garden tool in our shed....

You Gotta Have Heart

Mr Heart, after a lost demi-decade, wrote in to report that he lived in Lebanon from 2006-2007, where he learned about scotch whiskey. This moves Leigh to 69 countries, tied with WW.

Rhodes on the Road

Mr Rhodes has been on the road, just not notifying your secretary.  He has recorded visits to Bosnia, Croatia, Portugal, Indonesia, Malaysia and, pictured here (I think) is Ukraine.  Mr Rhodes leaps up two places in the club ladder and trails Mr Karam by one.  

Sempliner Recalls 12 Year Old Hong Kong Visit, 54th Country

Mr Sempliner recalled a visit to Hong Kong 12 years ago, resulting in the addition of China to his tally.  

Oman! v/d Z Opens Middle East Lead

Amsterdam, 8 February, 2008.  Mr v/d Z sent word via SMS of his sixth country visit to the Middle East, this time to Oman, opening a one country lead on Mr Karam.  Close observers of these proceedings will recognize the seasonality of v/d Z's travel to this region, having of course scored a hat trick just one year ago.  This is v/d Z's 84th country, still four shy of a tie for second with Mr Greeley.  v/d Z needs a camera in his phone badly; still no photo and no beverage recorded.  

Ms v H visits South Korea, ties Mr Sempliner at 52 Countries

Ms v H wrote to report that her KLM 747 had landed in Seoul and that qualifying actions were underway!  Ms v H has for years now been on the very honorable low ladder rung of our fine club, but with this visit she ties Mr Sempliner at 52 countries.   

v/d Z surges up Club Ladder

Mr v/d Z reports visits to his 78th-83rd countries: namely:
78: Lithuania
79: Belarus
80: Latvia
81: Estonia
82: Armenia
83: Malta (a joint visit with your Secretary and Ms v H, correctly documented here sipping a workmanlike beer).

v/d Z has now visited all countries in Europe and North and Central America, and has visited 33 countries since joining our fine Club in 2004. Mr Greeley, beware!

Earle chased by Zwaan

Mr Earle reported his 79th country visit to your secretary in person, at 40,000 feet in KLM's business class from Amsterdam to Washington. He and the Mrs celebrated their 22nd anniversary in the Czech Republic. Beer was taken. Photos thereof, we hope, are forthcoming.

Mr van der Zwaan reported by text message visits to North Korea (v/d Z described it as "most unique", quite!), Australia and Singapore, bringing him to tie for fourth with yours truly at 77 countries. Photos have not yet been submitted because, apparently, v/d Z is in the midst of a "Baltic Hat Trick". Details forthcoming.

Yr, sec'y. -s

A Dance for the Country Club

Mr Secretary,
Have you seen this youtube video? As a leader in our country club, and a fellow traveler who is a bit dancing-challenged, like me,you'll love this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

If you can't go to this link, then just go to youtube, and type in 'where the hell is matt?'. make sure you watch the 2008 version. Shall we put this link on our blog? it is too too funny, and plus really lifts the spirits..
Governor Hovig

Deidrick Ventures Forth

Mr Sempliner,
Mr Deidrick's home of record is now updated on the Club Ladder.
During these several occasions, did Governor Deidrick ever muse about, for example, visiting a new country? One of the many charms of our fine club is the inability to be relegated, yet research into the archives of the Club (always available at http://tccproceedings.blogspot.com/) reveals the little known fact that Mr Deidrick has managed, in our nearly six years of existence, to have visited but one country. In 1990, Mr Deidrick had the thickest passport that I had or have ever seen. Why should he no longer be peripatetic?
--------
Club Ladder as of 1 December 2002 (number of new countries since then in parentheses)
1. Mr Hovig: 82 Countries (+13)
2. Mr Greeley: 81 Countries (+7)
3. Mr Heart: 65 Countries (+3)
4. Mr Chapman: 63 Countries (+14)
5. Mr Warshauer: 62 Countries (+7)
6. Mr Karam: 55 Countries (+5)
7. Ms Thuermer: 54 Countries (+0)
8. Mr Deidrick: 52 Countries (+1)
9. Ms Hommes: 49 Countries (+12)
10. Ms van Herksen: 34 Countries (+15)

Yr secr'y, -s

Mr Secretary,


OK, OK. I am pleased to report that Nepal (Feb. 2008) and Bangladesh (Oct. 2007) have been added to my list. Despite the fact that it was Ramadan during my visit to the lovely city of Dhaka, a surprising amount of alcohol was to be had.
JD

Cashews Are Not Even A Beverage

Dear Mr. Secretary,
While I may add nothing of substance to the great cashew polemic I would offer one small correction for the record. Mr. Deidrick is no longer resident in Laos and now resides, along with me, in Phnom Penh. Indeed his home is but a leisurely stroll from my own and we have met on several occasions. I will save all the boredom of photographs of those evenings but assure you that drink was taken.
Best, as ever,
Sandy

Duke visits Republic

Mr Earle reports:

Aye Im a glad ye reminded me to report to ya Mister Secretary ... I was in
County Mayo drinking a few Guiness and playing goff in a 40 mile an hour
breeze back in March ... check out the pants in the attached pic ... after
the round we had a wee dram or two of fine triple distilled irish whiskey
... I believe that puts me up to 78 mr. secretary, leaving you with a little
hind tit to nurse on ... the second pic has a nice Guiness ad
Sloncha to all ye mates

v/d Z visits Syria, country 73

Forgot the attachment; see previous post! -s

v/d Z visits Syria, country 73

v/d Z in Syria (country 73) moments before trying a freshly roasted cashew in Damascus in January!