Dear (almost) all.
"Almost all" since Ioannis has been banned from this list just for this message!
Meeting 1/2004 is approaching and of course we will have a TC6 dinner on Friday, May 14. After the special tombola ceremony in Lisbon (Oct. 2002) the following idea came to my mind: We might give some small presents to our local host Ioannis Stavrakakis. (At least I suppose that Ioannis will be the concrete host since our still offical Greek TC6 delegate is invisible, inhearable and in-email-able since the end of 1998).
My proposal is based on the following: There is a German saying which reads "Eulen nach Athen tragen", i.e. "carry owls to Athens" and which characterizes the most superfluous actions. The British equivalent of this saying is "carry coal to newcastle" (or to Coventry).
Now my suggestion is: Wouldn't it be nice to bring owls to the TC6 dinner in Athens? Owls of different species: as wodden toys, as pictures, as stuffed animals, as book-end, as ... (I found already one version at a flea market which is not mentioned in that list). The only kinds of owls which would be not allowed are: - living owls (which would probably create problems at the immigration department of Athens airport) - the Greek EURO coin which displays an owl at its back side (since that would just be too easy; nevertheless it just how common owls are in Athens).
Perhaps we could give a special premium to the owl which would be selected as the most original one.
Thus: Have fun when doing the search for owls.
Best wishes Otto