3rd Annual Richmond Hill Mayor's Prayer Breakfast - May 8, 2007

So I was invited to go to the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast yesterday morning at the Premiere Ballroom & Convention Centre. Music was great. The speech was great with David Mainse (see photo) as the feature speaker. Even the parting given was great too - a book called "The Difference Maker" by John Maxwell.

But one problem: I arrived at the venue 30 minutes late which was totally unintended. The night before I was told that the event would start at 7:30am. So I simply arrived at that time finding the parking lot was totally full, leaving me no choice but to park at the Sheraton Parkway.

Walking into the banquet hall already filled with some 600 people in the middle of their breakfast, I found myself totally embarrassed especially for the fact that I had to walk to the middle (towards the front) of the hall where our table was situated. In addition, the reason of my embarrassment for the fact that I know so many important people there.

So I found my table, with 9 pairs of eyes looking at me amusingly (as if all were accusing me why I was late to such an important event which was attended by a lot of local important dignitaries including John Tory).

So I asked him why he told me (over the phone) the night before that the event started at 7:30am. He said "no", he said he told me 7am during our phone conversation. Well, this is literally another case of "羅生門" and with 7 other people (excluding his wife) being punctual, I was on the disadvantageous end.

But as I told Spence last night, this guy definitely has this "pre-ex" condition in not speaking clearly, part of the problem being his voice too low. I have found him in 2 instance of speaking unclearly during announcement after Sunday service. One being "地庫" but I heard "地府" (Spence heard that too) and another which I forgot exactly what it was but pretty hilarious too.

Well, if this is the problem, then it is pretty easy to fix: Learn to speak clearly pal!

But Spence and Cyn both pointed out a bigger potential problem: He knew the event started at 7 (and he was there at 7!) but he told me 7:30. Now this is HUGE PROBLEM because considering the position he is holding, this kind of absent-mindness can cause big trouble.

Is he too busy with too much on his plate and that's why he got all the things mixed up?? I don't know.

So help him God.