They’d talk quite loudly, till quite late, about cricket, Aussie Rules, rugby league and the impending rise in price of a schooner, from 95 cents to a dollar.

Now they get together, not as often, on the occasional Monday morning at Bryant’s, for brunch.

They still talk loudly, but are home or back at work for lunch, the same day.

Their conversation is more focused these days, only on cricket and on which continent their next veteran’s match will be played, and who’ll be carrying the scones (prosthetics willing).