Hottest topics on the cocktail circuit

Is this true?

1. Here's the alleged scenario: The business person is accused of tax avoidance. A highly placed official contacts accused and offers to intercede for a whopping fee to have the minimum penalties extracted. While this is happening, the overseas parent company is supplied with copies of news stories showing the businessman in a bad light. This is then followed by an unsolicited bid to acquire the franchise in question! Now, how is that for a stench?

Empty greens

2. The caddies are complaining that raising the membership fee at this time in the middle of the recession is either dumb or dumber. They say not only have the greens been empty, membership is on the decline, so the move should have been one seeking to stabilise the situation rather than one which inspired an exodus!

Offshore education

3. Despite howls of protest about difficult financial times, many were surprised to see those who were in Florida over the last week or so, registering their children in a number of high-end and high-priced institutions of learning!

Getting ready

4. Seems like in lieu of pending litigation, one businessman is quietly divesting himself of his considerable assets to avoid fulfilling any obligations the courts may impose. Story is that a certain property is up for sale and quite a number of other holdings have been transferred to a holding company.

Mistress and wife

5. Some time ago, the couple bought a small town house to bring in some income. As time went by, the wife noticed that there was no income coming in from the supposed investment. Being nobody's fool, she deduced that it was the home of the husband's mistress. When she confirmed this, she made no fuss about it; that was, until quite recently, with the harsh economic reality forcing her to make some lifestyle adjustments. She said to her husband, "We need to start collecting rent from the town house again. And while you are at it, why not sell her car?" That's when the fight started!