"Calling all Earthlings!" Todd said in his deepest BBC radio voice. "This is a test. Repeat, this is only a test. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. If this had been an actual emergency, this Attention Signal would be followed by official information or instructions. Stay tuned!" He grinned stupidly, and continued in his normal voice, despite our laughter and delight at his impromptu interruption.
The four of us were good friends and workmates, spending an evening together planning our precious ten days off for a Christmas/New Year holiday. Having broken the sad news to our South Australian families and friends that time wouldn't permit being together this year, we planned a road trip touring the South-Western corner of Australia.
"I reckon we'll first head East to Norseman, take the highway down to Esperance and tour the southern coast," said Todd. We hastily grabbed nibbles and drinks out of the way as he flapped the map in the air. In moments the large map was fully unfolded and hanging over the coffee table.
"Will we return to Perth up the coast? Chris? Kanute? What do you think?" Hailey was anxious to ensure we were all happy with the plan.
Hailey and Todd owned a fully equipped Volkswagen Kombi van with a fold-out annexe tent creating a bed on top of the van. With various gas appliances for light and cooking, we could be self-sufficient, stopping anywhere and anytime we chose. We were all delighted to have our accommodation with us at all times, like a snail with its shell. The bonus was sharing the hefty fuel costs and repairs the Nullarbor might demand.
As we ladies put our heads together, busily making lists of the minimum amounts of foods and personal gear we could take, the men studied their maps, calculating fuel costs and distances between stops. We all combined our thinking to pore over tourist information and choose highlights to add to our 'must not miss' list.
As the date of the highly anticipated short-short holiday approached, our excitement grew. Exploring the south western corner of our great country, almost replaced the disappointment of not going 'home' to be with loved ones. At last the day arrived, and so did we… at Hailey and Todd's flat early in the morning. It took a deal of sorting and repacking and squeezing items into odd corners—often despairing we would fit everything—but at last we could wave Perth goodbye.
All went strictly to plan until we reached Norseman and decided to have a nice cold beer in the front bar of the local pub before heading further South—an anticipated long, dry and sparsely populated stretch. The barman's face was a picture to remember, as he stood there polishing glasses, his jaw dropping lower and lower as he listened to our conversation.
We told him how we were homesick South Australians—sadly not heading for home for this special family holiday time. One of us spoke of the wrench it had been to see road signs pointing to the Nullarbor Plain… and Adelaide. Another suggested that's where we should be heading—our hearts were always there. We all lapsed into private reveries for a moment or two, until Todd spoke again.
"Why don't we go, bloody? What's stopping us?" Of course, we laughed it off. The very idea! Bizarre! And yet… could we? A searching look at each other, and our smiles fell as we started a 'possibility' checklist.
With the four of us sharing the driving we could do a little sight-seeing on the way—three nights 'going', three nights there, and three nights back. OK. That was 'do-able'. Money was the next consideration.
"We've got enough cash to get us there," Todd said. He had his wallet out, counting.
"And we can get dough for the return trip from our Bank branch in Adelaide." Kanute's enthusiasm was growing in leaps and bounds. "Got more than plenty in there for coming back."
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Old McLarsen had some Farms
Non-Fiction"You two become farmers? You must be kidding!" How little our friends really knew us. Sure, that's how life had been for the Secretary and the Building Supervisor... but those were the keywords - "had been". An opportunity had arisen to learn farmi...
