Dot from Tocumwal "just down the Road " was sitting having a ciggie and a beer when I pulled up exhausted in Deniliquin 3 hours from home.
I was feeling exhausted from finalising all under the bonnet and in the cupboards (well actually no cupboards were packed as all was hurriedly thrown in as I only had the van for half an hour before I needed to leave for farewell lunch at Murray Mallee Machinery...) stuff, scoffing lunch and wobbling off listening anxiously for any potential problems and praying that the diesel pump leak was ‘taking up’ the sulphur additive I had scoured Swan Hill for before I could leave..
So when she waved enthusiastically I kind of waved and bolted into the van to unwind.
Every time I stuck my head out she waved and I smiled... I think... it may have been a grimace...anyways next morning bright and early there she was lurking waiting for me waving and smoking and actually stepping between me and the loo.
I live alone, I am used to no human contact or interaction before the loo, breakfast and probably a shower too.
THREE times she tried and I knew I needed to get on the road quickly before I wore out again.
Big mistake- I asked her what was that cord she was rolling up - she beamed becasue she really was on for a chat and wanted to know what I was up to in that gaudy van..
She said “it's for the TV and we have a 46”one in the van - it's like a theatre in there!”
I shuddered at the thought.
Apparently, ole mate had given it to her husband because it needed to go to “a good home’.
As they already had one in their lounge room they put it in the van.
I swear I only asked her one other question in the 10 minutes I was there but this is what I learned:
-they had headed off around the map 5 years ago but did not get all the way around, she hates those h-jabby things and if she could vote for Pauline Hanson she would, she actually votes for the Sex Party and her husband the Shooter’s Party, her son in law is Iranian and he is a proper bastard- told her to send her neighbours away when they popped up for a drink on Xmas morning- “the cheek! I should have thrown him out!” She loves my pelican, and my bike and her house is painted burgundy just like the stripe on my bike
I took a risk and asked her to help me back out and I damm near ran over her as she stood right behind me and kept ducking out of mirror vision...I gave her a quick lesson in backing and she said in a wondering voice “that’s what my old man says too”...I headed off laughing and loving that she was yelling
“Bye Yvonne - have a great trip!”... and thought damm it - I am going back for a photo ...so here she is Dot from Toc and may I meet many of her mates along the way!