The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 8 - Friday 7 July 2006
A scrape of shovel on the road surface – silence – a murmur of voices – silence. A thought enters my mind – council workers. A peek out the window – silent, humanlike forms in yellow attire are moving about. A motor starts up and they vanish. Spooky!
The parrots are kicking up a helluva din in the morning sunshine. After breakfast we wander down to the Fishing Co-Op. All seafood comes from that day’s catch. No farmed and no imported fish. Nothing, but nothing tastes as good as fresh ocean fish. We buy Balmain Bugs, squid, prawns and fish.
The weather is exceptional. A strong blue sky, puffs of air and 23 Deg C. My datum for a perfect meteorological day is based on a certain Fiji day last year. Today is 99.99/100. Rex, Anne, Ruth and I return for coffee at a fast pace. Must be part of Rex’s exercise routine. The Café beneath the Harris’ apartment is having the opening day. The place is full; the staff is having a nervous breakdown. It takes three goes to get my machiatto right. The owner taking orders is close to tears. “The menu does not work! – The menu does not work,” she cries. One must give credit to the barista: he keeps his cool and is very patient and pleasant.
Again berries, nuts and a crossword for lunch. Ruth and I wander down to the breakwater and watch beaut waves rolling in, surfers surfing, blokes fishing and boats coming in and going out through the narrow Evans River channel. A stimulating sight, it gives one’s heart a lift. We walk down the beach then cut through the caravan park that has a forest festooned with fruit bats. “Stink to buggary” a codger tells us as he feeds “his” magpie, butcherbird and minah. “Old Jacks House” informs us a sign on his dwelling.
Ruth shouts me a couple of champagnes at the pub and we see Rex return from bowling. He has invited bowling mates Jack & wife and Bob & wife to join us for dinner. We have a BBQ, sing, drink lots of wine and generally have a great time.
11 PM sees us in bed.
Anne & Rex tackling X - word
Ruth at Evans Head break water
