The Big Reunion!!

So where was I? Oh yeah, hanging out with a raging hangover with Pops knocking on the door saying it was time to get up!

Pops looked after himself and I packed 2 things then sat down, packed 3 things then sat down, you get the picture.  We both took one last long look at the stunning view we had been used to for the past 4 days and headed down to wait for Fred and his daughter to arrive.

Now, Fred and Pops were friends at school, Fred came out to Oz and Pops went into the army.  The rest is history that neither of them knows about.  I had a similar trip when I met up with a great friend from my college days, Gill Shaw.  That was only 25 years to catch up on before you say anything!! So you can imagine how excited and nervous he was.

But he needn’t have worried.  As he was looking out the front of the hotel, I was rooting in the Woolies bag of hangover purchases I had just made when I saw Fred looking around the reception.  I caught his attention and smiled, and then said to Pops ‘what does Fred look like again? Big and tall? Bit like this fella…’ and watched as Pops turned round to face him.  They both broke into massive grins, shook hands and I welled up.  Sniff.

And there it was, 50 odd years just forgotten and the joy of catching up and reminiscing begun!  Fred’s daughter Cath was driving and she was a blast.  A typical Aussie (and I mean that in a good way!) down to earth and funny, and it seemed that she had the same relationship with her Dad as I do with Pops!

We took off through the streets of the city out to the suburbs to Fred’s place all chatting and getting along famously.  On the way there we stopped off at their local ‘club’.  Well, mine and Pops idea of a club was slightly different to what greeted us.  It can only be described as a luxury casino with 6 restaurants and bars! No old men in flat caps and women playing bingo here (well actually, there is bingo along with every other conceivable thing to bet on)  You see, the Aussies do love a gamble.  Pokies, Keno, Horses, Football, Rugby, Cricket…..the list goes one! Rows and rows of machines, different rooms for different sports, it was incredible!  All intermingled with bars and restaurants to keep you fuelled for the day. And the do love a drink, but they get looked after.  Water on the bar, free snacks and even a coach home.  Come on England, get on with it….

So we were signed in (passports handed over, I kid you not) and sat down for a bit of lunch.  I was still at the ‘I’m never drinking wine again’ stage so stuck to softies while Pops and Fred had their first beer. Aww, makes a change from cherry brandy that it transpires they used to quaff when they were kids….

After more reminiscing it was off to Fred’s place in a street that had just stepped out of Neighbours (I love them!) and to top it all off HE HAS A DOG!!! A black lab no less!! Called Archie and he is Mutley incarnate, even down to the grey beard and farting like he has swallowed a chemical factory.  Cath has 2 fab dogs to so there was a right fight for affection.

Later that night we went to the Steak house for one of my favourite meals – meat and mash.  Nom nom.  It was soon time for bed and I was bunking down in the spare room before my flight out to the Gold Coast.  And that is the next chapter!

It really was so good to see Pops fulfil a dream that he had, and his adventure with Fred is now just beginning, as our little one comes to an end.  It was wonderful to show him what I did of Sydney, and yes I nagged him about his pills, drinking water, using his stick, not trying to run or do star jumps at the top of the Sky Tower (yes he did, I have the pics to prove it) but we had a fab time and I was lovely spending time with him.

But he is onto his next adventure and I am onto mine, Gold Coast here I come…..!!

 

TTFN xx