On our way back back from Moruya where we had a beautiful lunch of chicken and chips at the Moruya Bowling Club, we briefly pulled up at Casey's Beach. As we sat there, watching the waves, I remembered that nine years ago in the same spot we had met a chap in an old four-wheel drive with a trailer hitched up to it.
He and his dog 'Buddy' had just spent a comfortable night in that spot with a million-dollar view and no sound other than the surf - and not a cent to pay for it! The trailer was all that was left of the occupant's Jim's Mowing franchise which he had tried to sell to another sucker but couldn't because, as he told me, what little profit he made went straight to the franchisors.
So, he had chucked a comfy mattress onto it, covered the lot with a tarpaulin, and set off to travel round Australia, next stop Byron Bay. We had parted company when his fishing reel started screaming and he had to rush to the beach to take in his breakfast, a freshly-caught bream. Nine years later, I was left wondering, "Where are 'Buddy' and his master now?"
On the way through town, I dropped in at my favourite op-shop. Having picked up just one slim paperback, I apologised to the old lady by the door for spending only two dollars. "Never mind, dear", she said, "come back next week after pension-day." I reckon I must've looked the part.
