Having recouped almost a third of the price of my latest purchase by selling the old unit on TradeMe, I thought I could become an 11-star Sneetch by making sure I dropped it off. I'd made sure that I indicated that my old 1.8gig Athlon was collect-only, but the purchaser wanted me to mail it anyhow. I was hesitant until they indicated that the computer was for their wheel-chair-bound son. Pesky damn social conscience...
The main trouble of course wasn't that I'd be required to post the unit, I'd already volunteered to deliver it, I'd been enough of a sucker to drop off the old monitor a couple of weeks before (“I need the $$, and I need it now”), the trouble was the drive all the way to Farmerston North. But I figured hey, how bad can it really be? After the 'fug' of being in Wellingtown for too long, it couldn't be all bad. Plus, there was the whole getting the unit to the kid thing. I'm far too nice a guy for my own good sometimes.
Anyhow, I decided we should take the long way and headed over the Rimutaka's because it's far more scenic. Good decision. We raced on thru Featherston and stopped in Greytown for breakfast. After a few minutes snooping around we stopped at this place call Salute and I had what was probably the best breakfast pancakes I've had in years. Two light, fluffy pancakes topped with lemon curd and a berry compote. There was a layer of whipped full cream on top of all that with what they called pomegranate molasses drizzled all over. That and a decent coffee and back on the road.
I think one of things I do not miss about being a dishwasher is being able to spend $20 on breakfast and not have to think twice about it.
From the refined neighbourhood of Greytown we heading north into the bright sunlight and out past the geee-orgeous Tararuas, themselves all covered with snow, and made a beeline for Masterton to keep to the schedule I'd arranged with the buyer. We were supposed to meet in the carpark of the local ware-whare, and we looked like being about an hour late.
Funny place Palmerston. Literally. During the comedy fest I saw about four comics score points of it. My main [lack of] memory of the town is getting blisteringly blind there on this thing called the 'Tour De Coma'. It's probably the place's great contribution to athleticism and drinking. Jesus I was drunk. 24 cans is no small feat.
So, what's interesting about TradeMe exchanges is the trust it automatically imposes on you. One of the things I try not to do when the buyer hands me the money is count it. You just take it in your hand and count it later. If they short-changed you you can always character assassinate them online. Heh heh.
After getting the cash we headed into the aforementioned ware-whare. Damn they've got a flash one up there. Selling food, all kinds of crap, and dripping with people in sweatshirting looking for new sweatshirting to wear.
Like I say, funny place Farmerston.
On the way back we went along the coast, and a more boring damned drive you cannot imagine. Naturally we made good on the promise to drop in and see some family in Otaki, and enjoyed practicing a little of very simple Te Reo work has been kind enough to have me taught.
So no a bad trip all in all. Nothing quite like a drive in the country to clear out city dust.
On a final note, Bongo and the SpongeMonkeys didn't make it to the Wellington Finals of the 48 Hours film comp. But if you'd like to see what we knocked out, Jenn the producer kindly put it up on YouTube here. There was also this great photo doco by Karim Sahai that you might have wanted to check out, but it seems to have been taken down. I'll try track it down for you.
Oh... I said I'd do 'joy'. Sorry, wandered off into discussion of a roadtrip. But, that's probably for the best. No point having you all think I'm bipolar.