EPPING AND FLOWING

SATURDAY 11th DECEMBER

  The mystery of Robert's disappearance last night was explained by the fact that there is a cordonned off area for smokers that want to play on the Pokies, that Mark didn't even know existed, hence he had drawn a blank when searching for his brother.  Robert had eventually gone to the Eastwood looking for us but by then we were safely tucked up in bed.

  In the morning Robert drove us over to Carlingford and we picked up Nick and went to the Macquarie Shopping Centre where the young lad picked out what he wanted for a Christmas present from Nana.  Meantime Jane went to the school where she teaches to clear out her room.  We visited quite a few shops and also had something to eat before returning to Carlingford.  I lost 11-10 in a game of football with Nick, and after Jane returned, Robert drove us back to Eastwood.  There, he got out his hairdressing equipment and sheared Mark's locks.

This apparently leaves him much cooler, and he anticipates that the hair will grow back by the time he goes home.  There were threats made to do the same to me, however I am not complaining of the heat, which continues very pleasantly in the upper 20's.  Robert on the other hand could do with getting acquainted with his razorblade.

  We went to Epping in the evening and chose an Italian restaurant where we could sit outside.  It was a byo establishment so I went across the road and bought a couple of bottles of Rosemount Chardonnay.  The portions of pasta were considerable and both Mark and Robert brought portions home in a doggy bag.  The local Caledonian community were out celebrating the coming of Christmas, and we could hear the sound ot the approaching bagpipes from quite a distance.

   Although our bottles of wine were screw tops we got charged $10 "corkage", which Robert refused point blank to pay, and eventually the management saw things his way.  We adjourned to the Epping Hotel. 

  After a while we were approached by a couple of young guys asking if they could join our company.  They were both 23 years old, and put my age at about 59/60!  One was a musical teacher who taught guitar, bass and ukulele.  When pressed by Mark how many people he had taught to play the ukulele, he finally admitted that it was just one!

  Eventually Robert wandered off to the Pokies area and our friends also went off.  Mark and I continued having a drink until Mark said he would go and find Robert and tell him it was time to go.  I decided to go in as the night was getting a bit chilly.  Robert coming back with Mark bumped into Kevin and Steve who wereaccompanied by Kevin's wife Val.  This delayed our departure by about 2 hours!  It took us past the witching hour and Mark announced that it was now my birthday.  Val bought me a drink and several more rounds were bought. Val made Mark's day by picking him as the younger brother and Robert as the elder.  Mark gleefully informed her that he was 6 years Robert's senior.  It all ended up with us being invited over for a drink on Christmas Day.  It turned into a much later night than we had intended!