On Wednesday and Thursday I drive Robbie to Emerald to catch an 8.55am bus to Belgrave railway station. This enables him to have an extra hour's sleep because if I didn't he'd have to catch a 7.30 bus from Gembrook. It's all to do with his timetable and I do what I can to help because he has 4 hours travelling to get to school and back each day. Throw in a couple of 5.30 starts and study late into the night and he has set himself a gruelling schedule by choosing Box Hill SC as his school for this crucial year 12.
Usually after dropping him off I might do a small job in Emerald and then go back to Gembrook to pick up my routine which revolves around what I have to pick in various places. I take Snowie with me for the ride these mornings, and leave her home in the afternoon when I return to Emerald with my pickings.
Last Wednesday I bit off more than I could chew by trying to pick ahead for Friday's orders, the intent was to give me a bit of a break on Thursday to do some work for Pat and Mal. I know this is a bit long winded but I'm setting the scene for you. I was so busy picking heaps of cherry laurel at Steve's, then at Marjolain's, where I knew her next door neighbour had given permission to another bloke to pick the other side, and he was coming back soon to to do the top. So the competitive streak in me well and truly kicked in and I was going for the top hell for leather as far as I could reach from my side. Time got away on me and I realized after bunching it all at the farm that I didn't have time to get back to Gembrook to get my camellia at Keith's. It was nearly 3.00pm, I had not had lunch nor even stopped for a cup of tea since I left Gembrook in the morning, so was probably not thinking all that clearly, and I had to get to Cockatoo to pick green pitto and have it back to the farm by 5.00pm. And pick Gordy up at Belgrave at 5.30. Nobody should have to work like this, I said to myself.
I'll skip the camellia, I thought. No, I can get some good stuff just down Monbulk Rd. at Gail's where I hadn't picked for more than twelve months, but she had told me when I bumped into her in the street to go in and pick what I like any time. This I did and it was lovely rich dark green strong foliage just what 'Foxy' likes. I let 'Snowie' out for a walk while I picked and worked as quickly as I could, then loaded my camellia into the van and took off for Cockatoo, almost in a frenzy.
When I got to the end of Monbulk Rd. at the Emerald township and turned a little too fast I looked back to see if 'Snow' was OK. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd left her behind!
A sense of panic gripped me and I hurriedly turned around and tore back to Gail's. As I neared my eyes scoured the roadside for her then I spotted her running towards me right up the middle of the road with cars weaving around her. She had panicked of course at me tearing off and leaving her.
I was shaken, but hugely relieved to have found her before she was hit and killed. It gave me the fright of my life, and taught me a valuable lesson. SLOW DOWN YOU DICKHEAD. I nearly lost 'Snowie' and Lib and the boys would never have forgiven me.
We had a thunderstorm yesterday and it was lighter and warmer on my walk this morning. Spring is here, never mind we're still in July. Reading Jen's blog and the comments, it's been stinking hot in Nth. America, brutal is the word that keeps popping up. What do we have in store for us in the coming summer?
I went to Grace Delarues 90th birthday afternoon tea yesterday. Gracie's worth a blog entry one day when I have a bit of time.
