GOT IT RIGHT-published in Augusta/Margaret River Mail 30/5/2018

GOT IT RIGHT

About time I wrote an article not remotely related to boating or fishing, and besides, I’m having withdrawals as I haven’t been fishing for quite some time, but you will certainly hear about it when I do.

A few weeks ago Viv heads over east to visit her family ( being one of 7 kids, plenty to catch up with there ) and also go to our daughter Lisa’s graduation. I was not up for the trip with the shoulder rehab taking precedence, so stayed and minded the fort. Away only a week, it was a hectic pace for Viv and when a young bloke on his phone slammed into the back of Lisa’s car in Sydney, with both of them in it, another complication. Fortunately he admitted his mistake, sorted a hire car for them and repairs are underway with no-one injured.

Now remember, Viv had been my ‘carer’ since the shoulder operation, but having turned the corner in that regard, I was keen to make amends, knowing she would be a bit frazzled on her return. Sometimes no matter how much you try, it’s hard to get it right, so I went for a different approach and, on her return, simply asked if there was anything I could do for her. When she replied, “Any chance you could go away for a few days”, it took me back a bit, but I had to bite my lip and not react. Fortunately, what she really meant was she needed some time for herself and we had a good laugh about it later. With her birthday the following weekend, I was ready to try again, so booked Cullens winery for a nice romantic Sunday lunch. Two days later Viv tells me she has now been invited to Watershed Winery by the CWL ladies on that day. I bit my lip again and said sure, if that is what you would prefer and is there anything I can do to make the day enjoyable. She immediately responds that they need a chauffeur for the day so they can enjoy a few bubbles and, now with my lip nearly falling off, I say sure, no worries.

Then it gets down to the card and present on the actual day. Cards I am fine with, as I can write a thesis in a small space, but presents for Viv are an entirely different matter. So when she reads my eloquent words on the card, is dressed up to the nines for the girls day out and I am behind the wheel, all smiles of course, I ask if there is anything she would especially like me to buy for her birthday while I am hanging around in Margaret River like a shag on a rock. Get this, she asks for a carpenter’s belt from the hardware to store all her paraphernalia while gardening, raking, etc on the block and, by the way, we also need some groceries. I slightly bat an eyelid, ‘cause there’s no lip left and when we return home the groceries are already packed away with the tool belt on the table all ready to go. Of course, I was just a little castigated for not buying the pure leather, hip hugging, top of the wazza one with tweeters and woofers, but Viv was nonetheless very happy that she’d had an enjoyable day, I had bought something she wanted, so she put it on straight away, as the attached photo reveals and hooray I had got it right.