A really big shed!!

After a leisurely breakfast and after I'd done the dishes and Will had collected the washing and made arrangements to have the radiator re-cored we headed off to work.  Graham our boss asked us to sweep out the new shed before the dirt from one truck being driven in was spread everywhere.  'No worries,' we said, not really having seen the space we were talking about.  It is a massive space, about an acres in size. Out of the blue, as Will tapped his broom firmly on the concrete to dislodge the dust, I clearly remembered having swept the Parish Hall with Dad many times in the past (it's about a twelfth the size of this shed!).  It was a time I used to enjoy, a bit of Dad and me time.  All of a sudden I was transported back to being a Year 8 (or there about) kid, working side by side with her dad. There was an easy rhythm to it both then and now, although I chuckled as I seemed to get in Will's way at one point and I remembered Dad suggesting I go and do something else at times like that.

Some places are hard to reach

After Graham realised how fruitless this job was, given the fact that they are going to move about 14 more trucks into the area, we wandered off to polish trucks, clean toilets and generally tidy up.  After a few hours of working steadily, and the mandatory 10.30am cuppa with the other volunteers, we headed off down the street to purchase cleaning products and so forth.  Upon our return we had our one hour induction into rules and regulations, a bit more sweeping then off to get ready for the volunteers BBQ tea.  

Poppa Smurf, just one of the characters

One of the reasons we took on this adventure was a chance to meet new people - and boy, some of them are characters.  We only found out at 4pm that tonight was fancy dress, or come as something beginning with 'R'.  I said we'd go as Rascals!  Others put a lot more effort into the evening - like Poppa Smurf!  And others whilst not so flamboyant turned out to be a blast from the past.  On our first evening around the campfire it was mentioned that Sandy lives in Benalla.  After introducing myself she asked "Don't you have lots of sisters?"  It turns out Sandy worked with at least 2 of my sisters and myself at the Shell Roadhouse in Benalla when I was in Year 10, just prior to me being an Avon lady.  I had only been telling Will how this had been my first part time job on our trip up.  Sandy is here to celebrate her late husband being inducted into the Hall of Fame and it was lovely that she chased me up for a photo opportunity.

Cooks from years gone by