Pete, Srey and I have just been to Bunnings and Spotlight-she to buy a zip fastner and other materials to repair and alter some of my garments and he to check out pieces of Jarrah for a chopping board he is to make for one of his airforce mates. As if this alone were not testimony enough to their generosity ( although I shall pay Srey)as Peter and I came through the pay point at Bunnings we heard the sad tale of a recently widowed lady ( her husband had died last week)whose lawn edge trimmer (made of Chinese steel)would not cut and which Bunnings could not sharpen.
In a flash,having ascertained she knew where Padbury was, he gave her his address told her to come and pick the trimmer up any time from this afternoon, and set off home with it.It is done and sitting by the door for her collection.A weapon that would serve Miss Marples and the homicidal villagers of Midsomer Murders fame.
If it's anything like as sharp as his kitchen knives (he keeps up to the mark with a diamond coated steel)she will have to watch her toes.Such is the spirit of my former brother in law and why people in the English village where my first boss (Howard-see Going north2 blog)lived with his wife Eileen,greeted with delight news of a visit by the Aussie fix it man and lined up with requested repairs to ancient garden gates etc.All of which he did for no recompense and with the skill and ingenuity of a man trained to get helicopters back in the air damn quickly, as his army mates out there were fighting the Viet Cong and he too was sometimes under fire.
Better stop writing and get into town to find fresh pasta in Perth, I'm cooking to night.
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