Mis-timed it, actually. Arrived at the Centrally Linked offices just after 11.55 am. Stood silent, changing feet, leaning on posts, in the line to “General Enquiries” for about 10 minutes. Was eventually greeted by a youngish female with a cheery “Hello, how can we help you?” Explained that I had applied (via coin-operated public phone [50c] – and spoke to a youngish female in a “call centre” who had no idea where Ka**nda was, nor how to spell it using the long established International phonetic alphabet .. but that is subject for another post) for CoA* assistance, and duly received some paperwork in the mail (extracted from briefcase and displayed), and apparently needed to talk to someone in “real” life.
“Oh, you'll have to come back at 2pm,” said Cheery, “those staff are all on rostered lunch breaks.”
Umm, think i, what the hell am i going to do in Gawler fer two hours?
“OK,” say i, ever accommodating .. I had, after all, all day; and these people only had two hours.
So, went fer a wander along the main street.
Gawler used to be a smallish country town, originally established as a “gateway” to the North; the vineyards of the Barossa and Clare valleys, and mining towns close by when horse-drawn drays and carriages were the latest “hi-tech” - but time and transport frog-leaped it, constructed a “by-pass” freeway. So, while is now part of “greater Metropolitan” sprawl and brick veneer .. the main street still holds some charm.
Noticed several pubs, beautiful stone-mason frontages (carelessly hidden behind plastic exhortations to feed coins into machines which would make me wealthy), but was strong (well, had to be on polite “best behaviour” - fer this interview, at least). Decided to by-pass the “fast food” outlets also, and have lunch at a restaurant with narrow frontage, low profile and wooden doors. Asian.
As a miserly and penurious old prick, don't generally see a lot of sense in spending much money in restaurants – it, after 24 hours, all ends up in the same place – but decided to indulge self fer a change. Loved the moment. Quiet, calm atmosphere; time and table-space to read “The Australian”; red linen tableclothing, clean metal cutlery; unobtrusive, but rapid, service. Only ordered Sweet and Sour pork with steamed rice, and a glass of white wine .. but the taste, and the tastes on back of the tongue in this case – very delicious. Am surprised - that after a lifetime of destruction – i still have one or two taste buds remaining. All for $11.00. Learn a new thing every day, i guess.
Next, a wander through a local “department store”. Not yer average “Myers”, “David Jones” or whatever names there are for local “upper level Emporiums”. Nor the local “cheap as chips”.
Admittedly, most products on display were of Chinese manufacture – but atmosphere pleasant; quiet, calm, orderly – and cheap low cost; which brings me to the next two pics.
Returned at 1.55pm to see someone in “real life” carefully controlled air-conditioning. Only a 5 minute wait to see a different cheery young female. “Do you people have an arrangement with the local Chamber of Commerce?” ask i.
'??' expression on cheery young female face. “Have just been wandering the main street fer two hours, and spent some money,” and explain all over again. “Oh, OK,” she chirps, “please wait over there and someone will call you.” Self sits, and waits, and fidgets.
After ten minutes or so, hear my name called – by a rather chubby older female who had not the slightest interest in who i was or “what i had to say”, only in ticking boxes on a computer screen – and so .. who knows. Am sure there will be some “compliance” failure at some point in the future.
The whole day for $80.00 or so. Another experiment, but what else do I do with “spare time”?
[*CoA – Commonwealth of Australia]
2 comments:
Going to do some painting are we? Great stuff. Lots of enthusiastic artists in this town.
mm, am mostly a bullshit artist .. but can learn new skills, if pushed .. heh.
Post a Comment