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Published: June 25th 2020
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With all the Long Weekend Worriers, concerned about where to find a camp along Cobrams' Little Toms Beach on the Mighty Murray River, Morningbird and Little flower did the noble thing and offered up our prime piece of camp real estate to the lucky ducks that were eyeing off our first class riverside camp. The eager camping buzzards were circling, so we high tailed it out of our serene riverside camp and made our way back to Tocumwal at Brother Ron and Roxanne's for a weekend of family fun. It would all start late Saturday afternoon right in Tocumwal with a Hot Rod "show and shine" and a concert in the park with Elvis the King of Rock, entertaining the festive crowd in the balmy autumn sun. Brandishing deck chairs and eskys we set up camp in elprimo local'e street side. Our entourage also comprised of Ronnie, wife Roxanne, daughter Stephanie, her gifted son Dominic and partner Dave, my other brother Robbie, partner Judy and of course Rob's delightful daughter Jasmine. We were set for a fun packed evening with the warm up guy performing some pretty good covers on stage, before a pink Cadillac convertible pulled up, and out stepped
the King in all his majesty. Donned in bright red body suit, blue suede shoes and a thick shock of black hair slicked back, Elvis sashayed up to the stage and in customary southern drawl greeted his fans with, "First time I have performed outside public toilets. But it was all about "One for the Money", you know the rest, The King had the crowd on their feet rocking and rolling to all his hits,
Meanwhile there were almost a hundred amazing hot rods of all shapes and sizes and vintages, parading a circuit lap around the town. For a gold coin donation to a local charity, we piled into a fully restored 55 Buick Roadmaster. The car had to be fifty feet long or so it seemed, it was classic grandiose gargantualism of post war American extravagance. Driving the town circuit was just cruisy, until the friendly driver owner had to maneuver a 10 point turn at the end of a street. Hey but it was all a big dose of fun. Returning to Elvis Park, we could hear the King in full swing, I said to Littleflower "Its Now or Never", nobody dances in broad daylight, but
the golden sunset with its amber glow on the pepper corn trees, was the perfect scene for some dancing in the park. We donned our dancing shoes and tripped the light fantastic to the Outhouse Rock".
Evening closing in it was time to head back to Ronnie's, for a family dinner and to plan out tomorrows big event the "Stellar Cup". For those not privy to this much coveted trophy, I will give the run down. The Thompson paternal Grandmother Stellar was the custodian of a large silver fruit bowl that Morningbird and siblings proclaimed to be the esteemed said cup. This cup is fought and won, over a big game of golf, exclusive to the Thompson family and extended members. So it was nighty night until the morning sun heralds a new dawn. Being the long weekend it was a very early Tee Off, at Tocumwal Golf club, with much flexing of muscle and general boasting, outside the pro shop.( I think golfers are very much related to people who fish. they also have very loose scruples as will become self evident.)
Little flower choosing not to swing, set herself up in the clubhouse with a bevy
of books to pass the time. The tyrannical Thompson's were pairing off into 2 groups of many, to commence the days play. Ronny, son Max and buddy John ( ineligible to win because of wrong birth right ) and myself hit off first, before other brother Robs entourage took to the Tee. My first drive sailed off into the yonder far down the fairway, (pretty happy with that), however I could see consternation on my compatriots faces, but secretly I knew it was a good jag). Why golf you may ask, well our maternal many greats Grandfather, Joseph Thurrowgood helped construct Australia's first Golf course at Bothwell in the midlands of Tassie in the 1830's. Now golf subscribes to the honesty system of scoring and applies various interpretations of some obvious and covert obscure rules, as proclaimed by Grandmaster Ron, who I think wanted the prized silverware to remain in his custody. For instance I hit a magnificent drive down the 6th fairway and waited for the others hitting white round things with numbers on them to catchup. Soon after one of them rolled precariously close to my Number Two Dunlop. Before hitting my next shot, I well.... may have
turned the ball to see I was playing the right one. Grand Poo Bear Ronalds' eagle eye allegedly saw me, and quickly called a one shot Penalty for interfering with another players ball. Come on! Brother Ron, "Fair crack of the whip,. I was only checking the ball". Well as the game went on and I was establishing a game winning lead over my compatriots, I also copped penalties for, Check this! Unsociable language, ( I might have said Pooey Bum), Wrong coloured socks, violating dress code 101, and apparently for wearing too much patchouli oil. So now we are on the final Tee and head honcho Ronald does the tally, only to reveal that Max and I have tied scores, a little bit of creative accounting. And so here we are on the final Green, and I won the "Stellar Cup, by one stroke,. much to the dismay of "Renegade Ronaldo". And so off to the 19th watering hole, for some refreshments and unpacking the highs and lows of the Stellar Cup.
Back at Ronnies Ranch, we are having a delightful family dinner, good food good wine good convo, and so after dessert, Ronnie handed me the prized
trophy. I stood at the end of the long table and graciously announced that yes I did interfere with a golf ball not belonging to me. and would accept the penalty, but not for the socks or patchouli oil. So that means that Maxi and I are joint winners and I will allow the prized coveted trophy to remain in Tocumwal until next time.
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