Here We Go Again - Chapter 85 - Broome Day 7

Monday morning, and for the would-be “retirees”, the pressure of business looms. 

Being in the west we are two hours behind those in the east. My Monday Morning staff meeting, slotted for 9.00 am Sydney time, is now a 7.00 am event. The alarm was set for 6.30 am to ensure I was up and alert, having sent the invitations to the staff, and being “on” the meeting ready for their input.

The 7.00 am meeting is done, another starts at 8.00 am. I am having issues with Google Drive and other computer things. Our IT people have set up a meeting to sort things out. The meeting goes smoothly, some tweaks are made and everything is all working well again. Without saying it, I am sure the usual “user error” was the cause of most of the issues, although a program update did have an effect.

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Conflicts between this and that are the bane of many a business person trying to utilise the power of the computer. Protocols are set up based on the way things work at the time, and just like the movement of the earth in relation to the sun, moving the shadows, computer genii change things in their realms without due thought to the interaction which may be required at the consumer level, or for that matter “real” notification and instruction. But I digress.

I have another meeting plan for 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Sydney time with a client who needs assistance. I trust happy hour won’t impair my abilities to deal with his issues.

Silver Leader has booked his Cruiser in for a service as well and I am on pick up duty. I trust his experience is better than mine. He gets the Cruiser booked in and we returned to the park ready for the next part of the day.

My staff, and some of the contractors I have been dealing with, have been struggling with the direction of the business, so I put pen to paper on a short form business plan.  Dale Beaumont and the Business Blueprint organisation have excellent tuition and videos on the preparation of business plans from one to five-page versions. Like queue up the necessary video and look to create documents “on the run”.

In time I will prepare a marketing program as well. But that is a plan for later as for now we are simply trying to get the product ready for sale. 

Robyn also has things to do. She wants to film some Ibis (or Bin Chickens) for part of her promotional material. Her plan is simple, we will find a couple of Ibis until then while she talks over the material she wants to use.

How things have settled down from the early morning rush it’s time to consider the manner in which we want to attack the rest of the day.  First, there is the need to head to Australia Post.  We have the items purchased at the Greg Quick function to send to our daughter.

The post office is in town, a short drive from the caravan park. Here we quickly find a park and wander into the shop, find the necessary envelopes, and direct the goodies on my way east. 

The thought is to take an early lunch at Matso’s, then return Silver Leader and Rose to Toyota for the pick-up of their vehicle and head out on the great bin chicken hunt. Matso’s Is again very full but I manage a park directly in front, not needing to engage in artful parking like so many others. The council here has lots of signs directing drivers where to and where not to park but they simply ignore them.  

Driving across pathways to park on grass verges seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Not that there is any apparent detriment to this action as I am yet to see a parking ticket adorning any vehicle park spuriously outside signposted areas. Perhaps it’s a deference to the demand.

Lunch is up to its usual standard. The hard lemon goes down a treat. Again I ordered the chicken burger having enjoyed the previous one so much. On the veranda overlooking the beer garden is a most pleasant way to enjoy the midday repast.

Lunch is done, it’s back to deliver our passengers to Toyota to pick up their vehicle. Unfortunately, it is not finished as promised but they offer to stay in the air-conditioned comfort of the service area awaiting its completion. 

We leave them and head off in search of the elusive bin chicken. We remember seeing some at Divers the previous day doing what they do best, muscling through garbage bins of refuse at the back of the car park. Unlike Sunday where the bins were left open, today the bins are closed thwarting the efforts of our winged stars.

There are none to be seen, let alone filmed. We search them here, we search them there. We search all the “known” spots where we had seen them previously but to no avail. For some reason all the Ibis have disappeared. Perhaps the roadworks have shunted them from the park in the centre of town. Certainly tough, the seagulls remain, but Robyn is adamant she wants Bn Chickens and the analogy they bring to the conversation.

Finally, after heading home, we see some in a park guarded by a fence. This is a school oval and simply walking in and videoing is not an option. Nor is filming through the fence, it just won’t work.

Midway along the park is a gate, and it’s open. Hopefully, enough chickens will be within range of the camera for Robyn to get her filming. We park across the road, struggling to cross in the early “peak hour” traffic. Other than shade issues there are a number of Ibis apparently willing to be filmed in easy access to the gate without us having to trespass. Oblivious to the words she is putting in their beaks we film Mildred and Maude discussing the need for correct labelling of garbage otherwise young Freddie might get sick from allergens on the foods.

There are several takes each with a differing message but all around the labelling of food.

This material is then taken back to the van, downloaded, edited, and uploaded to marketing spheres like Facebook and LinkedIn, the chosen platform for her market.

Silver Leader has returned from Toyota and he is not happy. You may recall the flat tyre at El Questro. It was not replaced on the wheel and the spare (new) tyre is still there. According to the Toyota inspection, the new tire will require replacement along with the other front tyre (with 40,000+ kilometers of wear to its name) at the next service. Clearly the inspection was not as suggested in the report where the actual depth of tread has been recorded.

Given the state of the engine under the hood, one wonders if they looked given the air intakes are still full of leaves. He is not a happy camper and he intends to front the service manager in the morning with his worries.

Two chances to impress with service and two failures – well done Toyota Broome – NOT!!

The humidity is starting to rise a little and with it the little lack critters start to move. We have a small ant infestation. Onto it immediately and with lethal force, those who can be seen are sprayed. Ant Rid is placed in any obvious path.

We check some of the larder areas and find they have managed to get into the seal biscuit containers, probably what attracted them. We dispose of the “bait” and give the area a good fumigating spray as well.

The 5.00pm meeting comes and goes. Another day, action packed, trying, disappointing but not in the mundaneness of home or work. What else could you want.