The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 11 - Monday 10 July 2006
“You weak bastard… a***h*le…how pathetic is that?” these delightful phrases greet me as I struggle up out of bed at 5AM. Rex is glued to the TV and is not happy. Noel appears out of the gloom. We are up to watch the World Cup Football final and Rex is upset with all the dives the Italians are taking. Worse to come – Zinedine Zidane buts an Italian on the chest. There is a theatrical collapse and a red card for Zidane. The match is a shootout, the French miss Zidane and the Italians win. The three of us are a bit pissed off.
We recover, get the girls out of bed, have breakfast and Ruth and I prepare to leave as Rex and Noel head off to golf. They wave us of at 9.30AM.
On Highway 1 there are huge earthworks to construct the freeway. We arrive at MovieWorld at 12 noon. There is a hell of a security check at the gate. Being pretty harmless and totally white we go through without trouble. Inside we wander about eating a plastic lunch.
Sitting down for the “Police Academy” show we are warmed up by a very funny mime compare who interacts with the arriving audience. Gales of laughter. The show features stuntmen, sound effects, explosions, fires, car chases and comedy routines. The Act has our total attention. We loved it.
As we have not the nerve for the absurdly hair raising rides, there is not much else for us here.
There is a parade of Warner Bros characters and grotesque vehicles. The costumes look shabby and there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm both on the performers’ and the audiences’ part. Oh Foghorn Leghorn what have they done to you?! A broken down looking chicken is trying to gyrate to booming techno rap – there is no live music. The drum majorette tries to rev up the people lining the street but finishes up sounding like a fascist bullyboy and gets a grudging response. I am cured of theme parks for the rest of my existence.
Glad to be on HWY1, turn off to Route 3 then Coronation Dr through Brisbane to arrive at Indooroopilly at 4PM. A rest in the local pub before meeting Mervyn and Liisa (see Appendix 7) at 6PM.
Their sons Craig and Brad arrive and we sit down to a juicy steak dinner. We enjoy each other’s company with lots of chats, laughs, wine, a cat and a wandering possum that demands to be fed. (What’s an opossum? – what Aussies say when they see a possum) Again I reflect on our fortune being acquainted with wonderful people.
Early night tonight – it has been a long day.
APPENDIX
Mervyn and Liisa Byrne (yes it’s i i – Norwegian spelling)
Mervyn is an architect. The Commonwealth Science & Industrial Research Organization stationed him in Geelong for the construction of the Animal Health Laboratory. Ruth met Liisa through primary school. Craig and our son Adrian were classmates. We have a friend in common – John Roszbach. After the completion of the multimillion dollar facility, the Byrnes returned to Brisbane.
the cafe Spirit below the Harris' apartment
Noel, Marion, Ruth Anne & Rex
Ruth @ MovieWorld
