hi guys and gals just thought I would tell you about an iteresting interlude that happened to us last weekend 

I had a minor vehicular inconvienience just up the road from a place called port Pirie in south australia at the foot of the magnificent flinders ranges (cracked subframe on the van)

after a few enquiries as to where I could get repairs undertaken on a saturday afternoon an old feller said "take it up to Dave's, he'll fix anything" so address duly written down we found the place

a knock on the door was answered by a plumpish italian woman who stated that everybody was "out back" and that we should come through, we did so reluctantly

we were greeted by roughly 30 people who appeared to be sitting down to a lavish luncheon, we felt out of place

a big feller on a large barbeque at the end of the outdoor settings simply stated "I'm Dave, and that gal over there is the dragon, pleased to meet you, sit down and put the nose bag on" so reluctantly we did, feeling very out of place in such freindly and family orientated surroundings, we obviously had barged in on a celebration of some sort

it turned out that this was normal on any given weekend (for everybody to gather at "Daves") and that the people were simply freinds and neighbors just having a meal together

within ten minutes we were "at home" and knew everybodys names and everybody knew us, we just "slotted in" laughter flowed easier than it ever had before in my life and it was just so "easy" to just talk, we talked about so much and so many things that it was soon too late to "fix" the van, we "electrified" the van and set up in Daves yard, we then went back to some of the best conversations that I or my wife has ever known

the freindliness and the love was just so omnipotent it was everywhere

the dragon (god I hate calling a lovely outgoing gracious lady that but I'm not allowed to reveal her true name on the forum) told me that Dave had been gravely ill through work and overcommitment but with the help of a few days hospitalisation and medication and a hell of a lot of freinds that he was well on the road to recovery but still refuses to "slow down"

a quick glance around assured me that he is very much loved and admired by all
simply by all the attention lavished toward him

she also said that this forum was once a part of his life and that we should look into it, as a great many of his freinds reside in these analds,

Dave told me to tell you all that he's not crazy and he has the paperwork from the phsyc's to say so, which apparently a hell of a lot of you buggers dont have (his words not mine dont shoot the messenger) he had a huge grin on his face when he said that

we arose sunday morning to a sumptious breakfast of bacon, eggs and snags cooked on the barbie by good freinds after which the repairs were quickly and expertly dealt with by Dave, there is no end to this mans knowledge or abilitys I watched in awe as welders and chop saws were expertly wielded, braced and repaired it is now better than new, payment was duly refused

when this was carried out we had no excuse to stay at Dave and the dragons home but found ourselves not wanting to leave such magnificent people but alas we had to as there was no longer an excuse to stay, we were invited to "stay" but we had overdue commitments elsewhere but by hell it was tempting

weird thing was that we knew Daves little world for less than two days but we are now an intrinsic part of it and all of their wonderfull freinds, we are rearranging our travel itinerary to include port pirie  and its wonderfull people as much as we can

we were given "contacts" of Dave and the dragons other freinds all over australia and we will certainly be calling in on them as we go around I dont think there is a part of australia that Dave has not got freinds, they would be in the hundreds, I'm proud to say that my wife and I are amongst them

we are forever gratefull for the words of advice from an original "font of knowledge" even though he is the most humble and gracious of men that I have ever met his words of wisdom will forever ring in my ears

I know Dave is not a part of the forum anymore but I thought I would pass on my magnificent little interlude with truly terrific people with the rest of you wanderers

he sends his best wishes to you all and hopes that everybody is in good nick and traveling easily

we probably wont be writing in here much if at all as we are normally on the road more often than not and cannot be bothered with the internet, but I just thought a quick look around wouldnt hurt

I read a few of Daves posts and said to myself "yep thats him to a tee" except for his last few, believe me when I say, thats not the Dave that I had the enormous pleasure to spend time with, far from it

we have only been away from Daves world for a few days but we are absolutely aching to return to it and all the fantastic people

I must simply state that Dave and the dragon are the original "salt of the earth" and I am honored and very proud to know them and count myself as amongst their huge circle of freinds

just thought I would let you know!! but I guess you probably already knew that