Tuesday, 6:00am, yawn. Arriving at the Brisbane International terminal I eschewed my morning cuppa for a mug-a-chino and a tasty Apricot Danish Pastry whilst surveilling the frenetic pace of life all around me as the Airport burst into life. With me, I had a nicely printed A4 sign, announcing that I was meeting a “Greg Barlow” although I didn’t really expect to have to use it. I mean, after all, how difficult could it be to miss a complete stranger carrying a 1.3 metre long x 300mm diameter CF tube, exiting the Customs Area? And a Kiwi at that.
A film crew from Channel 7 turned up, ready to film a segment of “Border Security”. I mused, should I give them the inside dirt on Greg and say watch out for a bloke carrying a huge cannon? Common sense prevailed, plus I didn’t want to upset Au/NZ international relationships, nor Gary,
so I just plonked myself down in the comfy seats and watched airport life zip by.
Anyhow, Greg arrived and was, as expected, unmissable. We met and greeted and I picked up the incredibly light and professionally wrapped (Gary Beal) tube and we made our way to the car. I asked Greg where his immediate destination was and it turned out to be Redcliffe, some 25kms north, so I offered him a lift. I think Greg was a little taken aback by the offer, especially when he also realised that I had never met either Gary or Lars, other than through IceInSpace! However, it was an easy decision – the traffic into Brisbane stretched right back to the end of the Galaxy whereas the northern 30 minute run to Redcliffe was moving nicely. It was great to hear about life in New Zealand and get some of the dirt on Gary!
Having dropped Greg off at his Mum’s (Happy 80th Birthday to Mum
), I headed back to BrisVegas via the scenic coastal route. Later that day I had a dental appointment only some 10 mins from the TNT Depot so I dropped off the CF Tube for Lars and sent him a scanned copy of the Con Note for proof of despatch, along with a photo showing the excellent condition of the tube and packaging…just in case!
Anyhow, the tube arrived safe and sound today, mission accomplished, and Lars has generously shouted me a 12 months subscription to Australian Sky & Telescope – woohoo, thanks Lars. Can’t wait to see 1st light from the new ‘scope.
Cheers
Dennis
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
.....I mean leaving those who know part of the story hanging while you go and do something meaningless. Keep us hanging why dont you
- what a happy story
. That way you could have written about guns 
, beagle dogs 
looking for imported NZ happy dust being met by a secret agent
!!!! Maybe even a car chase with James “Dennis” bond giving the highway patrol the slip in his Aston “Subaru” martin…..with missile launchers and ejector seat.
