Last week we caught the 7.30am express train to the city.
Well, it turned out to be the slow express because of a hold up ahead and each station we came to was overcrowded and an avalanche of people tumbled into our carriage.
Then a wonderful thing happened.
An anouncement over the P.A. system apologised for the delay. But this was no ordinary announcement. A laconic aussie voice sounded, cracking a couple of good one liners about the reason for the delay.
People’s expressions changed from cranky, frustrated, tired to smiles.
The ‘ocker’ announcer must have been in his sixties, had a voice that you would recognise in any country pub. It was as if he wandered into the train station office, picked up a microphone and announced he was going to tell a story and it was a beauty.
Thirty years ago, grandma was living in a remote part of the state that had no electricity. One day a travelling salesman convinced her to buy an electric jug. She soon discovered that an electric jug needs electricity to run so the jug was useless.
Grandma found a use for the jug. She placed it on her mantlepiece and put flowers in it, turning it into a vase.
I can’t wait until the next 7.30am express train ride.
And the next story.
