Random reminder

Press, 19 July 1988, Page 25

Random reminder

DRAG? Bliss it was to step into their new solar camping shower, a marvellous contraption consisting of a water-filled plastic bag, set to heat in the sun while they roamed hills and bush. When ready, it was hung from a tree in a clearing near their caravan and a plastic surround erected underneath for privacy. A pull on the nozzle attached to the bag released a comforting spray of water, heated to just the right temperature, on to limbs aching from the day’s tramp and feet chilled by river crossings. She went in first, undressed, placed clothes and towel through the opening on to the ground outside, and began soaping and rinsing. Soon the hills were alive with the sound of music, as the shower became the auditorium at La Scala. What a loss she was to the operatic world! Squeaky clean, retrieved her towel

from outside the shower, dried herself, then groped through the opening for her clothes. She groped further, and further again, then poked her head through the gap. No clothes lay nearby, but the campsite’s two resident keas, opera lovers both, drawn by the beauty of her voice, were playing with them at the edge of the clearing. They pecked at her lace trimmed underwear, dragged floral shorts this way and that, walked over her T-shirt. Towel-wrapped, she managed to shoo the keas away and reclaim her garments. Except for one of them. Its strap had become entangled around one bird’s body and he disappeared into the undergrowth, dragging his booty behind him. They searched high and low through the bushes and around the campsite, but never found the lost article.) J Next time you’re in the /Craigieburn area watch out for the keas. 'One of them could well be sporting sorhg fetching underwear. >