The Reckoning

This was the first time that John had been our judge. Jan won the original Quirky Book competition and I won the first Quirky Object one.  This year, we had both categories.  The books were judged first, and this time, our judge ventured inside the covers as well as outside.  He rejected my Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for its lack of pictures, and didn't really inspect Why You Can Go Out Dressed Like That due to his lack of interest in fashion. He has no idea what he missed.  My daughter-in-law has already borrowed it.

The eventual winner was Jo's Creepiosity, which is truly wonderful and includes such things in its list of things that are creepy as  "Lucille Ball in colour".  I can't argue with that.  The clincher for John was "Guys who look like Santa Claus but aren't the actual Santa Claus" because the photo looked like my MIchael.  How could I argue with his logic?  So that was a win to Jo, her very first. 

The three entries in the Quirky Object category were my toilet paper,  Jan's metal dinosaur, and Jo's Prince Charming.  I'm in with a good chance here, I thought.  But wait!  John rejected my loo wipes because they were made in China!  Surely it must be the VERY quirky dinosaur, But no, he went for Prince Charming; a surprising choice.    So Jo won the double.  What will we do next year? 

I stayed at Carters Ridge that night and drove sedately south in the morning.  As I still hadn't found that egg beater, I drove via Nambour and dropped in briefly to the big Neighbour's Aid there.  No beater, but I found two treasures: a classic Viewmaster and a collectors edition of America's Cup placemats and coasters. Did I mention that i was looking for placemats?  Op shops used to be full of them, but now they are a rare breed.

My final haul: 8 tops, 4 skirts, 2 shorts, 3 jeans/long pants, 5 pairs earrings, a bra, reading glasses, watch (non-functioning accessory), underpants, 2 hats, 2 Santa hats, shower cap, 8 cakes soap, hand beater, a bamboo bathroom stuff holder that sticks to the wall with suction cups, small paua shell frame, a glass, Halloween spider webbing, packet of envelopes, travel Monopoly, 3 jigsaws, 2 postcards, 4 books, an egg cup, super hero toilet paper, 1 dozen eggs, and 2 bottles of honey. For my granddaughter: 5 wooden puzzles, a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, a bag of bath toys, and 3 books. Total outlay: $131.  This does not include Dave the Dung Beetle, the children's book written by a Biloela woman, that I bought new in the cafe in Gayndah; nor the goodies from Nambour, because by then the trip was over.  I think my favourite pickup was the $2 reading glasses from Vinnies at Maryborough.

Accommodation, fuel and some of the food cost us each $232.

What did I learn this year?  Jo always maintains that every op shop has knitting needles and I can't argue with that. Now I believe they each have at least one whisk.  I also learnt that no matter how many bras you bring or buy, if you have a rib injury, they are all uncomfortable.  And accommodation with we top bunks is now out of the question forever.

Jan's favourite buy was a black and white cow egg timer, from she-can't-remember-where. And here endeth Op Shop Road Trip Number Seven.