Previously

Ricky and I packed all our clothes and flew back to Brisbane after a slightly tearful farewell. At Archerfield Croft Air Charter now had its own hanger, and two guys whose plane was in the next hanger helped us move 'Angel' inside. They were also at Uni, studying law, and it seemed that we would become friends.

We spent the next few days settling into the house, buying some furniture and registering at Uni.

Monday 9/1/67
~~~~~~~~~~~

Ricky and I had another week to fill in before we were due to front up to university, so we decide to spend some time at home and in the garden. The previous owners had established a rather large vegetable garden so we reckoned with a bit of work we could be eating our own produce. Debbie and Jan had already discovered it and had planted some tomatoes and beans. The whole garden had been set up with an elaborate drip watering system so it shouldn't be a problem for us time-wise, We went out and bought a whole lot of seedlings and packets of seeds so we were on our way to become city gardeners!

When the others came home from work they found me and Ricky down in the garden just finishing planting all the seedlings and raking the soil over the seeds we had sown.

Chrissie said “Alright you people of leisure, what’s for dinner tonight?”

Ricky replied, “Whatever you can find. Me and Carla are going out so you will just have to cope won't you?”

Jenny said, “That'd be right! We work our fingers to the bone and get told to get our own meals as well, while you two go of enjoying yourselves.”

I replied, “If you two hurry up and change out of those nice white uniforms, dinner is on me, but you had better hurry because as soon as me and Ricky have showered and dressed we will be going to a Chinese restaurant in the Valley.”

(Fortitude Valley has an area called Chinatown and is still there to the present day.)

Jenny and Chrissie didn't waste any time and disappeared to ready themselves to go out for a free meal on me. I had rung Debbie and Jan to tell them to come home as well and they turned up just as I was about to go into the shower with Ricky.

Debbie said, “What did you want us home for that is so urgent luv?” I explained that I was talking them all out for dinner in the Valley. They also didn't waste any time getting ready to go out for a free meal.

I thought 'They had better make the most of it because this won't happen too often. I might have wealthy parents but I was taught be generous but not wasteful.'

Once we were all set to go, we got into Debbie's bus and she drove into Fortitude Valley. I didn't tell Jenny and Chrissie that I had also invited our friends from the airport along as well. This could be interesting because Jenny and Chrissie had both dropped their boyfriends from Quilpie before embarking on four years of nurses' training in Brisbane. Greg and Toby were actually twins, not identical but just as close as me and Jean, only they were both on the earth plane. Their parents were both lawyers so it followed that they would be the ones to take over the family business eventually. Anyway we arrived at the restaurant where I had booked a table for eight people.

The head waiter greeted us and led us to our table and gave us the menus to read. When Jenny noticed that there are two more chairs at our table she twigged and said, “Carla sister dear, what are you up to?”

I replied, “Nothing, why?” but she didn't wait for me to answer and had her eyes closed and said, “Jean, what are you two up to?” Because spirits aren’t allowed to lie Jean had to come clean and said “See those two hot looking guys at the front reception desk?”

Chrissie also had her eyes closed and said, “We can't see anything while we are talking to you with our eyes closed.”

Jean said, “Oh sorry, there you go.”and we could all see the two while we had our eyes closed talking to Jean who was now starting to giggle and said to me, “Carla you had better tell them what we have been doing don't you think.”

I said “Ok everyone, open your eyes and I will enlighten you on what’s going on.”

Ricky, Debbie and Jan just sat there with grins on their faces while I explained to the two girls why they were here tonight. I waved for the two boys to come over to the table. Jenny and Christine were starting to blush as the two young handsome men came over to our table and introduced themselves to them. They already knew Debbie and Jan from hiring the bus a few times. We all moved around so Jenny and Chrissie were sitting beside their newly introduced friends.

Once we ordered our meals the conversation flowed pretty well and the four new friends got acquainted with each other. We obviously sat them in the right position with Jenny and Greg getting along as well as Chrissie and Toby having a great one on one discussion about politics. Chrissie always wins discussions about politics. She is very passionate about people doing the right thing.

Seeing next day was a work day at least for the others so we couldn't stay out too late, so we dropped the boys off home first and then went homeourselves. Arrangements were made by the new friends to meet up on the weekend, so it worked out really well for the match-makers namely me and Jean who kept saying “That went well.” 'till I told her to shut up and stop crowing. We all sat in the lounge including Debbie and Jan, and discussed what was happening in the next little while and the subject came up about Mum and Dad buying a house just down the road to have somewhere to stay when they came to Brisbane, which they would probably be doing quite a bit if they wanted to see us. As it was, I was going to be flying home at least once a month so Ricky could have time with his Mum and Dad who were now retired and living on a bit of acreage just out of Quilpie.

We said goodnight and retired to our own rooms to go to bed. It was quite late and it was the first time that we didn't feel like making love, and beside my silly time of the month was about to start and I still got cramps just before they started. It was not as bad as it was when I first started having them but I sure as hell knew when to put a pad in my knickers.

I know, 'too much information' as Ricky always says, but I'm afraid it is just a normal part of being a female, and of course if we don’t get them, nine months later we'd be changing nappies.

Thursday 12/1/67
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last couple of days were spent making sure we had all our things together for Uni and we also bought a new barbecue for the backyard which was on wheels and was powered by gas. Dad wouldn't like it because he reckoned only wood should be used for a good tasting steak. I really couldn't understand that, a hot plate is a hot plate no matter how it is heated. Anyway the phone rang and it was Dad saying he and Mum had come down with Rodney to look at a new plane they were buying for the charter business to add to the three including 'Angel'.

Mum then took the phone off Dad and said, “Carla, while your father is looking at the new plane with Rodney I'm coming to see you and show you the house I have just bought down the end of the street from where you are.”

I replied, “Mum you didn't tell me you were coming to Brisbane to live!!”

She replied, “Carla it is so often we do come down for business we will have somewhere to stay. It's not to keep an eye on you sweetheart.”

“Mum I know that's not what you would do and I'm glad we'll be so close when you come down.”

Mum went on and said, “What about Ricky?”

I said, “What about Ricky!!!”

”Well I have talked to Helen and Barry and they will also be able to use the house to come and see Ricky more often as well as Rita and Pete.”

“Mum, you and Dad are just a pair of softies. I don’t know what we would do without you.”

“Well you probably wouldn't be flying around in your own plane or going to University.”

Jean was giggling and said, “Mum maybe no plane but definitely University.”

Mum said , “Hello Jean darling, I hope you are staying out of trouble in the spirit world?”

“Yes Mum.” and a little cheeky giggle followed. All this happened while Mum was on the phone. Jean had become quite powerful and could communicate over long distances because Rita said Jean sometimes came to her in her dreams.

Mum had to hang up because I could hear Debbie in the background saying, “Donna, if that is Carla you are talking to, tell her I have picked up the photos we took at the Chinese restaurant of Jenny and Chrissie and the boys.”

Mum said, “You heard that Carla?”

“Yes Mum.” and then she hung up. Half an hour later Mum was telling me and Ricky to come for a walk down the road and have a look at the house she had bought. She didn't tell us at the time but she bought it at the same time as she was buying the house for Jenny. That was a bit naughty but I suppose she wasn't sure how we would react to knowing she would be able to keep an eye on us, but Mum and Dad are not like that. Besides what could we possibly get up to being Uni students !!!!?

To be continued.

Next time starting at University.

Please leave a comment.