Wed 21 June 2006 - Need any clay?
While I was waiting for a train at Brighton Beach yesterday morning, there was a bulldozer doing its thing nearby. I stood there watching it ferrying loads of dirt from one pile to the other. I was pondering if someone could make a mint of money by setting up a quarry somewhere, and letting blokes discover their masculinity by paying to drive a bulldozer around in the mud for a couple of hours.
The driver paused and shouted out of the window at me: “Do you need any clay at home?”
I laughed. “No”, I replied, “Got plenty.”
He grinned and kept going.
(And it’s true. Andy, who does my gardening for me, reckons there’s some clay in the back garden, giving the grass a hard time.)
June 21st, 2006 at 9:04am
Brighton Beach is my station!
Touch wood, I haven’t had a cancellation for over 2 months. Yah!
June 21st, 2006 at 1:58pm
I find the heading of this whole post offensive.
Regards,
Clay
June 21st, 2006 at 8:49pm
The bulldozer operator asked you a deep existential question that clearly depended upon a metaphorical understanding of the Judeo-Christian roots of European civilization and all you can say is “Got plenty.” Or were you being subtle and were actually expressing your Enlightenment-based humanist values via the use of the vernacular?
I think I should go and get myself a coffee.
Any other interpretations?
June 21st, 2006 at 8:58pm
More seriously, that kind of easy banter where everyone’s your mate and you can just pick up a conversation standing on the corner is something that I really, really miss since having left Australia. When I try to do it around here as often as not the people look at me like I am crazy. Then again, maybe that’s just me.
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:22pm
Konrad - best comment I think I’ve *ever* seen on a blog. hee.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:13pm
Its in no ways offensive Clay, rather sympathetic. Humanity still prevails, look he is askin’ “Need any clay”?
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:04pm
I’m pretty sure that even here in Australia there are “hire boy’s toys for day” jaunts you can go on. But, mondo $.
June 27th, 2006 at 2:48am
Daniel,
My wife (or one of her friends) had this same idea (moving dirt around play area for men) a few years ago. I think the insurance costs quashed it.
Adam
June 27th, 2006 at 4:03am
Somebody over here in Germany already had the idea to let men play with bulldozers. You pay per hour and can use bulldozers, big lorries and other machinery on a special site full of sand.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:17am
If clay is a problem, spread Gypsum of the affected area - it helps break up the clay. Helped our new lawn establish itself - just before the water restrictions killed it.
There was a article on one of the Travel/Touristy shows about driving a Rally Car or a Bulldozer - can’t find it but from memory it was up near Newcastle (NSW)…