Stressed out that I wasn't going to arrive on time to meet and greet members (Murray couldn't make it due to family commitments so I HAD to be there), I really wanted to have an early night to make sure I was there on time! But on Saturday night, Leanne had organised her family and our neighbours over for, what she called, "just a couple of quiet drinks and an early night". So, I believed her (ok, I know what you are saying, when grog, music, and Leanne get together,not to mention those in her family who like a drink now and then, I should have known better.........I admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, alright) but I instead found myself chauffering three teenage boys back to the train station at 1.30am, so they could go back to Rooty Hill, after SMSing Amy all night, and turning up unannounced to see her....(don't ask)....and, after watching Leanne's 24 year old niece dancing on the outdoor furniture and giving my neighbour Barry a lap dance, whilst wearing Barry's wife's swimming cosy....(again,please don't ask)....needless to say, I didn't get an early night! After only 5 hours sleep, I found myself rising at 7.30am and trying, unsuccessfully, to get Bree out of bed so we could go.

But we made it, as we met Steve & Barb on the road in the trusty Voodoo Bus with Trev the Trailer in tow, we arrived ON TIME at Liverpool Pools old car park on what was a very overcast, cold and sometimes rainy morning. Now because of the rush to get out and the big night had earlier, my wife had not packed her traditional goodie bag of cheese, olives, biscuits and of course champagne, so she felt a little out of sorts. Also because she realised her companion in crime who would also turn up with said goodies was not there herself...(she missed you Vicki)...she decided to drink coffee instead, but it didn't taste the same. The roll up at the car park wasn't too bad, considering the weather. There were 6 cars from Club VW including Bob & Heather Hickman in their green Country Buggy, the ever reliable Shirley & Ray Pleydon in their Type 3 Fastback and a nice blue stock Kharmann Ghia that I have seen before and drooled over many times. As for Flat Four, there were 7 of us all up I think with a couple of stealth vehicles thrown in for good measure. One of those stealths had the entire Huckstepp family in it......two perfectly good Dubs at home, and they turn up in a four wheel drive.....and they were late...(bring your loose change to the next meeting Pete).

The cruise was a nice casual affair and upon arrival at the Sydney Society of Engineers Model Farm, confusion reigned supreme as to where and to who we pay our entry fee to...(good on ya Bill, you better bring your loose change too pal, especially after you tried to blame Linda). The Flat Four team then swung into action setting up the BBQ and food table like a well oiled machine, and in record time too! Shirley had a jar full of lollies that she gave to us to raffle off in a guessing competition. You had to guess how many black lollies there were amongst all the others to win at a cost of 20 cents a guess.

We decided to have coffee, seeing it was only 10.30am and with this Linda handed out some choc chip & blueberry muffins to everyone.....I've always said that Linda is a lovely person. With a couple of spots of rain about (they didn't last long) we took a walk over and checked out the motorised speedway remote controlled cars carve up the dirt track. The smell of the racing fuel was getting Steve all excited so I moved away from him quick smart and myself and Peter decided to fire up the BBQ. By now it was 11.30am and we all felt hungry. As we cooked, the rain started again, so Leanne sheltered us with my trusty Flat Four umbrella....(we all should have one, see Stuart to get yours!). On request from my wife, Steve had supplied us with some lovely thick snags, because Leanne likes them............(forget about that Dave, everybody will just tell you your dreaming). Let me tell you the fat ones were popular with everyone a definite inclusion to the menu from now on I think. With a belly full of tucker...(some more than others let me tell you, that Paul Webster aka "POD" can put 'em away) we waddled up the hill to where the motorised planes were to check them out. There were some excellent examples of old WW2 aircraft that had fantastic detail on them. I really liked these and the old blokes that were flying them really loved what they were doing. We also wandered through the hall that had slot cars...(watching little Joshua Gardener's face as the cars whizzed around was great).....there was a fantastic train set display with the old guy running it wearing his train driver's hat. Another favourite of mine was the little steam engines that were all operating together. I think the women enjoyed it too, I know Steve and I did, anything that has motors and pistons has to be good, right! When I got back to the camp site, the two Huckstepp boys were hanging out for a game of footy. Seeing they promised me it was touch only...(thank God for that) I thought ok, bring it on you pair of big units! Now this is where my fellow Flat Four male members let me down. They saw what happened to Trevor's face the last time we did this, so none of them wanted in. Therefore it was Chris & Mitchell up against myself, Amy & Melissa. Real big of you boys, needless to say, my team struggled a little.....(Melissa,you have to wait until your team mate is BEHIND you before you pass the ball....what hope did I have). At the end of this, I was sweating like a pig and had dirt all over my jeans from diving like a goose to the amusement of all the others who constantly took the piss out of me as they ran rings around me. Once again,they have forgotten who hands out the fines at each meeting, haven't they!

After packing up the gear in the trailer, to the members of Club VW's amazement at how it all fits in there so neatly, we checked the winner of the lolly jar guessing competition, and with a guess if 27, Phillip Webster came the closest to the total of 48....(he then began sharing them with us all, good on ya son, you have avoided a fine there for sure, more than I can say for your old man who I reckon put away about 8 snags....just joking mate), we all said our goodbyes and headed on home, just in time for a nice glass of red before dinner, which was long overdue for my wife, let me tell ya!

Click here for more photos from the day.