#Watermelon

Sydney Bridge, 12.06.2018

My long weekend was unexpectedly lengthened by a text telling me I didn't have to be at work so I decided to meet Steve and his brother Wayne out for lunch. Amazingly, Steve agreed that it would be nice to do a walk.

I met them in Neutral Bay where we had lunch and a natter, then we headed down to the ferry point. When I spend time with Steve, I always feel a bit like Eliza Dolittle from My Fair Lady but with a less dreadful accent, so I was pleased to hear some shameful stories about him from his brother as we walked along the way.
One of my favourite things about Steve is how unashamedly honest he is and that he doesn't even try to stifle his disgust for things. One of those being the out-of-date Rose I had brought to dinner, another being Wayne's choice of designer clothing but mostly just his general hatred for stupid people (I have no idea how I made it onto the friend list but I'm just going to act casual and pretend I belong in it).

The walk turned out to be really pretty, it snaked along the edge of the harbour until we reached the edge of the rocks.

We caught the ferry over to Circular Quay and went to grab a coffee, I had suggested that we could climb the pylon on the bridge. I could sense little enthusiasm from Steve but Wayne decided to join me. I'm not sure if it was that he didn't want to go back to Steve's while he napped or if he genuinely wanted to go to the bridge but I was pleased to have the company.

Realising we were both pretty terrible at navigation, we used google maps to find one of Sydney's largest landmarks that we could see AT ALL TIMES but still had to ask for directions, it didn't bode well for the return journey from the bridge. In our defence, we had to climb some secret, secluded staircase with about a billion stairs to get to the pylon. Once out in the open air, the views were quite special. I had seen the Opera house view many times but the other side of the city had the sun setting and it looked so pretty as it cast a golden light over the harbour and buildings.

We saw a Chinese guy ready with his camera and I suggested taking a selfie next to where he was set up. I hopped on the bench. "I'll just wait for this guy to take a picture."
Most people would expect this to take, I don't know, maybe 3 seconds tops. THREE MINUTES LATER! He was still taking just one photo! It has some fancy setting that takes out lights and cars and stuff, but he has to stand there timing it and waiting each time! I thought about waving my hand in front of the lens for fun but I thought it might make him actually cry!

Once we reached the bottom, we didn't walk far before spotting a pub. "Drink?"
"You read my mind!"
Three glasses of wine later and a pizza, we decided to go to the casino. We got lost instantly, so Wayne hailed a cab, appearing to be more like his brother than one would originally have thought.
Australian's love to gamble... I do not! In Star City we walked to the nearest table of roulette.
"Pick a colour!"
Instant panic, "I dunno, um...red! Oh god please be red!"
It landed on red...few!

Next table, I had no idea what was going on but the man with the little card machine and a name badge saying Chad seemed to be enjoying how stressed I was at the whole situation. I made it very clear that I was in no way responsible for any winnings or losings that may or may not take place with my unlucky presence!

But Wayne's luck seemed to be up! Now with his money doubled, I felt relief that I hadn't been responsible for the repossession of his house or car. Feeling relaxed, we went and got a drink at the bar. He pointed out a famous NRL player but wasn't sure of his name so I couldn't safely Snapchat photos of him, in case he was just a random guy.

"Okay, before you go, you have to put this chip on one of the tables." he handed me a $100 chip.
"Oh dear god no! Please, if I lose it, I'll be riddled with guilt until the day I die!"
I'm not sure if I said any of that aloud or if my face said it for me but I was led to a table with a new guy who's name I didn't read. Beads of sweat began to form on my forehead. I chose not to deliberate but just to put it down on any empty square. Cards were drawn... I didn't know the meaning of this but Wayne waved his hands in code to the dealer, more cards drawn.

My little chip, sat there, I didn't know if it would be swiped away to join the other lost chips or heroically make Wayne a millionaire. Neither happened! But I did double it! The dealer placed a matching chip onto my chip!
"Yay!" I squealed! Wayne forced me to keep the chip despite my protests and attempts to give it back to him. I had it changed into a note and looked boggle-eyed at my new shiny green cash.
"It's called a watermelon, when you've got a $100 note!"
Only someone who regularly has $100 notes would know this fact. I tried once more to give it back, and then surrendered to the ridiculously generous gift and folded my watermelon note into my purse! I haven't decided what to spend it on yet but its a toss up between some nice wine in the Hunter Valley or 10 bottles of cheap rose' wine from the liquor store to send to Steve as a form of torture...decisions, decisions!

#Factor50

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