Late last Friday, I got a call from the Prof to this effect:
"Well I know this is a bit much Sledge, but my car's broken down, so, erm ... could you possibly drive me to Kalgoorlie tomorrow? -- I'd have asked another JAFA but they're all going by plane and it's too late for me to book ... and ...".
"WFT, Crispin", I added, more than somewhat puzzled, "are a bunch of JAFAs doing in Kal and do you know how far it is from Minjup?"
"There's a cultural studies conference there and I have to give a paper on the Sunday...".
"Jesus God, cultural ferkin studies in Kalfriggingoorlie?"
"Seems so and yeh, I know how far it is but I'll pay for your petrol and accommodation".
"Mm hhm?"
"Oh yeh, and I won't be back in Minjup tonight, have to finish my paper, so could you pick me up from the office?"

Talk about pissing through someone's keyhole and then knocking on the door to ask how far it went.

So early Saturday morning, I find myself on the way up to The University to pick up the Prof.
Not a great deviation in the 600-odd-k Minjup-to-Kal scheme of things.
Or so I thought.
Thus begins my woeful tale.
Day 1 shortly, the rest to follow in due course.

Sledge