We drove to Ulladulla where we had lunch at the local bowling club. Their previous caterers used to make a delicious meatloaf, but the new caterers' bangers and mash also makes a nice change from the homecooking.
And, of course, I washed it all down with a glass (or two) of Chardonnay. The same friendly young man who always collects the empties was on duty. Jokingly, I suggested that he must be due for long service leave soon. "Actually, I am due for it in a few weeks' time," he replied.
I looked at him again and tried to visualise what his life had been like, collecting empty glasses for the past ten years, and what his future would be like. Perhaps, when the old steward behind the bar had retired, our young man would take over as barman, and in due course retire himself and hand over to another young man who has been collecting empty glasses for the past ten years.
Do such men have dreams? Do they live lives of quiet desperation? Or are they happy with their lot? Perhaps they have found the solution to the mystery of existence which is to say that there is no great mystery at all because human existence is mostly about food, sleep, sex, and finding harmless and pleasant ways to fill in the rest.
