Even the Furniture Takes Mass Transit Here

We had quite the day yesterday; on Tuesday evening we made a list of all the Op Shops and Salvos (Opportunity Shops = Thrift Stores; Salvos = Salavation Army) that were withing walking distance. Walking distance is a funny thing -- I can heft a 35 pound pack through the mountains, no problem -- and even smile while doing it. But when you're carrying a 22kg (50 lb) box and a couple of chairs, well... let's just say that one's concept of "walking distance" gets revised. Drastically.

We began by walking to Marrickville... a pleasant little jaunt that gave us plenty of Op Shop and 2nd Hand store options. The only problem was that 2 minutes into the first store, the power went out. For the whole neighborhood. But everyone continued on their merry way; we continued exploring and had fun shopping in the dark. Some stores closed (like the Salvo, so I never got to go in -- bummer), but others were jovial about it and offered us flashlights and lanterns as we searched for things like bathmats, shower curtains, tea kettles, and 2nd hand furniture.

After exhausting the main drag in Marrickville, we headed further out -- way out -- in hopes of finding some treasures at a few other 2nd hand furniture places. In each one we were disappointed; not only was the furniture not interesting, but it was still high priced and hardly worth the walk. In the heat of the mid-day (and under the lure of a 40-cent ice cream cone), we gave up on bargain hunting and decided that Ikea was in fact that best deal in town. So we hopped the train to Ikea and were soon happily slurping up 40 cent ice cream cones in the air conditioned mall.

After the cones, we wandered about Ikea (for the second time this week), and found a table and a few chairs and even a stool that makes for a nice bedside table. Had we the room in our packs, we would have gotten a lamp or 2 and even some plants. (Given the signs I've seen around town, like this one here, I've decided that one should not be rash about what plants they buy, lest one day they wake up and find that their partner has been gobbled up by Seymour the Plant.)

We took stock of everything we had and decided -- stubborn people that we are -- that we could carry the 22kg table home ourselves, as well as the 2 chairs and bedside table. The table broke down easily and fit in Crash's pack; I threw the chairs in a box to keep them from sliding about and we set off from Ikea, carrying the table to the train station.

It was hot.

It was tiring.

The train was late.

Then the train was full.

So we waited.

It was hot.

It was tiring.

We caught the second train that came along 15 minutes later, and it was much less crowded...and very air conditioned. We had to make a transfer, and in the process, missed our connection.

It was hot.

It was tiring.

But, it was amusing.



We got some funny looks, a few smiles, and we kept encouraging each other with the promise of a cold beer (or 3) when we got home. We finally made it, and immediately the chairs came out and the beers were opened. After a few sips, we set about with getting the table together (Crash: "I bet we can have this set up before 5pm. We've got 11 minutes. Go!") -- and sure enough, at 5pm, the table was set up.

At 5:01pm, our tired feet were kicked up on the table, the last of our cold beers sliding down our throats.

Mission accomplished.