Carnival Date

Today, it is two years since Daph first saw Ern’s copper beard glistening in the sun and his unobtrusive bottom only barely holding up his trousers at Central Station and thought, “I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this gorgeous freckle head.”

Ern: *Presenting Daphne with a flower, “Happy anniversary, gorgeous. F**king love you.”

Daph: “Did you steal that from someone’s garden?”

Ern: “Yes.”

Living on the edge. Romance is alive and kicking.

***

Today Daph and Ern travelled half the way home. A long eight-hour journey, made shorter by the inside of Daph’s eyelids and “I Spy”:

Daph: “I spy something beginning with... P.”

Ern: “Pointy signs.”

Ern: “I spy something beginning with... F.”

Daph: “Fluffy clouds.”

Daph: “I spy something beginning with... L.”

Ern: “Le trees.”

Ern missed the turnoff for the cute little town centre of Yarragon (Daph gives him the hairy eyeball[1]). Ern stopped at McDonald’s at Moe for a romantic anniversary meal instead. Ern let Daph have a Fillet O’Fish AND a McChicken meal to make up for missing out on a boutique high tea.

Pit stopped at The Lakes Entrance overnight, where Ern took Daph on a date to the carnival. Ern endured the Roller Coaster and the Cha-Cha for Daph’s entertainment, just because he loves her (or because he still felt guilty about hop-skipping it through Yarragon).

A sunset walk on the beach built an appetite for a romantic Italian meal by candlelight in the Kombi, to the dulcet tones of Def Leppard. Just perfect.

Life is good for Daph and Ern.

[1] A look of disdain, given through narrowed eyes.