Trains, Planes and Automobiles was a great movie, and I starred in my own version just a few weeks ago.
I was invited to ex-Sunshine Coast Falcons/Melbourne Storm footy player Chris Lewis’ wedding in Melbourne, where he was marrying his beautiful partner Jill (and just quietly punching way above his weight).
Foz, from the Foz and Brooke Big Breakfast on Sea FM, is getting married later this month but had his bucks’ party in Melbourne the same weekend as I was down there. We were on the same plane out of Maroochydore, down and back.
Brooke was scheduled to take us to the airport until I found out there was a tornado in Melbourne.
The flight was delayed by an hour, but as she is a celebrity and had other engagements, we had to go at the original time.
We got there, my bag received the whole security check minus a cavity search, and I sort of knew what my day was going to look like.
A further two-hour delay coincided with quite a few overpriced schooners and a stale packet of chips.
The only bright side was an announcement that economy passengers were encouraged to eat something before departure as there was no catering because of the weather.
I had upgraded myself on points to business class, but Foz was in economy.
So, the only joy I had was sending him photos of champagne and the menu when we got seated. It was a bumpy ride, but we got there and parted company.
The wedding was in Fitzroy Gardens at 2pm – women in their best attire and men in retro rugby league jerseys, which sums up the groom’s sense of humour – and then by tram to the reception.
Did I mention he married a Scottish bride, so he wore a kilt?
Let me tell you about Chris. When I ran for mayor, he donated some cash which came up in conversation with my support staff, asking me who I knew from the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (he was trying to be funny).
It was a weird weekend, probably summed up by the reception, after a 30-minute train ride, where I made a joke about kilts and no underpants.
You guessed it, there weren’t any underpants and I will live with that image forever.
No automobile of note but some wonderful memories (apart from one).
Ashley Robinson is chairman of Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
