setting up home - Sue

Jonathon pulls at the hefty metal bolts and flings open the double wooden doors of the old warehouse. At first sight is has potential. High rafters are strung across the roof line and huge casement windows let in masses of light. All the walls are timber and the floor the usual dirty grey of cement. Of course it is very dirty, the place has been empty for over five years.

He laughs, in fact he collapses in an uncontrollable fit of giggles as the past flashes past him in a whirl.

Masterson & Co collapsed overnight. He and his mates, his peers have lost everything. In just a few days the banks have foreclosed on his villa and the transport company arrived to collect all the beautiful Italian furniture. The leasing company drove off in his brand new lamborgini. That was a bit cruel.

But, and this was the funny thing, he’d managed to salvage everything he needed to set up home, camp really and to camp in style. And his 6 collages were joining in the fun.

His mind flashes forwards and he can see the warehouse all set up.

King size hammocks are strung between the rafters. The bold and wide striped canvas boats are covered in soft feather duvets, each one a different shade of blue silk. The goose down pillows look plump and full. To create some privacy the boys have made full length beaded curtains which tend to clatter a bit in the breeze. Each so called cubicle has a pair of soft leather bean bags and a low table made of melamine. They are a bit ordinary but they serve the purpose. Each table has a cut glass crystal decanter filled with honey coloured whisky and some sort of ornate cigar box. Quite often a “grange” has also been decanted ready for the evening meal.

Across on the other side, is a cocktail bar, standing space only and the old board room table, the only remnant or souvenir from Mastersons. It makes a fine dining table. Fortunately the removalists had missed the wrought iron chairs so these sit sedately ready for dinner. The lounge room is wild, an old army surplus suite is covered with hides and skins from their hunting days in Africa. A large male lion head is secured to one of the walls and a couple more skins, the bear being Jonathon’s favourite, lie on the floor.

The kitchen is a challenge and so is the bathroom. But between them they have a BBQ, a spa pool, a sauna and a solarium. There is one tap in the place.

It’s time for cocktails. The all dress in silk smoking jackets and smart black slacks. Jonathon deftly spins the silver cocktail shaker, Frederick slices the limes and Mark unfolds the little paper umbrellas. David hands round cigars. They create the menu

Smoked trout with imported horseradish and Italian crispbread
Duck L’Orange with baby new potatoes and Italian beans
Tiramisu and strawberries

“This is the life” they all agree.