Shared memories are some of the best things in life, and it doesn’t really matter whether you’re looking back on old ones or creating new ones for the future.

Last weekend, Nanette and I hit the road to Montville in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland.  We’ve been to Montville before, but always as a quick diversion from some other spot at nearby beaches like Noosa or Mooloolaba. My memories of the place are of winding up the steep narrow mountain road, only to find there are no carparks anywhere near the short strip of yuppie shops and cafes that constitutes the town.  Nanette’s memories are of sitting in one of said cafes, sipping chai latte and looking out over the escarpment – while second guessing whether the hand-woven scarf from Wanda’s Emporium of Exotica would match the kaftan she spotted on that rack near the door.

Anyways, this time we’re invited to the wedding of a young man we’ve known since he was a baby bump, so we’ve booked a Montville B&B that appears to be within walking distance of the reception venue.  What could possibly go wrong?!

Here’s a few short vignettes of the weekend’s more memorable moments.

Friday afternoon – arrive at the B&B, only to find no owner on site, no key, and no instructions.  Phone owner.  “Oh,” she says,” I sent you a text, but the phone system is unreliable around here.  You can find a key under …”

Friday, late afternoon – no sign of the ‘breakfast basket’ other guests have mentioned and no further contact from the owner.  Walk to town in the freezing wind to find some basic options at the little grocery store.    9:00 PM Friday night – reading, because there’s no tv reception and the internet is sketchy – get a call from the owner – “what time do you want me to drop off your breakfast basket tomorrow?”

Saturday morning – walk back into town and browse through places with names that all seem to end in “Shoppe”.  By random chance, wander into a Salvation Army thrift store.  No kaftans, but – oops – did I remember to pack a tie for the wedding this afternoon – that one’s perfect!

Saturday afternoon – off to the wedding – hoping the person who donated the tie to the Salvos isn’t among the guests.  The service is lovely, but afterwards it’s freezing cold standing outside the little chapel, so we invite two friends back to our B&B for coffee.   Space is tight, and there’s only four cups in the cupboard, but it’s nice to be out of the wind.

Sunday, late morning – enjoyed last night’s reception, another (late delivered) B&B breakfast basket, then light brunch with the parents of the groom plus sundry others.  Time to head home.  We decide to take the alternate route that Nanette swears must be quicker because “don’t you remember that time we came this way and the guy in the truck with the cow on the back turned off on that mountain bend?”  Um, yes, vaguely.  “And remember how we saw the same truck with the cow an hour later?  He must have taken a shortcut!” So, here we are, an hour later.  We’re about halfway home and both agree the alternate route was very scenic, and probably shorter.  Nanette’s “I told you so” look suddenly evaporates.  “Oh no, I left my phone back at …”  

As we turn around and retrace the (now familiar) road back to Montville, the conversation naturally slips into reflection.  “At least this won’t be as bad as that time when our driver had car trouble in the Austrian Alps”, says Nanette.  “Or that time I took the wrong road to Niagara Falls”, says I.  “And – do you remember that other time when we …”

(Editor’s note – For those who are interested, here’s the links to the blogs mentioned above – Sometimes, things just go wrong – in Austria and Montreal to Niagara Falls by Car)