Page 63 - Exile-ebook
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62  AN EXILE OF THE MIND     STANDING IN FOR THE BEATLES                        63


                                                under the passenger seat, sealed
                                                with a large brass screw cap the size
                                                of a saucer. Checking the level was
                                                hard to see in the car’s dim interior.
                                                I was about to strike a match when I
                                                felt a hand on my shoulder and heard
                                                a voice shout, ‘Stop!’ I shamefacedly
                                                looked around, but there was not a
                                                soul to be seen.
                                                   The  Right  Hon  offered  his
                                                services  as  chauffer  to  chug  along
                                                Canterbury roads at a top speed of
                                                45 miles per hour and wave royally
                                                to all and sundry. At a screening of
                                                The Yellow Rolls Royce the tourer,
                                                parked outside,  was  mobbed  by
                                                moviegoers believing  it had been
                                                placed there as a publicity stunt.
                                                   The car, called Jennyvieve after
                                                Jane, and I were  very much  in
                                                demand to lead  Capping  Parades
                                                through Christchurch streets  with
                                                floats  of  many  guises  following  in
                                                our wake.  It was an opportunity
                                                for students every year to engage in
                                                mischievous pranks, bawdiness and
                                                cross dressing.  It  was later phased
 Outside my flat opposite the old Student Union building.  my  Post  Office  savings.  The  tourer  out as bills for damage by drunken
           was worth ten times more, without  students almost reached the level of
 polished. This beautifully restored  State-side  and reluctantly selling   the spit and polish.  the national debt.
 1924 Austin Tourer was for sale by the  his prized collection of vintage cars.   The car almost blew up with me in   The  coffin,  just  as  popular,  was
 American commander of  Operation  The commander must have liked the   it when I attempted one day to check  carried on the shoulders of protesting
 Deepfreeze in the Antarctic.   cut of my jib because this classic was   the level of benzine, Kiwi for petrol.  students  to deliver petitions  and
 The commander was heading  bought with the meagre contents of   The  fuel  tank  was  accessible  from  later rented  out to take them to
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