Trade #4: Mini cross bow for... oh I'm so ashamed!

The three lads up Newcastle way were dead keen to get there paws on the cross bow. Aaza 'shottied' the trade up. I asked him what he could offer. "I dunno but we'll find ya sumin," He said with that rough Aussie accent and a shine in his eye. I thought I'd better find another proverbial pie to pop a finger in just in case he didn't find me something. I had a plane to catch back to the UK in two weeks and there was no way my hot potato was getting through customs.

I showed the item to Radar, a maintenance guy I knew. "'ow much ya want for it love?"
"Mate, it's not about money. I'm on a trade up mission. What you got you can trade for it?"
Radar struggled to grasp the concept and said if I couldn't secure a tradee before I left, he'd give me a couple of hundred bucks for it. He had a hobbie: weapon collecting. So why couldn't he understand mine?

Sadly I was running out of time and Aaza let me down. Last minute he offered a body board for it. As tempting as that was, it would be far too awkward to fit on the plane. So, in disgrace I took the money. It probably was a good choice though. Unlike with the boys, I couldn't see Radar getting drunk and accidently shooting someone with it, so I told him: "It's probably best you take it, you won't accidently kill someone with it," at which point he burst into laughter.
"If I was gunna kill someone, I'd use a gun love!" Dear God what have I done?

As trading up rules have yet to be established I can get away with this one, even though deep down I know it's wrong. I kept two arrows for future trading and at least I have a little Christmas cash. Back in the UK I almost feel like I'm back to square 1. Perhaps I'm now in a better position for attaining that shiny boat/car/house at the end. But for now, I'll kick back and enjoy the journey and the colourful characters I meet along the way!

Trade #3 Laptop for "a hot potato"

The laptop came in handy for writing emails and notes, but it sure was heavy and I wanted to get shot of the damn thing. I'd been lugging it around for half a year when I finally met Josh, a fellow coach surfer in Melbourne who wanted to start up a home media centre. He ensured me that the damaged screen made no difference as he wanted to project movies anyway. I asked what he would trade for it. He told me he had a hot potato to offload.

This 'hot potato' aroused my interest somewhat. It turned out to be a mini cross bow. Something I could get into a lot of trouble for possessing. However, I would be leaving Melbourne soon to visit some friends who I was certain wouldn't be able to resist the allure of this illicit item. Three masters of (friendly) chaos living together, with interests including surfing, playing guitar hero and bird breeding, one of them would surely give me a gem of a trade up!

So the trade was made. I now have a mini cross bow with four deadly arrows! A nice bit of protection should I get into trouble along the road to Newcastle! Also, the couch surfer that hosted Josh and I was inspired by the mission and wants to begin trading up herself!