Thirty three years ago I started driving a truck. I worked for a company called DJ Foods driving out of Riverwood in Sydney. I worked with Steve and I was the offsider, sharing the driving and work.

We delivered frozen foods to all the RSL Clubs and many Chinese Restaurants throughout NSW. On the first day we drove to Tamworth after leaving at around 10pm. We drove through the night taking about five hours or more and then we’d catch some shut eye for a few hours.

Deliveries started around 9am after breakfast and would take most of the day until we finished at Armidale just in time for tea. I would stay with Catherine and Steve went to the motel.

From Armidale we went to Moree via Guyra and Inverrel. We stayed at the biggest motel in town owned by a mad Chinese guy, a very big character but very likeable although dodgy. This place was built with a lot of laundered money from China. I liked staying here and I guess it’s no surprise that I ended up living in China.

Dubbo, Narrabri, Warren and of as far as Nyngan before heading back to Sydney via the Blue Mountains.

Driving a four wheel steer refrigerated truck weighing around 26 tons with a Road Ranger gearbox was good fun and lucrative too.

I did this job for two years and then I left because Steve retired and I could not work with the dickhead that replaced him.

Oh I nearly forgot…. We stopped at the Murrurundi Roadhouse for supper/lunch on the way through and I would often get a burger with the lot, including pineapple and the other delicacy was toasted cheese and pineapple which was introduced to me from a very good friend called Lynn from my distant past.

And 33 years later the food is just as good 🤗