The Preparation

The preparation for Mondays little circus was proceeding smoothly.

Lamb had to return to Melbourne in between to manage some protein making and distribution. Lamb is highly regarded for her engineering skills and has a heavy duty position in one of Australia's largest Agribusiness'. We are so proud of her. We were happy though as this travel out of the jungle meant she would have to pass through Duty Free and would be purchasing some cheap grog for us for the celebrations. I had blown up the distillery a week ago making a potent brew of Gin and so I had to rely on Mr Gordon for a supply.

Duke and Princess Leah had finished the maintenance on the "Pantser". It was ready for another mission should it be required at short notice. The Panzer was renamed the "Pantser" after our ride back from the Japanese Whaler incident. I won't tell you what happened in the drivers seat with Princess Leah all hot and filled with adrenalin and me looking like I'd won a wet t-shirt competition after exiting the Mighty River. You can just imagine. Sometimes the rules of "inter- Tree House" relationships get broken in the heat of battle.

We'd heard from Margo Moon that she'd be bringing the Posse over from The Starr Ann Chronicles for the ceremony. This was hot and the support is much appreciated. Lori at Hahn at Home was keen for a long ride, although she also noted that they had to get Cap'n Dyke- Pirate Queen and her crew to prepare for the long voyage Down Under. I knew for a fact that these girls loved goin' Down Under and they'd be here to see us on our big day.

Princess Leah was on holidays for a week and she deserved every minute of it. Princess and Duke were getting the Tree House ready for the party first. Lamb and I still had some serious training to do between now and then.

The Tree House companies had made some significant sales of our technology and the banks were off our back for now. We were being offered serious money through VC/Private Equity and we'd been there before. Today we had some info come in from our "Mates in the States" and we were looking intensely at The Funded on some of our possible suitors. Shit, we were just into doing good things for good fun and we desperately didn't want anything to happen to our vision or morals. We'd have to tread lightly and think carefully as we made our way through this maze again.

I knew Honoruru would be a good person to talk to about all of this and she'd be over for the ceremony and Jungle Party afterwards. Dr Skywalker would have to put on a suit again and get back into the thick of financial warfare.

In true Aussie fashion I loaded up the stereo with Powderfinger and let it blast as I watched the grass grow in the jungle below. On the big screen inside, the Aussie cricket team were struggling with Sachin Tendulkar still at the crease in the Adelaide Test late on the first day. As I write this, we just removed VVS Laxman with a beautiful ball from "Bing Lee". Lovely bowling Brett.

I heard "The Beast" coming down the road and I knew I was going to be very happy to see Dukie home.




Duke had been out looking at the parade route. She was happy that we could get in and out, meet up with Cap'N Dyke and Margo and her Posse on the Mighty River and get us all back to the Tree House without any followers. I wasn't convinced but apparently Duke had spoken to all of the villagers and they had agreed they'd give us cover.

Dukie agreed with the villagers we'd leave "Miss Whippy" at the jungle perimeter full of ice cream (Lamb was to secure this protein) and one of the villagers would drive it around with "Greensleaves" blaring until we were back at the Tree House. The kids would go off on the ice cream and no-one would know it wasn't us.

We'd be safely making our way back to the Tree House with the media and any followers chasing "Miss Whippy" full of kids and ice cream. We'd get Lamb to fill it with "Golden Gaytime" just to make it even funnier.

I asked how we'd get back from the village to the Tree House and Dukie smiled and said "Princess Leah has it covered". I knew we needed a big vehicle to cart all the girls. I also knew I shouldn't ask what they were up to.

Pharkn hell. It is going to be a magical mystery tour.