Thanks Gary, I did. Slept until almost 9am today
Successful trip. We filled up with petrol and hit the road early. When we reached Melbourne I fitted a couple of new external wall lights to the brickwork outside the front door to my mates 90 year old mothers home, and replaced 3 faulty light switches in the house. Unable to install a sensor to control the new lights as the way it had been originally wired was incompatible. On an impulse, I whizzed into Bunnings and bought a solar powered 12 x LED sensor light, which I then fitted to the adjacent wall. This sensor picks up any movement in the front yard and driveway, and also operates the moment the front screen door opens and it lights up the verandah, steps, and the driveway. It cost less than $40, and when his mum tried to pay me for it, I just grinned and said "Merry Christmas!"
Got a super-hug from her, and while we were driving home, my mate passed me a paperbag "This is from Mum... she said to wait until we were on the road before you get it." I thought she had packaged some cake or other goodies, but found that she had put a couple of packets of smokes in there for me.
Greatly appreciated but unneccesary. She was really stoked that we would drive almost 800 km just to do this little favor for her.
Originally, her locally based Electrician had given her a quote of almost $600 to do this work, which was a total ripoff for less than two hours of labour. Probably based his quote on 'Nice home, elderly single lady, easy game'
Cost of trip for myself was 3 x replacement light switches and a sensor light from Bunnings, under $65.
We split the fuel cost which was was around $60 each.
Altho' we didn't ask, his mum went to the bank this morning, and transferred $200 to the mates bank account 'to cover cost of fuel' she said. Add the price of the two packets of smokes, and her little maintenance job cost her around $250 instead of $600.
AND we had the chance to visit her for the day.
I am suffering slightly from sore legs today, a legacy of working off the ladder, but its a small price to pay for the privilege of helping a mate and his family. Thats what friends are for.