KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT
As plumes of black smoke and an orchestra of kitchen mixers bellow from the window of a Betoota Heights kitchen, a local father has taken sanctuary in his favorite place on earth, his own backyard.
While the rest of his family sweat over the glazing and burning of a prized Christmas ham, Darryl Mascot (48) has decided the safest place to be on this balmy Queensland evening is tinkering with his new toy, a petrol powered Victa Power Mulcher with quad swing-back blades.
Speaking to the father of three who’s got the pleasure of hosting Christmas this year, Daryl says he understands how the season can bring out the competitive edge in all of us.
“This time of year it’s important to keep the green carpet in check, especially with my brothers and my father-in-law turning up,” said Daryl, as he emptied the grass catcher into a pile of green waste he’s fermenting over summer.
“It’s almost Christmas Day, I can’t be sitting out on the back deck locking into a bucket of prawns if the lawn isn’t looking tip top!”
Asked if he’s planning to step into the family kitchen in the next few hours, Darryl says he’s perfectly happy to run a few more strips over the lawn, and maybe bunker down in the back shed with a few beers he’s got hidden away in this bar fridge.”
“Absolutely no way I’m walking into that war zone, my wife has already thrown a baking tray out the window after the first attempt of her Christmas pavlova collapsed.”
“No no, the best place for me to be is as far away from the oven as possible, I’ll only be getting in the way and my sideline commentary won’t help one bit.”
“I might actually mark myself as safe on Facebook, I’m sure the old boys from the footy club will have a bit of a giggle at that…”
More to come.
