SUPER SWAP

JON NEEDED TO RESPARK HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE HUMBLE SWAP MEET, AND DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LIFT THE BAR AND HEAD OVERSEAS TO SEE WHAT'S ON OFFER

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WANDERING AROUND a good swap meet is like going to church.

Being beyond salvation, this diverse community of like-minded souls search for treasure instead.

Like golf or gambling, it is mostly fruitless. Like golf and gambling, just one little nugget every now and again re-inspires the chase.

For more years than I can count, the same carload of disreputables have made the annual pilgrimage to Bendigo Swap Meet.

When the habit first formed, we were young, single, foolish and broke. With stars in our eyes, we were convinced Aladdin's cave - or at least his garage - awaited us. A recurring theme of the annual banter has been the vague idea that it would be fun to visit the UK's Beaulieu Autojumble at the National Motor Museum, 150km southwest of London.

Now, as four score and ten years looms, it was time to scratch the itch. Two of us negotiated time out and optimistically made bookings.

Just to create confusion, the poms pronounce the name 'Bew-lee' rather than the 'strine' version 'Bail-you' or some French accented attempt that sounds more like 'Bow-lee-yer".

However pronounced, the billing as the 'biggest outdoor sale' of motoring items outside the US of A provides strong temptation and despite the vast cost to get there, the visit does not disappoint.

Spread over several days and impressive acreage, most stall holders go to significant trouble to erect awnings and gazebos. Weather proofing is essential and prudent.