INTRODUCTION JIM HAYNES BOB MILLER DUNCAN FROM THE AUDIENCE

A SWAG OF YARNS

MARJ TOM FROM THE AUDIENCE JIM HAYNES TED EGAN CONCLUSION

Embarrassing moments continued with Jim Haynes remembering Don Henderson's song “14 Million People” and how true it is for so many of us, bumping into people we know in the most unexpected places, including overseas. Jim has bumped into very good friends of his in London, once at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he literally bumped into someone who turned out to be a bloke he'd shared a flat with, for two years in Sydney.

Jim Haynes:

“But this story is the best of those that I know, and it concerns a wonderful mate of ours called Hal Cannon. Hal runs The Western Folklife Centre in Nevada and he was coming out here with Bill Gunn. They were flying out here on a Lear Jet and they were actually coming out here for one of Ted Egan's famous parties. Hal Cannon collects Western memorabilia, quite a few people on the “Cowboy Circuit” do this. So, just before they are about to leave Salt Lake City for Australia, he gets this phone call from a friend of his who says, “Hal, look! There's this piano you have to have!” And Hal says, “Thanks, but I'm going to Australia tomorrow and I just don't have the time.” And his friend said, “Yes, but you will love this piano!” So Hal goes to see the piano and of course he falls in love with it straight away. It's carved with Cowboys and Indians and horses and rodeos and all that Western stuff. And Hal says, “I love the piano! I've got to buy it!” And the lady says, “Well, it actually belongs to my daughter and she doesn't use it anymore, because she doesn't live in the States right now. She's overseas. But, I know that she'd like the piano to go to a good home and I'm sure she'd be very happy to sell it to you.” So they agree a price and Hal says “I need to leave it with you for the moment. I can't take it with me because I'm going to Australia tomorrow.” The lady says that that's alright, she's happy to look after the piano until he gets back and she's sure her daughter will be very happy with everything. And so, Hal and Bill fly out to Australia. En-route they have to refuel and to do this they land at Guam and whilst there, they have the plane checked over and they decide to stay overnight and book into a hotel. Next morning, they get a car in town and head out to the airport. Now the only thing between the town and the airport is this big trading post run by American Volunteers Abroad. It's a huge place and because they've got some time to spare, they go in and have a look around. The place is full of curios and touristy things and so forth. And there's this girl there and she asks if she can help them with what they are buying, as shop assistants do. And she asks if they are interested in curios and they say they are and she notes that they are Americans and the inevitable question comes up “Where are you from?” and they reply, “Salt Lake City.” “Wow! I'm from Salt Lake City too! And I live in such and such a street” And Hal says. “I was there just the other day in that very street!” And she looked at him and said, “You bought my piano!” True Story. Absolutely true story!!”