A girl I know won a trip to space
Alice Williams
Every now and then little things happen to break up the fairly banall course of our everyday lives that, while not altering the balance of our existence or even changing our earthly experience in the slightest, cause a bit of what-the-fuckness and insert interest to a boring morning. You hear that the guy that bullied you in pre-school is now a woman or find a finger nail in a can of tuna or something. This is like that. Emma Morris won a trip to space.
Spook – You won what now?
I won a trip to space with Virgin Galactic. But if I didn’t want to go to space, I could have three other options instead. They were: a shopping spree worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, or two sports cars or a huge holiday budget plus spending money.
Spook – And which prize did you choose?
I chose the holiday option. I’m set for package holidays of my choice for the next three years.
Spook – So….not space. Please explain?
Nah, I’m just not that into space. Sorry space.
Spook – But…space?
No, I’ve never had any desire to go to space. None, not ever, nothing. I know that there are people who would have LOVED this prize but I just wasn’t the gal up to the job.
Spook – …Space…
I can’t even snorkel! And if you don’t breathe properly in space, you pass out. So I’ve been told anyway.
Spook – Ok, moving on -I would have 100% thought it was a joke, did you?
I definitely thought it was a joke. I even accused the girl who was telling me the good news on the phone that she sounded far away and why was that? Because you’re on speaker phone and the whole board wanted to hear your reaction, she said. That was the point I realised this is not a telesales call and I may have actually won a major prize. I had to put my head on my desk for a little bit.
Spook – Did you hang out with Rich Bran?
I did indeed. Virgin flew me to Sydney to have dinner with him and I ended up sitting next to him on the flight from Melbourne to Sydney. I was extremely nervous and terrified. But he was so … Nice. Just really nice, friendly and down to earth (ha –sorry, couldn’t resist).
Spook – What was NYC like?
Oh holy shit sauce, NYC was great. That was my first holiday, I went to LA too. But NYC was better. It snowed, it was Christmas time so the city looked stunning. Freezing though. But wonderful. I’m pretty lucky.
Oh yeah so….not as good as space then?
Better, because I can go on tens of holidays thanks to this, but space was just a one-off.
Spook – Where will you go next?
I’m going to a resort on Hamilton Island called Qualia. It’s meant to be amazing –so I’m spending my prize in style. Sorry, I know, it’s terribly unfair.
Spook – This is hands down the weirdest prize I have ever heard of, Have you won other things before?
My Dad made me go on Deal or No Deal once. I swear it wasn’t my choice. I’d never watched the show and tried to understand the rules as I was on television. I won a thousand bucks for guessing my case. I had a party with the cash. And I once thought that was my best prize story …
Spook – Wanna plug Round-She-Goes now?
Sure. Round She Goes is a preloved fashion market in Melbourne like no other. It’s so good because it’s only held a couple of times a year; it’s huge (100 stalls) and it moves around Melbourne to share the love. The next on is on 11 April at the Kingston City Hall.
Details here: http://www.roundshegoes.com.au
