I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the news has been pretty grim lately. Between Trump and what feels like an endless cavalcade of celebrity deaths chosen seemingly to drain me of all capacity for hope or joy, waking up and looking at the news tends to make me want to go immediately back to sleep.
But just when I’m getting ready to buy a gun, wander into the wilderness and eventually die inside an abandoned bus like the guy from ‘Into The Wild‘, something nice happens. Today was one of those days.
As we wrote about earlier this morning, the internet was having its collective heart broken over a Gumtree ad posted by Adelaide local Ray Johnstone, a widower who just wanted a mate to go fishing with – from the ad:
“My name is Ray Johnstone. Australian. I’m a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate. My previous mate is now deceased.“I am a land-based fisherman. I have all the gear for all types of fish that is required for land-based fishing.What I want is a fishing mate in a similar position to myself who also wants someone to go fishing with. I am willing to share all costs, e.g. petrol, bait, and should you happen to own a boat [am] willing to pay all ramp fees, but happy if you are also a land-based fisherman.”
While, obviously, that alone might not be enough to stop a man from removing himself from society to commune with the wild animals, the fact that he quickly found himself a fishing mate surely would.
Because the news cycle runs extraordinarily fast these days, 7 News managed to have a chat with Ray today, and he seems bloody stoked about the whole thing.
Ray says he chucked the ad up with the help of a friend because “it gets a bit lonely just sitting around watching the TV a lot of the time“, and he was super surprised with the response:
“When I started getting the few phone calls this morning I thought it was just because of me age, then they just kept going. I was amazed, this is something I never, ever expected.”
Asked if he’s made some good mates through fishing:
“No, but it sounds like I will be.”
Fuck yeah, mate. Have a watch:
A lonely SA grandfather has broken hearts across Australia after posting an online advertisement for a fishing mate. https://t.co/THyIZS6g9W
— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 30, 2017
There’s never been a better time to go fishing with a grandparent.
Source and photo: 7 News.
