On Monday morning, we drove up to Shepparton. I was packed and ready for a week away. Late in the morning, David called.

“Joan? I really need some support for a meeting tomorrow morning. I’m running a risk workshop for a water retailer. Can you come with me?”

“Hmm, David, I’m in Shepparton at the moment. Isn’t the meeting in Melbourne?”

“I talked to Paul and he said that as long as you can physically make it back here, then you could help me out. Joan, please, do you think you can do it?”

I heard the worry in his voice. “Okay, David. I’ll be there. I’ll figure it out.”

I put my phone down and took a deep breath. How was I going to do this? Jamie needed the car in Shepparton… I would have to catch the bus to Murchison then a train to Melbourne.

Fortuitously, I found out that my boss in Shepparton, Vanessa, was driving to Melbourne to attend the Environment Industry Dinner. This $145-per-head event is the biggest event on the environment calendar. Generally, only important people get to go. Vanessa was going as a guest of my company. She agreed to give me a lift back to Melbourne that evening.

As we approached the city, Vanessa asked, “Do you want me to drop you off at Flinders Street station?”

“No, I think it’ll be more trouble than it’s worth. It’s close to peak hour. Just drive me to the MCG, where the dinner is, and I’ll catch a train from Richmond station. It’s nearby.”

When we got to the MCG, Vanessa offered to let me out but there were cars behind us, waiting to enter the carpark so I gestured her to drive on. “I can find my way back once you’ve parked.”

Getting to the underground carpark was like running a maze. In the end, I loaded myself up with my rolling luggage, handbag and backpack, and followed Vanessa to the lift. She said, “There should be a way out from the ground floor.”

Unfortunately, at this time of night, all the exits were locked. We spent 20 minutes searching for a way out. “Maybe I should just go with you to the dinner and I can get a staff member to show me an exit,” I suggested.

At last, we found a turnstile that allowed people to exit but not come back. What a drama! Finally! I squeezed through, dragging my luggage behind me. Waving goodbye to Vanessa, I was about to orientate myself towards Richmond Station when a woman approached.

“Excuse me, can you find a way in? I’m trying to get to the Environment Dinner.”

“Sorry,” I replied. “I just found a way out and I’m leaving… Oh my god! Jan!”

“Joan!” she gasped. I hadn’t seen Jan for three or four years! As a student, I worked for her when she was the Sustainability Manager at one of the Big Four banks. Only a month ago, I had tracked her down again and emailed her, saying that I was working in Shepparton but when I came back, we could catch up for coffee.

“This is amazing, Joan! What a coincidence!” Jan marvelled. “You’re here for the Environment Dinner, of course?”

“Actually, I just got a lift back from Shepparton with Vanessa.” Vanessa waved from behind the glass doors. “I’m on my way to Richmond Station.”

“Well, would you like to come to the dinner?” Jan asked. “We have a spare spot. Literally two hours ago, one of the people who was meant to be on our table realised he had double booked himself and pulled out. I’ve called so many people but no one could make it. It looked like we were going to have an empty seat at our table.”

I broke into a huge smile. “I’d love to come!”

I knew that Jan now worked for my company’s biggest client. This meant that, at no cost to me, I would be sharing a table with the managing directors and board members of my company’s biggest client at an exclusive event — all on a night I was supposed to be in Shepparton!

I put my luggage into the cloak room. My boss was surprised but pleased to see me. I got a tour of the MCG. I ate delicious organic food. I drank organic champagne. I met important people. Important people met me. I had an awesome time.