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we used while on a family camping expedition as kids . It was an odour of antiquity yet brought a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia .
“ I guess they didn ’ t have that in your childhood when these things were new ,” I motioned to a gas burner beneath some sort of small tank . “
“ Not funny ,” my partner sneered at my joke about our age difference . “ No , but something similar .”
His explanation was that it was an incredibly early form of carburettor , a word I ’ d heard before today , yet had no real idea what it was .
“ It heats kerosene in that tank which then vaporises and under pressure goes through those pipes into the cylinder and a simple spark causes it to explode ,” this was now starting to sound like I ’ d heard it before , and that smell , of course it was kerosene .
Weathered hands and nobbled fingers lubricated parts that seemed so oily that they ’ d never need a slippery surface again . I had no idea what was happening so felt reluctant to offer my advice . The man smiled as I watched on and the machine he was tending to came to life .
A display of life that was different to those previous , this machine was reluctant to snort , sigh or groan , it felt modern , a bang , a push , and a …
“ Suck , squeeze , bang , fart ,” what the hell was my partner on about ? Was the greasy chips and watery coffee he ’ d had for lunch starting to cause problems ?
“ Listen ,” he continued . “ Suck , squeeze , bang , fart . It ’ s the rhythm of life .”
I need to confess ; it did sound remarkably familiar especially when it was suggested that we add a few more machines and speed the whole
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