Another in my series of ten year old photos. In late-2007/early-2008 there was a stoush around the banning of bicycles in zone 1 during peak hours. In February 2008 the ban was reversed. Notice that this sign is ambiguous: are the bikes banned on any train that serves zone 1 during peak, or just banned ... [More]
Sometimes you see claims that lots of other major cities have all-night trains (so we should have them too). Recently I went looking to see which do. Well, a lot of the world’s biggest cities don’t. Paris — last train around 12:30am Hong Kong — last train around midnight (some earlier, some 1am) London — ... [More]
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White tracks
Near Flinders Street Station, some tracks have been painted white. Looks odd, doesn’t it. Apparently it’s to reduce heat, and thus reduce the possibility of track buckling and other problems. Update: See this web page: Solacoat/Coolshield Reducing Temperature of Railway Tracks
I remind any journalists reading that as ever, my personal blog may not represent the PTUA’s views. In the papers today, news of the continuing rollout of Myki, and moves to get more people switching off Metcard: Herald Sun: When it comes to myki, like it or lump it The Age: The end is nigh ... [More]
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Transport in the west end
Work has moved me to the west end of the city, and apart from needing to figure out where there’s a decent newsagency and ATM, I’m also figuring out the transport links. Flagstaff station is the closest. Easy. Well, until they go ahead with that plan to move Frankston trains out of the loop, which ... [More]
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On the roads
The horrific car accident on Sunday morning that left 5 teenagers dead reminds me of some very stupid driving I saw from people on the trip down to Inverloch and back. On the way down I saw a motorcyclist come up behind me on a stretch of single lane road. I was doing about the ... [More]
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Recycled tissues are back
I wrote in December that recycled tissues had disappeared from the supermarket shelves. I did find an email contact for ABC Tissues (who make the Naturale brand) — they told me to expect their recycled tissues back into Woolworths/Safeway stores soon, in a new packaging. Last week Flerdle commented that they’d been spotted in Brunswick. ... [More]
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Vale Mark
At some stage last year I reached the point where I’d been separated/divorced for as long as I was married. I’m happy to say it’s a path that most of my contemporaries don’t seem to have followed me down. Indeed, of those who have got married and had kids, I can only think of one ... [More]
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Siegfried, Roy and Daniel
Okay dream analysts, see what you can make of this one: I was appearing on a Siegfried and Roy TV show. You know, those odd American/German guys with big cats (who stopped in 2003 when Roy was injured by a Tiger). I was meant to lie down on my stomach, with my arms outstretched, and ... [More]
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My gas is getting better
On my nature strip this morning is a little bulldozer. Unfortunately it’s not a late Christmas present. Some guys from the gas company have been digging up various bits of the street all week, including parts of my driveway around the gas meter. This has meant the gas has been disconnected between 8am and 5pm ... [More]
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Foaming at the mouth
So far, I have pretty much kept my new year’s resolution to floss my teeth every single day. I think I might have missed one, which for someone who formerly flossed about once a month (and twice a week just before seeing the dentist) isn’t too bad. Have also extended tooth brushing times. I recall ... [More]
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Observations from the new office
Everyone who has a speakerphone apparently understands not to use them in an open office. People who need to talk hands-free all have headsets. Some of the womenfolk have fluffy toys on top of their monitors. One bloke came in on Monday and accused one of the new people of stealing his chair. “Not so!” ... [More]
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Meuller and Hicks
Goanna in the campsite, looking for food. The wheel on the right is a bicycle wheel. I think it wanted to have a ride. My back was killing me when I awoke. Lesson one when camping: don’t buy a cheapie sleeping mat. A morning walk along the beach cured it, and I was able to ... [More]
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Weekend of fun
At the Australian Open tennis (Pic: Danielle) Pulling silly faces at Arthur’s Seat (Pic: Danielle) I was awake around 5:15 on Friday morning to get into the city to meet Danielle on the 7am XPT from Sydney. By about 6am it was apparent from an SMS that it wouldn’t be the 7am XPT – it ... [More]
Today I would have loved to arrive at work soaking wet. In fact, given all of the 41.2 degrees of heat we got (more coming up tomorrow), I’d have appreciated a sprinkler system in the office (though lighting a fire probably isn’t such a good idea). Quite frankly, I don’t think the air-conditioning was up ... [More]