A big V/Line fare cut is coming up next week, and it may see a rapid surge in passengers. Labor promised the change during the 2022 election, and it starts on 31st of March. The cap will be: This is slightly different from metropolitan Myki fares in that it’s a daily cap, not a $4.60 ... [More]
The Steamrail Open Day a couple of weeks ago was good fun, though in some ways very similar to the previous one in 2012… But I’ll post some pics anyway. This is a Tait train (“Red rattler”) — dating back to the 1910s, and very common when I was growing up, but phased-out in the ... [More]
Yes, it’s true: I paid extra money to get a magazine about old video games sooner. I truly am a sucker for nostalgia. But hey, it’s the 100th issue, with a reprint of edition one as a bonus!!! PS. 8pm Saturday: Spotted today at my brother-in-law’s birthday barbecue, this tattoo of Rik’s:
Years ago there were “Stand on left / Walk on right” signs on the escalators at Melbourne’s underground stations. They disappeared about ten years ago. While regulars know the etiquette, newbies and occasional users don’t, which causes frustration for those in a rush, particularly outside peak hours when the escalators (for some reason) run at ... [More]
Both my digital camera and my electric shaver are on their last legs, in need of replacement. I don’t think either has done too badly. The Canon A70 camera was bought in April 2003, and from memory cost me about $600 at the time. The technology has got better and cheaper, and I expect a ... [More]
I was in the supermarket with an unnamed person. They spotted a packet near the cash register: Mentos, *Special edition*. Some weird-arse flavour not normally available. Picked it up and appeared to seriously consider buying it. Not because it was Mentos, which they don’t normally buy, but because it was a *Special edition*. That, ladies ... [More]
If you’re in customer service it’s good to have some kind of patter worked out to keep your customers entertained. Bad to use the same line twice in one session though. This is why spam fails, actually. One might take notice of a single reputable-ish-looking email, but when a dozen show up at once, it’s ... [More]
When I was growing up, we always used Redhead matches, made at the Bryant and May factory in Richmond. I don’t honestly know back then if there were any other brand matches available. Manufacturing has gone to Sweden (half-surprised they haven’t been renamed “Blondes”) but I’ve kept buying them. I think the quality is dropping ... [More]
Spotted last Friday night: Well, it’s one way through the traffic. He got up to a fair speed zooming down Elizabeth Street, too.
Is it just my imagination, or are an increasing number of concerts for established acts in the big cities taking place on weeknights – “school” nights to be precise, Sunday to Thursday? It’s like the promoters know they can fill a venue in Melbourne, any day of the week, so they go for the weeknights. ... [More]
I have an oversupply of cream cheese. I don’t mind cream cheese on occasions. A week or two ago I was wandering idly through the supermarket and picked up a tub. I’ve dabbed it onto a piece of toast or two. I might just get through it before it expires. Yesterday at Parliament Station as ... [More]
Found this on the pavement at Southbank yesterday. With thanks to the geniuses who drew it, and the person who tipped me off (I’ve lost the e-mail, but you know who you are). I couldn’t get the whole thing into one picture. They got the captions of the doctors a bit wrong, and no sign ... [More]