Transport blogger / campaigner and spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association / professional geek.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia.
Opinions on this blog are all mine.
Last night I found myself with a couple of mates enjoying a concert at the Central Club in Richmond. It started with the support to the support: a band I’d never heard of and have now forgotten the name of. John and I were listening to each song, trying to decide which other act they ... [More]
My boss is a pretty good guy, but he’s the type who gets stressed easily. I think it’s because he manages to involve himself in virtually every aspect of his company, down to the kind of level of detail which strictly speaking he doesn’t really need to worry about. Well, on Thursday night he had ... [More]
A couple of years ago, I had a regular TCWF feature called "Moron of the Week". It showcased a particularly moronic driver I’d seen on the roads that week. People liked it, but I got tired of the concept. Tonight however, I spotted one. Getting off the tram to go home, a woman in a ... [More]
On Saturday night the MCG was the place to be. It was the venue for the day/night Mushroom 25th birthday charity concert, a concert with most of the biggest names in the Australian music industry – Baaaaaarnsey!, Mossey, and umm… Molly, Kelly, Dannii and Kylie. Not to mention an reformation by INXS (with Baaaaarnsey! as ... [More]
I just had a tooth taken out. (Sorry, should I warned in advance that this diary entry contained dental content?) It’s not the most fun thing to do, I admit. Not my favourite way to spend a Saturday morning. Probably not yours either. Oh, sure, I had a choice. I could either have my top ... [More]
TAB: 4 bets, $10, lost. 2 x Office sweepstakes, total $5, got second prize in lesser sweep, $2.40. Better than my usual effort of losing it all, I suppose.
Tuesday is Melbourne Cup Day. I get the feeling that people in other parts of the world don’t really believe the truth about Cup Day. The way that (a) it’s a public holiday in honour of a horse race, and that (b) the nation stops when the race starts at about 3:20pm. As I see ... [More]
Left the car at home today. Getting on the tram with me this morning were about a dozen schoolgirls wearing black jeans, decorated black t-shirts, and all carrying a wide variety of scary-looking (yet brightly coloured) water guns. They chattered away like schoolgirls, but adopted the pose of Special Operations Group cops, pointing their guns ... [More]
Yesterday, just for something different, and as part of our pledge to see more of our own country before we go off gallanting around the world again (like last month), we drove all the way around Port Philip Bay. Yes, I know technically speaking it’s called Port Philip, but let’s not get too caught up ... [More]
For those who share my age of 28, this year is the tenth anniversary of leaving high school, which means it’s reunion time. Mine was last Wednesday night; a chance to get a look around the school to see how it’s changed, and to catch up with a few people that I haven’t seen since ... [More]
Well, that’s another election over and done with. Thank goodness that unbearably whiney Hanson has been denied a seat in parliament. Maybe now she’ll shut up – though I wouldn’t count on it. As it happens, we spotted Jeff Kennett on Saturday, in Geelong. It was from a distance, but definitely him – I’d recognise ... [More]
I’m baaaack! Actually I’m back a bit early. Just in time to put up with the dying gasps of the last few days of the election on Saturday (my local member really expects me to vote him back in with THAT beard and no moustache?!?), and no hot water or gas cooking because of a ... [More]
From Singapore the plane continued south, symbolically inching its way across the map on the TV screens towards home, as well as actually inching its way across the planet towards home. When the map wasn’t on we got to see various movies and TV shows, but what caught my eye was news from home. I ... [More]
Finally flying home. The Qantas crew seemed just a bit more cheerful than any of the British Airways ones I’d had. Maybe it was just that kind of friendly barbecue atmosphere that can pop up anywhere when a bunch of Australians get together and there’s a good supply of alcohol. After the late-night supper they ... [More]
It was my last day in London, and time to start seriously thinking about getting something by way of souvenirs for all of my family waiting for me back home. There’s a very easy and cheap personalised souvenir you can get for yourself in London. All you need is a passport-sized photo. Just go to ... [More]
I woke just in time to wish Wayne good luck with the first day of his teaching job for the week – as a substitute teacher at a school in Hackney. I don’t know much about Hackney except from some mentions in a TV sitcom which led me to believe it was a pretty rough ... [More]