Category: Melbourne

The other day I watched in amazement as a tram, bell ringing repeatedly, bore down on two people walking along in front of it, oblivious to its presence. They were trying to get to the tram stop, and somehow thought walking along the tracks was the best way of doing so. One of them looked  ... [More]

So I stood on Collins Street. At lunchtime, during the Grand Prix parade. And I saw lots of barricades. And I saw crowds of people. And they were watching an empty street. Some were even taking photos of the empty street. (It would seem the proliferation of digital photography has resulted in a lot more  ... [More]

Spotted tonight while walking down Collins Street to the station: Steve “Hymie” Bracks, walking past, talking on a mobile. Reminder to self, and others: Send off that Tropfest free DVD coupon from Monday’s Age, before it expires on Friday! If last year’s was anything to judge by, it’ll be worth it.

(The counter-post to On The Train.) Friday lunchtime, Bourke Street. A car, let’s call it car A, waits in the tram lane to turn right. There’s no traffic coming the other way, but he sits there, for no apparent reason. A tram comes up behind, with perhaps 100 people on it. On their behalf, the  ... [More]

Seen on the train yesterday morning: Bloke in a long leather raincoat and sunglasses, evidently trying to do a Neo impression. It wasn’t a cold day; he must have been boiling. Guy off to uni in Footscray, telling a girl that over there “there’s loads of Africans and Asians” and how he felt a little  ... [More]

Let me get this straight… There’s a Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. There’s a Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. There’s a St Kilda Street in Elwood. There’s an Elwood Avenue in Sunshine. There’s a Sunshine Street in Oakleigh. There’s an Oakleigh Road in Ormond. And there’s an Ormond Street in Brunswick. (Brunswick again? Uh oh, infinite  ... [More]

Amusing things from the last few days… The other week, listening to the radio, hearing the host condemning Critical Mass for daring to protest, then almost in the same breath talking about the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, and the wonderful spirit of rebellion it invoked. Bloke in suit at Caulfield Station who jumped off  ... [More]

My train to work leaving a minute early. Without me on it. A demonstration that I can only assume was pro-life (it wasn’t overly clear), as it consisted of people wheeling a mock baby in isolation thingy up Collins St, escorted by a police car, along with safety-vested money collectors. Hmmm. Strolling down Collins St,  ... [More]

Pouring rain, strong winds… yesterday was a good day to test the capabilities of your umbrella. I myself have a number of brollies. The new micro umbrella I keep in my briefcase is small enough to carry anywhere in a pocket, but not big enough to provide the best of protection from the elements. So  ... [More]