The bad day was Monday, but the preceding Friday was not great. I had my car booked in for a service. I forgot about it and did not remember until early afternoon. Actually R remembered. He yelled a bit.
I rebooked for Monday.
We usually print any photos we want, usually for Mother, at Harvey Norman for around 20c per photo. If desperate, we pay 50c in Prahran and get very nice service. We noticed new photo printing machines in Big W at QV, just 11c. I thought I would give them a go and so did what you do at the photo printing machines. I went to pay, the lass took the money and told me they would be ready by 12 the next day. What? I want them today, like in an hour, like at Harvey Norman. Cannot. 12, tomorrow. Not sure when I will get to pick them up.
Call from car servicing place at 1pm. This does not bode well. I mentioned that the windscreen washers were not working. Please fix if will not cost too much. No mention of windscreen washers. Blown head gasket will cost $1500 plus though. No symptom apart from water in the oil.
I have been forced to use public transport to get to and from work. Worked ok today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Almost getting the evil card paid off is now only a dream.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The princely sum of $0
Bad luck you lowest paid workers. A government appointed authority says you are not getting a payrise.
It's the economy of course. We can't have you upsetting the economy with your unreasonable $21 per week demand.
It is argued that if you were given a pay rise, many workers would be put off. Not sure I think that is right.
But I don't understand economics very well.
What I do understand is that many of your bosses earn hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars a year and they say you can't have a lousy $21.
All decided by a panel who are probably on a few hundred thousand a year too.
Sharpen the guillotine Gillaume.
It's the economy of course. We can't have you upsetting the economy with your unreasonable $21 per week demand.
It is argued that if you were given a pay rise, many workers would be put off. Not sure I think that is right.
But I don't understand economics very well.
What I do understand is that many of your bosses earn hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars a year and they say you can't have a lousy $21.
All decided by a panel who are probably on a few hundred thousand a year too.
Sharpen the guillotine Gillaume.
7th of July
Four years since London Underground bombs went off. We were in the Casino in Darwin with R's Sis in Law and her partner and watching on a big screen as it unfolded.
I knew at the time where the bombings happened, but the places slipped my mind. I never checked before I went to England, as it might have put me off a bit.
Lucky that I didn't check as we were often around Edgware Road near where an underground bomb went off.
Terrible business. Bad people. The English just got on with it, the best way to fight terrorism.
I knew at the time where the bombings happened, but the places slipped my mind. I never checked before I went to England, as it might have put me off a bit.
Lucky that I didn't check as we were often around Edgware Road near where an underground bomb went off.
Terrible business. Bad people. The English just got on with it, the best way to fight terrorism.
Noah knew
Over the 12 years of the drought, Melbourne has missed out on 1.8m of rain, or three years of average rainfall, Dr Stern said. "It is going to take many years of good rainfall to remove these deficiencies," he said.
A snip from the Herald Sun. We are at around 27% of our water storage capacity. I don't like the statement above as it is not how I understand our water supply or weather works. Since when have we ever had many years of good rainfall?
I refer you to the lines from Dorothy Mackellar's poem
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
That's right, droughts and flooding rains. If our drought ends, it won't be after many years of good rainfall. It will be floods.
A snip from the Herald Sun. We are at around 27% of our water storage capacity. I don't like the statement above as it is not how I understand our water supply or weather works. Since when have we ever had many years of good rainfall?
I refer you to the lines from Dorothy Mackellar's poem
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
That's right, droughts and flooding rains. If our drought ends, it won't be after many years of good rainfall. It will be floods.
Sydney Day 6
Our last full day and we are off to the suburbs. Unfortunately two railway stations past where my ticket allows me to go. I had to buy a supplementary ticket for $4.40 return. Nobody checked and there were no barriers at Loftus railway station.
We were off to the Tramway Museum of Sydney. It is a decent train ride of maybe fifty minutes, made much longer by it being located on the Eastern suburbs to Illawarra line that does not go through St James and Museum stations, meaning we had to change trains. It was an opportunity to see Central Station from a different perspective.
The train journey was uneventful and we passed through suburbs I had never heard the name of. Actually there are some in Melbourne I have never heard of.
We had a bite to eat in sleepy Loftus and crossed the train line to the Museum. The museum is very good and the two for one entry made it cheap. This is the tram I really wanted to ride on, the second last tram type built in Sydney, and R class. Luckily it was out and running this day. We took a brief journey up to near the Sutherland train station and back. The driver was a youngish guy and VERY enthusiastic in his driving. The tram felt quite like an old Melbourne W class tram. Pretty stylish looking beast I reckon.
We then transferred onto this ex Brisbane tram, built only a few years before the Brisbane tram system closed. Australia's first tram with fluorescent interior lighting, we were told. I looks odd on the outside and felt a bit train like inside. This ride took us across the Princes Highway and into the Royal National Park. The driver was very relaxed and professional.
A fellow passenger lass who I had taken no notice of came up to me and asked me if I was Andrew. Whoaaa, I am freaking here. My instinct was to say no, but I didn't. I had no idea of who she was, even when staring into her face and hearing her voice. However, once she mentioned that she used to roller blade to work, and then through the workplace, I worked out who she was. I worked with her about ten years ago and I remember her best for her pet goose that she used to walk along Punt Road. We had a bit of a chat about our respective lives. The world is a small place.
This O class tram was also being used on the day, but I did not get to ride on it. Certainly plenty of fresh air on this tram.
This sad sight was spied along the way into the park.
Some trams just fall to pieces and others meet an inglorious inferno end, as can be seen by this photo in the museum.
The museum itself was interesting with lots of photos and bits and pieces and quite a number of trams. Look what I found you Vik, a Japanese tram.
Isn't this photo of Circular Quay, also in the museum, just great.
The museum is very well set up with facilities for barbecues, plenty of shelter and interest for kids. The volunteer staff are friendly and helpful. It is an example to all tram museums. Long may it prosper.
We took the train back and that night ate at a modest Asian restaurant in Oxford Street after a drink at the Shift. Another bowl of weird hot and sour soup, very different to the one in China Town, but just as odd.
Bedtime and hometime tomorrow.
We were off to the Tramway Museum of Sydney. It is a decent train ride of maybe fifty minutes, made much longer by it being located on the Eastern suburbs to Illawarra line that does not go through St James and Museum stations, meaning we had to change trains. It was an opportunity to see Central Station from a different perspective.
The train journey was uneventful and we passed through suburbs I had never heard the name of. Actually there are some in Melbourne I have never heard of.
We had a bite to eat in sleepy Loftus and crossed the train line to the Museum. The museum is very good and the two for one entry made it cheap. This is the tram I really wanted to ride on, the second last tram type built in Sydney, and R class. Luckily it was out and running this day. We took a brief journey up to near the Sutherland train station and back. The driver was a youngish guy and VERY enthusiastic in his driving. The tram felt quite like an old Melbourne W class tram. Pretty stylish looking beast I reckon.
We then transferred onto this ex Brisbane tram, built only a few years before the Brisbane tram system closed. Australia's first tram with fluorescent interior lighting, we were told. I looks odd on the outside and felt a bit train like inside. This ride took us across the Princes Highway and into the Royal National Park. The driver was very relaxed and professional.
A fellow passenger lass who I had taken no notice of came up to me and asked me if I was Andrew. Whoaaa, I am freaking here. My instinct was to say no, but I didn't. I had no idea of who she was, even when staring into her face and hearing her voice. However, once she mentioned that she used to roller blade to work, and then through the workplace, I worked out who she was. I worked with her about ten years ago and I remember her best for her pet goose that she used to walk along Punt Road. We had a bit of a chat about our respective lives. The world is a small place.This O class tram was also being used on the day, but I did not get to ride on it. Certainly plenty of fresh air on this tram.
This sad sight was spied along the way into the park.
Some trams just fall to pieces and others meet an inglorious inferno end, as can be seen by this photo in the museum.
The museum itself was interesting with lots of photos and bits and pieces and quite a number of trams. Look what I found you Vik, a Japanese tram.
Isn't this photo of Circular Quay, also in the museum, just great.
The museum is very well set up with facilities for barbecues, plenty of shelter and interest for kids. The volunteer staff are friendly and helpful. It is an example to all tram museums. Long may it prosper.
We took the train back and that night ate at a modest Asian restaurant in Oxford Street after a drink at the Shift. Another bowl of weird hot and sour soup, very different to the one in China Town, but just as odd.
Bedtime and hometime tomorrow.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Sydney Day 5
This day was not highly planned. On my mind was to catch the tram, sorry, light rail vehicle, to Lilyfield and return. The rest would be something nearby to or at Darling Harbour.
We walked down Liverpool Street to the World Square monorail station. The token vending machines had gone and there was a decent queue at the ticket seller's window. The seller had not seen my $5 off the $15 daily monorail/tram discount voucher from the Museum of Sydney before. It required a telephone call before he accepted it. R paid for his daily concession. Riding the monorail is quite fun, not that I approve of it ever being built.
We alighted at Paddy's Market and waited for the tram to Lilyfield. This is very quaint. There is someone on board to take your money and issue a ticket. I wonder how that would work on Melbourne's trams?
The conductor soon got off the tram and another boarded. He took R's money for a day ticket and started giving R back a heap of small change. R started giving him a hard time, and honestly the guy really did not seem to know what he was doing. Coins were swapped for notes.
The tram goes through plenty of tunnels and along a viaduct. The route is an old goods train line and there is talk of extending the route further along the old goods line.
We alighted at the terminus and took a look around at absolutely nothing. I do recall that Norton Street was not far away, a street with Italian restaurants, but it was too early yet to be thinking of food.
The most exciting thing we could see was tracks running off into long grass and imagining the tram just accidentally sailing along into the grass. This photo is cheating a bit. There is a barrier to stop the tram behind where I was standing.
We caught the next tram back. Snapped a nice view of Anzac Bridge. As you can see, the sun does not always shine in Sydney.
R had mentioned getting off at Star City Casino but seemingly had gone off the idea. I hate Star City, so that was fine with me. We went back to Paddy's Market and had a look around. It was like all markets of its size except there wasn't really any food stalls. We took the tram back to Darling Harbour and found somewhere to eat and have coffee. We sat near the edge of the harbour whereby people insisted on feeding seagulls. Millions seemed to come from no where and then the people got scared of there being so many. Serve them right as it rather spoiled the ambience.
We came across this bloke doing wonderful things with bubbles. The kids just loved it.
I had kind of crossed Powerhouse Museum off my list as we were running out of time, but R was keen enough to see it, so onto the tram to Powerhouse. Parts of the museum buidling is an old building where power was generated for Sydney's trams. The museum is first class and I would go so far as to say the best I have ever been in. We spent a couple of hours there but a couple of days would almost cover the whole museum. It is a great museum for kids too. A chatty volunteer guide guessed that we would not really be interested in women's fashions! and directed us to the more technical areas. We saw heaps of Australian inventions, some transport related things including NSW's first steam train, stationary steam engines, antique furniture, old jewellery... just so much stuff. There was a huge stationary steam enngine from a factory, but there wasn't a qualified steam engineer available that day to start it up. Unlike the one at our Spotswood Science Museum, this one still ran on steam.
We debated getting a cab back to the hotel, but instead caught the monorail to World Square and tiredly trudged up the Liverpool Street hill.
Dinner was at an excellent Indian restaurant in Oxford Street called Tandoori Palace and this was preceeded by a drink at Midnight Shift. The Shift had a very different layout to the last time I was there. We forewent the Indian restaurant offering goat.
We walked down Liverpool Street to the World Square monorail station. The token vending machines had gone and there was a decent queue at the ticket seller's window. The seller had not seen my $5 off the $15 daily monorail/tram discount voucher from the Museum of Sydney before. It required a telephone call before he accepted it. R paid for his daily concession. Riding the monorail is quite fun, not that I approve of it ever being built.
We alighted at Paddy's Market and waited for the tram to Lilyfield. This is very quaint. There is someone on board to take your money and issue a ticket. I wonder how that would work on Melbourne's trams?
The conductor soon got off the tram and another boarded. He took R's money for a day ticket and started giving R back a heap of small change. R started giving him a hard time, and honestly the guy really did not seem to know what he was doing. Coins were swapped for notes.
The tram goes through plenty of tunnels and along a viaduct. The route is an old goods train line and there is talk of extending the route further along the old goods line.
We alighted at the terminus and took a look around at absolutely nothing. I do recall that Norton Street was not far away, a street with Italian restaurants, but it was too early yet to be thinking of food.
The most exciting thing we could see was tracks running off into long grass and imagining the tram just accidentally sailing along into the grass. This photo is cheating a bit. There is a barrier to stop the tram behind where I was standing.
We caught the next tram back. Snapped a nice view of Anzac Bridge. As you can see, the sun does not always shine in Sydney.
R had mentioned getting off at Star City Casino but seemingly had gone off the idea. I hate Star City, so that was fine with me. We went back to Paddy's Market and had a look around. It was like all markets of its size except there wasn't really any food stalls. We took the tram back to Darling Harbour and found somewhere to eat and have coffee. We sat near the edge of the harbour whereby people insisted on feeding seagulls. Millions seemed to come from no where and then the people got scared of there being so many. Serve them right as it rather spoiled the ambience.We came across this bloke doing wonderful things with bubbles. The kids just loved it.
I had kind of crossed Powerhouse Museum off my list as we were running out of time, but R was keen enough to see it, so onto the tram to Powerhouse. Parts of the museum buidling is an old building where power was generated for Sydney's trams. The museum is first class and I would go so far as to say the best I have ever been in. We spent a couple of hours there but a couple of days would almost cover the whole museum. It is a great museum for kids too. A chatty volunteer guide guessed that we would not really be interested in women's fashions! and directed us to the more technical areas. We saw heaps of Australian inventions, some transport related things including NSW's first steam train, stationary steam engines, antique furniture, old jewellery... just so much stuff. There was a huge stationary steam enngine from a factory, but there wasn't a qualified steam engineer available that day to start it up. Unlike the one at our Spotswood Science Museum, this one still ran on steam.
We debated getting a cab back to the hotel, but instead caught the monorail to World Square and tiredly trudged up the Liverpool Street hill.
Dinner was at an excellent Indian restaurant in Oxford Street called Tandoori Palace and this was preceeded by a drink at Midnight Shift. The Shift had a very different layout to the last time I was there. We forewent the Indian restaurant offering goat.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
The Naughty Navy
Oh dear, our navy is in trouble. Not a sinking ship but just some navy blokes doing what they do.
The blokes have drawn up some sort of score card, that is, how many navy girl chicks they can do the biz with. Ah well, if they can't pull a chick, we all know what they get up to.
Did I hear mention of forced sex? No, don't think so.
Did I hear of rape? Nah.
Did I hear of complaints from female navy gals? Don't think so.
Did I hear of harm to anyone? Not really.
Did I hear of bois being bois? Yep, I think I did.
Did I hear of horny young men? Goes without saying.
Did I hear of something distasteful in my eyes? Yep..............well, no not really. Don't forget I am gay and we have a higher tolerance for such things...........ok, I have set myself up there haven't I?
Watching on tv the competition for blokes scoring by pulling the fattest and ugliest chick was far worse than what these navy dudes were up to.
Media FAIL, jury still out on navy brass.
The blokes have drawn up some sort of score card, that is, how many navy girl chicks they can do the biz with. Ah well, if they can't pull a chick, we all know what they get up to.
Did I hear mention of forced sex? No, don't think so.
Did I hear of rape? Nah.
Did I hear of complaints from female navy gals? Don't think so.
Did I hear of harm to anyone? Not really.
Did I hear of bois being bois? Yep, I think I did.
Did I hear of horny young men? Goes without saying.
Did I hear of something distasteful in my eyes? Yep..............well, no not really. Don't forget I am gay and we have a higher tolerance for such things...........ok, I have set myself up there haven't I?
Watching on tv the competition for blokes scoring by pulling the fattest and ugliest chick was far worse than what these navy dudes were up to.
Media FAIL, jury still out on navy brass.
Sydney Day 4
Today R suggested a plan. He wanted to see an exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and how could we visit Sydney and not take the ferry to Manly? He had a point.
More consultation of bus details. Ok, the 441 bus comes to the city from Birchgrove and every second bus goes to the Art Gallery. We catch the bus in Park Street. The driver kindly checked that we really wanted to turn left and not continue down William Street. I noted that the 389, North Bondi via Bellevue Hill could be caught from here too. The stop for the gallery was a short distance past, so as we walked back we took in the nice views of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf. (THAT word I had to correct of course)
This is a very nice smallish fountain near the bus stop where we waited.
I was not so impressed with the exhibition called Intensely Dutch. Abstract.... I no like mostly. But we wandered around and looked at other works too. There were a decent number of Sydney Nolan's paintings.
We then walked through the Botanic Gardens. While they are very different to Melbourne's, they are just as impressive. Not sure though about the Cahill Expressway going through the guts of the gardens. A very courageous decision Minister. The Governor's flag was flying so she appeared to be at home at Government House, but she hadn't sent us an invite, so instead we passed by the Conservatory of Music and out into Bridge Street.
This odd but appealing sculpture was located just outside the gates. Funnily I saw something on tv about it after we returned to Melbourne. It needs wind to work properly and there was little that day.
We made our way down to the Quay and boarded the ferry to Manly. While I have been on the Manly ferry maybe ten times, this is the first time I noticed that, unlike the other smaller ferries, it is double ended. The Narrabeen does not have to reverse out and change direction. I assume the other Manly ferries are the same. No wonder I have been vaguely confused in the past. The trip was smooth until the near the heads where as per usual, there is some fun rock and rolling.
We alighted from the ferry. I did my good deed for the day by reuniting two gay German tourists. I did not recall aggressive touts outside the Corso cafes, but they are there now. We were going to eat there but R had some instinct to continue on. He was right. Along South Steyne were better places. We had some lunch and then took a walk northwards. Very pleasant and heaps of people lunching on sandwiches, reading books and papers and enjoying the sunshine. I took this photo from opposite where we ate. Not so interesting, but I like it.
Ahhh, where has Manly Beach gone? Temporary barriers were up and more permanent steel ones were being installed. Seems a king tide and bad winds had taken away half of Manly Beach.
Walking leisurely back along the Corso, we stopped off to buy Little Jo a Manly tee. Why do kiddie sizes jump from 2 to 4? What happened to 3? I expect the 4 size tee will fit her. It cost $25 for such a tiny bit of fabric, and then the bastard shop wanted to charge a credit card fee. Hello, we are Australian tourists, not foreigners. We paid cash and made our displeasure known. It is an excellent quality tee shirt for her to grow out of in a couple of months.
Michael Jackson had died that morning. I liked him before he went weird. I read it online before the tv morning shows picked it up. We had to watch atrocious morning tv as there wasn't any AM radio reception in our hotel. By 6.30 pm we were already over MJ's death. This shop amused me and and a music shop on the Manly Corso was playing MJ music loudly.
Back onto the Narrabeen to the Quay and train from Quay to Museum. I would like to say we went for a swim and spa, instead I just went and took photos.
While we can walk quite well on the flat, for us from Melbourne, hills and stairs are hard work. Our day had been quite flat walking, so for dinner we had the energy to wander up Oxford Street, stopped at Stonewall a drink and then crossed Taylor Square and went on a bit further. We found a Spanish place called Catina or Cantina. Not sure. Great food. We reminisced about the long gone Green Park Diner. (I thought it was long gone, but it is still very present on google.)
Stonewall for one more drink and home.
If it is still July the fourth in the US, best wishes from down under.
More consultation of bus details. Ok, the 441 bus comes to the city from Birchgrove and every second bus goes to the Art Gallery. We catch the bus in Park Street. The driver kindly checked that we really wanted to turn left and not continue down William Street. I noted that the 389, North Bondi via Bellevue Hill could be caught from here too. The stop for the gallery was a short distance past, so as we walked back we took in the nice views of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf. (THAT word I had to correct of course)
This is a very nice smallish fountain near the bus stop where we waited.
I was not so impressed with the exhibition called Intensely Dutch. Abstract.... I no like mostly. But we wandered around and looked at other works too. There were a decent number of Sydney Nolan's paintings.
We then walked through the Botanic Gardens. While they are very different to Melbourne's, they are just as impressive. Not sure though about the Cahill Expressway going through the guts of the gardens. A very courageous decision Minister. The Governor's flag was flying so she appeared to be at home at Government House, but she hadn't sent us an invite, so instead we passed by the Conservatory of Music and out into Bridge Street.
This odd but appealing sculpture was located just outside the gates. Funnily I saw something on tv about it after we returned to Melbourne. It needs wind to work properly and there was little that day.
We made our way down to the Quay and boarded the ferry to Manly. While I have been on the Manly ferry maybe ten times, this is the first time I noticed that, unlike the other smaller ferries, it is double ended. The Narrabeen does not have to reverse out and change direction. I assume the other Manly ferries are the same. No wonder I have been vaguely confused in the past. The trip was smooth until the near the heads where as per usual, there is some fun rock and rolling.
We alighted from the ferry. I did my good deed for the day by reuniting two gay German tourists. I did not recall aggressive touts outside the Corso cafes, but they are there now. We were going to eat there but R had some instinct to continue on. He was right. Along South Steyne were better places. We had some lunch and then took a walk northwards. Very pleasant and heaps of people lunching on sandwiches, reading books and papers and enjoying the sunshine. I took this photo from opposite where we ate. Not so interesting, but I like it.
Ahhh, where has Manly Beach gone? Temporary barriers were up and more permanent steel ones were being installed. Seems a king tide and bad winds had taken away half of Manly Beach.
Walking leisurely back along the Corso, we stopped off to buy Little Jo a Manly tee. Why do kiddie sizes jump from 2 to 4? What happened to 3? I expect the 4 size tee will fit her. It cost $25 for such a tiny bit of fabric, and then the bastard shop wanted to charge a credit card fee. Hello, we are Australian tourists, not foreigners. We paid cash and made our displeasure known. It is an excellent quality tee shirt for her to grow out of in a couple of months.Michael Jackson had died that morning. I liked him before he went weird. I read it online before the tv morning shows picked it up. We had to watch atrocious morning tv as there wasn't any AM radio reception in our hotel. By 6.30 pm we were already over MJ's death. This shop amused me and and a music shop on the Manly Corso was playing MJ music loudly.
Back onto the Narrabeen to the Quay and train from Quay to Museum. I would like to say we went for a swim and spa, instead I just went and took photos.
While we can walk quite well on the flat, for us from Melbourne, hills and stairs are hard work. Our day had been quite flat walking, so for dinner we had the energy to wander up Oxford Street, stopped at Stonewall a drink and then crossed Taylor Square and went on a bit further. We found a Spanish place called Catina or Cantina. Not sure. Great food. We reminisced about the long gone Green Park Diner. (I thought it was long gone, but it is still very present on google.)
Stonewall for one more drink and home.
If it is still July the fourth in the US, best wishes from down under.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Not quite ready to chuck out home phone
Oh how I wish I could do what Rob has done. Read his excellent post on ditching his landline (home phone) here and we would save something like $500 per year.
There are problems that stop us getting rid of our landline. Well, three actually. Mother is one and two friends who refuse to call mobiles the others. Mother I can deal with by just telling her to call me and I won't answer and I will call her back. The friends? Well, I really don't know. They are older than myself and I can't expect them to go against what they strongly dislike. They have both been offered mobile phones for free, but won't have them
I am not the greatest person on the phone normally. I am not keen on using it, but of course I must.
But one of the real reasons why the home phone will stay in the foreseeable future is that I dislike the way mobile phones works and the way you are always talking over each other. One will start to say something, the other will accidentally interrupt then both will start at the same time. Maybe I need to use a mobile more and I would get better at it.
R would never agree either. Stuck with the hated Telstra.
There are problems that stop us getting rid of our landline. Well, three actually. Mother is one and two friends who refuse to call mobiles the others. Mother I can deal with by just telling her to call me and I won't answer and I will call her back. The friends? Well, I really don't know. They are older than myself and I can't expect them to go against what they strongly dislike. They have both been offered mobile phones for free, but won't have them
I am not the greatest person on the phone normally. I am not keen on using it, but of course I must.
But one of the real reasons why the home phone will stay in the foreseeable future is that I dislike the way mobile phones works and the way you are always talking over each other. One will start to say something, the other will accidentally interrupt then both will start at the same time. Maybe I need to use a mobile more and I would get better at it.
R would never agree either. Stuck with the hated Telstra.
Lady of the Swamp Update
Another comment on the Lady of the Swamp with a link to a photo.
http://highriser.blogspot.com/2008/04/lady-of-swamp-update.html
http://highriser.blogspot.com/2008/04/lady-of-swamp-update.html
Holiday Day 5 Sydney Day 3
This was our day to visit Watsons Bay and see The Gap. Back down College Street and this time to the main bus stop in William Street. We waited longer than I thought we should for the 325. There was a quicker alternative bus that followed the old tram route more closely, but I wanted the more scenic route of course. I just adored this bus trip. There were some spectacular views of the harbour around Rose Bay. At some point we pulled into a bus interchange in Edgecliff for a change of driver. Reminds me, must contact Victor. The bus followed the coast quite closely, twisting, turning, seeming to back track but evenutally the bus arrived at Watsons Bay.
I did expect there to be lots of shops, including food places and touristy stuff. There wasn't. We seemed to be nowhere. There was a cafe and it was certainly time for coffee.
We were going to stop off at Rose Bay to see where R once worked and used to watch the Catalina flying boats land and take off from the water and we wanted coffee, but since the 325 service seemed so infrequent, I decided not to and R did not really care. It was many years ago and areas change so much, they are no longer recognisable.
Although we could see a bakery a little way off, we decided to check out The Gap first. Walk left or right? I had forgotten that Ben said the way right was easier and we went left. Regardless of steps etc, it was worth it. What sensational views and I could watch water crashing and swirling on rocks for hours. You can see why the lovely flat area of rock when I suppose people think is a good way to end their lives. I don't recall of hearing any survivors of a jump at The Gap.
This is a snap looking back towards Sydney. An Asian lass asked R to take a photo of me and her with our backs to The Gap. Who knows why she wanted me in the picture. Will I end up on the internet as her Australian sugar daddy? Perhaps she just thinks I looked hot, haha. As you often do when posing for a photo with someone else, I put my arm over her shoulder and she did the same. Some things in this world are not for understanding.
We then had coffee at the marvellous Watsons Bay Hotel. Bit cool in the shade. We took a walk along the beach and returned via some back streets. Can anyone tell what the function of this device in the gate might be for? I have no idea.
After the walk, we ummed and ahhhed over whether to eat at Doyles Restaurant
or Doyles take away, informal dine in. Had it have been nightime, it would have been a no brainer......the posh place, well, maybe not really, but we decided to eat at the informal eating area. It was ok, although I thought the fish and certainly the batter was better at the Coogee takeaway yesterday.
I had the ferry departure times noted down, but went down to the pier to check instead. A ferry was there and a staff member beckoned if I wanted the ferry. I waved no. I checked the timetable and we had another hour before the next ferry. Oh well, back to the Watsons Bay Hotel (it has another name, but I can't recall it) for a drink. We sat on the top deck on comfy lounge chairs.
The ferry back was a Cat and we were quickly back at Circular Quay after a stop off for passengers at Garden Island. I missed that one on the timetable!!
I like the electronic music combined with didgeredoo music, but it must get a bit wearing on the staff in the nearby shops.
We trudged up Phillip Street to Bridge Street where the Museum of Sydney sits. The building has a fine history. Look it up yourself, or I will never leave the computer. We looked through the gift shop and were undecided whether to pay the ten dollars and five dollars concession to see Shooting Through: Sydney by Tram. We did so, and the exhibition was very good, although I knew most of the stuff already. The movie showing was great and people were very interested. Bring the trams back, I say. We made a profit on the entry price though. $5 off a $15 daily monorail/light rail ticket and two for one entry to the Tram Museum of Sydney.
We took a cursory look at other exhibits, but we were stuffed. Down the hill to the Quay and the train to Museum and up the Liverpool Street hill to the hotel. Rest.
For dinner we caught the bus along William Street to Kings Cross. We walked the length of the main street but no where appealed. We checked to see if Joe's Cafe was open, but it was not. Finally we decided on a pub meal in Bayswater Road. It was $10 steak night and we had great steaks. Not a flash place but good plain food. We caught a bus back to College Street. That was a cheap meal.
I did expect there to be lots of shops, including food places and touristy stuff. There wasn't. We seemed to be nowhere. There was a cafe and it was certainly time for coffee.
We were going to stop off at Rose Bay to see where R once worked and used to watch the Catalina flying boats land and take off from the water and we wanted coffee, but since the 325 service seemed so infrequent, I decided not to and R did not really care. It was many years ago and areas change so much, they are no longer recognisable.
Although we could see a bakery a little way off, we decided to check out The Gap first. Walk left or right? I had forgotten that Ben said the way right was easier and we went left. Regardless of steps etc, it was worth it. What sensational views and I could watch water crashing and swirling on rocks for hours. You can see why the lovely flat area of rock when I suppose people think is a good way to end their lives. I don't recall of hearing any survivors of a jump at The Gap.
This is a snap looking back towards Sydney. An Asian lass asked R to take a photo of me and her with our backs to The Gap. Who knows why she wanted me in the picture. Will I end up on the internet as her Australian sugar daddy? Perhaps she just thinks I looked hot, haha. As you often do when posing for a photo with someone else, I put my arm over her shoulder and she did the same. Some things in this world are not for understanding.
We then had coffee at the marvellous Watsons Bay Hotel. Bit cool in the shade. We took a walk along the beach and returned via some back streets. Can anyone tell what the function of this device in the gate might be for? I have no idea.
After the walk, we ummed and ahhhed over whether to eat at Doyles Restaurant
or Doyles take away, informal dine in. Had it have been nightime, it would have been a no brainer......the posh place, well, maybe not really, but we decided to eat at the informal eating area. It was ok, although I thought the fish and certainly the batter was better at the Coogee takeaway yesterday.
I had the ferry departure times noted down, but went down to the pier to check instead. A ferry was there and a staff member beckoned if I wanted the ferry. I waved no. I checked the timetable and we had another hour before the next ferry. Oh well, back to the Watsons Bay Hotel (it has another name, but I can't recall it) for a drink. We sat on the top deck on comfy lounge chairs.The ferry back was a Cat and we were quickly back at Circular Quay after a stop off for passengers at Garden Island. I missed that one on the timetable!!
I like the electronic music combined with didgeredoo music, but it must get a bit wearing on the staff in the nearby shops.
We trudged up Phillip Street to Bridge Street where the Museum of Sydney sits. The building has a fine history. Look it up yourself, or I will never leave the computer. We looked through the gift shop and were undecided whether to pay the ten dollars and five dollars concession to see Shooting Through: Sydney by Tram. We did so, and the exhibition was very good, although I knew most of the stuff already. The movie showing was great and people were very interested. Bring the trams back, I say. We made a profit on the entry price though. $5 off a $15 daily monorail/light rail ticket and two for one entry to the Tram Museum of Sydney.
We took a cursory look at other exhibits, but we were stuffed. Down the hill to the Quay and the train to Museum and up the Liverpool Street hill to the hotel. Rest.
For dinner we caught the bus along William Street to Kings Cross. We walked the length of the main street but no where appealed. We checked to see if Joe's Cafe was open, but it was not. Finally we decided on a pub meal in Bayswater Road. It was $10 steak night and we had great steaks. Not a flash place but good plain food. We caught a bus back to College Street. That was a cheap meal.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Holiday Day 4 Sydney Day 2
The day started with breakfast in our hotel. It was the same every day. We did not go out for breakfast but just had cereal and toast in our room. As per at home, I awoke about 6.30 to 7.00 and played with the lappy until R arose between 8.30 and 9.00. This time is when I get through a mountain of stuff on the net. It is a time alone I treasure. I have probably blown out his monthly allowance. I did not look at any videos, only pictures, papers, blogs and sites appropriate to our holiday.
I wanted to combine two things. The first being a trip on the bus, route 389, that follows the old tram route from the city to North Bondi via Bellevue Hill. The other, walking from Bondi Beach to Coogee. It was not working too well though. We had no need to start the walk at North Bondi as we know Bondi Beach well enough. Ok, the latter part of the old tram journey is not closely followed by the bus, so we will get off at Bondi Junction and change to the 380 and get off at the southern end of Bondi Beach.
I knew the bus ran along Park Street/William Street and turned into a minor street named Yurong. We walked down College Street to the bus stop in William Street. Oh look, Sydney Grammar. Must call Victor later. The bus stop indicated that route 389 did not stop there. I can see why. It must get from the bus stop on the left of the road and cross several lanes to turn right into Yurong Street. We headed down the hill and walked along Yurong Street to the bus stop. In the photo you can see the rosette on the building that was used to hang the tram overhead support wires. It is the thingie below the rust mark.
The bus arrived and it is quite a busy on/off route, seemingly being a service for local people and not the quickest way to get to Bondi Junction. It twisted and turned along narrow streets and crossed the tram purpose built viaduct over Barcom Avenue. We saw all sorts of things, houses, shops, people, things that we would not have seen on a direct route. It is hard to imagine how a tram ran along these tiny streets and interacted with motor cars.
I decided I need a cap to protect my head from the sun, so we stopped off at Bondi Junction and I bought one in a cheap shop and had some decent coffee. Back to the bus interchange and onto the 380 bus. We alighted at the southern end of Bondi Beach and started our walk. Here is the Bondi Sea Baths.
I expected it was a walk around the cliff tops with gentle grades. It was not. There are steep hills, steps and some reconstruction with not well marked diversions. My feet ended up being very sore and R had calve and back problems. Luckily he had medication with him to treat his problems. I knew my feet would be ok after some overnight rest. While it was challenging for us, we both wanted to complete the walk and see what was to be seen.
Surf life savers. How many people who are with us now who would not otherwise be if it wasn't for lifesavers. Bless. Click the picture to read what is there. 35,000 people at Bondi Beach is impressive.
Now, does someone actually live here or is it artwork? I think it may well be a home for someone with million dollar views.
Hey, the Bronte tram cutting. It is not the same view as when I wrote about the cutting back here, and with an old picture. I was quite chuffed to see it.
Some tram history.
A boardwalk is being built past Waverley Cemetery, so we had to walk through the cemetery. We dawdled and looked at many graves.
I can't recall if this is Bronte or Clovelly Beach and I am too tired to check. Regardless, it is nice.
We were diverted again into side streets as we approached Coogee. We reached Coogee and ate fish and chips from a takeaway. Very nice they were too. We sat at an outdoor table in the sunshine and admired the views. We walked along the beach and then to the parallel to beach Arden Street. We came to Coogee Bay Road and walked along a bit to Brook Street where R used to live. It would seem where he lived has been pulled down and something else built there. We walked past the oval where a few guys were having kick to kick on the oval. Not once did I ever see anyone in parks or anywhere playing rugby, only kicking an Australian Rules football.
We caught the 373 bus back to our hotel. I had forgotten the route number, and thought the bus might not go via Oxford Street but via back streets and we would end up at Central Station, but I did get it right. I must write on paper and carry route numbers. It was an interesting trip back, and yes it followed the old Coogee Bay tram route, right past Randwick Racecourse and along the old Anzac Parade tram reservation. I saw the marshalling area for racecourse trams.
After a rest and a spa at the hotel, we felt up to walking down Liverpool Street to Chinatown. We dithered, as we do when choosing somewhere to eat but eventually chose a place and selected a set menu. It was a nice meal, including hot and sour soup for which I had to pay an extra dollar. It was nearly the weirdest hot and sour soup I have ever eaten. I am a connoisseur of Melbourne hot and sour soup. I love it, but this one was weird, not bad, just different.
We watched people and the trams passing by at the bottom of the Dixon Street and walked back to the hotel. We went a different way and it was nice and flat. But if you are going to the same place, you are going to have to uphill at some point. The last bit walking up Wentworth Avenue was a killer. My notes say we went onto the Colombian Hotel for a drink but I am not so sure. I think we were pretty whacked after such a big day. Regardless, we were home by 8.30 pm.
We must take it a bit easier tomorrow.
Just a comment on Chinatown, sometimes malls work, sometimes they don't. Chinatown's Dixon Street Mall seemed wrong to me. Not exactly sure why.
I wanted to combine two things. The first being a trip on the bus, route 389, that follows the old tram route from the city to North Bondi via Bellevue Hill. The other, walking from Bondi Beach to Coogee. It was not working too well though. We had no need to start the walk at North Bondi as we know Bondi Beach well enough. Ok, the latter part of the old tram journey is not closely followed by the bus, so we will get off at Bondi Junction and change to the 380 and get off at the southern end of Bondi Beach.
I knew the bus ran along Park Street/William Street and turned into a minor street named Yurong. We walked down College Street to the bus stop in William Street. Oh look, Sydney Grammar. Must call Victor later. The bus stop indicated that route 389 did not stop there. I can see why. It must get from the bus stop on the left of the road and cross several lanes to turn right into Yurong Street. We headed down the hill and walked along Yurong Street to the bus stop. In the photo you can see the rosette on the building that was used to hang the tram overhead support wires. It is the thingie below the rust mark.
The bus arrived and it is quite a busy on/off route, seemingly being a service for local people and not the quickest way to get to Bondi Junction. It twisted and turned along narrow streets and crossed the tram purpose built viaduct over Barcom Avenue. We saw all sorts of things, houses, shops, people, things that we would not have seen on a direct route. It is hard to imagine how a tram ran along these tiny streets and interacted with motor cars.I decided I need a cap to protect my head from the sun, so we stopped off at Bondi Junction and I bought one in a cheap shop and had some decent coffee. Back to the bus interchange and onto the 380 bus. We alighted at the southern end of Bondi Beach and started our walk. Here is the Bondi Sea Baths.
I expected it was a walk around the cliff tops with gentle grades. It was not. There are steep hills, steps and some reconstruction with not well marked diversions. My feet ended up being very sore and R had calve and back problems. Luckily he had medication with him to treat his problems. I knew my feet would be ok after some overnight rest. While it was challenging for us, we both wanted to complete the walk and see what was to be seen.Surf life savers. How many people who are with us now who would not otherwise be if it wasn't for lifesavers. Bless. Click the picture to read what is there. 35,000 people at Bondi Beach is impressive.
Now, does someone actually live here or is it artwork? I think it may well be a home for someone with million dollar views.
Hey, the Bronte tram cutting. It is not the same view as when I wrote about the cutting back here, and with an old picture. I was quite chuffed to see it.
Some tram history.
A boardwalk is being built past Waverley Cemetery, so we had to walk through the cemetery. We dawdled and looked at many graves.
I can't recall if this is Bronte or Clovelly Beach and I am too tired to check. Regardless, it is nice.
We were diverted again into side streets as we approached Coogee. We reached Coogee and ate fish and chips from a takeaway. Very nice they were too. We sat at an outdoor table in the sunshine and admired the views. We walked along the beach and then to the parallel to beach Arden Street. We came to Coogee Bay Road and walked along a bit to Brook Street where R used to live. It would seem where he lived has been pulled down and something else built there. We walked past the oval where a few guys were having kick to kick on the oval. Not once did I ever see anyone in parks or anywhere playing rugby, only kicking an Australian Rules football.
We caught the 373 bus back to our hotel. I had forgotten the route number, and thought the bus might not go via Oxford Street but via back streets and we would end up at Central Station, but I did get it right. I must write on paper and carry route numbers. It was an interesting trip back, and yes it followed the old Coogee Bay tram route, right past Randwick Racecourse and along the old Anzac Parade tram reservation. I saw the marshalling area for racecourse trams.After a rest and a spa at the hotel, we felt up to walking down Liverpool Street to Chinatown. We dithered, as we do when choosing somewhere to eat but eventually chose a place and selected a set menu. It was a nice meal, including hot and sour soup for which I had to pay an extra dollar. It was nearly the weirdest hot and sour soup I have ever eaten. I am a connoisseur of Melbourne hot and sour soup. I love it, but this one was weird, not bad, just different.
We watched people and the trams passing by at the bottom of the Dixon Street and walked back to the hotel. We went a different way and it was nice and flat. But if you are going to the same place, you are going to have to uphill at some point. The last bit walking up Wentworth Avenue was a killer. My notes say we went onto the Colombian Hotel for a drink but I am not so sure. I think we were pretty whacked after such a big day. Regardless, we were home by 8.30 pm.
We must take it a bit easier tomorrow.
Just a comment on Chinatown, sometimes malls work, sometimes they don't. Chinatown's Dixon Street Mall seemed wrong to me. Not exactly sure why.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Holiday Day 3 Sydney Day 1 Big Post
We had investigated the best way to get to the airport to fly to Sydney. Taxi? Airport bus? Take the car? We decided to take the car and park at the long term airport. Cost $69 plus petrol and Cityclunk charges. Airport bus cheaper but much less convenient. Taxi, maybe $100 return. I had also decided this holiday that we would try not to use taxis, only proper public transport. Ok, it is not making sense that we drove to the airport. Forget it.
The bus from the carpark arrived quite quickly and it is no longer a minibus with a trailer but a proper bus with half the seating area devoted to luggage storage, similar to the airport buses from So Cross Station to the airport.
No cars were parked on the freeway waiting to hear from airport arrivals requesting to be picked up. Maybe some enforcement has been happening? Perhaps authorities should look at the outrageous short term car parking prices to stop the freeway parking?
And why don't we have a train from the city to the airport?
We drank some ok coffee and shared a muffin. More outrageous prices. What is it with Melbourne Airport that they can charge such excessive prices? Their costs should be no higher than a shop in a fashionable street.
The flight was uneventful, as it should be and we arrived on time.
We went to the airport train ticket desk and spoke with a person who's first language was not English. I thought I had it right, but not quite. Only at the end of the holiday do I think I worked it out and remembered what perhaps I should have noted down. I wanted a $50 public transport ticket for five days and an airport train gate pass. The airport pass got me out of the airport but not through the barrier of the city station. I checked with a person at the gate and he asked if I had another ticket. I had my five day ticket, so I said yes and he waved me through. I believe I could have used my weekly ticket to get through the city station barrier but the five day period would not start until the next time I used the ticket.
R was using a one way concession ticket though and he payed a supplement for all day public transport in Sydney, but his did not allow him through the barrier either. Apart from the last day, that was our last real confusion with tickets.
I had checked which was the closest railway station to where we were staying and knew where to walk once off the train from the airport. It would seem I got that wrong. Museum Station was closer than St James. I am totally lost as to how I screwed that up, but still, it wasn't too far to the hotel.
I rang the number as instructed and the lass who I exchanged booking emails with met us in the hotel lobby. She was very nice but had to immediately apologise as the room we had booked was not available. Instead we must suffer the family room, larger, better views and two double beds. Yippee!
She showed us around the room and pointed out the water view. I immediately snapped back at her that it was only a Sydney real estate agent water view, a sliver of water but actually at night I saw ferries and lit boats passing. The main view was to the east over Kings Cross.
The slit water view.
The main view to the east. How dominate is that apartment tower at the Cross? It sits on a high piece of land, almost an island, and can be seen from many places in Sydney. How come we have never really noticed it before? Any goss on it Victor?
Now while this is proper hotel, it seemed we had no connection with the hotel itself. We had no contact with reception. I am not sure how this works. Does a private company lease a floor of a hotel and onsell the accommodation? As you can see from the website where we found the accommodation, it is not quite to the standard of a normal hotel website. This prompted me to do much more research of where our money was going before booking. We still had use of the facilities though, the pool, gym, spa and sauna. Well that will be fun. We have all that at home. Where is the tennis court and barbecue?
In one corner of a bench was a tangle of wires, an odd box and what seemed to be a phone. I would be lying if I said I had no idea of what this mess of equipment is, but it was irrelevant to us. A wireless router and VOIP phone. Better to look at some pics of our room. Someone left that bottle on the bench. Nothing to do with us. We don't drink. We also had a complimentary bottle of red wine. We forced ourselves to drink it. Rather nice actually.
Our hostess had already marked the nearest Coles supermarket on a map she gave us. I had checked that out in advance anyway. We walked to the supermarket at the corner of Liverpool and George Streets and bought supplies. Ah, a Liquorland too.
I think we then rested and freshened up and sampled, or was that emptied the free bottle of wine.
Now I became confused. When we visited our dyke friend in Sydney, I thought we went to the Colombian Hotel. Seems not. The Colombian is not far up Oxford Street. We had a drink. Cute enough barman if you like dark smoldering Latin looks.
I had not eaten fish fingers since I was last in Sydney and of course, we can't go to Sydney without going to Betty's Soup Kitchen. What an institution. I forget what R had. The same Dutch? guy served us who has been there for yonks. He is quite amusing.
Our energy levels were still not bad, so we strolled up Oxford Street to the Oxford Hotel and had a drink in an outside area. The hotel has been remodelled inside since the the last time we were there. I can't remember when that was. I could then also see the hotel where we went with our dyke friend. Stonewall.
I bored R with telling him about this street is where the tram from Long Bay Gaol delivered prisoners to the court for their appearances and Darcy Dugan escaped from the tram by cutting the roof. I think I bored R often with my knowledge of Sydney trams.
We had caught the tv news earlier and saw this Bruno poster being erected by guys clad in something brief and glittering. An promotional image of Bruno seemed to be on every second bus. For a hairy dude, he sure waxes up ok.
Gosh, must be eight o'clock already. Time for home for old men. Must contact Victor tomorrow.
The bus from the carpark arrived quite quickly and it is no longer a minibus with a trailer but a proper bus with half the seating area devoted to luggage storage, similar to the airport buses from So Cross Station to the airport.
No cars were parked on the freeway waiting to hear from airport arrivals requesting to be picked up. Maybe some enforcement has been happening? Perhaps authorities should look at the outrageous short term car parking prices to stop the freeway parking?
And why don't we have a train from the city to the airport?
We drank some ok coffee and shared a muffin. More outrageous prices. What is it with Melbourne Airport that they can charge such excessive prices? Their costs should be no higher than a shop in a fashionable street.
The flight was uneventful, as it should be and we arrived on time.
We went to the airport train ticket desk and spoke with a person who's first language was not English. I thought I had it right, but not quite. Only at the end of the holiday do I think I worked it out and remembered what perhaps I should have noted down. I wanted a $50 public transport ticket for five days and an airport train gate pass. The airport pass got me out of the airport but not through the barrier of the city station. I checked with a person at the gate and he asked if I had another ticket. I had my five day ticket, so I said yes and he waved me through. I believe I could have used my weekly ticket to get through the city station barrier but the five day period would not start until the next time I used the ticket.
R was using a one way concession ticket though and he payed a supplement for all day public transport in Sydney, but his did not allow him through the barrier either. Apart from the last day, that was our last real confusion with tickets.
I had checked which was the closest railway station to where we were staying and knew where to walk once off the train from the airport. It would seem I got that wrong. Museum Station was closer than St James. I am totally lost as to how I screwed that up, but still, it wasn't too far to the hotel.
I rang the number as instructed and the lass who I exchanged booking emails with met us in the hotel lobby. She was very nice but had to immediately apologise as the room we had booked was not available. Instead we must suffer the family room, larger, better views and two double beds. Yippee!
She showed us around the room and pointed out the water view. I immediately snapped back at her that it was only a Sydney real estate agent water view, a sliver of water but actually at night I saw ferries and lit boats passing. The main view was to the east over Kings Cross.
The slit water view.
The main view to the east. How dominate is that apartment tower at the Cross? It sits on a high piece of land, almost an island, and can be seen from many places in Sydney. How come we have never really noticed it before? Any goss on it Victor?
Now while this is proper hotel, it seemed we had no connection with the hotel itself. We had no contact with reception. I am not sure how this works. Does a private company lease a floor of a hotel and onsell the accommodation? As you can see from the website where we found the accommodation, it is not quite to the standard of a normal hotel website. This prompted me to do much more research of where our money was going before booking. We still had use of the facilities though, the pool, gym, spa and sauna. Well that will be fun. We have all that at home. Where is the tennis court and barbecue?
In one corner of a bench was a tangle of wires, an odd box and what seemed to be a phone. I would be lying if I said I had no idea of what this mess of equipment is, but it was irrelevant to us. A wireless router and VOIP phone. Better to look at some pics of our room. Someone left that bottle on the bench. Nothing to do with us. We don't drink. We also had a complimentary bottle of red wine. We forced ourselves to drink it. Rather nice actually.
Our hostess had already marked the nearest Coles supermarket on a map she gave us. I had checked that out in advance anyway. We walked to the supermarket at the corner of Liverpool and George Streets and bought supplies. Ah, a Liquorland too.
I think we then rested and freshened up and sampled, or was that emptied the free bottle of wine.
Now I became confused. When we visited our dyke friend in Sydney, I thought we went to the Colombian Hotel. Seems not. The Colombian is not far up Oxford Street. We had a drink. Cute enough barman if you like dark smoldering Latin looks.
I had not eaten fish fingers since I was last in Sydney and of course, we can't go to Sydney without going to Betty's Soup Kitchen. What an institution. I forget what R had. The same Dutch? guy served us who has been there for yonks. He is quite amusing.
Our energy levels were still not bad, so we strolled up Oxford Street to the Oxford Hotel and had a drink in an outside area. The hotel has been remodelled inside since the the last time we were there. I can't remember when that was. I could then also see the hotel where we went with our dyke friend. Stonewall.
I bored R with telling him about this street is where the tram from Long Bay Gaol delivered prisoners to the court for their appearances and Darcy Dugan escaped from the tram by cutting the roof. I think I bored R often with my knowledge of Sydney trams.
We had caught the tv news earlier and saw this Bruno poster being erected by guys clad in something brief and glittering. An promotional image of Bruno seemed to be on every second bus. For a hairy dude, he sure waxes up ok.
Gosh, must be eight o'clock already. Time for home for old men. Must contact Victor tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Private v Public
I am so angry, I can't even thing of a subject line. The Australian government, the Labor government, the party of and for the workers, is pouring money into private schools while government schools go wanting.
I just stepped out onto the balcony and aside from the huge building project that is happening at Melbourne Grammar, they have now floodlit another building. It is a beautiful old building and is worth floodlighting, even if it looks like a cardboard cutout from here.
Your office cleaner pays her tax. It is snatched from her pay as she is paid. She can't do skillful manipulations of the tax system.
I just see dollars after dollars being pumped into Melbourne Grammar and I know a lot of it comes from taxpayers, never mind your other cranky religious schools.
Don't fucking well tell me how good private education is. I know already. Funded by the poorest paid in our society. It is just so wrong.
I just stepped out onto the balcony and aside from the huge building project that is happening at Melbourne Grammar, they have now floodlit another building. It is a beautiful old building and is worth floodlighting, even if it looks like a cardboard cutout from here.
Your office cleaner pays her tax. It is snatched from her pay as she is paid. She can't do skillful manipulations of the tax system.
I just see dollars after dollars being pumped into Melbourne Grammar and I know a lot of it comes from taxpayers, never mind your other cranky religious schools.
Don't fucking well tell me how good private education is. I know already. Funded by the poorest paid in our society. It is just so wrong.
Bad Thailand
Our brother friends visit Thailand twice a year. We have been there three times, the last when we were returning from Vietnam. Thailand was a fun country and back then, quite sophisticated compared to Vietnam.
But Thailand has fallen on hard times. In the past foreigners were pretty well left out of the day to day bribery that is the way of life there. Not so anymore. Remember Beer Mat Mum? Life would have been a lot easier for her if she had offered an appropriate bribe, rather than standing on her supposed moral principles.
So I now hear tales of tourists now being targeted for bribery as tourism is down so much in Thailand, the whole local bribery chain is breaking.
Here is one scam I have heard of from two different sources.
You are leaving Thailand after you visit and are doing some duty free shopping at the airport. You arrive at the counter to pay for whatever you have selected and the cashier packs something extra in your bag.
"Free gift Sir/Madame".
They may not even say that. I might look like they made a mistake and put something in your bag by accident.
You leave the shop and you are soon collared and accused of theft from the shop. You have a product in your bags and you don't have a receipt. You have no answer. Face the legal system or pay a bribe.
Generally I like Thai people, well I only know a couple really, but I would suggest if travelling, avoid going via Bangkok and travel via Singapore or Hong Kong. If you want an Asian holiday, consider Singapore, which is a very sophisticated country that works well, or what about Vietnam? We had a great time there and can recommend it. The Vietnamese police look after foreigners. Unlike Thailand, they know which side their bread is buttered. Honkers has plenty to see too.
Sadly Thailand seems to be malfunctioning country at the moment. Avoid it.
But Thailand has fallen on hard times. In the past foreigners were pretty well left out of the day to day bribery that is the way of life there. Not so anymore. Remember Beer Mat Mum? Life would have been a lot easier for her if she had offered an appropriate bribe, rather than standing on her supposed moral principles.
So I now hear tales of tourists now being targeted for bribery as tourism is down so much in Thailand, the whole local bribery chain is breaking.
Here is one scam I have heard of from two different sources.
You are leaving Thailand after you visit and are doing some duty free shopping at the airport. You arrive at the counter to pay for whatever you have selected and the cashier packs something extra in your bag.
"Free gift Sir/Madame".
They may not even say that. I might look like they made a mistake and put something in your bag by accident.
You leave the shop and you are soon collared and accused of theft from the shop. You have a product in your bags and you don't have a receipt. You have no answer. Face the legal system or pay a bribe.
Generally I like Thai people, well I only know a couple really, but I would suggest if travelling, avoid going via Bangkok and travel via Singapore or Hong Kong. If you want an Asian holiday, consider Singapore, which is a very sophisticated country that works well, or what about Vietnam? We had a great time there and can recommend it. The Vietnamese police look after foreigners. Unlike Thailand, they know which side their bread is buttered. Honkers has plenty to see too.
Sadly Thailand seems to be malfunctioning country at the moment. Avoid it.
Holiday Day 2 Bendigo 2
Sister and the Bone Doctor were concerned that Ipsy had disappeared while they had been away for a few days. Ipsy reappeared from behind the toilet cistern and climbed high onto the bathroom wall. It is a Huntsman spider and he has not lost a leg. It is tucked away somewhere.
How good is the Bendigo Art Gallery? Excellent and very innovative. They had a fantastic exhibition earlier this year and Sister took us to the gallery to see the latest exhibition of the Archibald portrait prize entries. The gallery had a computer set up for popular choice voting. Could I vote for anyone else but Ben Cousins, who's portrait had him lying baretop on a bed? Of course not. We would have liked to have seen more of the gallery but Little Jo was getting restless.
We then climbed the tower near the gallery. It sits high above the beautiful Rosalind Park and a rotunda. I do like a nice rotunda.
Do not graffiti public places, but if you do, please make it something sweet like this.
This is a beautiful water feature but sans water.
Queen Elizabeth Oval. There are some local ructions about its condition, but it didn't look too bad from the tower.
Sister then took us on to Lake Weeroona for Little Jo's daily 'chino', a little milk froth. Sister did a couple or running laps of the lake while we played with Little Jo on the excellent play equipment. The galahs were to busy to notice us.
Time for Little Jo's midday nap and time for us to go home. Sister said to go via Lake Eppalock, only ten minutes longer. Between the larger trees and the hills should be water. Sadly very much not so.
Bendigo is a beautiful city and I don't think you will be disappointed if you visit.
How good is the Bendigo Art Gallery? Excellent and very innovative. They had a fantastic exhibition earlier this year and Sister took us to the gallery to see the latest exhibition of the Archibald portrait prize entries. The gallery had a computer set up for popular choice voting. Could I vote for anyone else but Ben Cousins, who's portrait had him lying baretop on a bed? Of course not. We would have liked to have seen more of the gallery but Little Jo was getting restless.
We then climbed the tower near the gallery. It sits high above the beautiful Rosalind Park and a rotunda. I do like a nice rotunda.
Do not graffiti public places, but if you do, please make it something sweet like this.
This is a beautiful water feature but sans water.
Queen Elizabeth Oval. There are some local ructions about its condition, but it didn't look too bad from the tower.
Sister then took us on to Lake Weeroona for Little Jo's daily 'chino', a little milk froth. Sister did a couple or running laps of the lake while we played with Little Jo on the excellent play equipment. The galahs were to busy to notice us.
Time for Little Jo's midday nap and time for us to go home. Sister said to go via Lake Eppalock, only ten minutes longer. Between the larger trees and the hills should be water. Sadly very much not so.
Bendigo is a beautiful city and I don't think you will be disappointed if you visit.
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