We were in town by 11, had some nice brunch, mine being poached eggs on lime flavoured smashed avocado on toast, only $8.50, not the politicians' $22 smashed avocado, and I had my hair cut. We shopped for a birthday card and then R went off to buy a pair of loafers, or boat shoes. He hates me calling them those names. I don't know the right name for them. They are blue runners, or sandshoes. I left him to it to buy his shoes, which he didn't, and I returned home briefly.
It was quite hot today, so I was looking out for air con trams and succeeded pretty well. I caught a 67 tram to St Kilda Junction, took photos. Then a non air con 3 tram to Beacon Lighting in St Kilda Road, St Kilda to return a $12 light bulb that did not fit our lamp.
Then a 16 tram to Malvern Station for a photo stop, and then walk in the heat to the Wattletree Road train bridge, and then a decent walk to a 605 bus stop at Union Street and Kooyong Roads. Everyone knows a diagonal is quicker to walk than a right angle. Why can't you walk behind Malvern Central shopping centre on a path from Glenferrie Road to Wattletree Road? You could, if you were prepared to gamble with traffic and ignore the 'no pedestrians' warning signs. I did not rebel and walked in the hot sun, fortunately shaded by my new and very wide brimmed hat from historic
City Hatters.
I took photos at Wattletree Road and then walked on diagonally this time along the railway line, with the street only interrupted by a nice little kiddies park, where I sat on a bench in the shade for a few minutes.
I have reached Kooyong Road now and I am waiting for the bus. I take my photos and have a brief chat to the customer service person at the bus stop. She is there to organise passengers for the bus replacement of the train line while works are done.
The 605 bus arrives to take me to the corner of Orrong and Malvern Roads where I take more photos. I have to wait twelve minutes for the 72 tram to Prahran. Once in Prahran I dash down Chapel Street to get a couple of things and I am back in the time for the next 72 tram home twelve minutes later. I dashed because the next tram had air con. I was getting very hot and bothered.
Does that all sound hard? Maybe. I used three different public transport apps and I knew exactly when, where and which bus/tram would arrive. I also had a bit of time to read a book and gaze around public transport vehicles at attractive young men and stylish older women, as well as just looking out the windows at the streets. While I and matters tech have been long time companions, I really don't understand why young people are so needy about using public transport and don't or won't use phone apps.
Here are some of the photos from today. There are photos I took of some things that seriously concern me, but I can't confirm the concern until after the train works have finished, so I won't show them yet.
Infrastructure, we have new infrastructure. Badly needed and very overdue.
Does this mean the express train can go faster? Especially when the new Metro Tunnel service begins?
As I said, it was a hot day and the workers must have been feeling the heat. I am on the city side of Malvern Station.
A bit of Art Deco. So far as I can remember, this clock has never worked. A friend used to own the restaurant next door, now Sugo. When my friend had the Thai restaurant, Melbourne foodie identity
Matt Preston gave it a lukewarm review and wondered how it made money. I emailed Preston and told him how the quite large restaurant made money, because it could cater for huge groups, the food was of a high standard (a bit expensive) did a roaring trade in take away and both my friend and his wife were hands on people who didn't mind doing the dirty work, as well as front of house. Preston sent me a polite reply, thanking me for the information.
I don't know how well it will show, but the new copper overhead cables were glistening in the sunlight. I too was glistening, with sweat.
Wires, staunchions, supports, signals, all new.
What is this thing glimpsed through the trees called, love?
I have absolutely no idea. It just before Armadale Station, citybound.
Marcus? Is it to knock train surfers off the top of trains?
Looking north west to Armadale Station.
On the city side of Toorak Station.
The much slicker and stylish blogger Daniel Bowen has some photos of the works happening near
South Yarra Station.
PS. If you are a reader of
Cro's blog, who lives in France, you will know that his much loved dog Bok died suddenly. We will let Cro mourn his loss in peace but hope he will be back in blogland soon. I kinda miss him, quite a bit.