According to Gandhi...
1. First they ignore you,
2. then they laugh at you,
3. then they fight you,
4. then you win!
...yes! - we are so on the brink of number 4...
Go, Sydney!!!! - Go, us!!! xx
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Cruising - Sydney Style
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Our New "Bradbury-esque" Premier
After witnessing a 'Steven Bradbury' campaign out-perform the Australian Labour Party, lucky old NSW has Mr O'Farrell as our eager new leader; & he's already announced his transport minister - I sincerely hope she's a better correspondent than some of the former ministers involved with NSW transport and roads - I'm still owed a letter, and clearly that's not going to happen now!
No matter, I'll get onto Gladys first thing Monday morning.
Also fingers crossed silly old Barry didn't mean any of that negative 'locking-horns-with-Clover' stuff, broadcast last weekend! - that could make things somewhat strained when I assume my customary advisory role to the Department of Premier & Cabinet!
...and there's something else that's just occurred to me - he'll be the one now that gets the chance to meet us all on the 20th May (PUNK COMMUTE DAY!!)
Congrats, Bazza! - really looking forward to meeting you then &, remember, we're counting on you not to take New South Wales backwards anymore than it already is!!!
Bonne chance!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dem bones! Dem bones!
(Photos: Flickr, emmajnapier)
(with heaps of thanks & apologies to the Delta Rhythm Boys)
========================================
Labour-Party connected dem dry bones,
Labour-Party connected dem dry bones,
Labour-Party conencted dem dry bones
Now hear the workings of the State
The Ben bone is connected to the Kristina bone,
The Kristina bone is connected the Barangaroo bone,
The Barangaroo bone is connected to the Lend Lease bone,
The Lend Lease bone is connected to the Better Place Australia bone,
The Better Place Australia bone is connected to the Ben bone
Now here's the workings of our State!
Dem bones dem bones gonna walk around
Dem bones dem bones gonna walk around
(...sigh...)
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones!
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones!
No more about the workings of our State!!
========================================
(with heaps of thanks & apologies to the Delta Rhythm Boys)
========================================
Labour-Party connected dem dry bones,
Labour-Party connected dem dry bones,
Labour-Party conencted dem dry bones
Now hear the workings of the State
The Ben bone is connected to the Kristina bone,
The Kristina bone is connected the Barangaroo bone,
The Barangaroo bone is connected to the Lend Lease bone,
The Lend Lease bone is connected to the Better Place Australia bone,
The Better Place Australia bone is connected to the Ben bone
Now here's the workings of our State!
Dem bones dem bones gonna walk around
Dem bones dem bones gonna walk around
(...sigh...)
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones!
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones!
No more about the workings of our State!!
========================================
Monday, March 21, 2011
Troglodyte waiting in the wings
What's to look forward to when we get Bazza next weekend & why would he contemplate taking on Sydney's Lord Mayor?
Go, Clover, keeping on 'painting our town green' & illegitimi non carborundum!!!
...& also, just as a matter of interest, does anyone know whether the Boston Consulting Group connected to the Keneally Hubbie (‘Staring Down Defeat’ – 19/20 March 2011) is one & the same as the Boston Consulting Group connected to the Keneally Government (‘Secret Cuts to Schools’ – 19/20 March 2011)?
La-la la la la,
La-la la la la,
It’s a small world after all!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Trains, Pollies & Autobuses
(Photos: 'Trainless' Countrylink platform, Sydney Central)
(Photos: Cake & Circuses minus trains, Sydney Central)
(Photos: 'Countrylink Train' bus, Flickr, Kaine1991)
Lovely as 'Harmony Day' may be, when you're at a train station you want trains!
Yet again interminable trackwork faced rail passengers today. Yet again it was revealed that this nation cannot run trains according to publicised timetables.
Australia just isn't to be trusted in the public transport arena - we just don't get it.
How is it that 'Countrylink' & 'City-Rail' train lines ('train' being the operative word) have fleets of buses displaying their insignia?
* Why are there are protocols in place for 'train-travel' by road?
* Why is so much passenger time spent on roads rather than on railway tracks?
* Why are Countrylink personnel so uber-jolly in the face of passenger misery & inconvenience? ...the following exchange was almost too much to handle - I did my best...
Officer Countrylink (looking at my ticket): Ohhh! 'Sco-one'! Aren't we a lucky girl?! Such a pretty little place, 'Sco-one'!
Me: It's a facade, I can assure you - just like your rail network!!!......(jeez, beam me up, Scottie, please...sigh)
* Why aren't we shouting from the rooftops?
* Why do we put up with this 'shit'?
* & why don't coal trains ever stop running?
...but I digress; back to the 'Trackwork Pantomime'...
From what I've observed over my considerable experience as an Australian Public Transport user, there is still no glaringly obvious evidence of benefits from the incessant 'trackwork':
- nothing works better,
- trains still don't run on time,
- trains actually don't run
- buses make you sick
=======================================
Aaaaahhhhh, somebody, anybody - what's the story?
...here's looking at you, kid! & we'll always have "Trackwork"!!!
(cut to fuzzy lens & piano: Da-da, Da-da, Da-daaaah)
(Photos: Cake & Circuses minus trains, Sydney Central)
(Photos: 'Countrylink Train' bus, Flickr, Kaine1991)
Lovely as 'Harmony Day' may be, when you're at a train station you want trains!
Yet again interminable trackwork faced rail passengers today. Yet again it was revealed that this nation cannot run trains according to publicised timetables.
Australia just isn't to be trusted in the public transport arena - we just don't get it.
How is it that 'Countrylink' & 'City-Rail' train lines ('train' being the operative word) have fleets of buses displaying their insignia?
* Why are there are protocols in place for 'train-travel' by road?
* Why is so much passenger time spent on roads rather than on railway tracks?
* Why are Countrylink personnel so uber-jolly in the face of passenger misery & inconvenience? ...the following exchange was almost too much to handle - I did my best...
Officer Countrylink (looking at my ticket): Ohhh! 'Sco-one'! Aren't we a lucky girl?! Such a pretty little place, 'Sco-one'!
Me: It's a facade, I can assure you - just like your rail network!!!......(jeez, beam me up, Scottie, please...sigh)
* Why aren't we shouting from the rooftops?
* Why do we put up with this 'shit'?
* & why don't coal trains ever stop running?
...but I digress; back to the 'Trackwork Pantomime'...
From what I've observed over my considerable experience as an Australian Public Transport user, there is still no glaringly obvious evidence of benefits from the incessant 'trackwork':
- nothing works better,
- trains still don't run on time,
- trains actually don't run
- buses make you sick
=======================================
Aaaaahhhhh, somebody, anybody - what's the story?
...here's looking at you, kid! & we'll always have "Trackwork"!!!
(cut to fuzzy lens & piano: Da-da, Da-da, Da-daaaah)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Velo Cops, Patrol Car Police & City Rangers
(Photo: Newtown moment near 'Campos')
...everywhere!
* 'Velo cops', Missenden Road, cycling towards and then past me from opposite direction as I waited at traffic lights to turn right into Carillon Avenue - obviously not the 'chasing' ones!!
* 'Patrol-Car police' opposite me & waiting to turn left into Glebe Point Road as I was waiting to turn right - all somewhat confusing with 'who' ought to go first (them, obviously!), and before I knew it I'd ended up at 'driving cop's' window & was suggesting "you go first" - sounded like a plan, & off we all went with me following them up Glebe Point Road!
* 'City Rangers' (Aussie equivaltent to UK Traffic Wardens) issuing tickets in Mary Ann Street whilst I was simultaneously issuing post cards - startled them both by giving them one saying "this time, we have something for you!"
But, the best bit of the day was...
...bumping into Clover Moore, our estimable Lord Mayor of Sydney & Independent Member for Sydney, doing a spot of 'street-walking' just like me...
I went into 'fan' mode:
♥ gushed how much I admired her,
♥ shook her hand enthusiastically,
♥ blurted out how I'd met her before but didn't expect her to remember me,
♥ declared dramatically to her & the whole of Bulwarra Street that I was campaigning for law reform, & that bicycle helmets ought to be a matter for choice
♥ gratefully received her pamphlet,
♥ forgot to give her mine!!!!?
...& Clover Moore's response; utterly charming, and genuinely friendly, and graciously serene...
RESPECT!
I'm more smitten than ever - if I lived in her electorate (sigh!) I would VOTE 1 CLOVER MOORE FOR SYDNEY in 9 days time.
Go, Clover!!!!
...everywhere!
* 'Velo cops', Missenden Road, cycling towards and then past me from opposite direction as I waited at traffic lights to turn right into Carillon Avenue - obviously not the 'chasing' ones!!
* 'Patrol-Car police' opposite me & waiting to turn left into Glebe Point Road as I was waiting to turn right - all somewhat confusing with 'who' ought to go first (them, obviously!), and before I knew it I'd ended up at 'driving cop's' window & was suggesting "you go first" - sounded like a plan, & off we all went with me following them up Glebe Point Road!
* 'City Rangers' (Aussie equivaltent to UK Traffic Wardens) issuing tickets in Mary Ann Street whilst I was simultaneously issuing post cards - startled them both by giving them one saying "this time, we have something for you!"
But, the best bit of the day was...
...bumping into Clover Moore, our estimable Lord Mayor of Sydney & Independent Member for Sydney, doing a spot of 'street-walking' just like me...
I went into 'fan' mode:
♥ gushed how much I admired her,
♥ shook her hand enthusiastically,
♥ blurted out how I'd met her before but didn't expect her to remember me,
♥ declared dramatically to her & the whole of Bulwarra Street that I was campaigning for law reform, & that bicycle helmets ought to be a matter for choice
♥ gratefully received her pamphlet,
♥ forgot to give her mine!!!!?
...& Clover Moore's response; utterly charming, and genuinely friendly, and graciously serene...
RESPECT!
I'm more smitten than ever - if I lived in her electorate (sigh!) I would VOTE 1 CLOVER MOORE FOR SYDNEY in 9 days time.
Go, Clover!!!!
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