The Horrors of the Brisbane Train Network

Somehow, I think it is time that Queensland Rail updated its train system somewhat. Having spent the best part of three or so hours today trying to accomplish what normally takes one hour on the train, I am less than happy at our public rail network.

Though to be honest, with the recent spate of people throwing themselves in front of trains this week, plus the two cars that went through boom gates this morning (one accidental, one on purpose) up this way, it is probably fair to say that Queensland Rail are doing their best, considering the circumstances. Add to that, the (also recent) couple of accidents with the long distance trains, up north, including the south-bound Tilt Train today which had to stop at Caboolture to transfer some passengers to hospital via ambulance (reason unknown as yet), and because they had to wait for the Queensland Ambulance Service to turn up, Queensland Rail requisitioned a local domestic city train and turned it into a makeshift express long distance train so that the passengers would get to Brisbane SOMETIME today....it's been a pretty awful start to the new year all round really.

Oh and did I mention also that due to our current heat wave, the older domestic trains (known to those who care or are aware as E.M.U's, not to be confused with the S.M.U's or the newer I.M.U's) tend to overheat when they reach a certain temperature, and simply stop on the lines where they stand. Given I was on one such train for part of my journey today, I know this to be true.

As it was, I sat at my local station and waited for a train that was supposed to arrive a few minutes after I got there, only....it took an hour to actually make it to us. After that, we didn't even get as far as the next station (about 15 minutes south of me by train), before we had to stop and wait for the train to cool down, before we could continue. The whole way we kept being given updates on the various accidents south of us, including the grissly details of the family that went through the boom gates on purpose and apparently smiled at the train driver while doing so.

This happened an hour or so after another car went through the boom gates at a station just north of that one (but still south of me), which caused my train and the one after it to be cancelled. Which is why I had to wait an hour for a train today.

It took me over two hours to get to Brisbane today. I left home at 10am. I got to town at 12.30pm. By the time I got what I had to get done today, it was 1.30pm, and they were cancelling south-bound trains and north-bound trains all over the place, so my visit to a family member on the south-side had to be cancelled (again). Needless to say - she isn't very happy with me currently.

It took me until 4pm to get back home. That means two hours - again.

This little chook is a bit peeved with Queensland Rail, but more so with twits who decide they want to kill themselves by jumping or driving in front of oncoming trains. Surely there are better, less messy, less intrusive ways of doing yourself in? Now that sounds callous, I know, but I've had enough of death this year - AND IT'S ONLY JANUARY...

My ONLY modes of transport are by train, bus, ferry and foot. When something happens to any of those, it means I am unable to get about, and in the process, I make other people who I promised to come visit, very unhappy.

Please, people - use a little common sense. Life is never so terribly bad that the ONLY answer is death. There's always - ALWAYS - another option, if you are just willing to go look!

Revenge of the Giant Loaf?

This is the giant loaf of bread I made yesterday in the breadmaker. It measures about 18cm long, by about 12cm wide at the base. It tastes rather good, and each slice is about the size of a large bread and butter plate.

The first few slices I had with marmite - just to make certain people happy :)

My Marmite Experience....

Here is proof that I had vegemite and marmite toast for breakfast this morning....

The dark one is good old vegemite, the light one is marmite.

While both have basically the same ingredients, the smell, texture and flavour are decidedly different. Marmite also has the added benefit of being REALLY good for clearing your lungs and sinuses.

I will be having it again, but only on weekends, I think :-)

Time to try something new (to me!)

Looksie what turned up in the mail today? All the way from jolly old England too! I'll admit, it's been a few years since I last tasted the stuff, so tomorrow's breakfast will be an experience, that's for sure....

However, in order to keep certain people happy (you know who you are!), I will try a spoonful in a little bit. Just wanted to take a pic of it in its virgin (unopened) state.

Here's hoping I like it as much as my British counterpart likes Vegemite! :-)

Thank you, once again, for your little British Care Package....

Raise your glasses in a toast....

Raise your glasses in a toast to celebrate the life of a good man, and pause for a moment, to remember him....

My uncle's funeral was yesterday. It was a good day in all. Not a sad event, but rather a celebration of the life of a great and wonderful man.

There were various speakers, and as is typical in our family, a lot of laughs (and a few tears), but it wasn't a morbid affair. A lot of funerals are. I don't think our family knows how to do "morbid" though. It was, instead, a time to reflect, to cherish, to reminisce over his life, and what he meant to all of us. A time to catch up with family and friends not seen in a while.

He would have loved that. Knowing we didn't cry over him, or rather, didn't cry over his passing. We cried over him, sure. But mostly we remembered him. He will never ever be forgotten, because we don't do "forget" in our family either. We do "joy", and "laughter", we do heartfelt "sorrow" and "heartbreak", but we don't do "forget".

So here's to him that's passed, and to never forgetting him. Raise your glasses, and say a cheer to him next time you're at the pub, ok?

And Now For Something Completely Different....

This is today's sunset. And actually, it got better after this pic was taken. Given the week I've had, it was nice to find a bit of beauty in this world, and to be able to recognise it as such. Maybe life will be okay afterall?

That said, I've been so lucky to have such wonderful people around me in my hour of need. You know who you are, and you know I love you dearly. Thank you. xxx

Once More Unto The Breach Dear Friends.....

It never rains, but it pours, it seems.

I got news tonight that we have lost another loved one today. So another funeral to attend in the next week. Another loss. Another soul removed from us.

Frog In A Sock posted about it on her blog:

http://froginasock.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-favourite-uncle-died-today-in.html

He might not have been related to me by blood, but he's been a fixture in my life...all my life. All my Dad's life too, for that matter.

He will be missed greatly, as he was adored greatly. And loved greatly, too.

I don't know what else to say about it all just at the moment. I'm too numb from my own uncle's death, to totally comprehend this added loss just yet.

Perhaps in a day or so....