Public transport isn't all bad......

Now normally, public transport is one of those things that like everyone else, I complain incessantly about because it doesn't go where I need it, it never runs on time, and is largely populated by rude, ignorant people who dont care that they shoved you out of the way when you are getting off at the same stop, stepped on your toe, coughed in your face, had excessively loud and obnoxious conversations on their phone which you had to listen to....... Etcetera.....

I use it because the process of finding and paying for a carpark in the city is both painful and ridiculous expensive. I drive as far as possibly can, park for free and take the bus for the absolute minimum distance (one stop - but its a long walk particularly if the weather ain't great, and today it is raining!).

But today, having been sent home from work because the coughing, sneezing, pasty white face and general germiness of my appearance was making people feel uncomfortable (plus, I actually do feel like crap), I climbed onto the bus to confront to of the nicer elements of public transport.

1. The ticket machine was out-of-order so free transport! and

2. there was some really nice eye candy sitting in just the right position that the 'staring vaguely out the window' bus attitude was a perfect cover for enjoying the view. The best possible way this happens is when you get a particularly taught backside in well fitting pants standing 6 inches from you while you have a seat, but today, I just got a perfect view of some great shoulder, arm and back muscles in a not too tight shirt.......

Before someone else says it - yes, I was objectifying the strapping young lad on the bus. But I wasn't obviously ogling him, did nothing insulting or annoying and if we are at all honest with ourselves, we all do it - the important thing is that you do it discretely.

So despite being remarkably full of snot and phlegm, and feeling pretty miserable, its not such a bad day.....

Oh - and public transport isn't always hell - just about 99% of the time!

A short lesson in history....

Well, really, its just a catch up on where things are at seeing I've been too busy and too tired and too lazy to fill you in on whats going on.

So just over a month ago I started a new job. Its turned out to be a really interesting role, which has real implications for other people. Its also quite intense and after 7 1/2 hours at work, I'm pretty exhausted.

Added to this, I'm house hunting. I've done the sums, and finally have the cash available for a deposit, and for the same money I'm currently paying in rent, I can actually buy a place a few k's down the road. It's actually in a different state, but its relatively cheap compared to the city and there are some really quite nice places around. Its just a matter of waiting for one that I like to come along.

This week, I've been sick. Three days at home in bed feeling miserable on what I am convinced are the last days of good weather we will see here this year. I have a real conviction that as soon as I'm healthy enough to actually get back outside and enjoy the sunshine, it will run away and the 8 months of winter will descend. 

Anyway. I still feel pretty blah, and its time to try and force some sustenance down so I'll leave it there. Hope everyone elses month has been great!!!!

Be prepared. For the vultrues

It does seem that when it comes to the furies of mother nature, the best bet is to be prepared. In the recent floods, those who had warning and took precautions faired the best. The poor souls who didn't make it were either caught by surprise in the flash flooding, or ignored the advice and went into flood waters.

Yasi seems to have left much less destruction in its wake than was feared. So far no fatalities have been reported. The people of NQ took the warnings seriously and barricaded  and fortified and evacuated.

What disappoints me the most is that the media seem to be taking it very poorly. By sheer luck, Yasi missed the major centres and took out small towns instead, meaning that the damage and potential for death were much reduced. And the ravening wolves of the media packs seem disappointed.

Public sentiment seemed to be captured by a tweet from a Cairns local saying that if the cyclone wasn't enough, A Current Affair and Today Tonight had arrived early yesterday morning in force. I have to agree. There are local, experienced reporters who went through it all. And they are doing a great job. The descent of media packs from elsewhere, digging for dirt, pulling people back into the memory of the fear, well..... It makes me sick. We dont need that. There were enough mobile phones and video camera's capturing it live. And if you didn't live it, you wont ever understand.

But so far so good. Everyone seems to have made it through. My folks caught the edge of the destructive winds, and made it through with just a couple of nearby trees down and the power out.

There will be other cyclones. There will be more damage. There will be lives lost. But its a beautiful part of the world, and when you prepare, you have a good chance of enjoying it for ever.

A land of drought and flooding rain....

Of course, the whole world knows that right now its the later that is plauging the citizens of Australia. 2/3 of Queensland and large chunks of NSW and Victoria went underwater just days ago, and now Yasi is taking care of the only dry bits of Queensland.

Lets not forget that at the same time, parts of Victoria are burning.

For those of us familiar with cyclones, being in Canberra last night was quite interesting. Ex-cyclone Anthony swung by on his way out of the country after touring the western regions of southern Queensland and NSW. He was still backing a punch too. Unpredictable winds, rain, lightening.

Of course, not even a patch on Yasi, which according to the experts was stronger than Hurricane Katrina when it hit the coast, though thankfully smaller - but not much!! Yasi is a monster compared to Larry or Tracey, and frankly leave Anthony looking like a squawling child having a tantrum while a war rages outside the window.

Thankfully people in QLD know that cyclones are a serious threat. Even little ones can do a lot of damage. So hopefully Yasi will leave a path of destruction, but be relatively fatality free.