Hello from Bright. It has been really warm here and dry for some weeks, most days have been over 30. Not great for walks! My next trip is a walking trip up to the local mountains again (weather permitting) next week. That's in preparation for my Tasmania trip, next month, on a 10 day guided walking trip.
Some observations....
Religious Season
Over the Christmas period I was assailed a couple times by religious types. First, I was approached by a woman, just prior to Christmas, giving small gift boxes to random people (she said she had 100 to give away). It turned out they contained chocolates plus an invitation to come to a local church service. Then just after Christmas the Jehovah's Witnesses paid me their annual visit. They are just very polite sales people.
Fish & Chip Shop Photo Shoot
I am a weekly visitor to our (very good) local fish and chip shop. At this time of the year there are a lot of tourists that come to Bright. One day when I walked in a photo shoot was taking place involving a group that was waiting for their fish and chips. Their pictures must have carried the by line "Here we are waiting for our fish and chips". I have always resisted the tempation to take pictures in the fish and chip shop.
Knuckleheads
I postulated in my book (Random Thoughts & Tales, see below) that knuckleheads need to be gainfully employed to limit their opportunities to engage in knucklhead behaviour. Over this holiday period this theory has gained some further support. Bright was full of "tourist zombies" (and still is) not looking where they are walking, riding bikes on crowded footpaths, and speeding through the centre of town; at camping spots a number of fires have started due to people not putting out campfires properly; and a local CFA was robbed of its equipment.
The most baffling piece of knucklehead behaviour I saw recently was the people queing up 12 hours before the start of the Sydney New Year fireworks to get the "best position" and then running to get that best position. First, it's just a fireworks display, and second unless you are severely height challenged, one position is good as the next to see fireworks considering a lot of the action occurs in the air.
Camping
As I mentioned, there are a lot of tourists here over the hollidays and there is a lot of people camping. In the local caravan park I have noticed some people bring a long more stuff on their camping trips than I have possessions. They are clearly not interested in slumming it.
Melbourne Trips
I occasionaly visit to Melbourne for family events or the soccer. Given the increasing price of the train fare, it will soon be cheaper to fly to Tasmania. Anyway I digress. As you have seen from my previous posts, a lot always happens on these trips.
On the bus to Wangaratta, to catch the train to Melbourne, a Spanish girl, who I called "garlic girl" (but not to her face) because that's how the bus smelled when she came on, decided to sit behind me, although the whole bus was empty. She then proceeded to start talking on her phone to various people - at 6am in the morning! Vline have now introduced a new purple uniform for its staff. It's a bit confusing as their staff now look more like beauticians than railway staff. It hasn't made their trains runs any better either.
I notice that Krispy Kreme still retains a presence in Melbourne. I think it's a bit of false advertising to claim they are a dougnut shop when really what they are doing is selling is sugar attached to bit of doughnut.
The new rubbish bins in the city are intriguing. They seem to be magic electronic ones which you can throw any rubbish in, but it's a bit unclear as there are no signs indicating what you can put in them or that they are even rubbish bins. Must be realy confusing for tourists.
On the train to Hoppers Crossing, a person (without the need for earphones) decided to play with his phone: we had shouting and screaming videos, and loud music. It stopped after a while; he must have felt my eyes boring into the side of his head.
I have to commend people with walking sticks who appear to be trying to lessen their depdence on them. I saw one with his walking stick tucked under his arm while he was texting. Another negotiiated the ailse on the bus quite adeptly while holding the stick in front of her.
The Australian Open seem to be taking over Melbourne. The ticket entrance is at Birrarung Marr park now. Soon the entance will be at Flinders Street Station. I passed by when they were setting up. Apparently, their employees are allowed to drive with their vehicles on footpaths and bike paths; and park anywhere they like.
Tattoos
Seems like men in their 30s or 40s who are losing their struggle to retain their hair appear get tatoos to compensate. Also, intriguingly, they get extensive and/or ugly tatoos, maybe that's to divert attention from the bald head.
Bushwalking with Headphones
I have seen a few people engaging in this activity recently and it has me mystified. What's wrong with the sound of the bush (birds, running water, a snake about to attack you, a branch about to fall on your head) that requires blocking out?
How to Identify a Rental Property
I know this is a generalisation but based on my observations of the Western Suburbs, you can identify a rental property by one or more of the following:
I do not have a need for barbers much these days but I am still in search of a new one after the premature retirement (due to ill health) of my long standing one. I tried the local one in Bright but it didn't start well when after explaining what I wanted ("a trim"), she asked me if all I wanted was a haircut. I thought that's what barbers did but perhaps it's a lot more complicated these days. Apparently you have to have a "hairstyle" which makes you look like a rooster or a mushroom. The relationship only deteriorated when she asked me whether I wanted my eye brows trimmed, and then whether I wanted "product" on my hair. And it's not as if she was either quick or cheap. Although I must commend her on identifying a gap in the market by setting up a barber shop.
Premature Ageing
I think my hands are prematurely ageing. They are at least 20 years older than the rest of me.
Americans
If you solely based your assessment of Americans on the basis of their country's politics and reality TV, you could only come to one conclusion: these people are insane.
My Neigbours
They seem to have been affected by the heat here in Bright. One morning, when it was drizzling one had their sprinkler on and another one decided it was a good time to mow the front lawn.
One of the same neighbours appears to suffer with some sort of medical issue that requires him to play music at full volume for about 30 minutes from time to time, at random times. On the other side is a holiday rental. The most recent occupant decided to engage in chanting outside on the deck. However, it sounded more like an angry fly buzzing in your ear than rythmic chanting. The occupants before were Macedonians, and for New Years Eve they really kranked up their music (including singing along for a while but by 10pm it was all over, they had run out of steam. I didn't hear much from them after that. They clearly peaked too early.
Random Thought & Tales (2nd Edition)...Special 15% Discount
My recently published book is now available with a 15% discount. Just type the discount code ONEFIVE at checkout to get the discount. Order by clicking on this link. Offer expires 24 January.
Some pictures from around Bright. The local wildlife seems to be very active in the mornings because of the hot weather later in the day...
Some observations....
Religious Season
Over the Christmas period I was assailed a couple times by religious types. First, I was approached by a woman, just prior to Christmas, giving small gift boxes to random people (she said she had 100 to give away). It turned out they contained chocolates plus an invitation to come to a local church service. Then just after Christmas the Jehovah's Witnesses paid me their annual visit. They are just very polite sales people.
Fish & Chip Shop Photo Shoot
I am a weekly visitor to our (very good) local fish and chip shop. At this time of the year there are a lot of tourists that come to Bright. One day when I walked in a photo shoot was taking place involving a group that was waiting for their fish and chips. Their pictures must have carried the by line "Here we are waiting for our fish and chips". I have always resisted the tempation to take pictures in the fish and chip shop.
Knuckleheads
I postulated in my book (Random Thoughts & Tales, see below) that knuckleheads need to be gainfully employed to limit their opportunities to engage in knucklhead behaviour. Over this holiday period this theory has gained some further support. Bright was full of "tourist zombies" (and still is) not looking where they are walking, riding bikes on crowded footpaths, and speeding through the centre of town; at camping spots a number of fires have started due to people not putting out campfires properly; and a local CFA was robbed of its equipment.
The most baffling piece of knucklehead behaviour I saw recently was the people queing up 12 hours before the start of the Sydney New Year fireworks to get the "best position" and then running to get that best position. First, it's just a fireworks display, and second unless you are severely height challenged, one position is good as the next to see fireworks considering a lot of the action occurs in the air.
Camping
As I mentioned, there are a lot of tourists here over the hollidays and there is a lot of people camping. In the local caravan park I have noticed some people bring a long more stuff on their camping trips than I have possessions. They are clearly not interested in slumming it.
Melbourne Trips
I occasionaly visit to Melbourne for family events or the soccer. Given the increasing price of the train fare, it will soon be cheaper to fly to Tasmania. Anyway I digress. As you have seen from my previous posts, a lot always happens on these trips.
On the bus to Wangaratta, to catch the train to Melbourne, a Spanish girl, who I called "garlic girl" (but not to her face) because that's how the bus smelled when she came on, decided to sit behind me, although the whole bus was empty. She then proceeded to start talking on her phone to various people - at 6am in the morning! Vline have now introduced a new purple uniform for its staff. It's a bit confusing as their staff now look more like beauticians than railway staff. It hasn't made their trains runs any better either.
I notice that Krispy Kreme still retains a presence in Melbourne. I think it's a bit of false advertising to claim they are a dougnut shop when really what they are doing is selling is sugar attached to bit of doughnut.
The new rubbish bins in the city are intriguing. They seem to be magic electronic ones which you can throw any rubbish in, but it's a bit unclear as there are no signs indicating what you can put in them or that they are even rubbish bins. Must be realy confusing for tourists.
On the train to Hoppers Crossing, a person (without the need for earphones) decided to play with his phone: we had shouting and screaming videos, and loud music. It stopped after a while; he must have felt my eyes boring into the side of his head.
I have to commend people with walking sticks who appear to be trying to lessen their depdence on them. I saw one with his walking stick tucked under his arm while he was texting. Another negotiiated the ailse on the bus quite adeptly while holding the stick in front of her.
The Australian Open seem to be taking over Melbourne. The ticket entrance is at Birrarung Marr park now. Soon the entance will be at Flinders Street Station. I passed by when they were setting up. Apparently, their employees are allowed to drive with their vehicles on footpaths and bike paths; and park anywhere they like.
Tattoos
Seems like men in their 30s or 40s who are losing their struggle to retain their hair appear get tatoos to compensate. Also, intriguingly, they get extensive and/or ugly tatoos, maybe that's to divert attention from the bald head.
Bushwalking with Headphones
I have seen a few people engaging in this activity recently and it has me mystified. What's wrong with the sound of the bush (birds, running water, a snake about to attack you, a branch about to fall on your head) that requires blocking out?
How to Identify a Rental Property
I know this is a generalisation but based on my observations of the Western Suburbs, you can identify a rental property by one or more of the following:
- there are at least three cars parked outside, most of which are parked on the front lawn.
- the front lawn is a mixture of grass, weeds, and random items.
- you see someone cutting their lawn with a whipper snipper.
- use of an Australian flag as a curtain.
- use of wood instead of glass in windows.
- a pile of furniture outside the front door or on the nature strip.
I do not have a need for barbers much these days but I am still in search of a new one after the premature retirement (due to ill health) of my long standing one. I tried the local one in Bright but it didn't start well when after explaining what I wanted ("a trim"), she asked me if all I wanted was a haircut. I thought that's what barbers did but perhaps it's a lot more complicated these days. Apparently you have to have a "hairstyle" which makes you look like a rooster or a mushroom. The relationship only deteriorated when she asked me whether I wanted my eye brows trimmed, and then whether I wanted "product" on my hair. And it's not as if she was either quick or cheap. Although I must commend her on identifying a gap in the market by setting up a barber shop.
Premature Ageing
I think my hands are prematurely ageing. They are at least 20 years older than the rest of me.
Americans
If you solely based your assessment of Americans on the basis of their country's politics and reality TV, you could only come to one conclusion: these people are insane.
My Neigbours
They seem to have been affected by the heat here in Bright. One morning, when it was drizzling one had their sprinkler on and another one decided it was a good time to mow the front lawn.
One of the same neighbours appears to suffer with some sort of medical issue that requires him to play music at full volume for about 30 minutes from time to time, at random times. On the other side is a holiday rental. The most recent occupant decided to engage in chanting outside on the deck. However, it sounded more like an angry fly buzzing in your ear than rythmic chanting. The occupants before were Macedonians, and for New Years Eve they really kranked up their music (including singing along for a while but by 10pm it was all over, they had run out of steam. I didn't hear much from them after that. They clearly peaked too early.
Random Thought & Tales (2nd Edition)...Special 15% Discount
My recently published book is now available with a 15% discount. Just type the discount code ONEFIVE at checkout to get the discount. Order by clicking on this link. Offer expires 24 January.
Some pictures from around Bright. The local wildlife seems to be very active in the mornings because of the hot weather later in the day...
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