4. What would I miss? Sydney's public transport ...

In October 2009, I had to surrender my Driver's Licence which I had acquired in August 1965 - my 17th birthday. Now that is a massive challenge, but it was done for medical reasons, and there was no arguing. To avoid spiraling into a slough of despond, my camera and I went more and more places. I learned the routes, and checked the timetables. I began to think nothing of changing lines, of changing modes. I qualified for the Seniors $2.50 per day card, and now I have a digital Opal card.

I would miss the public transport in Sydney. I travel by all three of these modes. I also travel by taxi because I have a disabled card that grants me a 50% discount. I know there are many people in this vast city who whinge about trains and buses being late, Who whinge about public transport being dirty, squashed, and smelly. That never occurs to me, but I travel out of peak hours. There is also a light rail system (aka trams) that the government is beginning to construct. So ... if I moved away from Sydney, I would miss the public transport.

Empathy is no mean feat

She is 14 months, and just learning to play with inanimate objects and "pretend". She knows the WORD "pretend", as I use it everytime she starts to eat playdoh! I care for her three days per week, and her imagination has just taken off. It helps that she has an older sister. She responds to the pretend train sounds, but the tracks are pointless. She just rips them up. The train-shed is a different kettle of fish. It had not occurrd to me, but the shape of the train-shed and the baby-cradle are similar.

Travel by train (1)

I travel a lot by public transport. Not exclusively, but overwhelmingly. I am used to it now. It was a wrench being banned from driving, but I chose not to dwell upon it. Gosford is about 80kms north of my home in Sydney. I travel there to visit my brother. Yesterday, a steam locomotive had just arrived, full of day-trippers. In this tableaux, guess who the steam engine afficianado is.

Sidelined

There is only one platform at Wauchope Railway Station. One platform in use. This platform has not been used for a while is my guess. Gradually the land around the station is being leased/sold for community use. The old station master's cottage is being recycled in this way. I suspect this old platform, though, will just settle down to its stumps.

XPT Stop

Looking north from Wauchope railway station, on the mid-north coast of NSW. The bridge in the distance takes the track across the Hastings River. I stand to be corrected, but I think 'XPT' stands for Express Train. Which it wasn't!

It was travelling from Brisbane to Sydney. By the time it picked me up at Wauchope it was 15 minutes late. Instead of arriving at Central Station (Sydney) at 9:02pm, I arrived at 9:45pm. Harumpf ... ...