time for a steam train clip...

Well, here's where I damage my green credentials - love steam trains, (or at least Queensland steam trains) and here's a great short video (and some great music too) of Queensland Rail's preserved AC16 class loco - Queensland Government acquired these locos from the United States Army in World War II on a "lend lease" arrangement. Yep, truly little wonders.

footprint

I'm trying to do my bit for the environment and get my ecological footprint down. I'm not doing too badly by Australian standards. Tried a few of those ecological footprint calculators.

This one;

or this one;

or this one.

Generally I'm getting a score of about 2.4 or 2.5. Better than the Australian average which is between 5 and 7. But it still means if everyone on the planet used as much as me, we'd need 2.4 planets to survive.

Next big challenge for me is to reduce my red meat consumption, as it's a huge user of water and generator of greenhouse gases.

But how are you all going with your footprints ??

What really worries me is the rampant, swaggering, aggressive, conspicuous consumerism I see around me - ridiculously huge homes, flash cars with stupid accessories, endless gadgets, flash clothes, bling. There was a time when such ostentation was frowned upon as plain bad taste. I still think it is.

I really feel like a fish out of water sometimes.

Riddle me this...

What am I ?

I am a strange creature, for I satisfy women;
I grow very tall, erect in a bed,
I'm hairy underneath. From time to time
A beautiful girl, the brave daughter
Of some fellow dares to hold me
Grips my reddish skin, robs me of my head
And puts me in the pantry. At once that girl
With plaited hair who has confined me
Remembers our meeting. Her eyes moisten.

Was it that long ago ?

Been reminiscing a lot about my first big trip away from home in August 1986. 21 years ago - sheeesh ! I took this pic of South Melbourne Depot - sadly no more, replaced by an incredibly ugly office block.

I love how the incandescent lights in the trams on their timber interiors make them look warm and inviting. No flouro lighting then.

We had the best time ever on that trip. Me and a few mates drove from Brisbane down to Melbourne. Saw lots of towns I'd never seen before - Goodoowindi, Coonabarabran, Dubbo, Parkes, Bendigo, Ballarat and a few more besides. Then finally, Melbourne - it was run down, it was cold, but it had, and still has, TRAMS !!

My first ride on a W class tram was at night - the roads dark and glistening after rain. The driver flew through the empty streets of South Melbourne down to the bay. The connie was real chatty - not surprising as there were only one or two other passengers apart from us tram nuts. And that's what I really remember - how friendly just about everyone was. Tramway folk were pretty much one big family.

I also think trams have a civilising effect on cities. Being electric, when they stop at an intersection or a tram stop, they are absolutely quiet - not like buses that keep chugging. So quiet, you just HAVE to make conversation with total strangers to break the silence ! I love that about Melbourne.

winding down for the night

Here’s what’s on my I-Tunes playlist as I wind down for the evening (not that it's been a wild weekend). Just a big week at work coming up.

“2+2=5” FourPlay
“Allison” Elvis Costello
“Amazing” Alex Lloyd
“Fall At Your Feet” Crowded House
“Heart's a Mess” Gotye
“How Soon Is Now” The Smiths
“Monday, Monday” Mamas and the Papas
“Princess Mononoke” Theme Song (vocal) Utada Hikaru

a nice mix, I reckon.

I am so behind the times

My very own time dilation at work again. Apparently this was quite a hit for TISM last year. I love it and the video.

However, it does not reflect my state of mind. I just like it, OK

Love the line about orb weaver spiders. Thank you Humphrey B Flaubert, Ron Hitler-Barassi and the rest of TISM . A uniquely Australian band.

First time for everything

Ummmm,

testing, testing one, two, three...

Is this thing on ?

Well, been reading other people's blogs and posts for a while now, so will try my hand at it.