foods

I think I've found a kind of sliced bread that makes sandwiches more than tolerable again. For some reason Buttercup Country Split seems to go down well. Though it might be because there's not much of it - not being very dense. I think the more expensive breads put me off bread. Another 20 more cans of tuna until I am released from my burden. I have about 30 business days left in my internship so that means about 10 days allocated to tuna-sandwich-free lunches.

As an aside, Black and Gold (IGA's home brand) chocolate covered ice cream sticks seem quite good value. The ice cream seems a bit airy though.

Perhaps it's a common theme. o.O

...and journeying back

Well, not the best start to my journey back to Canberra. Firstly, I thought I was cutting it fine by arriving at Southern Cross less than 10 minutes before scheduled departure. Second, I didn't realise platform 13 was a regular Metropolitan platform. It didn't matter - a faulty radio meant a new engine had to be sourced with a 45 minute delay. Furthermore, a stopping all stations Vlocity service departed first.

I think it was an N-class loco plus five carriages. There was plenty of leg-room and the ride was superb. Not much noise at all, even while braking. The toilets all seemed to be backed up though.

Being a 'guaranteed-connection' the coach waited in the nice bus shelter at Bairnsdale. I think the bus shelter is quite decent, providing actual shelter!


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The coach barely fit in between the rumble strips. At times the driver was using the shoulder to ensure the safety of vehicles going in the other direction.
Lakes Entrance looks nice as ever. An old man tried to turn across the path of the coach. Tsk tsk.

Orbost was a hole.
210 acres for $198k near Coopracambra National Park.
Near the turnoff for Mila, heading towards Bombala there were some nice plains.
Bombala itself had nice old buildings and a river running through it.

I liked how Cooma unfolded as a hill town. It was impressive to see companies like Subway and Aldi there, and also the Chinese-Malaysians have invaded this far.

Australian mountains look half decent here.

The coach journey was a little uncomfortable as my feet did not touch the floor.



Total journey: 11.5 hours
Total cost:  $23.66 end-to-end

A long journey home

I had the goal of returning to Melbourne on Christmas Eve at minimal cost. Finishing the work day at noon, I cycled home and managed to fill up the garbage bin with more branches, made some sandwiches from the remaining ingredients and set out to the airport by public transport. Not wanting to pay for the comparatively expensive Airliner service which arrives at the terminal, I boarded the second-last #10 service.
As an aside, when walking around Canberra streets, I notice a lot of alcohol bottles discarded. The difference here is that they're often not empty. They must be too rich to care.
The #10 winds through some interesting places which don't normally necessitate a visit. The War Memorial - fair enough. The next half hour involved going through ADFA, winding back for Campbell defence offices, Majura business park but not the Brand Depot etc... I got off at Brindabella business park and walked the last kilometre to the terminal. At most there were three passengers and that was near the start of the ride.
Well, that meant I arrived ridiculously early for my flight. That was alright though - I could kill some time by writing up part of my internship report. Well, things turned out differently.

I probably could have gotten home faster using surface transport. Indeed there were two empty seats on the actual flight - perhaps those two found alternative arrangements. It was also nice to catch up with a former Phonetec employee who happened to be seated across the aisle from me. Funnily enough, his other half doesn't approve of Tiger flights and how it affects her waiting at the airport.
Getting out on the other side was a joke. Terminal 4 Melbourne Airport is just a shed. Found my parents waiting at the regular terminal... one that actually looks like a building. And that was 0130 Christmas Day. I was originally planning to take the 901 Smartbus to Blackburn.

Total journey ~ 11 hours.
Transport expenditure $91.21 plus parents' petrol.