Diary of a Supended Driver-Commuters do not share much; perhaps a common experience, the air we breathe and contagious diseases.

Day 8

To the City

Thank God I was suspended in autumn not winter.

Trains are air conditioned they are warm (or cool).  When I was a kid the trains were definitely not conditioned in any way. You could open a window. The used to put hot water steel bottles to warm your feet under the seats.y  On the few trips we made from Bendigo  I can remember sitting on one of these bottles. Shiny and silver from all the bums and feet that rested on it.

We have this warm cosy close atmosphere on trains now. What was I reading in The Age the other day about Measles and air travel. If you are in a plane and someone has measles you have a high chance of getting it.  Must go for train travel as well!  Commuters do not share much; perhaps a common experience, the air we breathe and contagious diseases.

Measles               Measles (also known as Rubeola [not to be confused with the same term in Spanish which refers to rubella], morbilli, or English measles), is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized, maculopapular, erythematous rash.

Measles is spread through respiration (contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission), and is highly contagious—90% of people without immunity sharing living space with an infected person will catch it.[citation needed] An asymptomatic incubation period occurs nine to twelve days from initial exposure.[1] The period of infectivity has not been definitively established, some saying it lasts from two to four days prior, until two to five days following the onset of the rash (i.e. four to nine days infectivity in total),[2] whereas others say it lasts from two to four days prior until the complete disappearance of the rash.[3]

Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae, the influenza viruses. The most common symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headache (often severe), coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.[1] Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease caused by a different type of virus.[2] Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children,[1] but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes inaccurately referred to as "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu".[3]

Flu can occasionally lead to pneumonia, either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia, even for persons who are usually very healthy.[4][5][6] In particular it is a warning sign if a child (or presumably an adult) seems to be getting better and then relapses with a high fever as this relapse may be bacterial pneumonia.[7] Another warning sign is if the person starts to have trouble breathing.[6]

Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne aerosols have been thought to cause most infections, although which means of transmission is most important is not absolutely clear.[8] Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents.[9][10] As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.[11]

 

The Bendigo line is definitely middle class, white Anglo Saxon/Celtic ,dress and mode are conservative and sensible.

Why is Water Gardens called Water Gardens? If gardens can grow in concrete I suppose that would be right.

I wonder if there is a preference for sides on a train (if you have a choice) left handers-right handers. I do not really care but I know one thing I love facing the way I am going. It’s not natural to face with your back to the forward projection.

Return

PSO’s clock on.

What do you do if you are a PSO? (Public Service Officer)

Look at Commuters;

Look at Commuters;

Look at Commuters;…………………………………………….

Arrest Commuters;

Arrest Commuters;

Arrest Commuters;…………………………………………………

Walk around the station………………………………………..

 

 

Bendigo trains have one of the lowest rates of fare evasion on the system. It is a ticket system. Next month they are changing to Myki and they know the rate of fare evasion will go up.

Why do they do it?

To cut out jobs, good for the bottom line?

Just what we need less person to person contact.

Commuters dress in all manner of gear. But if you look they dress the same within their category.

Professional, Manual Worker, Student, School Children, Shopper, Tourist…

Looking toward the Cobaw and Macedon ranges after Sunbury must be one of the great views.

Kyneton: ducks on the green, cockies in the oaks, scouts hiding among the trees, crocket at the club.

Day 9

To the City

The nearest thing to a rush in Kyneton; early morning trains,

The lady opposite eats a hot cross bun, drinks her disposable coffee. Christ comes with coffee this morning.  She would not know does anyone know the traditions of Easter now? Or am I being academically vain?

The dark pre end of daylight saving dawn flashes by.

Ladies bags hold a mysterious array an enormity of objects that is mind boggling; Make up, personals, purses, coffee, flasks, IT, memories, stuff…

The red dawn heralds a warning of rain to come.

I cough and suffer through this bloody head cold. (Spreading it see story above)

Make up on ladies must be so in tune with their bodies, they are tending it all the time.

The pensioner is going down for an early morning appointment, he does not look healthy.

Air conditioners on every house dooming us to heat and turbulence.

The Age carries a story on Priest/Brothers behaving badly to children. They are still crucifying people 2000 years later...The poor children...

Someone said, I cannot remember who; News is only News because it is different or bad that is why it is in the papers. Ninety Nine percent of people carry on their lives in a constructive socially responsibel way, it never makes it to the papers. I hope he is right.

I look across the sea of terracotta and brick suburbia, gazing into my sadness.

Return

Timing is everything for a commuter, time out of work, time to connect. It makes you its slave it dominates your thinking. Your journey depends on it. Much better to have spare time then no time, that is why they always hurry.

PSO’s amber along with the gate of those who have time to kill, another shift to kill.

A hippy type is dressed either to perform in a rock band or as a disincentive to anyone employing him.

A lady large and florid scoots passed on her motorised scooter, with a husky riding side saddle. Animal cruelty knows no bounds.

Change platforms at city station; no worries old hand at this now!

I board the second carriage furthest forward I have been , commuters do not like being in front carriages they think of head on crashes. The carriage is sparsely populated.

Daughters- editing and editing I need a break. Reach for my Kindle the battery is flat. I close my eyes enforced meditation on what has gone by and what is to come.

Driving to work is going to be much more efficient; but only in terms of time and comfort. Everything else is more expensive. Fuel, environment, experience, and stimulation.

Alone in Zorro (name of my car) I will arrive in time at place of work, but at what cost.

One train replaces three-four hundred cars or so and all that it entails.

What if we had a rail/transit system that was really comprehensive that covered the entire state and city. What a lovely place Melbourne would be. Maybe not so brown,  not so cut up with grey ways.

Last night the state government in crisis to be seen to be doing something released a glossy report on Public Transport, what they envisaged they were going to do. No costings, no real substance. But it looked good some more icing on the cake for an electorate that may not eat it. Another glossy makeover to no where.

Ah well commuters have one thing that makes them more then interesting, they are human: Funny, sad, interesting, fakes, real, showy, shy, ignorant, clever, silly, brave, stoic, rash, nervous, pretty, ugly…

I loved this moment with you all (commuters) perhaps we share some time again? Hopefully on my part as a voluntary participant!

My Resurrection comes at 12 midnight next Monday.

I look down the carriage young lovers at its end involved spatially and orally, they look up and take breath. I smile, reassured they carry on with what  humans do best-interact.

I step out of the train.

 

 

 

Notes:

Daughters-is a manuscript/book I am working on at the moment.

My suspension was for one month/  I work part time in the city.