Diary of a suspended driver...

It was a sleepy Friday like any other on the way home from the Hospital in the suburban wasteland of the Melbourne Megalopolis. It was a beautiful alternate trip through the rich valleys and small towns north of Melbourne.
The radio played The ABC came on with a new show called the list (RN)  Social Change and Popular Culture,  I was captured.
Lancefield seeped into my consciousness, very quiet not much happening.
I saw the speed sign ah time to be on the open road again, what was the commentator saying about suburban myths???
The corner is gentle on the way out of Lancefield but it was enough to hide the police car.
As I sped past reality suddenly popped in front of me, the blue lights flashing turned my brain on like a stop watch tracking a race it was really alive to the surroundings now, every rock every tree every traffic sign.
But too late I was done, I pulled over to await my fate.
It came in the guise of a big constable with two stripes on his shoulders, a wry look on his large florid face. Another constable filled the rear vision mirror punching into a console.
How fast had I been going?
'Why were you doing ninety two in a sixty zone"?
"Day dreaming"
Breath test and some more questions very efficient these blokes courteous friendly!
"In twenty eight days your license will be suspended for a month and you have to  pay the fine'
"How am I going to get to work"?
"Cut out some holidays"
Dazed, bruised and broken I drove off into the gathering gloom of dusk and re probation.

That was twenty eight days ago and today is the first day of my punishment for transgressing the laws of fair Victoria.
This is the diary of my sojourn on Public Transport.
Route ,tickets, timings and alterations to scheduling have all be put in place with the help of my punctilious wife Maureen.

The Railway station at 0745 is dark but non threatening, the air is fresh, the people well spaced and with that dazed look of a kangaroo caught in the headlights.
I know that bloke over there they have the look of first time irregular travellers, nervous over excited man boys.
I get on the train; Now for that writing and catch up computer stuff..
Oh no he is sitting down beside me his mate sits in another seat.
My thoughts of linguistic acrobatics (editing) evaporate as he tells me about his father (a mutual acquaintance) we talk on for most of the journey small stuff.
His mate is asleep in the next seat, the countryside looks beautiful in the dawn twilight. His exuberance wanes over time and takes a real nose dive when I enquire after his wife-divorce.
I get off at the big station in town and then catch a suburban train to my western suburbs destination. Only a five minute wait.
Trains go past packed to the ceiling, how can so many people fit in, shoe horn territory,
School girls with iPhone attached, fishnet stocking and over excited imaginations flutter here and there. The boy variety seem much more subdued kind of pimply but they too have the technical attachments.
I turn on mine, some one talking about diet, I look around at the sea of obesity and turn it off. I turn onto twitter something about coca cola and how it will kill you. I look at the scenery.
I sigh looking out at the wasteland, get off and go to work.
I am on time.

Panting , hot walk over the bridge and down into the asphalt, graffiti,concrete and steel of the station.
I wait with the other hopefuls and maybes.
The train slides in and I become a part of it.
I phone AFL her last day disappointing I was not there, no send off from work. Normally I do that for the kids. We will meet later.
Get off at big station find the platform after a little while, the PSO is new and does not know much.
The train is only two thirds full I get a seat next to a redhead, reading a women's magazine.
I edit Daughters, then read Patrick O'Brien.
The sway of the trin makes me sleepy, the redhead does her make up.
Amazing what women can do with little brushes and sticks.
I look back at Melbourne the sun glints off the towers, beautiful sheets of light jutting into the blue.
Kyneton gains an extra twenty odd of its people back and I walk down the hill over the bridge and through the Botanic garden.
God this place is beautiful.


2nd Day.

All prepared for work bag packed and all gear stowed away, that's the way it is with train commuters, time travellers every minute counts.
Sleep is good after a big weekend of going away parties and birthday bash for Katy (Off to Kenya-see previous blog).
There is a ringing in the background, I awake with a jump. Maureen is talking-kangaroo-airport-car write off-Woodend turnoff.
I am fully awake now!
AS she leaps out of bed I say KATY-she said everyone is OK.
We dress and are in the car, I look at the clock on the way out 4.25am.
Maureen is not a good night driver she hates it avoids it like the plague, I try a reassure her she goes slowly. The world is in slow motion, well our part of it every other car and truck is going flat out. There is an amazing amount of traffic on the Calder at this time lots of trucks.
We spot them hazards blinking in the distance.
Embraces, tears and hugs.
TK -Kate's partner is going back to New Guinea.
Georgia- a friend is going back to Adelaide.
Left hand side of Janice's car (second daughter) is a write of. But I pull some twisted plastic and metal off and it is drivable. (in a straight line)
Luggage exchanged.
They continue in Zorro (my black Hyundai) to airport.
We limp back to Janice's place. The sky is a s black as a bowling ball sparkling with little pin pricks- beautiful.
Janice is stoic, calm and only anxious for the people involved-her car is only two months old. Marlee he four year old is curious why are  Grandpa and Grandma are here she is a little frightened also.
A tow trucks comes take it away, insurance gives us a number.
The travellers make their flights-just.
I phone work-not coming in today.
We stay with Janice, make sure Katy is OK to come back and go home to bed.
No commuting today, what a time not to have a license.
Still that is small beer to what may have been.


To be continued...