This day in 2011...

During October, FaceBook (where these blogs are also posted) has been re-publishing cartoons from 'this day 12 months ago' as a demonstration that they 

remember and care about the content I provide? Whatever, it has prompted me to look into blog records which actually form a bridge from now back to the first half of 2011 when my original attempt at 'blogging' was hosted by an over 50s site located in Queensland.

When current affairs and/or the gag bank are 'sans' inspiration ... it might be fun to look back at what was occupying one's  mind and creative juices during the past four years?

To kick it off, here's what was happening on 20/10/2011...

Right Royal Tram-ride?

By rim on 20 October 2011 - 12:36pm

I notice that included in the E2R itinerary for HER imminent visit to Melbourne is ... what else(?) ... a ride on a tram!

Now, I am a long-since confirmed republican who doesn't concede anything really worth-while resides in the 'well past its use-by date' institution of monarchy. However, that doesn't mean I am oblivious to the potential dangers inherant in thoughtlessly inviting foreign potentate visitors to risk life and limb on our local favourite form of public transport. And, that applies particularly to elderly ladies, no matter what their constitutional proclivities might be.

You see, operators of the local tram network are experiencing a boom in passenger journeys travelled at the moment, due mainly to the double whammy effect of extreme peak congestion on out of date freeway accesses and, obscene parking fees applied within the Melbourne CBD ... 'driving' commuters to abandon cars as a useful mode of transport to and from work. The down-side of packed trams and lack of on-board conductors (which were abandoned during the early 1990s) is an accompanying massive increase in the sport of fare-dodging! Sooo ... the operators have employed gangs of 'inspectors' who roam the network identifying fare evaders ... and, in recently reported incidents, sometimes allegedly applying a great deal more than lawful 'muscle' in apprehending and/or immobilising errant users of the system. In one case, an apparently quite elderly and frail lady was allegedly gang-tackled by uniformed 'thugs' and pinioned whilst they attempted to clarify the lady's travelling bona-fides. If true, let's hope the miscreants (and their bosses) are introduced to some form of corrective hard-labour, in due course.

Meanwhile, as her 'majesty' is kind of renowned for not having much experience in paying 'fees for service' ... one hopes she has at least been properly briefed on the very likely possibility of some 'misunderstanding' being engendered by her scheduled ride on a local 'rattler'. Or, maybe local government nabobs are planning her excursion to be on one of the 'free' heritage cars circling the city for the benefit of ordinary 'tourists'?  Fare evasion on those is an accepted 'given' ... so no excuse for harassment by the 'heavy' brigade! I certainly hope so.