Author: Ffiftypluses

Human being.

We went to the Other Side…

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of the world. Yep! Australia. As far from here as we could get (Joking that we could have a new PM by the time we got home…we did) for three glorious weeks. 9 beds in 21 days and a little sleep on the plane(s) too. People if you have the chance to do this trip please take it. We took the Ghan!

If you’re not aware of the Ghan let me tell you this is no ordinary train.

Image of the Ghan train stopped at Manganuri Statio

Named for the Afghan cameleers who helped to keep trade and communication going across Australia. It runs 2979km from Darwin to Adelaide and vice versa. You can take a straight trip or an expedition or even get off in the middle for a few days, which is what we did, with 6 glorious days in the Red Centre. No, its not cheap but it is all inclusive and lots of people choose to celebrate a ‘big’ birthday on board or have some other reason to celebrate.

We went Platinum because who wants to climb into a bunk bed on a train? There is a Gold class too (bunk beds) and single cabins for those without claustrophobic tendencies. For those with mobility issues Journey Beyond do offer specialist cabins though these are limited. (They are not paying me for this post as, frankly, they don’t need my help) They’re booking 2024 at time of writing and don’t bet on getting a Platinum cabin as they sell out fast! We did the ‘Red Centre Spectacular’ and our guides Smiler and Karen with Outback Spirit were brilliant but more of them later.

Long flight….loooooong flight. Word of advice pay for the best seat you can afford on the plane. We went Qantas business class (it was a celebration). Fully reclining beds for the win. Turning left onto the plane for the first time. Being greeted with champagne. Menu with actual choices! Snacks on demand. A snuggly duvet. As many drinks as you like all for no extra cost….eat your heart out EasyJet. Big thank you to all the staff (especially those on the Adelaide to Perth leg who dealt with a medical emergency very calmly whilst we were on board) who were patient and kind throughout.

First stop Darwin. (OK, there was an exhausted overnight in Sydney but we saw nothing of the city).

Barely time to exhale

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I’m not much for long goodbyes but I’ve spoken to my patents twice in two days and apparently I’m now booked for 3 talks to 2 groups of older adults once we return and we haven’t quite gone yet. I don’t know what you do before going on holiday we clean. Apparently. There may be a future in ‘talks to community groups’. I’ve got one to do for the scuba club too.

The house is mid renovation. Needed the new plaster fixing. Spare bed made up for the cat wrangler/house sitter. Sourdough baked (you have to leave treats), floors swept, hoovering done (for US readers I mean vacuuming). Supplies purchased…firewood, Dr Pepper (I know, I don’t get it either), cat food. Frankly I’ve had less busy work weeks. What fresh food was left is going into tonight’s meal. Tomorrow is for online check in and train to the airport. Fuuuuck. This is actually happening. I suspect I’ll believe it once I get on the plane.

Where we are going there is unlikely to be any WiFi, or phone signal. Updates when I can.

Two little pricks

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So last week was the ‘flu jab and today Covid 4, the much anticipated but unwanted sequel. I arrived home to the announcement that a friend we dined with on Friday has tested positive. Ah well, the test won’t work on me today anyway. It’s officially lockdown for us as of today whatever. The big adventure is but days away. Single figures. Supplies are laid in and the house sitter is confirmed.

Burning desires?

There are logs enough to keep the home fires burning until we slope off. TBH I’m more than a tad nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve left the country to be sure. The pandemic has its continuing effect. Collecting the holiday cash this very afternoon made it all a bit more real but I suspect that until I set foot on that plane. It may be a while before the next update. I’ll be out of signal range. Allons y.

The Queen is Dead

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This is, by now, old news. Its been 11 days or so at time of writing. Most of us in the UK and even the rest of the world have never known another monarch in the UK. I’ve a tendency toward republicanism but I’ve also met the Queen and several other royals in the course of a lifetime through school, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the Guide movement. Its a strange feeling. On the one hand I’m sorry for the family who have not been able to process this in private and on the other I think that this is the price of their privilege. Am I sorry she is gone? Not at a personal level, she was 96 it was hardly unexpected. I do have many fears for the UK though.

Charles is a different character. He has opinions which he has been known to express in public (I guess I should say ‘the King’ not Charles). These seem to contradict the current right wing leanings of the UK government on issues such as the environment and deportations to Rwanda. Technically he can stop these at any time by refusing to sign any Bill into law. I wonder if he would? I wonder what the consequences would be? I’m extremely concerned by the conduct of the current government and wonder how many more losses the British people will stand before someone stands up and throws the first brick. Martin Luther King described a riot as the voice of the unheard. What will it take? I’m fairly certain that it is coming. Elizabeth II is dead and the stability that her presence brought to the nation is gone.

Watch this space.

Ergo In Arcade Games Est

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Yep. Three floors of video games set to free play…say what! I mean if you’re going to a party but you’re not a party person and then this happens. Hidden in an old industrial area now full of up and coming artists and shops and clubs in a part of Liverpool known as ‘The Baltic Triangle’ is a pub. Hidden within that pub is a video game need fest. ArCains. (No, they’re not paying me to write this)

Moments after the first lager had hit my lips I found myself battling at Pac Man, then shuffleboard which, being a physical game required a different kind of skill. Onwards to the haptic interface that is a ride upon plastic motorbike for a race or two through snow and pixelated jungles. In a moment of quiet I found the old school original Space Invaders and remembered very quickly how bad at it I’ve always been! Pong was next. This time a physical representation of the OG of all video games. Too easy. It was about now that I realised a)I had not eaten and that lager was going to my head and b)there were two more floors of games. I had originally thought the £18 entrance a bit steep for one room but nooooo there was so much more. All the games were set to free play and as such you’d well ‘ad your money’s worth (as they say in Liverpool) by the time you left. TBH we are planning another visit once the schools have gone back. Less kids embarrassingly beating me at Mario Kart although the fact that it was more like actual driving than on the console at home meant I was able to win a few rounds which never normally happens. The top floor had a wall of PC games hoked up. Clearly this was for the serious players who seemed somewhat less boisterous than the rest of the place. My advice, take earplugs or, better, just join in with the screams and squeals be a kid again (or at least a moody teenager)

Onward to the Baltic Market inside another of the old brewery buildings. Grab a table scan the number with the app and place your order. All four at our table ate from a different street food stall. All meals delivered to the table as they were prepared. Naturally everyone was eating everyone else’s food. There’s a drink selection too. Saturday night it was rammed and loud and we were, at least, outside avoiding the worst of the pumping sound system.

Falafel. Humous. Fries.

The ‘party’ was dispersed across several tables including those who represented the vanguard at our next venue, Sugar and Dice (nope, not sponsored) hidden behind Liverpool’s Nordic Church and a haven of sweet treats and coffee (although they have upped their bar game since last I was there). cake, yes please, tea for me I’m diving tomorrow, and a round of Cockroach Poker, Fluxx and something suitable for the kids on the next table that I never did learn the name of. Board games havens such as this often form a focus of any visit to a new town. Usually the coffee and cake is excellent and the clientele are happy to chat and give you great hints about local (possibly hidden) places of interest. The premise is simple buy your refreshments pay a small deposit or rent a chunk of time at a table and you may try out any of the 100s of board games they have in stock. Many such places will sell games too. I can get very boring about board games but board games are never boring. If you find yourself in a given location see if they have a board game café. I bet you’ll make a new friend and learn a new game.

I wonder if we’ll find a games café on our big trip…(I just checked. the answer is a definite yes) I know there’s a pack of cards on the carry on…do we have room for another one… just a small one…