The plan today was to catch the train to Sydney to meet up with Marilyn who has been up to Mudgee to see her Dad. Robyn had met us when we arrived to help me get all the luggage to her place so that Marilyn could travel light to Mudgee and she and her friend Pam came again with me from Oak Flats to get the luggage once again where it needed to be. We all met at Central Station, Pam and Robyn got the next train back to Oak Flats and Marilyn and I headed off to Hornsby where we were to have coffee with our friend, Tony, before staying the night with Marilyn’s niece, Sharon. We really are mad; we complicate our lives unnecessarily by trying to do too much in one trip. We know we do it but it’s almost a compulsion. I know that the basis for it is my Scottish sense of thrift: if we’re going to Sydney, let’s make the most of the money we’ve spent by seeing Mum and Uncle Archie in Wollongong, catching up with Robyn and Sandy and Janet and the boys, and getting to Mudgee to see Marilyn’s Dad and Anne and Alan, and we should try to get to Sydney to see Sharon and David and Gavin and Bridget, and all the kids, and don’t worry about the fact that we have four heavy pieces of luggage, and two heavy coats and a box with two bottles of Tasmanian wine for Sharon and Bridget and should we take flowers, chocolates and little gifts for the kids, and all of this on public transport? Yes, we are mad!
We finally got on the train to Hornsby with all the goods and chattels, and settled down for a pleasant journey ….. until Strathfield. On to the train came one of the most worrying apparitions I had ever seen – a young man of middle-eastern appearance, dressed in full jungle greens with beret, polished boots, a red, green and yellow armband with a military emblem, and a backpack in the same three colours. He stood at the door, staring out. When the train pulled out, he started to chant, softly, but I could make out a few words ‘time to remember … the …. anniversary of May 25th ….’ On and on, he chanted, repeating the same words. I don’t know what might have happened on this date years ago but we didn’t want to find out what significance it might have for this young fellow, and what had he planned for the anniversary.
Like B1 and B2, Marilyn and I had the same thought – let’s get off the train at the next station. If it’s going to blow up, we’d rather not be in the vicinity. We’ve spent too much money on this holiday for it to be wasted. I know we’re only country bumpkins from Tasmania and this might happen all the time in the big smoke, but we’re not so cynical that we think we should ignore it.
Anyway, in one piece we arrived at Hornsby on a later train. Marilyn reported the incident to the station master there and he promised to alert security.
We finally got on the train to Hornsby with all the goods and chattels, and settled down for a pleasant journey ….. until Strathfield. On to the train came one of the most worrying apparitions I had ever seen – a young man of middle-eastern appearance, dressed in full jungle greens with beret, polished boots, a red, green and yellow armband with a military emblem, and a backpack in the same three colours. He stood at the door, staring out. When the train pulled out, he started to chant, softly, but I could make out a few words ‘time to remember … the …. anniversary of May 25th ….’ On and on, he chanted, repeating the same words. I don’t know what might have happened on this date years ago but we didn’t want to find out what significance it might have for this young fellow, and what had he planned for the anniversary.
Like B1 and B2, Marilyn and I had the same thought – let’s get off the train at the next station. If it’s going to blow up, we’d rather not be in the vicinity. We’ve spent too much money on this holiday for it to be wasted. I know we’re only country bumpkins from Tasmania and this might happen all the time in the big smoke, but we’re not so cynical that we think we should ignore it.
Anyway, in one piece we arrived at Hornsby on a later train. Marilyn reported the incident to the station master there and he promised to alert security.
It was great to see Tony again; it’s been almost 12 months since we were at his 50th birthday and a lot has changed in his world in that time. Sharon and David met us for dinner and they are as busy as ever and their girls are delightful. David left us after we got back to their home as he is training for a full-marathon and only has the evening hours to get to the gym but Marilyn and I were exhausted and just needed to get to bed. I hope we make it to the plane tomorrow. The past few days have been frantic and the holiday is becoming more needed.
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