Channeling Michael Portillo

I have an ace (a bonza?) day. (Which I almost missed as I got carried away replying to UK emails. The 11 hour time difference makes all the difference). It was a train day. Caught the Metro train to Belgrave, through my old home suburb of Box Hill, much changed with an underground station rather than the level crossing. It was only 26 Kms but took over an hour. There just in time to catch the 11.10 Puffing Billy service to Gembrook.

This is my 3rd or 4th time on this heritage train. The last time was 18 years ago but we only made it to Lakeside.  Today it was all the way to the end of the line. It takes nearly 2 hours but a fantastic journey. It was cloudy and cool to start (barely 20) but one the sun came out it was a lovely day. The countryside was beautiful and the scent of the gums amazing.

We had a couple of hours in the pretty village of Gembrook, a tattie growing area. Time for coffee, a cake and a walk in the bush before another great run back to Belgrave, in the sun, then back to Flinders St.

Then took the free tram to the Night Market at the Queen Victoria Market. Plenty of food, stalls and music, a great band, Vaudeville Smash. I contributed to the Fire appeal and spent quite a few dollars. And it was good to be out in daylight till almost 9 pm.

Back to watch  the 'Last Leg' Brexit special, the remainder of 'The Two Popes', and a diverting ABC documentary about the recent bushfires, some very scary footage shot by people recalling the fires and fireman fighting then.

A good day.