Sunday 21st March - Queensland Wind and Brass

Morning

I got up, bussed into the city, and watched - and listened to - Kara play with Queensland Wind and Brass across three hours, and had a chat, met her Mum, and had lunch.

Afternoon

I sat around at home, sad and alone.

Evening

I picked the Germans up from Roma Street. They’re very tired. I’m just waking up.

Night

I cut myself on a can. Not a gruff, masculine, can-opener kind of injury either - it was an easy-open pull-top kind of can.

11:30pm

I’m off for a walk. Well, technically, a drive to the IGA, then to Maz’s, and then for a walk.

Monday 22nd March - Ranting about Road Rules

Morning

I had planned to get up early, but didn’t. Now at work.

I have been reading the police guidelines used in speed limit enforcement. If you speed, even in an entirely safe way down a nice straight road, a few km’s over the limit... you are no doubt killing innocent people in the same way that rapists and murderers do. It’s such a load of crap. Everyone should fight them out of principle.

Meanwhile, if you do actually nearly kill someone, don’t worry too much - you're probably ok. So long as it wasn’t traffic related, and they don't actually die. Like hitting them with a glass, or kicking them until all their bones are broken outside the pub, is mostly ok. The penalties are only small. But make sure you don't speed on the way to the pub - you're screwed! Speeding is a “life-endangering offence” and no leniency or common-sense can be applied, by law.

I wonder what the penalty for accidentally running into the police speed enforcement vehicle... while travelling at a safe speed... is? I wonder if this penalty can be waived if, for example, the police stunned you with the use of a bright photographic flash, and had failed to adequately place their warning sign...

Next time I see a mobile speed camera, unless it’s actually in an obviously dangerous place where people would speed and cause accidents, I’m going to write and complain about its placement. Everyone else should too! At least demand justification for its placement.

There’s regularly one on the road near me, on a slight downhill where people naturally speed in a safe manner, and where there has never been a speed related accident since I’ve lived here, and I can’t see how there really ever would be. Its warning sign is always placed behind the van, where it can’t be seen, and on the wrong side.

And no, I haven’t got a speeding ticket. I just hate the pathetic road rule enforcement, speed limits, and useless driver training in place in Queensland.

Afternoon

Continuing the theme of being annoyed at the lack of enforcement of road rules required for safety, and the apparently paranoid attempt at lowering speed limits despite cars getting safer and safe and more and more capable of driving at greater speeds safely, I’ve found out that Queensland police are not allowed to pursue people for traffic offences, which makes me wonder - what happens if a policeman attempts to pull you over for speeding, but instead, you speed off? You’re already speeding, so it’s not like you’re really doing anything different by speeding off, and technically, he’s not allowed to speed after you. If he does speed after you, I wonder what his response will be when you stop and calmly tell him you’ve clocked him significantly over the speed limit, driving at dangerous speed, and apparently in pursuit of yourself when as far as you’re aware, all you could possibly be accused of would be a traffic offence… and he’s not allowed to pursue you for that.

Night

I drove home. Traffic wasn’t fantastic. I showered. I had a snooze. I drove up to Bronwen’s parent’s place and had a chat to Bronwen. I drove home. I put some new music on my phone, to suit my mood: E Nomine, The Prodigy, Flesh Field, The Faint, Madonna, Fluke, White Zombie, Sheep on Drugs, Rammstein, Rob Zombie, Apocalyptica, Nine Inch Nails, Space Buddha, Shpongle, Hilltop Hoods, Mortiis - and a new (to me) artist courtesy of Valerie, Peter Fox.

After Bronwen’s movie she dropped around and we had dinner, but she was tired so went to bed. I drove to Maz’s, and we walked into the city, and back. Needless to say, I didn’t get to bed until quite late - again.

Tuesday 23rd March - Climbing King of Cakes

Morning

I drove to King of Cakes, the nearest German Bakery, and bought the Germans some bread and a brezel, before rushing to work.

Evening

I drove home, drove Sabine and Valerie to Kangaroo Point, where we met Bronwen and her climbing friends and they went climbing, while I drove home, slowly via partly closed roads due to an accident, bought petrol, and relaxed for a while.

Night

I picked up Bronwen, Sabine and Valerie from climbing, and bought pizza. Bronwen then drove home, and I drove up to Maz’s. He’s got file corruption on his NAS, which kind of defeats the purpose of RAID, but probably happened while it wasn’t redundant due to a failed drive, though that still kind of defeats the purpose of RAID I suppose.

Wednesday 24th March

Morning

I got up, with difficulty, just in time to get to work nearly on time.

Day

I worked.

Evening

I dropped Dave off at his hotel, and drove home.

Night

Maz, Kieran and I had curry. I then drove to Coles, bought my flatmates milk, cookies and ice cream, then drove to Bronwen’s, and on to Maz’s. Maz and I went for a walk, and now that it’s after midnight, I must be getting to bed.