still

So even though every day I tell myself I'm feeling a bit better, I still have to concede that I have a disgusting cough and a whole lot of nauseated feelings that I am really troubled by. I mean I am ultimately going to recover I'm sure but fuckin' hell. Ironically the problem I've had with my left foot for the last, I don't know how long, six months? Possibly more, has actually almost completely rectified as I always knew it would. But that, along with the inflamed nerve in my right leg which was a massive nuisance (and quite disturbing and often very painful with no apparent trigger at all, or remedy) and other illnesses over the past year has meant that 2025 will go down in my memory (or at least in my blog because let's be reasonable when I'm not feeling sick I don't dwell on it) as a year in which I suffered a lot of very minor and irritating aches and pains that never really stopped me doing what I wanted to do (with the possible exception of walking long distances) but did stop me enjoying it as much as I might have. I mean, sure, you don't care and why would you. I mean an ancestor of mine from even a hundred years ago, let alone five hundred, would no doubt say that I should never complain about anything because I've lived a very carefree life compared to almost everyone who's come before, and that is true. But also, those ancestors were surely as ignorant and unpleasant as anyone else, I don't need to care what they would hypothetically think, as if I owed them something. 

Last week I went to see the Taylor Project show about their house in Elmore, and being 'haunted'. It's a good very, very, very local history production. I said to Elizabeth later I think it should be a film and I still think that - it's the kind of thing the ABC could put together for no money (like the ABC ever puts anything together for no money!) and would be a diverting hour on TV better than Spicks and Specks or whatever other rubbish they usually show. 

Here's something else that happened last week, there was major track work on the 57 route which meant that trams stopped for most of October between Peel and Victoria streets, and there was this weird little reverse-your-tram track built for a few weeks. What about that! It's gone now. They've built a new stop between Peel and Victoria which is further away from Peel than it used to be, not sure why but not inherently bothered about it. You can be if you want. 

Here's something else you might enjoy, a couple of graphics from a 1963 (I think) brochure regarding the development of Westernport Bay as an industrial hub. 

Do you get it? 

I bet this mermaid got a lot of stick from the other merms re: allowing them to use her likeness in promotion for a project that was really going to make life in Westernport Bay difficult for a lot of the cohort. 

OK, I'm into the day of feeling marginally sick all day and marking essays, etc. Nothing changes, including, I'm STILL SICK. 

division 4 'a waste of time' 12 july 1972

Keith Eden is Arthur Morrison, recently released from prison and hoping to go straight and/or meet his estranged son. There are lots of extremely interesting elements to this episode, starting with the opening sequence presumably shot from upstairs at Flinders St station. This is the intersection of Elizabeth and Flinders st and the tram terminus which is very drab and sparse compared to the glories of today. 

Irritatingly we are led to believe (I suppose it isn't outright stated) that the central character in this episode has come from Pentridge. But the 57 doesn't go past Pentridge, it just doesn't. Imagine thinking it did. 

The priest who was travelling with him goes to the tram stop in Flinders St which suggests to me that he lives in the eastern suburbs but actually we see his home later and it's in Yarra Central so who knows what he was up to, going places he shouldn't. 

Morrison tries to buy a second class ticket on the train and he's told they don't have those anymore. He was in prison for five years (which means he went in in 1967) and they stopped second class tickets (switched to 'economy') in March 1970.*

He goes to where he used to live, apparently it's Risley St, Richmond - that's not a guess. They're building something there, unclear what it is in the show, but it's clear now, it's a car park. 

Keith Eden, 1917-2003. I always like it when people born early in the 20th century get into the 21st. He is a great character actor, Crawfords had so many! I wonder if this was him... (Age 4 September 2000 p. 11). By the way, Bolte was dead 13 years by this time. 

 * 'No more second class: no it's economy' Melbourne Age 25 October 1969 p. 3