Oaklands Crossing

There not only has been increasingly hideous congestion at the Oaklands Crossing , there have been attacks and deaths. It is just an awful place to be when the boom gates go down. Marion Shopping Centre and increasing housing development and now the beautiful, new swimming centre have put the crossing on overload. I have used the crossing forever in my north south commutes or , now , my south north ones. My daughter and her husband live near the crossing. Sometimes it would be quicker to get out of the car and walk to her place than to sit there on Morphett Road waiting to turn left. Coming out of Murray Terrace relies mostly on the goodwill of the drivers letting you in so you can get into the right lane and I need to be in the outside lane. If I don't get into that then I am driving around Marion Shopping Centre to get myself back on the right track.I just do it. It makes people very annoyed but I don't see that as helpful so I keep listening to my music and podcasts and hope it will all pass quickly. Living in the area would be worse. I have to do it about once or twice a week, maybe. If you have someone sick it really puts the pressure on. I have to say that Adelaide drivers have mostly shown patience. tolerance and common sense with this crossing. It really does need to be changed right now. It blocks a free flow of traffic and that is never good. Adelaide always had traffic which flowed smoothly and it is something we should aim for in our relaxed city. 

Adelaide Markets

I take the train to town to go to the markets. It is ocean views there and ocean views back. Such a lovely trip. I then do the 15 minute walk up to the markets. Keeps me fit. I have a big breakfast and a mug of coffee at the Big Bean and then I am set to look and wander. It is always so nice and there is always something new to see and try. I love the French cheeses and the magnificent array of fruit and vegetables. I love the coffee beans and the cold meats. There are so many good quality things to choose from. I always stop at the Honey Shoppe. They sell honey, obviously, but also good quality soaps and lotions and potions. There is always something in there I want to try .The products make great gifts. 

No train is bad train

Yesterday we were all standing at the station waiting to go to the city. Two  new trains went in the other direction to Seaford. One was out of service. At 8.30am the train did not arrive, nor at 8.40am. At 8.50am there was a very quiet message over what was supposed to be a loud speaker system to tell us there was a problem with the switch and the train would arrive at 8.58am which it did more or less. It was packed. It was standing room only and it just got more and more ridiculously packed. Shoulder to shoulder. We became more and more squashed. To our credit, Adelaide people showed just how nice they could make such an uncivilised journey. We started talking to each other about different things and warning each other not to lean on the door because it was inevitable at times that some got pushed that way. We achieved the impossible of letting an old lady with a walking frame get to a seat and have it all to herself. We breathed in, we made ourselves tiny, we helped hold the lady and her frame. It was all too close for comfort and hard on those who stood for such a while. We were all so thankful for having a really good driver who was not throwing the train and us around.The old lady could see out the window and we protected her so she wouldn't feel threatened so encircled as she was and then sitting much lower than us and no easy way out. It was an exercise in trust and social skills which we accomplished well. Adelaide people just do things in such a nice way sometimes. Adelaide trains need to lift their game. I was late for the start of my film. Others might just have been  going shopping. Others would have had to be places...like work... on time. No train and then a squashed , unpleasant journey is not good enough. Nor is it Adelaide. I am thankful the journey back was up to our usual standard.