Cablog

Engaged

Last night I engaged three taxis around town, as a passenger. Each journey was without locality or language issues, so nothing to report there.

This week my girlfriend and I are on holidays and managed to find a sweet movie, re a recent post.

On Monday night we got lucky with Mao's Last Dancer, an entertaining and uplifting account of Li Cunxin's true story. Highly recommended.

And thanks to readers who suggested other suitable films worth watching together, especially one dealing with blogging and romance!

Speaking of romance my son and his delightful girlfriend have just announced their engagement so last night we celebrated with a sumptuous dinner at King Street, Wharf. Many times in the cab I've waited outside the Japanese restaurant, Kobe Jones saying to myself, one night I'm going to have a slap-up meal at that joint. Now I have and can highly recommend the banquet dinner for two, with a selection of matching wines. A fat time was had by all.

And speaking of engagements, here's a sweet photo of my mother in 1943 aged 21, newly engaged and reading a letter from my Dad who was away at war. Awww.

It's the Weekend

Awards have recently been handed out in the local food and beverage caper. Who better to give the results their imprimatur than Sean and Co at Sydney Food Diary, along with their own winners. Plus reviews of quality locations supported by delightful images.

Otherwise I’m outta here today for a trip up north, only to realise it’s a long weekend. Except for Queenslanders, due to life up there being one big holiday. Or so the marketing mob would have us believe. No matter, if the North Queensland Cowboys win the NRL Grand Final plenty will take the day off anyway. Good luck to them.

Crook

After venting my spleen at the useless United Nations yesterday morning, I went to bed only to awaken some 4 hours later with crippling stomach pains and heavy reflux in the gullet. Was this meal of Singapore noodles the previous night at the cabbies café in Regent Street to blame ? (Click to enlarge) Whilst it’s my usual order there, sooner or later a joint like that has to nail me.

Briefly I wondered if I was having a mild heart attack then dismissed the thought just as quickly on the realisation I’d passed a medical check-up with flying colours, just a few months ago. So I sat in bed for an hour reading, smoking and drinking tea before lapsing back into a normal sleep till 4.30 pm. Consequently I woke good as gold.

Though bad luck comes in waves. At 2.30 am this morning, after earlier picking up a screw which embedded in the cab’s rear tyre, it gave way just five minutes from the base. Now tyre-changing is one of those jobs which can really bugger someone with a dodgy back. So very carefully, I spent 20 minutes on a 10 minute job gingerly manhandling the operation. Sure enough by the end of the task my lower back was in spasm and threatening to seize.

However as I write this, one hour later, the back aggravation has settled down and feels relatively fine. Testament I guess to a daily light-exercise routine plus some horizontal folk dancing every blue moon. I just thought two health hiccups in the same day was a good chance to complain. Though what's the point in complaining - no one’s listening I tell myself !

Health food

When I've got the chance a favourite dinner of mine is a Turkish mixed plate. Loaded with vegetarian ingredients, freshly made and just delicious. For a cabbie, Mediterranean food is the healthiest fast food in town. Though, some three hours later, the cream garlic number has the windows down and the passengers looking for a quick exit...

Another shift

Another cabbies dinner option is the triple fast Chinese joint at right. It's attached, like an afterthought, to the gas 'n go cab garage on Regent Street. I go for the Singapore noodles at $6.80 served with a broth of uncertain origins. It's all fast, clean and friendly. There I watched a sensational gold medal game of men's table tennis between a Chinese and Korean. The most exciting part of the night. A night which was an exact replica of the previous night. Started badly and just got worse.

Oh, and I carted a thoroughly decent News Ltd cove. After a long day he jumped in the front with a friendly smile and willingness to converse with the working class. He grilled me on cab security cameras, and my blogsite. We laughed at Fairfax try-hards, swapped notes on Tim Blair, gossip columnists, Uncle Rupert, and sang the 'praises' of our ABC.

Later, over dinner with the News Ltd. Daily Telegraph, I read of their latest campaign dealing with speeding road transports. Have you ever been overtaken by a 35 ton weapon of mass destruction at 120 kmh ? Well, to their credit the Tele is taking them on. Something the Fairfax press would consider beneath their 'standing' to pursue.

Thank God for the Tele and their various campaigns on behalf of Joe Average. I will never forget their blaring front page tabloid headlines (so derided by the 'high-brow' readers of Fairfax broadsheets) last month over the bullshit sentence handed down to the killer of the South Coast cabbie. Only after the Tele screamed, did the politicans react and the DPP decide to appeal the case. Thanks Rupt - there's a grieving, fatherless family who now feel not so forgotten.

Dining out

What could be better than dinner at Harry's Cafe de Wheels ? Probably lots of things but cabbies often have no choice. Here's my favourite - the Tiger. A beef pie with instant potato, mushy peas and gravy. Easy on the gravy mate !
via Moblog

Pit Stop - a mobile post

A favourite cabbies cafe, Hernandez on Kings Cross Rd. - a first attempt sending an image remotely.

I also took some shots Tues. at The Gap overlooking the Harbour - posted in 'Aw Shucks'.