[Kharon]

Ref: https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/sport/de...p-BB10dIiG & https://auntypru.com/forum/showthread.ph...3#pid11103 & https://www.sbs.com.au/news/michael-mcco...n-victoria

Quatrains, rail trains and a certain sadness.

The following was learned as a boy:-

"Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall”



There is an undeniable logic there. It always made sense, seemed reasoned and reasonable; but lately, that has been sorely tested. I ain’t what you may call the ‘despairing’ type. Not by a long shot – however. The mid-air crash and fatalities I can abide – it saddens me, it infuriates me and, it makes me wonder when some form of ‘sense’ is going to take a hand. But the train crash sickens me. Among my friends and acquaintance, there are two civil engineers with just a bit of experience in their world. Globe trotting problem solvers, independent, qualified and much in demand – nice blokes to boot. They say the ‘problems’ on that rail track were well known and documented, back when it was first built. Back then, the trains were lighter, slower and smaller. Even then, the ‘ballast’ was known to be limited – the ‘problems’ well documented by those who built it, even way back then. Countless governments have ignored the true, known problems; and, have allowed themselves to be persuaded that ‘quick’ cheap fixes will do the trick. More weight, more speed – increasing daily – travelling over the same, unresolved ‘problem’. Sound familiar?

The story typifies the modern approach to responsibility. Yet two families grieve for their lost ones. The best the responsible minister can offer is [“we would not allow operation on an unsafe track”] (paraphrased). Yet they did, for donkey’s years, despite many qualified warnings.

Then, we also had a mid-air collision which killed double the train wreck list; just a country mile from the train wreck. Did the minister and his entourage show up there in suitable costume? No? Then why not? The problems are the same – an unsafe operating environment – ignored and obfuscated by a series of transport ministers. “Your safety is our primary concern”. BOLLOCKS it is. Ducking responsibility is; giving a city swimming pool the money (10 Mill) which would have fixed the track; and, provided another ATCO or two which may have saved four more lives. Six dead in totally preventable accident? WTD are the politicians thinking?

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“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.” ― William Shakespeare, Macbeth

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Too damn true Will. We don’t (theoretically) pay billions to support a public service. We pay that money so that when a known ‘killer’ is able to be restrained, that good sense and clever use of public money will minimise, if not prevent, such avoidable accidents as we have witnessed this week or so. How ducking hard would it be for a miniscule to say – “get this fixed” before an accident happens on my watch?

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Ref: https://www.theland.com.au/story/5889768...el-flight/

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Aye well. It confounds and saddens me. But what really darkens my spirit is that the ‘good oil’ was there for all to see and nothing, by way of prevention was done – except a cronic, notable, responsibly off-load act of bastardy. Pilots of aircraft, boats and trains ain’t silly; nor are they unware of an increased risk factor. Forget the swimming pools, forget the gun clubs – fix the bloody mess repeated governments have left behind. WTH are these supposedly responsible people thinking about? 

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“It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero

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Wise words – but when so few glaring obscenities are addressed, by those elected to primarily ensure Australia has ‘the best’ and the power to make it happen – and then do SFA but talk and focus on re-election; well, baldness is fast becoming a preferred option. The siren’s song of life in a bubble, praying that nothing goes wrong lures the self serving and the inept to destruction on the rocks of their own making.

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The siren song is a promise to Odysseus of mantic truths; with a false promise that he will live to tell them, they sing,. Once he hears to his heart's content, sails on, a wiser man.

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Solace comes in many forms; birds calling at sunset; flying foxes trudging their way to a feed into a twenty knot headwind, the dogs on a fox trail and loosing it (their faces priceless). The calm, quiet space of the stable and workshop – all balm. I’ve even managed to get some tricky joinery done – with only mistakes I can see. Not perfect, you understand, but then, what is in this world?– But as good as would be expected at the time – not an excuse you understand – but the very, very best I could do. That, IMO is all anyone can do – unless of course ………etc.

“Away to me dogs”. We will go a roving – So late into the night – The heart still beats as loving – and the moon be still as bright. (Byron ish?)…….

Selah.