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Leon Mika
Software engineer in Melbourne, Australia.

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  • It’s kinda nice having an audience whenever I walk out my front door, even if it is just my neighbor’s cats.

    Auto-generated description: Two cats are sitting by a window inside a red brick house, with a garden containing green shrubs and plants outside.
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  • At the cafe. The guy on the table I’m facing is reading the paper with a dog on his lap. The dog puts her front paws on the table, so the man starts placing pages on top of them. Then the dog places her head on the table. The guy then takes out his phone. I found this incredibly funny to witness.

    Auto-generated description: A fluffy white dog is sitting on a person's lap at a café table, while they read a newspaper.
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  • Given that this is the last day of free public transport I’ll personally experience, I’d probably won’t be going through Anzac station in the morning for a while. So took a quick detour and saw one of the service pigeons that have been honored with a statue and plaque.

    Auto-generated description: A stone sculpture of a bird is perched on a triangular shelf protruding from a textured wall.Auto-generated description: A display panel features information about a Victorian-bred carrier pigeon named DD.43.T.139, highlighting its service with the Australian Army Signal Corps during the Second World War.

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  • Took a small detour on my way to work to enjoy a home-made banana cake made by my barista. Enjoyed it on a bench outside Anzac station looking towards Albert Park.

    Auto-generated description: A cityscape features a mixture of modern high-rise buildings, a central monument with a column, and surrounding greenery on a cloudy day.
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    Photos

  • My commuter headphones have given up the fight. After probably around a decade of use, and two pad changes, it now refuses to charge. So I’ve retired it with honours, and pressed its replacement into service: a pair of JBL Live 670NC.

    Auto-generated description: A pair of black over-ear headphones with a padded headband is resting on a white surface.
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  • Something in the rear cab of this tram is clicking. For a moment I thought it was the blinkers but it seems to correlate with the speed we’re going.

    An empty driver's seat inside a tram is visible, with a view of the street and a pedestrian outside.
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  • Under the clocks (a phrase I’ve not used in earnest despite being born and raised here).

    Auto-generated description: People are entering and exiting Flinders Street Station, an iconic historic building in Melbourne, Australia, with its distinctive arched facade and clock.
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  • I don’t know why I don’t drink ginger beer more often. It’s actually quite refreshing.

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  • Also, it would be interesting to know how many people treat State Library as a transfer to the Loop. I get the feeling that a few do, based on the number of people that get off and not go through to the street. It’s not too surprising. The last few transfers for myself have gone quite well.

    The platforms of State Library station with a crowd of people moving towards the escalators.
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  • Still taking the Metro Tunnel. In Feb it was mainly for the novelty of it. When March came round I realised it was costing me more, and I went back to my old commute. But I switched back to it during the free public transport period in April, and now May.

    The front of Anzac station Albert Road entrance
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    Photos

  • Everyone’s thinking about our strategic oil reserves, leaving our strategic Mother’s Day card reserves unaddressed.

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  • 📍 Wattle Glen Station, Vic.

    Auto-generated description: A quiet, empty train platform with benches and greenery on a cloudy day.Auto-generated description: A railway crossing with multiple signs and signals is situated near a road bordered by dense trees.

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    Outside

  • 📍 Powelltown, Vic.

    Went on what could generously be described as a ramble. Wanted to walk the Reids Tramway Walk, but took a wrong turn and walked Big Burtha Track instead. Still, it was nice to get out, despite the weather.

    An old, weathered rail cart sits on rusty tracks surrounded by green grass and trees in a park-like setting. A narrow metal bridge with railings crosses over a muddy river surrounded by lush green foliage. A forest path is surrounded by lush green ferns and tall trees.
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    outside

    Outside

  • Yep, tram bunching FTW. (Pro tip: if a tram is significantly delayed, and when it arrives it’s packed to the rafters, wait for the next one. It’s probably going to be on time, and most likely very empty.)

    A person is riding a tram with green-patterned seats, looking out the window.
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  • Bunching due to delayed trams working in my favour today.

    A city street features a tram departing, one approaching, traffic lights, and a mix of pedestrians and modern buildings under a clear sky.
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  • First proper fog for a while. Saw plenty of people with their cameras out on my walk to the office this morning, for good reason.

    Auto-generated description: A foggy cityscape features modern skyscrapers and an empty street with a few visible vehicles and pedestrians.
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  • Hmm, either these barriers received a software update, or I was completely wrong about why PTV staff is attaching printed out “no entry” signs on them. Because…

    Auto-generated description: A subway turnstile entrance with people walking through the corridor in the background.
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  • Today was a bit of a write-off, but I did get out for a walk this afternoon, along the Darebin Creek.

    Five white ibises with black heads are walking on a grassy field.A kookaburra is perched on a large, cut tree trunk in a wooded area with dense greenery.

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  • The month of free public transport has introduced an interesting problem. A completely open barrier does not provide a way to force people in a particular direction. So PTV staff have to make do with alternatives for controlling flow, like directing people manually, or paper signs like these.

    A row of metro turnstiles includes a few with No access signs and visible green entry indicators.
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    Photos

  • No level crossing is spared from the Level Crossing Removal Project. The one near my station is up for replacement. The rumour was that was to be replaced with the rail line going over the road. The issue, though, was it’s location: it’s right next to some stabling yards, where trains are kept when they’re not in use.

    Auto-generated description: A railway station is visible with red signal lights, multiple tracks, and a train approaching in the background.

    I was unsure what they were going to do about this. You could see from the photo that these stabling yards, along with platform 3 at the station, are accessed by a pretty broad flat junction. And I couldn’t see how they could keep this and elevate the rail line to cross the road. They could move the yard, but speaking to a driver while we were both waiting for our coffee train, there isn’t a suitable place to move the yard to, unless they start taking parkland.

    Well, the proposal is in, and from the concept drawings, it looks like they’re planning to keep the yard:

    Auto-generated description: A train travels on an elevated track above a landscaped area beside a road with cars and pedestrians. Auto-generated description: A street scene is depicted, showing cars on a road under a bridge with a train passing overhead, surrounded by greenery and buildings.

    So, okay. I guess they could find a way to do this. I would be interested in knowing what they do about access to platform 3 though. I can’t see them keeping the existing rail road that goes along the yard fence line. I’m guessing that they’ll need to reconfigure the junction in some way. Either that, or they scrap platform 3 altogether. It does see some use, and provides a good terminal for certain services, but maybe they could live without it? 🤷

    Anyway, something to look forward to.

    Reading Time: 2 minutes
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  • Various shades of grey at the beach this morning. This one’s looking towards Phillip Island and Seal Rock.

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  • One thing Merricks Beach has plenty of is black cockatoos. Here’s a small flock I saw preening while on a walk. It’s not a great photo — I was shooting into the sun — but I hope you can make out the highlights on their tails.

    Several birds are perched on tree branches against a cloudy sky, with power lines in the background.
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  • Launching time.

    A group of people are preparing small sailboats along a sandy beach under a cloudy sky.
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  • Passed by an ibis and white faced herron while walking to beach this morning. Not something I typically see at a beach setting.

    Two birds are standing on a rocky shore near the ocean waves.
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  • Greetings from Merricks Beach.

    A scenic view of the ocean is framed by trees and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.A sandy path surrounded by lush greenery leads to a view of the ocean.

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    Photos