Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged 12" Vinyls, Ashwood's, Martins, pilgrimage, Records, trains on September 13, 2012| 1 Comment »
The Saturday pilgrimage by rail
20c return concession
West to east.
Penrith to Central.
Head straight to
Intersection of Pitt & Goulburn
The S.W. corner
Our Alladin’s Cave
A treasure trove
Of 12″ vinyls
Martin’s Record Store
This image was taken some 30 years after our treasure hunts – when there were no “Compact Discs”. Martin’s closed down in 2005.
Through covers
Adeptly flicking
Picking out gems.
Then …
To Ashwood’s
Disordered,
More patience needed
To uncover diamonds.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged Blue Mountains, Glenbrook, school transport, train tunnel, trains on June 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Another exit after final bell
Across the fields
To Emu Plains Station.
The Mountains kids
File across the fields,
Orderly and civilised …
compared to the kids on buses, headed across the river.
Civilised until …
The Tunnel.*
Where demons get released.
I hear The Tales of the Tunnel
Forbidding and fascinating.
Note:
* Between Lapstone and Glenbrook the train passed through the tunnel.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged Central Station, Grand Final, Rugby League, SCG, trains on February 26, 2012| 2 Comments »
Early spring, early morning – just sunrise.
Train boarded, tracks rattle.
Central.
Graham* – today’s guardian – guides us.
Through chaotic paths of chaotic people.
Through Central’s cavernous echoing hall.
Through the cavernous echoing main hall of Central Station
Downstairs onto Eddy Avenue.
Green buses lined up headed for the SCG.
The bus of the times.
Grand Final – expectations high.
Early arrival hopefully converts into good seats.
Notes:
* Graham Percy, from No. 28 Guildford Rd, older brother of my friend, Philip. We met the Percy’s back in 7. A Scary Eyeful
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged cane, corporal punishment, punishment, senior school, sport, the cane, trains, truancy on January 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Senior high school. Afternoon was sport.
Lunchtime stroll across sporting fields to station.
First stop in the escape - Emu Plains Station - 1 stop East to Penrith then walk 2km south to home
No sport that day.
Someone spotted the “escape”.
Cane stings tips of fingers.
Senior truancy – like the infant accidental truancy – another failure.
I thought seniors had latitude – maybe 6 cuts to Max was more satisfying than giving latitude.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged flattened pennies, train tracks, trains, werrington creek on January 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Three kids beneath Werrington Creek railway crossing.
Pennies on the track – flattened.
What about a brick? Let’s try!
Half-brick placed on track. Trio hides. Wait.
Passenger train punctures horizon east. Clicketty-click. Louder. Clicketty-click.
Heart thumps. Jump. Run. Grab. Toss. Brick splashed not smashed.
Passengers passed safely. What if they didn’t?
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged heights, Nepean River, train tracks, trains, Victoria Bridge on January 5, 2012| 1 Comment »
Nepean River rail bridge.
Nepean River Railway Bridge
Climb out and down – from tracks to pylon. Sit. Wait. Water below.
A lo-o-o-ong way below.
Steam train comin’. Water spurting. Hot. Scalding.
Easy choice … except all vertical space is a barrier.
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance.*
Bullshit.
Jump. Scream. Splash.
A lot of air betwixt track and splash.
* Train in the Distance from Paul Simon’s 1983 album Hearts and Bones .
365 Short Memories 