Ok - so those of you who have read my first post have reported serious head issues after trying to decipher the text - for those of you so incompetent in the interpretation of Scottish brogue that you need assistance here is a translation for you!
Now that you English bred incompetents have some understanding of the grace and beauty of Scottish conversation we can proceed!
Th' preparations ur complete! - one last chance to sit and relax - we curl up on the couch - engage Netflix - the mobile phone rings - a private number - an Indian voice - a curse - hangup - the phone rings again - private number - an Indian voice - curse - a slightly more violent hang up - the phone rings again - the blood boils - an Indian voice - a distinctly violent hang up! - they give up - the phone tinkles - a voicemail message has been left - check the voicemail - the Indian voice again - this is Air India - your flight is now departing 2 hours earlier than originally scheduled! - I curse again - I will never again be able to hangup on one of those nuisance calls again - A moment of self reflection follows - Perhaps it is not just the descendants of the 19th century English Rajah that have a tendency to treat Indian callers with disdain! - perhaps some personal re-education is order!
Off we go - heading for the train - time to acquire some basis on which to compare Australian and Indian transportation systems for reliability and timeliness!
Ros drops us
at the station.
An
immediate score in the Commonwealth competition between Australia and India - Australia 1 India nil! – there
is a train waiting seemingly eager to welcome passengers – not a substitute
coach in sight! – this transport contest between the two colonies might even
turn out to be closer than we expected! – I caution myself against undue
optimism and remind myself that history is against the production of an elite
performance by this Australian regional “transporteer”.
We chat with
two young Canadians – is this the train to Melbourne? – here for twelve months – house sitting around
the country – astute – made sure they were in Brisbane during winter.
12:45 – on
time to the second – the train lurches into action - the holiday begins – Australia 2 India nil!
The train
trip rolled on – we sat there not saying much – just absorbing the atmosphere –
then Bernie, just out of the blue, said “ you're not listening to me are you” –
I have been thinking about it for a while and I still think it was a strange way
to start a conversation! (An oldie
but a goodie)
We approach
Seymour – Bernie investigates the train’s restroom – Australia 2 India 2 – a
double penalty goal awarded to India.
Exit at
Broadmeadows – fire-up Uber – not 30 seconds – on our way to the motel - early
morning shuttle arranged.
Reception
extraordinarily efficient - Room key acquired - Competitive rush to the toilet –
Australia 2 India 3 – India leads - Australia
deserves a triple penalty for making us wait!
Time for a drink!
Our drink
brings to the forefront of our minds the
question: what is the correct way of ordering Whiskey in Scotland?– one
suspects that it may be easy to cause offense by an inappropriate understanding
of the protocols around the ordering of a drink of whiskey – Bernie consults the
iPad on the protocols.
The solution according to the Scots themeselves?
I think I am going to enjoy the Scots!
