Queensland Rail<\/p>\n
The station long and dusty<\/p>\n
My rucksack seemed much heavier today<\/p>\n
I went and asked a man<\/p>\n
his name was Justin<\/p>\n
Who helped me at the<\/p>\n
Ticket place to pay<\/p>\n
Roger the Train Manager<\/p>\n
unhappy, miserable<\/p>\n
He told me from the start<\/p>\n
Unless I could get on the train<\/p>\n
unaided<\/p>\n
I would not be allowed to board<\/p>\n
which broke my heart<\/p>\n
I was booked, and I had my reservation<\/p>\n
Your agent booked the wrong train<\/p>\n
you should be<\/p>\n
On the tilt\u00a0 train where we cater for you types<\/p>\n
This train is old and uncomfortable you see<\/p>\n
Going any distance did seem crazy<\/p>\n
But anyway I made it on the train<\/p>\n
And did it, yes unaided<\/p>\n
really somewhat jaded<\/p>\n
And sat in the rear seat<\/p>\n
In quite some pain<\/p>\n
“Meal assist” was now my<\/p>\n
allocation<\/p>\n
But till 4.30 no one came<\/p>\n
alas<\/p>\n
Until I checked the time<\/p>\n
with 4 girls just infront of me<\/p>\n
And one of them it seems<\/p>\n
was an English Lass<\/p>\n
She came from Enfield and<\/p>\n
she said she’d go and complain<\/p>\n
and did so on my behalf<\/p>\n
Angels seem to always be on hand<\/p>\n
Roger it seemed, actually forgot me<\/p>\n
And went to sleep and another<\/p>\n
pair came on<\/p>\n
Ben and a sweet lady and I never knew her name<\/p>\n
Helped me, I was glad Roger had gone<\/p>\n
The new crew kept their eyes on me<\/p>\n
about each hour<\/p>\n
A nice smile and some thoughtfulness<\/p>\n
is great<\/p>\n
Travelling on one’s own across Australia<\/p>\n
In many ways it is great to have a mate<\/p>\n
When Roger came back on<\/p>\n
He stayed away from me<\/p>\n
I did complain and no doubt<\/p>\n
he had been told<\/p>\n
This time Stuart came and did look after me<\/p>\n
So once again on trains<\/p>\n
I became sold<\/p>\n
\n
Sugar Cane and Bananas<\/p>\n
just grew everywhere<\/p>\n
miles and miles of mono cropping, they<\/p>\n
kind of sent a message to the wider world<\/p>\n
Of the need for nutrients<\/p>\n
to save the day<\/p>\n
Compared to the India Pacific<\/p>\n
and the good old Ghan<\/p>\n
The Sunlander<\/p>\n
Was old,and not so bright<\/p>\n
The doors were heavily sprung<\/p>\n
The toilet small and among<\/p>\n
The trains I ‘d used till now<\/p>\n
Was very tight<\/p>\n
\n
It was Easter<\/p>\n
and the holiday crowds<\/p>\n
were boarding<\/p>\n
Children bawled<\/p>\n
and ran around like mad<\/p>\n
Even the man in the moon<\/p>\n
did not look happy<\/p>\n
Infact he did look really rather sad<\/p>\n
At Bowen Station<\/p>\n
Lots of people left the train<\/p>\n
Mckay, Rockhampton<\/p>\n
once again a place<\/p>\n
Things got better<\/p>\n
With the caring for me thing<\/p>\n
And Easter Sunday was something I did face<\/p>\n
At Bunderberg there were a lot of people<\/p>\n
Hanging baskets, home of the tilt train<\/p>\n
More sugar cane vast fields of it<\/p>\n
were everywhere<\/p>\n
And the Eucalyptus woods were back again<\/p>\n
\n
My salad consisted of a big variety<\/p>\n
8$ for all this, completely fair<\/p>\n
I must say I was glad to get to<\/p>\n
somewhere<\/p>\n
even if it was ofcourse Brisbane<\/p>\n
Stuart took\u00a0 me down the railways concourse<\/p>\n
Out to where the taxi’s they did ply<\/p>\n
Phoned up for the Black and Whites to help me<\/p>\n
And a lady came a long quick which was why<\/p>\n
The Marque Hotel on George Street<\/p>\n
My destination<\/p>\n
a rather swish delightful place to be<\/p>\n
Until the lad said at the grand reception<\/p>\n
That the 9th floor was where they would now house me<\/p>\n
I struggled up there<\/p>\n
wondering why so high a floor<\/p>\n
In case of fire the lift I couldn’t use<\/p>\n
9 flights of stairs I’d say my prayers<\/p>\n
for clearly I’d be burned to a blooming cinder<\/p>\n
So not good news!<\/p>\n
I got\u00a0 to room 911, and it was dingy<\/p>\n
The shower room had a high tray<\/p>\n
dangerous too<\/p>\n
I tried to ring to tell them this was useless<\/p>\n
But nobody would answer<\/p>\n
what to do?<\/p>\n
Back I went to tell them on reception<\/p>\n
the guy said that was all the rooms<\/p>\n
they had<\/p>\n
in that case I will have to find another place<\/p>\n
to stay<\/p>\n
For those facilities are really bad<\/p>\n
I then said you had best give me my money back<\/p>\n
Theres no way I can stay here none at all<\/p>\n
Then he checked with housekeeping and was told<\/p>\n
of 311<\/p>\n
a purpose made disabled room, what fun<\/p>\n
And so the threats had woke this charming person<\/p>\n
up and he had found a room for me<\/p>\n
The shower was almost perfect<\/p>\n
But the bed was soft<\/p>\n
And I fell out on the first night tragically<\/p>\n
\n
All hotels cater they say for disabled<\/p>\n
in the toilet area, we see<\/p>\n
Handles and some semblance of some safety<\/p>\n
But the room itself has its problems<\/p>\n
definately<\/p>\n
The queen sized bed was like a soft marshmallow<\/p>\n
and on the side where the telephone was placed<\/p>\n
Most people slept I surmised this from the<\/p>\n
terrible support<\/p>\n
Sleeping on the floor had to be faced<\/p>\n
The next day I complained\u00a0 I had a problem<\/p>\n
A bed of soft marshmallow caused me pain<\/p>\n
They put a strip of partition board<\/p>\n
underneath the blankets<\/p>\n
So hopefully I would not fall again<\/p>\n
3 days into the 7 I\u00a0 had paid for<\/p>\n
It still was most uncomfortable for me<\/p>\n
and on the 5 th Night they got a much firmer bed<\/p>\n
So for 3 whole nights I was happy as could be<\/p>\n
l<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Brisbane a city awash with workers coming towards me and leaving me little room to walk each day.
\nThankfully I met Mark Smith a Security Guard who befriended me and helped me find the vegan restaurant
\nin the west end. Continue reading