timrichards

timrichards, 3 days ago (edited 5 hours ago) to music

New at my Patreon... I was walking along the lakeside promenade of Montreux, when I was startled to see a statue of Freddie Mercury. What was the connection?

Dateline Montreux: I want to break free! https://www.patreon.com/posts/105701100

#Music #Switzerland #Queen #FreddieMercury

timrichards, 5 days ago to random

In Economy? OH GOD NO

Qantas says 22-hour direct flights to Europe, US still on track
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/qantas-says-22-hour-direct-flights-to-europe-us-still-on-track-20240604-p5jjah.html

timrichards, 5 days ago (edited 5 days ago) to Trains

Interesting backgrounder explaining the lack of international trains in and out of Serbia.

Serbia’s Faded Railways Tell the Tale of the Death of Yugoslavia

#Train #Trains #Serbia https://jacobin.com/2023/08/serbia-railways-yugoslavia-tito-collapse-war-corruption

Cc @seatsixtyone

timrichards, 5 days ago to random

Why yes, I am enjoying an alarmingly pink drink at a lakeside bar in Montreux. How's your day going?

timrichards, 6 days ago (edited 5 days ago) to Trains

New at my Patreon... In Switzerland, I take the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux - seeing beautiful mountain scenery and changing gauge on the way:

Mountains and a narrow gauge: Interlaken to Montreux by train https://www.patreon.com/posts/105493706

#Train #Trains #Switzerland

timrichards, 7 days ago to Switzerland

Good morning from Switzerland. A bit damp and moody in interlaken today, though picturesque.

Later today I'll be boarding the GoldenPass Express to Montreux, then joining an international media tour that's exploring the country's lesser-known scenic rail routes.

I'll be writing about the highlights for my patrons at my Patreon, so feel free to join the gang and enjoy: https://www.patreon.com/timrichards

#Switzerland #Train #Trains

timrichards, 7 days ago to random

Congrats Booking.com, you're the latest app to have notifications privileges withdrawn, due to spamming me instead of informing me of essential info. Great work.

timrichards, 7 days ago to Switzerland

OK I have finally arrived at my hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland, just in 35 hours since I walked out of my front door in Melbourne, via:

tram
bus
plane
airport shuttle train
plane
airport shuttle train
train
train
on foot

No wonder I'm exhausted! But I approve of the resultant view. :)

#Switzerland

timrichards, 9 days ago to Travel

Off to Switzerland tonight. The problem with a late evening flight is that I get a bit edgy, always watching the clock.

But it's a good set of flights with Emirates, both in Airbus A380s (great planes) and with three hours layover in Dubai. I prefer having three hours there rather than, say, two hours, as it takes a while to get through the airport.

One day I will decide I've had enough of these long flights to Europe and draw a line under them. But not quite yet.

#Travel

timrichards, 9 days ago to melbourne

Typical car-brained local business people. The parklet is no doubt bringing them more trade, but oh no, "TEH PARKING!"

Locals love Balwyn cafe parklet Bin 3. Businesses want the three car spaces back

(maybe paywalled) #melbourne https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/locals-love-this-cafe-parklet-businesses-want-the-three-car-spaces-back-20240531-p5ji8u.html

timrichards, 10 days ago (edited 10 days ago) to movies

Just saw Wicked Little Letters at Cinema Nova. More a drama than a comedy really, though with plenty of comic touches. Set in 1920, beneath the plot about poison pen letters it has a thing or two to say about the influence of the patriarchy. Entertaining.

#Movies #Film #Britain cc @NarrelleMHarris

timrichards, 10 days ago to random

Sounds like a good idea. Too many building owners are happy to let them sit empty for ages.

City of Port Phillip to increase rates for empty shops in bid to fill them
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/empty-shops-face-tripled-council-rates-in-a-bid-to-fill-them-20240529-p5jhny.html

timrichards, 10 days ago to random

Nice. About time South Korea got more attention, it's a great place to visit.

The next Japan: The hot new destination Aussies are flocking to
https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/the-next-japan-the-other-exciting-asian-country-aussies-are-flocking-to-20240524-p5jgfk.html

timrichards, 11 days ago to random

Ugh I was just a bit rude to a charity cold caller and I feel slightly ashamed. But I really wish they wouldn't call. How can you trust them not to be scammers anyway?

timrichards, 11 days ago to auspol

Who privatises their national postal service? Even the neoliberals here never tried that on with Australia Post. #UKpol #auspol https://mastodon.social/@DaveWhittle/112525629963030503

timrichards, 11 days ago to Israel

Good read. Netanyahu was already trying to sideline the courts before this brutal war, he doesn't have much use for democracy.

The ICC arrest request is a fire alarm for Israel. Will it take heed? - Jo-Ann Mort

#Israel #Palestine #Gaza #War https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/23/the-icc-arrest-request-is-a-fire-alarm-for-israel-will-it-take-heed?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

timrichards, 12 days ago to Trains

On a train from Bendigo back to the metrop. Is this the most Aussie railway station name? #Train #Trains

timrichards, 12 days ago to Ukraine

Photo taken on this date in 2016 - that time I was in an underground cafe in Lviv, Ukraine, and the waiter caramelised stuff with a blowtorch. Perfectly normal occ health and safety. #Ukraine #Coffee

timrichards, 12 days ago to random

Not a headline you read every day.

Allegedly naked passenger forces Virgin plane to turn around on flight from Perth to Melbourne - ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-28/passenger-allegedly-runs-naked-on-virgin-plane-perth-melbourne/103901778

timrichards, 12 days ago to Trains

Another V/Line train trip today. I'm heading to Bendigo to have lunch with my brother. As you do. A bit easier now that the country train fares in Victoria Victoria have been capped at $10.60 per day.

#Train #Trains #Victoria

timrichards, 13 days ago to melbourne

Crikey. Mega!

Car crashes into Moon Dog brewpub at former Franco Cozzo store

(maybe paywalled) #Melbourne #Footscray https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/car-crashes-into-moon-dog-brewpub-at-former-franco-cozzo-store-20240528-p5jh5a.html

timrichards, 13 days ago (edited 13 days ago) to Trains

Snacks aboard a TGV Lyria train from Zürich to Paris, photographed by me on this date in 2019. You can't escape those paprika-flavoured chips anywhere in Central Europe!

#train #trains cc @diningcar

timrichards, 13 days ago to random

Snapchat still exists?

Snapchat Snap Map turbocharges comparison culture and risks normalising stalking to Gen Z

(maybe paywalled) https://www.smh.com.au/national/snapchat-s-worst-feature-is-turning-gen-z-into-narcissistic-paranoid-stalkers-20240417-p5fkjy.html

timrichards, 14 days ago to random

OH NOES!!! #MiddleClassProblems

I can no longer afford olive oil. What else can I use? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-25/olive-oil-cost-of-living-alternatives-/103888144

timrichards, 14 days ago (edited 14 days ago) to random

Want to try your hand at travel writing? Come to my workshop at St Kilda Library, Melbourne, on 27 July!

More info and bookings via the link below:

Travel Writing Workshop with Tim Richards https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1232799?

#Travel #TravelWriting #TravelWriter #StKilda #Melbourne