Rocketing petrol prices, public transport problems, exhorbitant toll road fees......sound familiar?
Email from Sydney, Australia, tells us we're not alone:
"Over here the dominating topic of debate, discussion and public anger is the rocketing price of petrol, $1.68 [R12,68] a litre and climbing. Presumably you're getting slugged too. That and the traffic jams on roads that were privatised because they said the companys owning them would make traffic flow better. It didn't!
The new cross-city tunnel opened with a whole lot of hoopla promising a quick trip across Sydney - which wasn't slow to start with. They projected 90.000 cars a day would use it. But that was before they mentioned that the toll would be $3.70 [R27,90] each way! This to travel approx. 2 k's! The public stayed away in droves and at last count usage was below 20.000 a day, with people cocking a snoot at privatisation and saying that petrol taxes should pay for all roads. The railways have come into criticism due to an inability to run according to timetable. And the ferries have run over two private boats killing 4 people! Sort of knocks a hole in the State Government trying to get people to use public transport. Fat chance!!
A few months ago Australia had an infection of Equine Flu' brought in by a racehorse from Hongkong. Racing came to a complete halt. All horses had to be quarantined, including the Palamino that lived in a field nearby here! It was quite old so I suspect the worst. Especially with the exorbitant fees charged by vets. But I still look out for him every day.
I forgot to mention that the Pope is coming in a few weeks! There's going to be a huge rally at Sydney's Randwick Race Course. It'll cost the long-suffering taxpayers about $20 million. But that's apparently ok because they reckon they'll rake in more than $30 million. Hurry while stocks last and get your rosary beads here!
Today I saw a flyer taped to a pole with a cute picture of Tiddles the budgie who's missing. Somebody took the opportunity, and a felt-tip pen, to provide Tiddles with a handle-bar moustache, a black eye and large spectacles!
Saw on the world weather that Jo'burg was going to be 2 degrees tonight. So rug up, get the hot water bottle going and think warm thoughts!"
Saw on the world weather that Jo'burg was going to be 2 degrees tonight. So rug up, get the hot water bottle going and think warm thoughts!"
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