Cycle Lane Chaos -- Solved

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Today, I drove into the cycle lane. So what? There were no cyclists in sight... So it's against the law, that's what.

How often do you notice that metre or so of road which is painted a different colour and marked off with a white line? I mean the cycle-way; the space set aside for people on pushbikes.

Do you assiduously avoid -- in your car -- crossing into the cycle-way? Or do you simply treat it as an extra part of "your" traffic lane...

There's a cycle-way along Herdsman Parade. When a car ahead stops to turn right, you just pop into the cycle-way -- after looking out for cyclists, of course -- to get around.

Just before Jon Sanders Drive -- as you are approaching the traffic lights -- Herdsman Parade splits into two lanes. Just before the split, traffic starts to separate into two lanes. To do this, the left-hand car goes into the cycle-way.

So what? There are no bikes in sight...

How Bad are Perth Drivers?

Do you need new -- lateral -- thinking for your own problems? email nick leth at gmail dot com. Need solutions? No worries. Now.

Perth drivers are notoriously bad. According to whingers, whiners and self-appointed experts.

Perhaps those people just don't understand. And are unable to adapt.

Take lane-changing, for example...

West Australian drivers do not indicate before changing lanes... so the whingers will whine. We -- West Australian drivers -- simply start to change lanes... and flick on the indicator as we do it.

So what? Think it through:

For a couple of weeks I drove in Canada. The drivers there are soooo polite -- I couldn't stand it. If a pedestrian were to so much as look at a crosswalk -- the Canadian drivers would slow down, prepare to stop and let you cross. I soon learnt to keep well clear of crossings, so as to not slow down the so-polite traffic.

Wicked Marketing Lies

Do you need new -- lateral -- thinking for your own problems? email nick leth at gmail dot com. Need solutions? No worries. Now.

Do you often go to see a stage musical? If you do, perhaps you would not be as confused as I am...

Earlier this week we went to see Wicked -- the live, stage musical -- at Burswood. It was almost a full house. We spoke briefly to a staff member; he told us that there had already been a Sunday show. Plus a matinee on the day that we were there.

Imagine our surprise at the front page of The West Australian the next day:

Perth-born actress Lucy Durack, 28, marks her triumphant return home tonight as the star of Broadway musical Wicked, which opens at Burswood Theatre.

Let me highlight the words which surprised me:

... tonight ... Wicked ... opens

Wicked opens tonight?! But what about the three performances which had already happened? Were they just dress rehearsals?!?

Where are our discounts for watching the practice run of a musical which is not yet ready to open?!

What a load of rubbish.

Speaking of rubbish...

What Service does a Hospital Provide?

Do you need new -- lateral -- thinking for your own problems? email nick leth at gmail dot com. Need solutions? No worries. Now.

What service does a hospital provide?

We recently had an experience with a hospital. A large, expensive, private hospital: St John of God in Subiaco. According to Wikipedia, "A hospital, in the modern sense, is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often, but not always providing for longer-term patient stays."

I think of a hospital as a place to go when you're sick because they will look after you. My imagination begins with health care, doctors and nurses. My imagination includes service and organisation.

To me, a hospital is a one-stop shop for treatment of sick people.

Wrong.

A hospital -- judging from our recent experience -- is a cross between a strata-titled office block and a hotel.