Dateline: Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Day 1 The Ghan "Bits & Pieces"

"Bits & Pieces" was a favourite of song of my teenage years, recorded if my memory serves me correctly by The Dave Clark 5!!  I did warn you that this post was about anything and everything.

Since I last posted I have been for a walk and coffee in a very hilly Hobart, where there are more coffee shops than in the City of London where I worked for 25 years!

As I wandered, I recalled the names of my lunchtime friends - Betty and Ellen.  How could I forget they were such great fun and I met and ate with them a few times on the Train.  Ellen was celebrating her 80th Birthday.

I found another photo online of the Nitmiluk Gorge which gives you a better impression of the landscape.

The menus aboard were a work of art and strictly not for removal, so I took photos. On one side is the artwork describing the origin of the main ingredient, whilst on the reverse is the menu.

The description of the artwork for my evening meal was as follows:

"Mulloway

Fresh from Australia's great wide paddock, and expertly crafted on the plate, our menu incorporates flavours unique to the land we journey across.

Commonly referred to as the 'silver ghosts' of the sea, Jewfish are notoriously difficult to catch, but popular to cook thanks to their mild, firm white flesh and lack of bones. Also known as Mulloway, they can be found swimming along the southern coastline of Australia, from Western Australia all the way to southern Queensland.

Inspired by the produce, our on-board culinary team works closely with local farmers and providores to bring to life the stories of place through these ingredients."

Needless to say, it was delicious and the meal was made all the nicer for companionship of two more guests - Graham & Karen.  Graham was a retired Quantus Airline Attendant but had been apprenticed at 16 as a printer.  Instant link for me, since my Father was in the print trade.  We talked for ages about how the industry had changed since as some of you may know, as a young researcher at Ashridge Management College near Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, I conducted a three year study of how new technology i.e. digital, affected the print industry. Sorry a bit boring I know!

The College no longer exists but Ashridge House now has a new owner.

After another splendid meal it was time for bed and to be 'rock & rolled' to sleep.