'There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it'. Bertrand Russell

I have to commute on the bus to college, which is usually a twenty minute journey each way. I therefore decided

to put this time to good use, and am working my way through some fabulous books. Middlemarch was surprisingly good motivation for getting out of bed in the morning!

As I’m about half way through my time here I thought it would be good to give my (short) reviews on the reads so far. Looking at the BBC Big Read list, I have now read 25 out of the top 50 books (34 out of the top 100) and hope to increase this even more by the end of the year. I admit Joanne Harris and Dan Brown aren’t on that list, but some light relief has to be allowed. The story so far:

Angels and Demons, Dan Brown

Fast, exhilarating, easy read.

Gentleman and Players, Joanne Harris

Clever, beautiful, nostalgic, but also frightening. She paints great pictures of life in different environments, this time a snobbish boy’s grammar school.

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Gruelling yet wonderful, it made me appreciate my life.

The Lollipop Shoes, Joanne Harris

Magic, chocolate, Paris, pretty shoes, romance…what more can I want from a novel? It’s the sequel to Chocolat so while I’m here I’ll make the point that, much as I love the film, the book of Chocolat is far superior (as always).

(Select short stories from) Jigs and Reels, Joanne Harris

Had it by my bedside but didn’t manage to finish them all before it was due back at the library, and no great desire to renew. Some fabulously quirky ideas, but not many of the stories were satisfying at the end (a common problem with short stories).

Middlemarch, George Elliot

Jane Austen’s plots with Emily Bronte’s passion. Funny and sometimes frustrating, but a joy to read, I loved the characters and highly recommend it. Don’t be put off by its size!

Watership Down, Richard Adams

Stick with it and you’ll end up living and breathing the life of those rabbits. I don’t often like it when stories/poems are inserted into novels, but the sections where the rabbits were telling their folklore were as enjoyable as the main plot. Lovely.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

I’ll let you know when I’ve finished it…

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

I could hear the toddler screaming as we pulled up to Central Station, and the words of warning ‘now people on the bus don’t want to hear this. Let’s be quiet now…’

After getting her double buggy carrying two little ones onto the bus, the mother coaxed the toddler to follow her on. He was all tears and pleas, but she remained calm, repeating herself ‘we don’t want to upset the other passengers now do we, and the driver has to concentrate, so let’s be quiet now.’

After sitting behind their little party for a couple of minutes I gathered she’d confiscated a toy, and he was allowed it back on Tuesday (two days time). She was brilliant at dealing with his pleas, saying simply that he’d had plenty of warnings, he could have it back on Tuesday, no more discussion on it, and he was allowed to be angry but had to be quiet else he’d have to wait until Wednesday. After counting to three she proceeded to distract him and the other two children by pointing out all sights on the way home: the library, the university, the church, an aeroplane…

The toddler started to play up again as we passed the shopping centre, but sticking to her tactics she talked to him like a little adult, and it worked like a charm.

I’ve seen other not so good examples on my bus journeys, believe me. You know the battle’s lost when the parent ends up shouting as loud as the child. I admire the mothers who are as patient as she, and who hold to their word rather than give in to tantrums. Infinite respect.

Hail to the bus driver, bus driver, bus driver...

Something which struck me in the first few days I arrived here was the pleasant Sydney bus drivers. It sounds a trivial thing, but it makes such a difference to the feel of a city if when boarding a bus you are welcomed with a smile and maybe a vocal greeting. Passengers do not hesitate to ask the driver questions about the destination of the bus, and if it is not the correct bus the driver will more often than not give directions to the right one. The pleasantries are reciprocated by passengers, as it is normal practice when getting off a bus to call ‘Thanks driver.’
I suppose the only other place I’ve used public buses on a regular basis is in London. The London bus system requires the passenger to buy a ticket before boarding, which seems to create the impression that there should not be any communication between passenger and driver. A lot of the drivers certainly like to encourage this practice with their rude and short responses on any questions. I obviously do not speak for every London bus driver, as some are very pleasant, but it’s quite a contrast to Sydney. I have actually found myself shocked when coming in contact with a moody bus driver here, as it’s so unusual.


I suppose that in a way bus drivers are ambassadors for their city. Who else do tourists and locals come in contact with every day? Shop owners perhaps, or taxi drivers, but their business may be affected by their manner. Not so with bus drivers. They get paid as long as the bus gets from A to B.


I cannot say for certain the reasons behind the pleasant Sydney drivers, but I can make a few guesses. The first is the fact that Sydney bus drivers are trained well. We had a talk at university orientation from the Sydney transport system. The drivers are well educated in the routes and zone system of Sydney, and are therefore equipped to answer questions from passengers. I suppose then that it is part of their job to be helpful.
Another reason might be that there is respect between driver and passenger. It is a relationship which seems to have gone sour in London, where I’ve witnessed many arguments at bus stops. Here in Sydney even drunk passengers at night seem to respect the driver, whereas in London they would be more likely to throw abuse.

The last explanation is the most simple. It is a fact that people are happier when the sun shines, and it shines a lot in this part of Australia. The passengers are happy, as it’s easier to get up in the morning when the sun shines through your window, and it’s easier to de-stress at the end of the day when you walk out of your office block/college into the a bright golden environment. I love riding the bus when the sky is blue, as everything looks gorgeous, and the drivers are allowed to appreciate that all day.


I’ve experienced a lot of new things since arriving here, but perhaps the most unexpected was this morning when an idea entered my mind; if bass playing doesn’t work out, I’d quite like to be a bus driver.
No, I must be more specific, I’d quite like to be a Sydney bus driver.