DIDN'T YOU GO ON A TRIP SOMEWHERE RECENTLY, ADDSTER?

I did, yeah. To Wagga Wagga, then Melbourne, then back to W/W. With four lengthy train rides in between.

LET'S START WITH THOSE. HOW DID YOU STAND 23 HOURS ON THE FRICKIN' XPT?

I read a "Rugby League Week", a "FilmInk", a modern "Doctor Who" novel and a literary spy thriller, but mostly I played "Puzzles & Dragons Z" on the Nintendo 3DS XL, which I'd saved for the purpose. It returned the favour by saving me from boredom. I didn't ignore the scenery completely... A note on my phone says, "Watched lush farmland growing lusher in the rain."

WHAT DID YOU GET UP TO IN WAGGA WAGGA?

A lot of eating and drinking - dynamite bruschetta, lamb cutlets, sticky date pudding, red wine, Cheesymite scrolls, beer cold enough to give you an "ice-cream headache", steak with garlic mushrooms, various fries and salads, a beaut chicken/bacon/avocado/onion burger, more beer, unfamiliar flavoured milk.

IS THAT SERIOUSLY ALL - JUST FEEDING YOUR FACE AND WETTING YOUR WHISTLE?

Far from it. I visited the Museum Of The Riverina, where I was reminded of this fascinating historical case with a W/W connection (don't skip the "Appraisal" section) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tichborne_case
And the Forum 6 Cinemas. And the Thirsty Crow Brewery, named in honour of the city's official bird. And a park filled with roses, ducks and war memorials that included an eternal flame. And a crazy-busy-for-a-Monday-morning library, where I read a "New Scientist". And a glass gallery housing the impressive national collection. And a "regular" art gallery, where I was treated to three fine exhibitions: the photos of a CSU graduating class, a retrospective on Aussie innovator George Baldessin (phone note: "Contorted nudes, distorted chairs, pears, stairs and wiry hairs!"), and an audio-visual presentation entitled "Nothing Is Useless". Imagine a soundtrack of bleep-bloop tape loops as you click on the following images.

WHAT ABOUT MELBOURNE? YOU WENT THERE FOR THE SPEEDWAY GP, RIGHT?

Right. It was awesome...up until the final, when there was an awful crash. Fortunately, Jason Doyle is on the mend. American Greg Hancock - still burning up the track at 45 - was the worthy victor. Snapped this shot at a fan gathering outside the stadium.

WERE YOU ON YOUR LONESOME?

Nah, I was with MR for the bikes, boozing at Spleen Bar (twice) and a gig by Pommy post-punks The Fall. We arrived late after receiving poor advice about when the band would actually take the stage and ordering a round too many. Speaking to a few punters there afterwards, we didn't miss a great deal.

I was with PB for the crowded, chaotic, ultimately mind-blowing "David Bowie Is" at ACMI, where we both had a soft spot for the letter from Jim Henson seeking DB's thoughts on a rough draft of the "Labyrinth" script. While we were checking out the rest of ACMI, a pair of newlyweds got me to photograph them in front of the robot Dexter from the old TV dating show "Perfect Match".

PB and I also went to Sticky Institute so I could buy zines, to Hutong Dumpling Bar because he said it was ace (it was), and to the NGV for "Masterpieces From The Hermitage". These Russian treasures dazzled and appalled in equal measure, as the more masterfully worked and splendidly gilded an object, the more it conjured visions of freezing, starving peasants. My fave thing about the National Gallery of Victoria was the building itself. Google it!

CHEERS FOR SHARING YOUR EXTREMELY VALUABLE TIME, ADDSTER, YOU BLOODY CHAMPION.

No wuckas. Here's a pic of a fountain.