Days like these...

This morning the mountain wrapped itself in a blanket of cloud, rolled over, and went back to sleep. The city reluctantly faced the day, shaking itself in the light falling rain. I sided with the mountain, rising after 8 and gently rousing myself over a steaming mug of tea. A remarkable amount of water lay, collecting in puddles and ambusing unwary footwear, after heavy rain overnight. More than a foot of wet washed clean the city and down the coast over 350mm had fallen.

The 11:26 train took me city-bound for a rally in the square, the boys in tow. Banners and flags filled the square with colour and the roar of the workers in full union voice and the clouds parted, steaming the muddied ground. We stood in solidarity, despite the shortcomings of the sound system. The camera earned it's keep again and many strangers stood as willing subjects. Friends were found in the crowds. Then, rally over, the exodus flowed to the pub: friendly banter over pints and Johnny Howard drawn on a ballon to be batted around and finally burst. Again, the gentle rain washing down.

Later, to the Valley, wearing my Up You John Howard badge from the transport workers union. A shoe mission for Kelvin ending in surprising success: skate shoes for both the boys and T-shirts for my boy and myself. Time to head home, and the skies are clearing. The 4:50 train is overflowing but we emerge unscathed and wander back up the hill, watching the sinking sun paint sunset on the clouds.

Politics is fun!

The Federal Government gains control of the senate tomorrow, meaning that our current neo-con leaders can now pass through any legislation they wish - there is no longer any active opossition in federal politics. One of the first legislation packages the government is planning to introduce is a bundle of industrial relations reforms. Mixed in among some needed reforms are a bunch of measures that seem just downright nasty - reforms that take away workers rights and have far-reaching social implications.

Today was a national day of action to protest the industrial relations package. Rallies were held in all the state capital cities and the unions called on their members to stand up for their rights. I'm not a member of my union at present, but I still believe the IR package as a whole is a negative bundle of legislation which promotes economic growth at the cost of workers rights and social cohesion. So I went along.

This was my second only involvment in protest. Way back I the dim dark days of undergrad I marched for freedom in East Timor back when our government was complicit in Indonesia's violent oppression of the Timorese. There's a certain excitement to be found in public movements, a unity of energy and sense of purpose. There are also wonderful photo opportunities! For more images of politics in motion, take a peek ( here! )