In the Far West there was some signs of mobile reception at most of the little centres but not at Wilcannia although we did not check all over.  The town is more than tiny, has rather modest housing; welfare services, a security conscious general store and has an indigenous population and leaves one to ponder why there was no mobile reception. Incidentally the court house, jail and police station there are particularly fine old colonial buildings.

  A weekly train service takes about 12 hours Sydney to Broken Hill and is seen at Ivanhoe station mid afternoon. About 1200ks.  Returns the next day. Out on the flat earth it does 120 - 140ks.

  This week I saw a young mother and baby dressed in PJs, dressing gown and slippers at the supermart in Newcastle 'burb.