Lucky enough to get a seat in the rear "quiet" car which quickly filled up by departure.

By Sutherland it was like a third world experience with the vestibule and stairs a sardine can of bodies standing or squatting on the floor and stairs.

To add insult to injury, on arrival at Thirroul while helping my wife who is mildly disabled, to alight the doors began to close, even though the guard was only meters away and could see me assisting my wife  to get off after fighting our way through the packed entrance area.

The experience was capped off during the trip by a guard's announcement saying "contact your local member if you have any complaints about this service".

John Young, Balgownie

On Saturday the Gong looked as though we were invaded by hundreds, perhaps thousands of young people dressed as Santa’s.

At the North Gong Hotel, one road lane was closed to traffic to cope with the flood of Santa’s, coming and going.

To their credit, I saw no bad behaviour.

The following  Sunday, I attended a Christmas service, where Father Ron Peters gave a sermon, and there he asked the question,

“What has the Pub crawl got , that I haven’t got?”

Father Peters is a modern and likable man who means what he says.

I myself have wondered if the young generation of today,have lost the true meaning of Christmas?

I understand that the Pub crawl raises money, and that is a good part of this event.

But the question Father Ron Peters was asking at this service, should we start a “Church Crawl “ next year, incorporating the Salvos and Smith Family.

Then at least it would give  a little more real meaning to this special time of the year.

John Pronk BM, Wollongong

‘The Land of Oz’ politically, is really a confusing place.

For example, it is obligatory for our politicians before they are eligible to get their collective bums on the upholstery of our Parliament Houses; to swear an oath of allegiance.

Currently, this oath can be either to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors According to Law etc. or, to the Commonwealth of Australia etc.

If you can prove you are “A Dinky-Die Aussie”, then either one does the job.

However, if your parents or even one of your grandparents, were not “Dinky Die Aussies”; then your political career may come to a shuddering halt!

Sec. 44(i) of the Australian Constitution; the current problem for a number of Australian politician’s states among other things; one cannot seek to become an Australian politician if one holds, or has not taken reasonable measures to renounce their allegiance to a foreign power.

A situation has been reinforced by a recent Australian High Court Decision.

Now, without intending to put too fine a point on whom or what, represents a foreign power; would not Queen Elizabeth the Second, or whoever finally gets her gig, fit that description?

Barry Swan, Balgownie

Does anybody else wonder why these ads on TV selling peelers, knife sharpeners, sweepers and such.

"But wait we will give you one for free" when you buy the first one.

Why don't they sell the first one at half the cost.

Warren Fleming, Balgownie