My train line was down so I took Lilydale, hoping to get to Blackburn station. Lilydale/Belgrave were terminating at Camberwell. Thousands of people streaming on to Burke Road trying to cram onto the only tram visible. There were no buses. There are never any "replacement buses".
So I, and at least a couple of hundred other people, start walking to Box Hill station where we're told the trains are still running. Google Maps tells me that's about 7km, although I didn't know that at the time.
I'm not sure how long I walked but I passed a lot of people, many of them rather old. I hope they got home OK.
After walking for 3.6km to the corner of Wellington and Balwyn I was offered a lift and took it. I had a Calpis Soda and steamed rice in the friendly little Japanese place there until my lift arrived.
During the walk I didn't see a single taxi. I saw five trams. The first tram I talked about on Burke road, then four more directly after each other on Wellington road when I got to Balwyn road. All were completely full.
We passed a lot of people still walking in the dark and rain on the drive home.
And a lot of downed trees.
On getting home, I find the power has been out since 2pm.
We had take-away dinner (Red Rooster, which apparently was packed to the rafters) around a table covered in candles. The three-year-old niece was bored out of her brain as there was no TV and everyone was talking ("too noisy!").
As at 7:30am this morning, the power was still out. I guess the food in the fridge is probably gone.
Hopefully it is all back tonight.