As before, wash and repeat?

 I hope the  trumpism era ends before the '24 US Elections

Frightening(?) to me, that the common people of the US cannot stand up and tell the orange fraudster to just FO!

Second frightening thing about the world is that this type of 'strong leader' is never called to account but manages to get away with in some cases I think from what I have read, atrocities that the common folk are letting pass. Either actual atrocities or legal and financial avoidance of consequences that commoners are usually convicted for or vilified for or unjustly punished and or disappeared.

Not looking forward to overseas travel next year, but family is family, bite my tongue, enjoy it, celebrate, and get the f345 home ASAP I guess.

On the better side of a at the moment slack time not working for the man and trying not to waste $s from moving out of a mortgage, well, Lake George, Beachport, South Australia, was a very pleasant interlude this year, not a majority of the time on the water speedsailing, but enough to miss it right now. I now have the right sails and masts and a great 2nd hand boom to be a better sailor. Apparently. In my mind 35knots is easily obtainable. No that great a sailor, just another wanna-be-better, so why aren't I?

In the meantime I am up to #4 action camera and it's decided to only turn on, not record... The first one in 2021, a hero9black, turned out to be a dud, replaced by warranty and it was nearly drowned the other day as the door wasn't locked.With #3 the door was opened to change the battery and some water dripped into it so it's "bricked" along with the battery- got to dry off before changing the battery- however the microSD card has been revived!! And now the "spare" new one, a hero10black, appears to be frozen, a warranty job? Forge on brave #2 hero9black action cam!!

My brother again joined me there this year, twice. Here at youtube for your delectation.

https://youtu.be/z1pvTfIiJGs with Simon
https://youtu.be/n4nLn4rZtRo just me ripping up to 40kmh and here too, https://youtu.be/n4nLn4rZtRo ripping again

A typical day at LG, The Golden Lake. Some days January 2024

4th Jan-
 

  

a pic of some combined sessions and the location

I like the idea of the numbers on the video and a friend gave me said to grab a better telemetry app for the video editing, the gopro one was ok, the new one better I think. 

I have spent quite a lot of time there since I came back from a trip to Cairns and beyond in 2023. Three trips before the end of '23 and another after xms, then a month plus, 29Jan to 4Mar, trying to break 35 knots. Not in any dream. Max was 31! Anyway, the water was not quite glassy this year compared to 2022, 2021 1nd 2020, and definitely not as good as last year, which I missed the party for and was late for anyway-2023  https://youtu.be/oSPISl79324 

Height, weight. Rrggghhhg. Other pople are doing really well for my stats in comparison, maybe not enough 'need for speed' in the head, just like to say I can try it out. RRGGh h mmm. Ah well, time off at he moment for stitches, so can aerially with the drone and vicariously enjoy others sailing at the local lakes.

Another great time in late July 2023- Bledisloe Cup, I shared seats at the MCG to a old friend Sean and his wife Mary down from Darwin especially, and  with my kiwi Qld friend Chris the Smoko Kid and his daughter and her husband. Great get together, the headache later not so! Aplogies to Sean Mary and Chris for not having more beer Sunday!

Please let this year end with a happy note

Lost me phone...

Lost me phone...
as put in at the other blog in case you missed it!

And it was funny much later i tell you!

cheers

Update winter 2014

Update winter 2014

So few entries this year and not that there has been a lack of topics- Oh NO.

But really, time is lacking, and sitting and thinking and remembering and noting it as I go, is time consuming!

The kids have not seen too much of me- because I am trying to do the right thing and Work for a change for real Money. 

Not like the girls from the 80's where they had to have the promise of ten thousand dollars a day before they would go to "work"!

Nah, the smell of the contract's ink drying has some aphrodisiacal meaning to it. Don't it?

The accountant and the bank are happier for me too.

The gels are wanting a new car. They do? "this one!" "no, that one!"

Argh, and getting the money has turned difficult, looks like a cash purchase instead, just to annoy the bank!

Even so, it has to remembered that the gels and me also need or should have, a new tin roof as well.

And a water heater- it is leaking too... Water Water every where but where it should be...

Activities---  A trip to Geelong to see the folks and on to Ballarat to catch up with the brother's crowd recently and a few bottles of Rockford reds- a nice weekend. Dinner with three kids at a nice place, and a trip to Lakes Entrance. Sea gulls... A birthday night out with the gels before last work trip. 

Upset some people recently- is that old age? A couple of things forgotten and it turns out- rough. But it was important- and I never gave it a thought at the time, just proceeded like I thought everyone knew what was going on. No they did not. Hmm. Never done it before, probably will not do that again. Cutting things fine? Too much on the plate? Not enough socialising or just being left out of that loop? Seems like the last, but is that just paranoia? Whatever, not funny dude. Hilarious long after? I certainly hope so. Will have to be more organised, and wanted/needed? Would be easy for some- the show offs. And then not remembering opening a package and listing the contents? Cannot recall the day or date, but I did read the manual. Hmm, interesting- of course the packaging was 100%. Wasn't it? Hmph. Movin' on baby.

Time to catch up on people too, those pretty close are at phone and email distance at the moment- which is weird- world closing in and getting smaller- although when on a rig in the desert- that's life anyway. Maybe I am recreating it at home- never leaving- just shopping and reading and cleaning etc etc. 

On to life and it's pleasures, of which there has been some- The boys seem to be coping. Good to hear that they have little jobs- but cannot hear the ambition through the coping. The gels are doing well, teacher's luv em, reports are okay, cannot see mensa kids but they are certainly Daddy's little girls!

Had some more deep thoughts about life and coping, but not occurring to me now- maybe I can add them to this page later. The MS by the way is being kept at bay, but my right leg seems wonky and weak at times- maybe a severe lack of working out and other crap like that. I do know that at some time I will have to pay for a personal trainer to get me motivated and fit again- going alone to the gym years ago did no good at all. 

bugger, ran out of time....

ADD ONS
The parcel and lack of remembering- the missing parts weer there all the time, just not obvious, what a bummer for the dude searching- under his nose, and he has a rather large English proboscis too.

cursed?

Is a widower cursed by chance?

Life seems to be rolling on without my preferences for small socialising occasions. Successful as life seems- and the bank balance, [no need for Uncle Tony to chip in to the mortgage this year- and can pay out balance for gels braces too], cant get no satisfaction.

Work seems to interfere with the biggies, I may miss my baby sisters marriage soon, but also, there is no word of work either- Limbo...

Catching up with people long not seen also off the table- "busy for the next three, no four evenings- sorry", not home, too busy, too tired, missed opportunities or Do I just have Bad Breath? Bad manners? Boring to be with?

Paranoia?

Hmph. Up em all then. Three new bottles of Single malt to taste, waiting waiting waiting... Although, must say, picked up some Noice Wine at the Barossa on the way home the other week- 7 cases should get me and any afficiandos tipsy if I get visitors again. The VP shiraz port is Divine!


Some happy things have been- #2Son's Valedictory dinner with his Pop, and meeting some new people- whose Life Styles verge opposite mine- blame my scientificaltness I suppose... But biodynamics- cow poo buried with horns or Lock The Gate verges on uneducated hysteria to me.

The gels are getting into battles- girly crap at school- feel sorry for them. Now have Two Little Women at home trying my patience and wallet. #2Son does have wheels now- just needs a ticket to use it. I hope #1Son had a good week in the Little Smoke working on a TV news program- even battling his own privations- glandular fever is supposed to be pretty bad.  And #2's stay over for a while friends have been nice to have around too. yes- Mandi and Zak and Cammo. Just wish the mac-attack-rubbish was not left out to annoy me. Yep, grumpy about something ALL the time...

Was visited recently by my dad's side- Anne and John, and then Bern and Kath, so slightly mollified not left entirely alone at the end of the known universe by family passing by. I know- everyone is really busy and just cos I used to like dropping in on anyone does not warrant vice versa... Do unto others as--- OMG, no, do not want to think, but, my karma is low...

Just wish the gumption was there to front up to assholey better than thou wankers- but loud wheels need greasing or ignoring, I cant stop feeling shitty about life.

I think I have cleaned up the shed of facebook contacts that have not bothered to be there. Not going to bother putting anything on it, or read others stuff, for now. Interesting blogs are all that I am happy to read about- geology, windsurfing and weather. Tis sad really.

Trying to keep the kids into their interest- #4 photos, #3 music, #2 the car [Black Pearl Ford sedan] and #1, well, I wish him all he best for a job he would like to luck into, music gigs and reviews thereof. Time for one on one with three this week with the family wagon off the road for electrics clean-up, though the van aint that great a place to talk. But then, got to have a ride in the New car of #2's- nice one there- a granny had it- 71k on the clock for a 19 year old car...

Enough of the Marvined stuff and whinging about lost time- I need to get passionate again on the water, the small fleet of RC indoor copters not the same as blasting across the water at Sandy, but small steps, the new wet-suit and sailing gear need to be Used!

DIS-ED

Dis-?

What es Dis?

Well, this is what I am lately!
Either up or down, not wildly swinging though.

Disappointed/ing,
dis-ingenuous,
disgusted/ing
disappearing/ed
dis-engaged/ing
dismissive/ed
disgruntled,
disapproved/ing

With people and government and overseas news.
With the kids a little.
With me sometimes.
Not with this cat, the other one at meow-l times anyway!


The flavour of Luck may come into it. I try to dream of winning lotto, not hard work, to make up my shortfalls in life. My swings and roundabouts are heavy hitters at the moment, but not enough to swerve off the road left or right! Driving or in decision making anyway.

It should all pan out, it's being the supportive parent that is bugging me a lot. Life is moving on, and I am swirling along, complaining about it while there are more worse off.

A good good belly laugh, more than I am getting now, helps.
[As of 28/12/12 Anyway or even a bit earlier- just tidying up my scats [hurhur, better mood today! 28Apr13]

top hole job

A Top Hole Job Nearby

It may not be so interesting, but to me, getting back into a field job as a geologist is just great.

I have been feeling up and down recently, daily, so I do not think I am depressed as such. Just not coping, and then coping. Marvined.

It is just the inadequacy of life's special daily presentations to oneself- from Bills to Pensions to Stupid People Pissing Me Off [Elected Figure Heads For Example or the Wannabees-or VIPs anyway- ie Abbot and Romney) rant rant rant, not blah blah de bloody blah.

But enuff grumbling and whinging to ones self!

Big news

My recruitment agency (My!?), this week, has found a third job in the nearby coal country up valley from home- an hours drive at the most, daily, five days a week only so far, for about two to four weeks doing: top hole monitoring, collecting samples, monitoring progress for the Big Smoke operations office.

So that is good news, and it may go on after Nu Ye-yah as well, so kudos to the recruitment agency- they do know more than so-called word of mouth in my little co-called network of colleagues  or once again, maybe it's just me not getting up their noses about jobs anywhere?

Anyway, I had a quick interview with an OpsMan yesterday, up the valley, and today I emailed off a an acceptance of contract, via the agency, for an 'assignment', YAY me.

Other news

Now back to the household drudgery for a week, and then work AND household drudgery; who says women have it all? Or is it men? Looks like I do, cos in addition-my lil gels are 'growing out' this month, if you know what I mean, and that means getting them 'fitted', "Aunty? HELP!!", oh boy, then there will be the monthly tantrums starting too I guess...

[what do you give the guy that has everything? Penicillin...]

real work

Ah to be back in the field

On a dry day

This week I have started off in a new direction, parceling the kids out for a short while to get back out into the field, as in a Wellsite Geologist capacity.

Hands were shaken two weeks ago after a short email exchange two weeks before that.
Naturally, mind thinking at warp speed- what do I need etc.

Anyway- it rained yesterday at the coring site, the drillers were back in their yard surprisingly, and I wasted a day travelling there and back. The boss was not pleased at this abortive start, back on Monday nevertheless.

A Marvin day, ready to geologize, but Waiting on Weather.

yesterday I bought a Decafenated Cofey table

Nah I didn't.

Just like saying it.

But I did buy a laundry basket trolley from a well known discount grocery store- a jermain komponee, but in the end only for the axles and wheels...

What is it?

Well, over here, we hang out the washing out in the sun, usually in the backyard, for the antibacterial solar content and to add vitamin D to our clothes. To save on the naked sunbathing and skin cancer.

Also, to avoid too much exercise in the extreme solar radiation of the southern temperate region of the world by bending down to pick clothes to hang up on the rotating clothes line, we use a trolley to hold the washing basket. You know. After three loads on a Saturday morning [whites first- as they do not retain heat to dry quick enough IMO, then the colours and finally the gothic adornments], my baacckk...

The trolley for the washing basket I bought Tarn many years ago [10?] had also been used as a kart by the kids, too many times. The axles got bent, and the good old black plastic wheels cracked and went missing at the front, a real drag when hanging the laundry and moving it from the inner line of the clothes hoist to the outer wire... You can see by the pic, it is a largish line.

Time for a new one or even hunt one down that was being tossed out as junk somewhere around town at the next Hard Rubbish Week ...


No. As mentioned the discount store had special on this weegen, so early Satdee I hot footed down. In the car, and picked one up. And extras that I did not need when I left home. Hate that.

The new one was not as solid as the old one. Weak even! square tubular, thin, would not last!

Hmm. Marvined again?

Nah! $20 well spent!

Swapped the axles and wheels. Man the new wheels are Nice.

Talk about a Transformer!

Tossed out the old wheels, the remaining pair of. Stored the old axle, and the new now not to be used new frame and gear- in the Shed.

Rollin' 'long jus fahn, thankyee.

I think I got it

I think I got it

gaffer tape or duct tape- gotta love it

the kids [and me] kept closing the fridge without closing a drawer...
and overloading the little shelves too...

diy glow plugs left me glowing

diy glow plugs left me glowing

Battery?

The last few months, avid followers would know I changed the work/windsurf transport van battery because the bloody thing was slow to turn over and start chugging. Well, the last week it has been like that again, and I blamed the cold. One hint was to use 'Aerostart'  in the air intake to make it start. Another relative said DO NOT DO THAT, it's the glow plugs! Marvined again! Should have RTFM, at least!

Whoops.

Glow Plugs?

Well, a call two days later to a service centre suggested that the glow plugs were buggered or the relay to heat them was gone if white smoke was erupting from the anus of the bloody van. Bloody vehicles.

Hmph! well, to replace the plugs looking like sixty dollars a piece for Mercedes recommended types, forty for another type. And probably four hundred for a new relay or only two hundred for a substitute.

Ouch! $775! And service charge too? Oh no thank you! 

Pulled the pin plugs out, what a hassle! And the relay was removed too. An hour or so of time...

Expert advice.

Three places were visited. The service guy I have used before said I could probably DIY. Mmm. Went to merceded service centre- new quote- still the same. The cheapo relay was available though if I needed it... Next store could get the plugs for about twenty bucks, two days to wait. Great. The next place was only fifteen, two days to wait also. 

I could wait! Good old Repco! They said replace the lot even if one was okay...

Went to the auto electrician with the relay- and with a hand lens he could say nothing was wrong with the board [as an aside, you might have a diesel too, but with a nuclear explosions EMP- you will be buggered too, like I say, an aside..], so there was all that money saved... if the new glow plugs he recommended to get worked okay... 

He also showed me how to quick test- grab some jumper start cables, spit on a suspicious glow plug end, connect it to the battery and if no steam- buggered! Do not put a good one into your pocket right away...

Two days wait.

Went to the wrong store. 

Embarrassing as the last time with the new tyres!  

Had to drive away, and park 50 yards down the opposite side of the road!!! 

Picked five plugs up for seventy five dollars thank you very much! 

Home for the last DIY stretch

And swore and banged knuckles for an hour or so putting the bastards back in the engine. Dropping shit on wet ground, argh! Lucky it was only cool, and not freezing! Plastic tarp was spread after the first dropsy! And a fencing wire kludge to pry the fallen thingos from tight spots in the engine bay the next time. I do like my tool collection this week, no new purchases required!

Happy at last

Fingers crossed. key in and turn for-

First start, brmm !

Ha life, bloody hahaha, a winner today! nyah nyah nyah

diy glow plugs left me glowing

Another Bad Hair Rant

Should I avoid another bad hair day by..?

Hmmph. Dunno. This week has not panned out as a balance of good v bad.

Helping

I have been trying to help out a friend, and by their absence and lack of telepathy, I have on one hand been not exactly clear in my communications, which left me feeling an idiot at not getting a good Idea of what is required because what ever I have done, it's not quite right or clear and I am confusing people. I know I like to think I am smart, but at the moment... I think I am on the right track now, but also think that a third party might be better employed at the [or for the] required expertise. I hate that, I like to help out and excel in that endeavour, or any for that matter. Kludging not a good trait notwithstanding that I can do that too. Should I have another bad hair rant at my friend- nah, I believe I have to see from their point of view that they really would like to do the chore themselves, but circumstances... Marvined.

Work

The low paying jobby I have has not been exactly heart warming or well paid for the amount of time and effort needed for that either. I really feel like with a brain the size of a planet, and my expectations, the world could be left turning the wrong way. Marvined. And the environmental factors left me seething when the co-workers supplying me with work, did not get things right and I had to walk a few extra meters and get them to get their act together so I could achieve more with less effort myself...

This does not sound good I know, but these days time is money, efficaciousness is not highly rewarded  but enormously necessary and mental state [happy now?] not regarded as required. It appears.

Close, relatively

Then on the family front this month: My dear brother and family are off skiing in a better place and cheaper too. My sister is nearly too busy to go visit, her time is like mine- busy [family, work], and/but/or with the the added twist of a four o'clock start in a week [here you should be able to hear the Simpson's catch-cry of "Ah ha!" or Muttley-like]. Ah well...  My dad and another brother have gone and bought a little yacht to do up, be nice to live that much closer so I can join them on Port Phillip Bay more than maybe the once a year I see happening. Then the youngest brother is off accross the continent to look after his boys racing their Karts in a national championship. And my baby sister is cooling her heels, waiting for the fiance to get home from the rails... And #1Son is visiting NY and the nearby N.Falls for his birthday next week.

Thursday... The washing machine, another bad hair day there! 

The power switch thingo panel in the hall [with the short circuit detector or earth leakage trip detector] tripped Mid Spin of the washing cycle... Last spin anyway. Marvined.

 I spent half an hour or more traipsing about the house going backwards turning off wall switches in each room to track the infidel, and forwards flipping the detector switch back on. I did not want it to be the refridgerator, but at the same time hoped not the bloody clothes washer either. Cannot afford new ones this month of either after the last six months. Bloody Consumer Society, love it and hate it. The thought of a major electrical problem in the house wiring had me edgy too- what about the TV shows I like? See, I am as shallow as... Ended up being the washing machine.

I can sometimes repair stuff around the house, but RTFM was not going to help me out here.

Not happy Jan. It maybe one of the last things in Tarn's "dowry", but I would like to be able to keep things a long time, especially the washing machine. [The drier is out side awaiting its destruction. Or recycling...] The poor old washing machine, a trusted brand, maybe on its last legs too. The repairer will "be straight on to it".When he has time.  Marvined again. I may have to borrow my sis-in-laws machine this weegen? At least the winter holiday break means no school clothes needed for a few weeks, as long as we have enough socks and underwear to last until Buckies verdict on the machine...

Weegen for the boy

I see that as I get older, the care and avoidance factors conflict when it comes to supervising young adults and their Friday Nights Out. A small party turns out not to be, the backyard late night weather turns cold and loud [unfortunately not  rainy- bugger]. I end up having to say to the 2am laggards that don't/can't/won't go to the shady nightclubs- if they really want to be able to come back here at least another time, then they better go home now, and they were smart enough to scat in ten minutes.

The detritus got up late... with bad hair, Ah Ha.

Gross Fishing

Cleaning and Gross Fishing

This is not that it's really a family oriented blog of good and bad news etcetera.

If you know about this or this you know I get cross with the shower sometimes. Like: When the plug hole is PLUGGED by child hair (or even the grey, ok). Or when the drain gets grown into by roots of grasses or vines or trees. Or going gross fishing, cleaning wise.

Lately

Showering at full steam (haha..) the footwell starts to fill, threatening an overflow.
Not again!
Pull the wad of hair from the plug hole...?
Still filling.
Not filling due to that pitiful wad of [LONG!] hair.
Need to do something else, check that the drain outside is not overflowing. Again.
NO!
Hmmm. Ah well. I'll get to it someday.

Today 

Half naked and ready for a shower. Hmm, filling again.  And while the blockage is on my mind I streak outside to grab some speaker wire from the Alcoholery.
Once back inside safe from prying eyes, I bend the speaker wire into a semblance of a hook and poke it down the plug hole. Deep Deep Deep, and pulled out some hair from the U-bend.
Not so good an Idea Marvin.
Return to the Alcoholery for.... dadadadadadadda dem... [drum roll]----
hanger and a pair of pliers
Bent wire to suit. Slip it down the plug hole, and lucky for me the "strainer" piece comes free. Because as I rotate the fencing wire kludge type hooking device and pull it up....

SOME ONE'S...   PONY TAIL ? 

WAS DOWN THE DRAIN ?

No NO NO Not "Some one's".
Just a gloopy hairy soapy smelly MESS of, well, everybodys' HAIR!
Not funny dude, but I did not run screaming dripping to the trash can. Just like... naked.

That's just Gross Fishing for ya!

Called de Gasman

marvined again

but killed two birds with one gas man...

walking in to the yard, noticed cover on gas water heater looking worse than ever

pulled it off to see how bad the rust was. 

the cover fell OFF. 

not funny dude.

some DIY?

wired it up, but the wind blew the gas out at the same time

OH OH

tried to relight the bastard.

no go- FAIL

3 kids and me and NO SHOWER

buttons stuck or broken?

 no leaking gas tho

bugger- WORK time

later- call a gas man- immediate response!

around less than 5 minutes

CANNOT buy a new cover for less than half the price of NEW UNIT?

wow, hmm, the credit card maxed already...

can we relight it?

no

call de boss- 

"use more effort with pliers, swing OFF IT!"

relit

Ahhch, Bach, es goot

can fold a cover up too? be back in 15? 

OK!

Oh, and while u r back here

look at the stove top inside...?

Yep!

All goot, tankuse.

except...

Waiting for the bill...

Oh DEAR, fencing wire no help this time

Noice cover Marv!

out with the old

in with the new, after 12 months on the bench...

Notta so good

Successes, Failings and successes this week

In black and white: the kids, the cats, the cars and me.

Celebrated Tarn's fifty-first birthday quietly this week with the three cheeky little monkeys. May have a pizza with her dad Friday. Mine soon enough.
[new addition- at bottom 22-5-12]

Family Car

Finally found the problem with the windscreen wipers not wanting to work on the family vehicle. Or, there was a short in the tailgate wiring. The wiring loom passes through lots of holes in the car body, and the auto-electrician I had to see in the end, spotted some bare wiring, on the loom from the car side of the tailgate, not exactly where it passed through to a protective tube, but further inside by a few cm/inches.

Ah backhgh, That Was All!

Mark the car sparky just wrapped some tape around it and we put it back together. Thirty three buckaroonies though, and a 40 km drive. Self findable?

Patience and money, patience OR money?

The Van

Then. THEN... Well, Back then... Last week actually, the van really started to play up.

The battery would not turn the engine over after a cold night. A few times the last month. New one purchased. STICKER SHOCK!
THEN...
There was definitely a wobble from the front tyres, booked in for new tyres. Went along to the wrong tyre garage. The guy at the right one said he had just sent some-one to where I had just been. That was funny. Until the STICKER SHOCK hit me again. There was bare metal showing on the old tyres...

The kids

Gel#1b managed to drop my old fluorescent  desk lamp and broke the tube. New one. And a ballast. And a bit of maintenance.

Gel#1a needed new globe in her bedside lamp. A few nights later spilt red coloured drink all over the old flowery carpet. At bedtime. Her sister's bottle of course. Another late night.

Son#2 was picked up on his job so he could Drive rather than pedal, and as I put the bmx in the back of the wagon, the front wheel dropped off...........!!!
Another front tooth nearly lost? The first one he lost is going to cost an arm and a leg and more to replace. I may have to mortgage his phone and bike...


And the beer, a wheat milk stout, I started to brew last week, does not want to ferment at all. I wonder why- fed it some DAP...

Then...

The white cat left us a smelly reminder this week. We could not track where he had left it. Was it the junk room, cos he fled from there today? No. It was left on some power cords right next to the fermenting beer vat in the laundry...

Me

Trying to buck myself up and it looks like I am losing out more. My credit card is starting to cost me too much ie I am living it up tooo much (?), and employment advertisments are depressing around here- like they know the person they want EXACTLY, like my skill sets are not upgradeable to even an assistant librarian?

I want to vacuum up information, but that is not cost effective either. Who else around here likes to know about and share shit about archaeology, geomorphology, astronomy, geology, oilfield news... No-one.


A fail for my 50th birthday present though- last year my family [sibs n folks] gave me a voucher for a Ballon Flight over The Big Smoke to be taken by May this year, so I was reminded by my eldest son to get a move on and book it. And guess what? I tried to early this week and was told "The company went belly up before xmas, and no-one was told"- so much for the customer is always right?



Cathartic? I have to tell myself that I do like myself, to smile and to vent and rant more.... Make more friends?

Books

I am really enjoying 'guns, germs and steel' by Jared Diamond 1997.

A new Plonking Addition
For my 50th a matching barrel for the 40th, to put the Garage Grape Sherry into!

It's raining again

The rain Page here has been updated again. And again- fancier?

I see that the rain pattern appears to be changing IMBY since the mid 2000's. Of all my hobbies started since kids arrived... it has been pretty satisfying to see what goes on IMBY and locally and regionally.

Playing with my excel graphs of monthly recorded rain IMBY [not daily- I think it would have to be re-arranged and not going there as yet...] it looks like the three cycles of rainy/drier has been changed since I have been recording it in the backyard.

Would you agree, or want to see more data? The  B.O.M. has a lot, maybe if you want you can see if it tallies up as far as a trend change goes. Fair warning, nearest weather data collection to us lies a few kilometres from away.

With a Muttley-like smirk or chuckle, or hiding embarrassment too, but, um, ah, am I right? Am I right?

Besides the 16month moving average cycle, it is the average over time that is also interesting. The drought in SE Australia looks to me to have ended maybe the first half of 2008 or earlier by my records?


At least IMO, these last few years of data shows me that it is heading towards a wetter climate here in SE Oz. IMBY IMHO that is!

Having weather station is nice to have- automation of data collection is a boon, what?

But I am not going down the road of temperature collection, as too many variables may affect the data collection, and I maybe should have started that at the same time as the rain recording, cos I do have and have had a MinMax mercury type thermometer since 1983... The many thermometers I have never agree anyway*...


I hope moving the rain collector gauge won't affect the data a lot, but that was a self imposed OH&S thing! In any case, I wanted to eliminate extra splash from the roof or nearest trees, but I do not think that has happened.
*marvined? Also, have to update that page- the magnificent measurement obsession has got some new additions!

one win this week

figjam! 


Nuts in the works nearly cost me 65  buckaroonies!!!

As we were getting the car off to school, as one of the passengers could not take two bags to school, the dew on the windscreen stayed put. The wipers did not bother to operate. This was not funny dude, at nearly 9am on the way and so hard to see!

Deary me! Got out and wiped it down anyway, sped off to the drop off and came home in a Huff. Went through three fuses in a hurry! Bugger! Something Else To Worry About This Bloody Week and bought some more fuses on the delivery run. Same thing back home. Marvined again.

I thought the electric motor may have buggered up. Rang around the car dealers, the mechanics and auto electric specialists and they did not really want to know me when I mentioned "secondhand?" parts. God knows that I had to buy the full kit (Motor and arms) from Ford! A DIY was pretty much cheaper I thought.

Called the local wreckers and he said he should have three motors on the shelf. I said great, I will be there soon, and how much? Sixty five dollars was the correct answer! I'll be there asap!

So we went out to the wreckers, at closing time, after [another hassle]. Then at the wreckers, unfolding the wallet at closing time, (and he did Not have any motors on the shelf anyway!)...

I had an idea.

As the bloody car is usually parked at night more or less under a bloody gum tree, maybe the gum nuts had gummed the works up!

Got home, got the tools out and pulled the covers off to repair the dang thing...

Gumnuts jammed the wipers. Ten minutes. Kept me money. Jammy bastard Me.

Torn and Taunted Carpets

When you see a van
After having a thought

I was torn about whether the carpets should be professionally Dry Cleaned,  "electro cleaned" or Just Left For Another Day. How long ago was it? And, like, the central heating air duCKs too. Another time.

Cos let's face it, getting a few rooms done is expensive when the chore is contracted out.

Oh, what about--- no, can't get it done from off shore, bugger. Banking IT stuff yeah, but carpets... Well. Unless they flew over there...

The hired carpet cleaner for a DIY job is not bad, and the friend's cleaner was okay too, but... that real deep clean and those first steps across freshly cleaned carpet in bare feet...

Anyway.

As I was backing the van out to go to work, and thinking, "how long since the last professional carpet clean? Maybe I better..." and was taunted by a weird sight.

Around the opposite corner drove a Carpet Cleaning Van...

Sorry, I thought it was worth writing up.

On the road again

A Not a DIY Situation
I did try but!

Two weeks ago, I took my lil yacht out to the lil lake for some quiet time. The kids were all out with friends, it was sunny and a nice lil breeze from the northeast. Then it got windy...

You know the rest.

The catch up is that the broken down van had a problem at the repairers too! Poor guy was told by Mercedes that the Mercedes Vans [made in Korea by SangYong] have this special alternator and pulley combination- [the power supply and battery charger unit][BTW- a $1000 special!- that will fit. But they sent one pulley for him to fit because the mechanic knew that that was all that was needed. (3 x that in a sentence! Ha!) It did NOT. Back it went! He finally had to find one made for a Japanese 4WD to fit the "Korean built Mercedes branded vehicle". Cos he has seen this problem before. Wow. Anyway, $300 later, we are moving people. Yay. Cost the repairer quite a few phone calls, but good him. Owe him one.

He also told me that he could fix the sticky buggery hard to shift gear lever too. "Seen it before". Again!

Next time I win Lotto, I'll get it looked at. Like the LCD screen in the family car. Lotto. Later.

Marvini Oh Marvino My Van

Short as life is- Score for life this week
Zilch. Yeah, Nah, whatever...

Last fortnight I won a mark on the scratching post- fixed the laundry machine. Yay me. Won some money on a lotto ticket. How much you ask? Enough. For another ticket. Other good news? My nieces and nephews all had a good year. Looks like the latest ones to have finished high school are all off to university. That makes six! Out of Six at uni this year. And not counting the eldest that has finished her course and is starting in the circus of life this week at a Big Smoke Hospital!

But. My narcissistic and hubrisisckity life has become a little flat.
Haha- nobody loves me, I want to feed the worms... I am feeling mortality creeping up, as the kids are growing up so fast, with one one out of the house sort of, and the next one on the threshold of leaving high-school to be a chef, and the gels just starting high-school next month. And the MS effects are back, I see colours when I look down at night, and the left lower leg feels spongey when I get up... Dunno man.

But, see, well.. I have started the week off wrong though.

Last week I thought I had got a tire-shop to fix a punctured tire of my friends ride on mower- "wire in the tire"? Turns out--- twice! I went to check on it at the NuHoose a week later, and the bastard was flat. Again! Went back to the repair shop and said- OI U! Lookat at thart- eets FLART mate! They fixed it again, but we will see next time I'm oot thar...

This week I see on the social network that a cousin had gone past our town to a surf spot up the coast for The New Year. And got home safely too- or there would be no mention or pics.
Forgot I lived nearby? I would have dropped everything for a cuppa coffee with them, offered a bed etc.
Now I won't--- feel too bad, but it's the little things that get ya... Easter with the  extended family seems too much effort for me now. Eldest cousin in the clan, and well - snubbed?

A birthday gift- I have a hot air balloon flight to look forward to. Soonish.
But there was a bad hot air balloon accident in the NZ the other week, so I am a little bit hesitant about taking up the birthday present now...

My internet use was used up by the eldest child the other week by 25% of the monthly use in a few days!
I thought he was back from the Big Smoke to party!
He thought we had UNLIMITED data access... nah mate, after 2am, you can go for broke nearly.
So for the last week, Slow Days At Holiday Time For The Kids...
But surprisingly, they seem to work with that. I am not. Once over the plan limit, back to 25Kbs...
The worst thing, I could upgrade for 20 bucks and then downgrade back to the old rate, FOR THIRTY more bucks!
No data blocks to get! Sucks man, really sucks.
No blogging, just the mail mame.
He got a letter  today for jury duty next month.
Karma?

What else. While I am in the crappiest mood for weeks...

My niece's anniversary passed by, another one. Unbelievable.
Not many get what she got (Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD)), an envitable sad time each year for us. Savvy would have been 13 this year.

The vines have been attacked by mildew or mould, and so the whole gallon of shiraz I wanted to make, won't be. Spraying the Portable Vineyard every other week with store chemicals and a homebrew mixture the other. Might get a liter of Pinot. wow...

Worst day of teh week,

The work vee-hee-cal has developed a whining screaming annoying sound lately, at low revs, and the aircon is shite.
I bought a new fanbelt for it.
Before looking to see of I could do it myself, and, well, I can't replace it mahself!
Went to a auto repair shop this morning- he said it's "dry". Interesting. But if it was gunna get worse, better pull the pulleys out. Right.

The second boy went to the surf today- tonight he looks like a lobster. Again. "Sunscreen wore off " my fat ass! Lazy butt head, hope he learns this time.

As the kids were all off with friends today, I thought I would drag out the old 12m yacht- I mean the radio controlled 3 foot thing, cos it looked to be nice after work to be on the lake with it.
The first hour was just fine.
Then the wind swung around and VOILA, the poor beastie was heaving and splashing in the huge 2 inch ripples like a rat in a bath with a cat.
And then the electrics inside it got wet, so it sailed sailed off BY ITSELF to the middle of the lake.
Well I was a bit p'd off!
In a huff I left it to fend for itself in the sticks and weeds in the deep end, if it did not sink first.
I sped off in the van to grab a kayak from home. Ten minutes later, the poor beastie was being hammered by the ripples and it had lost some gear overboard- the boom came out. I paddled out and brought it back.
I took off for home to the screaming kids, fighting cats and the ghosts, and stalled the bastard van at the roundabout...
Thongs and a manual with the seat in the wrong position don't work...

As I started off, there was a NEW sound! A horrible rumbling sound as if one of the pulleys mentioned before, really had stuffed up...

Dollars.........

Washing machine sluggish

just when things are almost wave free
I mean shoothly sailing

Wham, wham,wham... What the?
The washing machine agitator was Not Agitating very well.
Oh oh.

Hmm. Google the machines problem, and Bingo! Another quick fix, thanks very much!
Although, the Marvin pitch here is that it is Xmas time in Oz Land... The appliance repairers like to have some vacation too, bugger 'em!

Online is cheap, but mail order? The post script will tell you what is going on later.

So far, the 4 little dogs required are only $10 a pack, here in Oz or yankee doodle land, without postage, but as the repair shop should be open Monday...

update Monday
The local appliance repairer [and wife] wanted a bit more than 10 bucks, $42 in fact. Hmm. His wife did say that even a packet of dogs was a bit more than $10, but I got a complete renewal pack- o'ring, dogs, cams, bearing and washer. So I cannot complain that was all it cost. Fifteen minutes later- all done.

Hopefully this means CLEAN clothes without mysterious linty patches in folds...

In fact, it may have been an expensive large machine to start with, but it has cost less than $150 to maintain since 1998! Without the repairers add on too- at @ about $51/hr for at least only 30 minute jobs too I must add- which I try to avoid at all costs- why have a shed of tools getting rusty and dusty, really!