I can hardly believe that it's been so long. And you know what? I blame Facebook! And in particular, I blame those annoylingly addictive games like Tetris and Bowling that come along with Facebook. "But hang on just one moment" I hear you say. "Being addicted to Facebook is hardly the breaking news to be expected upon reading the post title. I certainly hope you're not using false pretences to attract readers to your pissant little blog".
Well, dear reader - fear not, for I am in fact most deliciously furnished with such breakful newsings as would shake to the very core, in a rather delightful and cheeky manner, even the most indolent attendant to the dubious malodourous musings that eruct from the illimitable company of purveyors of such bosh.
My news, having broken of such propinquity, relates to none other than that bastion of promise and spirit - the Mysterious HM Brown.
If you know not of whom I speak, get ye to the blog archives and read the bloody things!
HM Brown, In whose reflected glow I am proud to bask, has successfully contracted with Penguin for the publification of her first book!!!! Ta Daah! (It's not called Ta Daah, that's to indicate a musical sting such as befits such a revelation. Last I saw, the title was "Red Queen", possibly preceeded by the definite article "The", though I can't recall)
I don't know when it'll be on shelves, or even which shelves it will be on. I don't know where on any shelves it will be placed, nor who will be putting them there - though I'm pretty sure they won't be putting themselves on shelves. Needless to say, I'm bloody excited and proud to have shared a special connection with "the Author". (And when I say special connection, I'm talking 200amp jumper leads - which means something to some, and nothing to most!!!)
By the way, did I mention we just lost soccer 19-3? Probably best I don't.
Nighty night my little pigeons XXX
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
FOB DELIVERS 16-1 DRUBBING - BUT COULD THIS BE A TACTICAL MISTAKE?
After winning the grand final last season, we returned tonight to the hallowed plastic for the commencement of a new season. And didn't we what?
16-1 against the Electric Sheep. We creamed 'em.
But now I'm a little worried. Could this have been a big tactical mistake? There's always a spot of grading occurs with the early season games. Maybe the Electric Sheep were very cleverly tanking to ensure a place in a lower division. Maybe we'll end up in Division 1 and then keep coming second for the rest of the season.
Anyway, we got our picture in the LV Express last week. That's pretty cool for me, who at school was voted "most likely to suffer an embarassing injury after become entangled in his own limbs whilst attempting the macarena".
Should I provide a reading update? I'll take your silence as acquiescence.
It's been so long that I can't recall everything I've read, but I can highly recommend Bill Bryson to anyone who hasn't yet discovered this genius of humourous travel writing. In particular "Notes from a Small Island", which can be best summed up by Mike Whitney, who, if he read it, would most assuredly proclaim "it's a corker".
I recently read R.L. Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde". This was interesting in just how far removed it is from the image that is reinforced through pop culture references and the like.
I have also read "Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe. This was a loaner, and a really good narrative.
I've read heaps more, but that'll have to do for now.
16-1 against the Electric Sheep. We creamed 'em.
But now I'm a little worried. Could this have been a big tactical mistake? There's always a spot of grading occurs with the early season games. Maybe the Electric Sheep were very cleverly tanking to ensure a place in a lower division. Maybe we'll end up in Division 1 and then keep coming second for the rest of the season.
Anyway, we got our picture in the LV Express last week. That's pretty cool for me, who at school was voted "most likely to suffer an embarassing injury after become entangled in his own limbs whilst attempting the macarena".
Should I provide a reading update? I'll take your silence as acquiescence.
It's been so long that I can't recall everything I've read, but I can highly recommend Bill Bryson to anyone who hasn't yet discovered this genius of humourous travel writing. In particular "Notes from a Small Island", which can be best summed up by Mike Whitney, who, if he read it, would most assuredly proclaim "it's a corker".
I recently read R.L. Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde". This was interesting in just how far removed it is from the image that is reinforced through pop culture references and the like.
I have also read "Bonfire of the Vanities" by Tom Wolfe. This was a loaner, and a really good narrative.
I've read heaps more, but that'll have to do for now.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
VANUATU - THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN SUBURBAN BACKYARD
I'm a bad blogger, and must be punished!!! It's been another month, and even worse, this post has been sitting in draft for much of that time.
We even won the soccer grand final and I didn't post!
I've read a great many books and seen quite a respectable number of movies - yet no post!
What of those heady times in my blogging infancy when I'd post three entries in a single night?
I have a confession to make. I'm one of the vast, ever increasing number of young men (that's right YOUNG!!!) who are only ever 20mg of anti-depressant chemical away from writing some really bad folk music. Moreover, whilst on the cruise I threw caution to the wind - of which there was plenty and didn't it just get that boat rockin' to such an extent that none would come knockin' - and stopped taking my happy pills.
Yes. Very silly of me. As if returning from a cruise isn't depressing enough already. This is like adding insult to injury, when the injury is wound that you're rubbing salt into. It probably explains why I cried all the way through Mama Mia - though it's equally likely that was just Peirce Brosnan's singing.
Anyway, I did promise a somewhat more detailed blog about our recent cruise. To whom did I promise? The people who read my last blog entry. Did anyone read that entry? Not really. So why am I bothering to follow through on a commitment made to no-one and at no-one's request? I have no idea.
The first stop on our cruise was Vanuatu - specifically Port Vila. This was my third visit to Port Vila - it being a staple for P&O. It's one of the few South Pacific ports with a harbour capable of receiving a cruise liner, whilst maintaining the appearance of being incapable of receiving a postcard.
I recall on a previous visit being greeted on the dock by natives in traditional costume. Whilst I didn't see this on our recent visit, the traditional male costume of Vanuatu still warrants comment. Imagine, if you will, an oversize drinking straw, about 2 inches in diameter, a foot or so long, and made from some organic grassy material. If you prefer, imagine a regular sized drinking straw, and a very small person, the illusion works either way!
The straw is placed over the penis, folded upward, and tucked under a similarly grassy belt wrapped around the waist - and there you have it - the nubang - and doesn't the title work ever so well!
Whilst I'm no naturalist, I do find it a peculiar trait of human development that we've become so uncomfortable with nudity that someone thought up indecent exposure as a crime. I can assure you, if Jane Goodall were tell her little chimpy friends that if they were to get on with evolving, not only would they invent clothes (which is altogether quite practical, particularly if you lose hair at the same time as finding new ways to fuck with the ozone layer), but that they'd then go on to decide that NOT wearing clothes was intolerable.
Anyway, what I find particularly odd about the nubang, is that it covers the penis whilst leaving the scrotum on display. Now, to some this may seem like splitting hairs, but does this suggest that culturally they find the penis more unsavoury than the scrotum? Personally, I think to describe the scrotum as looking like an appendage of left-over elbow skin is putting it kindly. With the underside of the tongue already tucked neatly away inside the mouth, I'd have though the next priority for cover should be the scrotum. Sure, deal with the penis as well, but get the scrotum covered first.
Now, at this point, allow me to pause and reflect on a recent discovery vis a vis my blog and the finding thereof. I have a code snippet installed which allows the good people at google to monitor how people find my blog - e.g. referrals from Lee's blog, or from Facebook. When someone stumbles across my blog as a result of a google search, the report tells me the search terms used. Recently, I discovered that someone had been directed to my blog after searching for: "films about men getting buggered men". I am reminded of this as I read back over the preceding paragraph and wonder how scrotum, penis, appendage and tongue may be creatively combined into a new and exciting search term.
So anyway, I didn't see any nubang-clad natives, but was greeted by a "traditional" Vanuatu band playing on the dock. And by traditional, I mean anything but. Still, all traditions must have a beginning, and I'll not be a slave to nostalgia, so let the tradition begin with a band comprising the terminally dentally challenged, with more guitars than strings, and playing such traditional Melanesian fare as Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, and well, pretty much that one over and over ... and over ... and over.
Thus are we welcomed to the market which is set up on the dock whenever a ship comes in. The market offers the weary traveller many an opportunity to relax under the expert hands of the local hair-braiders - and to my mind too few passengers really stop to think through whether this is their best option. I can assure you, no matter how thick and lustrous you may think your hair to be,
braiding will surely cure you of that misapprehension. Some girls can pull it off, a small few will actually come out the other end for the better - but I'm yet to see a guy on a cruise with braided hair who doesn't look prematurely bald and frankly more than a little silly. Which is why I encourage it wholeheartedly.
The market also sells a range of allegedly traditional weaponry, which are very popular amongst tourists of Connick's ilk. The claim that these could be traditional, or even that they are weapons, is easily discredited by the evidence of a nation of people who still exist. If these were indeed their means of hunting and defence, these people would starve, or worse still could be defeated by an invading force armed with balloons on strings - and there would be no market, no Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, and, saddest of all, no nubangs. By comparison, the Swiss army present an inpenetrable miltary presence with their tiny yet versatile knives, and Captain Feathersword with his nicky-nocky-noo-ing could strike fear into the hearts of an entire nation (or at least tickle their exposed testicles).
The reality of Vanuatu is that is has very little of a cultural heritage of the type that we tourists can engage with. There is a culture of very basic tribal life, and even of cannibalism. Getting by as they did with the barest of implements and facilities, there is very little "take-home" culture for the western tourist to trade for. Much like the imported culture, the artifacts are similarly imported, and mostly from the same sources as supply the Australian discount chains. The biggest cultural discovery of the recent era for Vanuatu has undoubtedly been the permanent black marker. Sure, the $15 ukulele you can by from the Warehouse in any Australian town looks much like the $15 ukulele in the Port Vila market - and both were made in China - but in Australia they don't have "Port Vila - Vanuatu" written on the body in permanent black marker. And that pretty much sums up the local market. There is very little gennuine local product - but plenty of locally texta'd product.
I hereby proclaim Vanuatu "The Land of The Long Black Sharpie."
Beyond the market, you will find that every local with access to a working automobile (and don't let looks deceive, with a good downhill run many of these cars actually move) will be soliciting for your patronage to drive you about, and with minimal regard for road safety by any interpretation of the term.
Moving beyond the dock, the most prominent feature of the country is disorganisation. Port Vila is the shipping port, and yet has no container facilities. Shipping containers are scattered haphazardly along the soft shoulder of the road between the the town and the dock. The town is littered with half built structures, the weathering making clear that many of these have been half-finished for many years. And it is for this reason that I dub it the great Australian suburban backyard. Can any Australian male genuinely support a claim of never having commenced a backyard project only to, some years later, finish it hurriedly, or remove it, once the For Sale sign appears in the front yard.
Despite having been here before, and knowing full well that there is far greater value to be obtained in using the service of local drivers than there is in the organised tours, we booked on a tour of the local botanical gardens. The local botanical gardens have little to maintain the attention of a fast-paced generation W'er (didn't we come before Gen X?). Certainly not enough to occupy the period of time between being dropped off by the bus and the bus returning to pick us up. Actually, this is not entirely true. For the terminally dull and anal retentive, such as I, there was more than enough reading material attached to tomato stakes around the gardens to occupy a quite absurdly tedious number of hours. However, we were constantly moved by the tour guide to the next display, casting the illusion of a fast-paced and exciting tour. Imagine my surprise, after being rushed along to find that we had an hour or so to sit around in the heat before our bus returned.
The gardens did contain some iguanas, bats, a python (with its mouth sticky-taped shut - and I'm not sure whether this was for safety reasons, or if perhaps it was taped shut by a nubang salesman because it keeped telling people to eat from the fruit of the tree in middle of the garden, after which they'd rush out and buy some pants), and a coconut crab.
There is on the tour a kava hut, and our guide described the wonders of this hallucinogenic, which is ground from the root of a local plant and which has the look and taste of mud. (to be read in Homer Simpson voice) Hmmmm muuud. A cultural oddity is the pride with which they hold their traditional vice. I'm not entirely convinced that kava is doing the community a world of good, and I wonder if there may be a few more projects actually getting finished around the place if they weren't so keen on maintaining this tradition.
Presenting kava, and the drinking thereof, as a tourist attraction, is a bit like Melbourne suddenly taking pride in its homeless winos. "And to your right you'll see a man with wild hair shouting incoherently. You can see from the front of his pants that he's been urinating, which is a bit of a traditional for those partaking of the local 'plonk'."
In addition to the botanical gardens tour, I parasailed from the back of a boat - which was great (last time I abseiled down the cascape waterfalls).
Anyway, I think I've written enough to assuage my guilt for the time being. I promise I'll try to be a better blogger.
We even won the soccer grand final and I didn't post!
I've read a great many books and seen quite a respectable number of movies - yet no post!
What of those heady times in my blogging infancy when I'd post three entries in a single night?
I have a confession to make. I'm one of the vast, ever increasing number of young men (that's right YOUNG!!!) who are only ever 20mg of anti-depressant chemical away from writing some really bad folk music. Moreover, whilst on the cruise I threw caution to the wind - of which there was plenty and didn't it just get that boat rockin' to such an extent that none would come knockin' - and stopped taking my happy pills.
Yes. Very silly of me. As if returning from a cruise isn't depressing enough already. This is like adding insult to injury, when the injury is wound that you're rubbing salt into. It probably explains why I cried all the way through Mama Mia - though it's equally likely that was just Peirce Brosnan's singing.
Anyway, I did promise a somewhat more detailed blog about our recent cruise. To whom did I promise? The people who read my last blog entry. Did anyone read that entry? Not really. So why am I bothering to follow through on a commitment made to no-one and at no-one's request? I have no idea.
The first stop on our cruise was Vanuatu - specifically Port Vila. This was my third visit to Port Vila - it being a staple for P&O. It's one of the few South Pacific ports with a harbour capable of receiving a cruise liner, whilst maintaining the appearance of being incapable of receiving a postcard.
I recall on a previous visit being greeted on the dock by natives in traditional costume. Whilst I didn't see this on our recent visit, the traditional male costume of Vanuatu still warrants comment. Imagine, if you will, an oversize drinking straw, about 2 inches in diameter, a foot or so long, and made from some organic grassy material. If you prefer, imagine a regular sized drinking straw, and a very small person, the illusion works either way!
The straw is placed over the penis, folded upward, and tucked under a similarly grassy belt wrapped around the waist - and there you have it - the nubang - and doesn't the title work ever so well!
Whilst I'm no naturalist, I do find it a peculiar trait of human development that we've become so uncomfortable with nudity that someone thought up indecent exposure as a crime. I can assure you, if Jane Goodall were tell her little chimpy friends that if they were to get on with evolving, not only would they invent clothes (which is altogether quite practical, particularly if you lose hair at the same time as finding new ways to fuck with the ozone layer), but that they'd then go on to decide that NOT wearing clothes was intolerable.
Anyway, what I find particularly odd about the nubang, is that it covers the penis whilst leaving the scrotum on display. Now, to some this may seem like splitting hairs, but does this suggest that culturally they find the penis more unsavoury than the scrotum? Personally, I think to describe the scrotum as looking like an appendage of left-over elbow skin is putting it kindly. With the underside of the tongue already tucked neatly away inside the mouth, I'd have though the next priority for cover should be the scrotum. Sure, deal with the penis as well, but get the scrotum covered first.
Now, at this point, allow me to pause and reflect on a recent discovery vis a vis my blog and the finding thereof. I have a code snippet installed which allows the good people at google to monitor how people find my blog - e.g. referrals from Lee's blog, or from Facebook. When someone stumbles across my blog as a result of a google search, the report tells me the search terms used. Recently, I discovered that someone had been directed to my blog after searching for: "films about men getting buggered men". I am reminded of this as I read back over the preceding paragraph and wonder how scrotum, penis, appendage and tongue may be creatively combined into a new and exciting search term.
So anyway, I didn't see any nubang-clad natives, but was greeted by a "traditional" Vanuatu band playing on the dock. And by traditional, I mean anything but. Still, all traditions must have a beginning, and I'll not be a slave to nostalgia, so let the tradition begin with a band comprising the terminally dentally challenged, with more guitars than strings, and playing such traditional Melanesian fare as Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, and well, pretty much that one over and over ... and over ... and over.
Thus are we welcomed to the market which is set up on the dock whenever a ship comes in. The market offers the weary traveller many an opportunity to relax under the expert hands of the local hair-braiders - and to my mind too few passengers really stop to think through whether this is their best option. I can assure you, no matter how thick and lustrous you may think your hair to be,
braiding will surely cure you of that misapprehension. Some girls can pull it off, a small few will actually come out the other end for the better - but I'm yet to see a guy on a cruise with braided hair who doesn't look prematurely bald and frankly more than a little silly. Which is why I encourage it wholeheartedly.
The market also sells a range of allegedly traditional weaponry, which are very popular amongst tourists of Connick's ilk. The claim that these could be traditional, or even that they are weapons, is easily discredited by the evidence of a nation of people who still exist. If these were indeed their means of hunting and defence, these people would starve, or worse still could be defeated by an invading force armed with balloons on strings - and there would be no market, no Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, and, saddest of all, no nubangs. By comparison, the Swiss army present an inpenetrable miltary presence with their tiny yet versatile knives, and Captain Feathersword with his nicky-nocky-noo-ing could strike fear into the hearts of an entire nation (or at least tickle their exposed testicles).
The reality of Vanuatu is that is has very little of a cultural heritage of the type that we tourists can engage with. There is a culture of very basic tribal life, and even of cannibalism. Getting by as they did with the barest of implements and facilities, there is very little "take-home" culture for the western tourist to trade for. Much like the imported culture, the artifacts are similarly imported, and mostly from the same sources as supply the Australian discount chains. The biggest cultural discovery of the recent era for Vanuatu has undoubtedly been the permanent black marker. Sure, the $15 ukulele you can by from the Warehouse in any Australian town looks much like the $15 ukulele in the Port Vila market - and both were made in China - but in Australia they don't have "Port Vila - Vanuatu" written on the body in permanent black marker. And that pretty much sums up the local market. There is very little gennuine local product - but plenty of locally texta'd product.
I hereby proclaim Vanuatu "The Land of The Long Black Sharpie."
Beyond the market, you will find that every local with access to a working automobile (and don't let looks deceive, with a good downhill run many of these cars actually move) will be soliciting for your patronage to drive you about, and with minimal regard for road safety by any interpretation of the term.
Moving beyond the dock, the most prominent feature of the country is disorganisation. Port Vila is the shipping port, and yet has no container facilities. Shipping containers are scattered haphazardly along the soft shoulder of the road between the the town and the dock. The town is littered with half built structures, the weathering making clear that many of these have been half-finished for many years. And it is for this reason that I dub it the great Australian suburban backyard. Can any Australian male genuinely support a claim of never having commenced a backyard project only to, some years later, finish it hurriedly, or remove it, once the For Sale sign appears in the front yard.
Despite having been here before, and knowing full well that there is far greater value to be obtained in using the service of local drivers than there is in the organised tours, we booked on a tour of the local botanical gardens. The local botanical gardens have little to maintain the attention of a fast-paced generation W'er (didn't we come before Gen X?). Certainly not enough to occupy the period of time between being dropped off by the bus and the bus returning to pick us up. Actually, this is not entirely true. For the terminally dull and anal retentive, such as I, there was more than enough reading material attached to tomato stakes around the gardens to occupy a quite absurdly tedious number of hours. However, we were constantly moved by the tour guide to the next display, casting the illusion of a fast-paced and exciting tour. Imagine my surprise, after being rushed along to find that we had an hour or so to sit around in the heat before our bus returned.
The gardens did contain some iguanas, bats, a python (with its mouth sticky-taped shut - and I'm not sure whether this was for safety reasons, or if perhaps it was taped shut by a nubang salesman because it keeped telling people to eat from the fruit of the tree in middle of the garden, after which they'd rush out and buy some pants), and a coconut crab.
There is on the tour a kava hut, and our guide described the wonders of this hallucinogenic, which is ground from the root of a local plant and which has the look and taste of mud. (to be read in Homer Simpson voice) Hmmmm muuud. A cultural oddity is the pride with which they hold their traditional vice. I'm not entirely convinced that kava is doing the community a world of good, and I wonder if there may be a few more projects actually getting finished around the place if they weren't so keen on maintaining this tradition.
Presenting kava, and the drinking thereof, as a tourist attraction, is a bit like Melbourne suddenly taking pride in its homeless winos. "And to your right you'll see a man with wild hair shouting incoherently. You can see from the front of his pants that he's been urinating, which is a bit of a traditional for those partaking of the local 'plonk'."
In addition to the botanical gardens tour, I parasailed from the back of a boat - which was great (last time I abseiled down the cascape waterfalls).
Anyway, I think I've written enough to assuage my guilt for the time being. I promise I'll try to be a better blogger.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
BY REQUEST ...
Before I get to detailed blogging about our recent cruise - which shall await the sorting of over 2,000 photos ... hang on ... I'll give the overview now, then get to the details/photos/videos in a later post.
We left home at 4:20am on Friday two weeks ago (I'm on leave - surely you don't think I know what day it is).
Drove to Sydney and spent the night with Donna and George.
Boarded the ship.
Party party party!!!!!
Two weeks and five islands later we got back to Sydney, spent another night with Donna and George, drove to Lakes, spent a night in our apartment there, and arrived back in Traralgon on Tuesday.
I didn't miss a day in the gym on the ship - which I'm quite proud of. I also didn't miss a buffet breakfast, 3 course lunch, scones with jam and cream for afternoon tea, or four course dinner. So, for those who've been waiting some years for the grand reveal of my abs ... keep waiting kids.
Connick spent much of the cruise in the cabin watching movies.
I postulated and subsequently disproved the theory that too much karaoke is never enough.
Highlight of the trip (for me) - singing with Jesse Banez, piano player extraordinaire, who had also been on our last two cruises. In my mind everyone on the cruise wanted to hear me sing every time a microphone was left unattended. That audible groan you may have heard all the way from Australia every time I made for the stage was just the Pacific Dawn battling some pretty fearsome weather (and there was a bit of that too!).
But lo, it ended all to quickly, so if anyone has an unused prescription for any manner of anti-depressant medication - send it to me ASAP. I'll be needing to increase my dosage substantially until the next cruise. I hereby postulate that, when on land, too much medication is never enough.
I did check with the Purser's desk (or Percy's desk, as Jesamine prefers) on the last night for any empty cabins going cheap on the following cruise - but the boat is just too damn popular.
Met some great people, drank too much (mostly against my better judgement and at the expense of the aforementioned great people), and enjoyed every second. I shall now spend the remainder of my leave sitting by the phone awaiting a call from P&O with a great offer to return.
Further details and photos shall follow in due course - but for now, back to the matter at hand.
I have made a commitment to do a gig at the Star Bar in Traralgon in September - can't recall the date, but I think it'll be the Sunday after the AFL Grand Final. I'll be supporting the Beer House Dogs (at least I think that's what they're called). Mike, who plays guitar with the band, is a fellow FOB United team member, and this may be his last gig before he returns to the land of the long white cloud.
Anyhoo - given that I'm no longer in a band, and haven't played for quite some time (excluding quite copious servings of Karaoke on the Pacific Dawn), I have no idea what to play. So, If you can make it to the gig, then how about leaving me a comment with a request, and I'll attempt to play it for you. The quality of my performance shall be entirely at my own discretion, and I make no warrants in that regard. In fact, I don't even promise to do my best - just to do.
So leave me a request - get to the Star Bar on the afternoon of the Sunday after grand final day (or at such other time as I subsequently advise), and join me for all the fun of the fair - but without the fair ... and with less fun.
We left home at 4:20am on Friday two weeks ago (I'm on leave - surely you don't think I know what day it is).
Drove to Sydney and spent the night with Donna and George.
Boarded the ship.
Party party party!!!!!
Two weeks and five islands later we got back to Sydney, spent another night with Donna and George, drove to Lakes, spent a night in our apartment there, and arrived back in Traralgon on Tuesday.
I didn't miss a day in the gym on the ship - which I'm quite proud of. I also didn't miss a buffet breakfast, 3 course lunch, scones with jam and cream for afternoon tea, or four course dinner. So, for those who've been waiting some years for the grand reveal of my abs ... keep waiting kids.
Connick spent much of the cruise in the cabin watching movies.
I postulated and subsequently disproved the theory that too much karaoke is never enough.
Highlight of the trip (for me) - singing with Jesse Banez, piano player extraordinaire, who had also been on our last two cruises. In my mind everyone on the cruise wanted to hear me sing every time a microphone was left unattended. That audible groan you may have heard all the way from Australia every time I made for the stage was just the Pacific Dawn battling some pretty fearsome weather (and there was a bit of that too!).
But lo, it ended all to quickly, so if anyone has an unused prescription for any manner of anti-depressant medication - send it to me ASAP. I'll be needing to increase my dosage substantially until the next cruise. I hereby postulate that, when on land, too much medication is never enough.
I did check with the Purser's desk (or Percy's desk, as Jesamine prefers) on the last night for any empty cabins going cheap on the following cruise - but the boat is just too damn popular.
Met some great people, drank too much (mostly against my better judgement and at the expense of the aforementioned great people), and enjoyed every second. I shall now spend the remainder of my leave sitting by the phone awaiting a call from P&O with a great offer to return.
Further details and photos shall follow in due course - but for now, back to the matter at hand.
I have made a commitment to do a gig at the Star Bar in Traralgon in September - can't recall the date, but I think it'll be the Sunday after the AFL Grand Final. I'll be supporting the Beer House Dogs (at least I think that's what they're called). Mike, who plays guitar with the band, is a fellow FOB United team member, and this may be his last gig before he returns to the land of the long white cloud.
Anyhoo - given that I'm no longer in a band, and haven't played for quite some time (excluding quite copious servings of Karaoke on the Pacific Dawn), I have no idea what to play. So, If you can make it to the gig, then how about leaving me a comment with a request, and I'll attempt to play it for you. The quality of my performance shall be entirely at my own discretion, and I make no warrants in that regard. In fact, I don't even promise to do my best - just to do.
So leave me a request - get to the Star Bar on the afternoon of the Sunday after grand final day (or at such other time as I subsequently advise), and join me for all the fun of the fair - but without the fair ... and with less fun.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I'M ON LEAVE!!!
Last Friday was my last day work - and I'm now on leave for 8 whole weeks. How jealous are you?
Hmm ...
Thought so!
I think my brain actually commenced leave a day early. I had a couple of meetings in Werribee on Friday, but when I got there I went to get my bag out of the car - and it weren't there. I'd left all the tools of my trade at home. Of course that sort of thing isn't really going to stress my on my last day.
On the way home I dropped in Chadstone and spent some time Borders (bookstore) and also saw Hancock at the cinema. What a great way to start leave.
I decided to learn calculus while I'm on leave (as well as Kung Fu), so I purchased a caculus book at Borders. I did study some caculus in year 11, but I don't remember much about it, so it's jolly well time I learnt.
Hancock was quite good by the way. It perhaps wasn't my first choice, but I really enjoyed it. There's a bit more to the plot than is given away in the trailer - which is a bit unusual these days.
We won soccer 14-2 this week. Go FOB U!
I've started my Kung Fu training, which firstly invoved standing rather uncomfortably (and preferably in bad fashion) for a long period of time.
So far I can do it for a short period of time.
It is currently Friday afternoon, and we're pretty well packed for our cruise. The plan is that we'll get up early tomorrow morning - say, 4am - and drive to Sydney. We'll stay with friends in Sydney Saturday night, then board the ship Sunday afternoon.
This is third cruise for Suzy and I, but the first with the kids.
And the best thing is, I have a legitimate excuse for letting the blog got stale for two weeks.
Till me return ...
Hmm ...
Thought so!
I think my brain actually commenced leave a day early. I had a couple of meetings in Werribee on Friday, but when I got there I went to get my bag out of the car - and it weren't there. I'd left all the tools of my trade at home. Of course that sort of thing isn't really going to stress my on my last day.
On the way home I dropped in Chadstone and spent some time Borders (bookstore) and also saw Hancock at the cinema. What a great way to start leave.
I decided to learn calculus while I'm on leave (as well as Kung Fu), so I purchased a caculus book at Borders. I did study some caculus in year 11, but I don't remember much about it, so it's jolly well time I learnt.
Hancock was quite good by the way. It perhaps wasn't my first choice, but I really enjoyed it. There's a bit more to the plot than is given away in the trailer - which is a bit unusual these days.
We won soccer 14-2 this week. Go FOB U!
I've started my Kung Fu training, which firstly invoved standing rather uncomfortably (and preferably in bad fashion) for a long period of time.
So far I can do it for a short period of time.
It is currently Friday afternoon, and we're pretty well packed for our cruise. The plan is that we'll get up early tomorrow morning - say, 4am - and drive to Sydney. We'll stay with friends in Sydney Saturday night, then board the ship Sunday afternoon.
This is third cruise for Suzy and I, but the first with the kids.
And the best thing is, I have a legitimate excuse for letting the blog got stale for two weeks.
Till me return ...
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
SOCCER, STORIES AND SLOW COOKING
Can it already be a week since I last posted? It sure doesn't feel like it, but I guess blogger doesn't lie.
Having just returned from soccer, I can report a 3 goal victory. Yay for us!!! I've even made it onto the goal kicking ladder, which, and those who've seen me in action will know, can only be put down to them having a reeeaaaally loooooong ladder.
This win comes after a two goal loss last week against the top side.
Those who read Lee's blog (and let's face, I don't have any friends of my own) will know of the weekends Puerto Rico fest. Being somewhat anti-social and keen not to risk my unbeaten (1-game) winning streak, I raided the Scott's bookcase and read two books:
I also started reading a book called "Celebration of the senses" by Eric Rolls, which Lee had borrowed from Clinton and Jennifer, and which I have now borrowed to finish reading.
I have also just read "Playing Beattie Bow" by Ruth Park. This is a childrens book, but I bought it second hand because I felt that I'd missed something important in this. I had heard of this book, and it seemed that all the other kids at school knew about it. Now that I'm all growed up, no seems to have heard of it, so perhaps it was just my imagination. Anyway, it's about a girl who accidentally travels back in time, and it's quite readable for an adult - and would be highly recommended for an older child or younger teenager.
I cooked another batch of curry in the slow cooker on Monday, this tim using beef instead of lamb (because that's what we had in the fridge). I also made up the vegetable curry and we cooked them in the slow cooker together.
What? Recipes? Okay then. Here they are.
LAMB CURRY
(from 100 great ways to use slow cookers & crockpots, by Simon & Alison Holst)
2 Tbsp Oil
1 onion (sliced)
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp ginger (grated)
1-1.2kg lamb (cubed)
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 x 5cm cinnamon stick
4 cardamom pods (squashed)
6 cloves (whole)
800g diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp honey
2 bay leaves
Cook the onion, garlic and ginger in 1 Tbsp oil, and add to the slow cooker.
Lightly brown the lamb in 1 Tbsp oil, then add curry powder, cinnamon, cardamoms and cloves - and cook for one minute.
Bang everything in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours.
The recipe also calls for 1 tsp fenugreek seeds, which I'm yet to find.
VEGETABLE CURRY
(based on a recipe from www.gourmetindian.info)
Paste:
3 green chillies
1 red chillie
1/2 tsp tumeric powder
1 inch ginger
a sprinkle of granulated garlic
1 tsp cummin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
Crush all this to buggery with a mortar and pestle.
Other stuff:
3-4 chopped potatoes
a similar volume of chopped pumpkin
a dozen or so beans
some chopped carrot
2 chopped tomatoes
2 chopped onions
1 green capsicum
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Method one:
Brown onion in the oil, then add and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the paste, stir, and cook for another two minutes
Add the vegetables, 2 cups of water, and cook till you've cleaned up the kitchen.
Add the lemon juice and simmer for a bit.
Method two:
Brown onion in the oil, then put the whole shebang in the slow cooker for 8 hours or so, preferably with the lamb curry and you'll have flavours up the yin yang!!!
NAAN BREAD
(based on a recipe from www.gourmetindian.info)
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 egg
1/4 cup butter
3 tsp sugar
3/4 cup water
1 2/3 Tbsp dried yeast
Mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar into 5 Tbsp water and stir well.
If the surface bubbles after 10 minutes, you're right to go. If not, your yeast may have gone to yeast heaven, and you'll need to get yourself to a yeastery to replenish stocks.
Add the rest of the ingredients, sans flour, and stir the bejeezus out of it. Then add the flour and mix it and knead it and stuff till you've got a dough that's just so damned doughy you want to push your face into it.
Warm a bowl, butter it (inside, not out, you idiot) put the dough in it. Cover it with cloth, and keep it somewhere warm for about 40 minutes - by which time it should be considerably more voluminous than you remember.
Make 8 equal balls from the dough, and then flatten them from the centre out so that the edges remain a little thicker than the middle. Grab each one frm the edge between your thumb and forefinger and hang it so that it stretches into a tear drop. Bake it for about 10 mins at 230 degrees.
Don't forget to eat it!
Only two days of work left before I take 8 weeks leave. Woohoo!!!!
Having just returned from soccer, I can report a 3 goal victory. Yay for us!!! I've even made it onto the goal kicking ladder, which, and those who've seen me in action will know, can only be put down to them having a reeeaaaally loooooong ladder.
This win comes after a two goal loss last week against the top side.
Those who read Lee's blog (and let's face, I don't have any friends of my own) will know of the weekends Puerto Rico fest. Being somewhat anti-social and keen not to risk my unbeaten (1-game) winning streak, I raided the Scott's bookcase and read two books:
- Hell Island by Matthew Reilly
- Cracking the DaVinci Code by Simon Cox
I also started reading a book called "Celebration of the senses" by Eric Rolls, which Lee had borrowed from Clinton and Jennifer, and which I have now borrowed to finish reading.
I have also just read "Playing Beattie Bow" by Ruth Park. This is a childrens book, but I bought it second hand because I felt that I'd missed something important in this. I had heard of this book, and it seemed that all the other kids at school knew about it. Now that I'm all growed up, no seems to have heard of it, so perhaps it was just my imagination. Anyway, it's about a girl who accidentally travels back in time, and it's quite readable for an adult - and would be highly recommended for an older child or younger teenager.
I cooked another batch of curry in the slow cooker on Monday, this tim using beef instead of lamb (because that's what we had in the fridge). I also made up the vegetable curry and we cooked them in the slow cooker together.
What? Recipes? Okay then. Here they are.
LAMB CURRY
(from 100 great ways to use slow cookers & crockpots, by Simon & Alison Holst)
2 Tbsp Oil
1 onion (sliced)
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp ginger (grated)
1-1.2kg lamb (cubed)
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 x 5cm cinnamon stick
4 cardamom pods (squashed)
6 cloves (whole)
800g diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp honey
2 bay leaves
Cook the onion, garlic and ginger in 1 Tbsp oil, and add to the slow cooker.
Lightly brown the lamb in 1 Tbsp oil, then add curry powder, cinnamon, cardamoms and cloves - and cook for one minute.
Bang everything in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours.
The recipe also calls for 1 tsp fenugreek seeds, which I'm yet to find.
VEGETABLE CURRY
(based on a recipe from www.gourmetindian.info)
Paste:
3 green chillies
1 red chillie
1/2 tsp tumeric powder
1 inch ginger
a sprinkle of granulated garlic
1 tsp cummin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
Crush all this to buggery with a mortar and pestle.
Other stuff:
3-4 chopped potatoes
a similar volume of chopped pumpkin
a dozen or so beans
some chopped carrot
2 chopped tomatoes
2 chopped onions
1 green capsicum
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Method one:
Brown onion in the oil, then add and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the paste, stir, and cook for another two minutes
Add the vegetables, 2 cups of water, and cook till you've cleaned up the kitchen.
Add the lemon juice and simmer for a bit.
Method two:
Brown onion in the oil, then put the whole shebang in the slow cooker for 8 hours or so, preferably with the lamb curry and you'll have flavours up the yin yang!!!
NAAN BREAD
(based on a recipe from www.gourmetindian.info)
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 egg
1/4 cup butter
3 tsp sugar
3/4 cup water
1 2/3 Tbsp dried yeast
Mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar into 5 Tbsp water and stir well.
If the surface bubbles after 10 minutes, you're right to go. If not, your yeast may have gone to yeast heaven, and you'll need to get yourself to a yeastery to replenish stocks.
Add the rest of the ingredients, sans flour, and stir the bejeezus out of it. Then add the flour and mix it and knead it and stuff till you've got a dough that's just so damned doughy you want to push your face into it.
Warm a bowl, butter it (inside, not out, you idiot) put the dough in it. Cover it with cloth, and keep it somewhere warm for about 40 minutes - by which time it should be considerably more voluminous than you remember.
Make 8 equal balls from the dough, and then flatten them from the centre out so that the edges remain a little thicker than the middle. Grab each one frm the edge between your thumb and forefinger and hang it so that it stretches into a tear drop. Bake it for about 10 mins at 230 degrees.
Don't forget to eat it!
Only two days of work left before I take 8 weeks leave. Woohoo!!!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Blogging is HARD WORK!!!
I just realised that it's soccer night again - and I haven't blogged since some-time prior to last weeks game - which incidentally we lost. This means, of course, that I've done nothing worth writing about - which won't stop me writing about it anyway.
MOVIES
2 movies to report.
The Incredible Hulk.
I took Connick to see this. It's okay - but not great. I still say Iron Man is the best of the Marvel superhero movies. I actually preferred the first Hulk - because it was more "cartoony".
Kung Fu Panda.
I took both the kids to see this on Sunday night. I hadn't been all that keen based on the previews - but Danny assured me it was LOL funny, if not ROFLPIP funny!
I wouldn't go that far - but I did enjoy it. It's VERY Jack Black.
It's also ironic that I saw this film, as I have recently developed something of an obsession with Kung Fu. Well, ironic in an Alanis Morissette sort of way.
Connick went to his first Karate lesson recently - and I decided I might like to take lessons as well. Which then led me to researching Martial Arts, and deciding that I'd really like to study Kung Fu. Unfortunately there's no one local providing Kung Fu training, so I ordered some books from Amazon.
I can definitely feel a new hobby coming on!!!
BOOKS
Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham
I loved this one - definitely one of his best. It's King-esque, but far more streamlined.
Dirt Music - Tim Winton
I've been meaning to read Tim Winton for some time - and finally borrowed this one from Many and Dave .... the Trumpets.
This is an excellent book. I know this to be true because the cover has stickers telling me about the various awards it won. I also know this to be true because I read it.
It's a style of book that I've not read much of - in fact the most similar author I can recall reading is the mysterious H.M.Brown - who you may remember from such memorable blog posts as ... well ... some of my earlier ones.
It's a book primarily about people, rather than happenings.
Literary folk would probably call it a "character study".
Movie folk would probably call it "a terrible investment".
I'd call it " a really good about about people".
The World Set Free - H.G. Wells
This is interesting, as it traces the events following the harnessing of atomic power, and the developmnent and aerial deployment of atomic bombs. Why is this interesting? Because the book was published in 1914, and Ernest Rutherford did not "split" an atom for the first time until 1919, and the Manhattan Project which developed the first atomic weapons did not commence until 1941.
Nontheless, intersting though it may be in its foresight, it's just not a great book. It's okay, but if you, as I, have more books to read than lifetime left in which to read them, you can probably pass this one over.
I only finished this one last night, so I haven't started another one yet.
ADVENTURES IN SLOW COOKING
Suzy bought a slow cooker recently, so last Saturday I slow cooked a lamb curry (and somewhat less slowly cooked a vegetable curry). Curry was followed by Puerto Rico with the Scotts and Roddas. Not for me though - I had to slip off to bed to nip an emerging migraine in the bud.
I can see the slow cooker opening up a new world in culinary delights. And it's already got me thinking about my next great investion ... the even slower cooker!!!!
That will have to do for now - but I shall endeavour in future to be both less tardy and more interesting.
MOVIES
2 movies to report.
The Incredible Hulk.
I took Connick to see this. It's okay - but not great. I still say Iron Man is the best of the Marvel superhero movies. I actually preferred the first Hulk - because it was more "cartoony".
Kung Fu Panda.
I took both the kids to see this on Sunday night. I hadn't been all that keen based on the previews - but Danny assured me it was LOL funny, if not ROFLPIP funny!
I wouldn't go that far - but I did enjoy it. It's VERY Jack Black.
It's also ironic that I saw this film, as I have recently developed something of an obsession with Kung Fu. Well, ironic in an Alanis Morissette sort of way.
Connick went to his first Karate lesson recently - and I decided I might like to take lessons as well. Which then led me to researching Martial Arts, and deciding that I'd really like to study Kung Fu. Unfortunately there's no one local providing Kung Fu training, so I ordered some books from Amazon.
I can definitely feel a new hobby coming on!!!
BOOKS
Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham
I loved this one - definitely one of his best. It's King-esque, but far more streamlined.
Dirt Music - Tim Winton
I've been meaning to read Tim Winton for some time - and finally borrowed this one from Many and Dave .... the Trumpets.
This is an excellent book. I know this to be true because the cover has stickers telling me about the various awards it won. I also know this to be true because I read it.
It's a style of book that I've not read much of - in fact the most similar author I can recall reading is the mysterious H.M.Brown - who you may remember from such memorable blog posts as ... well ... some of my earlier ones.
It's a book primarily about people, rather than happenings.
Literary folk would probably call it a "character study".
Movie folk would probably call it "a terrible investment".
I'd call it " a really good about about people".
The World Set Free - H.G. Wells
This is interesting, as it traces the events following the harnessing of atomic power, and the developmnent and aerial deployment of atomic bombs. Why is this interesting? Because the book was published in 1914, and Ernest Rutherford did not "split" an atom for the first time until 1919, and the Manhattan Project which developed the first atomic weapons did not commence until 1941.
Nontheless, intersting though it may be in its foresight, it's just not a great book. It's okay, but if you, as I, have more books to read than lifetime left in which to read them, you can probably pass this one over.
I only finished this one last night, so I haven't started another one yet.
ADVENTURES IN SLOW COOKING
Suzy bought a slow cooker recently, so last Saturday I slow cooked a lamb curry (and somewhat less slowly cooked a vegetable curry). Curry was followed by Puerto Rico with the Scotts and Roddas. Not for me though - I had to slip off to bed to nip an emerging migraine in the bud.
I can see the slow cooker opening up a new world in culinary delights. And it's already got me thinking about my next great investion ... the even slower cooker!!!!
That will have to do for now - but I shall endeavour in future to be both less tardy and more interesting.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Confession
Forgive me blog for I have sinned. It has been 19 days since my last post.
Of course, on a more positive note, it has been 19 days since my last post!
I can't even remember all the swell things that have happened to me in that time - but let me try........................
.......Nope. Nothing springs to mind. I guess I'll just give you the same old updates of books and movies.
What have I read of late? Well, I'm glad you asked.
I think I'd started on "The Kraken Wakes" by John Wyndham as at last post. It was good.
Honestly, that's all I can come up with. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I just can't seem to be bothered with the whole blog post thing. But, it's been 19 days, and I'm no quitter, just a massive procrastinator and put-er-off-er-er.
I also read a book called "Why the toast always lands butter side down - The science of Murphy's Law" by Richard Robinson. This was reasonably interesting - though premised upon something of a misconception about Murphy's Law itself.
I read a very good book called "White Hotel" by D.M. Thomas. This was a loaner (thanks Clinton and Jennifer), and is an exceptional book. Very unpredictable and well-written. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Highly enough for what I don't know. If I did know, I still doubt that I'd be up to the task - because I really can't be bothered.
I read Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jnr. This was good, but not his best. Again, I wouldn't know how highly to recommend it, so won't bother.
I'm currently reading "The Midwich Cuckoos" by John Wyndham. This is shaping up to be one of his best, along with "Day of The Triffids". It's got a very Stephen King feel to it. This one was filmed as "Village of the Damned", which I've never seen (and so am probably not well placed to recommend to an appropriate altitude).
Last weekend we went the football with the Scotts and the Trumpets (as we call them), to see Hawthorn defeat Essendon at the Telstra dome. First AFL match for our kids (and only about the 5th for me). Connick didn't enjoy it much, and not only because he's a bombers fan - he found the crowd too noisy (which is the pot calling the kettle black). Jesamine loved it, and we're already making plans to see Collingwood and Footscray (as I still call them) next weekend.
Oohh. I forgot to mention. I finally won a game of Puerto Rico before the footy. Yay for me.
We stayed over in Melbourne (well, Box Hill really) and went to the movies the next day to see Prince Caspian.
BORING!!!!
Suzy and I left half way through and snuck into another cinema to see Sex & the City. I didn't think much of that either. So after 10 minutes I found myself a comfortable couch and lay down and read a book until I fell asleep.
Soccer Update!!!!
I think since the last update we've had a forfeit (for the first time ever we just couldn't pull a team together) and a win. My knee has been fairly sore since last Wednesday. I went to the hospital last Friday on the way home from work, but the Dr thinks it's just a slightly torn tendon and should heal itself.
On account of the knee, I sat out this week, and ended up going out to Inferno (nighclub) to see Irwin Thomas (whom you may recall as Jack Jones of Southern Sons), Tania Doko (of Bachelor Girl), Jon Stevens (of Noiseworks, and some really crap reality TV show) and Ian Moss (of Cold Chisel).
Suzy and I used to drive to Melbourne to see Jack when we was a-courtin'. His voice is unbelievable. It was great back in the Southern Sons days, but that doesn't even compare to the way he sings now. Of course, if I wanted to be really cynical, which I so often do, I'd suggest he's gone from impersonating John Farnham to impersonating Jeff Buckley. I don't know how highly it would be appropriate to commend him, but I'm imagining pretty high, and I'm by no means a tall chap.
I missed Jon Stevens, but didn't miss him - if you get my drift. He's cuter than the others, and does have a great rock voice, but really he could be any rock singer wearing a tight t-shirt in any pub across Australia.
Ian Moss was sensational. I was not a Cold Chisel fan during the 80s. I thought they were low-brow bogan rock. Which it quite ironic considering I spent part of the 80s listening to Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden - go figure.
As it happens, I was mowing the lawn last weekend on the ride-on - and had a lot of Cold Chisel popping up on the iPod. At this stage I didn't know I'd be going to see Mossy on Wednesday, but I was realising what great songs Cold Chisel had, and how talented they were. Still doesn't mean I want to hear pissed guys in pubs shouting along to their songs though and suggesting there's some manner of aqua-railway from Sydney to Hong Kong.
Anyway, I'm told that we had a draw in soccer that night.
Suzy went up to Lakes Entrance on Thursday night to have a scapping weekend in our apartment. Unfortunately she's not been well so has hardly left the bed so far. Which is better than Lee, who was to go but has also been unwell and didn't even get there (and with Brian at home to tend to her every need, who can blame her!).
I straightened our chookhouse today, with a little help from the kids. I think the chookhouse deserves a blog entry of its own at some point, but to summarise, I started building this over a year ago (it could even be two years). It's been bloody expensive, and after my work rate had declined considerably and it was becoming a source of some humiliation, a large gum tree fell on it. So, for some time it was remained unfinished and looking like the Ettamogah Chook House. Anyway, it's now standing straight again, and I really should finish it so that the chooks have somewhere safe to live while we're on our cruise in July.
Before I sign off, let me share with you a very funny video that someone sent me on facebook:
Oh, I almost forgot. I got "tagged". I can't remember what the deal was, but Lee tagged me and now if I don't tell you 7 random facts about myself, I'll .... um .... well I'm not really sure there was much to compel me to be quite honest. And if there was, it would surely be cyber-bullying and Today-Tonight would be on to like a thing that gets onto other things quite rapidly ... on that other thing.
I'm also supposed to tag other people. "Friends" I think they're called. Sorry. Don't have any. Fuck off.
7 Random Facts about me:
5 - I think I can dance.
3 - I used to be a boy.
6 - I think "chestnuts" could be a very funny word for breasts, and so spend much of December sniggering.
7 - I have a "thing" about hairs growing in my ears and nose, and somehow think that I look better sitting around with a pair of tweezers up my nose than with even the smallest follicle.
2 - I was always good at maths - but I'm really bad with numbers.
4 - I don't believe life has any meaning.
1 - Usually with things like this I make up answers for a cheap laugh - but not this time!
Goodnight all you scrunchy-munchkins!
Of course, on a more positive note, it has been 19 days since my last post!
I can't even remember all the swell things that have happened to me in that time - but let me try........................
.......Nope. Nothing springs to mind. I guess I'll just give you the same old updates of books and movies.
What have I read of late? Well, I'm glad you asked.
I think I'd started on "The Kraken Wakes" by John Wyndham as at last post. It was good.
Honestly, that's all I can come up with. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I just can't seem to be bothered with the whole blog post thing. But, it's been 19 days, and I'm no quitter, just a massive procrastinator and put-er-off-er-er.
I also read a book called "Why the toast always lands butter side down - The science of Murphy's Law" by Richard Robinson. This was reasonably interesting - though premised upon something of a misconception about Murphy's Law itself.
I read a very good book called "White Hotel" by D.M. Thomas. This was a loaner (thanks Clinton and Jennifer), and is an exceptional book. Very unpredictable and well-written. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Highly enough for what I don't know. If I did know, I still doubt that I'd be up to the task - because I really can't be bothered.
I read Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jnr. This was good, but not his best. Again, I wouldn't know how highly to recommend it, so won't bother.
I'm currently reading "The Midwich Cuckoos" by John Wyndham. This is shaping up to be one of his best, along with "Day of The Triffids". It's got a very Stephen King feel to it. This one was filmed as "Village of the Damned", which I've never seen (and so am probably not well placed to recommend to an appropriate altitude).
Last weekend we went the football with the Scotts and the Trumpets (as we call them), to see Hawthorn defeat Essendon at the Telstra dome. First AFL match for our kids (and only about the 5th for me). Connick didn't enjoy it much, and not only because he's a bombers fan - he found the crowd too noisy (which is the pot calling the kettle black). Jesamine loved it, and we're already making plans to see Collingwood and Footscray (as I still call them) next weekend.
Oohh. I forgot to mention. I finally won a game of Puerto Rico before the footy. Yay for me.
We stayed over in Melbourne (well, Box Hill really) and went to the movies the next day to see Prince Caspian.
BORING!!!!
Suzy and I left half way through and snuck into another cinema to see Sex & the City. I didn't think much of that either. So after 10 minutes I found myself a comfortable couch and lay down and read a book until I fell asleep.
Soccer Update!!!!
I think since the last update we've had a forfeit (for the first time ever we just couldn't pull a team together) and a win. My knee has been fairly sore since last Wednesday. I went to the hospital last Friday on the way home from work, but the Dr thinks it's just a slightly torn tendon and should heal itself.
On account of the knee, I sat out this week, and ended up going out to Inferno (nighclub) to see Irwin Thomas (whom you may recall as Jack Jones of Southern Sons), Tania Doko (of Bachelor Girl), Jon Stevens (of Noiseworks, and some really crap reality TV show) and Ian Moss (of Cold Chisel).
Suzy and I used to drive to Melbourne to see Jack when we was a-courtin'. His voice is unbelievable. It was great back in the Southern Sons days, but that doesn't even compare to the way he sings now. Of course, if I wanted to be really cynical, which I so often do, I'd suggest he's gone from impersonating John Farnham to impersonating Jeff Buckley. I don't know how highly it would be appropriate to commend him, but I'm imagining pretty high, and I'm by no means a tall chap.
I missed Jon Stevens, but didn't miss him - if you get my drift. He's cuter than the others, and does have a great rock voice, but really he could be any rock singer wearing a tight t-shirt in any pub across Australia.
Ian Moss was sensational. I was not a Cold Chisel fan during the 80s. I thought they were low-brow bogan rock. Which it quite ironic considering I spent part of the 80s listening to Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden - go figure.
As it happens, I was mowing the lawn last weekend on the ride-on - and had a lot of Cold Chisel popping up on the iPod. At this stage I didn't know I'd be going to see Mossy on Wednesday, but I was realising what great songs Cold Chisel had, and how talented they were. Still doesn't mean I want to hear pissed guys in pubs shouting along to their songs though and suggesting there's some manner of aqua-railway from Sydney to Hong Kong.
Anyway, I'm told that we had a draw in soccer that night.
Suzy went up to Lakes Entrance on Thursday night to have a scapping weekend in our apartment. Unfortunately she's not been well so has hardly left the bed so far. Which is better than Lee, who was to go but has also been unwell and didn't even get there (and with Brian at home to tend to her every need, who can blame her!).
I straightened our chookhouse today, with a little help from the kids. I think the chookhouse deserves a blog entry of its own at some point, but to summarise, I started building this over a year ago (it could even be two years). It's been bloody expensive, and after my work rate had declined considerably and it was becoming a source of some humiliation, a large gum tree fell on it. So, for some time it was remained unfinished and looking like the Ettamogah Chook House. Anyway, it's now standing straight again, and I really should finish it so that the chooks have somewhere safe to live while we're on our cruise in July.
Before I sign off, let me share with you a very funny video that someone sent me on facebook:
Oh, I almost forgot. I got "tagged". I can't remember what the deal was, but Lee tagged me and now if I don't tell you 7 random facts about myself, I'll .... um .... well I'm not really sure there was much to compel me to be quite honest. And if there was, it would surely be cyber-bullying and Today-Tonight would be on to like a thing that gets onto other things quite rapidly ... on that other thing.
I'm also supposed to tag other people. "Friends" I think they're called. Sorry. Don't have any. Fuck off.
7 Random Facts about me:
5 - I think I can dance.
3 - I used to be a boy.
6 - I think "chestnuts" could be a very funny word for breasts, and so spend much of December sniggering.
7 - I have a "thing" about hairs growing in my ears and nose, and somehow think that I look better sitting around with a pair of tweezers up my nose than with even the smallest follicle.
2 - I was always good at maths - but I'm really bad with numbers.
4 - I don't believe life has any meaning.
1 - Usually with things like this I make up answers for a cheap laugh - but not this time!
Goodnight all you scrunchy-munchkins!
Monday, May 26, 2008
I ARE SQUARED
Before I commence with my mathematical meanderings, let me firstly confess to a most dismal loss in soccer last week. I think the score was 14-2 or something along those lines. And while I'm about it, Jesamine's Gems lost on Saturday, as did Suzy's Gems on Thursday.
Now, on to my personal challenge.
It seems from my admittedly cursory research that there is no intuitive mathematical formula from which to calculate Pi. By intuitive, I mean a formula of which, with a basic grasp of logic, you can understand the why-for. For example, the formula for the area of a square, length by width, can be understood by picturing a grid of 1-unit by 1-unit squares filling the area. I had anticipated some similarly logical reasoning would lie behind a formula for calculating Pi - and I was sadly mistaken.
'Twould appear that for some time Pi was only known by measurement. If you draw a large enough circle and measure the circumference and the diameter accurately enough, you can determine Pi to, well, around 3-4 decimal places. Not much really is it - but for most people using pencil and paper a 1 meter diameter circle and a 1 millimetre is about the practical limit, so that's a 3 decimal place limit.
Wikipedia tells me that with a circle the size of the observable universe, and a measurement precision of 1 hydrogen atom - you can still only calculate Pi to 39 decimal places. And in case you're not aware, the observable universe is very large, and a hydrogen atom considerably less so. If you imagine a teapot, you couldn't fit the observable universe in it - whereas you could easily fit two hydrogen atoms within a teacup - and still have room for milk and sugar.
I just did a quick calculation, and by my reconing, if a hydrogen atom is around 25 picametres, and the obervable universe is around 1000 billion trillion kms, then I can't see how you'd get beyond 38 decimals.
Anyway, so it seems that calculating Pi was all about drawing circles until people started stumbling across mathematical series that approach Pi. Still, these are non-intuitive, but they do work.
For example, the series (4/1)-(4/3)+(4/5)-(4/7)+(4/9) .... where the denominator increase by 2 in each term, converges towards Pi ... very slowly. You get up to (4/13) before it even gets to "3", and you're up to (4/49) before you've found Pi to one decimal place. At (4/1017), which is all that I could do using all the columns in Excel with two terms per column, I still hadn't resolved Pi to 2 decimal places.
Whe I first read about this, I thought, if that's the way it works, how do people know how many places they've calculated Pi to? You've got a raft of decimals after each result, but how do you know which ones are right?
Then I thought to myself, obviously you keep adding terms until a decimal stops changing. But they don't change with each calculation. For the first six terms you'd be convinced that Pi = 2 point something. For the next 18 terms you'd think the first decimal is 0.
So, at the moment I remain a little confused. But by gosh by golly hasn't this been educational. I shall continue my investigations a little further.
Toodle-oo
Now, on to my personal challenge.
It seems from my admittedly cursory research that there is no intuitive mathematical formula from which to calculate Pi. By intuitive, I mean a formula of which, with a basic grasp of logic, you can understand the why-for. For example, the formula for the area of a square, length by width, can be understood by picturing a grid of 1-unit by 1-unit squares filling the area. I had anticipated some similarly logical reasoning would lie behind a formula for calculating Pi - and I was sadly mistaken.
'Twould appear that for some time Pi was only known by measurement. If you draw a large enough circle and measure the circumference and the diameter accurately enough, you can determine Pi to, well, around 3-4 decimal places. Not much really is it - but for most people using pencil and paper a 1 meter diameter circle and a 1 millimetre is about the practical limit, so that's a 3 decimal place limit.
Wikipedia tells me that with a circle the size of the observable universe, and a measurement precision of 1 hydrogen atom - you can still only calculate Pi to 39 decimal places. And in case you're not aware, the observable universe is very large, and a hydrogen atom considerably less so. If you imagine a teapot, you couldn't fit the observable universe in it - whereas you could easily fit two hydrogen atoms within a teacup - and still have room for milk and sugar.
I just did a quick calculation, and by my reconing, if a hydrogen atom is around 25 picametres, and the obervable universe is around 1000 billion trillion kms, then I can't see how you'd get beyond 38 decimals.
Anyway, so it seems that calculating Pi was all about drawing circles until people started stumbling across mathematical series that approach Pi. Still, these are non-intuitive, but they do work.
For example, the series (4/1)-(4/3)+(4/5)-(4/7)+(4/9) .... where the denominator increase by 2 in each term, converges towards Pi ... very slowly. You get up to (4/13) before it even gets to "3", and you're up to (4/49) before you've found Pi to one decimal place. At (4/1017), which is all that I could do using all the columns in Excel with two terms per column, I still hadn't resolved Pi to 2 decimal places.
Whe I first read about this, I thought, if that's the way it works, how do people know how many places they've calculated Pi to? You've got a raft of decimals after each result, but how do you know which ones are right?
Then I thought to myself, obviously you keep adding terms until a decimal stops changing. But they don't change with each calculation. For the first six terms you'd be convinced that Pi = 2 point something. For the next 18 terms you'd think the first decimal is 0.
So, at the moment I remain a little confused. But by gosh by golly hasn't this been educational. I shall continue my investigations a little further.
Toodle-oo
Sunday, May 18, 2008
THE ENDS OF MANY ERAS
The FOB United dream run has come to an end. We went down by 1 goal last Wednesday.
The Gems nightmare run has also come to an end. To clarify, this is Suzy's Thursday night netball, not Jesamine's Saturday morning netball - both teams are called the Gems. Two whole seasons without a win, and finally they won 29-23. Better than Jesamine's Gems on Saturday, who lost 23-3.
The era of Jesamine not having a blog has also come to an end. Might I suggest you make your virtual way to Fabulous Jesamine 3 to check it out.
The era of the kids not both doing Auskick on a Sunday morning has come to an end - as has the era of me sleeping in on a Sunday.
One era that hasn't come to an end is me losing at Puerto Rico. We has another Puerto Rico night with Lee and Brian on Friday night, but I lost again. I did roll the highest number to start the game again though - which is rather curiously emerging as quite a hidden talent of mine.
BOOK UPDATE
I have finished Billy Bathgate. It was a struggle at the beginning, because the first full-stop didn't appear until half-way down the first page. I don't mind writers taking liberties with grammar - broken sentences are often a great way to establish tempo. In this case I found the sentence structure was often detracting from the story.
This comes from the perspective of an auditory reader - meaning that I hear the words in my head (and sometimes in the voice of Fred Flintstone - which is a whole other issue). The writing may serve very well for people who "process" written information in other ways.
Billy Bathgate is a story of a young boy becoming a gangster. I know that I saw the movie many years ago - but I can remember nothing of it.
Anyway, I'd call it a good book, even a very good book - but not a great book.
Since then I read Chocky, by John Wyndham. I love John Wyndham's writing - and I'm always amazed at just how much story he's able to build into pretty short books, and without them feeling dense.
Chocky is a voice within the head of a young boy, and it's hard to say much more without spoiling the plot. I'd have to say I hate the name though.
I'm now onto another John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes.
THE PI CHALLENGE
I'm somewhat enamoured with the number Pi (3.14 etc). I even have the Pi symbol on the back of my soccer shirt.
Most people know that Pi is believed to have an infinite number of decimal places, with no repetition. What I've never understood, however, is how people go about calculating Pi to a given precision. So, I've decided to find out. Call it my personal challenge. I'll blog about the answer when I find it.
P.S.
I can't remember if I mentioned, but we sold that kids play set they I spent so long assembling a few weeks back. We also sold the kids old swing set to someone else who called about the ad in the paper after it was sold.
The Gems nightmare run has also come to an end. To clarify, this is Suzy's Thursday night netball, not Jesamine's Saturday morning netball - both teams are called the Gems. Two whole seasons without a win, and finally they won 29-23. Better than Jesamine's Gems on Saturday, who lost 23-3.
The era of Jesamine not having a blog has also come to an end. Might I suggest you make your virtual way to Fabulous Jesamine 3 to check it out.
The era of the kids not both doing Auskick on a Sunday morning has come to an end - as has the era of me sleeping in on a Sunday.
One era that hasn't come to an end is me losing at Puerto Rico. We has another Puerto Rico night with Lee and Brian on Friday night, but I lost again. I did roll the highest number to start the game again though - which is rather curiously emerging as quite a hidden talent of mine.
BOOK UPDATE
I have finished Billy Bathgate. It was a struggle at the beginning, because the first full-stop didn't appear until half-way down the first page. I don't mind writers taking liberties with grammar - broken sentences are often a great way to establish tempo. In this case I found the sentence structure was often detracting from the story.
This comes from the perspective of an auditory reader - meaning that I hear the words in my head (and sometimes in the voice of Fred Flintstone - which is a whole other issue). The writing may serve very well for people who "process" written information in other ways.
Billy Bathgate is a story of a young boy becoming a gangster. I know that I saw the movie many years ago - but I can remember nothing of it.
Anyway, I'd call it a good book, even a very good book - but not a great book.
Since then I read Chocky, by John Wyndham. I love John Wyndham's writing - and I'm always amazed at just how much story he's able to build into pretty short books, and without them feeling dense.
Chocky is a voice within the head of a young boy, and it's hard to say much more without spoiling the plot. I'd have to say I hate the name though.
I'm now onto another John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes.
THE PI CHALLENGE
I'm somewhat enamoured with the number Pi (3.14 etc). I even have the Pi symbol on the back of my soccer shirt.
Most people know that Pi is believed to have an infinite number of decimal places, with no repetition. What I've never understood, however, is how people go about calculating Pi to a given precision. So, I've decided to find out. Call it my personal challenge. I'll blog about the answer when I find it.
P.S.
I can't remember if I mentioned, but we sold that kids play set they I spent so long assembling a few weeks back. We also sold the kids old swing set to someone else who called about the ad in the paper after it was sold.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
UNDEFEATED!!!!!!! (And a movie review)
That's right - you heard right.
FOB United have jolly-well done it again. 4 wins. No losses.
From one all at half time, we finished up winning by 8-1.
Egad!!!!
Also forgot to mention in my recent updates that we saw Iron Man on the weekend - and enjoyed it. It's the best of the Marvel franchise (you have to use the word franchise these days, it's some manner of by-law as I understand it.) Robert Downey Jr is excellent. The plot and structure are certainly predictable and formulaic -and it's always that bit harder to suspend disbelief when the premise tries to be believable. It's somehow easier to accept a Kryptonian with super powers, or human becoming spider-esque after being bitten by a radioactive spider, than to believe that artificially intelligent robots would resort to sarcasm. It's worth the effort though, because with disbelief suspended by whatever means, some of the best dialogue occurs between RD Jr and his binary entourage.
Jeff Bridges is barely recognisable. Cuba Gooding Jnr, on the other hand, is instantly recognisable - even though he's not in it.
I missed the post-credits scene - but it apparently sets up the sequel (or should I say - the next instalment in the franchise).
Suzy gave it four and a half stars, and you'll find her review on the "At The Movies" website.
FOB United have jolly-well done it again. 4 wins. No losses.
From one all at half time, we finished up winning by 8-1.
Egad!!!!
Also forgot to mention in my recent updates that we saw Iron Man on the weekend - and enjoyed it. It's the best of the Marvel franchise (you have to use the word franchise these days, it's some manner of by-law as I understand it.) Robert Downey Jr is excellent. The plot and structure are certainly predictable and formulaic -and it's always that bit harder to suspend disbelief when the premise tries to be believable. It's somehow easier to accept a Kryptonian with super powers, or human becoming spider-esque after being bitten by a radioactive spider, than to believe that artificially intelligent robots would resort to sarcasm. It's worth the effort though, because with disbelief suspended by whatever means, some of the best dialogue occurs between RD Jr and his binary entourage.
Jeff Bridges is barely recognisable. Cuba Gooding Jnr, on the other hand, is instantly recognisable - even though he's not in it.
I missed the post-credits scene - but it apparently sets up the sequel (or should I say - the next instalment in the franchise).
Suzy gave it four and a half stars, and you'll find her review on the "At The Movies" website.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
NOTICE ANYTHING?
Connick drew this the other night, and it certainly amused me.
He then went on to tell us that his school books are full of pictures like this, and that the teacher always gets the other kids to look at them. Hmmm ... Weird ...
Then he clarified - they don't all have the front ripped out of their pants, they mostly have limbs cut off and stuff like that.
Well ... that set my mind at rest. He's not just a pervert ... he's also a budding psychopath. Whew!!!
At least he's not putting all his eggs in one basket.
He then went on to tell us that his school books are full of pictures like this, and that the teacher always gets the other kids to look at them. Hmmm ... Weird ...
Then he clarified - they don't all have the front ripped out of their pants, they mostly have limbs cut off and stuff like that.
Well ... that set my mind at rest. He's not just a pervert ... he's also a budding psychopath. Whew!!!
At least he's not putting all his eggs in one basket.
FOB - 3 WINS ON THE TROT
Did I forget to mention last Wednesday's soccer?
We are undefeated for the season - and the other teams turned up even!!!
We are undefeated for the season - and the other teams turned up even!!!
RETURN TO GOD'S OWN COUNTRY
ANZAC Day long weekend saw us back in Harrietville.
The Oven's Valley
God's Own Country as it were.
We danced, we sang, we made love. It was a whirlwind of romance and ... stuff.
As you'll undoubtedly recall from a previous thrilling blog entry, we left the van at mum and dad's after Easter. This meant a quick trip (relatively) over Dargo on the Thursday night after work.
I bought some books from the op shop - surprise surprise - including Billy Bathgate which you've no doubt seen on my current reading list (because I know you couldn't wait to look across there as soon as the page loaded).
We walked part-way up the Feathertop track, which looked a little something like this:
Suzy and Rachel (the 5th Eddy) turned back just before Picture Point - which is about 2kms up. Dad, Jo, Miles, Indi and Jesamine made it to Picture Point, while Danny and I continued passed Tobias Gap and Wombat Gap (but only because we missed it). So, we were probably about 6 kms up. Then we ran back down, which is not really standard bush-walking procedure, and Danny took a tumble which is also not standard bush-walking procedure, and I laughed at his mis-fortune, which after his constant stumbling had become standard bush-walking procedure (for me at least).
Much of the track we walked was covered in snow the following day!!! Get's me excited thinking about skiiing.
The kids played poker in the shed, which looked a little something like this:
We had Connick with us - and he looked like this:
We also had Jesamine with us - and she looked like this:
We towed the van back, which meant a looooong trip back down the Hume and through Melbourne.
That'll do for now. Thanks for your patience.
The Oven's Valley
God's Own Country as it were.
We danced, we sang, we made love. It was a whirlwind of romance and ... stuff.
As you'll undoubtedly recall from a previous thrilling blog entry, we left the van at mum and dad's after Easter. This meant a quick trip (relatively) over Dargo on the Thursday night after work.
I bought some books from the op shop - surprise surprise - including Billy Bathgate which you've no doubt seen on my current reading list (because I know you couldn't wait to look across there as soon as the page loaded).
We walked part-way up the Feathertop track, which looked a little something like this:
Suzy and Rachel (the 5th Eddy) turned back just before Picture Point - which is about 2kms up. Dad, Jo, Miles, Indi and Jesamine made it to Picture Point, while Danny and I continued passed Tobias Gap and Wombat Gap (but only because we missed it). So, we were probably about 6 kms up. Then we ran back down, which is not really standard bush-walking procedure, and Danny took a tumble which is also not standard bush-walking procedure, and I laughed at his mis-fortune, which after his constant stumbling had become standard bush-walking procedure (for me at least).
Much of the track we walked was covered in snow the following day!!! Get's me excited thinking about skiiing.
The kids played poker in the shed, which looked a little something like this:
We had Connick with us - and he looked like this:
We also had Jesamine with us - and she looked like this:
We towed the van back, which meant a looooong trip back down the Hume and through Melbourne.
That'll do for now. Thanks for your patience.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
NEWS JUST IN ....
FOB United have consolidated their win from last week with a second successive triumph at Stadium 34 in Moe. The Fat Old Bastards took a 3-1 lead into the half time break, and finished with a remarkable 6-1 victory over some other team who's name slips momentarily from this star-struck reporter's mind.
Particularly impressive were the two goals awarded to the illustrious captain - particularly the one that bounced awkwardly off his knee and into the goal much to his own seeming amazement.
FOB United are definitely the team to watch this season ... if only for a giggle.
Particularly impressive were the two goals awarded to the illustrious captain - particularly the one that bounced awkwardly off his knee and into the goal much to his own seeming amazement.
FOB United are definitely the team to watch this season ... if only for a giggle.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
BOOK UPDATE
I just updated the blog and forgot to update the reading list. I finished The Shadow of the Wind - which was excellent. Thanks to Lee for the loan. It's a book that ticks pretty much all the boxes - good writing, interesting plot, well-paced. I recommend it.
I've now started on another loaner - Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch. This is a bit of a self-help book for sex and relationships.
I'm still progressively loading my books into ibookdb - I'm up to about 400 now, but I don't think I'm even half-way there yet. I wouldn't be surprised if I top 1,000 books! And there's a book sale in Morwell in a couple of weeks - how am I going to keep away?
It's surprising how many duplicates I keep finding. I've got so many unread books now that I'm really losing track and keep re-buying books that I already own.
I actually picked up another bag full of books today from dad - who, somewhat more sensibly than myself - is now scaling back his bibliophilic operation.
(Did I really forget to include this in the last post - or am I just trying to keep the numbers up to cast the illusion of a dedicated blogger).
I've now started on another loaner - Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch. This is a bit of a self-help book for sex and relationships.
I'm still progressively loading my books into ibookdb - I'm up to about 400 now, but I don't think I'm even half-way there yet. I wouldn't be surprised if I top 1,000 books! And there's a book sale in Morwell in a couple of weeks - how am I going to keep away?
It's surprising how many duplicates I keep finding. I've got so many unread books now that I'm really losing track and keep re-buying books that I already own.
I actually picked up another bag full of books today from dad - who, somewhat more sensibly than myself - is now scaling back his bibliophilic operation.
(Did I really forget to include this in the last post - or am I just trying to keep the numbers up to cast the illusion of a dedicated blogger).
Monday, April 21, 2008
EDDY FATHER AND DAUGHTER IN SPORTING TRIUMPHS
Last Wednesday, which some of you know may know by its other name - April 16 - began a new indoor soccer season. FOB United returned from a period of intense training to take out the first game in an absolute nailbiter. This was a game with everything. People kicked goals. Other people kicked goals. The ball was passed around a bit. Sometimes it went out the side and had to be thrown back in. And didn't the crowd roar with excitement? Didn't they? Are you sure?
"Good start to the season" is what I imagine you to be thinking right about now. Of course we won the first game last season too ... and enough said about that.
Jesamine also recommenced netball the Saturday before last - go Gems. They didn't win the first game back, but they did win the second. That's a short-term success average of 100%!
And to celebrate - I opened Photoshop for the first time in many many long months:
I also built a playground for the kids on the weekend. Suzy bought this just before Christmas, and it's been in boxes in the garage ever since. I looked at it some time ago, and suggested to Suzy that, being designed as it was for 3-8 year olds, it may not be entirely appropriate for our somewhat more mature children. I was assured it would be fine and was, shall we say "encouraged" , to just get the bloody thing built. So, four hours later, it's fully assembled - and barely supports the weight of our kids swinging on the monkey bars, and doesn't really accomodate them within the cubby. So it'll now go into the paper to see what of the bargain retail price we can now recover.
"Good start to the season" is what I imagine you to be thinking right about now. Of course we won the first game last season too ... and enough said about that.
Jesamine also recommenced netball the Saturday before last - go Gems. They didn't win the first game back, but they did win the second. That's a short-term success average of 100%!
And to celebrate - I opened Photoshop for the first time in many many long months:
I also built a playground for the kids on the weekend. Suzy bought this just before Christmas, and it's been in boxes in the garage ever since. I looked at it some time ago, and suggested to Suzy that, being designed as it was for 3-8 year olds, it may not be entirely appropriate for our somewhat more mature children. I was assured it would be fine and was, shall we say "encouraged" , to just get the bloody thing built. So, four hours later, it's fully assembled - and barely supports the weight of our kids swinging on the monkey bars, and doesn't really accomodate them within the cubby. So it'll now go into the paper to see what of the bargain retail price we can now recover.
Monday, April 14, 2008
TIME MANAGEMENT 101
This is very much an impromptu blog entry, and let me preface by admitting that I'm very easily amused.
I am a mobile worker - which means that each day I turn up to one of four offices, depending on my schedule for the day, and find an unattended workstation where I can plug in my laptop for the day.
Today I'm in an office which, like many, has a year planner attached to a pinboard above the desk. The regular occupant of this office works with someone called Jack - and Jack apparently commenced leave on January 28th.
So, what do find when I look at the calender?
Now that's what I call planning!
I am a mobile worker - which means that each day I turn up to one of four offices, depending on my schedule for the day, and find an unattended workstation where I can plug in my laptop for the day.
Today I'm in an office which, like many, has a year planner attached to a pinboard above the desk. The regular occupant of this office works with someone called Jack - and Jack apparently commenced leave on January 28th.
So, what do find when I look at the calender?
Jan 28 - Jack off
Now that's what I call planning!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
TWO BIRDS - ONE STONE. YOU DO THE MATH!
Today I had what can only be described as a flash of such pure genius that I can already hear the poo-poo-ing of the confederacy.
What are the two biggest problems facing Australia today?
Okay, now think of two other problems. Here's what they are:
- an ageing population, threatening a drain on our social security;
- a huge number of houses containing asbestos.
As people renovate/demolish/inhale their houses, without proper precautions they are risking asbestosis and that other one that's even harder to spell and pronounce. And the aforementioned "proper precautions" are quite frankly a tad pricey for the more thrifty amongst us.
Now, I may not be Doctor Lung, but my scantest knowledge of asbestos related diseases suggests that they take some time to develop. Were I not so confident of my own abilities I'd confirm this on Wiki, but I'm an ideas man - leave the details to those best suited.
So, we've got unemployed old people sitting around sponging off our taxes - and so old in fact, that they'd never have time to really develop a good terminal case of asbestosis (or the other one), before they die of some other "natural" cause. I think you can already see where this is heading ...
Old people earning their pensions by working in asbestos removal.
Two birds - one stone. You do the math.
No money spent on protective clothing, annoying filtration masks, washing, etc
I think it's a definite goer. Who's with me?
What are the two biggest problems facing Australia today?
Okay, now think of two other problems. Here's what they are:
- an ageing population, threatening a drain on our social security;
- a huge number of houses containing asbestos.
As people renovate/demolish/inhale their houses, without proper precautions they are risking asbestosis and that other one that's even harder to spell and pronounce. And the aforementioned "proper precautions" are quite frankly a tad pricey for the more thrifty amongst us.
Now, I may not be Doctor Lung, but my scantest knowledge of asbestos related diseases suggests that they take some time to develop. Were I not so confident of my own abilities I'd confirm this on Wiki, but I'm an ideas man - leave the details to those best suited.
So, we've got unemployed old people sitting around sponging off our taxes - and so old in fact, that they'd never have time to really develop a good terminal case of asbestosis (or the other one), before they die of some other "natural" cause. I think you can already see where this is heading ...
Old people earning their pensions by working in asbestos removal.
Two birds - one stone. You do the math.
No money spent on protective clothing, annoying filtration masks, washing, etc
I think it's a definite goer. Who's with me?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
BREAKING NEWS RE: THE MYSTERIOUS H.M. BROWN
If you've read my blog, or even just glanced over at the "What am I reading?" section, you'll know something of the mysterious H.M. Brown, a manuscript of whose I'm currently reading.
Well, lo and behold, said H.M. Brown was recently shortlisted for the 2008 ABC Fiction Award - and don't be fooled by the title, for ABC in an acronym, not an indicator of the level of writing required to make the cut.
Don't believe me? Well, check out this 'ere link:
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/abcfictionaward/winner.htm
Oh, what the hell. I'll save you the trouble and paste in the text from the site:
She didn't win, but did receive some manner of high commendation or such-like, so is a good chance of getting published. I could hardly be more excited if it had happened to me!!!
On the subject of books, I finished reading The Covenant of the Flame - by David Morell.
I think expectations are everything when it comes to enjoying a book. This one definitely has got the makings of a B-grade movie - but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Were I a pretentious wanker, I'd probably call it a "guilty pleasure". But I don't feel guilty - I just happen to enjoy pulp fiction.
The book is not dissimilar to The DaVinci code, both in subject and quality of authorship. The plot centres around descendants of the Spanish Inquisitors and practitioners of "mithraism", an allegedly pre-Christian pagan religion, but with many similarities to Christianity, including the notion a a virgin birth on December 25, and similar iconography.
The religious content is significantly factually incorrect, the writing is average and the plot totally unrealistic. However, the writing is at least unobtrusive, the plot well revealed and the story well paced.
I've now moved on to The Shadow of the Wind - by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This book is on loan from Lee, and is so far excellent.
One final exciting bit-o-news. We got our new camera today. The old camera died during our Labour Day weekend at Harrietville, so I purchase a new Canon Powershot S5 IS on ebay. I had been hoping it would arrive over Easter, but anyway, it arrived today - and with 2GB SD-card instead of the 1GB that was advertised. Should I mark down the seller for "goods not as described"?
Well, lo and behold, said H.M. Brown was recently shortlisted for the 2008 ABC Fiction Award - and don't be fooled by the title, for ABC in an acronym, not an indicator of the level of writing required to make the cut.
Don't believe me? Well, check out this 'ere link:
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/abcfictionaward/winner.htm
Oh, what the hell. I'll save you the trouble and paste in the text from the site:
The six shortlisted authors come from three states: three from Victoria, two from New South Wales and one from South Australia.I did read an earlier manuscript of the Red Queen, and I loved it - though I haven't read the final version, which I'm sure is either even better - or complete bollocks.
Honey Brown, a young mother writing at her farm in country Victoria, has been shortlisted for her manuscript Red Queen. Relationships are of great interest to her, and are often the basis of her novels and screenplays.
She didn't win, but did receive some manner of high commendation or such-like, so is a good chance of getting published. I could hardly be more excited if it had happened to me!!!
On the subject of books, I finished reading The Covenant of the Flame - by David Morell.
I think expectations are everything when it comes to enjoying a book. This one definitely has got the makings of a B-grade movie - but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Were I a pretentious wanker, I'd probably call it a "guilty pleasure". But I don't feel guilty - I just happen to enjoy pulp fiction.
The book is not dissimilar to The DaVinci code, both in subject and quality of authorship. The plot centres around descendants of the Spanish Inquisitors and practitioners of "mithraism", an allegedly pre-Christian pagan religion, but with many similarities to Christianity, including the notion a a virgin birth on December 25, and similar iconography.
The religious content is significantly factually incorrect, the writing is average and the plot totally unrealistic. However, the writing is at least unobtrusive, the plot well revealed and the story well paced.
I've now moved on to The Shadow of the Wind - by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
This book is on loan from Lee, and is so far excellent.
One final exciting bit-o-news. We got our new camera today. The old camera died during our Labour Day weekend at Harrietville, so I purchase a new Canon Powershot S5 IS on ebay. I had been hoping it would arrive over Easter, but anyway, it arrived today - and with 2GB SD-card instead of the 1GB that was advertised. Should I mark down the seller for "goods not as described"?
Friday, March 28, 2008
FIRE! FIRE ! FIRE!
Camp fire, no less. And I don't mean fire of a homosexual or effeminate bent.
We're camping in Bright. God's own country.
We came over Dargo on Thursday afternoon, having left the van at Harrietville after our Labour Day long weekend getwaway. There was some amount of misunderstanding with the caravan park management, such that Leanne and Brian, having left home at some undeniably ungodly hour to arrive after a 7 hour drive in the decidedly godly Bright around lunchtime - to find our camp sites geographically and botanically dissimilar from those we'd booked.
After much consternation and telecommunicating to and fro, we decided to camp instead on Dad's front lawn at Harrientville, whilst negotiating further with the caravan park. Convient for us, as that's exactly where our van was.
We had a delightful time in Harrietville from Thursday until Tuesday, including a "big roast", with lamb, beef and numerous vegtables cooked for many hours in two camp ovens.
One slight problem though, in the last minute calling back and forth re the misplaced camp sites - we forgot to pack any clothes for Connick. Whoops.
On Easter Saturday we did the Bright market, and whilst in town filled a bag with clothes for Connick at the Op Shop for $5. Jesamine and Bronte bought matching Billbabong tops, and hardly took them off thereafter. I bought myself 5 books at the Op Shop - I won't list them here, because you'll find a new link added to my blog for:
That's right, I'm in anal retentive heaven! I've commenced the arduous yet pointless task of logging all of my books into an online database.
I also wandered down to the Little Bookshop in Bright, and bought another 3 books - also on the database of course.
The next day (Sunday by my reckoning) I went to the Harrietville Bush Market (remember, we're still staying in Harrietville at this stage - please try to keep up with the riveting narrative). What do you suppose I bought? More books. Another five in fact. Are they also on the database? You bet!!!
Whilst at Bright, we also started watching Underbelly on DVD - the TV series based on the Melbourne underworld killings. It's very well written, produce and acted (with the exception of Martin Sacks who is nohing short of appalling).
On Tuesday we moved to Bright (though, of course, you already knew that) and set ourselves up on some very nice powered sites. We struck an agreement with management to use unpowered sites and extend our stay a little longer (we were only booked to Thursday).
I've still been progressing with my R2D2 model. He's got arms now - and quite detailed arms at that, with stabilisers, struts etc:
I finished reading Atlas Shrugged - by Ayn Rand
I enjoyed the book - though felt somewhat bludgeoned from time to time by the incessant preaching about the virtues of greed. Plot-wise it was quite well crafted, though not entirely unpredictable. My biggest criticism would probably be with the dialogue - the heroes all use the same phrases and talk far too much. Also, as a book attempting to present a cohesive and intellectual argument, the opposition is too poorly presented - more propaganda than rational analysis.
It's a book that makes you think, and I'm pretty sure that to many people, that's what distinguishes art from entertainment.
I don't care much for those who discount the book because they discount the message. If it made you think enough to discount the message, then surely it's been of some value.
I also read Musicophilia, by Oliver Sacks. I bought this book for Danny for Christmas, and subesequently Suzy bought me a copy for Valentine's day. This is a very interesting book, comprising numerous medical case studies on the positive and negative impacts of various neurological illnesses and disorders on the ability of patients to perform, compose and enjoy music. For example, the books opens with the story of a man with no musical background who becomes obsessed with playing piano after being struck by lightening. There's also a man with severe amnesia, and a memory measured in seconds, who can still play complex pieces on piano, though with no memory of having ever seen or heard the music.
I'm also still reading the erotic fiction of the mysterious H.M. Brown (it's not particularly long, but I'm still taking it one chapter at a time).
What about fishing? Glad you asked. I took Connick out a couple of days ago - Rod Man and Net Boy striking fear into the hearts of trout up and down the Oven's River. We hooked four, lost two, and released the other two.
I went again yesterday, and hooked 13, lost 3, released 9 and kept one. At least the one I kept was a decent size - better than last time.
I started modelling Connick in Blender the other night. Firstly I drew some reference lines on his face with black whiteboard marker, then got Lee to take front and profile shots. I've pretty much finished now with my mesh topology, and need to start sculpting it it to look more like his head:
Anyway, the Scotts left for home today (Saturday), and we'll head off tomorrow. Hopfully the arsonists have taken some Easter leave and left our house alone.
Oh! I nearly forgot. On Thursday I went to the Bright Library and bought some more books, and later that day went back to the Op Shop and bought even more books. All on the database of course.
We're camping in Bright. God's own country.
We came over Dargo on Thursday afternoon, having left the van at Harrietville after our Labour Day long weekend getwaway. There was some amount of misunderstanding with the caravan park management, such that Leanne and Brian, having left home at some undeniably ungodly hour to arrive after a 7 hour drive in the decidedly godly Bright around lunchtime - to find our camp sites geographically and botanically dissimilar from those we'd booked.
After much consternation and telecommunicating to and fro, we decided to camp instead on Dad's front lawn at Harrientville, whilst negotiating further with the caravan park. Convient for us, as that's exactly where our van was.
We had a delightful time in Harrietville from Thursday until Tuesday, including a "big roast", with lamb, beef and numerous vegtables cooked for many hours in two camp ovens.
One slight problem though, in the last minute calling back and forth re the misplaced camp sites - we forgot to pack any clothes for Connick. Whoops.
On Easter Saturday we did the Bright market, and whilst in town filled a bag with clothes for Connick at the Op Shop for $5. Jesamine and Bronte bought matching Billbabong tops, and hardly took them off thereafter. I bought myself 5 books at the Op Shop - I won't list them here, because you'll find a new link added to my blog for:
That's right, I'm in anal retentive heaven! I've commenced the arduous yet pointless task of logging all of my books into an online database.
I also wandered down to the Little Bookshop in Bright, and bought another 3 books - also on the database of course.
The next day (Sunday by my reckoning) I went to the Harrietville Bush Market (remember, we're still staying in Harrietville at this stage - please try to keep up with the riveting narrative). What do you suppose I bought? More books. Another five in fact. Are they also on the database? You bet!!!
Whilst at Bright, we also started watching Underbelly on DVD - the TV series based on the Melbourne underworld killings. It's very well written, produce and acted (with the exception of Martin Sacks who is nohing short of appalling).
On Tuesday we moved to Bright (though, of course, you already knew that) and set ourselves up on some very nice powered sites. We struck an agreement with management to use unpowered sites and extend our stay a little longer (we were only booked to Thursday).
I've still been progressing with my R2D2 model. He's got arms now - and quite detailed arms at that, with stabilisers, struts etc:
I finished reading Atlas Shrugged - by Ayn Rand
The Review
I enjoyed the book - though felt somewhat bludgeoned from time to time by the incessant preaching about the virtues of greed. Plot-wise it was quite well crafted, though not entirely unpredictable. My biggest criticism would probably be with the dialogue - the heroes all use the same phrases and talk far too much. Also, as a book attempting to present a cohesive and intellectual argument, the opposition is too poorly presented - more propaganda than rational analysis.
It's a book that makes you think, and I'm pretty sure that to many people, that's what distinguishes art from entertainment.
I don't care much for those who discount the book because they discount the message. If it made you think enough to discount the message, then surely it's been of some value.
I also read Musicophilia, by Oliver Sacks. I bought this book for Danny for Christmas, and subesequently Suzy bought me a copy for Valentine's day. This is a very interesting book, comprising numerous medical case studies on the positive and negative impacts of various neurological illnesses and disorders on the ability of patients to perform, compose and enjoy music. For example, the books opens with the story of a man with no musical background who becomes obsessed with playing piano after being struck by lightening. There's also a man with severe amnesia, and a memory measured in seconds, who can still play complex pieces on piano, though with no memory of having ever seen or heard the music.
I'm also still reading the erotic fiction of the mysterious H.M. Brown (it's not particularly long, but I'm still taking it one chapter at a time).
What about fishing? Glad you asked. I took Connick out a couple of days ago - Rod Man and Net Boy striking fear into the hearts of trout up and down the Oven's River. We hooked four, lost two, and released the other two.
I went again yesterday, and hooked 13, lost 3, released 9 and kept one. At least the one I kept was a decent size - better than last time.
I started modelling Connick in Blender the other night. Firstly I drew some reference lines on his face with black whiteboard marker, then got Lee to take front and profile shots. I've pretty much finished now with my mesh topology, and need to start sculpting it it to look more like his head:
Anyway, the Scotts left for home today (Saturday), and we'll head off tomorrow. Hopfully the arsonists have taken some Easter leave and left our house alone.
Oh! I nearly forgot. On Thursday I went to the Bright Library and bought some more books, and later that day went back to the Op Shop and bought even more books. All on the database of course.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
IN THE LINE OF FIRE
My last blog post was Friday night, after the fire. What do you suppose happened Saturday night?
No, I wasn't visited by the ghosts of Christmas past present and future.
No, I wasn't abducted by prostate obsessed aliens.
I'm beginning to wonder if you're really trying. Look at the title for crying out loud!
ANOTHER BLOODY FIRE - THAT'S WHAT!!!!
Let me tell you about it ...
'Twas the night before Sunday, when all through the town
The arsonists were lurking, and burning stuff down
The lights out the front of the house were left on
In hopes that they'd feel too exposed and move on
Connick was nestled all snug in his bed
While Jesamine slept over at Rachel's instead
While Suzy used Photoshop and I modelled in 3D
With our laptops in the loungeroom, in front of the TV
Then out front of the house we heard a large truck
With a siren and lights, and we said "What the fuck?"
We ran out the front door, down the driveway we flew
Well we walked, but I'd like to be able to fly - wouldn't you?
Two trucks had arrived full of CFA folk
Who put out the fire amidst all the smoke
We stood and we watched and we wondered why would
People like to set fire to our grass and our wood
Two fires in two nights - it doesn't sound right
As you'd imagine it might it gave us a fright
So the next night after checking around
I got into bed hoping to sleep sound
But then around 1 o'clock after midnight
I heard a car where the fire had been Friday night
I sprang from the bed and raced out in my jocks
And hid behind bushes and stood upon rocks
Two likely lads were pulled up just outside
And I tried to observe them from within my hide
The were fossicking around in the car for something
I couldn't see what so I left them to ring ...
000 on the phone and ask for "Police"
"There's something afoot, can you send a car please"
I grabbed me some clothes and an axe just in case
How long would they stay, would this be a race?
Suzy and I then jumped in the car
And started to drive and find out who they are
As we pulled out of the drive, up the street
Came the cops with a spot casting light like a sheet
They arrived just in time, for the likely lads raced
Into their car and prepared to make haste
But the cops got them out, and took them away
To the station to see what they had to say
So still we don't know, were they fire bugs
Or just two losers taking some drugs?
If that was not them, I'll stay on the hunt
And I won't rest until I catch the ...
No, I wasn't visited by the ghosts of Christmas past present and future.
No, I wasn't abducted by prostate obsessed aliens.
I'm beginning to wonder if you're really trying. Look at the title for crying out loud!
ANOTHER BLOODY FIRE - THAT'S WHAT!!!!
Let me tell you about it ...
'Twas the night before Sunday, when all through the town
The arsonists were lurking, and burning stuff down
The lights out the front of the house were left on
In hopes that they'd feel too exposed and move on
Connick was nestled all snug in his bed
While Jesamine slept over at Rachel's instead
While Suzy used Photoshop and I modelled in 3D
With our laptops in the loungeroom, in front of the TV
Then out front of the house we heard a large truck
With a siren and lights, and we said "What the fuck?"
We ran out the front door, down the driveway we flew
Well we walked, but I'd like to be able to fly - wouldn't you?
Two trucks had arrived full of CFA folk
Who put out the fire amidst all the smoke
We stood and we watched and we wondered why would
People like to set fire to our grass and our wood
Two fires in two nights - it doesn't sound right
As you'd imagine it might it gave us a fright
So the next night after checking around
I got into bed hoping to sleep sound
But then around 1 o'clock after midnight
I heard a car where the fire had been Friday night
I sprang from the bed and raced out in my jocks
And hid behind bushes and stood upon rocks
Two likely lads were pulled up just outside
And I tried to observe them from within my hide
The were fossicking around in the car for something
I couldn't see what so I left them to ring ...
000 on the phone and ask for "Police"
"There's something afoot, can you send a car please"
I grabbed me some clothes and an axe just in case
How long would they stay, would this be a race?
Suzy and I then jumped in the car
And started to drive and find out who they are
As we pulled out of the drive, up the street
Came the cops with a spot casting light like a sheet
They arrived just in time, for the likely lads raced
Into their car and prepared to make haste
But the cops got them out, and took them away
To the station to see what they had to say
So still we don't know, were they fire bugs
Or just two losers taking some drugs?
If that was not them, I'll stay on the hunt
And I won't rest until I catch the ...
Friday, March 14, 2008
FIRE!!!!
I stayed up a little too late tonight working on my R2D2 model. About 1:00am I went out to lock the chooks in, and on the way back I saw smoke and embers over the roof of the house. At first I thought the house was on fire, but as I ran closer, it was a little away from the house.
I ran inside and called 000, and as I ran outside, still with the phone in hand, I saw the local CFA were already on the job. They'd already attended a fire just up the road, when someone drove past and told them about our fire.
It seems we have a fire bug in the area. Bastards.
Now that's something exciting to blog about!!!
Anyway, it's 2:45am, so time I got to bed.
Oh, and then Connick woke up crying, because he's watched King Kong and was having nightmares.
Nighty night.
I ran inside and called 000, and as I ran outside, still with the phone in hand, I saw the local CFA were already on the job. They'd already attended a fire just up the road, when someone drove past and told them about our fire.
It seems we have a fire bug in the area. Bastards.
Now that's something exciting to blog about!!!
Anyway, it's 2:45am, so time I got to bed.
Oh, and then Connick woke up crying, because he's watched King Kong and was having nightmares.
Nighty night.
Monday, March 10, 2008
FOR THE LOVE OF A GOOD BOOK
What is Labour Day? How can a day named as such not require any actual labour?
These are questions I'm unfit to answer, but I do love a long weekend, and on this long weekend, we attached our caravan and towed it to Harrietville.
The long weekend was preceeded on Friday by the school sports, so I worked from home to maximise my opportunity to score dad points. I made it down to the sports ground earlier in the day to see Jesamine in her first 800m race. She didn't come last!
I missed the kids in their sprints at the end of the day, but both Jesamine and Connick came second in their groups, so they came home with ribbons. Yay for happy healthy chil'ns.
We headed off about 4:20pm, and hit long-weekend peak hour traffic in Melbourne. After a stop for tea somewhere along the Hume, we didn''t arrive until about 11:30pm or thereabouts. We set the van up and mum and dad's house for the weekend.
On Saturday we did the Myrtleford market. The traders appear to be the same at every seasonal market around the northeast region. The highlight for me was finding secondhand bookshop open in town - and ain't I a sucker for a book.
So, here's the haul:
What can I tell you about them - without actually having read them - well:
Sunday I went fishing up a short stretch of the Ovens River in Smoko.
Statistics:
Anyway, we're home now. Left the van in Harrietville and drove back over Dargo - in a little under three and a half hours.
These are questions I'm unfit to answer, but I do love a long weekend, and on this long weekend, we attached our caravan and towed it to Harrietville.
The long weekend was preceeded on Friday by the school sports, so I worked from home to maximise my opportunity to score dad points. I made it down to the sports ground earlier in the day to see Jesamine in her first 800m race. She didn't come last!
I missed the kids in their sprints at the end of the day, but both Jesamine and Connick came second in their groups, so they came home with ribbons. Yay for happy healthy chil'ns.
We headed off about 4:20pm, and hit long-weekend peak hour traffic in Melbourne. After a stop for tea somewhere along the Hume, we didn''t arrive until about 11:30pm or thereabouts. We set the van up and mum and dad's house for the weekend.
On Saturday we did the Myrtleford market. The traders appear to be the same at every seasonal market around the northeast region. The highlight for me was finding secondhand bookshop open in town - and ain't I a sucker for a book.
So, here's the haul:
- Czerny - The Art of Finger Dexterity
- Charles Darwin - The Voyage of the Beagle
- John Wyndham - The Seeds of Time
- John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes
- Tom Sharpe - Vintage Stuff
- Tom Sharpe - Blott on the Landscape
What can I tell you about them - without actually having read them - well:
- Karl Czerny, born in Vienna, 1791, was a student of Beethoven, and went on to become a piano teacher himself - teaching Franz Liszt (amongst other notables) - and also a composer of many technical studies, the two most reknowned being The Art of Finger Dexterity and The School of Velocity.
- Charles Darwin - if you don't know, and don't know his ship was the Beagle, then you're not invited to any trivia night with me.
- John Wyndham (1903-1969) wrote (predominantly) science fiction, and is best known for Day of the Triffids.
- Tom Sharpe is one of my favourite British authors of comedy. Ever heard of "Wilt" - filmed in 1989 with Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones?
Sunday I went fishing up a short stretch of the Ovens River in Smoko.
Statistics:
- 30 odd takes
- 15 hooked
- 13 landed
- 1 kept
- all on one Elk Hair Caddis - and it was still floating (then I lost it in a tree)
Anyway, we're home now. Left the van in Harrietville and drove back over Dargo - in a little under three and a half hours.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
3 POSTS fOR THE PRICE OF ONE!!! GET YOURS HERE!!!
Wednesday night has become blogging night - by chance not design. This week I'll suppress that part of my personality that causes me alphabetise CDs and give every blog topic a new post.
Number 1 - A MOVING PICTURE SHOW
Last Friday I gatecrashed Suzy and Lee's (semi) regular weekly movie date (again). The film - Dan In Real Life.
Did I like it? Yes I did. I' not a particularly huge fan of Steve Carell, though I did like him in Little Miss Sunshine, and now also in this. Steve Carell falls into my Will Ferrell category, another actor I don't have a great deal of time for, but really enjoyed in Stranger Than Fiction. It's important to have categories - don't you think?
Sure, it's predictable and lightweight - but it was Friday afternoon so it's hard not to enjoy a movie.
Number 2 - SIX-POINT-SIX, THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
The beast in this case being Connick (or should I say "Konnick"). I picked the kids up after work tonight and retraced his steps from last weeks shenanigans.
6.6 kms
Not bad for a lazy sod!
Number 3 - FOB UNITED BREAK THE DROUGHT
After 15 consecutive losses, and in the last game of the season - we recorded a win.
YAY!!!
Actually, when I say in the last game, what I mean is, in relation to the last game. Because, you see, there was no game. I received a phone call from the southern hemishphere's largest skating rink to tell me that the opposition were, quite frankly, afraid to play us. Yep, I'm pretty sure that's what I was told. Almost certainly that may well have been a possible reason.
Whatever - we get the points.
Number 1 - A MOVING PICTURE SHOW
Last Friday I gatecrashed Suzy and Lee's (semi) regular weekly movie date (again). The film - Dan In Real Life.
Did I like it? Yes I did. I' not a particularly huge fan of Steve Carell, though I did like him in Little Miss Sunshine, and now also in this. Steve Carell falls into my Will Ferrell category, another actor I don't have a great deal of time for, but really enjoyed in Stranger Than Fiction. It's important to have categories - don't you think?
Sure, it's predictable and lightweight - but it was Friday afternoon so it's hard not to enjoy a movie.
Number 2 - SIX-POINT-SIX, THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
The beast in this case being Connick (or should I say "Konnick"). I picked the kids up after work tonight and retraced his steps from last weeks shenanigans.
6.6 kms
Not bad for a lazy sod!
Number 3 - FOB UNITED BREAK THE DROUGHT
After 15 consecutive losses, and in the last game of the season - we recorded a win.
YAY!!!
Actually, when I say in the last game, what I mean is, in relation to the last game. Because, you see, there was no game. I received a phone call from the southern hemishphere's largest skating rink to tell me that the opposition were, quite frankly, afraid to play us. Yep, I'm pretty sure that's what I was told. Almost certainly that may well have been a possible reason.
Whatever - we get the points.
HOW'S THAT MODELLING COMING ALONG?
Well, as it happens, I've done some work on the body, and also made the utility arms that live on what can best be described as his droidal chest. Originally I made these arms as surface details on the body, but then I decided to model them "properly" - just in case I ever try to animate the little feller.
I presume this gets faster and easier with practice - but I'm still waiting to experience that.
I presume this gets faster and easier with practice - but I'm still waiting to experience that.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
LINKS
What is a website without links?
I don't know, so I'd thought I'd add some. Well, one initially.
Basic Instructions is a very funny comic, created by a stand up comedian and updated about twice a week.
I printed off a selection and bound them into a book as a Christmas present for Danny - and he certainly pretended to appeciate it. And I certainly proved that not only am I incredibly "careful" with my money, but I also have an alarming diregard for the intellectual property of others.
If you only visit one website this year - make it my blog. But if you're not quite so time poor - get along to Basic Instructions
I don't know, so I'd thought I'd add some. Well, one initially.
Basic Instructions is a very funny comic, created by a stand up comedian and updated about twice a week.
I printed off a selection and bound them into a book as a Christmas present for Danny - and he certainly pretended to appeciate it. And I certainly proved that not only am I incredibly "careful" with my money, but I also have an alarming diregard for the intellectual property of others.
If you only visit one website this year - make it my blog. But if you're not quite so time poor - get along to Basic Instructions
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