photo films

After the GF we had a quick look at some old photos that I had scanned. However across the network here they can only be viewed as thumbnails on the TV, so I have made a few short film clips cobbling them together.  It will be a big project doing them all but these two are short due to the old 'twelve photos in a film' problem. Eg You spend an 8 hour day getting to the top of Mt Featrhertop and down again and all the fun of the snow ball fight in between and there are six photos to show for it.

                                                                    Winter Snows

Bicycle Map

We went to the Federal Mills for lunch which was a bit slow on the delivery but OK as far as tastiness goes and when they took the cost of the coffees and drinks off the bill then everything worked out.  I guess when their chef doesn't show up then there are issues.   I unwrapped a framed poster showing a bicycle encircling the world  Not a bad motto for how to go about travelling.  The birthday fruitcake was a hit so Debbie will have to make another one.

Bicycle world domination

One Sided

There were 10 of us for the GF watching. Debbie put in a big cook up spree for the lasagne, apple pie and fruit cake.  Then there was all the food that was brought along so we didn't starve.  The match was a bit predictable before it started.  Afterwards we went for a short stroll along the beach and after afterwards we played a couple of pool games.  IT helps that most of the guests (3 couples) toddled off to Collendina caravan park just across the way.

Anna Jennie Yu Yangs

Electronic Travel Authorisation

I am putting the finishing touches on a trip to Hawaii and I had forgotten what a pain the Travel site is for access into the US.  They are probably reading this!  There was even a new question about online profiles and could you supply them with some details but this was about the only optional item.  I must have spent 90 minutes on the forms but I can understand they need to be thorough. We are getting organised for a Grand Finale here and I expect Richmond to win as GWS need to lose one before they win one.

The gold road to Geelong

Thorn EMI

How old is something before it is officially vintage? There are rules about this sort of thing. One source I found says antique is 100 yar old and vintage is 50 yar old, but is it a problem if the thing that is now vintage was bought by yourself.  Because the record player that I saved up for when I was 12 is now over 50 yar old.  It did not travel well in the move but I just got it back from the Geelong Real Music record store and it has been fixed for $20. I can hear it now, melodiously meandering across SGT Peppers. There is a song on there I am planning to play on my Birthday. Any guesses?

Whip It Whip it good

I have worked out that it takes just as long if not longer to do some whipper snipping here as it does to do the mowing.  We have had numerous Snippet machines but the battery Ryobi did get the job done today even though the battery was starting to die. It was doing much worse until Debbie found our problem was trying to wind on our own cutting cord instead of buying the cartridges that slip into the slot. The cartridge is already pre-wound. Mind you I still have to stop regularly to pull out the cord. 

Whipper Snipping Art

Speaker for the Dead

This book is the sequel to the "Ender's Game" I read last week.  It also won a Hugo so I have not strayed from following this award's path. However I am of a mind to go find the other eight or so volumes that appeared after these two.  In this case they must be read in order. There are too many references back to the first volume even though the story is set 3000 yar into the future from the first volumes timeline.  For a starter some of the characters are still alive due to the physics of light speed space travel.  Ender's job after this time is mainly giving eulogies and trying to redeem previous situations by having unlikely aliens living together on one planet.  I notice this story has been illustrated in a series of comic books by Marvel !! 

NeedleWork

Went for a short ride into Drysdale in order to donate some more blood to the cause, my own cause that is.  They have to keep measuring PSA totals (preferably 0) going forward and I have an appointment with the doc next week.   I have some other needle treatments happening and needles are starting to give me the willies.  I found out something about needles, the're often taken  IN VEIN.

Coffee Time

We had more stops than a Moonee Ponds tram but we were on a mission to check out some new venues.  First was a walk along the coastal path to the newly rebuilt Dunes restaurant and Ocean Grove SLSC. It was so new that they were still trying to move all their surf gear into the under croft.  They certainly like avocado at this place.  Next was Hive Gallery and across the way was KYO quirky town.  In a word Hive was expensive with giant bronze snails and turtles while KYO was bazaar.  Many weird pieces hanging form the walls and rooftops. Lastly was Van Loon's with more normal nursery type fair. 

Coastal path

OG SLSC

Bring your crane to move these

KYO 

Bennett's Pizza

We have been driving past this place for the 18 months or so that we have lived here so its about time we called in.   This is a winery come tasting come cheese platter come pizzeria with a view down to the water and the Yu Yangs across the way.  The Clancy's are here so it we got them sloshed in time to get back home for another catch up.  Earlier in the day Aunty Patty was also a visitor and was impressed by the view and her orchid.

Pumpkin Soup

Fire Wine

Closest yet

For a few seconds I thought I was looking at the rarest stamp I had ever found but I have been in this position before.  Then I saw the difference in the perforations.  In the back of my mind the really old stamps have no perforations.  The stamp I had was perforated, yet the design exactly matched the one published in the catalog for $663,000 but they never publish a stamp image with its perforations. It must be easier to put the images in the catalog with straight edges (imperforate) so the way they indicate no perforations is to print a small heading to say so.  The rare one was issued in 1849 and mine came out 21 years later in 1870, still an old stamp.  I am only half way thru this box. The big one might yet be in there.

This is Ceres valued at $21.29

Obstacle Run

The temperature was up but so was the wind being a reasonable Easterly so I tried a jog as a bit of a tester for the foot fasciitis problem that has persisted for a few years.  The way to the Dell has steep hills at both ends, rocks, sand, seaweed, sharp shells and pot holes. It helps that I went during a very low tide. I walked up the hills but did a slow jog on the rest of it. So far I have no foot complaints which is a good sign as previously I could never get more than a few hundred metres before the arch of my foot started complaining. Also the Springs are now clear again of seaweed and the bubbling of the spring water can clearly be observed.

Spring clean water

low tide short cuts

Water Run

Spent an hour or so over the beach this morning.  Have yet to take a full plunge however I am finding that the jog through the water almost gets you all in anyway.   The distance must be around 400 metres but once is enough at the moment.  The other part of the routine is doing a beach length on the sand with one eye out for rubbish.  I have not been picking up much lately.  Back up top I noticed a sneaky tent has been pitched on part of the slope about half way down. Don't need squatters moving in.

Sunsets are migrating South but are still OK

A tent among the trees

Ender's Game

I have returned to my Hugo list with the 1986 winner 'Ender's Game' and this time I am better prepared with the sequel, as it also won the Hugo in 1987. Of course there are another 10 more books in the series which did not win Hugos but I have drawn the line at tracking them down for the time being.  back inside the book, gifted kids are trained via video games and 3D simulators to become military commanders whose job is to lead from their console back at the office.  This one made it into a big $110 million budget film with a heavy duty cast. However it only grossed about the same in the box office so the rest of the films were scrapped.

Titanium Eyes

It has taken awhile however the new glasses have turned up. Like previously, they arrived in conjunction with a dental appointment. This time the new dentist has really got down to business. I have never had a tongue examination. He has found spots on my tongue! So tongue photos were taken using eleborate mouth stretching tools which I had to use while he aimed his camera.  I do like his prices though as today's half hour cost $0.  Over at the Ocean Eyes the bill has ballooned out over $2000 but hopefully BUPA will bring that down when the sunglasses finally turn up.  I hope that is not in three weeks when the next dental appointment is on.

These are very light weight

Pigeon Pair

We have been having this running battle with a nesting pair of birds. They have been keen to set up shop just next to the front door and this has been going on for two weeks. It is Spring time and bird nesting season and the tree fern is just too tempting.  Every time you open the front door there is a burst of wing flapping and feather dropping as they bolt.  We curled up some gutter guard but that did not work. So now purpose designed spiky lengths have been strategically placed. So far so good.

Ready for the next assault with straw in beak

Spiker

Calm Beach

I think I have previously whinged about the amount of grass that needs mowing here. At least we were able to go across to the beach in the afternoon when all the mowing and weed digging was finished.  There was a slight breeze but at this time of year no breeze should be the rule. Nevertheless we lounged for 90 minutes with a short wading section in the middle.  Two guys came with spear guns, one in a wet suit and one not.  The latter did not get very far out before turning back.  There are a few jelly fish being washed up at the moment but nothing like last year's jelly deluge. 

These guys were stuck for some reason

beach lounge chair

Have suitcase will travel

That's the title I placed on the below stamp.  I included it because I recognized the tower. It is at Flughafen and I reckon whoever took this was standing in the same place I was on the outside decking.  A tip for budding stamp collectors - for some reason Swiss stamps hold higher values, even the more recent ones. This one is worth $20.60.  I had a closer look at some others and included a Walker in the Alps valued at $6.90. 

PS The Helvetians were a Celtic tribe who met the Romans head on but were destined to be Roman subjects.

Flughafen Tower

My Tower shot

Walking the Swiss Alps

Frame Up

I had one last activity as a result of our Europe trip this year.  I rode into Drysdale and checked out some photo frames.  There were a few there but a bit pricey and a bit flimsy.  I noticed in our garage there were some still unopened frames from our move and on closer inspection, one was labelled empty photo frame.  Not only was it empty it was brand new. It had the number of photos I wanted, it matched the style and shape of others we have used and it was free.  Picking the photos took time but the biggest issue was the printer. I was wasting ink and glossy photo paper on streaky pink tinged photos.  A nozzle clean followed by a deep nozzle clean got the printer going again. Also some of the sizes required photos to be trimmed. In the end it was a four hour exercise but it now looks like it was always there.

New frame on the right

Those Dolphins

Dolph!  I thought I got a copy of Debbie's dolphin act but it was a still image. I tried to get the video clip but I guess a photo is better than nothing. Are Dolphins ever stressed?  I think they just glide around for our entertainment.  The Perth weather has reached us today. I have been down to the beach and I can report the water is still cool but that shouldn't stop anyone.

Slow Reader

I found a whodunit book on our shelf where the story is confined to the voyage of a cruise ship.  As well as the usual trying to solve it activity, a lot of the characters use of the ship was described in detail, like whinging about formal nights and always being photographed.  In the end they had a good time, the guy got the gal and the killer was brought to justice.  The voyage was thru Alaska and the description of Ice bergs, hail and rain did not help the cause for cruising any where other than the Mediterranean .

There must be 100 different books with this title 

Pelican

I always have the cameras handy as you just never know what may be out there.  I was scanning around and saw two pelicans just bobbing on the water.  One of them took off and just glided away. I thought maybe the other will follow so I focused in and sure enough he moved off as well. Notice how low it is possible to skim the water so that the reflection can be seen.

                                                                       Take Flight

Baby Seat

It didn't occur to me that we would need an Asher seat if for some reason we had to drive her somewhere in our car.  As it happens these seats go out of use quickly so we were able to borrow the Pete seat, as they are spending a  year in Buenos Aires and their kids have out grown it anyway. But that meant I had to drive over to Eltham to fetch it. And we got a chicken and roast potatoes lunch as well. The drive back was two hours of pelting rain. As for the Mantra last night they gave us an upgrade to a spa tub room, so we made good use of that.

Coffee Liquers yum

15kms on the bike machine

Dexter

This is where the cool hipsters go to eat in High St Preston.  There were nine of us for James birthday lunch and I wasn't expecting Heidi to pay for us all either but she was determined so you just go with it.  Last week we did the running around on a Sunday but today being Saturday we noticed the traffic much more, but I did save a half litre of fuel at the lights.  James got a book as well as a cache of money for his new tyres.  Dexter's has a few off the chart items on the menu like meat donuts. I tried the Briskett style beef which was very tender.  We dropped Nana off and headed back to the Mantra.  Becuase we are freinds they gave us an upgrade to a room with a spa which also has a pretty good view of the city.

Trendy Crowd

Coffee game

I have been working my way thru 7 numbered but unlabeled coffee pods.  It's coffee sales trumped up to be a wine tasting lookalike, not that I was ever into that either but there is some fun about it.  So each day I had one of the numbered pods and wrote down against a description which one I thought it was.  There are seven varieties each with their flowery illustrations like hint of moth or tooth of crow.  I saved the scratchie reveals until last but I only got one correct. I think putting milk in with the coffee upsets the whole tasting regime. That's my excuse.

IPods

Safety Champagne

I was poking around some old video and found this segment from Safety Beach.  I am looking at what houses might be available at Christmas, close to the beach and with plenty of bedrooms. Not too much to ask.  If I can find one without lockout dates or minimum stays any less than four nights or not already booked then we can do some more beach champagne. So far I have tried a dozen or so with a minimum four bedrooms and even the hotel is full and I am four months in advance.

Computer Glitches

For some reason an XBOX game console tried to take over my computer screen.  I was able to easily stop it with the normal exit. It came back a second time and I had to exit out of  three or four different windows.  I ran the Antimalware freebie I have had for years but they are now forcing you to buy it after a two week trial.  It found no problems. I then ran the Trend Micro, which I pay for, but it wanted to remove the trial Antimalware first. So after several reboots I now have the latest Trend Micro minus the other trial stuff. Again there were no threats found. The one thing I did do different this morning, was to select NEWS from the Microsoft startup button.  The NEWS seems to be bad from the start button at least.

Ideal Beach

Today is the first proper beach day although I only stayed for a jog thru the water and a couple of chapters of reading. The key was no wind. Not sure what the temperature was but there were plenty of walkers and I was the only one who went in. Another sign of a weather change maybe the Bottlenoses which we saw two days ago.  The water is crystal clear and crystal cool. I chased one fish who for some reason only swam in a straight line.

                                                                          Bottlenoses

Father's Day Booty

I got back with my Father's day haul after the overnighter at Mantra.  I am starting to know each room now. Room 405 has a substitute TV remote and the movie channel does not work. It also does not have a toilet brush for polishing the inside of the porcelain.  I did have a spare tooth brush but after 30 mins I gave up.  Typing of Toilet Humour, I received another father's day surprise book in the mail. This one is all about entertainment whilst sitting on the toilet bowl eg Games of Throne.  I have also commenced the mystery coffee pod quiz where unlabelled pods are placed in the machine and using a form with scratchie pads, to reveal if you have picked the correct flavour such as 'Resonata Perfecta'  a jungle blend where beans have passed thru the intestinal tract of monkeys.

Mantra Workout

Asher in a Mug

Four generations of Fathers

Had to pull some tricks to login to this tablet with another account already owning it but I have managed to get here.  The Skyways hotel was the venue for a Fathers Day lunch and with Heidi's half price executive discount we saved ourselves $160.  I had the chicken Mignon which was very tasty wrapped in bacon and stuffed with prawns.  Desert was apple pie around at nana's.  All tha father's were there and chocolate's were flowing.  My fathers day coffee pods can now be drunk in my father's day Asher coffee cup.