Sunday Lunch Not

It was only last Sunday that we were out and about and telling ourselves that we should book ahead during these days of half empty space being required everywhere.  So we are lining up in this huge queue to get into spotlight and it takes about 15 minutes to get in. Then it turns out the pieces of our broken blinds are not sold there. However they do have some garden decos so it wasn't a complete loss.  Finally at the seafood place we could not get anyone to answer the phone, let alone see if there was space to sit. We decided to have lunch at home and absolutely positively do more mid week and also to book ahead.

At least the Sun is still setting

Shredding

Eurosport features a lot of winter stuff and the cool dudes often talk about shredding a run. I haven't worked out if they mean they have stuffed it up or done it well. I have been shredding for four days now.  I have come to the end of over 10 years worth of financial papers.  Anything like bank statements, financial reports, company reports, credit society reports, tax filings, accountant letters etc is what I shredded. The shredder works for 5 minutes maybe 10 if you are fast, then it needs to cool down for at least 2 hours.  The volume of paper increases by 10 times when you shred it.  The bags I have will not easily hide in the 240 Litre  bin and we have the bin police monitoring our every move. I have had to break down the mass into smaller bags.  It will take a few weeks to dispose of.

to shred is to shed

Is Messina named after its Mess?

There is a lot of rubbish in the streets here. I am choosing to make it a no phasement moment and am moving on.  We did pick the eyes out of it such as the sweeping views from the Mausoleum. It was a bit of a navigation to get up to it, but there ia nothing that can't be found. The beach here was nasty so we retreated to the boat.  Next time we will venture further. Maybe even choose not to run the gauntlet at the other side of the port door where there was at least 400 metres of tour bombardment. We will be back in Sicily in two weeks at Catania, so maybe that will be better.

Early Port entry

A beaked Fish?

Council Complaints

We rang up the council for our first complaint. I can't believe it is a coincidence that one week after the council start blabbing that they are installing an underwater sculpture park, particularly suited to snorkeling, that two mini bus loads of tourists turn up and park across from us on the verge. This operation looked very commercial but no advertising on the buses. Each bus had 10 people and out the back of each came tubs of wet suits, snorkels, flippers and towels and off they all went down to OUR beach lugging it with them.  We have ignored all the cars parking and the hustle and bustle during the school holidays but this is a Tuesday in March and we don't want buses blocking things off for hours. The council were sending someone straightaway. As it turns out we were leaving for a bike ride and were not waiting around. When we got back about 3 hours later the buses were gone.  The council are meant to be ringing us back with their report.  I believe this lot mistakenly thought this was the Dell.

We're on to you

The Sunken Gallery advertising Pic

Solar Flow

Our first electricity bill has come in since the faulty inverter was replaced some weeks ago. Not that I am complaining. (Yes I am).  The Delta people replaced it under a 10 year warranty. Can't complain about that. If something is attached to a house, does that mean you have paid for it when you buy that house? As the previous owner actually paid the bill. Anyway we got a grand total of $15 off our bill. I have heard  a lot of  hooey about these systems and its not sparking enthusiasm so far.  I know of people who have paid $10000 to get it installed. Maybe ours will generate more over Summer. As for saving the environment all the early more generous FIT  rates will run out in the next few years and then batteries will come down in price. These batteries are huge and how are they to be disposed of?

Slow hand of the Law

Yes confirmation arrived today that my speeding fine has been officially dropped. The camera in car trick has taken 8 months to finally be reduced from thousands down to zero dollars.  The online ability to submit for a review of the fine makes all the difference.  Now I am not allowed to have any more reviews for 2 years.  I have seen the same camera car on the same stretch of road just down from the Mitre 10.  It's a long section of 60 kph before quickly changing to 100kph. So don't get fooled by the fact that they moved the 60kph sign back by 500 metres.

Plumbers

At what time is it considered that you are paying other peoples bills?  We have a blocked drain which is now unblocked at a cost of $330 but it will now stay unblocked for another 5 years, as we had this particular spot cleared 5 years ago.  It seems to me the new owner owes us a pro-rata amount. We have cleared their drains for 4 years and 9 months. It's the Silver Birch that is the culprit and it was here before we arrived.  And in the end either it had to go or we had to go.  It spits tiny seeds that invade every part of the house, particularly in summer with the air con running.  It drops half a metre of leaves in autumn. I need to fill the green bin three times to clear them. It's roots run deep and invade our drains and its branches are a convenient bat roost.  The bat who sat in the scat is here every night.  Each morning I have to clean off a ton o of guano from the fence and paths. 

One of the Mario Bros

Landlord's to Account

A few times over the years we have had some issues in the front yard. We have always had a fence but there has been no gate. Numerous plants have disappeared and the worst one was a $100 statue that was taken despite its heavy concrete weight.  Early on our letterbox also encased in concrete, went missing and we found it over the road, a few doors down. So hypothetically, say the tenants across the way had damaged the letterbox and threw it in the street. To my mind this has nothing to do with the landlord. Has the proliferation of bodies corporate influenced this in some way?

Postman's challenge

Combie vannin

Did a mid week visit to Port Melb beach yesterday. Couldn't help noticing the "Backpackers with Wheels" mob invading the area.  I know how it works, as I spent three weeks driving a van down the WA coast.  Word gets around about where you can park on the cheap.  Let bylaws be bylaws! The local council here are so thoughtful.  Plenty of car parks but also the barbecue with a nice beach view and don't forget the change rooms with showers and drinking fountains.  Everything an itinerant could ask for.

Just walk around

Carpark Camping

AFL Getting Soft

I can't hold back any longer.  I seem to be less interested in AFL these days, I think the trend towards keepings off is the biggest issue. I was watching Essendon vs someone I think it was Sydney who were well ahead when the ump went down with a slight crunch from a player.  It is an embarrassment when the players stage for stuff but this umpy was not moving until he was carried off. Of course later there was nothing wrong with him. I tried to count how many doctors and trainers there was gathered around but after 10 minutes of waiting I gave up on the match. Tommy Hafey moved onto a higher team last week and I am sure his last message of  "kick it long" should be picked up by all coaches.