The Frog Prince

Climate

2012-01-28T08:21:00.000+10:30

To answer Debby's questions... Yes, we do have a temperate zone but it's not a big one as you can see by the map.

Does it snow in Australia? Yes, but in limited areas compared to the entire area of the continent.

Winter time sees excellent snowfalls for skiing in the Snowy Mountains region of southeastern New South Wales and northeastern Victoria. Central Tasmania also sees good snowfalls. These falls usually only start in June at the earliest - usually July - and continue through August, tapering off in the early months of Spring. Several of Australia's main snow resorts include the Kosciuszko National Park in NSW (Charlotte's Pass, Thredbo, Blue Cow) and Victoria (Mt Bogong, Fall's Creek, Mt Hotham, etc).

Snow also falls (rarely) in southwest Western Australia, the southeast of South Australia, the highlands of Tasmania, Victoria, NSW (e.g. Blue Mountains to Orange) and even southern Queensland on the border around Stanthorpe.It has even been known to snow towards the coast in Victoria, in Gippsland and near the Great Ocean Road.

Of Australia's major cities, Canberra is the most likely to receive snow, followed by Hobart, but these falls are usually very light. (Info courtesy of Wikipedia)

Seems funny to see a kangaroo and snow together, doesn't it? That shot was somewhere in NSW, the other is of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. Here's a short video of snow in Australia.

I'm Over It, Already

2012-01-24T13:48:00.001+10:30

Sumnmer, that is. As much as I'm not a fan of the cold, I'm even less a fan of overly-hot summers and at this point, I'd welcome the change. I guess I'm a temperate zone guy; anywhere between 18C (65F) and 28C (85F) works just dandy for me.

Happy Birthday

2012-01-20T07:59:00.000+10:30

To my youngest son, Reece, who turns 20 today - where does the time go? Happy birthday, m8, I love you.

:-)

Turning A Page

2012-01-16T07:53:00.000+10:30

Okay, then - hehe.

Barbary Doves

2012-01-08T13:16:00.000+10:30

As you might have seen on my FB page, a few of these doves will come down occasionally and eat from my hand. There are six of them, two of which you now know as Mud Wing and Bill'Bo Beakins. I've been trying to come up with names for the others based on their markings, with limited success. I have however named another two, based on their size; these two will now be known as Friar Tuck and Jabba. The last two names are still proving difficult so here's what I'll do - I'll take a pic of them when I can and post them here or on FB and invite you all to come up with names for them...

:-)

Away

2012-01-05T14:49:00.001+10:30

Am heading to Victor Harbor tomorrow for some R&R while the weather is nice - haven't decided yet what I'll do when I get there but there's lotsa things to choose from.

Oh, must remember to put SD card back in camera...

Happy New Year, Everyone!

2012-01-01T02:05:00.002+10:30

Hot, Hot, Hot

2011-12-31T15:05:00.000+10:30

37 (99) today, 41 (106) tomorrow, and 39 (102) for the next 3 days after that - Summer is here with a vengeance.

The New Year

2011-12-29T14:02:00.000+10:30

Well, Christmas has come and gone and we're only a few days away from starting a brand new year. I have New Year's Eve off but I'm working on New Year's Day so I won't be up too late (and I have to admit that I'm not always fond of the money spent on fireworks anyway; I can think of many better ways to spend that moolah, yes?) - so, how about you? What, if anything, will you be doing to bring in the new year?

2011-12-25T01:41:00.002+10:30

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season with family and friends.

Countdown

2011-12-22T20:32:00.000+10:30

I t is 8:30 on Thursday night and I have one more day off before going back to work - having lunch with Jade and Reece tomorrow...

It's Supposed To Be Summer

2011-12-18T11:17:00.000+10:30

And yet, for the last two days it's been raining - not that I'm complaining, mind you - I've always loved the rain and last night the lightning and thunder were awesome as well. The farmers will be happy too, I imagine.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-12-17T02:02:00.000+10:30

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-12-11T10:40:00.000+10:30

I wish I could paint/sketch like this...

Americans In Australia

2011-12-09T08:22:00.000+10:30

My time in the Defence Force took me all over this country and I've done some traveling/vacations to various areas so, like many other places, I've seen plenty of Americans who visit our lucky country as tourists. I've heard many say how much they love Australia and could easily imagine settling here but I don't know of too many that actually do, until this last little trip to the countryside.

I ordered breakfast from a place I like in McLaren Vale called the Tin Shed and when it was brought out to me by a big fella who said, "There you go, sir, enjoy," I asked if he was from the south (to my ear it sounded like a southern accent). Turns out he was from Houston, Texas and he met his Australian wife many years ago while she was on vacation there. They fell in love, got married and lived in Dallas for many years. She, however, pined for home, and asked if he would be willing to move to Oz - he said yes. They go back to Texas every couple of years but he told me that he loves Australia, particularly the McLaren Vale area and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Small world, isn't it?

On Vacation

2011-11-29T02:52:00.006+10:30

I still don't know what I'm gonna be doing, lol, but I'm sure I'll enjoy myself anyway.

:-)

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-11-26T14:49:00.000+10:30

Hope all my American friends had a nice Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Crocodile

2011-11-21T10:48:00.000+10:30

Not as we might know it but rather, Krokodil, a new designer drug out of Russia that can eat away at your flesh.

*warning for some disturbing images*

Not Long Now

2011-11-16T10:40:00.000+10:30

Two more weeks to go and I'm on vacation for three weeks before Christmas. Not sure if I'll be going away interstate or just doing some local stuff; haven't made up my mind yet.

I'm Back

2011-11-13T15:42:00.002+10:30

Will put some other pics up on Facebook since it's easier but for now, here's an unusual house that I spotted during my travels this weekend.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-11-12T01:50:00.000+10:30

Away

2011-11-10T13:23:00.000+10:30

Heading off to the Corinium Roman Villa tomorrow for a couple of days of R&R - as always, will take my camera and try to get some nice shots of the places I visit.

Father and Daughter Wedding Dance

2011-11-05T09:09:00.000+10:30

This is a hoot - what a great way to celebrate - read the story here.

This and That

2011-11-01T08:20:00.000+10:30

Carbon nanotubes as artificial muscles.
Progress with transplant rejections.
HR Giger's 'Alien- movie - some trivia.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-10-30T13:10:00.000+10:30

Couldn't Help Tapping My Feet To This...

2011-10-26T10:15:00.000+10:30

Time Lapse

2011-10-25T02:06:00.004+10:30

Unlike

2011-10-20T02:54:00.020+10:30

We're all familiar with the like/unlike function of Facebook, right? Well, those of that use FB are, at any rate. My plane trip from Perth back to Adelaide would have to have been one of the most painful I think I've ever endured; I could feel myself slowly losing the will to live. Why? The conversation of the two teenagers directly behind me - oh.my.gosh! I want to officially unlike the use of the word 'like' especially as it applies to teenage conversations. The chat was between a teenage boy and girl and in the two-and-a-half hour flight home, I did some mental mathematics. Every 5th word in their chat was, like, you know, 'like', and at roughly one word per second, that equates to 12 'likes' each minute, or 720 per hour and that comes to a grand total of 1800 for the total flight duration, EACH! I'm not even joking - I was so tempted to kick out the emergency exit and decompress the plane, sheesh! If I hear that word again anytime in the next few days, I fear I may have an aneurysm.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-10-15T02:20:00.003+10:30

Bits-n-Pieces

2011-10-10T12:55:00.000+10:30

October Is...

2011-10-06T10:17:00.000+10:30

Domestic Violence Awareness Month - keep an eye out, help where you can, and report when you can't.

Well Said, Mate

2011-10-05T12:25:00.000+10:30

Would like to meet this guy and buy him a beer.

Bits-n-Pieces

2011-10-03T02:24:00.001+10:30

New emotion detectors can tell if you're lying.
Equal rights for nature.
You have the right to record the police.
This ancient bridge is engineered from trees - very cool.
Deep survival - cheating death at the extremes of pain.
Ten things you may not know about light.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-10-01T17:02:00.000+09:30

Going, Going, Gone

2011-09-26T09:03:00.000+09:30

Going to pack my suitcase and laptop bag today after I've done some laundry and some web surfing.

Going to work tomorrow (Tue) for my last day shift.

Gone - flying to Perth on Wed, staying overnight (at company expense) and then heading to Exmouth on Thurs morning - my first shift starts there on Fri.

See ya on Facebook for a few weeks while I'm enjoying myself in the sun.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-09-24T03:32:00.001+09:30

Gaming

2011-09-22T08:10:00.000+09:30

You've probably heard at some point in your life the exhortations that video games are bad - they contribute to growing levels of violence, they make you anti-social, etc, etc, but it's not all doom and gloom. If you look at how far games have come over the years in terms of their development, from space invaders to something like Myst or even Black Ops, it shouldn't be hard to imagine that there are some really great minds at work out there, yes? I guess that's why I'm not too surprised to read that in just three weeks, gamers deciphered the structure of a key protein in the development of AIDS that has stumped scientists for years.

Hiatus

2011-09-19T05:39:00.000+09:30

I will be offline for a few days with work and with converting my old PC into a media center that I can hook up to my TV - will Facebook from my mobile phone as I get time.

:-)

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-09-17T03:07:00.000+09:30

Extended

2011-09-15T09:19:00.002+09:30

Well, it looks like the operational requirement for fire crews at Exmouth has been extended to late-November (with a possibility of a further extension to mid-December) - guess who gets to go again? Yay!

Weekend World of Wonder

2011-09-10T04:00:00.000+09:30

A lovely time-lapse video - some of the featured locations are listed here.

A Timelapse Journey with Nature: 2009-2011 from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-09-03T07:15:00.000+09:30

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-08-28T13:01:00.000+09:30

Day Two

2011-08-26T17:56:00.000+09:30

It's my first day off here at Exmouth and it's been a quiet one back at the cabin - I had some work to do on a document for work which took me a few hours but it was necessary so I don't mind that on occasion - dunno if I'll post here much over the next few weeks; I'm thinking it might just be easier to do it all on FB until I get home. I'll see how it all pans out...

One Day To Go

2011-08-23T08:48:00.000+09:30

Yes, it's almost that time again - time to go to Exmouth. My planes leaves at 6:45 in the morning and arrives there just after lunch which gives me the rest of the day to settle in before starting my first shift on Thursday. Don't know what I'll do on my days off this time but if I take any good photos, I'll let ya know, lol. Having a laptop with me means I can keep in touch with my regular blogs too instead of having to use my phone. See ya soon.

:-)

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-08-20T02:09:00.007+09:30

Bits and Pieces

2011-08-19T02:04:00.007+09:30

Scuba diver's body found after 17 years.
DNA found in outer space.
NASA Rover arrives at next crater after 3-year journey.
The next-generation NASA Rover.

This and That

2011-08-17T01:50:00.010+09:30

A star is torn.
Antimatter belts.
Doctors with people skills.
T-shirts that raise money.

Good Timing

2011-08-15T11:58:00.000+09:30

How often are you able to book an appointment with your tax consultant, your dentist, and your hairdresser, all on the same day, within an hour of each other, and not have anything go wrong?

The tax visit was what I expected; I have to pay a little bit more to the taxman this year (although it was less than last year, so that's good).

The dentist was what I expected; I only needed a couple of small fillings and a general clean.

And now I'm off to see the hairdresser; no surprises there, I don't reckon, lol.

:-)

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-08-13T02:40:00.000+09:30

Gifts

2011-08-11T05:41:00.005+09:30

Do you scratch your head at times wondering what to get someone as a gift for a birthday or anniversary or just as a surprise to say, "I love you."?

Why not take a look at this as an option (and I don't mind saying that I love the idea because I received one for my latest birthday).

:-)

Sometimes, The World Sucks

2011-08-10T02:21:00.001+09:30

Or perhaps I should say, sometimes, some people on this world suck.

Beautiful Swamps

2011-08-09T03:26:00.011+09:30

Check out some more, right here...

Janda's Lake

2011-08-08T03:06:00.053+09:30

I forgot to mention in my last post about the wildlife - there was plenty of it and I loved listening to all the different sounds. There were geese quacking on the lake, galahs, plovers and willy wagtails all chattering away along with the frogs and the crickets too. Then there were the sheep and the cows on the other side of the lake (and on top of a small rise). They were making their usual noises. Have you ever wondered what animals are saying to each other? Well, this is what came to mind on hearing the sheep and the cows - moo, baaa, moo...

Cow - "Hey, Agnes, have you seen that weird-looking, two-legged beastie on the other side of the lake?"

Sheep - "Aye, Angus, it be strange alright. You know, the last time I saw a floppy like that was back in the 80s when some guy brought along a portable computer that was almost as big as the cottage.

Cow - "Well, with a bit of judicious pruning, it could probably enter the local fair and do alright in the dried flower arrangements, hehe."

Sheep - "Ooh, you're so naughty, Angus. Hang on, what's it doing? It's looking our way; do you think it heard us? I'm a bit worried now."

Cow - Sssshh! Maybe if we stand still, it will ignore us... Nope, shit, it's still coming, quick, run away, run away!"

Moo, baaa, moo - *clippety clop, clippety clop*

chirp

Nothing in the world beats a vivid imagination and a sense of humour, lol.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-08-06T03:20:00.005+09:30

Janda's Lake

2011-08-05T11:18:00.001+09:30

Did I happen to mention how wonderfully relaxing this place was? I'd have to rate it as the best place I've stayed at simply for the attention to detail. The first thing I liked was the fact that there was a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen, as well as a fully-stocked first aid kit; that's always good in my books. But it was other little things that counted as well. Breakfast provisions and a bottle of local wine were part of the package but the owners also left a jar of home-made cookies on the kitchen bench. The bathroom contained a spare toothbrush and toothpaste in addition to a little basket of hair-ties under the sink. There were even life jackets for the paddle boats moored to the pontoon, and for the families who visit, there was not only a highchair but a baby bath as well. As I said, nice attention to detail I thought. So, that was surprise number 1; the other was a place where I had lunch. From the outside, this place really was nothing to look at but once you got inside, the ambience was great and the staff uber-friendly, which is not un-typical of a small country pub. The meal, though, wow! I had grilled barramundi on a bed of mashed potatoes with just a hint of cheese in it, along with several vegetables that were cooked to perfection. Where was it? It was the Eden Valley Hotel - I'll definitely be going back there for a meal next time I'm in the location.

Boy's Toys

2011-08-04T13:24:00.000+09:30

Have just picked up my new laptop (my first ever) and of course, I've got a bunch of stuff to install, etc, so I'll post later when I've finished playing, lol.

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-08-01T04:25:00.008+09:30

Yes indeed, another year has passed; 51 today and still kicking, lol. I'm working the next few days so I'll catch up with y'all again on Thurs or Fri.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-07-30T03:47:00.000+09:30

Away For The Weekend

2011-07-28T08:41:00.001+09:30

One more night shift to do tonight and then I'm back to my usual 4 days off. And this weekend, I'm heading to Janda's Lake in the Barossa Valley, a location I'm looking forward to very much since it is normally booked 4 - 6 months in advance (shows how long I've been waiting for this one...)

As always, I will take my camera and try for some nice pictures and, as always, I intend to avail myself of some great places to eat in the area. I'll also have a chance to visit my favourite bookshop too.

Grrrr!

2011-07-25T19:16:00.000+09:30

Ssometimes, Management appears difficult for no other reason than the sake of being difficult.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-07-23T02:58:00.003+09:30

It's Not Official

2011-07-22T10:58:00.000+09:30

Yet. It looks like I'll be heading back to Exmouth for another working holiday. Woo-hoo! Will put up details when I know more.

The Thing

2011-07-20T09:19:00.002+09:30

I certainly enjoyed the 1982 version with Kurt Russell - will have to see how this remake looks in October.

Weekend Wackiness

2011-07-16T00:52:00.005+09:30

Exmouth, Part 7

2011-07-14T03:42:00.025+09:30

One thing I never get tired of looking at is a nice sunset/sunrise - here's a couple for ya...
It was early evening on one of my shifts; I was outside having a coffee and a smoke when I saw these clouds. Do you remember watching clouds as a kid and making animal shapes from them? These clouds reminded me of animals running.

Exmouth, Part 6

2011-07-13T08:22:00.001+09:30

I know some people who would rather take take a bus or train than a plane to get from A to B and a handful of others who are just downright scared of flying. That's never been a problem for me although I do have a healthy respect for the idea that if things go wrong in a plane, it can be disastrous. I've been in commercial jets, light aircraft such as Cessnas, a couple of helicoptors (being winched in and out of one as part of training is always a buzz) and of course, several military aircraft. I did a tandem parachute jump once, I've bungee-jumped, tried para-sailing, and even been in a glider. I had never tried a microlight before though...

Awesome.

Exmouth, Part Five

2011-07-12T02:59:00.016+09:30

I grew up at a beach so I decided to forego some of the snorkelling and swimming activities in favour of others; this was one of those activities, the quad-bike tour to see the turtles playing and feeding in the shallows. At $95 for two hours, it would have been worth it for the ride alone.

The dune in the second pic is a lot, lot steeper than the photo indicates, but it was a buzz, that's for sure. The spots in the background are grasshoppers (more on that later).

And of course, one of the main purposes of the trip (besides reliving younger days on a bike) was to see the turtles...

For extra info on the turtles in this region, just click on this link...

Dying Alone

2011-07-11T03:52:00.002+09:30

I found this story rather sad, so much so that I actually cried when I heard it on the news. I still struggle with the fact that we've lost so much of our sense of community that people will die, alone and unnoticed, just like this poor woman.

It just serves as a reminder for people to keep a neighbourly eye on those who live in our area, especially the elderly. If you haven't seen someone for a while, knock on their door and see how they're going.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-07-09T03:14:00.003+09:30

Exmouth, Part Four

2011-07-08T08:07:00.000+09:30

So, you might remember the post I put up about standing on the edge and a poem about finding some heart-shaped rocks? This is Shot Hole Canyon.

There's not much to say except that the view was spectacular and I don't think my photos do it justice.

Exmouth, Part Three

2011-07-07T03:33:00.016+09:30

There's no shortage of wildlife in and around Exmouth - on my first day traveling to work, I almost hit an eagle that was feasting on a roo carcass on the side of the road and a few kilometres further up the road it was the same with a woman who for reasons of her own, was jogging in the dark with dark clothes on, sheesh. I did run over a snake and saw plenty of sheep, cows, emus and grasshoppers (they were in plague proportions at Coral Bay).
Here's a few of the locals for ya...

Exmouth, Part Two

2011-07-06T03:56:00.038+09:30

There's no shortage of places to eat while in Exmouth with everything from the local fish-n-chip shop to the Novotel Resort, and lots of pubs, cafes and restaurants in between. I can honestly say that I can't find a single thing to complain about with regards to meals; no matter where I went, the meals were top quality and being a big tourist destination, I guess they would have to be. Sure, I paid a few dollars more for meals than I might do back here in Adelaide but again, being a tourist destination, I expected that. Besides, my company pays me meal allowances so there was no need to scrimp and live on noodles and rice while I was there. The fish, oh, the fish! I love fish and there was so much variety while I was there - Red and Spangled Emperor, Coral Trout, Potato Cod and Trevally, just to name a few.
So, some of the places I ate at were:

Blue Lips fish-n-chips
Mantaray's Brasserie at the Novotel Resort where I had two lunches, one of garlic and sweet chilli prawns, the other being chicken sautee with a cucumber, spring onion and watermelon salad.
Pinocchio's Restaurant (chicken and bacon ravioli on a bed of cherry tomatoes and pesto)
Potshot Hotel (reef-n-beef meal)
Grace's Tavern (a brilliant vegetarian curry (twice, lol))
Brumby's Bakery (good cappucino and apple scrolls)
Fin's Cafe at Coral Bay
Golden Orchid

A well-fed man is a happy man, so they say, and I came away from Exmouth very happy indeed, lol.

Exmouth, Part One

2011-07-05T09:53:00.000+09:30

So, I thought I'd do this in parts and I'll start off with my accommodation while there - we stayed at the Ningaloo Caravan Park which gave us a fairly central location to everything in town.

It was basic but it was clean and comfortable and at the end of the day, all I need is a hot shower and a comfy bed to fall into.

Did I mention that it rained? I think I did, didn't I? Something about shucking clothes...

Photos

2011-07-03T11:47:00.000+09:30

Have just spent several hours going through some photos of my working holiday and over the next several days, will put up various posts. Some turned out better than others; the really good, clear shots are from my camera and the others are from my mobile phone (when I forgot my camera, doh!)

Hope they're worth waiting for, lol.

I'm Back

2011-07-02T14:05:00.001+09:30

I have a lot of overtime still to do in the next few weeks as well as sorting out some photos to put up with regard to my working holiday - be patient and normal programming will resume as soon as possible, lol. In the meantime, here's a case of poetic justice to make you smile.

See Ya When I'm Looking At Ya

2011-06-14T03:31:00.006+09:30

I will be on a plane shortly to head west for 3 weeks for work (that trip to Exmouth, remember). While I can't take photos of the work environment, I'll certainly take some on my days off, depending on the activities I'm engaged in (swimming with the whale sharks, quad-bike riding, etc).

I won't have any internet access while I'm away but I may be able to use my mobile phone to put up a very basic blog post now and then or maybe even leave a comment or two on Facebook.

So, I'll cya somewhere around the 3rd or 4th July - try not to miss me too much, eh? LOL.

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-06-11T03:28:00.004+09:30

This And That

2011-06-09T03:26:00.006+09:30

All things being equal
Hitler hated early

Love (Is Now Definable With Maths)

2011-06-07T03:14:00.005+09:30

May The Farce Be With You

2011-06-06T03:10:00.005+09:30

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-06-04T10:29:00.000+09:30

Recycling Is Good

2011-06-03T11:23:00.000+09:30

How about some old car tyres? What can they be made into? Well, a rather nifty coffee table and chairs, for one thing.

Ask A Physicist

2011-06-01T03:55:00.000+09:30

What would a teaspoonful of neutron star do to you?

Clare Valley

2011-05-30T13:39:00.001+09:30

So, I'm back from another relaxing weekend in the country and even though the weather was forecast to be miserable, it wasn't actually that bad. Base of operations this time was the Lorikeet Lodge at Sevenhill and from there I visited Burra, Mintaro, Jamestown, Gladstone and Crystal Brook, to name a few towns. I ate at several local pubs and restaurants and as always, the tucker was great (I think 7 outta 10 was the lowest score I gave one place). As always, click on the pictures to see them in more detail.

You might remember that last time I was in that area, I couldn't visit the Mintaro Maze because the weather really was atrocious; this time I had more success. Apart from completing the maze itself, you're given a sheet of paper with several things to spot while you're in there..

Out in the countryside, some of the smaller towns have, obviously, smaller fire stations, lol. And the trip to the Burra Copper Mine was interesting too.

There are several parks scattered around where one can play games, relax, have fun (love that tree).

I usually try to get a place with a spa when I'm away (for relaxing my poor, tired, old bones, lol) but if I get a place without a spa, one with a fireplace works just as well. And of course, relaxing by the fire positively demands a nice glass of wine or two. The Dark Side of the Moon from the Clayton winery was a very nice Shiraz, I might add.

And all too soon, it will be back to the grindstone, sigh.

Away

2011-05-27T14:00:00.000+09:30

Heading out this weekend to the Clare Valley region for some R&R even though the weather is not looking too friendly. At least the cottage I'm staying at has a fireplace. Depending on weather I'll try and get out and about to take a few photos otherwise, it's gonna be a book, a bottle of wine, and a blazing fireplace for me, lol.

Have a good weekend all and I'll see ya on Monday.

Bah!

2011-05-27T09:00:00.000+09:30

I see that Blogger is still playing up; I had to jump through a multitude of hoops to get signed in this morning.

This And That

2011-05-25T03:58:00.008+09:30

Useful gadgets for disaster zones.
Prisons - are we going about them the wrong way?
The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination

The Lanyard

2011-05-24T03:55:00.000+09:30

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-05-21T03:30:00.004+09:30

Makes the sandcastles I used to build as a kid look rather lame, lol.

This And That

2011-05-19T03:50:00.001+09:30

Remember the Pacific Gyre? It seems Australia has its own version and it's killing a lot of our birds.
Live long and prosper - a familiar saying for Star Trek fans - the space shuttle crew have a little fun with it.

Nice

2011-05-18T03:42:00.000+09:30

The Yamaha R1 - slightly modified from the factory original.

The UFO House

2011-05-16T03:34:00.002+09:30

I rather like the look of this as a house; it was built in the 70s as a project in Taiwan but sadly, it never got off the ground (pardon the pun).

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-05-14T08:07:00.001+09:30

Well Said, Sir

2011-05-12T08:50:00.000+09:30

While I don't believe in deities, it's nice to hear someone with a religious background (and in a position within the Government) argue FOR same-sex marriage.

Looks Like

2011-05-10T13:39:00.000+09:30

Lots of overtime coming up as well as a stint interstate for work - 4 weeks away in 2 lots of 2 weeks at a time over the next few months. I'll be going to Exmouth in Western Australia (scroll on the map to see where it is or click the link at left of the map page to see it closer up...)

Saturday/Sunday Sepia

2011-05-07T11:26:00.000+09:30

Games

2011-05-04T10:12:00.001+09:30

I play games to relax and while I enjoy a good shoot-em-up, I usually prefer games that challenge me mentally. To that end, I have kept several games over the years to play again and again, most notably the Myst series; loved the puzzles and challenges in those. Yesterday I bought Portal 2 - I played the original a few years back and loved it for its innovative style so I couldn't wait for part 2 to come out; it's been along time coming. I played for an hour this morning and already even some of the early levels require some thinking. It's available on Playstation and PC so if you like games that challenge your mind, I can highly recommend it. Not only that, it's great for the kids too, especially with the two-person cooperative mode where you play two robots trying to get through all the challenges. Most games are usually around the 70-80 dollar mark when they're first released but this one, at $49.99 is a bargain. Click on this link to go to the Portal website and have a look at some of the trailers for the differing challenges; I think you'll like it. If the price seems a bit much for some, I'd recommend a lay-by (lay-away) for a birthday or Christmas gift. I give it a 9.5 outta 10.

My Last Trip

2011-05-03T08:55:00.001+09:30

My last little R&R session was a little harder to enjoy than others, mainly because I was suffering from a sinus infection at the time, and I had a few other minor aches and pains associated with that. As a consequence, I didn't venture out as much as I normally do, instead preferring to spend no small amount of time in a steaming hot spa feeling those aches and pains drain away. I also did a fair amount of relaxed reading under a gum tree since the weather was so nice. But I did promise some photos, didn't I? Well, there aren't many but here they are anyway.

The first one is me trying to be artistic, taking a shot of a pond fountain through the trunk of a tree - I'm never gonna be as good as BB but I do try, lol. The second one is of the entrance to the wine tasting cellar - I just loved that vine (i think it's wisteria).

The next two are of the lion statues that 'guard' the entrance to the winery itself (that's McLarenvale Winery, btw) and of an old truck in town that was being used to advertise meals and entertainment for one of the local pubs.

The last two are of Aldinga Beach where I stopped on my way home - I had a beautiful meal at the Saltbush Bistro on the esplanade there, and while I eat fish a few times a week, this meal of kingfish on a bed of spinach leaves and polenta was just superb.

All in all, it was another enjoyable trip, illness notwithstanding.

For Shame

2011-05-02T03:33:00.004+09:30

I have a lot of trouble getting my mind around the fact that a privileged white man can still, in this day and age, (publicly) relegate a black person to something 'less than' (and to even state that he is proud of doing so), even when that black person is the President of the United States. Shame on you, Trump, you racist, belittling husk of a man. The video below sums it up pretty well, I think.