What a rip-off (not to mention, BAD service!)!!!!

Several weeks ago, I discovered that my air-conditioner wasn't working... It was the exact problem that happened when under warranty, the 'mother board' has gone!

So, I called Frost for a repair guy to come out, and was told of the charges... In essence, a call out fee then in 15 minute blocks... He came and the clock was on, I told him what the problem was and told him what needed to be checked... Anyway he looked around here, and there... And then, just into the second 15 minute block, he THEN looked at the motherboard, and then concluded that yes, I was right, and that it was gone... He then went on to say that it would be cheaper to simply get a new unit, and suggested brands that they stock...

I listened to what he had to say, but still requested a quote on a repair...

A few weeks later, having not heard a word, I called them up asking as to the status. I was tol that, "we have emailed and left messages with the supplier, and that they are not replying... But, we can sell you a new one, but would need to visit and quote accordingly, but I'd be looking at $3,800"! I replied back by saying, "ok, the loungroom faces west, there's a 4m verandah that stops sun hitting back wall. All walls are insulated and as is the roof space. It is also a 40m2 area, and the current unit is a 7040/7700 heating/cooling BTU' But he still wanted to come out and quote. Anyway, after a couple more days, I called DeLonghi, I obtained a part number and a supplier nearby where I could purchase one for $325, which I forwarded to them in an email...

The following day, I got an emailed quote to repair, $1,100! They outlined that the part quoted needed additional parts, and that, with labour, totaled out at the $1,100!

So, after helping my neighbour cut down my Mulberry Tree (will post about that seperately), I proceeded to take out the part, drive to Wetherill Park (c. 10 minutes), collect the new one, drive back home and install it... All up, an HOUR of my time (including driving) and my Air-conditioner is working again!!!

Old 'Motherboard' unit

New 'Motherboard' unit wrapped in plastic

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 137 Something You've Made

Whilst not really something we made, but we did build the veranda...

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge Day 131 Something That Makes You Happy

Although, I WISHED it was not her in the Mondo Grass in the Garden...

Bronty in the Mondo Grass

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 130 Kitchen

Nothing fancy, its well laid out and easy to get things done in... And yet, regardless of distance, MB in NH has a very similar kitchen as well, almost the SAME cupboards!!!

Kitchen

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 106 Something You Don't Like

Its widely known of my dislike for vegetables, and I have now come to eat a few more recently, but there are still so many that I have a strong distain for... But here is a pic of the vege patch from a couple of years back showing some wonderful tomatoes growing...

Vege Patch

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 94 Tiny

I had a little difficulty in deciding what to do for this one... I could've done Bronty as a puppy, and even then, she wasn't that 'tiny'... So I went in search of what was in my flickr account, and I got zero hits for 'Tiny'! Hmmm, I puzzled for a little bit, and then I thought, 'what about one of my macro shots' and this is what I got in return. It is a Crocus which is in the back garden, and its tiny stamens are of bright yellow.

Crocus

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 92 Colour

I Often get asked as to whats my favourite colour... And, it has nothing to do with my chosen working field, but as a greenkeeper and Turf Researcher, I would have to say of course it is green!

Why is that I hear you ask?? Well, to me, its such a pleasing colour, its not 'harsh' as some of the reds, oranges and yellows, its not as 'cold' as some of the blues around either. Yet green, seems relaxing, cool and simply pleasant... And, in this photo of the fierce and mean Jasmine, aren't you becoming relaxed seeing the green background of my lawn? I am...

Jasmine Back Lawn

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 81 Kitchen Sink

When we moved from Guildford, we literally packed everything, well maybe not everything, but it seemed as though it was everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink!! But, alas, that had to stay as it was needed by the new residents...

Moving Fowler

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 79 Before/After

We purchased our house back in 2005, and moved then moved into it in the June. This is what it looked like out on the back veranda...

back

One of the first things to be done, was L and her dad repaired some of the broken glass in the windows, which was done in the middle of winter when I was overseas I might add! Then it was a matter of a quick lick of paint, as seen in this picture.

House rear AFTER

Now, after nearly 10 years, this is how the back veranda looks, with some cast iron columns, cedar fluted posts and a bit of furniture (currently inside whilst Bronty is a puppy)

Back Verandah Dinning Lounge

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 77 A Corner of your Home

This phot, is quite literally, a corner of the house! It is the join from where the tuckpointing, facade, meets the repoint, side, of the house. I had this redone in January 2011, and I am so happy with how it turned out! It not only made it look better, but it also corrected any cracks that may have been there!

Repoint Tuckpoint

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 55 Green

Ok, this was a bit of a 'no brainer' for me, cause what do I like thats green...? Lawns and Gardens!! So I went out after mowing the lawns, and I shot some of my front lawn (macro style) which has a predominant Buffalo (Stenotaphrum secondatum) coverage. There is a bit of Couch and Kikuyu as well :( !

Stenotaphrum secondatum (Buffalo)

Stenotaphrum secondatum (Buffalo) Seed Head

I also ventured into the side garden where the Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucas) is going slightly rampant - so it may need removal ALL together!!

Erigeron glaucus (Seaside Daisy)

And in the front bed, where the Roses are, I spotted this little fella budding up...

Rose Bud

Hoo roo for now...

------

photo a Day Challenge - Day 23 Something Old

Ok, this is going to be a little series of photos, but it all is something old, just a story about its renewal!!

You see, we have an old house. It was built in 1927. We purchased it though in 2005, and quickly removed the Liquidamber out the front. They are on Council's list of 'undesirable' trees!

Front Tree

Here in the second shot, you will see how the Frangipani has grown, the brickwork has been repointed AND tuck pointed (L would love it...). It is a similar angle to the shot above, although sans Liquidamber!

Garage Bay Window

And this last shot, taken on Saturday when I pulled out ALL stops to get gardens done to go out on Sunday. Lawns mowed looks good, right??

Something Old

Hoo roo for now...

------

Photo a Day Challenge - Day 7 Favourite

Favourite, whats my favourite?? Well thats a 'how longs a piece of string' kind of question, but there is a lot of things I call 'favourite'! But, one of my MOST favourite things would be a nice, mown yard!

Backyard

This may seem a bit weird, obscene, maybe just freaky, but after lawns have been mowed is a sense of completion and you can sit back and enjoy... Its even better if there a shower of rain just after as well, but alas it was not to be with brilliant sunshine for the remainder of the day!

Hoo roo for now...

------

Award Judging 2011 and something technical!

Today, apart from being on a flex day, I sat on the judging panel for L's Award. This year, the nominee's were all very good, and the panel were all fairly consistent so it made it a pleasant experience to 'make the call'!

I also, finally, managed to clear everything I put onto my WD networked hard-drive, so as I can reformat it so as my MacBook can see it. BUT, as soon as I plugged it into the Mac, there it was, folders sitting there and even a file I left there as a test... SO now, I need to move everything BACK onto the networked hard-drive and enjoy it all, all over again!! I will also be getting an 'Airport Express' which will extend my wireless network at home, it will also have my sound system connected to it so I can play music from any of my PC's to it, and I will also be able to stream movies as well to the TV! This is getting all way to technical at home now, as I can move shows from TiVo to a PC, watch movies from Internet anywhere in the house, stream music from any PC and even the music L stored on the x-box just before she died!!! I won't know what to do with it all once its all set up!!!

Hoo roo for now...

------

A day of paint 'n' bake!

My day started today with a little trip, to Baiada Chickens to get some supplies for my birthday lunch. I did, however, stop along the way to have a coffee with a mate! I still like going to Baiada, its good fresh chickens that are very VERY cheap!

After getting my chicken, then went home to mow the lawns before it got to hot and also before it (as forecasted) rained! Alas, the later never really happened, and by he end of it all, I was really hot and sweaty, so I showered and cooled down!

I then got stuck into painting, I had the area in the veranda to do, balustrade, posts lintels and window/door frames! I got ALL of these done, however whilst painting the pressed metal roofing, which seemed to take forever, I did not have the time to do all of the remaining windows... Another day!

This evening saw me heading down to Woolworths, local grocery store, where I got some more bits and pieces for tomorrow party; cheeses, and some fruit for a slice I was to make. I also washed the Murano Glass that was a little dusty after the point work! I even managed to get some dinner (and a beer) at around 8.30-9pm!

Now, the slice is a borrowed recipe, but here it is... I used fresh fruit, Pineapple, Banana & Blueberries, and tomorrow just prior to serving it, I will include the first of the Passionfruits from this years crop!

Make a crust base.

• Butter Pound Cake mix (DON'T MIX)
• 1 cup of coconut
• 125grms butter

Combine the ingredients, and then press into a pan 'forking' over the base. Bake in oven for 20 mins at 160c

Filling

• Thin sliced Pineapple, thin sliced Banana 1/2 tub Blueberries
• Small tub of Sour Cream
• 2 Eggs
• Cinnamon Sugar

Layer fruit, randomly for colour distribution. Beat two eggs until just combined, and then combine into sour cream. Then pour the mixture OVER the fruit, and sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar over top and bake for 20-30 mins at 180c.

Slice Base

Fruit for Slice

Fruit Slice almost ready

Finished Fruit Slice

I'll let you know tomorrow how it turned out!

Hoo roo for now...

------

Work programs... Starting and finishing!

This week, sees the starting of a major works program at home, whilst it bring the finish of another. It had been a long time coming for me, and finally, a yard upgrade that is finished for a friend!

On Monday, the re-pointing and tuck-pointing of the house started. I first got a quote done for this way back in Feb/March of 2009. It was an on again off again due to other commitments. However, in November, I committed to it and I got the call from the tradesman saying he was going to start! So, on Monday, he took to the mortar lines with an angle grinder and ground out about 10-155mm or so of the old lime mortar. It was going to be a two day job, but it was done in the day (soft mortar) but he did finish at around 7.30pm!

Tuesday, the garage side wall was re-pointed in an off white mortar. This took the day, and Wednesday and Thursday, was the area along the other side of the house along the second bedroom in the same off white, as a decision was to be made if I was to have from the facade to the entrance door, tuck-pointed. You see, most early Californian Bungalows have a 'front door' but in my case, it is a door that is to the side of the house. So the facade (Garage, bay window and veranda around the corner) was of a slightly different brick, a face brick, with matching common bricks elsewhere. This was very typical of the period (1927) of the home. BUT, I am not sure about returning it to a tuck-point, and having a very distinct change where the entrance door is. The areas that are getting tuck-pointed, has a brown mortar instead of the off white, but then gets taped up and a very fine white line is put on. It is very much a dieing art and trade! Anyway, here are the pics I quickly grabbed the other day:

Garage Side

Facade pre tuck-point

Facade pre tuck-point Bay Window

Also, before Christmas, I helped plan and coordinate a friends backyard makeover. He did the bulk of the design, I just helped it come to fruition! It was fun spending HIS money for once !!! lol Anyway, his spa was installed prior to Christmas and yesterday, the shade structure was installed. So his makeover is now finished! He is SO happy with it, me too just quietly, and the yard is now very much a usable space for entertaining (not to mention, having a spa as well)! He's having family down on Wednesday, they don't know its been done, and he is very excited! Here are some pics of his place:

Frank's Spa

Frank's Spa

Frank's Spa & Sundeck

Hoo roo for now...

------

Wordless Wednesday No. 40 Sydney Art

BIKES bike

Shakespeare's Place Statues

Shakespeare's Place Statues

Australian Native Flowers RBG

ALL of the photos above were taken with my HTC Hero Mobile phone!

---

Now, last night (as part of my 'change the colour/look of the house') I thought I might paint the front door... This mind you, was at 9pm! It also needed two coats, so I wiped it down to remove any dust, and as it didn't need any sanding down, I took of the doors hardware and got to painting. It didn't really take all that long, the longest part was 'cutting in' around the windows within it! Tonight, when I eventually get home, I will do the door frame in a blue and eventually the screen will be removed and I will do the screen door and the side screen. But that is a much more tedious job! I will put up a pic of the 'new door' when it is finished, most likely, Friday!

Hoo roo for now...

------