Friday Fill-Ins

It's Friday Fill-Ins time, so here we go again...

1. Sunshine, and hopefully summer, is coming soon, and  I am so looking forward to it... I love the warmth of summer.
2. Kyle and Jackie O talking on the radio, morning radio is good, and it sets my mood for the day. They were talking about visiting a school, and talking to the kids in kindergarten, when one of the kids said, "I want to be a builder' is the last thing I overheard someone say.
3. I found a recipe for "Beer Can Chicken", where you put a whole bird, and push it onto a can of beer through its, well... you know, right?, and it really tasted good!
4. I'm looking forward to so many things, but more importantly, a rest over this weekend... Perhaps, other than gardening, a day in front of the TV watching movies.
5. Right now I am somewhere I'd rather not be, both physically and mentally! I am at work, shhh, but my head hurts. Maybe a ride this afternoon to clear my head.
6. Bronty makes me smile! She is stupid at times, yet her unconditional love and happiness when I get home, just makes it all better. 
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to fish 'n' chips for dinner, tomorrow my plans include mowing the lawns, throwing out a lot of chook manure out and watered in and Sunday, I want to do NOTHING at all and watch lots of TV! Although, Wisteria Gardens is open, so I may end up down there as it is a beautiful garden, with lots of Spring flowers! 

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday 59 - Sydney Olympic Cauldron for the 2012 Paralympics

Hoo roo for now...

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Friday Fill-Ins

Something new, so why not!

1. I am really REALLY tired today, not necessarily 'physically' tired as I have been sleeping well, more 'mentally' tired looking for these gates.
2. It seems, that now its spring, its time to start renovating the lawn. But first, I need to get me a new mower as the old one 'blew up' last weekend!
3. Bronty really makes me laugh at times, especially when she knows that it may be 'time' to go out, but 'acts' asleep or disinterested!!
4. Did you know that birds often hit planes up in the air, and that more than 3 million people fly EVERY day?
5. I looked more closely and I saw that its often the little things that matter the most.
6. I'm so glad that, in a few hours, I will be heading home, well not straight home as I am going to the next-sister-down (in-law) home for dinner tonight with my nephews! 
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with the family, tomorrow my plans include getting the lawns cut, fertilised and watered in and Sunday, I want to be a great day, surprise filled and lots of fun!

Clivia's are out at the moment, and this is one outside my office (all I had was my iphone sorry)

Hoo roo for now... ------

Thursday Thirteen # 15 - Heritage Research

It has been a while since I have done one of these, but here goes...

I am doing a project at work, that has asked what happened to a set of gates, yes GATES, that were removed from one of the entrances. The Sandstone piers are still in place, well the two outer main piers, and beside them, the two pedestrian gate piers are, where as the center pier was removed (suggested to allow vehicular traffic with cars being wider than a horse and cart)

1. Gateway first went in (from documentation I have found) in the mid to late 1800, c. 1834 an initial letter and believed to have been completed by 1879. Cost, approx, was 1,279 pounds!
2. There were many gateways into work, however, these were part of a much wider, now removed, sandstone wall which was built to protect the then Governor's wife.
3. Some of the gates, have had multiple locations around the site, with the advent of new motorways bisecting the site.
4. The lower lodge, whilst now removed, was a charming little cottage, but the lodge aside of these gates, is a quaint sandstone cottage!
5. Whilst originally thought the gates were removed in 1930, I have discovered that they were asked to be removed in 1925, as the police (in particular) were not in favour of the 'unsavoury' behaviour in the parklands behind the gates (which are to be remained open).
6. A 'possible' theory was that these cast iron gates were most likely melted down to make munitions, although I am yet to find any evidence of this...
7. Whilst impressive, if still installed (even as a token gesture), I am not sure if it would cause more issues than increasing the sense of 'arrival' into work.
8.  A website that I am using, Trove, is fantastic, but, our library has a great source of reports, books and files (including photos and artworks) I still have a lot of reading to do.
9. I also have a contact who sits on a committee I am on, who is an unbelievable source of information... I am so grateful for the knowledge held!
10. I think I am about at the point, to start compiling the information, into a draft report, and send it on its way, with an updated version to come soon - hopefully, I can get this done by tomorrow!
11. Today, I shall head over to one of the two libraries and State Records to look through some of the files they have...
12. Looking forward to lunch over in the city today - not sure where yet, but something nice...
13. Entrance to The Domain with three unidentified people and view of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in background, Sydney.
     Withycombe, Robert Morse, 1868-1936. Entrance to The Domain with three unidentified people and view of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in background, Sydney [picture] [189-] 1 negative : glass Part of Robert Morse Withycombe collection [picture] 1882-1910

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday 58 - Rally Time

Hoo roo for now...

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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...

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Wordless Wednesday 57 - Its (nearly) Spring!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Tuesday...

Today is just a boring day at work, really, it is!!!

You see, this is my boring view, looking out of my office, bad isn't it!!! :p

In all seriousness, its a busy day today, and I am only now just having lunch! I am in the middle of a briefing note, and by the time I have it finished, I will be looking forward to getting into the city later tonight! It should be a fun night, or at least, I hope so!!

For morning tea, I normally have a toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich, but today, I had the chipolata and scrambled egg wrap which was very tasty...

Hoo roo for now...

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The weekend that was...

It was a weekend of highs and lows, and in the end, a bit of a blurr actually... It all started friday, which was a simply stunning day weather wise, and in the late afternoon, there was a definate 'spring feel' about it.

Saturday, I was up semi early apart from a neighbourly issue, but that's an aside... The main thing for the day was to get to the SCG and to watch the Swans AFL game. This was to be a high, but alas, in an absolute cracker of a game, it was a last minute loss against Hawthorne. For weeks, I had been looking at getting a guernsey, and tonight I was in luck, as they were having a sale and it was reduced from $90 to $65, yay me!!

Swans Sale

Cheers...

SCG with Grandstand removed

Being part of a group of people and talking and catching up, made it difficult (not to mention the lack of suitable service at the game when a concentration of people demand service) I was quickly running out of phone power. I was delivering score updates to many people at the end of each quarter. It was a real 'nailbiter' of a game! Sitting in the cool, even with suitable clothing, gave me an almighty back ache, so I was glad to get home, heat-pack, and lie flat...

Sunday was another nice warm sunny day, and it was off to catch-up with some friends. Whilst the kids went into the play areas, we sat and chatted and soon we had some lunch. I had a hotdog and wedges... Soon enough, it was time to go, and I was heading to ANZ Stadium for the footy, different code this time - NRL.

However, along the way, increasingly, a headache was gaining momentum, and by the time I got to Silverwater Rd, I turned around and headed home... Soon after, I was being (physically) sick, and ended up sleeping off most of the afternoon...

MM Wedges and Hotdog

So, that was, the weekend that was...

By the time I got back to the car at Central Station

Hoo roo for now...

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Its Spring!!! (with these temps anyway!!)

You'd almost be forgiven if you were to think it was spring already... Afterall, Wednesday it was 26 degrees, yesterday almost 30 (29.4) with the 'normal' (summer) thunderstorm! And today, which is just glorious by the way, is just another day in paradise...

Red White and Green Spring Walk

Parrot Tulip Spring Walk

I hope this weather continues, its a weekend of footy, doing the lawns at home and a bit of a tidy up as well, but I am hoping to get a ride on the bike in as well...

Hoo roo for now...

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