01 March, 2011

I've been BUSTED!!

Seems I was 'busted'... Here I am (back in white shirt) at the Wings over Illawarra airshow, when I was 'caught' taking a joyride (trying to get an overview)! Thing is though, I didn't even know that Kurt (photo owner...) was there until I had posted some pics of the day... FREAKY! AND, to make it worse, last night I got an SMS to say I was BUSTED!!!

Today was a real 'blah' day, didn't achieve a lot nor did I really strive to archive anything in particular! The car issue got worse today, with a number 4 cylinder blown... BUT, at least they are not charging for the previous work that they had done in yesterdays post... So J, although REALLY upset/stressed, will have his Maz back Friday. Also, last night after a 'Mango Smoothie (which NEVER eventuated, I spoke with M who was very stressed with a lot of things, Uni being one of them. And after a brief chat tonight, M seems to be a little less stressed as well...!

But tonight, I went out to visit mum, and we ended up going over to my sisters place where C was getting ready for Cadets. He's been army MAD for as many years as I can remember, and today was his first time in uniform...

Cadet CMS

Hang around for a 'Wordless Wednesday' tomorrow as well!

Hoo roo for now...

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Plane right STRESSED

Its been a little while, but its been more than a little frantic... My resolution for this distinct lack of blogging is to make SURE I blog daily from here on in, starting March 1 (now)!

So, whats been happening I hear you ask... Well...a mate J and I picked up our new camera lenses, Sigma APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM (1 x Nikon and 1 x Canon). We went straight out to use them as well, and we are BOTH happy as pig(s) in mud! They really are very good! They were listed at $2,199RRP, but I managed to secure them at $1,650 each. BUT, as we are about to go to Auckland NZ, we can claim back to GST which is a further $165 saving! So they end up being a VERY good price!

Iron Maiden G-STRX
Iron Maiden G-STRX

We also headed up to the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) Base up at Williamtown, which is also a commercial airport! There was joint AU and US exercises happening, so a lot of fighter jets which was moving WAY to fast for me, (I must be getting old)! There was also a couple of commercial movements, but being a regional airport, they were very few and far between! But it was a good day. J and I picked up another mate, K, who had a car accident the other day and has written off his car. He ran into the back of a semi trailer at 95klm/hr after being blinded by an illuminated speed sign! Both the truck, passersby and the Police all agreed it was not his fault... There wasn’t much left of his car, he was feeling very low, so I extended the invitation to come up with us and get away from it all... He really appreciated the invite, and to get away from his troubles!

We met up with N whilst up at Williamtown, and he came back down with us as we were going to the Wings over the Illawarra Airshow on the Sunday. We went to La Mono again for dinner (M and I are on a La Mono free week at the moment) which was also fun!

Saturday, I reorganised the living areas, putting the cane lounge back outside and the dining table back into the front room, and bringing the leather lounge from the front room back into the living area. It is a lot bigger now out there, and I like it better as it’s not as crowded with furniture! After this was all done, we then headed over to Cronulla for breakfast. I had not been over there since last going with L, so it had been a while! Breakfast was good, and after breakfast I bumped into my cousin S, who only lives one block back from the main street!!! We then left to meet up with J, who had been mowing lawns and helping is Nan in the morning, at the airport for a little more spotting for the afternoon peak hour of heavies departing for overseas!

VOZ VH-VPH
RX VH-ZLO
QF VH-TQY

Sunday was a very early start as we had to meet up with J and his dad for the drive down to Wollongong for the airshow. There was a small ‘glitch’ in the day as when we went to leave, his car wouldn’t start, but after we ‘clutch started’ it, we were off. The airshow was great, a lot of older heritage type planes, but a good all round mix. Avalon in Melbourne has a show this coming weekend which is more commercial stuff, but this was a good show! I have loaded up a lot of pics to both Flickr and to Facebook from the day. I also got a trip up in a helicopter, which gave me a good overview of the airport (there was a NOTAM that stopped us going straight over unfortunately). When it came to coming back home, all of the troubles started... J’s car wouldn’t start, another clutch start, but when it fired, there was a bit of smoke, a rattle from the engine, but it seemed to be going and the rattle cleared. There was also a couple of gremlins in it as well, electric windows didn’t want to work, and as we drove up, it started to get other things as well; ran roughly, low power... I was a little worried, and as we were driving, I was in the back seat searching on Google on my phone for issues. It is in at the dealer today (it is only a couple of years old, 80,000klm), and under warranty, so they were having a look at it. They have identified a battery problem, changed the spark plugs and have flushed the injectors and it should be ready tomorrow... They are also charging an exorbitant amount for it (being a dealer NOT a normal mechanic), and he's a little stressed about it... All will be OK tomorrow J, the little blue Maz will be ready!

RAAF DC3
RAAF Hercules
RAAF Hercules

More photos in the slide show below...

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Talking about stress, I am also a little stressed by another special friend... She has a lot on her plate at the moment, Uni, Work Sporting etc... In fact, I am not long home after catching up and having a chat... ALL you have to worry about is the fact that you mean a lot to me, and that if there's anything, AND I MEAN ANYTHING, then let me know and I will help... OK!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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10 February, 2011

What does a week of 35c PLUS days in a row do??

Have a look at some of these lawn pics... Plus, there is a couple of flowers at the bottom!

Rose garden Wedding Lawn Panorama
Turf Plots Conservatorium of Music (Background)
Land Bridge
Ginger
Ginger Con

Hoo roo for now...

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04 February, 2011

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

Mind set: - confused!

Sort of, but not really! In a day where the realisation of TC Yasi was becoming apparent, I had spent the day seeking information, preparing information, and giving out information! And somewhere in amongst all of that, I had some really great company around me (which was fantastic) and ate some really great food (which was also fantastic)!

It all started early, VERY early! I had not been sleeping terribly crash hot, not a good comparison since we've been having daily temps for a week now above 38c! In fact, on Tuesday it hit 41.7 in the early evening, but at 1.20am (Wednesday) it was still a stifling 32.9c! So thus, my lack of sleep...

Overnight Temps

ANYWAY, I had gotten to work and I was working on an image that just did NOT want to play... So I got it to its best and then went and got a coffee, I so needed a coffee!

Heading towards lunch, I was beginning to do a report needed for work and I got SO hungry, so I went over to Martin Place with S, as she was a little 'stressed' to say the least! I ordered the Scotch Fillet Steak Sandwich with an Orange and Passionfruit juice!

Orange & Passionfruit Juice
Steak Sandwich Lunch

After lunch, J had been looking at getting a lens, Sigma APO 50-500mm 50-500 F/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM, and after a bit of searching, I had found a couple locally as a lot on eBay were Hong Kong based. On my way home, I stopped in a shop in Drummoyne where he didn't have THAT lens, but more so the 150-500 instead! AND, as he's right under the flight path, would make a great spot to have a play with it and test it out before buying it! And I am now going to get one as well (my b'day present), as my 80-400 lens, which I've had for nearly 2 years now, I only got to 'learn on' before going out and spending up big! We are now in the midst of negotiating on a price, as depending on where they get purchased from, rounds out at c. $3,000!

Sigma APO 50-500mm 50-500 F/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM

And last night, after a brief chat with M on the way home, we decided to meet up at La Mono for some 'wog food', which is a fun way of saying Lebanese! We had some chicken, shish, bread and TWO bowls of Garlic Dip, YUMM!!! Thanks guys, both M&J for having dinner, I had a great night and I hope that you both did as well! And thanks for the great company...

La Mono Feast

This is why I am content at the moment, I have some great friends and associates around lately, to which I am grateful for!

Hoo roo for now...

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03 February, 2011

Thursday Thirteen No. 13: Yasi

Tropical Cyclone YASI hitting the Far North Queensland coastline... Stay safe!

  1. Premier Anna Bligh, simply amazing with all of the natural disasters you've had to face so far this year...
    QLD Premier Anna Bligh & PM Julia Gillard
  2. 7.31am A baby has girl has been born in a Cairns evacuation centre. She arrived at 6.09am (AEST) after her mother Akiko Pruss went into labour three hours ago in the first aid room of Redlynch State College. Mrs Pruss has made it clear her second child will not be called Yasi.
  3. Tropical Cyclone Yasi approaching the Queensland Coast...
    TC Yasi
  4. "It is just a scene of mass devastation. (Cyclone) Larry was a boy compared to this." Larry was Australia's most recent Cyclone, the largest since Tracy hit Darwin.
  5. TC Yasi overlaying the United States to show just how BIG it is...
    TC Yasi (overlay to compare size to USA)
  6. "It is just a scene of mass devastation. (Cyclone) Larry was a boy compared to this."
  7. Satellite map of TC Yasi...
    Satellite map yasi 12-30am QLD time
  8. The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of the cyclone will take up to 4 hours to pass.
  9. Showing strength in the line of TC Yasi
    Good luck North Queensland Yasi
  10. DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 km/h between Cape Tribulation and Ayr will spread inland overnight.
  11. Shopping Center becomes a 'make-shift' safe house for the local communities
    Earlville shopping centre
  12. Reports are coming in that all banana crops have been lost and over $505 million worth of sugar cane is also gone.
  13. Banana crops ruined...
    Ruined Bananas

    Hoo roo for now...

    Source of images and selected text: - News.com.au

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    02 February, 2011

    WW N0. 43 - Trains

    Taken on a recent heritage train trip to Bomaderry (Nowra)

    CPH 1 & 7 Central Berry
    Berry Point Handles
    Berry Points
    New & Old

    Hoo roo for now...

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    01 February, 2011

    House is 'coming along' slowly...

    OK, so I know I've been slack lately with blogging, but I HAVE been a tad busy!

    You will remember, that the house has had some major work done, (repoint and re tuckpointed on the facade). Here is a little more of a 'tease' as I want to get ALL of the painting done, and then do a big reveal! This will (knowing my upcoming trips) most likely be either my birthday in March OR the end of March at the latest!

    House OLD 'v' NEW colours

    I've also been busy with a trip to Nowra on the South Coast on an old CPH Railmotor, Brisbane for a day of spotting with J and met up with M, 20/20 Cricket games (NSW v Tasmania & NSW v QLD) with B & J (and Co...) as well just for good measure!

    Nowra on a CPH Railmotor

    The day started early, having to be at Central Station 8am. The old Railmotors, built in 1923, were restored beautifully and faithfully, except for the 'long drop' toilets are now no longer dispensing to the tracks below, as opposed to being enviro friendly today! There was a fair amount of 'rocking and rolling' as we had a top speed of 80klm. It was also rather noisy, as there wasn't much in the way of insulation for sound, but it was a great noise! The trip took us out from Central to Waterfall, down the escarpment via Helensburgh to Thirroul and through Wollongong. We briefly stopped at Bombo Beach just before Kiama and then onto Bomaderry (Nowra) where we had lunch at the local RSL Club. Thanks S&L for including me on this day trip, I had a ball!
    Tickets
    CPH 1 & 7 Central Berry
    Drivers
    Rounding for Bombo

    Trip to Brisbane for some spotting

    I spent Australia day with a mate, J, and his dad, D up in Brisbane. We also teamed up with N who flew in from Newcastle and some local spotters up there as well, M works with J but at the Brisbane airport! We did some spotting, but alas, these photos are still on laptop, so I will need to process and upload as soon as I can. The day will get a post in its entirety, as I had a great day, as I think we all did! Thanks J for the trip, I owe you one!! :)

    20/20 Big Bash Cricket

    Now I know that some people just do NOT understand the laws of cricket, and I am not about to tell you how its played. It is easier to watch a game and see it, rather than be confused as to its play. Having said that, this version, 20/20, is a recent incarnation of the game, and these two games are the Domestic version of it! Both games, I went with J & D (and co...), B &R and M. We had dinner up in the Members Gold Dinning Room, and then sat in the Members seating area which has a particularly good vantage point! On the NSW v TAS game, I did not take my camera, but I took it to the NSW v ACT ladies match and following them was the NSW v QLD game. There was a little bit of entertainment between games, and being an old curator myself, I watched the pitch repairs and rolling! It was, both nights, a great outing, and I can't wait to go again! Thanks to all involved!!
    ACT v NSW Womens
    ACT v NSW Women's
    Pitch Maintenance
    NSW v QLD Men Usman bowled
    Pitch Maintenance
    What a way to watch cricket
    ANZ Stadium (4 pic panorama)

    Hoo roo for now...

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