Tuesday, August 31, 2010
My new favourite shop
I was at my new favourite shop yesterday and took this photograph. I think I will be standing in front of a lot more of these in the future. The good news is that the car wheel arch is so shiny I could do my hair in it! Then again, not so sure why I would want to comb my hair...
Monday, August 23, 2010
Ah, the Weekend!
Weekends are the manna of the week; time for a bit of nothing, lazy thinking, restful relaxing, and occasionally a little fun! Instead of grasping this last weekend for all that it could have been; I chose instead to fill it with back breaking work, sawdust, and the prospect of a new radio in the beast.
My misspent youth had included many hours in mates’ cars installing their radios. This weekend I figured, rather incorrectly, that sound in the beast would not be too much of a stretch. Besides, I had company; the spray painter was to spend the day touching up a number of issues.
Bring on the day!
The beast having been designed in the fifties; was a little sparse in thinking with regard to modern heavy rectangular radio’s. It used to be two knobs and a little display which fitted beautifully in the dash. My first problem was to find anywhere to attach a new radio in the acres of open air under the dash. Being a little loath to drill an unsightly hole through it; required me to dig a little deeper for the solution. The cubby hole was really the only space which could be used, which of course was made of cardboard!
A purpose built wooden box that fitted snugly around the radio, slid into the cubby hole, looked awesome, and somehow bolted onto the cubby hole frame seemed to be the answer. Of course, how I would get it bolted on anywhere else was a mystery, not to mention avoiding the great arcs described by the giant mechanical arms of the windscreen wipers.
With this very simple idea in mind, I got busy cutting the wood with my table saw at an angle. I managed to minimise my cuts and used the least possible amount of wood. And then threw it all away as I discovered my little problem with the angled table saw. Take two saw me fixing the angle problem and then locking down a guide plank to ensure that every cut was straight and perfect. Except that the guide plank was skew.
I almost went on strike. Haphazardly sawn planks of fine wood and a heap of wonderfully aromatic sawdust was all I had to show for my labour.
With the day almost over, I began again. Filled with the wisdom born of failure, I measured, checked, cut and re-checked every piece. They fitted perfectly, much to my surprise.
Sunday saw me dismantling my ignition which took ages to fix, and then everything started to go smoothly. After holding a number of intense yoga positions for a couple of hours under my dash, sound streamed sweetly out of my speakers.
To celebrate my wife and I helped the kids clean their rooms!
My misspent youth had included many hours in mates’ cars installing their radios. This weekend I figured, rather incorrectly, that sound in the beast would not be too much of a stretch. Besides, I had company; the spray painter was to spend the day touching up a number of issues.
Bring on the day!
The beast having been designed in the fifties; was a little sparse in thinking with regard to modern heavy rectangular radio’s. It used to be two knobs and a little display which fitted beautifully in the dash. My first problem was to find anywhere to attach a new radio in the acres of open air under the dash. Being a little loath to drill an unsightly hole through it; required me to dig a little deeper for the solution. The cubby hole was really the only space which could be used, which of course was made of cardboard!
A purpose built wooden box that fitted snugly around the radio, slid into the cubby hole, looked awesome, and somehow bolted onto the cubby hole frame seemed to be the answer. Of course, how I would get it bolted on anywhere else was a mystery, not to mention avoiding the great arcs described by the giant mechanical arms of the windscreen wipers.
With this very simple idea in mind, I got busy cutting the wood with my table saw at an angle. I managed to minimise my cuts and used the least possible amount of wood. And then threw it all away as I discovered my little problem with the angled table saw. Take two saw me fixing the angle problem and then locking down a guide plank to ensure that every cut was straight and perfect. Except that the guide plank was skew.
I almost went on strike. Haphazardly sawn planks of fine wood and a heap of wonderfully aromatic sawdust was all I had to show for my labour.
With the day almost over, I began again. Filled with the wisdom born of failure, I measured, checked, cut and re-checked every piece. They fitted perfectly, much to my surprise.
Sunday saw me dismantling my ignition which took ages to fix, and then everything started to go smoothly. After holding a number of intense yoga positions for a couple of hours under my dash, sound streamed sweetly out of my speakers.
To celebrate my wife and I helped the kids clean their rooms!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
In their own time
I was sitting in the dark in Isabella’s room, being the bottle holder, while she slurped away. Matt was in the bath having a merry time. The bathroom is next door to Isabella’s room and merry baths do not bode well for sleeping babes! I had asked him to make it snappy and quiet, and once again I was being ignored.
I do so love being ignored!
Donna was out at an emergency woman’s only comfort party. I am really not sure what that is. Generally it is me who is out at some or other event, leaving her with the children. With her on a comfort break, it was up to me to hold the fort.
So there I was, my annoyance levels steadily rising without release. My sweet child slowly drifting off to sleep regardless of the amount of pressure I was exerting on the bottle! Out of nowhere I had this inspiration that perhaps my children have a different timetable to my own. I like to get things done now and as fast as possible. My children prefer to do it their way in their time and play all along the way. For some reason they don’t seem to get my way at all, which means that my voice gets louder, and sometimes tears roll down cheeks.
Merely minutes after my enforced silence ended in a babe in bed, I exited Isabella’s room to find Matt out of the bath and dressed. In total disbelief, I asked Luke to get bathed. He ignored me and started to draw another picture. I took a deep breath, entered my office and got stuck into some work. Moments later Luke jumped into the bath, and out again, hung up his towel, and got dressed without another loud and forceful word of encouragement.
Have I have missed this simple concept for their entire lives? Perhaps my children do hear me; their own interpretation of the urgency just differs? Are all of my requests are as urgent as I think they are? Do I need to accept that some things can be done in their own time?
My children are all asleep and I wonder if my new found insight will hold true in the morning.
Or ever again…
I do so love being ignored!
Donna was out at an emergency woman’s only comfort party. I am really not sure what that is. Generally it is me who is out at some or other event, leaving her with the children. With her on a comfort break, it was up to me to hold the fort.
So there I was, my annoyance levels steadily rising without release. My sweet child slowly drifting off to sleep regardless of the amount of pressure I was exerting on the bottle! Out of nowhere I had this inspiration that perhaps my children have a different timetable to my own. I like to get things done now and as fast as possible. My children prefer to do it their way in their time and play all along the way. For some reason they don’t seem to get my way at all, which means that my voice gets louder, and sometimes tears roll down cheeks.
Merely minutes after my enforced silence ended in a babe in bed, I exited Isabella’s room to find Matt out of the bath and dressed. In total disbelief, I asked Luke to get bathed. He ignored me and started to draw another picture. I took a deep breath, entered my office and got stuck into some work. Moments later Luke jumped into the bath, and out again, hung up his towel, and got dressed without another loud and forceful word of encouragement.
Have I have missed this simple concept for their entire lives? Perhaps my children do hear me; their own interpretation of the urgency just differs? Are all of my requests are as urgent as I think they are? Do I need to accept that some things can be done in their own time?
My children are all asleep and I wonder if my new found insight will hold true in the morning.
Or ever again…
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A hint of paradise
In a flash of inspiration I connected my phone to the internet. With shaking fingers, I managed to direct the browser to wind guru, and then waited with baited breath for the detailed weather forecast. Would the swell have found its way into the bay or was today to be like any other; sweating my brain on the salt mine fronted by my laptop?
The phone enhanced graphics slowly materialised on my screen. Images of wind and good swell beamed at me in multicoloured hues. Surfing was on!
A gentle crack of the whip and my children were seated in the car, patiently waiting for me to load my surfing paraphernalia. They did not have to wait long! I remembered to open the garage door before blasting off on the well worn school route. With the kids offloaded at school, I pointed my mother ship at the beach and imagined nirvana! Waves rolling down the beach, walling and barrelling, the joy at being swept up in the waves embrace, and the exhilaration of a tight top turn.
The car had almost stopped before I was out and racing across the dunes to match reality to my imagined paradise. In a spray of beach sand, I was suddenly motionless! There were surfers in the line up but nobody had invited the waves to the party. I took a calming breath and surveyed the barely pulsating sea, hoping against hope that the next set would bring what I was looking for.
Instead the sun lifted its head over the mountains and bathed the beach in beautiful early morning light. I felt the sea sand between my toes, damp and squishy. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply of the fresh sea air and with a big roundhouse cutback, finished off my last imaginary wave.
Invigorated, I walked back to my car. At least today, I had made the effort to be here, and for today, that was enough!
The phone enhanced graphics slowly materialised on my screen. Images of wind and good swell beamed at me in multicoloured hues. Surfing was on!
A gentle crack of the whip and my children were seated in the car, patiently waiting for me to load my surfing paraphernalia. They did not have to wait long! I remembered to open the garage door before blasting off on the well worn school route. With the kids offloaded at school, I pointed my mother ship at the beach and imagined nirvana! Waves rolling down the beach, walling and barrelling, the joy at being swept up in the waves embrace, and the exhilaration of a tight top turn.
The car had almost stopped before I was out and racing across the dunes to match reality to my imagined paradise. In a spray of beach sand, I was suddenly motionless! There were surfers in the line up but nobody had invited the waves to the party. I took a calming breath and surveyed the barely pulsating sea, hoping against hope that the next set would bring what I was looking for.
Instead the sun lifted its head over the mountains and bathed the beach in beautiful early morning light. I felt the sea sand between my toes, damp and squishy. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply of the fresh sea air and with a big roundhouse cutback, finished off my last imaginary wave.
Invigorated, I walked back to my car. At least today, I had made the effort to be here, and for today, that was enough!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Growing up
I am amazed at how fast babies grow from a blob into amazing human beings. I fear that I spent a lot more time at work when my sons were babies and missed out on all of the subtle changes as they grew. My daughter, by contrast, has certainly kept me entertained with her antics as she discovers the world! At all of 8 months she seems to have the concept of the photo shoot waxed!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
My old truck
My car, the source of great agony and frustration! And moments of absolute wonder!
The beast, formally known as Tweety due to her bright yellow plumage, arrived back home about three weeks ago! It was a day of great celebration as after much running between various government departments, she was formally licensed.
The celebration turned out to be short lived as the very next day; the radiator started leaking like a fountain. Bad news as this had been a brand new and expensive piece of equipment, as it sure takes a lot of cooling power to quench the raging fire within this V8. It turned out that it had been installed incorrectly, and the cooling fan had cut into the radiator vanes. Sadly, this was just one more example of the sloppy workmanship dished out by the garage in Parrow that was involved in her initial rebuilding.
I sent an email after a number of unanswered phone calls to the owner of said Parrow garage. I explained the problem and asked for his assistance to resolve. He fired back a short email to the extent that he was not responsible. Rather impressive!
My trusty mechanic saved the day; installing a new radiator and getting the beast back on the road with a minimum of fuss. Just days later and she would not start. Trusty mechanic checked the necessary and discovered that not only was the ring gear worn, but there was also a gearbox oil leak that required urgent attention. I was thrilled! Then the spray painted failed to turn up this weekend to finish his piece of work...
I was wondering what possessed me to venture into this game until I drove the beast across town to the gearbox place this morning. My smile was huge, almost as big as my petrol bill. The gearbox is under warrantee and I hope they will sort the ring gear as well. I have no doubt it will cost another small fortune, take forever to fix, and require several trips back to get the job done right!
Unfortunately this is how it has gone for almost 20 months of car refurbishment. Would I do it again? no!
But she does go so well, roar sweetly, and turn heads wherever I go!
The beast, formally known as Tweety due to her bright yellow plumage, arrived back home about three weeks ago! It was a day of great celebration as after much running between various government departments, she was formally licensed.
The celebration turned out to be short lived as the very next day; the radiator started leaking like a fountain. Bad news as this had been a brand new and expensive piece of equipment, as it sure takes a lot of cooling power to quench the raging fire within this V8. It turned out that it had been installed incorrectly, and the cooling fan had cut into the radiator vanes. Sadly, this was just one more example of the sloppy workmanship dished out by the garage in Parrow that was involved in her initial rebuilding.
I sent an email after a number of unanswered phone calls to the owner of said Parrow garage. I explained the problem and asked for his assistance to resolve. He fired back a short email to the extent that he was not responsible. Rather impressive!
My trusty mechanic saved the day; installing a new radiator and getting the beast back on the road with a minimum of fuss. Just days later and she would not start. Trusty mechanic checked the necessary and discovered that not only was the ring gear worn, but there was also a gearbox oil leak that required urgent attention. I was thrilled! Then the spray painted failed to turn up this weekend to finish his piece of work...
I was wondering what possessed me to venture into this game until I drove the beast across town to the gearbox place this morning. My smile was huge, almost as big as my petrol bill. The gearbox is under warrantee and I hope they will sort the ring gear as well. I have no doubt it will cost another small fortune, take forever to fix, and require several trips back to get the job done right!
Unfortunately this is how it has gone for almost 20 months of car refurbishment. Would I do it again? no!
But she does go so well, roar sweetly, and turn heads wherever I go!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Like father like son
Yes, the toothmouse has been really busy!
My older son remarked that it is really cool when I act silly. Over the last couple of months, it seems I have become all serious again. Granted, it is not cool to be silly all of the time, but there is certainly room for a little bit of sillyness.
It seems to be a lot easier without a front tooth!!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Writing to the End
Last night I was challenged to complete my book.
I felt myself getting a little angry! Who on earth were these people that had made such an obscene challenge. Did they not know how busy I have been? Did they not understand that one cannot just sit down and churn out chapters of words infused with feeling? That meaningful writing does not just happen. That the right frame of mind is critical if my passion, concern, and love for my fellow man is to leap off the pages and into their lives.
I smiled and nodded, wondering how long it would take before I could get out of there.
Perhaps my smile was too broad? Suddenly the floodgates of advice were flung open and I was swimming against the deluge. You should set yourself a writing hour a week. Just write regardless of what it is. Editing is for later. Find the time. Manage your time better. How important is this book to you really?
And then I realised that these people really cared about me. That they were only trying to help me achieve a goal that I had set myself about five years ago! A goal that seems as far away now as it did when I created it. Perhaps they could already see that it was not going to happen. Was it that obvious that my failure to finish this project was acceptable to me?
Slowly, a little window in my murky consciousness opened. I can finish this book if I really want to. I already have 16 good chapters and a great book plan! Just 10 chapters to go!
With a little effort, I can make this happen!
I felt myself getting a little angry! Who on earth were these people that had made such an obscene challenge. Did they not know how busy I have been? Did they not understand that one cannot just sit down and churn out chapters of words infused with feeling? That meaningful writing does not just happen. That the right frame of mind is critical if my passion, concern, and love for my fellow man is to leap off the pages and into their lives.
I smiled and nodded, wondering how long it would take before I could get out of there.
Perhaps my smile was too broad? Suddenly the floodgates of advice were flung open and I was swimming against the deluge. You should set yourself a writing hour a week. Just write regardless of what it is. Editing is for later. Find the time. Manage your time better. How important is this book to you really?
And then I realised that these people really cared about me. That they were only trying to help me achieve a goal that I had set myself about five years ago! A goal that seems as far away now as it did when I created it. Perhaps they could already see that it was not going to happen. Was it that obvious that my failure to finish this project was acceptable to me?
Slowly, a little window in my murky consciousness opened. I can finish this book if I really want to. I already have 16 good chapters and a great book plan! Just 10 chapters to go!
With a little effort, I can make this happen!
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