Rock till you drop?

While my main "Lancelot's Pram" website is down (due to server problems), here's an alternative website where you can hear song samples, view the videos etc etc etc. (And, of course, the Facebook and MySpace sites as well) On the left is the first concept draft of how I think my next music project CD cover artwork may look like. It's similar to the concept I have lurking in my head, but it's not too bad for a first go trial-and-error bit of randominity [is that a word? lol]. Yes yes, i'll continue using the "KISS" rule... "keep it simple, stoopid"! lol. (Update: I like this new typeface font I stumbled across... reminds me of a Dr Seuss something, which I think is fun!) I've asked a local couple to help me a bit when I get around to recording my next batch of songs for my next music project "PurpleGreenBlue"... I really need a piano player, who thinks like a piano player, to play some piano here and there, and also perhaps some extra voices on backing harmonies. I'm just gonna keep doing this stuff while I'm "on a roll", you know? Three songs finalized already as well... I'll give 'em a trial-run playing at the pub on Wednesday night. Yet another fantastic weekend... caught-up with an old school friend lunchtime-Saturday... spent Saturday night with some friends watching live Jazz, a fashion parade, belly-dancing (yes, seriously - and it was great! lol), and then dinner at an Indian restaurant... spent some time Sunday arvo with some friends watching live acoustic bluegrass...plus the Aussies won the 4th Ashes cricket test (yay!)...even managed grabbing a few groceries along the way as well (the pantry was bare, Mother Hubbard!), and a few loads of much-needed washing... Tomorrow I'm spending the day on-the-road with a good friend, as we're picking-up a small sailing dinghy that's been donated to Sailability (which we both volunteer with). We always enjoy spending time together, so eight-or-so hours sitting in a car will allow us plenty of time to talk and share our hearts out. Sensational time ahead. Then on Wednesday I'll be meeting with a semi-professional lady, who'll try to help me with long-term paid employment opportunities. I've had many similar people over the last five years say "Sorry, there's nothing we can do for you" (no, seriously), so I don't have high expectations for anything coming from it, even tho it's an on-going process with this organization. People in my specific situation (health and emotional) and history basically get ignored and cold-shouldered as we're seemingly in the "too hard" basket, no matter how good an organization's intentions are. It's true, sadly. I guess that's why I'm spending so much time with my music lately, as it's i] keeping me occupied, and ii] it's something i really love and enjoy doing - rather than dwelling on shittiness that is out-of-my-hands. Just wish I could do it full-time. Aint blogging fun? hahahaaa.

Peas be with ewe Cyalayta, Mal :)

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We The People

(Source)

Altho I'm not an American, I think this comic here is still highly relevant for us, with ours most possibly the world's most over-regulated government in the world.

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Tis the first Sailability day of the season today (well, later this morning! It's just gone midnight here atm...). I know once I get there I'll really enjoy it... I just hope there's no political 'crap' from one visitor - he simply comes just to cause trouble. All the safety rules simply don't apply to him, he thinks. He was unfortunately banned last year, but he might think he's immune now this year... gawd, I hope he doesn't come! It just makes a brilliant, happy, friendly day surrounded by brilliant people a right pain-in-the-arse otherwise.

The weather prediction for the rest of today is almost perfect, so bugger it... it'll be a good day regardless. It should make up for yesterday's (ie. Saturday's) disappointment. Hopefully. I can only hope. My faith in people is yet again shaken.

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Oh, all you Sports Nuts - in case you didn't know... hahahahaaa!

Peas be with ewe

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Laying back and kicking

My younger two sons, SJ (aged 11, left) and Ix (aged 9), at Mt Panorama last Saturday. There's some more pics here.



We laughed (a lot!), told funny stories and generally caught-up - and that was just the car trip into town last Saturday. No effort required. At all. Twas looking and feeling good already.

We hit the local pool, and hung-out swimming and having a great time for about three hours. And we talked and laughed the whole time. Oh, these guys really know how to refresh my exhausted spirit, they really do. I mean, I can literally sit and talk to SJ and Ix, either together or on their own, and just talk and hang out and we all feel totally happy and relaxed and share all sorts of stuff that's going on in their lives. It's really wonderful.

Being a divorced dad means that because you're not part of their lives 24/7, you miss out on a huge lot of all that. Days like this really enable us to touch base and reconnect in a really major way. Mind you, it happens every time we get together, but last Saturday was a really special time especially for me.

Mind you... at one point I was looking at SJ, and he was the splitting image of his elder brother (JD, who's aged 15 and was working in the paddocks planting veggies that day. Good on him!) at the same age. Twas a bit of a headspin, to be sure to be sure.

Then there were the small instances where I caught almost12-yo SJ checking out the girls in passing, out of a sly glance from the corner of his eye! Very cute!

Then we hit Maccas (their choice! lol), and SJ, whos' eating patterns would starve a sparrow, wanted even MORE to eat! I guess all that swimming built-up his appetite! Excellent!

Then we went for a drive upto "The Mount", to check out the remains of the carnage after the week-befores' car racing. There were skid marks all over the track and the walls... they scavenged around looking for bits of wreckage. All they found in the end were bits of broken perspex at various crash sites. Oh, they know every inch of this track intimately, believe me! Practically every incident that happened during the race the week before they were able to point out the exact spot and the racing lines and angles and all that. That's pretty cool.

People who haven't been here seem to think that the race track is like out of town and a totally-separate entity. Well - it's not! It's nowdays right on the edge of town (right beside the Uni) , and is a normal local road, complete with residents and driveways and everything... it just happens to have the whole pits complex and concrete race barriers always set-up! heh heh.

We parked at Skyline, and they wanted to walk down past the Dipper to Forest Elbow to survey the 'damage'... a good walk, but downhill all the way... It was a pretty darn warm Spring day, and by the time we got past the Esses and the Dipper, they were practically dying to go back to the car. Only problem was - it's uphill all the way! Not a worry... let's just say they got their exercise that day! lol. Mind you, the sweat was pouring out of me as well...

We headed down to the bottom of The Mount to the Motor Racing Museum, so they could see the recently-unveiled Peter Brock Memorial Statue. We took a few quick happy-snaps of them standing in front of it, but even then there was practically a line-up of tourists wanting to get their photos taken in front of it as well. Popular bloke, huh? Fair enough - while I'm not 'into' motor sport, he was a great driver, and more importantly a really nice bloke.

By then tho, our main reason for stopping there was to get a drink! We felt like we were dying of thirst! I've never known a icy cold can of Fanta to go down so well!

We were happily tired by the time I dropped them home again afterwards. We spent the whole day just chatting happily away.

I know I've only just skimmed the bare bones of the day I spent with my boys last Saturday, but seriously - it was such a great day for all of us. Oh, they always are (and I don't really get to spend as much time with them as I'd really like to, but that's a whole mixture of different reasons for that), but for me it was like quenching a spiritual/soul thirst within me.

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This is the view overlooking Bathurst from atop Mt Panorama.



They don't call it "Skyline" for nothing, you know.

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I was rather surprised when I received a 'Thank You' letter from the Real Estate agents, after my recent housing inspection...

"It is pleasing to be able to report to the landlord that you are looking after the property as if it were your own. I am sure they appreciate your efforts."

I was rather... pleased?

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My first rose has popped-up (seemingly overnight), thanks to all the recent rains we've had in the region. Not bad, considering all I've done to it is cut the heck out of the bush at the start of winter each year for the past five years - and that's it!

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There's a few new band photos as well.

Julian has twisted his ankle, so we won't be having a full rehearsal this weekend. Matt and I will still get together and keep writing some original songs. Perhaps I'll show him how easy it is to record 'overdubs' as well, using the demos we've recently completed. He's never done anything like that before, and it might be a good opportunity to introduce him to the technique, especially when it comes to recording stuff for our album over the next few months. We'll be doing lots of overdubs... it's just part of the music recording process. well, it will be for us, anyways.

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Oh, I've finally joined the local Pool as a regular, getting a special pass. I've gotta get some exercise in, and swimming is perfect for that. The new pool complex is brilliant, so I might as well use it as we've got it here. Bought myself some new goggles (I haven't worn goggles since like those big facemask ones you had as a kid!) and a pair of flippers... laying on my back, slowly kicking away doing a few laps... sit in the whirlpool... walk in the water... a few more laps... nothing too strenuous, but really refreshingly relaxing.

Gawd alone knows why I haven't got myself a Pass ages ago!

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Sailing starts again this weekend... Sailability will be held out at Carcoar this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it. I dropped out to our local dam for a quick peek just the other day, and it's about one foot below the spillway, almost ready to overflow. I thought I heard someone say it's been about five years (?) since the spillway had water cascading down it - so it's all good. Carcoar Dam, tho, is the opposite... still struggling at a miserable 13%, but just enough to take the little specialist "Access" dinghies out for a spin with some visitors. While the water will still be on the 'chilly' side, in these type of boats, you don't even begin to get wet! Sunday's forecast is for glorious sunshine, so we should have a good roll-up. Yay!

Peas be with ewe

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Sailability wOOt!

Let me quickly take you back a few weeks... the last Sailability event for this season.

I'm glad I hadn't gone back to Matt's place after our first gig the night before. Otherwise trying to get up at 7am with a hangover wouldn't be a veryexciting prospect, to say the very least. The weather was looking promising - a little cloudy, but predicted light to moderate winds made for a good days sailing ahead. I scrabbled together my sailing clothes, threw them into the car boot (trunk), and headed out to Ben Chifley Dam at about 8.15am.

Rounding the corner as I got to the dam, the sight of early-morning mist back lit by the rising sun slowly hovering over the calm waters took my breath away. I took a few photos, but at moments like that I wish my little 'point-and-shoot' camera had a good zoom on it. I couldn't really grab a good shot of the amazing natural lighting effect that was taking place right across the surface of the dam. It truly was one of those 'stop and stare in wonderment' type of moments, jaw agape and everything. The mist was hovering across the surface of the water, in small swirling eddies in the practically-still air. The sunrise caught the mist with an almost supernatural glow. Beautiful to behold.

I sat and waited for the others to arrive. They were towing the Sailability boats all the way from Carcoar Dam. I didn't have long to wait, sitting back enjoying the refreshing invigoration of early-Autumnal morning sun beside the water. Oh yes, it really was a beautiful place to be in right at that moment - I knew and totally appreciated my surrounds.

Mr Hoon and two young volunteers - one being Luke who I hadn't seen for ages, unfortunately - quickly helped unload the boats and started rigging them. Enjoying the boyish silliness that quickly envelopes Mr Hoon and myself whenever we seem to get together, Goon show and Python bits were flying left right and center across the lake's edge.

The wind was almost totally calm at this stage, and we thought it'd be a day of just drifting about in the boats. Thankfully just as the first disabled sailors arrived with their carers, the wind picked up to a light breeze, just enough to make for a really pleasant day out on the water for everyone.

In the end, the eleven people who came to be taken out for a sail had a wow of a time. It was really quite special only having such a small number, because we were able to take people out for much longer rides, and give them a really good turn out on the water. In four hours, I took five people out for a sail! It was a great mornings' sailing.

The second-last person I took out was a wheelchair-bound lady, who really loves coming sailing, but (between you and me) remains pretty clueless about it all when she's out there on the water. Not to worry. She's an absolute delight, and has a really willing, gentle and teachable heart. She's always open to hearing some advice and being shown how and why boats and sails work together. Really nice to have someone like that out with you.

While we were out, the wind suddenly piped up to about 30 knots - that's pretty darn strong, between you and me. Especially after most of the morning it was sitting on a quiet steady 5 knots.

Kathy learned heaps as I talked her through sailing in stronger winds. She was steering the whole time, while I operated the sheets (ropes) for the sails. Basically, I was showing her how in the stronger winds, these types of little boats like to just sail under their jib/headsail alone. So I was showing her again and again how I was anticipating a strong gust of wind, and easing the sail just as it hit us. That was we were able to keep relatively upright, and keep moving thru the water with some good speed and maneuverability. She was totally getting into it.

Mind you, the whole time, she was whooping with absolute joy! Wind and spray in her face - she didn't mind, not one second!

Precious treasured moments. That's why I do this, you know?

After about 45-minutes out, we headed back in time for a anticipated quick bite to eat. The next person who wanted to go out was Scotty, who I've spent plenty of time on the water with. We sailed together in the Access State Titles in Belmont last year, so we got on like a house on fire, like old mates. He's a younger bloke who's wheelchair bound, but he has the most-wicked sense of humour - that's why we get on so well. Plus he's a damn fine sailor. When he's sailed in regattas on his own, he's won gold medals. He's eligible to go to the Paralympics in Beijing this year too!

But Scotty is fan-bloody-tastic to go out sailing with, simply because - he absolutely loves it!

We were out for about an hour together. He was steering (as best as he could... normally when he's on his own he sails these amazing 'Servo' boats that use a motorised joystick, that operate both the steering and the sail! Amazing stuff), while I operated the sheets - just like we were doing at Belmont together. The wind was still really quite stiff at this stage too, but we had a whooping good time together. He's another one of these young people with a really teachable, humble spirit, who takes in everything you tell him about sailing. While I'm showing him about working the sails, anticipating the wind gusts, to keep the boat moving efficiently, he's taking it all in. Not that I'm some amazingly awesome sailor - I'm not. But I know how it all works, and make sure people have a great time.

Photo gallery of Belmont Regatta, March 2007

My most precious moment I had with Scotty was racing with him at Belmont last year. The first race together, I showed him to how basically 'park' the boat just behind the starting line, for a really nice start for the race. 30 minutes later just before the start of the second race, without me telling him or any prompting on my behalf at all, he did exactly the same thing - but his was even better than mine! A really great starting position. Just a delight to be sailing with.

This Sunday we were sailing all around the place out on Ben Chifley Dam, trying different runs and sailing positions. It was like one huge practice for him. I didn't have to do much... we kinda work well together as a sailing team.

Plus we just keep each other breaking up with laughter all the time. Silly stories and jokes flying about... lots of fun.

Eventually we had to come in. We were soaked... not from capsizing or anything like that (it's 99% impossible to capsize, let alone sink, one of these boats! Seriously!), but from all the spray. He knows which side and which course (angle to the wind) to sail to ensure that I cop facefulls' of spray from my side, the cheeky bastard! But I wouldn't have it any other way. It's really is the most refreshing feeling, having wind-whipped spray scatter across your face out on the water in a small boat.

Ahhh!

Everybody had a great day out. The other two young guys who were volunteer sailors (such as myself) took out quite a few people a few times as well. It was just one of those really nice days together.

Even packing up was not a chore. Sometimes it's a bit of a drag putting everything away properly after a big days' sailing. This time we all got stuck in, and before we knew what had happened, we'd run out of things to put away onto the trailers! Mind you, the amount of silly laughter that was being tossed around surely helped proceedings. heh heh.

So, in a nutshell, "A good time was had by all!"

Twas such a fine way to finish the Sailability season together.

And an end to one of the best weekends I'd had in a few months. Spent some quality time with my sons, then played a gig, then went sailing.

wOOt!

Mind you, I slept soundly that night, for some strange reason...

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The next day, I met Mr Hoon out at Carcoar Dam Sailing Club, so we could put the boats away properly for the winter, into the newly-concreted shed.

The wind was absolutely - howling! Thankfully it wasn't like that the day before... while the Sunday ended-up quite 'brisk' at times, the Monday was just short of a gale!

What we thought would take the two of us about two hours, was all over and finished after one. Packing things away in some sense of order (well, something resembling order! lol) and covering them up for the coming winter. So, having an hour to sit down over some sandwiches and just catch up and chat chat chat was precious. We went back into Blayney (about a 10-minute drive from where the Sailing Club is), and sat in a nice cosy cafe and ate a bit and talked a whole lot.

Mr Hoon is good like that. We 'connect' in a way like we're like brothers in a funny way. We can talk and really share stuff with each other that's truely refreshing. Even tho we don't see each other all the time, when we do it's like we only just finished talking together. Conversations pick up straight from where they last finished. It's really beaut!

Plus he has the same wicked, warped sense of humour as me, so... lots of harmless happy laughs ensue whenever we get together.

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Sailability Central West was feautured on one of our local TV news programs early this year. I've got a DVD-copy of it, and I've been trying to post it on YouTube (or whatever), so that people can see what we're all about. But, being the knucklehead that I am somedays, I can't seem to upload it properly. I've copied it the wrong format or something? I'm not sure, to be honest.

However, as soon as someone around here (who knows about these things) can figure out how to achieve putting it online successfully, I'll post the link here, so people can see for themselves what Sailability actually does with people. It's a bloody good 4-minute feature, even if I do say so myself.

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I'm enjoying blogging at the moment - as if you couldn't tell.

Peas be with ewe

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The Thing

The thing arrived this morning, right when I had a mouth-full of toothpaste to boot. Works and sounds like magic.

This morning I helped Mr Hoon get the Sailability boats ready for this coming weekends' State Regatta, being held at nearby Wallerawang (Lithgow, NSW). Absolutely too long since we've got together and just hung out - even tho we were technically "working"... even unloaded some wire mesh for the upcoming concrete slab, off the back of a truck.

Then towed a small trailer with three of the small boats 50kms/31 miles back to his place, where they'll be picked up by another person on Saturday morning blah blah blah. Found out it's my silly wiring that is the cause of me left indicator light on any trailer I tow not to work properly. Hrmm... thankfully that thing is still under warranty.

Then shared a sandwich, a hot cuppa tea, and some more catching-up blokey chit-chat.

He's a good friend... even tho we haven't seen each other since Xmas-time, it was like we saw each other yesterday. Straight into sharing at a level of personal intimacy... so yeah, it was really good to catch up.

Back home... enjoying those CD's I burnt of the "Top 500 songs", singing along in the car happily for another 50 kms... hey, I've gotta get some singing practice in sometime! Got some groceries done, as for dinner last night I reflected that everything I'd eaten had been "processed"... time to run out and get some fresh fruit and veggies - which I did this arvo. Thanks, Aldi... truly a 'blokes' supermarket! No frills, simple selections, in-and-out in 10 minutes.

Then home to do some washing, disembowel the growing pile of dirty dishes, and then fiddle with the thing...

Two phone calls along the way... always the way - the phone never rings here, and it went off twice in 2 minutes! First was Matt ringing from work, as he was basically bored! Practically the second I'd hung up, Eddie rang... those five CDs I burnt and posted to him yesterday arrived safely. We worked out our next immediate step as a band... work on five songs at a time, get them down pat with arrangements, starts, solos, harmonies, endings, all that stuff... and do five new songs a week. Or at least do the same thing with songs we already know really well, just brush 'em up to make 'em sparkle!

So yeah... we're a real band now! We've passed the 'jamming' stage and are now developing the 'arranging' phase. This is the fun part for me! Wheee!

Sorry for the chatty post, Paige. But, well, there ya go.

Peas be with ewe

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More Sox, Please!

Here's pics of a radiantly-happy me, playing my spare (back-up) bass guitar, at our 'garage' band rehearsal this afternoon.



Yes, that's a genuine smile there... no poses! heh heh



Yes, our Box on Sox rehearsal this arvo - the first time with all five of us there at once - went off like a dream. Really positive playing together. I mean, really positive. Twas the first time Mick and Eddie had actually met each other, let alone played together... the 'grand experiment' worked amazingly! We were swapping instruments, playing all sorts of great grooves and interesting soundscapes together. Plus Eddie and Mick singing together is just... wow! Check out some pics of the guys, and the "interesting" space we're currently rehearsing in!



Come March, we should be in a large house just outside of town, where we can rehearse with some more space and freedom. Plus there we'll start doing some recording...

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I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with Mr Hoon on Tuesday. We're going out to the Sailing Club (first time in about two months for me - that surprises even me to realise that!) to prepare the Sailability boats for the following weekends' State Regatta. Then he's invited me back to his place for lunch. We haven't sat down and just had a good ol' chat for a while. I miss hanging out with Mr Hoon!

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We sure get some amazing storms come through here... remember those pics I took just last weekend, of the boys and I sitting atop Mt Panorama, watching the car races? Well, check this one out... same place...
(Source)

Peas be with ewe

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What a Difference 24 Hours makes!

What a difference 24 hours can make to your outlook. Today went FINE. There was no problem... in fact the guy I'd been stressing about came up to me and apologized for his behaviour as of late. So - whew! So yeah, there was no need for me to resign etc etc. I was just feeling so uptight about it all last night, I actually didn't get much sleep at all - one hour in total!

The sailing was great... there was threatening rain all morning, but we got our two hour window of opportunity out on the water with clients before the rain set in. And HOW it set in! We were literally stuck under an awning/marquee for half-an-hour, the rain was that heavy! heh heh. It really was quite funny. A good time was had by all.

A huge plus was how one of the local TV news camera crews came along and took some great footage and interviews with volunteers and clients as well. They stayed for about two hours! That's extraordinary! That story will supposedly show sometime between Xmas and New Year, so we'll keep an eye out for that. When we get a copy of it, we may be able to post it on YouTube or something. But we're definitely going to use it for promotional purposes to help plug Sailability. Yay!

Sitting on on the water, nice 12 knot nor-wester, not at all cold, but in the pouring (and I mean POURING!) rain - sensational, magical stuff. Words cannot describe... all the stress I've been putting myself thru in the last few days - gone in an instant. Washed away. (Luckily all the clients were ashore and under cover when the rain finally did arrive... just us silly ones foolish to stay out there for an extra half an hour getting thoroughly soaked but having a hooting great time! wOOt!)

Thank you, dad! Thanks for giving me a passion for sailing! Yay!

The Xmas Party was the usual relaxed, casual get-together with a few friends, that there was no stress or anything about 'business'. Someone even said as a joke, "Are we gonna have a meeting or what?", which got a good friendly laugh.

I am still rather taken aback (positively) that I was presented with a gorgeous bottle of wine, as a way to say thank you for helping out with Sailability. That came out of left field... totally unexpected. So yeah, I'm very thankful (major understatement! lol)

Well, after only one hours sleep last night, sailing in the rain, and a good old fashioned BBQ lunch - plus the cricket has been rained out in Sydney and the TV, I'm sitting here in the late afternoon with my eyelids nearly falling down over my face! Gagh! heh heh

Yes yes, it's amazing what a difference 24 hours can make to your outlook on life.

Peas be with ewe

I Don't Like Feeling Like This

You know, when I was guilted into becoming Sailing Club secretary earlier in the year (by well-meaning but still friendly stand-over types), I wasn't exactly too pleased. I basically always enjoy helping out with things where I can, but I want to keep a wide berth from inter-personal petty politics. Too late, it seems. Already the new Treasurer is treating everyone like his fucking Public Servants, to bow and scrape to his every fleeting whim.

Well, fuck him. It's too small a Club to have someone Nazify the place like that. I mean, there's only like 18 or 20 people in total! So basically, I went there for the sailing and the socialization. I'm gonna resign as Secretary. I just don't want to get involved in petty ego bullshit. I've kept a wide berth and kept right out of things as it is, and this particular guy doesn't like me for it, I'm sure. Basically we have totally different personality types, and when it comes to organisational matters, things are either done his way or no way. I don't ignore him, but I don't necessarily "do things his way" either. Not to be spiteful or anything... there's just no need to approach things and talk to people the way he has been the last couple of months. I treat people as people. He seems treats them as items for his business agenda. The other problem is - he's the former Club secretary.

Well, if he wants to be in control, fuck him, he can have it. If he wants to be the Secretary again so badly, he can have it. I'm gonna resign quietly tomorrow during the Club Xmas Party.

What is upsetting me the most is - tomorrow is a Sailability day, where I'm heavily involved in that [and I love that 100%]. But the Sailing Club Xmas Party is on at the same time. That's fine... it's just a social BBQ and a few beers thing, no stress no dramas. We can duck up during the Sailability lunch break and have a quick social catch-up. But... I just don't want to go!

I hate feeling as though I don't want to go, because I know the Treasurer is gonna try and "have a meeting" while everyone is there, and there's basically no need or point in having one there and then. There's nothing to discuss, nothing new happening etc etc. It's a SOCIAL day, for fucks' sakes! So yeah, as soon as he starts murmuring about 'we need a meeting', the Commodore and myself have agreed to firmly say "No". If he starts carrying on, I'm literally gonna have to walk out the door, because I'm really afraid I'm gonna say something out loud that I will later regret.

And I just really hate feeling this way about it all. They're a fantastic small group of people. They really are. But why is it that as soon as people get a sniff of some sense of power they feel the need to exercise it over everyone else? I'm the other way... if things are running smoothly in our tiny little Sailing Club, it's just keep things moving along smoothly. No need to mix things up and upset people for no good reason. "If it aint broke don't fix it" kinda attitude. It's too small a place to try to turn into a business!

And this guy is trying to do exactly that.

I mean, bugger it... the whole reason I started going there in the first place was the SAILING! Not the inter-political bullshit. Just have a chance to get out on the water with a few other like-minded sailors and potter about.

So yeah, that's why I'm hoping I end up out on the water with Sailability clients all day, rather than deal with petty squabbles from one guy.

I don't like thinking and feeling like this, either. Gagh.

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And, on a lighter note...

THE PSYCHIC DOG AND THE TELEPHONE

A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report that her telephone failed to ring when her friends called. She explained that on the few occasions when it did ring, her dog would moan loudly just before her phone rang.

The telephone repairman proceeded to the farm, eager to meet this psychic dog. Although, he was somewhat concerned that the problem was really just a senile woman.

Upon arrival, he climbed the pole, hooked in his test set and dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring at first, but then the dog moaned and the phone could be heard ringing.

Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found:

1. The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and chain link collar

2. The ground wire connection to the ground wire was loose

3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signalling current whenever the number was called

4. After a couple of ringing jolts, the dog would start moaning, presumably from the discomfort of being shocked, and then would urinate

5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, allowing the telephone to ring.


All of which just goes to show that yes, some problems CAN be fixed by pising and moaning.

(Source)

Desktops and Screensavers

This here is my latest desktop, courtesy of MsAnnThorpe. That's her view from her place! Goodness, that's awesome!!! [Envy envy envy!!! heh heh]. I love living here 200kms/120 miles from the sea, don't get me wrong for a second. But I sure miss the ocean. The sound, the smell, the taste of the ocean.

On the opposite side of the coin, I sure do NOT miss the humidity that comes with living so near the sea at this time for year! heh heh

Here's a pic she took just the other day of a winters' sunset! Wow! Impressive! I've added this one to my ScreenSaver collection!


Here's the recent photos taken at some of our "Sailability" events. Lots of fun. I'm really looking forward to going out there again tomorrow. Last one for this year, at least.

It looks as tho these girls were having fun, because they were! heh heh. There's nothing quite as sensational as messing about down by the water on boats, you know.

Saying that, I haven't been out on my Laser for a few weeks. Just... I can't seem to find the motivation. And going out on your own without anyone else being out and around isn't as much fun either.

Mr Hoon bought himself a, 18-ft trailer sailor, to potter about in. Because his knee in causing him some long-term grief, he's been forced to sell his Laser. So he's turning into a more relaxed sailor, with a very comfy day-sailor instead. Looks lovely, with 2-berth and nice wood paneling and all that. He's invited me out for a sail at our local lake next Tuesday. I'm really looking forward to it, actually. I am. I think I need to go out again, but yeah, I miss having someone around to just sail with. Not necessarily racing, just the social company out on the water, I guess. Anyways [shrugs]

I miss hanging out with Arthur Knight out of Tahlee. Dang, they were some good sailing times at night. Two like-minded blokes hanging out, sitting becalmed at night watching shooting stars or in the pouring rain, both totally content.

Asparagus.

Flummery.

Peas be with ewe

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Rain Dumps

I was supposed to go sailing today (Saturday), but the forecast all week (that's "ALL week") was for outrageously heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding!!! So this morning I actually slept in, enjoying being able to lay back and let my dreams unfold for a while longer.

Here it is, 1.51 in the afternoon, and the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and there's a very light breeze dusting the tress right outside my window! Aint it always the way???

GAGH!

Oh, hang on! Literally as I typed that, I heard the first distant roll of thunder!

Tomorrow is supposed to be better weather-wise. I'll aim for a bit of a spin tomorrow instead, over at Wallerawang.

We've been having some outrageously large, violent torrential storms pass our way in the past 2 or 3 weeks... they go flash-bang and dump oceans on top of us, but only for about ten minutes. Then it's all over! Just yesterday, out at Carcoar Dam, we were sitting in the Clubhouse after a brilliant mornings' Sailability, totally stuck for about 15 minutes because of this torrential rainstorm. Thankfully we'd managed to get everybody off the water and everything packed away easily, and we were sitting drinking an afternoon cup of tea when it hit! Thank goodness for that!

Actually, yesterdays' Sailability was the best experience we'd all had for a long time. One of the local High Schools had 16 of their senior students come out for some end-of-school-year sailing activity - and we all had an absolute ball! The weather was sensational, the conditions couldn't be more perfect, and they were a brilliant group of well-behaved young people to boot. Water fights, canoeing, swimming - one very wet but very exhilarated group of young people.

At one point I had one client out in a boat with me, and we spotted someone in the water way out from the bank, swimming - it was their teacher! hahahaha. We sailed up to her - and my passenger literally jumped overboard after her! All I saw was a pair of legs disappearing over the side! hahahaa

So yeah, amidst much splashing, and chasing all SEVEN boats out at the same time (yay!), and watching everyone take turns tipping the old canoe over, the day way a roaring success.

Thankfully the Access 303's are so ridiculously easy to sail, being one-up for about 20 minutes was an absolute delight... mind you, I felt like a kid again myself, as all the other boats tried to keep catching me to dump a ton of water over me anyway! heh heh

I was knackered this morning tho!

(NB. The photo was taken aboard an Access 303 at Belmont back in March).

Peas be with ewe

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It's All GOOD!

[I've been putting this post off for a week, simply because there's so much to write - and it's all positive. In the end this post is really only a quick jotting!]

Firstly - my brother has sold his house! At last! They got - and accepted - a fair offer last Monday! Yayayayay! This has been dragging on for like 18 months+ for them, and it's such a relief for them to be finally over this huge hurdle. They would have had to leave Cairns if it hadn't sold soon... that just wasn't part of their plans at all! Thankfully they can finally feel settled in their huge 'sea change' up in Cairns. They're loving it, and I'm totally so happy and relieved for them.

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I spent Sunday morning hanging out with the boys at the local pool. It's just so brilliant hanging out with them. They're growing up right in front of my eyes! I even caught almost-11-yo SJ casting stray glances at some of the girls! rofl rofl!

Almost-9-yo Ix was giving the MOST gorgeous affectionate hugs and cuddles... my hug-o-meter totally fills to 100%+ whenever he does that! Just totally gives me the deepest satisfaction that words cannot possibly describe!

They were telling me... they had a close-call with a lightning strike on Thursday... about 100 meters from the house, they showed me the large gum tree that was literally split in two from the direct hit! Zikes! No damage done to the house or them, thankfully. One positive side-effect is now they'll have a good load of already-split firewood for next winter! heh heh

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This last Sunday afternoon, I had a brilliant jam with the drummer and guitarist I've been mucking about with over the last few months. although it'd been like 6 weeks+ since we'd been together, it was like we hadn't been away! Things just fell together literally within seconds of the first song! Such a rewarding experience. I couldn't stop laughing, I felt so happy playing again.

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Sunday-week saw the first Sailability event of this season. I could rave on for pages and pages about how GOOD this day was for me! It was THAT positive :)

Sure, we literally had four seasons in one day... overcast, rain, squalls, dead calm, blazing sunshine - all in a matter of six hours! heheh.

I'm not complaining, not one little bit. In all seriousness, being out on the water sailing in the rain is close to my idea of heaven-on-earth - and I was able to do it the whole time the rain fell on Sunday! Yay! At one stage, I was sitting in one of the boats tied to the pontoon, awaiting another client, in the pouring rain and I was laughing out loud, even as the water was dripping off the end of my nose! Hey, you're all dressed and waterproof against it, so being cold & wet wasn't an issue. It was simply... one of those heavenly moments that are just delicious to the soul!

At one point I had a mother and daughter out with me... the child was in a wheelchair, aged about 7-ish - and although the wind was rather gusty at that point, and the rain was falling steadily - she had an absolute ball! The huge authentic smile on her face the - whole - time was simply priceless! Again - one of those moments, seeing that amazing smile on her face - that makes it all totally worthwhile!!!!

Scotty, who is going to the Special Olympics in Beijing next year, managed to get out on his own for a while in one of the boats that have a specially-adapted motorized steering mechanism. He was having a great time, until the stronger winds got a bit the better of him - oh, and the flies [which he loathes]. We ended up helping him back to the pontoon, and he was so frustrated and disappointed - at one point tears were rolling down his cheeks. I couldn't look at him, as I would have totally lost it and burst into tears myself! I knew the feeling - just so frustrated, disappointed... but it's all out of your control as well, and there's nothing you can do about it. He was so upset... but he'll be back out on the water this weekend again, I'm sure of it.

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The rest of last week seemed to be taken up in putting on the roller doors on the shed extensions! Twas the first time I'd seen quick-dry cement in action - for some of the door supports to be anchored into the ground for the roller doors. And... putting up the actual doors... what a %$#@! of a job... I could tell you the language that flew at one point, when I was trying to hld up one of those things at chin-height - and I fell off a ladder! "Expletives deleted" left-right-and center! hahahahaa. Not happy... but all was well in the end. We got them up and secured! "Only takes two people" the instructions said... crap! Gagh! Between Mr Hoon and myself, yeah sure we did it, but... it was a 'challenging' two days! Thankfully by the time the rain started falling on the Wednesday, we already had the door on the end of the shed up and secure, so at least we didn't have to get soaked fitting the other end door on. The things we do, sometimes!

Sometime or other, I should tell you about "Father FUxK" as well! rofl rofl

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And finally... just to bring an extra smile to my face this week... yesterday my housemate told me he's got a few small gigs - as a male model! hahahahaa! He's doing something at the local RSL Club, for the ladies at a Melbourne Cup function tomorrow, then in a few week's doing something else at a fashion parade! He's like... whatever! I think it's hilarious - in a positive way!!!

Peas be with ewe

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(*) Toe Nail Clippings

I know I should post something? Sometimes it's not that I don't have anything outrageously exciting to say or share, it's just that sometimes I feel I don't have the dexterity of language to be able to express them adequately. There are so many great, thought-provoking blogs out there. Then all I feel I have to say is like discussing the size of my toe-nail-clippings in comparison! rofl

Not that my toe-nail-clippings aint riveting stuff, mind you... but not something I'm sure would make for outstanding blogging, at any stretch of the imagination.

Well, the shed out at the sailing club is finally up - except for the concrete floor at this stage. Frame, walls and roof have all been put up - and they stayed up and on, which is of vital importance, you know! heh heh... It was lots of fun just hanging out doing 'blokey stuff' and building a pre-fab shed. I'm a total wuss when it comes to heights, so I acted as 'Go-fer' on the ground, handing up bits of sheet steel or drills or whatever. Nah, altho my drive out there on Monday morning saw me in a really dispirited foul mood (and even contemplating just not turning up - silly me), by the end of the day in the sunshine surrounded by an endless horizon, I felt really quite invigorated. I wish I knew exactly what triggered these black dog moments sometimes... it's a different slant almost every times lately. Kinda annoying for me.

I haven't updated the sailing club's webpage lately either. Mainly out of the basis that there's been nothing happening to update with, and two - I'm just going thru one of those childishly-annoying "I just can't be bothered" stages at the moment. There's plenty of nice photos to update for the place, but as there's physically not a lot happening out there, it's kinda hard to feel motivated to get it together long enough to sit down and edit and upload the photos. I'll get there. I know I will. There's just not the... 'compulsion' (?) at the present moment to feel the desire to do it. blah blah blah.

I guess I'm just tired today!

Funny, because I still feel as though today was a good, positive day. Going downtown to pay a few bills etc, bumped into M, SJ and IX in the shopping centre. It's funny... M and I are still able to stop for like 4 or 5 minutes and have a friendly, laughing catch-up feeling non-stressed or anything negative. I kinda feel guilty sometimes... aint a divorced couple supposed to hate each other? [That's a joke, folks!]. Unlike my neighbours this arvo... wow, what a loud, screaming, verbally-abusive domestic! I couldn't help but hear every word! Golly gosh! I dunno which one of them is gonna be moving out as a result... not a good thing to be forced to listen to either. Actually, at times it was so loud it was almost hilariously funny, as was their anger-filled passion steering their verbosity! Funny but also kinda disquieting at the same time.

Hopefully Sailability starts again (unofficially) this Friday, with a few disabled clients going out for a bit of a season-starter refresher. It'll give us a chance to get the boats and motor boats out and give them a thorough once-over... which includes, of course, taking them out of a sail! yay! heh heh. I've been out for a sail for the last two weeks also in my own little dinghy, tho on Sunday the weather just made me feel really uncomfortable for some indistinguishable reason, and I only stayed out for about 30 minutes in total. It wasn't just the gusty winds, but a murky-looking water and a matching sky didn't help at all! Plus the fact that the water level is now starting to drop from the current 13.6% is NOT a good sign at all. Not at all. mutter mutter. Nothing can be done about it. Sure makes it hard to encourage people along to try sailing as a social sport out here, when there's no sailable water for them to venture out onto! Gagh!

My only brother is coming down tomorrow for a few days, to sort things out with the sale of their old house up in Katoomba. We haven't arranged a specific time to catch up as of yet, but we're just keeping it flexible for now, depending on how things go for him in the next few days. It's not as though it's far away, only about an hours' dive away. We can always meet in Lithgow or something... but what reasonable logical person would willingly wanna do that for? [giggles... in-joke! Lithgow is a dank hole of a town!] Nope, I'll drive up and catch up with him up on the mountains somewhere :) There's plenty of good cafes around Blackheath these days :)

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(*) Flows Meltdown

Sailability on Thursday totally made up for last Sundays' disaster! I mean, you know when Mal's having a good day when he's asked by one of the clients, out on the water, to sing some Elvis...! So... I did! hahahahaha. Made everyone have a good laugh at my attempts to make everyone laugh with some terrible Elvisness! heh heh. Ya, a good time was had by all. Even sailing in a light drizzle on a cool, overcast day couldn't dampen our good vibes yestrday - thank ford!

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Had a job interview this arvo, and they'll put me on 'trial' for three casual shifts three days next week. It's just being a general odd-bod at The Reject Shop, but it's some work at least. If I keep thinking about going to Greece, that should keep me motivated, maybe? heh heh

Ya, I know... it's absolutely not what I've been working towards, and the pay is, basically, terrible. But a job is a job... right?

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Actually, I've been having a rather 'manic' emotional day today - even before I got the interview phone call. Just feeling really... light headed and I dunno... just not myself emotionally today. A bit teary, a bit weary, a bit paranoid, a bit floaty, a bit self-worthless... oh wells, that's what you get for being insane, heh? lol

Depression is a bitch. A right "Black Dog"!

Funny... I heard an ad on the radio for this place this morning too... :) The "Black Dog Institute"

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Oh the noes! They're at it again!!!

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(*) Blanchedalmond Rosebud

A random thought... there seems to be a whole lot more females who are into the 'blogging' thing than guys at the moment, it seems... or perhaps it's just the ladies who respond more to 'Memes' than guys? Am I the odd one out? Let's hope so! heh heh

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I think today I can talk more about my Sunday than I could yesterday... I was still feeling rather agitated.

Sailability on Sunday saw us at a slightly different venue, with a few less volunteers than we normally have. So our work was gonna be cut out for us right off the bat. The sky was overcast, the wind cold and rain threatened... we thought not many would turn up. Plus there were only two 'skippers' [myself as one] for the day, compared to our usualy four or five. The first few clients turned up, so we took them out first. No dramas, right?

Well... they were two BIG boys, both with Downs Syndrome. My chap blatantly refused to co-operate with any of my suggestions in steering... once he got on board, he took the tiller and the ropes [which is fine] - and refused to do anything that anyone else suggested! Needless to say, he thought that a crash-course heading straight for the rocks of the dam wall would be a good idea... he got pretty uptight with me for assisting him to steer the boat away from imminent danger, but his stubborn refusal to accept any advice or help saw us run firmly aground in the mud!

I was feeling rather uptight... I know it wasn't his fault. There was a third young guy out there in another boat, and he was sailing on his own. Scotty [who I sailed with at Belmont the other week] needed some one-up practise for his upcoming regatta in a week or two. The guy with me couldn't appreciate why he couldn't just go out on his own by himself. Well... running aground when you have a 35-kg centreboard immobilizing you in a fairly stiff breeze was a fairly good reason!

We got ourselves towed out of trouble harmlessly enough, and off we went again. The client flatly refused any sufggestions or advice as to help the boat sail a bit more efficiently, and anytime my hand moved anywhere near the tiller, he death-gripped it aggressively! He had the sheets [ropes] wrapped around his fist as well. Well - this wasn't going to plan at all!

I was still feeling frustrated and slightly agitated at his behaviour... but I knew he wasn't doing it on purpose. It's just his way... he wanted to be in control, so that meant he did everything on his own. But from my side, he wasn't totally able to make some informed choices as well as he might have hoped.

Yes, we ran around again. At my suggestion we turn right, he went hard left - just to be spiteful, I guess! heh heh. So, stuck in the mud the second time, we once again had to await the Rubber Ducky to pull us out of the mud...

"I want to go in now" he said. Then he said something that really stung. I knew I shouldn't have taken it personally, but it really hurt.

"I hate you..."

He was just speaking out of his own confused frustration at being unable to sail the boat on his own the way he wanted to. But, in my eyes, this first sail out of the day was an absolute fiasco disaster!

We got back to shore and he got out happily enough, but the others knew what was happening and let me take five minutes to 'have a coffee break" and get my self together again.

On top of all this, my experience was fine compared to my collegue, Mr Hoon, out in the other boat with the other 'large lad' with Downs Syndrore as well. His client went absolutely bezerk - and started PUNCHING him! And not just light taps either. Verbally and physically abused, Mr Hoon had to pyhsically restrain the guy for a few seconds until he calmed down, being in a position out on the water - there was nowhere else to go! He was also nearly about to run aground himself, but couldn't do anything about it at that moment. Eventually they got back ashore fine, but Mr Hoon was visibly shaken. Mr Hoon usually holds a 'stiff upper lip' and puts on a cool calm collected face in most situations. But I could tell that he was upset. Plus he admitted he'll have some pretty bruised ribs the next day.

Blimey! What a day!

Anyways, after we both had a short 'coffee break' to gather our wits about us once again [and this was totally a new experience for me... I've never had or heard of clients reacting the way these two guys did! Golly!], we kinda looked around - and there were about twenty people awaiting a sail! Gagh!

Well, we got a third sailor out in a third boat, but the so-and-so was so selfish that he took his own son out for 90 minutes straight while just Mr Hoon and myself had to try and cater for everybody else who wanted a sail. Needless to say, we weren't too impressed with this certain individual. He seems to do this kinda thing almost every single ferking time... arrives, commandeers a boat for a few hours, then pisses off without even offering to help set up or pack up afterwards. Grrrr... talk about abusing a free community service... anyways... there always seems to be one bad apple in every bunch... he's not a 'volunteer' as such... he just has no social skills to know how to accept anyone elses' opinion or advice. This so-and-so always seems to 'know what's best for HIM' - often at the risk of his own or his son's personal safety. Many many times he's been told "No" or "Please wait a few minutes", and lo and behold we turn around and he's going off doing the exact thing he's been politely asked not to. He just does not seem to get the mesaage that there are certain safety rules we MUST adhere to - but in his opinion shown by his actions, they just do not apply to him. grrr... whenever we see him coming, we grit our teeth and smile...

But the day didn't go smoothly from there either. "What else could go wrong?" I thought. But... a huge thick heavy patch of 'sea' weed, about 300 meters wide, 50 meters across and about 100 meters offshore, made sailing decidedly awkward. The thick clump of weed [which was NOT there the week ebfeore... I know, I went from a sail from this very spot last week and it was 95% weed-free! This weed just seemed to come out of nowhere - and so thick too!] made good effective sailing almost impossible, as it would wrap itself around the centreboard and rudder of each boat as soon as they sailed off shore. This made steering almost impossible... a huge chunk of heavy thick grassy-like weed hanging and trailing off the large boards that hang out from underneath your boat to help you sail straight and steer made it nearly impossible.

Normally in another class of boat, it'd be easily fixed... you can just quickly lift the rudder and cetreboard and clear the weed off that way and keep going hapopily. Unfortunately, this class of boat are designed with a massively-heavy lead-weighted centreboard to help keep it upright and prevent it from capsizing [and which work very well, I may add] - but they're impossible to lift when you're on your own out on the water - especially when you have a client with you! heh heh

So, there were boats going in all sorts of directions, some somehow able to miss the weed and sail away happily, and others struggling to simply sail in a straight line!

Out of six or seven sails I myself went out on with different clients, I had ONE weed-free experience! Gagh!

But, upon reflection - none of the clients saw anything particularly going 'wrong' with things, as the boats were going out and coming in again seemingly OK. But to actually sail - it was bloody awful! heh heh

I can laugh about it now, but on Sunday I was a stress cadet!

And yes, thanks to the weed, I managed to run my boat aground in the mud again, on the opposite shore. I simply could not turn around! I was glad to know that I was not the only person experiencing the same hassles... even the highly experienced Mr Hoon was finding massive problems dealing with the weed. Back at Carcoar, where we'd normally sail [if there was any water there], weed just isn't a problem, as there simply isn't any!

The poor Rubber Ducky only had one guy to operate it... normally we should have two, but people simply weren't available on Sunday, unfortunately. Poor Macca spent his day struggling to tow these clumsy weed-addelled boats about in a rubber ducky in a strong breeze... not always with much success! But full credit to Macca - he did a good job in pretty trying circumstances.

How can I describe what it's like to sail a boat when you have like 10 to 20 kgs of weed clinging underneath your hull? It's like driving a car and hitting a brick wall in 2nd gear... you can literally feel the boat shudder to a standstill. And trying to actually steer and move forward with the weed attached... would be the equivalent of driving without a steering wheel on ice! Ya, it was a challenge, to say the least!

At the end of the day, we managed to get everyone out for a sail, some more than once too [which is always great!] The weed remained a problem... no matter how we took off from shore, no matter in which direction, none of us could seem to miss this massive floating patch of clinging grassy weed! Gagh! Even the poor Rubber Ducky's motor was struggling, as weed kept clogging up the propeller!

By the end of the day, once we had packed everything away, we managed a last cuppa, and altho we were all feeling emotionally exhausted and rather weary, we still managed to laugh about it.

And yes, the two boys from our first sail of the day did apologise profusely afterwards. It wasn't their fault, you know. But it still wasn't the best way to start the day! heh heh

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A new blog for you to explore: http://www.tenyjr.com/

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A new Meme for me to explore!

Random 10 - Week 98

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

Oooh... good meme! Thanx!

• "Rain" by The Beatles [1966] - Ringo's awesome drumming style and sound... who else would do a hi-hat fill? Yay! I've always enjoyed the feel of this obscure Beatles track - the B-side to "Paperback Writer"
  


• "A Quick One" by The Who [1968] - Keith Moon's rolling rumbling fills [thanx to bdinsanity.blogdrive.com for the inspiration this weekend]. I was in Year 9 at High School when I first saw an ad for the film "The Kids Are Alright" on 'Countdown'. I'd never even heard of The Who before then. I wagged a day off school, took myself into Sydney city to the movies, was totally blown away by the film [a documentry], and have been an avid Who fan ever since!
  
  
  


• The Yardbirds "BBC Sessions" CD [1997] [Ya, I usually listen to whole albums than just individual songs...]. Thanx to 'Ajax' for this CD too... there are some interesting alternative versions of some of their classic songs. Where would have 'guitar rock bands' been without The Yardbirds?
  


• "Drinking Muddy Water" by The Yardbirds - sounds like my sailing on Sunday! heh heh


• "Baby Scratch My Back" by The Yardbirds - umm... I miss...


• "I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles - a car mix CD of all their 1963-64 rock'n'roll stuff; good to rig boats by in cooler weather!


• "Long Tall Sally" by The Beatles off the BBC CDs - a great live version with some of the same attitude as the one-take official version from 1964. They really could play!
  


• "I Feel Fine" by The Beatles - one of their great classic songs and sounds; always somewhere on my playlist most weeks. heh heh


• Bob Dylan's 1975 "Blood on the Tracks" album - something a bit different from one of the old avitars of Rock.
  


• "Idiot Wind" by Bob Dylan - how I felt after a client went beresk on the water out sailing on Sunday... [sigh]

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Dirty Car Art -
brilliant use of a ready-made art source! (Thanx to teny for the link)

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"Let's Talk About S-E-X"

1. What is the longest amount of time that you've ever been celibate? Umm, right at the present time... it's been at least four years since... although i miss some personal intimacy some nights [and I wouldn't be human if I didn't, huh? heh heh], I'm happily single.

2. What amount of money would it take for you to NEVER have sex again? None. Life - take it as it comes, good and bad.

3. What is the youngest age that you can accept your own child having sex? Oh wow... morally I'd have to say 16, but in reality they may experiment from about 14... there's not a lot I can do about it. Boys will be boys... but at least they know to be 'responsible'.

4. Where is the most memorable place that you've ever had sex? Under the stars, conceiving my second son! Collaroy Plateau, Sydney, 1996! heh heh

5. If you could only have one - would you choose sex with different people or companionship with one person for life? One person for life, absolutely. Nothing is more satisfying than making love with your best friend. [sigh]

"Clothes Maketh the (Wo)Man"

1. What is the most useful article of clothing that you own? A steadily tattered yellow t-shirt I got when I was first seperated and living in Tweed Heads. It's loose, comfy - and definitely a home-only article! It's got lots of small holes all across the front. But it's kinda a bit like a "Linus Blanket" totem for me perhaps, subconsciously?

2. What is the most useless article of clothing that you own? Hmmm... a blue, red and white nylon-ish scarf! Why don't I just throw this piece of carp out...[reaches across to wardrobe and does same!] Done!

3. What is your favorite clothing accessory? Ummm... my small analoge watch, again found quite by accident buried in the sand at Rainbow Bay, Coolangatta five years ago.

4. What color dominates your wardrobe? Blue. Although Orange is my favourite colour, blue matches my eyes and goes with practically anything.

5. How many pairs of jeans do you own? Three - all of which fit comfortably, thank you very much! heh heh

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Monday, March 26, 2007

1. What kind of automobile do you drive? A 2003 Mitshubishi Lancer

2. What kind of automobile do you WISH you drove? I'm very happy and satisfied with my car now. Tis the first 'new' car I've ever owned. It even came with its New Car Warrantee still intact! Golly!

3. When is the last time you bought a vehicle (new or used)? My current car I bought second-hand almost a year ago. Great practical car [for me] at a great price.

4. What is your color of choice as far as vehicles go? White! My current car is dark blue and shows up every speck of dirt and dust! Gagh!

5. Do you regularly have your oil changed? Absolutely, every three to four months. As a new car I'm gonna try and keep it up-to-scratch.

6. How long do you generally keep a vehicle before thinking about buying a new one? Hmmm... in the past it's been about 5 years plus.

7. What kind of automobile will you buy next? I have not even begun to consider thinking about that yet! heh heh

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