The old flame, life, love and fun things

Free Steak Knifes

2012-02-08T14:10:00.000+11:00

In my previous post I left a couple of things out.

While at Salvos Fyshwich, I also found a Vase in my pattern.

Ok, it’s not strictly in my pattern, but its close enough.

It is near enough that in the middle of a table setting, with flowers in it, you would not notice that the differences.

At Tinys tip shop, Mugga, hidden in the crockery we found a fair bit of my Pattern.

2 plates
6 side plates and
8 cups and saucers.

I have a plethora of cups and saucers. Mostly I use the coffee mugs, and I have only used one of the tea cups, once. So I left the cups and saucers behind.

After the Cricket

2012-02-07T14:10:00.000+11:00

Taph and I made our annual pilgrimage to the prime ministers eleven cricket match. We spent a morning in the grandstand while it rained, and at around 2pm the announcement was made that the game was a washout.

“Yippee” we both said, “We have an afternoon of op-shopping in south Canberra”.

Our first visit was to St Pauls, where I picked up two shirts and a pair of florsheim shoes for the grand total of $9. Taph pick up a silk scarf and two vintage necklaces for $1 each.

Our next visit was Salvos where we got Xmas packaging very cheaply.

A visit to Vinnies Narrumbah found us four Tupperware pantrymates for $2 each.

Tinys tip shop, Mugga got us five Rutherglen Winery Walkabout souvenir tasting glasses.

Not a bad afternoon following a mornings washout.

And I will always love you.

2012-02-06T15:10:00.000+11:00

Taph and I made our annual pilgrimage to the prime ministers eleven cricket game. This year they were playing the Sri Lankan team.

It did not stop raining, and at 2pm, the game was declared a washout.

We were unable to Kinear Julia Gillard, but we did spy Mike Whitney in the crowd.

It looked to us that he was having a chat with some old friends, and we felt it would be intrusive to interrupt him for a photo, however a number of other people were not so considerate.

With the events of Australia Day, it would have been funny to get him to reprieve this performance for Ms Gillard.

Embed link to youtube.

Gluten Free adventures

2012-02-05T16:00:00.000+11:00

Happy spider had a birthday on Friday.

She is also a coeliac so as part of her present, we baked her some gluten & dairy free biscuits.

The recipe can be found in this Gluten and Dairy free book.

It was a happy gathering where all the food was gluten free, and many of the guests brought gluten free noms.

I took a gluten free date loaf (yes it was from a packet, but the biscuits were from scratch). I also took a homemade egg plant dip.

The Best of the Platters

2012-02-04T22:20:00.000+11:00

I have had a good couple of weeks of hunting through op shops.

At Tinys, Mitchell, I found a platter in my pattern.

Yippe, this now gives me three platters in my pattern.

Taph picked up the first platter at Vinnes, I got the second at a salvos in Sydney. Now I have three.

But wait, there’s more, and that will be in a later post.

Mad Hatter - move over.

2012-01-23T15:53:00.000+11:00

After Christmas, I was in the Vinnies at Dickson, when I spotted a teapot in my pattern.

So I had to get it. But there were many reasons why i should.

1. It was in my pattern and to leave it behind would be wrong.

2. It had $5 on it, and they were having a half price on Bric-a-brak sale, so it only cost me $2.50.

This presents me with a problem. I now have four teapots, and one coffee pot.

Is this too many, I hear you all ask? I say not, and Taph, says it’s no coincidence that they are in Hat Boxes.

It’s been a while

2012-01-22T15:34:00.000+11:00

Hi all, it’s been a while since I have posted, so I figured I should start posting again.

You are all asking, what has been happening.

Well I have been away.

As I said in an earlier post, I went to New Zealand.

And saw some rugby games and met many interesting people.

The sole Georgian fan at Invercargill

Two Canadian Fans at Napier

The argentine prisioneros del rugby

I won’t bore you with too many photos. Just those above.

Oh no!

2011-09-05T12:00:00.000+10:00

One of the problems with amassing a stash of china is you have to keep it stored somewhere safe, and most importantly, don’t drop it.

Oh well, I still have a heap more stashed away, and if i clean up the broken handle, this dish can be used as a lolly holder

International TOF

2011-09-04T12:00:00.000+10:00

My search for pieces for my dinner setting has gone international.

I used to sit and look at the pieces on international ebay sites and drool, but when the Australian Dollar reached parity and beyond with US dollar, the price of getting these pieces became much cheaper, so I figured, "why not".

So i have had several weeks of fun on US and UK Ebay site, and i now have several years worth of presents for my mother.

Oh, and a few bits for myself too.

2011-09-03T08:34:00.000+10:00

Taph and I are preparing to jump the ditch and head over to New Zealand for a holiday.

The Rugby World Cup may also be happening while we are there, so we are catching a few games.

These we will see in-between enabling Taphs fibre habit, sampling the regions whiskeys, wines and chocolates. And of course, doing some skiing.

However when I heard The William Webb Ellis Trophy was coming to Yass (a country town near Canberra) I figured it was worth the trip.

Damm

2011-07-24T16:01:00.000+10:00

i have posted before about my trips to Whisky live in 2010 and 2009.

I was getting ready to go up to Sydney for Whiskey live in October, when i got the following notice.

Whisky live in Sydney is delayed until June 2011.

Damm,

Oh My God

2011-07-20T20:31:00.000+10:00

I had a recent trip to Wollongong. The trip there was relatively uneventful until we approached the city limits, where we encountered every teenage boys (and top gear fans) wet dream.

Four Ferraris out for a run together.

While i am a guy, i am not that much of a Ferrari fan, so i have no idea what models these are, so if anyone out there can help with that info, there would be sum thanks as i am not that much of a Ferrari fan.

More wine tasting

2011-07-17T20:22:00.000+10:00

Taph and i recently paid a visit to a wine tasting. The wine they had for tasting were very good

It was a winner with taph too. She tried a few fantasy wines, and they had a salvos store next door, and a knitting chair too.

Updates no 2

2011-07-14T20:05:00.000+10:00

I said in my previous post that there was more to follow, and this is much more.

Yep, The Old flame jr is going to be getting married. We celebrated the engagement at the Green Herring in Canberra*.

Its a loverly little restaurant and well worth a visit to.

*we are not associated with or received any discount from the Green Herring Restaurant for this shameless plug (But we did try).

An update.

2011-04-20T12:46:00.001+10:00

It has been a little while since I blogged, however with so many things have been happening, and not happening it has been hard to write.

First to the not happening. The paving project is progressing extremely slowly.

This is because I was able to sprain both my thumbs. (but luckily, not at the same time).

A lot of the pavers have bits of concrete stuck to them, so most evenings in the summer I was outside with a hammer and chisel, cleaning the pavers up. The problem was I did not like wearing a glove on the hand I was holding the hammer with. I felt like I lost too much control over the hammer, so I just wore the glove on my other hand.

And this hand ended up doing all the work in moving the clay pavers, which weighed around 2 kilos each, and the ligaments in that thumb got sprained.

As for how I sprained the other thumb, there is even less of a story there. I just fell off my bike. The front wheel got trapped in a little drainage culvert, and I was trying to turn, and the wheel didn't.

As an accident, it was so unspectacular that if there was a video recording of it, it would note even have been considered for a weekly prize in Funniest Home Videos. However it was enough to result in my hand being strapped for a week and a bit, and a sore thumb for a few weeks.

The photos don't show the full full purple hue that encompassed my hand, as that details was lost in the flash of the camera.

As for the other things that are happening, well stay tuned.

Shopping

2011-04-03T19:48:00.000+10:00

I went into the video shop today, and the queues at the checkouts we rather slow. I had a little bit too much time on my hands, so i reorganised a table display for them.

I wonder what the next person to the table thought?

A new Career.

2011-03-31T20:15:00.000+11:00

A number of new shops have opened at the local shopping centre.

I think in one of these shops a new career is waiting me.

Berry Goodness

2011-01-23T16:22:00.000+11:00

A friend revealed they had some thornless blackberries in their back yard, and it was giving them more fruit then they could process.

When Taph and I heard this, we sprung into action.

One and a half kilos of fruit later we were home and processing it into jam. In-fact we were able to get six big and one little jars of jam bottled.

We also got a little bonus. We were able to dig up two vines that we have stuck into pots at home. If they grow, we will have our own supply of thornless blackberries for a couple of years time.

How to tell if you are frugal?

2011-01-17T22:19:00.000+11:00

How to tell if you are frugal?

You fix broken clothes pegs.

Frugal, economical or just tight. You be the judge.

The Paving Project

2011-01-03T20:14:00.000+11:00

The paving project took a bit of a weather hit (sorting pavers in 37o heat is no fun) and health hit (with my knee playing up, and Taphs hip going out), but as the photos show we are going well and getting the pavers organised before we start laying them.

The piles of unsorted pavers are getting smaller.

the piles of sorted clean pavers are getting bigger

and the piles of pavers with concrete stuck to them are also growing (but not as quickly as the piles of clean pavers).

And Snowie the Dog has been the foreman in this whole process.

Be careful of what you wish for

2010-12-26T20:15:00.000+11:00

One of my neighbours was having their paved driveway removed, and replaced with a concreted driveway. He put a few little piles of pavers out the front , with a sign on them of "Free, please take away".

After i have taken three piles away, i asked him how much more was he planning on doing.

He pointed over to a paved driveway, and said he was getting in a bobcat to dig it up, and they were going to the tip.

At that point we agreed that i would take the lot, and he could get the bobcat driver to drop them on my yard.
When i agreed to this, i had no idea there was going to be this many pavers.

However after a few days, Taph and i were able to sort them into several piles. Good pavers, Dirty pavers that needed cleaning, and pavers that we would hang on in case we needed any half pavers.

Inorder to make the cleaning easier, i made myself an alter of frugality. a raised platform of stacked pavers that i could use as a workbench to clean the dirty ones on. Now i am out front on most nights chiseling off the bits of concrete and dirt.
It's a big job, but i have most of the Christmas break to do this in. I will have to wait until after Christmas to get a bobcat in to dig out the area where i want the pavers to go, as i doubt i will get one over Christmas.

I will post some more updates as we go along.

The forth stage of life.

2010-12-24T13:09:00.001+11:00

They say in life there are four stages.

1. You believe in Santa Claus
2. You don't believe in Santa Claus
3. You are Santa Claus
4. You look like Santa Claus.
From these photos, it looks like i have reached the fourth stage.
Merry Christmas to all.

Melbourne

2010-11-15T16:43:00.000+11:00

My work decided that i had to visit our Melbourne office for 3 days, so i figured this was a chance to explore in my off duty hours.

In my time there, i headed down to St Kilda, had dinner and watched the sun set over the bay.

A wander down Bourke St showed that Myer were in the process of putting up their Christmas Windows.

On the next night we went out for dinner in Chinatown. Don't ask me where we went. i cannot find it on google maps, but it was a delightful little dumpling place behind Her Majesty's Theatre on Little Bourke St.

On our way out of town we had an hour of so to kill waiting at the airport for our flights, however i did spot Adam Spencer in the Qantas lounge. It was a pity that i had not stunt knitting with me so i could do a proper Kineer* of him, but this was the best photo i could do.

And of course a visit to Melbourne, or Adelaide is not complete without a visit to a Haigh's chocolate shop.

* "kineered" or "kineering" is a Yarn Harlot term (and my loose use) for sneaking a photo of someone/thing, I think. I might be mis-using the term (and possibly mis-spelling it).

Good Karma

2010-10-24T11:48:00.000+11:00

I had an interesting week. On Sunday Taph and I were in the queue at the local Aldi getting our groceries.

A lady asked is she could jump ahead of us as she needed to buy one of the Aldi trolley tokens. Following my free range money challenge, I have managed to collect 15 of these little buggers tokens, so I offered her one, and suggested she pay it forward.

Later that evening, Taph reminded me that my parents wedding anniversary was coming up, and what was I going to get them. At the time I had no idea, so I said, I don’t know, however, something would turn up.

The next day I was in Salvos at Belconnen, when I spied this vase on their shelf.

This vase, along with another vase I had picked up earlier were both Johnson Brothers Summer Chintz patten, and would match thier dinner setting. I figured these would be great presents for their anniversary.

Later, when I mentioned this find to Taph that she said that Karma had decided to repay my previous good dead in full.

And the toy car? Dad collects the old matchbox toy cars, and I just gave it to him. .

Some days you can get so lucky

2010-10-12T16:28:00.001+11:00

Over the past few weeks, it felt like every weekend involved a trip to Tinys Green Shed in-order to collect some more free clothes. This last weekend was no different.

With the Thrift-mobile filled we headed for home, but the car made a detour via the Narrabundah Vinnies.

While Taph was busy going through their knitting and sewing patten, i had a quick flick through their mens wear, and continued looking at their suits. I picked out this one suit and had a look at it. Fine wool and in a size that should fit me. I tried it on, and it idid fit me. Not only that but it came with two pairs of trousers.

Now, I do own a couple of suits, however they came from Lowes, so they are a little cheap and nasty. Here was a perfect chance to upgrade.

The suit cost $35 and this got us a discount voucher for our next visit to a Vinnies.

Later that day we were down at Gungahlin and we paid a visit to that Vinnies. We found another suit there that fitted me, and they only wanted $10. However, we could not find any labels on it that said who was the maker, the style and size.

However when we looked at the lining in the strong light coming in through the window, we saw those magic words in it. Pierre Cardin.

In disbelief, we checked the Price again. It was still $10. We checked the other stuff in Taphs hands. They came to $10. This means we could use the discount voucher we had been given earlier in the day, and bring down the purchase price to $15.00.

So for $42.50 we got a Pierre Cardin suit and an fine wool suit. Both suits need to have the legs on the trousers altered and one suit needs the sleeves shortened, but still they are bargains.

When we were outside Taph and i looked at each other and said "Cue maniacal laughter".

Yass and Yarrh

2010-10-08T18:20:00.000+11:00

In my house the October long weekend does not mean footy finals or car races. Nope it usually means the Murrumbateman Moving Feast.

The idea of the moving feast is simple. Those vineyards that usually do not offer meals have a weekend where they can offer one main and one dessert. These they match with a sample of their wines.

Some places do have the idea down well. McKellar Ridge vineyard do a beef and wine pie that has some of their wine in it. Serve with a little salad, a glass of their Cabernet Sauvignon, and you get the idea.

Our first stop was to Yass, however after stopping to go to use the toilets, the Sub-Zero refused to start. The NRMA people said it was a dead battery (well it was 3 1/2 years old). After a 2 hour wait for a new battery to be put in, and a quick visit to the local op-shops, we set off for the moving feast.

However before we got there, we drove past this farm. We had to turn around and take this photo.

Torchwood Yass, i can hardly wait for the new season of Torchwood to start. Torchwood London, Torchwood Cardif, Torchwood Scotland, and now Torchwood Yass.

Our first visit was to Mundoonen Winery to try their offering. It was Charcoal Grilled Lamb, served with a salad that had a Mundoonen Shiraz Vincotto Dressing. This was matched with their Shiraz, however while waiting for our meals i sampled all their wines and decided to have their Rose instead.

Our next stop was to the Yarrh winery. We were not planning on stopping, but as we had to drive past it, and the Sub-Zero just wanted to go that way. We sampled their wines, but as their food all was Beef or Cheese, we did not have any there.

While tasting his wines the winemaker said he chose the name Yarrh as that was the original name for the region. He also said that he may do something special for next years Talk Like A Pirate Day.

We pressed on to Yass Valley wines. They were offering a Rabbit and Chicken Ragu (matched with their 2008 Barbera) and for desert a Chilli Chocolate Cake matched with their 2009 Traminer.

I am sorry, but i forgot photos of the food, but i was so impressed by their Barbera, that l left with a bottle of it.

Just next door to Yass Valley wine is Clonakilla. They have been getting rave reviews for their wines, so we paid them a visit too. I hate to say it, but after tasting their Shiraz Viognier 2009, i left their vineyard much poorer in cash, but carrying four bottles of their wine.

It was getting late by this stage, so our final stop was at Doonkuna Estate. They had finished serving food for the day but we were still able to try their wines. As there was only us and one other couple there, the manager took us out back and showed us the production shed (silly me, apart from a photo at the tasting bar, i forgot photos again). He also showed us the changes he was planning, including a Restaurant, and a Micro Brewery doing english style beers. I think we will be going back in a few months to check out the changes, so stay tuned for updates.

After this we headed home, and polished off another of our $2 bottles of wine.

Op-Shopping on Family and Community Day

2010-09-27T18:58:00.000+10:00

On Monday we were faced with a public holiday in Canberra but across the border it was a normal working day.

Hooray Taph said. Let’s go op-shopping across the border.

So we piled into the sub-zero, and set a course for Queanbeyan. Our first stop was the Red Shield Store on Morrisett Street.

Fate seems to shine on us as we got rock-star parking outside the door. However the fate gods left us as there was nothing there that followed us home. However, they do have a good supply of 4xl and 6xl Mens S/S Shirts.

We did a short walk to the Salvos Store, and all we found there was a Country road linen shirt and a jar.

Feeling that the Frugaling gods would shine on us at our next two stops, we moved the car closer, and were rewarded with another Rock-Star Car Park.

Taph picked up a jumper, and a vintage knitting patten. I found a CD for the Collection.

But our luck ran out at Bargin Hunter, and we left empty handed.

We had a quick Brunch at the Central Café as we shared a Big Breakfast.

A quick visit to SpotLight for some needles, also turned up some bargain wool.

We were finished in Queanbeyan by 12, so we set course for Cooma.

Our first visit was to the Red Shield store. For the grand total of $10 we got a shirt each, a Tupperware mixing bowl, some genuine Croqs and a selection of knitting patterns.

We headed down to the Vinnies and got a Book, Shirt and knitting pattern.

We decided the day was still young, and Adaminaby was 30 minutes away. The cruise control on the Sub-Zero got us there well before closing.

It is easy to find, there is one main shopping street, and it is supporting the Snowy Mountains Museum.

We had a lovely time inside. I picked up a pair of xc-skis for $5. The Bases are shot, but I will use the bindings on another pair of skis.

Taph got a pure wool jumper, Tupperware rock and serve, Cheese knives and a cook book. All up this cost us $11.50.

We took the back road home via Namadgi national park. It is a lovely road, but don’t do it if you are in a hurry.

Lifeline Book Fair

2010-09-27T16:55:00.000+10:00

Sunday was the lifeline book fair. To Taph and me Sunday is the day to go as after 2pm they mark down the books to $10 a bag (or $15 if they decide your bag is “bigger than an average supermarket bag).

We had a somewhat quiet day only returning with two bags full.

I will show you my stash at the end of this post, but a couple of things first.

In my search of the books I found 16 copies of “Dan Browns: The Da Vinci Code” Could there have been a bigger piece of pulp fiction ever written?

Well maybe by John Grisham, or Tom Clancy. There were numerous copies of their books there, but there did not appear to be 16 copies of any one of their titles there.

However in my search, i only found one book by Michael Moore.

Anyway here is a photo of my stash from today.

A quick poll for readers. What is the collective noun for a stack of “Dan Browns: The Da Vinci Code”. A couple of ideas are A Conspiracy, A Pulp or A Pyre? If you can think of anything that seems appropriate post it. The best suggestion posted by 3 October 2010 will win a prize. (it may or may not include a copy of Da Vinci Code).

Whiskey live 2010 pt 2

2010-09-25T17:01:00.000+10:00

We arrived at Randwick racecourse shortly after Whiskey live opened.

Usually i have a saying, "when confronted with a choice of two evils, choose the one you have not tried before".

On this night, that gave me a problem. I was going to try and sample all the whiskey there, that i had not tried before.

A little while later I realised that i set myself an ill fated goal. It would not be possible to try and taste all the whiskeys there that i had not tasted before.

I set myself this goal before i realised the sheer number of whiskies that would be available, however, I gave this goal a valiant effort, but was overcome by the sheer numbers of whiskeys there.

I was faced with a challenge that not even Don Quixote would accept.

I had a little break while doing a masterclass on the effects of Oak, only to be confronted by more whiskies back in the main hall.

By this stage the night got a little hazie, so i will finish by saying it was a wonderful night.

And i am waiting with a baited breath for whiskey live 2011.

Whiskey live 2010

2010-09-24T17:01:00.000+10:00

So a couple of weeks ago, Rocky Wobbly and myself decide to go on a road trip.

We head off for Sydney for the weekend (and Whiskey live 2.0
or 2010).

Our first stop was at Truckstop 31 at Marulan.

The restaurant there used to do great meals, however it recently changed hands, and the food is even better now.

After checking into our hotel, we ventured out to Coggee oval to watch Randwick take on Eastwood. Alas it was not a good day for the boys in Green as they went down 40-14.

However there was no time to rest after the game, as it was quickly back to the hotel, and take the 15 minute walk to Randwick racecourse for whiskey live.

This i will pick up in part two of my story.

the johnson search continues

2010-09-21T08:45:00.000+10:00

A recent visit to Vinnies in Belconnen found me these items.

I left the saucers, but i picked up the Tea set. When fate hands you something like this, it is best to grab hold.

Hot pies at the footy.

2010-08-14T09:00:00.000+10:00

It is possible to have a hot pie at the footy and not have to sell your first born child in the process. It is real easy, you take it yourself.

Recently, my father went away for a holiday, and he passed on his Raiders season tickets to me. So Taph and I went to the footy.

We took a couple of pies with us. We cooked them in the oven until they were nice and hot, wrapped them in foil, then in a couple of towels, and then put them in an insulated bag.

The guards at the footy usually don’t care about what food you bring, unless it is yummy, in which case they joke about wanting some. This is because they are usually checking for people trying to smuggle in alcohol.
So at half time, our pies were still warmer then the ones we would have gotten from the surly teenagers working at the food stalls at the footy.

And even better, the Raiders won the game.

The search continues

2010-08-13T09:00:00.000+10:00

My search for the new dinner setting continues. Recently in Salvos Mitchell I spied these. They only had the cups and saucers. I left them there as I have enough cups and saucers, and this way they could be part of a catch and release program.

This find also meant that there are still bits out there, and that the search will go on.

Of course if I was searching for the Athena Patten, or for a Sheffield Bone White set, I would have finished my search ages ago and i seem to find them everywhere.

If you look long enough

2010-08-11T12:29:00.000+10:00

If you look for long enough, you will find whatever you are looking for at the price you want.

Ages ago, taph and I picked up half a Tupperware meat marinater. At the time we used it to transport a turtle to a lake. It then got put in our pile of broken or partial Tupperware.

A couple of weeks ago, I found the other half at Belconnen vinnies. And they only wanted $2 for it.

It may be Red and Blue, but if I put a white chicken in it, I can claim it is a Rooster Carni-age.

Free range money, the final post

2010-07-18T19:22:00.000+10:00

The end of the finical year wizzed past me, and my Free Range Money Challenge finished.
I have been so caught up with some other things, so it was only tonight before I could do a final count on the cans in the back yard.
How did I go I hear you all asking?
Well I was able to save myself $93.50 in petrol dockets found.
I found $8.40 in various places. Most of it was in 5c, 10c and 20c coins. (it is funny how many people will walk over a 10c coin.)
I was able to return $49.00 in coin deposit shopping trolleys.
And finally I found $47.23 in cans, or if I was living in Adelaide it would have been $472.30.

What did I find out? Apart from this is a lot of hard work, I think my can figure points to the need for a national can deposit system.

Assuming that half the cans counted here were cans I found in the gutter (and the other half were given to me by various friends), and assuming that I would find similar numbers of bottles (I did not count the plastic bottles I found, but it was around the same number of bottles to cans), then these figures show the numbers of un-recycled cans and bottles in my little patch of the world.

And this in a city that is supposed to be the best recycling city in Australia.

Oh My God Moments

2010-05-28T16:45:00.000+10:00

In my search for a new dinner setting I have had several "Oh My God, Oh My God" Moments when i have found items in my search for the new dinner set, but i have had two recent events that are worth putting up here.

The first was while up in Sydney with Taph. In the vinnies at Summer Hill, i spied this little collection of Johnson Brothers china on the shelf. And even better it was half price. There were four cups, eight saucers and six dinner plates. I left four Cups and Saucers as part of a "catch and release" program, and took the Plates and the other four Saucers.

Then a couple of weeks later on another visit to Salvos in Mitchell i suffered a major OMG moment. On at Table, just inside the door, was a Johnson Brother Setting for eight (including the Dinner plate, Breakfast plates, Side (or salad) plates, Cereal Bowls Cups and Saucers, Teapot, Sugar dish, Milk Jug and a Gravy dish and Gravy Plate. These were all new, still with barcodes stuck on them and most also had boxes (like i said it was a major OMG moment).

it was not for sale until the following morning when it would be sold to the first person who was able to get to the counter and say i want to buy these, and according to the shop assistant, it had caused a considerate interest.

I made a quick phone call to my Father (whatever used we do before we all had mobile phones) and he and mum came out to have a look at it too. Their decision was they were not going to try and get it, but if Taph and I decided to use our bulk to Jostle, or even Maori sidestep, the other buyers in the mad rush to the counter, then they would take them.

I felt it would be fun to go and see how much interest there was in these pieces, but ended up sleeping in and having a leisurely breakfast instead.

Stop Press: I found some pieces in my patten that came up on E-bay, I decided that i should scale back the search to a watching brief (if i found any bits in op shops i would get them but otherwise i had enough) however the search for matching bits would continued. On a recent visit to Vinnies in Woden, Taph found a Johnsen Regency Platter.

Once i pay off some debts I will be buying some bits from the US sellers on E-bay.

Another Trip to Sydney.

2010-05-26T16:45:00.001+10:00

Taph and i made a recent visit to Sydney.
As we were leaving on the Sunday, we were surprised as we noticed that a Vinnies was open. This we felt this shop was worth a visit. when we went in it got even better as they had a half price end of summer sale.

They also had a advert saying that a number of vinnies would be open and also having this half price, end of summer sale. So we programmed Susan and set of with the goal of visiting as many as we could before closing time.

We did ok, and were able to visit four shops before they closed. My main find, well you will have to wait for the next blog post to see what that is

Taph felt it funny that the last time we were in Sydney we also stumbled onto a stack of vinnies having a half price sale, and this time we stumbled onto some other stores having a half price sale. We are hoping this patten holds on our future visits to Sydney.

A vintage year, and it's done in five gallon cans

2010-03-19T16:31:00.001+11:00

I try not to be a wine snob, but instead i say life is too short to drink bad wine.

However, a recent venture into a wine shop revealed that the bar had lowered when it came to wine packaging.

Wine in cans.

Well i guess it had to happen, after all we are the country who invented the Goon.

Taph and i had to try it, so we bought one can of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It did not have the famous fresh cut grass, aroma that New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs have. In fact it was a little flat,

Overall we figured it was marketed for those occasions where the place you are going does not allow glass, and you do not want to take a goon.

And who knows, with that marketing plan, we may end up buying a slab of it.

My aversion to wine in cans comes from this old "Arthur Daley E's Alright" song, which has the line "it's a vintage year, and it's done in five gallon cans"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Wine

Starting a rumour

2010-03-19T15:24:00.001+11:00

Recently the War Memorial had an open day at their Mitchell annex. We had been trying to go for several year and this was the first time we had a free afternoon coincide with an open day there.

Most people go out their and take photos of the big stuff they have there. However Taph and I were drawn towards some of the smaller stuff instead.

We spent a little time next to the Furphy water cart and tried to start some rumours. None stuck and a few old timers thought we were there as part of the show.

The Little Japanese Tank saw us doing a lot of Lt Gruber impersonations.

The Salvos van at the war memorial made us think how badly paid our serving forces are, if they need to use a salvos soup kitchen to keep them fed.

However it took every ounce of self control to prevent Taph form picking the old sewing machine up and making a break for it. But she was able to resist the temptation that this sewing machine caused, and we made our way outside.

Most of these pictures were lifted from the Riotact, as many of my pictures did not work.

http://the-riotact.com/?p=8443

http://the-riotact.com/?p=6611

Today is St Patrick’s Day.

2010-03-17T19:29:00.000+11:00

Today is St Patrick’s Day, and as I am descended from Irish political prisoners who were sent to the other side of the world in the eighteen hundreds, I will be celebrating it.

However I am also suffering from Coeliacs disease so a pint of Guinness is out. But I do have this sitting in my bar, and will be cracking it open later tonight.

The mark of a man …

2010-03-14T22:00:00.000+11:00

…Is the size of his salad tongs?
I have seen a few different salad tongs while out op-shopping. These I found on my recent trip down the coast.

Solid aluminium, these cost a dollar, and when I saw them I had to have them. They are perfect in the kitchen, or for beaning a burglar with.

I call them my real mans salad tongs, as real men can eat salad, with egg and bacon pie*.

However, I saw these salad tongs at a garage sale, and thought, this guy must be compensating for something

*I have been to many truck stops across the country, and while none have quiche, they all have Egg and Bacon pie on the menu.
**and I can say all of this without any hint of irony.

F.I.G. J.A.M.

2010-03-11T06:30:00.000+11:00

Taph and I know the location of a fig tree that hides in plain sight, so recently, over a few days, when the figs were ripe, we collected the fruit from it.

In all we got about six kilos of ripe figs from this tree, so Taph and I spent the weekend turning this into Fig Jam, and a very nice Fig and Goat Cheese Tart that we had for dinner on Sunday.
In all it cost us around $10 for the spices (gee, vanilla beans are expensive from the supermarkets. Does anyone know of a cheaper option), but we have a good supply of Fig Jam. We are also open to swaps, so let us know if you have some homemade condiments to swap.

There are more to tomatoes than dried.

2010-03-10T06:16:00.000+11:00

When we found our stash of Tomatoes, we did dry some of them, but we still had too many for my little food dehydrator to handle.

So we went for the old standard preserve of tomatoes. Sauce and Chutney.

And did we have some tomatoes for the sauce and pickles. All up we produced over three litres of Sauce and six litres of Chutney. All this and a dehydrator full of tomatoes that were scrumped to start with.

What more could you ask for?

Scrumped-tious

2010-03-08T18:24:00.000+11:00

In living our lives as frugally as possible, I thought I had set a reasonably low bar, but a couple of Saturday’s ago Taph and I got a gold medal in the 100 metre limbo.

You see, we got food, in bulk,

From the TIP.

It may sound bad, but we did not go dumpster diving. Well it is good to know how much further you can go.

But in our case it is not as bad as it sounds. You see, on Saturday we were going to the R shop, at the Mitchell Waste Transfer station, and I saw a couple of Cherry Tomato plants, just growing wild in the middle of the roundabout there.

After I parked the car, and walked back I noticed several more. In all there were about 10 tomato plants growing wild.

We picked what was ripe, and got the hell out of there, as we were scrumping.

Then we faced the problem of what to do with our ill-gotten gains. We have plenty of tomato chutney and relish from last year. The Fowlers jars are too large for cherry tomatoes, so the best option was to dry them as semi-dried tomatoes with garlic in olive oil. Taph says she has plans to use them in pizza bases.

A search of the Fyshwick markets found us some Australian grown garlic at $15.99 a kilo (we could have bought imported garlic cheaper, but this way we support Australian producers and contribute fewer carbon miles to our Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

We will feel very smug as we eat this first part of our scrumped gains.

TAPH, TOF and Susan navigating

2010-02-13T10:49:00.000+11:00

Taph and I have gone down the coast for a few days. One of the things we are doing is a tour of op-shops on the South Coast.

We have been finding them with my latest toy, an el-cheapo satellite navigation unit, that we have decided to call Susan Ivanova (but more on that later)

It has been fun to drive along and hear her soothing voice say, you are going the wrong way, In 300 meters, make a u-turn.

Which can be annoying when we know we are going in the right direction as we can see our goal ahead.

This is all because of a little glitch in its street numbering function, where quite often it has no idea where the Street numbers are, and on other occasions it send you to the wrong end of the Street.

Here is is showing me that i had 35 meters until i was at the Vinnies at Moyura, when really it was at the other end of the street, about 1 kilometer behind us.

But otherwise I cannot fault it. At least it gets us to the right street, and if I know the closest street junction to your destination, I can program it to take us there.

If anyone out there feels compelled to buy one of these things, don’t buy the cheapest. And if you do buy one, get used to it by using if for a couple of weeks driving around your home town. I did this and have realised that it prevents you from getting lost, but is no substitute for local knowledge.

I have named it after Susan Ivanova from the TV show Babylon-5 as in season one she makes the great statement that all satnav users should know

"Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out."

Scrumping Saturday

2010-01-30T22:52:00.000+11:00

Taph and I are continuing our scrumping expeditations.

We had heard of some top secret, unsprayed, blackberry bushes, so after a quick recce on Australia day we came up with a plan on how to get these blackberries and how to get them home.

You see the problem here is that they are on an island in the middle of the Murrumbidgee river.

We packed in a boggie board, a Tupperware cake dish, some ockie straps (to hold the tupperware dish in place on the boogie board), shoes we did not mind getting wet, and of course, some swimmers.

These were needed as we had to wade, swim and crocodile walk our way out to the island. We had to crocodile walk our way through the water as the water is too shallow, and the rocks t slimey to swim or walk.

It is early season so not many blackberries were ripe, but we were able to collect a enough to fill a litre container. We will be going back in a couple of weeks when hopefully more are ripe, and because of this, the location will remain Taph and my little secret.

But they were delicious on ice cream.

upcoming movies...

2010-01-06T15:06:00.001+11:00

I was having a look the other day at the Movies coming out in 2010. There might be some good movies coming out, but there are some movies, that on paper, sound pretty average, or even worse, there are some absolutely terrible sounding movies coming out. Here are my top picks and terrible picks for 2010.

Firstly, We have run out of ideas, so lets do a remake a movie, modernise a classic or make a film of a classic TV show.

A-Team A lot of people love the idea that they are making a film version of the classic TV show. I am not one of them. However as with all my terrible picks i am prepared to be surprised, if the studio can turn out a reasonable version.
The Green Hornet This TV series made Bruce Lee famous playing Kato, and it may do the same for Jay Chou
Karate Kid I am a big fan of Jackie Chan moviers, and this one i will go and see as it has him playing the Mr Miyagi role (but he is called Mr Han in this one).
Edge of Darkness This movie is based on a 6 or 8 part British mini series made in the 80s. Stars and directed by Mel Gibson.
Clash of the Titans
Footloose "The updated story of a leper"
The Wolfman
Nightmare of Elm Street I have not seen this movie, and i will not be watching this remake.
Gullivers Travels
Alice in Wonderland This version is being made by Tim Burton who is promising a darker film, that is more akin to the book, rather then the sanitised "Disney" version that we have all grown up with. it may be an ok movie, or it may fizzle.

Lets make a Film version of a cartoon, Manga or video game: As a game or manga, these titles developed a fan base, now watch a movie studio ruin them by trying to compress a the plot into a 90 to 120 minute film, with a story line that has been dumbed down for a mass audience.

The Last Airbender
Marmaduke
Prince Of Persia
The Avengers This movie and the next two come from Marvel studios. They only do film versions of their graphic novels, (and in doing so keep the storyline and characters close to the story given in the novels.
Thor
Captain America

And finally when all else fails in showbiz, lets make a sequel. The films have already preformed, and made money for us. They have a fan base, so lets milk them for another movies.

Transformers 3
Kung Fu Panda
Spider-man 4
Cats and Dogs 2
Little Fockers
Preditors
Toy Story 3
Shrek Forever After
Wall Street 2 After the Global Finical Crisis i fear this move may be a little preachy about how Greed is Bad.
Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang I am surprised this title is being released in the mainstream film. Usually a title like this is reserved for a DVD from Canberra.
And of course, The last two Harry Pothead films.

I saw these in the list of upcoming films. They are also on my to see list as they have a great cast list.

The Sorcerers Apprentice What can i say, i am a fan of Nick Cage. but will they be able to expand an animated, Mickey Mouse animated short at that, into a feature film? well we will have to go see it and find out.
The Expendables Sly Stalone, Jet Li and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. TOGETHER. IN A FILM. I expect lots of action and explosions and not much dialogue. This is not Hamlet, this a couple hours of "put your brain in neutral and don't mention the gaps in the plot".
The Fantastic Mr Fox An animated film with George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe and others.

And finally how many different Vampire / Zombie / End of the World movies can we take.

With all these quality movies coming out, i will definatly be avoiding most of these.

At the half-way mark

2010-01-01T15:18:00.000+11:00

Six months into my free-range money challenge, and things are going well.

I have made over $100 from Free Range money.

And as a bonus, on the way home from a New Years Eve party, we found this by the side of the road, our first can of 2010.

The xmass lights you have ...

2009-12-26T10:39:00.001+11:00

When you do not want xmass lights.

In the highly competitive world of neighbourhood xmass lights, these are the lights you have when the rest of your street put up xmass lights.

The local paper runs a best lights contest. I reckon these should win it, as the ones that usually win are so kitsch and over the top.

Of course, when it comes to Xmass lights, my favourite has to be this one from America, where Jesus shoots Santa.

Growing My Johnson - The second pilgrimage to Sydney.

2009-12-10T16:51:00.001+11:00

One day while surfing the net I revisited the Peters of Kensington website. I had not visited their site for ages as i believed they were out of Regency White Patten. However i was wrong, for there, on their site was a listing for a setting for four.

It was not the fact that they had a setting for four on their web site, but when i was there before, i thought i had bought their last set, and if they had found another set, then what else did they find. I felt this was worth checking out.

So several weeks later Taph and i set off for Sydney. Our first stop was to the Tempe Salvos Store. It is a massive store, well by Canberra standards, and Taph and i left with armfuls of stuff.

Leaving the shop we saw the Google Streetview car going down the street on the opposite side of the road. so when Streetview comes out we will have to check and see if we can see ourselves in the photos.

Our next visit was to Sydenham. I wanted to visit the Wine Society shop there as i owe my father a couple bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label, and i wanted to see how much it was there. Taph wanted to visit the Bonds outlet shop, which is 50 meters away.

Walking back to where we had parked the car, we saw a sign for a garage sale. We had to visit it. as it was in the direction of our next stop, and we felt it would offend the op-shop gods if we did not. Taph had some luck and picked up several Storage bags.

Our next stop was at Victorias Basement in Alexandria. When i was in Sydney before they had some accessories in my Johnson Brothers patten, so i figured it was worth a visit.

From there we headed to Peters of Kensington. They had some stock, in the Regency White patten, but nothing that took my attention. However i figured i should not waste the trip and picked up four more coffee mugs. They also had some coffee mugs in my parents patten (Summer Chintz) so I made a quick phone call to them, but they said not to by any as they had enough coffee mugs.

As we drove away from Kensington, we saw a Vinnies Store in Kingsford that was open. We had to stop in and after parking the car, we walked past a Salvos family store around the corner from the Vinnies. When we got to the Vinnies we discovered that the Vinnies shops in that region were having a half price sale.

This resulted in us going to the Vinnies store at Maroubra. Needless to say after visiting that many op shops in one day, we returned home that evening with a boot.

We picked up many items that day. Some of the most notable were:

Vintage sheets for fabric stash $4 at Salvos,
4 x Ikea storage bags $2 at garage sale, and
several half price tops for Taphs Mum and myself at the various Vinnies we visited.

Growing My Johnson

2009-12-08T12:34:00.000+11:00

I have had a couple of successes in my Johnson challenge. To start with, i was in Salvos Mitchell a couple of weeks ago, and i was gobsmacked when i saw a Coffee pot behind the counter. My heart was set racing when i as i looked at it and saw, that there was no staining inside it, so it must have been unused. And it had no price tag on it.

My conversation with the sales staff there went something like this.

"damm, it does not have a price tag on it, how much do you want for it?"

"About $7."

Put my best poker face on, and count to five. "mmm, do you have any other matching pieces back there?"

She has a quick look, "Nope"

"Well i guess i will take it."

So i now have a Johnson Brothers Regency White Coffee Pot for my collection.

I have picked up some other bits, but i will talk about them in a later blog.

My Teapot (that i bought retail) and my Coffee Pot.

How time flies

2009-11-02T16:27:00.001+11:00

It has been nearly a month since i blogged, and a few milestones have passed in my free range money challenge.

1. I passed the $10 mark for cans collected. In fact i am now approaching the $15 mark. I only need 65 cans and if i can keep my average of 10 cans a day going i will pass this total soon.
2 I passed the $60 total in my challenge.

I have decided to no longer keep the money as coins in my home. While Jars of 5 and 10 cent pieces made for a nice photo, i found the concept of keeping (and advertising) that i had that much money lying around my house to be a poor idea. While $60 is not much money (in the scale of things), if i can make $60 in four months, then by the end of this challenge i will have around $200 in small change at my house (and you would not want to go advertising that you had that much money in lying around).

I also have to come clean here. Not all the cans i get are ones i find lying in the street. A couple of friends drink large amounts of brown fizzy drink and they pass their empty cans on to me. I will not mention which makers of brown fizzy drink they drink, however if these fizzy drink makers want to sponsor me i will give them a plug.

But about half the cans in my totals ido find, so the search continues. And my dog enjoys the walks.

Johnson Challenge update

2009-10-07T14:18:00.001+11:00

Taph has to get the best girlfriend award. She was in Salvos in Tuggeranong last week and she picked up a set of Johnson Brothers Regency White. This addition to my collection now gives me a table setting for 15 and i have the following pieces:

Dinner plates 27 cm 15
Dinner Plates 22 cm 4
Side plates 17 cm 17
Side plates 18.5cm 4
Cereal bowls 17
Soup plates 3
Soup Touraine 1
Saucers 24
Tea cups 25
Coffee mugs 16
Teapot 1
Sugar bowl 2
Milk jug 1

Of course the search continues for some other bits, like the serving platters etc, but the main search can now be scaled back into a watching brief.

Free Range money update.

2009-10-06T15:54:00.001+11:00

For the past three months i have been collecting free range money around Canberra, and i have finally cracked the $50 mark.

Now i hear people saying that $50 over three months equals, not much money. But this is not much money that i would have missed out on, and it has cost me nothing to collect it.

A person i work with asked me if i was worried about disease? Well there are risks involved in picking up cans that are lying around, but there are also things you can do to minimise these risks.

If you have a grabber use it, if you do not, then pick up the cans by their base only (and not the bit you drink from). This way there is less chance of touching the drinkers saliva.
Always carry plastic bags and put cans in the plastic bag. If I do not have a plastic bag, i will squash the can, and leave it there until i can come back with a plastic bag.
There are three ways to squash a can. One was is stand the can on end and step on it. Only do this if you are certain the can is empty, and if you are wearing heavy boots. Otherwise squash the can lengthwise.
Finally, get used to not touching your face/ eating unless you have just washed your hands. It takes a little while to get used to doing this, but it can be done. If you are the sort of person who when handling raw meat in the kitchen and not scratch your nose when it itches then you will know what i mean. I also carry a little bottle of antibacterial hand wash, but i will only use it if i need to wash my hands and have no other options for washing them.

Anyway, my tally's for Free Range money stand at:

Trolleys Returned $12.00
Cans found $8.93
Petrol dockets $30.00
Money found $5.50
Free range money total $56.43

What I learnt at Whiskey live.

2009-09-11T16:46:00.001+10:00

What I learnt at Whisky Live.
There are four or six whisky distilling areas in Scotland (depending on who you ask).
After it has been Distilled, all whisky has to be matured for at least three years in Oak Barrels, some will be matured for much longer.
If a blended whisky has an age statement on it, that is the age of the youngest whisky in that blend.
A Blend Whisky will usually have a mixture of Grain (Distilled in a continuous "patent" or "Coffey" still) and Malt Whisky (distilled in an onion-shaped "pot" still).
A Pure Malt Whisky will only use Malted Whiskey.
Blend and pure Malt whisky will mix whiskies from several different Distilleries until the blender achieves the taste and smell they want.
A Single Malt Whisky will mix a number of different whiskies, that have been produced from the one distillery, until the blender achieves the taste and smell they want.
Most of these whiskies will add colouring (usually Caramel) so every bottle produced is identical. If the bottle says nothing about colouring not being added, then it has been artificially coloured.
As the whisky is matured in oak casks, the whisky will sometimes have fats and or oils from the wood in it. When ice is added to the whisky, these fats can go cloudy, so they are removed from mass produced whiskies (usually by a cold filtering process). The problem is fats contain flavour.
A single cask whiskey that has not been cold filtered or had colouring added, is the best to aim for. The problem is quality costs and you will be lucky if you can find a bottle of this whisky for under $100 a bottle.
But they taste divine.

Whiskey Live - Day Two

2009-09-11T16:23:00.003+10:00

The Whiskey Live-Whiskey show was not due to begin until 4pm in the Afternoon. This left me a day to kill in Sydney. With so many options, and such little time, i decided to visit Paddys Market, and Darling Harbour. While in Darling Harbour, I stopped and drooled a little in the Lindt chocolate shop.

took a Ferry around to Circular Quay.

and jumped on a Manly Ferry. I had first lunch at Manly.

I did not eat at the bald mans chocolate shop, but i wish i had seen it earlier. I was so tempted to pick up the dish of chocolate and see how much i could drink before they caught me. It was sitting righ there, on the bench, and it was so tempting
Took the Ferry back to Circular Quay, And wandered up into town, for second lunch at Harrys Cafe.

I only remembered to take the photo of the pie at this stage of eating it, and i did not think that i could eat a second pie, so i could not stage that photo either.

The Whiskey show was at the Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, and i got there to discover tables and tables of whiskys and whiskeys.

My pick of the evening would have to be the Limeburners from Western Australia.

Although the Amrut from India

and Edradour from Scotland were also worth noting.

We ran into some other whiskey lovers from Canberra.

Yes that is right, Brendan Smyth loves a wee drop of the Dram too

And had a wonderful time. If Whiskey live in on again next year, I will be going.

Whiskey Live - Day One.

2009-09-11T16:23:00.001+10:00

The international whiskey show (Whiskey Live) was in Sydney in the First week of September. Wild horses were not able to keep me away so on Thursday morning, Rocky and myself packed our bags and headed up to Sydney.

We arrived at our motel with 30 minutes to spare before our first masterclass was due to begin. Luckily our digs were only 10 minutes walk for where the masterclasses were being held, so we were able to get there on time.

Our First masterclass was about the Whiskies of Islay. It was presented by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, and was well worth the trip. Six whiskies were presented in the masterclass, five were single case bottlings, and the sixth was a commercial whiskey from the same distillery as whiskey number four (the Laphroaig 10 year old).

The evening session was a Journey Around Scotland and was presented by a Brand Ambassador from Diageo Brands. This meant we spent the night being shown only brands from the Diageo stable.

But it was not that bad. We had eight whiskies. The first six was one whisky from each of the whisky areas in Scotland, and then we did a vertical tasting of the Talisker, as we tasted the 10, 18 and 25 year olds. He also produced a bottle of pure grain whisky, and i had a sample of it, but as i had spent the day drinking heavy peaty scotches, the pure grain had no taste whatsoever.

Free range money update – six weeks into the challenge.

2009-08-16T18:02:00.000+10:00

Here we are six weeks into the free-range money challenge, and I seem to have hit a wall. Sure I am still finding cans around the place, but it seems to be getting harder to find shopping fuel dockets and trolleys.

This is either because the credit crisis is biting harder and people are being more frugal, and either keeping their dockets or competing with me for dockets, or they are buying less and not getting fuel dockets to start with.

The six week total is $32.94, and the jar of coins is starting to get full. I will obviously have to move them into a bigger jar for the next update.

Free Range Money - The July update

2009-08-07T17:01:00.000+10:00

I have been collecting Free Range Money for a month now, and the amount collected is still growing. $21.38 in a month is good going and if i can keep this up i will make over $200 in this financial year.

Some people who i work with think i am a little strange, stopping and picking up cans all the time, but I Guess this proves the old adage of "count your pennies and pounds look after themselves".

Out of bed early on a weekend - it had better involve Snow or Surf

2009-08-07T16:59:00.001+10:00

It was a cold morning that required me to be out of bed on a Saturday well before Sparrows. In fact when i stopped for first breakfast at Marulan, it was still before Sparrows.

My quick trip to Sydney was to pick up some stuff for my parents. While searching for bits for my Johnson I found bits for their Johnson . If you know my parents, then please do not mention this to them. One piece is being held for my mothers birthday, the other for mothers day. However, they already know about the teapot as i had to find out if they wanted a second teapot, but they do not know about the other bits.

After picking up this stuff i went over to Victoria's Basement at Alburn (due to a major stuff up i did not have a Sydney street directory in the car and the Alburn shop was the only one i could find without using a map and that had free parking), When i got there, all they had was five tea sets. I figured i did not need another tea set.

Following Parramatta road into the city, i passed this Salvos (which i later found was at Ashfield), and i figured i would offend the op shop gods if i did not stop in.

It was a good litle shop. For $6 i got a Bodum coffee plunger and four tulip shaped wine tasting glasses.

I continued to Peters of Kensington, I figured the op shop gods were smiling on me as the Mitsubishi-Zero got Rock star parking at the door.

I got inside and discovered they had one dinner setting left in my style. I also grabbed six coffee mugs, and the assistant asked if I did not want the last four mugs, So i grabbed them too. All in all a good shopping day in Sydney.

Finally, I had a prophecy to keep. I told Taph ages ago that the only thing to get me out of bed early on a weekend had better involve Surf or Snow, So i went to Bondi for a late lunch.

Oh No

2009-08-07T16:54:00.000+10:00

The Old Flame Junior (OFJ) managed to get her driving licence a couple of weeks ago, so i guess i should count myself lucky that she has not yet heard of the following Canberra driving rules. Eventually she will, as she is driving in Canberra.
In the mean time you can all consider the following the next time you come to the National Capital

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN CANBERRA
1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A real Canberra driver never uses them.
2. Under no circumstances should you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, or somebody else will fill in that space, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
3. Crossing two or more lanes in a single lane change is considered "going with the flow."
4. The faster you drive through a red light, the less chance you have of getting hit.
5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork. The other guy doesn't have anything to lose.
6. Braking is to be done as hard and as late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a nice, relaxing foot massage as the brake pedal pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to stretch your legs.
7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as suggestions and apparently not enforceable in the metro area during rush hour.
8. Please remember that there is no such thing as a shortcut during rush-hour traffic in Canberra.
9. Always slow down and rubber-neck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tyre.
10. Everybody thinks their vehicle is better than yours, especially 4WD drivers.
11. Learn to swerve abruptly. Canberra is the home of High-Speed Slalom Driving thanks to the Urban services, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes, not forgetting the 'Test your skill' chicanes in suburbs.
12. It is traditional in Canberra to honk your horn at cars that don't move the instant the light changes.
13. Seeking eye contact with another driver revokes your right of way.
14. Never take a green light at face value. Always look right and left before proceeding.
15. Remember that the goal of every Sydney driver is to get there first, by whatever means necessary.
16. Real Canberra women drivers can put on pantyhose and apply eye makeup at 75 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
17. Real Canberra men drivers can remove pantyhose and a bra at 95 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
18. Heavy fog and rain are no reasons to change any of the previously listed rules. These weather conditions are God's way ensuring a natural selection process for body shops, junkyards, and new vehicle sales. It is an acceptable practise to increase your speed in comparison to the rate of rain fall, ie: the harder it rains, the faster you go.
19. There is a commonly held belief in Canberra that highspeed tailgating in heavy traffic reduces petrol consumption as you get sucked along in the slipstream of the car in front.
20. It's OK to cut off fully loaded semi-trailers, road trains and buses because, hell - they have brakes.
21. It is an essential duty of the driver to preserve the life of his passengers. Hence no matter how much of an inconvenience it may be, always find a detour around The Causeway, Lower Kambah, Scullin, Area's of Ainslie, Queanbeyan and Oaks Estate.
22. Always anticipate oncoming traffic while driving down a one way street.
23. It's O.K when driving in Tuggeranong's suburbs to air your grievances at bad drivers by giving the "one finger salute" while screaming out "ar#ehole". But it is imperative you are driving at least a 5 litre V8 with a crow bar in your lap.
24. Canberra drivers are experts at merging, when in two or more lanes travelling in the same direction, ensure that if you see someone politely indicating, waiting slowly trying to merge into your lane, show them that they must 'Wait their turn' to use your lane. Speed up, try to cut them off, should they succeed and get into your lane never mind that it was actually legal for them to do that, ensure that your flash your lights, honk your horn, use extreme hand gestures, even tailgate them, just to let them know, IT WAS YOUR LANE.
25. Ensure that when merging into traffic travelling at any more than 40kph that you stop in the merging lane, backing up traffic for miles behind you, ensuring that you have given yourself or no-one else that opportunity to merge. Again forget that the traffic hand book states that you should speed up to meet traffic speed then merge. If you are travelling in a lane near a merge lane, don't changes lanes to make it easy for them, instead see rule 24. After all they deserve it.
26. While using Canberra roundabouts, particularly two lane roundabouts, ENSURE that you are in the left lane to turn right, or the right to turn left, hell lets keep those people in those other lanes on their toes.
27. If you are an ACTION bus driver, you must win at all costs, getting to your destination prior to any other driver is life and death. Never worry about your passengers bouncing round in the back like tennis balls, hell it's a cheap form of theme park, in fact Canberra's very own.
28. Canberra Cabs, see rule 27, except you are now qualifying for the GMC 400.
29. Pedestrian crossings - What are they?
30. If you are a cyclist, remember YOU ARE INVINCIBLE, you are stronger than ANY vehicle travelling at speed, MAKE SURE you take the whole lane for yourself, and at night NEVER use lights, remember They Will See You.
Finally, remember in the A.C.T. you get 10 points for every motorcyclist that you hit.

My Johnson is Still Growing

2009-08-02T19:00:00.000+10:00

It was a fortunate turn of events that saw me in Woden on Friday afternoon, with a few hours to kill. With this in mind I paid a visit to the local op-shops. My search of Salvos did not turn anything up.
However, when I visited Vinnies, it was as if the op-shop gods were smiling on me. For there, sitting on the table out back was a Johnson Brothers Regency White dinner setting. It was complete setting for five and had eight cup and saucers. It must have began life as a setting for eight and after some pieces were broken the owners decided to retire it. I was lucky to find it before someone else found it.
And I got it at a price that brings the project back on budget.
This bring the Johnson collection up to:
Dinner plates 9
side plates 17 cm 10
side plates 18.5cm 4
cerial bowl 7
saucers 16
cups 16
coffee mugs 4
Teapot 1
sugar bowl 1
milk jug 1

And I still have my pilgrimage to Peters of Kensington to go.

What I found at Vinnies Woden.

It is not a quest ...

2009-07-30T18:14:00.001+10:00

...if you are only going to the shops for some tobacco.

When i first started my Johnson challenge Taph said it was not a challenge it i just go to Peters of Kensington. Well we spent a month scouring op shops and ebay, and all we found was one very chipped plate in an op shop.

So i decided to test the waters and see what was around that was new. Peters of Kensington had some stuff new and i will be making a pilgrimage there, but the shock to the system was the TV shopping networks' website. I was not able to help myself and bought a tea set and a set of coffee mugs.

I do not know what came over me, maybe it was the concept of finding an internet site in Australia who had some for sale. Maybe it was because i had been looking for matching bits for my parents set for years and had only ever found some cups and saucers, and i felt this search would go the same way.

Whatever the reason, i bought these items, and blew the budget in the process. Of course now i do have a teapot and associated items.

And a road trip to Sydney in the near future.

Growing My Johnson.

2009-07-13T16:41:00.000+10:00

I have been doing the search for the pieces to grow my Johnson collection with, and i have had quite a few false positives as i spy plates that look like the set i am searching for, only to turn them over and discover that they are completely the wrong thing.

On their own the "Sheffield Bone White" looks like a "Johnson Brothers Regency White", but when you put them side by side you can see they are very different.

My reactions when finding these pieces (and one set) has ranged from an "oh dam-it" to one occasion where it took every bit of my self restraint to stop myself from smashing the pieces in disgust.

The plates at Salvos jammo

Having said that, if you are looking for replacement pieces for a Sheffield dinner setting in the Bone White Style;

Vinnies Gungahlin have a setting for four (well they did last week),
Salvos Jamison have 7 dinner plates (but one is very chipped),
Salvos Phillip have a dessert fruit plate,
as does Aussie Junk in Mitchell.

Oh well my search continues, and i hope this post helps in yours.

A quick update. Here is a photo of two plates found at Aussie junk.

And Salvos Belconnon have two cups and saucers.

Free Range Money - 12 July

2009-07-12T17:01:00.000+10:00

Well here it is, week two of the free range money challenge and I figured I might as well do a progress report.
Cans collected 131 or $1.31
Shopping trolley returned $1
Petrol dockets $7.50
Money found/given $0.20

This gives me a total free range money for the two weeks of $8.91. The recent federal government tax cut gave me an extra $8.40 a week.

I have also decided to impose some rules on myself. As this is a self imposed challenge, I can make and change rules as I please.

I cannot beg. These first two sound obvious but I have to put it on the record. I cannot beg for your money, cans or shopping dockets, however, if you decide to give them to me, then that is ok.
I cannot steal. In the same vain, taking something from private property is wrong, but taking it from a public place is ok.
I cannot go through recycling bins for cans, however if cans are obviously put into the normal garbage, then they are fair game. But it must be obvious. I do not want to go digging around in peoples garbage.

The Johnson Brothers Challenge.*

2009-06-27T22:30:00.001+10:00

My parents have used a Johnson Brothers dinner set in the Summer Chintz patten for over 20 years.

I stumbled over a Johnson Brothers dinner setting (well a nearly complete setting for four) in the Regency White patten.

I am now looking for the pieces to make a setting for 12, along with the other table setting bits (gravy boats, soup tureens, serving platters, etc) and I want to do this for around $2 a piece (well, i may pay a bit more for soup tureens and serving platters), so dear readers, if you see something, let me know.

As I find pieces I will post photos and the cost. The 14 pieces found today cost $25, and I got 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 2 cereal bowls, 2 cups and saucers.

*This is not to be confused with a “Johnson and Johnson Challenge”.

Free Range Money

2009-06-27T22:09:00.000+10:00

Well a new financial year is approaching, and it is time to start a new challenge for blog posts.

The Quest for free range money.

Aka, how much money can I find in a year just lying around. I can see four main sources for this income.

shopping trolley deposits – Several supermarkets near I frequent require deposits for the use of their shopping trolleys. Some people do not return them, so these I will take back and collect the money.
Can collecting – Aluminium cans currently have a scrap value of 92 cents per kilo, or about 1c per can.
A great man said “a penny saved is a penny earned” so any shopping fuel discount dockets found, and used (however, not the dockets I get for my shopping) can be considered free range money.
Any coinage (or notes) found in the street are to be included. This also included gifts of money (but not birthday, xmas presents money).

The goal is to prove in these tight financial times, and also that people are wasteful of the recourses around them.

I will report at least monthly on this blog, and more often if I feel like it.

No need to wine, there was plenty to go round

2009-05-03T20:56:00.000+10:00

On Sunday Taph and myself headed off to Dan Murphies for their Shiraz expo. There were nearly 70 different reds on offer and I gave it a good attempt at trying them all. The high-light of the tasting was the 2004 Penfolds Grange, but my pick was the Wirra Wirra Woodhenge shiraz. But it was too much for our budgets, however we were tempted to buy a mixed case of Grant Burge Winemakers and the Kirrihill Clare Valley Shiraz .

We heard rumours that Stuart MacGill (from the Uncorked TV show) was there, but we could not find him and kinnear him, so we had to settle with a bottle of Grange instead.

M-Yass or MY-Ass

2009-04-30T22:42:00.001+10:00

I saw a photo of this sign on the net several years ago. You would have thought Macas would have fixed it by now, seems as how it has that double-entendre thing going, but it is still next to the road between Goulburn and Yass.

When Taph and I saw it on our recent Goulburn – Yass opp shopping trip, and we could not resist taking this photo.

And for the record, MY Ass is not open 24 hours.

The Wine Update.

2009-04-27T21:16:00.000+10:00

Two quick updates to the wine making adventure.

First, The previous attempt of wine seems to have failed, but instead we think we have a vinegar mother growing.

Second, TSS got me a half box of white wine grapes. These were squashed and put into a separate container and are currently fermenting in the Bathroom.

As we find out more we will post it.

Second Hand Sunday

2009-04-27T21:02:00.000+10:00

The ACT government gave me a wonderful birthday present. “Second Hand Sunday”. All I had to do was drive around Canberra and collect the presents that people left out for me.

And what a wonderful day it was too. I picked up a number of CDs (and after listening to some of them I can see why they were being given away).
A barrel vacuum cleaner .
A carry tray with some gardening tools

Taph also picked up some stuff too
11 eleven champagne flutes1 Bodum plunger

And we picked up some stuff that we thought other people might be interested in. We got:
A CD rack (for TSS)
A large collection of plastic pots (which I passed on to a friend who I work with).
Two camp stretchers (for Taph’s brother). An antique sewing machine (for Taph’s sewing machine collecting friend)Baby toys for puppies (for Taph’s friend the Westie breeder)
Magazines for Taph’s mum
Golf buggy for transformation into a beach-going oxygen bottle carrier (For a friend who is on oxygen)

Seven things wk 13

2009-04-13T12:48:00.000+10:00

In
5 tupperware containers

Out
Mug Tree
Souvenir bottle
Big sipper bottle
Polar bear sipper
4 old data cds
1 cane basket
1 wad of paperwork
3 old bodysplash bottles (the present you give, when you have no idea what to give)
1 camera tripod

Seven Things Challange Week 12

2009-04-07T17:34:00.001+10:00

2 shirts
2 tupperware jugs
3 DVDs
1 champaine stopper

Out

1 plastic container
1 shirt
1 belt
1 glass jar
2 backpack water containers (cheap camelpack ripoffs)
2 Coathangers
1 picture hanger
1 jacket
1 pair pants
3 bags
1 packpack
2 pair shoes
2 pair sandels

Total
In: 8
Out: 19

Total for 2009
In: 81
Out: 217

I was a little slack with my outs last week, but with my hand bandaged up i did not feel like doing much. This is the final part of the cupboard of shame. At some point over the Easter weekend i will start in the room of shame.

TOF, jam and wine maker

2009-04-07T17:30:00.000+10:00

TSS has a grapevine that has grown over her fence. Earlier in the year i asked her not to prune it, as we could grab the grapes that grow on it, combine them with my grapes, and if all goes well, we should be able to make a few bottles of wine.

My graphs failed. The ants turned them into raisins. It had been so dry they were pricking the skins and drinking the juice. I tried to take some photos, but as none of my cameras have a macro lens, this is the best photo I could get.

However TSS had more success with her grapes (apart from what the possums ate), so last weekend Taph, TSS and myself spent a little while in her back yard harvesting the grapes.

There was no mention of these being used for Grape jam.

No, these grapes were squashed (the traditional way) and are currently fermenting in the bathroom.

The only question is what to call this drop. Chateau TOF is one idea. TOF Juniors Creek is another. Pure Old Panthers is already taken, and besides, i do not follow the Penrith Panthers. Besides, Pure Old Brumbies or Pure Old Raiders, just does not have the same ring.

We did not do any Dame Edna impersonations

2009-03-29T21:34:00.000+11:00

On Sunday morning Taph and I went for a drive through North Watson, and we found this little possum sitting, in a daze on the front step of a house that was being built.

We decided to try and move him, but our attempt with towels did not work so well. Taph was left with a couple of scratch and bite marks. I was sporting a several horrible gashes on the hand. We finally managed to secure him in a towel, and took him over to some trees near by. He took one look at the trees and went and curled up in the towel again.

At his point we figured, Vet, but how should we get him there. Without a box to put him in it was going to be a risky trip, but wrapping him up tightly in a towel, we set off (we figured if we keep the windows open if he starts to get agitated, we could throw him out the window.

The trip to the vet's was uneventful, but when we pulled up in the car park, he went out the window and under the car.

With help from the Staff at the Vet's, we tried to get him out from under the car, but he bolted up the nearest tree. The vet staff said they would keep an eye on him throughout the day. They also said that if we were able to catch him, then something was up with him.

This other possum is just one I found and photographed one day in Commonwealth Park. I went into these toilets and while doing my business I felt some one was watching me. I turned around to find it was this fellow.

So do not be confused, They may look cute, but possums are vicious creatures and perverts to boot.

Seven things challenge wk 11

2009-03-29T21:30:00.000+11:00

In
1 Shirt - a brand new (still had the labels on it) Ralph Lauren shirt from vinnies.
1 pair jeans
4 Video tapes (or 1 packet of video tapes)
8 CD covers (or 1 packet of CD covers)
5 Dvd covers (or 1 packet of DVD covers

out
zilch.

in 19
out --

In - 73
Out - 198

The big question i faced this week is how to count in the 1 packet of videos(which contained 4 videos) the one packet of CD covers, etc. I figured, that if i would count such things "Out" individually, then i should count them in the same way.

Seven things challenge wk 10

2009-03-22T14:39:00.000+11:00

Things are going well in the declutering exercise. Here it is week 10 and i am appraching 200 things out.

In
shirt - green, bought for St Patricks Day.
books - 2
Tupperware jug and storage container.

Out
Cap
Orphan lids - 6
Plastic containers - 10

In: 5
Out: 17

Total for 2009
In: 54
Out: 198

How to tell if he loves you?

2009-03-20T16:14:00.000+11:00

How to tell if he loves you? Well that is simple, he buys you wool. You see, i work across the road from a major shopping centre, and during some lunch breaks, i go for a wander through certain shops at this mall.

Some times, i am looking for nothing special, other times i have a focus and a specific mission. While on these shopping forays, Taph has given me "Standing Orders" that if i spy a perticilar make / brand wool for under a specific price, then i have to grab it.

Well in K-Mart i spied a few balls of "Holiday" 8 ply wool blend marked down to 80c a ball. A quick phone call to Taph confirmed the buy option on these. Well i grabbed the balls i originally spied, and then noticed a few other balls in other colours. And then other balls in other spots.

It was only when i got to the checkout i realised i had a shopping trolley full of wool balls, and it was only after going through the checkout i realised the size of the stash. All 116 balls worth, but at 80 cents a ball, it was not all that expensive.

As i was leaving a little old lady asked how much the balls were?

"80 cents each" was my reply.

"is there any left" she asked.

I said back to her, "I think i found it all", but she still disappeared back into the shop.

Seven things week 9

2009-03-15T12:13:00.000+11:00

Well I started on the cupboard of shame. The results can be seen here. Next stop is either the bag room of shame, or the linen closet of shame.

In
Curtain Tassells - two sets
Shirt
Tupperware - 2

Out
Bag of coathangers - This is a different bag to last week (OFJ had a number of childs size hangers, these are now out).
Box of old paperwork.
Acrylic jumpers - 6

Useless woollen jumpers - 5 (rejected by Taff)
Acrylic vests - 2
Sloppy joes - 4
Track pant
Bed protector
Shirt
Polo shirt 2
Pants
Caps - 5

In 5
Out 30

Total for 2009
In - 50
Out - 181

My Momma told me, you got-ta shop around

2009-03-11T16:25:00.000+11:00

While at Aussie Junk on Sunday with Taph, she saw that they had the bottom of a Tupperware microwave steamer. We gave Aussie Junk a fair looking over for the rest of it, but to no avail, so we left it there figuring we would never find the rest of it.

Predictions like that and me never seem to go well, and on Tuesday I was at Salvos in Belconnen, and "strike me pink", they had the top half of the steamer. A quick trip to Aussie junk in Mitchell followed, and behold, one complete Tupperware microwave steamer. total cost (not counting petrol) under $5.

But wait, there is more.

On Friday i called into Salvos Belconnen again, and while ferreting around i found many orphan Tupperware lids. I made a short trip to Second Chance, where i found an orphan Tupperware bottom, that i realised matched one of the orphan tops at Salvos.

When op shopping it always pays to remember the mismatched junk you find at other shops.

If anyone wants a Tea for Two teapot and two matching cups (with you and me written on them), then the Teapot is at Salvos Belconnen, and the cups are at Aussie Junk Mitchell (or at least they were last time i looked).

Seven things challenge Wk 8

2009-03-08T23:02:00.000+11:00

In
Shirts - 5
Polo shirt
Bag of coathangers
Pants - 2

Out
Serving spoon
Garlic press
Plastic lids - 5
Ice cream scoop
Sissors - 2
Cork screw
Kitchen knife
Measuring cups - 2 - no a part of any set.
Glass jars - 3

in 9
out 17

Total for 2009
In - 45
Out - 151

Seven things challenge Wk 7

2009-03-01T14:31:00.000+11:00

Seven things.

Stubby holder - promotinal item from Brumbies
DVD - The complete set of original Thunderbirds
Tupperware lid

Total in - 3

Out

Balaclava - The mutant moths got to it - Landfill
Belt 1 - vinnies
Socks 17 - vinnies
Pjs 2 pairs - vinnies
Udies 12 prs - used to wear briefs, have been wearing boxers for 3 years, so the old briefs can go. - vinnies
T-shirts 8 - vinnies
Swimmers 2prs - vinnies
CDs 16 - Box - landfill
Apron 1 - vinnies
Soundcard 1
Wallets 2 - old worn - landfill
Poloshirts 6 - vinnies
Headphones 3 broken - landfill
Cardholder 1
Pencil case 1
Mousematt 1
File of old paperwork 1
Jellymolds 2
Broken lid 1 - landfill

Out - 81

Well i finally started on the cupboard of shame, the results can be seen above.

Total for 2009
In - 36
Out - 134

Seven things challenge Wk 6

2009-02-22T22:26:00.001+11:00

In
books x 2 - op shop lovers day.
Glasses, set of - op shop lovers day.
Shirt - op shop lovers day.
Boots - op shop lovers day.

Out
T-shirts 5 - vinnies
Shirts 2 - vinnies
scarf 1 - vinnies
pillow, camping 1 - vinnies
Belt, too small and out of style - vinnies
Sheet Torn 1 - vinnies rags
Shirts torn 2 - vinnies rags
t-towel torn 1 - vinnies rags
Sock 1 (lost the other one ages ago) - vinnies rags

In 5
Out 15

Total for 2009
Total in 33
Total out 53

Room of shame, still to be looked at, cupboard of shame, still to be looked at.

Seven things challenge Wk 5

2009-02-16T08:38:00.000+11:00

In.
Book (Second hand market)
Tupperware (vinnies)
Cookbook (free with newspaper)
cds (free with newspaper)

Out
Toaster (broken - landfill)
shoes (still good, were given to me before christmas, but only now have i tried them on, dahm too small - vinnies)

In - 4
Out - 2

Dam, a poor week for outs, but in a couple of weeks time, i will get into the room of shame and that should improve my out ratio. I know you all think it is odd that i am counting out a toaster without counting one in, but last year Aldi had toasters etc for $8, so i had a spare in the cupboard. I still have a spare kettle in the cupboard.

total for 2009
Total in 28
Total out 38

Love Day. what not to get.

2009-02-12T17:16:00.000+11:00

When i started writing for this blog, i was going to try and bring a mans perspective into the mix of the other blog writers. On this front i have not succeeded (although i have a number of half finished articles on my computer).

However, the day that causes the most problems for men is rapidly approaching. That is right, Love Day is this Saturday.

Girls, how many times have you looked at the present your other half gives you on love day, and wanted to club him into submission with the nearest heavy object.

So guys, here are the list of common "Love Day" presents, and what they really mean to your loved one.

Flowers: given on Love Day. I forgot what day it was, and picked these up on the way home.
Flowers: given on Love Day eve. Damn, i got my days wrong, and picked these up on the way home.
Chocolates: I am uncreative and did not know what to get you, so i went for the traditional gift. I will have my hot cocoa before i go to bed.
Chocolates in a heart shaped box: I am uncreative and will wear a cardigan while drinking a hot cocoa , and I might keep my socks on in bed.
Spa booking or Spa gift certificate: I am out of ideas and figure this is one step above a shop gift card.
Kitchen or Other Household Appliances: Our Romance is dead, Do we have a pre-nup in place?
Lingerie: First the basics, if it is red/black/white and Nylon, then keep a safety helmet handy. In fact put it on first (the Safety Helmet), as she will be looking for a heavy object to bash you with if it is red/black/white and Nylon. I know you only intend on her wearing it for 5 minutes, but go for material that is sensual and sexy to wear, not cheap as chips and about as comfy (think about it, would you wear a pair of boxers made out of this).

Follow these ideas when buying your love day present and who knows what will happen on the evening of love day.

Seven things challenge Wk 4

2009-02-08T13:04:00.000+11:00

I am now up to week 4 in the chalange, but it has been too dammed hot to do any serious thinking about the outs.

in
books x2 (vinnies)
Tupperware (second chance)
book x1

out
books x4 (lifeline)

Total.
In 4
Out 4.

Total for 2009
Total in 24
Total out 36

Sayonara Salvos

2009-02-07T22:22:00.000+11:00

Saturday was the final day Salvos Phillip was going to be open before their move to bigger premises, 2 streets over, so the old flame and I headed down there to see what we could find.

We got there an hour before they were due to close, but they had almost packed up the store. We did snaffle a bargain on the bric-a-brac table, though. Four Tupperware champagne flutes, still in their original packaging, for $1.50.

We were dead chuffed - we've been collecting a picnic set of the wine and champagne glasses. Now the search continues for some of the wine glasses.

We may bring them out and give them a test at the opening of the new shop when TSS and Taph join me for a chicken and champagne breakfast.

Seven things challenge Wk 3

2009-01-31T12:40:00.001+11:00

IN
security screw set. (dick smith)
Steady sticks (the shopping sherpa)
3 glass jars (gift)
shorts (vinnies)
tupperware (gifts/donations)
Socks (2 pair)
magazine (subscription)

OUT
Hip flask (rusty, metal recycling)
6 glass jars (donations)
plastic container (gifts/donations)
2 t-shirts (gifts/donations)
1 pair underwear (gifts/donations)
Magazine (recycling) 4 cds

In 10
Out: 15

Total for 2009
Total in 20
Total out 32

Seven things challenge Wk 2

2009-01-24T11:49:00.000+11:00

in
Shirt vinnies
Tupperware vinnies
book vinnies
Tupperware zen collection (second chance)
Tupperware Jug
Tupperware slice tray

out.
Computer monitor x2 (charety computers)
compuer internet camera. (charety computers)
keyboard x2mouse x2
dog jacket (vinnes)
fairy floss maker (broken, landfill)
boxer shorts (vinnies)
shorts (Vinnies)
Jug (gifts and donations)

I am still not up to seven things per week yet, but six in and 10 out is a net out for the week of 4 items, and a total out of 5

Vale Muffin

2009-01-20T20:10:00.000+11:00

Vale to Muffin, the notorious sock stealer .

Those that know me know that the "Old Flame Junior" has a couple of pet Carpet Sharks (aka Ferrets). We started off with one Carpet Shark, the bossy little Sammy, and shortly after we discovered that Carpets Sharks are a social animal, and you should not keep just one, but at a minimum you need two. This is because the have sharp claws and even sharper teeth and the love to play. They do this with each other, and failing that with any thing else in the house that moves.

So for several years we had a business of just two Carpet Sharks until Nutters passed away. It was after this that we acquired Muffin, the brazen little sock stealer. She was brazen enough to try and steal you socks as you were putting them on. and there was no sitting in the house wearing just socks as she would claim these are her own and try to remove them from your feet, and stash them somewhere.

In August a friend rang and asked if we could look after a couple more. So we have six carpet sharks roaming the house, and Muffin found herself last in the household pecking order. Her personality changed, and she stopped being a sock stealer, and started just hiding around the house more.

For the past few week she has been very lethargic (well it has been hot) and when i left for work this morning she came out and ate some breakfast, along with the other Sharks.

However during lunch, i got a call from Old Flame Junior, to say that Muffin was dead. She had not moved far from her breakfast.

The Old flame Junior with the six Carpet sharks. They are l-r Muffen, Jack, Boof, Lola (smiling), Sammy and Chelsea,

The Seven Things Challenge

2009-01-16T14:57:00.000+11:00

I have decided to do the Seven things challenge. The rules i will be following are that items will be thoughtfully dealt with. Just throwing stuff out isn't part of the deal. Mindful consumption and thoughtful disposal are tenets of this particular faith.

I will report each Saturday in three categories : In, Out and Shake-it-All-About. The aim is that "Out" minus "In" will be greater than or equal to 7.

The stuff we bring in to our homes. This includes:

Stash items of ANY kind
Other forms of entertainment such as books, magazines, cds etc.
Items received by subscription, for example, magazines are to be counted.
Clothes and accessories are to be counted.
Homewares are to be counted.
Gifts received are to be counted.
Exempt are consumables such as food and other groceries and items borrowed from the library (but not items borrowed from the library and copied for keeping because that is (a) illegal and (b) not in the spirit of the challenge).

Out

Items deliberately weeded from the house. Consumables do not count. Completely worn out and non-fixable/transformable clothing, household items etc do.

Shake-it-All-About

This category is about transformation. It important to acknowledge the creative transformation of items already in the home. This might be as simple as the use of stash buttons on an old jacket to revamp it instead of buying a new one or other transformation of clothes. It might be the creation of something new for ourselves or others from stash. Some items from this category will become "outs" which is perfectly fine.

Seven Things

2009-01-16T14:47:00.000+11:00

In
2 x Tupperware
ice tray.
Stanly knife
universal remote control

Out
2 x microwave food trays (vinnies)
2 x Microwave plate covers (vinnies)
ice tray (broken - landfill)
TV remote control (broken - landfill)

Total in 5
Total out 6

Ok so it is a start. not quite the negative 7 things that we aim for, but negative 1 thing is a good start.

I am going to need a new joke.

2009-01-13T11:36:00.000+11:00

If you have not heard the the Canberra W-league team is in the final this weekend 17 January. If they win i will no longer be able to use this joke. Rocky, Wobbly and myself have been using this joke for years, mostly while at Super 14 games in April / May, which in Canberra usually means a sub zero night game, while sitting in the grandstand with other mad Canberra fans.

So here is (maybe) its last airing.

Canberrans are Tough!

10 degC
Melbournians turn on the heat.
People in Canberra plant gardens.

4 degC
Sydney residents shiver uncontrollably.
People in Canberra sunbathe.

2 degC
Italian cars won't start.
People in Canberra drive with the windows down.

0 degC
Distilled water freezes.
Canberra water gets thicker.

-7 degC
Sydney people wear coats, gloves, and wool hats.
People in Canberra throw on a T-shirt.

-9 degC
Queenslanders begin to evacuate the state.
People in Canberra go swimming.

-18 degC
Melbourne landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Canberra have a last bbq before it gets cold.

-23 degC
People in Perth cease to exist.
People in Canberra lick flagpoles.

-29 degC
Sydney people fly away to South Pacific islands.
People in Canberra throw on a light jacket.

-40 degC
Darwin disintegrates.
People in Canberra rent videos.

-51 degC
Mt. Hotham freezes.
Canberra Girl Guides begin selling Guide biscuits door to door.

-62 degC
Polar bears begin to evacuate the Arctic. Penguins leave Antarctica.
Canberra Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.

-73 degC
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
People in Canberra put on a coat.

-114 degC
Ethyl alcohol freezes.
People in Canberra get frustrated when they can't thaw their kegs.

-183 degC
Microbial life start to disappear.
Canberra cows complain of farmers with cold hands.

-273 degC
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Canberra start saying "Cold 'nuff for ya?"

-296 degC
Hell freezes over.
Canberra wins the soccer.

updated 17/1
well the girls lost so Rocky, Wobbley and myself can continue to use this joke while standing at the night brumbies games in April and May.

Things to do with fallen fruit

2008-12-30T21:46:00.000+11:00

Taph and TSS invited me to join them on the great apricot adventure of 2008. The problem was that there had been a major storm the day before and this had caused a great number of apricots to fall from the tree and start to rot on the ground.

Taph and TSS were happy to leave these on the ground, and just rake them up for compost, but I could see a much better use for them.

If we were to collect them, ferment them in a beer brewing kit, and then use a pressure cooker to form part of a still (just do not tell the customs and excise department), attach some copper tube as a condenser to the pressure release nozzle and I could make my own brandy, and then use the left overs as compost.

I even found this pressure cooker at Salvos, Mitchell, and the only wanted $8 for it. Just think, for an outlay of under $10, I could make my own brandy and vodka. I left it behind as i did not think the rubber seal was in the best condition.

That is the easy part. The hard part would be keeping the still at a constant 78 degrees. Actually after spending a night doing jam, i am so sick of apricots in my house that i have now given up on this and we have used them as compost.

X-mas gifts for men

2008-12-17T17:57:00.000+11:00

Buying gifts for men is not nearly as complicated as it is for women. Follow these rules and you should have no problems.

When in doubt, buy him a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I have a friend who owns 17 and he has yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why.
If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. "Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?" "Okay. By the way, are you through with my 3/8" socket yet?" Again, no one knows why.
If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car. A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of de-icer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why.
Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes. I was told that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, he would not have invented jockey shorts.
You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money, buy your man a big screen TV with the little picture in the corner. Watch him go wild as he flips and flips and flips. Forget the program, your entertainment is watching him have fun!
Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after-shave or deodorant. I'm told they do not stink-they are earthy.
Buy men label makers. Almost as good as cordless drills. Within a couple of weeks there will be labels absolutely everywhere. "Socks. Shorts. Cups. Saucers. Door. Lock. Sink." You get the idea. Again, no one knows why.
Never buy a man anything and then tell him he should read the instructions because the box says "some assembly required." It will ruin his special day. He will always have parts left over.
Good places to shop for men include Northwest Iron Works, Parr Lumber, Home Depot, John Deere, Valley RV Center and Les Schwab Tire. (NAPA Auto Parts and Sears Clearance Centers are also excellent men's stores. It doesn't matter if he doesn't know what the gift is. "From NAPA Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a '68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! Thanks.")
Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook (but they will barbecue). Get him a monster barbecue with a 100-pound propane tank. Tell him the gas line leaks. "Oh the thrill! The challenge! Who wants a hamburger?"
Tickets to a Wallabies game are a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to "A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts." Everyone knows why.
Men love chain saws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chain saw. If you don't know why, please refer to Rule #7 (Remember what happens when he gets a label maker?)
It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a stepladder. It must be an extension ladder. No one knows why.
Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least the Boy Scouts. Nothing says "I love you" like a hundred feet of 3/8" manilla rope. No one knows why.

yet another blog, do you want to read it.

2008-12-16T20:06:00.000+11:00

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch."
Well here i am in blog land, writing another blog, however this blog is different, as i am not writing it to be read around the world by the billions of Netizens (Net Citizens), but rather am writing it for my self.
I have a few posts planned for the future, Hopefully the first few will delve into the psyche of men. Some posts will have SBB in the title. This stands for Secret Blokes Business, and girls if you see SBB in the heading please try not to read it.
Otherwise please enjoy reading my posts.