World shocked (despite the fact that no one reads this)
More at 11...
Um, the promised update on the Idol experience (or "Freezing my Tits Off for Love - the Australian Idol Experience" - I haven't decided which title is catchier) obviously hasn't happened yet. I'm slack, I know, but it's not like there is anyone reading this to get on my case about it. I'll do it soon. I will. Honest.
Random link time - XT HQ EnergyXT rocks! This little piece of software is a whole buttload of fun. One of the best things I ever bought. Actually, I got it free because I was a registered owner of it's predecessor Massiva (a screenshot of which can still be found here). Demo is almost fully functional (won't reload saved .ext projects until registered) and that alone is fun to play with. Go on, you know you want to.
Friday, June 11, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Monday, May 31, 2004
And we're live....again.
After spending 12 hours in freezing cold conditions at Darling Harbour, lining up for Australian Idol auditions (no, I didn't sing - I was the moral support), my immune system finally packed it in and insisted that I get sick (more details on the Night of the Living Frozen coming soon). So here I am, enjoying a day off work (after sleeping for 13 hours) and using the time to download some new drum kits for my shiny DR-008 *drool*. Of course, the kits have been RARed up together into megadownloads (the smallest is around 18 megs, the largest I've seen so far clocks in at well over 200) and I have crappy dial-up (pair-gain on a RIM :( ) so it's taking a long while. Seemed like a good opportunity to fire fire up the ol' blog again, especially now that there is a nifty update via email function (maybe this is old news but I don't get out much).
Hmm, the dryer has just finished so I better go fold up some laundry. Yep, I sure know how to live it up on a sick day.
After spending 12 hours in freezing cold conditions at Darling Harbour, lining up for Australian Idol auditions (no, I didn't sing - I was the moral support), my immune system finally packed it in and insisted that I get sick (more details on the Night of the Living Frozen coming soon). So here I am, enjoying a day off work (after sleeping for 13 hours) and using the time to download some new drum kits for my shiny DR-008 *drool*. Of course, the kits have been RARed up together into megadownloads (the smallest is around 18 megs, the largest I've seen so far clocks in at well over 200) and I have crappy dial-up (pair-gain on a RIM :( ) so it's taking a long while. Seemed like a good opportunity to fire fire up the ol' blog again, especially now that there is a nifty update via email function (maybe this is old news but I don't get out much).
Hmm, the dryer has just finished so I better go fold up some laundry. Yep, I sure know how to live it up on a sick day.
Saturday, February 01, 2003
Things have certainly settled down in Canberra over the last week or so. There were one or two high alerts mid-week as the mercury hit 40, humidity was just a fond memory of balmy Brisbane summers and the wind couldn't make up its mind whether to gust at 40km/h or at 80km/h and often decided to do both within seconds of each other. Still, on Friday I saw a clear blue sky for the first time in over two weeks. I never thought that I would this happy to just be able to see more than 50 metres ahead of me.
H and I went for a tour of the more devastated areas of Canberra on the Australia Day holiday. We went for a walk in the Once Were Forests in the hills behind Chapman (the second most trashed suburb). The hills are black as far as the eye can see. A lot of the trees appear to still be there (we'd never been there before so we have no reference points) but all the ground is jet black and covered in a shed load of dust and ash and various other bits of debris and detritus.
I noticed a couple of weird/freaky/the coolness of nature (in a "You go, girl" type of way). The heat must have been incredibly intense in the firestorm because even the boulders I stood on were flaky and felt like they were about to crumble under my weight (I know I've chunked up a bit in the last few months but I'm not that fat yet!). The walking paths through the Once Were Forests are basically untouched. The dried and dying grass moping in the cracks and hollows still has the slightest touch of green, the path is still a compressed, dull (and definitely unburnt) brown and there is a real sense of "Well, hey, I don't know what all the fuss is about - came nowhere near me"). Finally, natural culverts and drains are full of bright splashes of green grass, most likely due to run off from people desperately saving their homes. It looked terribly out of place, and very nearly disrespectful. On the other hand, it was incredibly uplifting to see just how easy it is for things to return back to normal.
After checking out the Once Were Forests (and looking at some of the rubble and devastation from up high), we walked back to my car and decided to drive over to Duffy (number one trashed suburb). We started driving down Darwinina Terrace. The houses all looked like they'd escaped the worst of it so I concentrated on watching the road. All of a sudden, I looked up and there was nought but empty shells were people's homes had once been. It was a humbling experience.
Some of the roads into Duffy were sealed, so we parked the car nearby and went for a walk along one of the worst hit streets, Eucembene Drive. On side of the road is where the houses are supposed to be. The other side of the two-lane street is totally ACT Pine Plantation forest, which is right up to about a metre away from the side of road. Pine trees in plantations generally stand about 20-30 metres tall. These trees were also on a slight rise. As we walked past pile after pile of brick, rubble and ash, we stared in awe at what was around us. Looking at how close the pine plantation is, and how burnt out it is, I don't blame the residents for running for it. The reports on the day of the firestorm said that the fire was crowning in the trees (crowning means the flames had climbed up the trees and burning freely in the forest canopy) and were also burning up to 20-30 metres higher than the treetops as well. I'd been thinking in the week before that maybe people had themselves to blame a little bit for their house burning down. I'd learnt over the past few weeks that the vast majority of house and property loss occurs after the fire front has passed (which rarely takes more than a minute or two) and that the houses are burnt down by unchecked embers. After looking at the height of those trees and their proximity to the local residents, I'd have got the fuck out of there too. No question at all.
The devastation in Duffy seemed so arbitrary. One house sat there, virtually untouched. The houses to each side weren't there anymore. The three houses behind weren't there either. In fact, two more houses behind them weren't there as well. What kind of insanity prevailed to leave that house standing, I can't even begin to imagine. I now understand why some people felt guilty that their house was spared.
Although we didn't live in the suburb, and I felt like an intruder and a ghoulish sightseer the entire time, I feel it was necessary for the two of us to see it with our own eyes. Without witnessing the devastation and destruction, there is no doubt in my mind that I would never have really comprehended it. How could you? Sure, there have been many pictures on TV and in the papers, and I've read many "survivor stories" in the paper on local Canberra community journals. Some of those stories were incredible, but I still didn't understand. Now I think I do, if just a little.
H and I went for a tour of the more devastated areas of Canberra on the Australia Day holiday. We went for a walk in the Once Were Forests in the hills behind Chapman (the second most trashed suburb). The hills are black as far as the eye can see. A lot of the trees appear to still be there (we'd never been there before so we have no reference points) but all the ground is jet black and covered in a shed load of dust and ash and various other bits of debris and detritus.
I noticed a couple of weird/freaky/the coolness of nature (in a "You go, girl" type of way). The heat must have been incredibly intense in the firestorm because even the boulders I stood on were flaky and felt like they were about to crumble under my weight (I know I've chunked up a bit in the last few months but I'm not that fat yet!). The walking paths through the Once Were Forests are basically untouched. The dried and dying grass moping in the cracks and hollows still has the slightest touch of green, the path is still a compressed, dull (and definitely unburnt) brown and there is a real sense of "Well, hey, I don't know what all the fuss is about - came nowhere near me"). Finally, natural culverts and drains are full of bright splashes of green grass, most likely due to run off from people desperately saving their homes. It looked terribly out of place, and very nearly disrespectful. On the other hand, it was incredibly uplifting to see just how easy it is for things to return back to normal.
After checking out the Once Were Forests (and looking at some of the rubble and devastation from up high), we walked back to my car and decided to drive over to Duffy (number one trashed suburb). We started driving down Darwinina Terrace. The houses all looked like they'd escaped the worst of it so I concentrated on watching the road. All of a sudden, I looked up and there was nought but empty shells were people's homes had once been. It was a humbling experience.
Some of the roads into Duffy were sealed, so we parked the car nearby and went for a walk along one of the worst hit streets, Eucembene Drive. On side of the road is where the houses are supposed to be. The other side of the two-lane street is totally ACT Pine Plantation forest, which is right up to about a metre away from the side of road. Pine trees in plantations generally stand about 20-30 metres tall. These trees were also on a slight rise. As we walked past pile after pile of brick, rubble and ash, we stared in awe at what was around us. Looking at how close the pine plantation is, and how burnt out it is, I don't blame the residents for running for it. The reports on the day of the firestorm said that the fire was crowning in the trees (crowning means the flames had climbed up the trees and burning freely in the forest canopy) and were also burning up to 20-30 metres higher than the treetops as well. I'd been thinking in the week before that maybe people had themselves to blame a little bit for their house burning down. I'd learnt over the past few weeks that the vast majority of house and property loss occurs after the fire front has passed (which rarely takes more than a minute or two) and that the houses are burnt down by unchecked embers. After looking at the height of those trees and their proximity to the local residents, I'd have got the fuck out of there too. No question at all.
The devastation in Duffy seemed so arbitrary. One house sat there, virtually untouched. The houses to each side weren't there anymore. The three houses behind weren't there either. In fact, two more houses behind them weren't there as well. What kind of insanity prevailed to leave that house standing, I can't even begin to imagine. I now understand why some people felt guilty that their house was spared.
Although we didn't live in the suburb, and I felt like an intruder and a ghoulish sightseer the entire time, I feel it was necessary for the two of us to see it with our own eyes. Without witnessing the devastation and destruction, there is no doubt in my mind that I would never have really comprehended it. How could you? Sure, there have been many pictures on TV and in the papers, and I've read many "survivor stories" in the paper on local Canberra community journals. Some of those stories were incredible, but I still didn't understand. Now I think I do, if just a little.
Monday, January 20, 2003
Briefly updating events…
A great big thank you to everyone who rang or SMSed us over the weekend to see if we were okay. We are fine, well away from danger and really appreciate your thoughts and concern.
So far, authorities have confirmed that 402 houses have been totally destroyed. Over half of those houses were in the suburb of Duffy which at last count had lost 219 houses. Many more homes are estimated to have been damaged in some way.
The latest word about my friend in Duffy – it turns out his house survived the fire storm although many other houses in his street were not so lucky, nor was the BP petrol station that was on the corner of his street.
Canberra, famous for complaining about nothing and everything, is living up to its reputation. There have been murmurings in the media about the emergency services being ill prepared and dropping the ball on this. Similar sentiments have been echoed around the office today. Personally, I think it is possible that everyone was under prepared, and it is also entirely possible that someone, somewhere, fucked up big time. However, I also think that this fire storm would have wreaked a hell of a lot of havoc anyway. The events of the weekend to me illustrate the price you must be prepared to pay if you want to surround and permeate your urban areas with bush land. If nothing else, Canberra will be a lot better prepared next time and I would be surprised if something like this ever happened again.
Apart from all of that, there are fires still burning around the ACT, although everything is apparently under control. Once again, the smoke cover is quite heavy and I’m not enjoying the prospect of walking home from work soon.
If anyone is curious and wants to see what else is happening with the bush fires, visit the Emergency Services Bureau ACT Bushfire Status page. It’s updated several times a day at the moment, but obviously that will drop off as the fires slowly die off.
A great big thank you to everyone who rang or SMSed us over the weekend to see if we were okay. We are fine, well away from danger and really appreciate your thoughts and concern.
So far, authorities have confirmed that 402 houses have been totally destroyed. Over half of those houses were in the suburb of Duffy which at last count had lost 219 houses. Many more homes are estimated to have been damaged in some way.
The latest word about my friend in Duffy – it turns out his house survived the fire storm although many other houses in his street were not so lucky, nor was the BP petrol station that was on the corner of his street.
Canberra, famous for complaining about nothing and everything, is living up to its reputation. There have been murmurings in the media about the emergency services being ill prepared and dropping the ball on this. Similar sentiments have been echoed around the office today. Personally, I think it is possible that everyone was under prepared, and it is also entirely possible that someone, somewhere, fucked up big time. However, I also think that this fire storm would have wreaked a hell of a lot of havoc anyway. The events of the weekend to me illustrate the price you must be prepared to pay if you want to surround and permeate your urban areas with bush land. If nothing else, Canberra will be a lot better prepared next time and I would be surprised if something like this ever happened again.
Apart from all of that, there are fires still burning around the ACT, although everything is apparently under control. Once again, the smoke cover is quite heavy and I’m not enjoying the prospect of walking home from work soon.
If anyone is curious and wants to see what else is happening with the bush fires, visit the Emergency Services Bureau ACT Bushfire Status page. It’s updated several times a day at the moment, but obviously that will drop off as the fires slowly die off.
Saturday, January 18, 2003
The power is surging every now and then. The air is thick, burnt and nearly unbreathable at times. The sun has been blood red for days. Today things got much, much worse. Canberra is burning.
When we drove into Canberra down the Barton Highway on Sunday afternoon, we noticed plumes of smoke rising from the hills surrounding the ACT. I wasn't too concerned. After all, bush fires are around this area every summer. Apparently, the week before, there had been some severe electrical storms. The plumes of smoke indicated the aftermath of the occasional lightning strike. The last 12 or so months have been very dry in this area of the country. Like much of the rest of the country, there has been unseasonably low rainfall. Unlike Brisbane, Canberra generally has quite low levels of humidity. Add the two together and you've got a tinder box just waiting to be struck.
The plumes of smoke got bigger and by Monday afternoon large parts of the city were covered with a blanket of oppressive smoke as the fires in the Namadgi National Park raged on. Every wind change seemed to bring more smoke. We were pretty lucky, we thought, because the smoke was so thick that it settled like fog below our third story unit near the centre of Canberra.
Over the course of the rest of the week, the smoke got thicker and more pervasive. A rare change in the direction of the wind would bless the region with some brief respite from the lung clogging gunk that floated in the air.
The garden city, the "Bush Capital", has been it's worst enemy today. Embers, floating in the strong winds, have been drifting on to all the high points in the south and west of Canberra. These high points are largely in small tracts of parkland, surrounded by suburbia - houses, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, small suburban shopping strips - the daily bump and grind. Suburbs in the outer-south west literally back on to bush land. This afternoon and this evening, those suburbs are much smaller than they used to be as houses are burnt to the ground and the fire-front storms it's way towards the Woden valley area and the Inner South (where we live in our comfortable middle-class unit, smack bang in the middle of two of the finest restaurant districts in the nation's capital), following a path laid out for it by parks and nature reserves.
When I was buying some beer this afternoon from the local bottleo, I bumped into a friend with his partner. They were looking a bit worn out and stunned. I'd heard reports that the fire was somewhere past the outskirts of Canberra and they looked as stressed as I thought they should be. Turns out they had just left home, taking only what they were wearing and leaving one car behind. It had been raining coals and embers and was pitch black when they left. They are now staying at another friend's place a couple of blocks down the road (which was where they were heading). Their suburb, Duffy, was right in the line of fire. Dozens of houses in Duffy have burnt to the ground. My friend's place was only two or three blocks from bushland. No one is expecting their house to be there when they go back tomorrow. Everything gone.
Suburbs only 10-15 minutes drive from here are burning. As I type, I'm blowing ash of my keyboard as white flecks sneak through the fly wire in my window. Suburbs in the north-west area of Canberra are also threatened, with dozens more homes nothing but shells. Areas to the north and south of Canberra are threatened with towns like Cooma and (the nearly in Canberra) Queanbeyan face long nights of waiting and hoping.
It's bizarre that a major city, the nation's capital of 330,000 people, is facing the prospect of losing entire suburbs, with a handful more well in from the edges suffering considerable damage. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm freaking out just a little bit. This is something you see on the news, happening to Sydney or Adelaide or somewhere else. It's not something where you sit all afternoon, listening to local AM radio, waiting for constant updates and desperately hoping that friends and work-mates are okay and that no one is seriously hurt. It's unsettling to say the very least.
In case anyone is wondering, we're alright where we are. We're quite central in Canberra and there is very little parkland or nature reserves near us. What little there is is right next to Lake Burley-Griffin, which means there is no shortage of water or manpower if the unthinkable should happen.
If only everyone else could say the same.
When we drove into Canberra down the Barton Highway on Sunday afternoon, we noticed plumes of smoke rising from the hills surrounding the ACT. I wasn't too concerned. After all, bush fires are around this area every summer. Apparently, the week before, there had been some severe electrical storms. The plumes of smoke indicated the aftermath of the occasional lightning strike. The last 12 or so months have been very dry in this area of the country. Like much of the rest of the country, there has been unseasonably low rainfall. Unlike Brisbane, Canberra generally has quite low levels of humidity. Add the two together and you've got a tinder box just waiting to be struck.
The plumes of smoke got bigger and by Monday afternoon large parts of the city were covered with a blanket of oppressive smoke as the fires in the Namadgi National Park raged on. Every wind change seemed to bring more smoke. We were pretty lucky, we thought, because the smoke was so thick that it settled like fog below our third story unit near the centre of Canberra.
Over the course of the rest of the week, the smoke got thicker and more pervasive. A rare change in the direction of the wind would bless the region with some brief respite from the lung clogging gunk that floated in the air.
The garden city, the "Bush Capital", has been it's worst enemy today. Embers, floating in the strong winds, have been drifting on to all the high points in the south and west of Canberra. These high points are largely in small tracts of parkland, surrounded by suburbia - houses, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, small suburban shopping strips - the daily bump and grind. Suburbs in the outer-south west literally back on to bush land. This afternoon and this evening, those suburbs are much smaller than they used to be as houses are burnt to the ground and the fire-front storms it's way towards the Woden valley area and the Inner South (where we live in our comfortable middle-class unit, smack bang in the middle of two of the finest restaurant districts in the nation's capital), following a path laid out for it by parks and nature reserves.
When I was buying some beer this afternoon from the local bottleo, I bumped into a friend with his partner. They were looking a bit worn out and stunned. I'd heard reports that the fire was somewhere past the outskirts of Canberra and they looked as stressed as I thought they should be. Turns out they had just left home, taking only what they were wearing and leaving one car behind. It had been raining coals and embers and was pitch black when they left. They are now staying at another friend's place a couple of blocks down the road (which was where they were heading). Their suburb, Duffy, was right in the line of fire. Dozens of houses in Duffy have burnt to the ground. My friend's place was only two or three blocks from bushland. No one is expecting their house to be there when they go back tomorrow. Everything gone.
Suburbs only 10-15 minutes drive from here are burning. As I type, I'm blowing ash of my keyboard as white flecks sneak through the fly wire in my window. Suburbs in the north-west area of Canberra are also threatened, with dozens more homes nothing but shells. Areas to the north and south of Canberra are threatened with towns like Cooma and (the nearly in Canberra) Queanbeyan face long nights of waiting and hoping.
It's bizarre that a major city, the nation's capital of 330,000 people, is facing the prospect of losing entire suburbs, with a handful more well in from the edges suffering considerable damage. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm freaking out just a little bit. This is something you see on the news, happening to Sydney or Adelaide or somewhere else. It's not something where you sit all afternoon, listening to local AM radio, waiting for constant updates and desperately hoping that friends and work-mates are okay and that no one is seriously hurt. It's unsettling to say the very least.
In case anyone is wondering, we're alright where we are. We're quite central in Canberra and there is very little parkland or nature reserves near us. What little there is is right next to Lake Burley-Griffin, which means there is no shortage of water or manpower if the unthinkable should happen.
If only everyone else could say the same.
Saturday, November 02, 2002
Lots has happened but because I don't update frequently I don't remember what. However, I do sign a new lease on Monday, to take effect on 4 December. Woo! Although I'll be forking out a small fortune in start up costs etc, I'll finally be able to fulfil my dream of living the "professional couple/inner city/yuppie lifestyle". Woo! x2
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Time for a Super-Happy-Mega Update!
I'm back from week long visit of irrigation areas and the irrigation industry. It was a lot of fun, very interesting and very informative, but by God I was glad it was over by the end. I was prepared to bludgeon to death with a blunt instrument almost every other person on the trip. Once again, my hatred of people in general has been reinforced. Let's face it, people suck.
Anyway, for this trip we made our way down to Shepparton to examine water use efficiency in the Goulburn-Broken catchment area. We spoke to a wide range of people including state government statutory authorities, local landholders, land care groups and local industry. Half of us also spent a day over the border in Finley, NSW to see how they do things there (Hint: very differently). All in all, I learnt a lot about water use, and how much this drought really is making people suffer, and how much it costs financially.
Still waiting for the third unexpected emailer. Come on you slack bastard...
I spent last Saturday checking out 2-bdrm units for me and the girl to live in next year when she moves down. Unlike last time I looked, I saw quite a few nice places. Unfortunately, they're now all gone or are available now, which doesn't suit me at all. I need places available soon, not now. I can't afford all the extra rent otherwise. The real estate agent I spoke to today (who works for the nice people at Independent Real Estate) was very helpful and helped tee up a viewing of a place that doesn't come on the market until the end of November. This place is nice, and I hope after I see it from the inside it'll prove to be even nicer. Fingers crossed, I may have next year's accommodation sorted very soon.
The Underworld CD is definitely most fantastically awesome. It's even better the second and third times around. Buy it. Trust me. Of course, if you are familiar with my taste in music, you may want to have a test listen first :)
Got a third "piece" (copped a bit of flak for calling an instrumental a song - apparently a song must have words - whatever) up for anyone's listening pleasure. It's a 60sec work in progress. Sweet Helena
It's not much right now, but I plan to gradually work on it and make it an entire piece.
I'm back from week long visit of irrigation areas and the irrigation industry. It was a lot of fun, very interesting and very informative, but by God I was glad it was over by the end. I was prepared to bludgeon to death with a blunt instrument almost every other person on the trip. Once again, my hatred of people in general has been reinforced. Let's face it, people suck.
Anyway, for this trip we made our way down to Shepparton to examine water use efficiency in the Goulburn-Broken catchment area. We spoke to a wide range of people including state government statutory authorities, local landholders, land care groups and local industry. Half of us also spent a day over the border in Finley, NSW to see how they do things there (Hint: very differently). All in all, I learnt a lot about water use, and how much this drought really is making people suffer, and how much it costs financially.
Still waiting for the third unexpected emailer. Come on you slack bastard...
I spent last Saturday checking out 2-bdrm units for me and the girl to live in next year when she moves down. Unlike last time I looked, I saw quite a few nice places. Unfortunately, they're now all gone or are available now, which doesn't suit me at all. I need places available soon, not now. I can't afford all the extra rent otherwise. The real estate agent I spoke to today (who works for the nice people at Independent Real Estate) was very helpful and helped tee up a viewing of a place that doesn't come on the market until the end of November. This place is nice, and I hope after I see it from the inside it'll prove to be even nicer. Fingers crossed, I may have next year's accommodation sorted very soon.
The Underworld CD is definitely most fantastically awesome. It's even better the second and third times around. Buy it. Trust me. Of course, if you are familiar with my taste in music, you may want to have a test listen first :)
Got a third "piece" (copped a bit of flak for calling an instrumental a song - apparently a song must have words - whatever) up for anyone's listening pleasure. It's a 60sec work in progress. Sweet Helena
It's not much right now, but I plan to gradually work on it and make it an entire piece.
Sunday, October 13, 2002
Another busy but unremarkable week. I've had to finish up a lot of things at work because I'll be away for the next week, visiting various irrigation industries and related government bodies on a work-related research trip. It promises to be a lot of fun and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
It's been a week for unexpected emails. Both were pleasant surprises and were from people I wasn't expecting to hear from. Since these things usually happen in threes, I'm curious as to who will be the third emailer.
Bought the new Underworld CD today. Haven't listened to all of it yet, but what I have heard is most fantastically awesome. Highly recommended.
It's been a week for unexpected emails. Both were pleasant surprises and were from people I wasn't expecting to hear from. Since these things usually happen in threes, I'm curious as to who will be the third emailer.
Bought the new Underworld CD today. Haven't listened to all of it yet, but what I have heard is most fantastically awesome. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Man, what a weekend. You can forget about Friday night or all Saturday as I didn't do much. My Saturday night was spent watching two hours of The X-Files. Woo. I've got to slow down before I give myself a heart attack.
Anyway, very very early Sunday morning I boarded a bus full of my soccer team mates and we cruised up to Wollongong to play the Warilla Wanderers in something of a regional derby (Warilla Wanderers are associated with the Spanish club in Wollongong).
The bus trip was fun. The game not so much. It was hot (hot for a Canberran anyway), I got very little match time and we lost 4-2 after leading 2-1 and outplaying the opposition for most of the much.
After the match, we had dinner at the Spanish club. However, the food was crap and I didn't eat much of it. On the other hand, the alcohol was very cheap ($2.70 for a bourbon and coke) and I drank my share. In fact, I drank a lot of people's share. Having said that, I did very well and didn't pull up too badly the next day, which is more than I can say about some others. Some people were extraordinarily smashed to pieces. Made me look like an angel in comparison.
Might not sound like much, but it was still stacks of fun. Unfortunately, we didn't reach Canberra until about 7pm on Monday so I'm still recovering from it all.
Was worth it though.
Anyway, very very early Sunday morning I boarded a bus full of my soccer team mates and we cruised up to Wollongong to play the Warilla Wanderers in something of a regional derby (Warilla Wanderers are associated with the Spanish club in Wollongong).
The bus trip was fun. The game not so much. It was hot (hot for a Canberran anyway), I got very little match time and we lost 4-2 after leading 2-1 and outplaying the opposition for most of the much.
After the match, we had dinner at the Spanish club. However, the food was crap and I didn't eat much of it. On the other hand, the alcohol was very cheap ($2.70 for a bourbon and coke) and I drank my share. In fact, I drank a lot of people's share. Having said that, I did very well and didn't pull up too badly the next day, which is more than I can say about some others. Some people were extraordinarily smashed to pieces. Made me look like an angel in comparison.
Might not sound like much, but it was still stacks of fun. Unfortunately, we didn't reach Canberra until about 7pm on Monday so I'm still recovering from it all.
Was worth it though.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Wow. Shit. Been quite a while since I last wrote.
The girl came down to visit me for a week and just flew back home today. The week seemed far too short, but it was a fantastic time while she was here. It was just so nice to see her, hold her, hug her, brush her hair, kiss her etc etc etc (and no, I'm not being sleazy here...I'll save that for another time ;> )
I've still got the cold, although it has morphed into something more evil. I've got a wet cough, a dry cough, really sore neck joints and glands that go up and down faster than a two bit whore on a Saturday night. I don't feel well, but I'm struggling on for the time being. I've got an appointment to see the doctor this Wednesday so maybe I'm going to be better soon.
Sadly, my old dog was given the "green dream" late last week and is now my late dog. Although the dog and I haven't disagreed with each other's very existence for quite a few years now, I was still a bit sad when my sister emailed me to tell me the bad news. In a bad weekend for dogs, H's mum rang her to tell her that her old dog had died as well. Both dogs were definitely on their last legs, but it is still the end of an era.
The girl and I had an engagement party of sorts on Saturday night. It was really just an excuse to have a little party so that she could meet all my new friends down here, but still it was a lot of fun. We made chocolate fondue, which I nearly killed but it was rescued in the end. Apparently, chocolate doesn't just magically melt into liquid but tends to melt than burn and make a mess (and smell bad). As I now know, it needs things like cream or milk and marge to make a fondue. The things you learn.
I've got a nice trip to Woollongong this weekend to play soccer. I have no idea what it will be like (especially as I'm still sick) but I've never had an end of season trip so it should be fun. If nothing else, it's an excuse to have a few drinks over a long weekend.
The girl came down to visit me for a week and just flew back home today. The week seemed far too short, but it was a fantastic time while she was here. It was just so nice to see her, hold her, hug her, brush her hair, kiss her etc etc etc (and no, I'm not being sleazy here...I'll save that for another time ;> )
I've still got the cold, although it has morphed into something more evil. I've got a wet cough, a dry cough, really sore neck joints and glands that go up and down faster than a two bit whore on a Saturday night. I don't feel well, but I'm struggling on for the time being. I've got an appointment to see the doctor this Wednesday so maybe I'm going to be better soon.
Sadly, my old dog was given the "green dream" late last week and is now my late dog. Although the dog and I haven't disagreed with each other's very existence for quite a few years now, I was still a bit sad when my sister emailed me to tell me the bad news. In a bad weekend for dogs, H's mum rang her to tell her that her old dog had died as well. Both dogs were definitely on their last legs, but it is still the end of an era.
The girl and I had an engagement party of sorts on Saturday night. It was really just an excuse to have a little party so that she could meet all my new friends down here, but still it was a lot of fun. We made chocolate fondue, which I nearly killed but it was rescued in the end. Apparently, chocolate doesn't just magically melt into liquid but tends to melt than burn and make a mess (and smell bad). As I now know, it needs things like cream or milk and marge to make a fondue. The things you learn.
I've got a nice trip to Woollongong this weekend to play soccer. I have no idea what it will be like (especially as I'm still sick) but I've never had an end of season trip so it should be fun. If nothing else, it's an excuse to have a few drinks over a long weekend.
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Well, home sick again. I kept waking myself up during the night with my coughing, and I couldn't stop coughing this morning either. My throat was raw and my voice all scratchy from the abuse my cold has been dishing out.
I tried to get ready for work and go this morning. I got up at the normal time, I ate my breakfast, I had a shave and a shower. I just couldn't stop coughing and I was starting to get all achy in my joints. After I rang work to say I wouldn't be coming in (again), I went back to bed and slept for like another three or four hours. I felt so good after that. There's no way around it though, I need to be at work tomorrow, cold or no cold. I've got too much to do to take another day off work.
I roughly finished a new track Monday and yesterday. It can temporarily be found here [home.connexus.net.au/~smperris]. Just follow the link (there is only one on the page).
My girl comes down to visit me in just under a week. Yay! I can't wait. I may have mentioned this before but it has been far too long.
I tried to get ready for work and go this morning. I got up at the normal time, I ate my breakfast, I had a shave and a shower. I just couldn't stop coughing and I was starting to get all achy in my joints. After I rang work to say I wouldn't be coming in (again), I went back to bed and slept for like another three or four hours. I felt so good after that. There's no way around it though, I need to be at work tomorrow, cold or no cold. I've got too much to do to take another day off work.
I roughly finished a new track Monday and yesterday. It can temporarily be found here [home.connexus.net.au/~smperris]. Just follow the link (there is only one on the page).
My girl comes down to visit me in just under a week. Yay! I can't wait. I may have mentioned this before but it has been far too long.
Monday, September 16, 2002
Cold's suck. In fact, they blow as well. They suck, and they blow, all at the same time. Of course, instead of lying in bed, recovering after being sent home from work ("There's nothing that can't wait - go home and get better...and don't rush back either! You'll only make yourself sicker!" - I work with some really nice, cool, people), I'm logged on, checking email, updating my blog. I need help, I really do.
The very temporary link for my first ever song is here [www.autodafe.net]. Autodafe, one of the denizens of KVR, kindly offered me some space on his server for the purposes of this month's competition. When my registration with mp3.com comes through, I'll have a more permanent home.
I'm currently putting the finishing touches on my second ever track. Hopefully, I'll have a link for that soon too.
Weird thought for the day: have you ever sat there and felt the bones on your face? I mean, felt around, worked out what was bone, what was cartilage, where the cavities would be, what your skull would look like petrified and on a shelf somewhere? It's weird, but kinda cool. I was doing this because I was trying to relieve the pressure in my sinuses (once again, suck and blow) and it struck me - our faces are freaky.
Oh, and btw...
*wave EBE*
Hope you had a good party man. Sorry I couldn't be there...
The very temporary link for my first ever song is here [www.autodafe.net]. Autodafe, one of the denizens of KVR, kindly offered me some space on his server for the purposes of this month's competition. When my registration with mp3.com comes through, I'll have a more permanent home.
I'm currently putting the finishing touches on my second ever track. Hopefully, I'll have a link for that soon too.
Weird thought for the day: have you ever sat there and felt the bones on your face? I mean, felt around, worked out what was bone, what was cartilage, where the cavities would be, what your skull would look like petrified and on a shelf somewhere? It's weird, but kinda cool. I was doing this because I was trying to relieve the pressure in my sinuses (once again, suck and blow) and it struck me - our faces are freaky.
Oh, and btw...
*wave EBE*
Hope you had a good party man. Sorry I couldn't be there...
Friday, September 13, 2002
Not a huge amount has happened this week. I finished writing my first ever song earlier in the week. It's only 60 seconds long, but that's long enough to enter into the monthly competition over at KVR. I'll provide a link as soon as I have a permanent place to host it.
Work has been steady. I'm really enjoying it at the moment. I've got a sneaking suspicion that improving water quality in Australia might turn out to be something I can actually believe in and feel passionate about. That's a bit of a weird feeling because there is very little that I do care passionately about (apart from one or two very special people). Only time will tell.
Work has been steady. I'm really enjoying it at the moment. I've got a sneaking suspicion that improving water quality in Australia might turn out to be something I can actually believe in and feel passionate about. That's a bit of a weird feeling because there is very little that I do care passionately about (apart from one or two very special people). Only time will tell.
Saturday, September 07, 2002
I just changed the resolution on my 19" monitor to 1280x960. Gotta say, not bad. It'll take a little getting used to (and my make working in Rebirth a bit trickly (I think it likes a native resolution of 800x600 althought it did work fine in 1024x768) but I don't use it that often at the moment anyway. Fruityloops looks fine in it and since that is my primary host at the moment, that's all that counts. If I need to use Rebirth on a more regular basis, I can always alter the res. again.
I've really been missing H. in the last couple of weeks. It's been almost like a physical pain. I'm so glad that she's coming down to see me in a couple of weeks. It's been too long...
Once again we got thumped . We lost 7-0 to the team that is top of the table (we're in State 3). Since our goal difference already sucked, it looks like we're going to finish with the wooden spoon. At least we gave it everything today. As I thought, my infected blister gave me hell (you should have seen the pus I squeezed out of it last night!). I just couldn't run anymore and volunteered to come off early into the second half. If I stayed on, I felt like I would have let down the team.
Once again we got thumped . We lost 7-0 to the team that is top of the table (we're in State 3). Since our goal difference already sucked, it looks like we're going to finish with the wooden spoon. At least we gave it everything today. As I thought, my infected blister gave me hell (you should have seen the pus I squeezed out of it last night!). I just couldn't run anymore and volunteered to come off early into the second half. If I stayed on, I felt like I would have let down the team.
Friday, September 06, 2002
Thursday, September 05, 2002
Ooh, it's been a few days since I updated this. I know, I've been slack. However, there's really not been all that much to say. I moved into a new section at work on Monday and will spend the next three months immersing myself in issues relating water quality, salinity, environmental flows and all things Murray-Darling. Promises to be a lot of fun, but also a hell of a lot of work. Still, it will definitely be worth it.
I tasted the bitter taste of eBay defeat - slammed down within the last 5 minutes. It's a good thing to because I got caught up in the bidding a little and was prepared to pay a bit more than I can probably justify. Even the price I finally settled on was still only 25% of RRP. Oh well B4, even though I never knew you, I'll miss you so. Someone even offered to sell me a copy of the software for $30 plus P+P. I've got a suspicion that this was in fact warez ($30 for something that retails between $400 and $500? I think I'm right to be a little suspicious) so I reluctantly turned it down. Call me strange, but to me it's theft. If other people can do it and sleep at night, that's there problem. It's just not for me. A lot of time and effort goes into developing these products and everyone still has the right to earn a living. That's the problem with the internet - it's raised a whole generation of people who seem to believe that they should get everything for nothing. I guess I'll just have to settle for free imitations (like the B5 sound module offered by SampleTank).
Have had a bit of trouble getting motivated lately. Even though I'm finally getting enough sleep, I'm still having trouble staying awake and keeping energised. Sometimes it sucks to be so far away from all your loved ones.
The wedding plans are moving along nicely (no thanks to me of course...there's not much you can do when you live 1300kms away from the organisation of it). The venue and reception have been booked and a large chunk of the "little things" have been squared away. I wish I could help more, I really do, but my options are somewhat limited.
I tasted the bitter taste of eBay defeat - slammed down within the last 5 minutes. It's a good thing to because I got caught up in the bidding a little and was prepared to pay a bit more than I can probably justify. Even the price I finally settled on was still only 25% of RRP. Oh well B4, even though I never knew you, I'll miss you so. Someone even offered to sell me a copy of the software for $30 plus P+P. I've got a suspicion that this was in fact warez ($30 for something that retails between $400 and $500? I think I'm right to be a little suspicious) so I reluctantly turned it down. Call me strange, but to me it's theft. If other people can do it and sleep at night, that's there problem. It's just not for me. A lot of time and effort goes into developing these products and everyone still has the right to earn a living. That's the problem with the internet - it's raised a whole generation of people who seem to believe that they should get everything for nothing. I guess I'll just have to settle for free imitations (like the B5 sound module offered by SampleTank).
Have had a bit of trouble getting motivated lately. Even though I'm finally getting enough sleep, I'm still having trouble staying awake and keeping energised. Sometimes it sucks to be so far away from all your loved ones.
The wedding plans are moving along nicely (no thanks to me of course...there's not much you can do when you live 1300kms away from the organisation of it). The venue and reception have been booked and a large chunk of the "little things" have been squared away. I wish I could help more, I really do, but my options are somewhat limited.
Sunday, September 01, 2002
I forgot to mention that once again, I have managed to injure one of my ankles this year playing soccer (this makes the third time...). This time I did it in a particularly spectacularly stupid way by standing on the ball. I was chasing it down the side line, desperately trying to keep it in when I mistimed a left foot kick (I'm right footed). What makes it worse was that the ball had already gone out of play.
I'm glad there's only two or three games left this year. I'm not sure my body could take much more. I'm far too young to feel this old...
*sigh*
Once again my soccer team has been on the receiving end of a less than flattering score line (6-3 - in fact, we beat these guys 6-3 in the previous round too). For various reasons it just seems hard for the team to put together 90 minutes of good football. Often, we'll be all over the opposition for the first 30-45 minutes but we usually fail to make use of our dominance by scoring. Eventually the tide starts to turn against us and it's all over. Hopefully things will be better next year as everyone gets more used to playing as a team.
Once again my soccer team has been on the receiving end of a less than flattering score line (6-3 - in fact, we beat these guys 6-3 in the previous round too). For various reasons it just seems hard for the team to put together 90 minutes of good football. Often, we'll be all over the opposition for the first 30-45 minutes but we usually fail to make use of our dominance by scoring. Eventually the tide starts to turn against us and it's all over. Hopefully things will be better next year as everyone gets more used to playing as a team.
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