Life in the NorthWest

December 2011

2011-12-25T20:54:00.001+11:00

It is really nice to go out with a wonderful woman like Ree who lives in such a beautiful little home. Its been a couple of years now. Just testing out my wide angle adaptor for the camera. Pretty cool toy. So this is where I spend a lot of my time these days...

Devonport Brass wishing us a Merry Happy

2011-12-22T00:51:00.000+11:00

I always love it when I see some community spirit! Here is the local brass band spreading some Christmas Cheer!

Tonight was their last night, but they've done this for a few of them. If anyone has their website I'll post it here.

Ree and Mouse

2011-06-05T14:18:00.000+10:00

Dean Saffron came to visit for a weekend to take photos of me as an adult with Cystic Fibrosis living life to the max. He inspired me to take photos. I took Dean to the Alison Track and showed him the lizard, cycled to the Don railway and paddled in the Mersey River. This photo of Ree I took when having coffee... Both these beautiful girls love me!

Frank's Family

2011-05-03T11:54:00.000+10:00

Visiting Canberra included meeting up with Frank and his family! Here pictured in front of the Canberra Hyatt Hotel (Frank, Jonah, Esther, Jacqie and Rebecca).

Canberra is always great for cycling and walking, bit of a health kick for me.

Steaming with Enthusiasm

2011-04-11T11:59:00.000+10:00

Our beloved Don Railway is run entirely by volunteers. The steam locomotive is not always in operation, and when it is in for repair or maintenance the diesel trains run.

The Tasmanian Government assists the Don railway with Tourist Development Grants, but mostly I believe the project to be self-funded. Check out their web-site: www.donriverrailway.com.au

Hydrodog!

2011-04-02T14:52:00.000+11:00

Ree's dog Mouse got treated with a Hydrodog treatment! Not sure about the orange bits stuck in her ears though... As I was busy doing important stuff like cutting up onions for relish and clearing the gutter pipe, pruning trees and cleaning car,.... Margie was busy in her Hydro trailer.

HongKong Interlude

2011-02-15T20:27:00.000+11:00

I was lucky enough to wrangle a week in HongKong. My pilot friend Jim decided to retire from Qantas and I did everything in my power to find tickets to fly with him! In Hong Kong I stayed with my friends Khami and Ned and their family which was fantastic.

Lucky to have Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, as it is the quietest and the least polluted time of the year to be there. It all came together fabulously, and I had an awesome trip!

Turners Beach

2010-12-22T00:26:00.000+11:00

I so love 'running' my circuit around Turners Beach. As close it is to civilisation I feel like I am there alone and noone hears me cough! Running past the Berry Patch and across the railway, through the fields, a few miles along the beach,... loving it!

Bus driver Wally

2010-12-15T17:47:00.000+11:00

Betcha didnt know I had a bus license? Here I am driving some Devonport Hashers to the OnOn. Below is a random picture of the Carols by Candlelight evening in Devonport.

Normally this is held at the Soundshell on the Bluff (very nice there), but this year Devonport City Council decided to hold it on some
flat oval as there was construction going on near the Bluff. The council has really ruined the festive season in Devonport. No Christmas tree, no fireworks, major road construction (in two places) going on... Not a pleasant place for tourists or locals alike right now.

Devonport Show

2010-11-29T09:50:00.002+11:00

Time for the Devonport Show! Last year the second day was such a wash-out that entry was free! This year wasn't too bad. Rain on the afternoon of the second day added a nice touch to the agricultural show with the smell of rain, food and manure all nicely mixed and wafting together. The Loane's livestock was well represented and they even had their own pavilion for the judging!

Always interesting to watch the travelling interstate 'show people' with their sideshows and stands at the show, the other animals, and the people that attend. I helped catch a budgie, Ree smuggled water into a cage for a thirsty rabbit, we petted goats and cows,...

Litter bugs in Canberra

2010-10-21T17:20:00.001+11:00

Nothing irritates me more than dumb people, women in this case, both smoking in the back seat of a car and throwing out cigarette buts. In Tasmania I have the litter-report form in the glove box... Lucky my mother in Canberra doesn't have one handy. This image was taken 20 October 17:37hrs. on Hindmarsh Drive at the Athlon drive lights. Call me pedantic, but at least I didn't report them...

Report littering: Call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or complete the Canberra Connect Feedback Form

Burnie Ten

2010-10-18T11:24:00.000+11:00

Wow, did it. Ran the Burnie Ten. Was mostly a very slow 10km jog and brisk walk and good coughing! Took Ventolin with me and had a few puffs on it during the run.I had started antibiotics again a few days before as I got sick. Two weeks without antibiotics and I am done for. Hope the antibiotics keep working for me as I really need them obviously!

I ran the Burnie Ten 10kms in 1hour and 25 minutes or so, whereas last year I got 1hour 10minutes. The difference was perhaps that I was a bit healthier perhaps, but also because i took half a Viagra which boosts your system (and gets you over the line 1/2 an inch quicker). Next year i will do the Viagra again. For the Mount Kinabalu mountain trip Viagra didn't do much in my opinion as the event was more than a few hours. Viagra will only last so long (sorry ladies). Anyways, glad The Burnie Ten is over and done with. Was a fun event, loved every minute of it.

One friendly lady on the run asked me if i had Ventolin in response to my coughing fits. When I said yes she next asked me if i had taken some! People are pretty concerned about us coughers en-route. Hamburglar, a fit and young hasher ran with me for the most part of the run. I told her, 'see we are still passing people' as we slowly jogged past a few walkers. Then I would stop and cough and 50 walkers would pass me again before I break into a gentle jog again. I turn to her again and say 'see we are still passing people', and I could see her thinking 'yes the same once we passed three times already'... At the 5.5km mark some Hashers appeared out of the bushes to give me small beer. That was the only brief stop I had I think.

Here is the run as I did it: http://runkeeper.com/user/waltervp/activity/18494287 .

PS. In the official results it said I took 1:26 but failed to deduct the 2 minutes it took to get to the starting line. This is an electronic system, and the results for everyone shows the time across the finish line as well as the adjusted time. For some reason both of mine are the same (indicating I started right up front). I started the run with Jess McDonald whose tie was adjusted 2 minutes, so I am pretty sure my actual time was 1:24. Yeah!

120 Inspirational Coasters!

2010-10-10T14:26:00.000+11:00

Wow, got a mention in the top 120 most inpirational coasters!

Hopefully the next bike ride adventure will inspire more people with disabilities to go out and take some unnecessary risks!! It's all very nice till someone gets seriously hurt, than it become hilarious...

www.coughing4cf.com for the whole story!

Watching life

2010-09-25T13:33:00.000+10:00

View from the office was interupted by Aurora men climbing trees. The above ground powerlines are a bit of a worry perhaps. Can't we move the lines?? Make us all go solar or have wireless power....

Apple Cider Vinegar?

2010-09-24T23:48:00.000+10:00

Well, lots has happened since my last entry... I went to Borneo and attempted to climb Mount Kinabalu. Ended up in Canberra Hospital after catching some nasty virus, Lauren moved back to Hobart, and I am going for a good bicycle ride again soon.

My new revelation is that perhaps the crucial ingredient in my acid/alkaline diet is the Apple Cider Vinegar.... Hard to tell when you try as many potions as I do, but I feel that the Apple Cider, with mother, is a significant factor. More later.

Time is flying...

2010-08-29T18:06:00.000+10:00

Time seems to go quickly.

Went for a nice motorbike ride this afternoon to Burnie after my run around Turners Beach. Had a good late-lunch there and rode home past Bastard and Pioneer's place in Penguin. FannyMay was pillion on my bike. Soon she will have a bike herself!

My keyring got pinned by Bastard...

The house on the edge of Turners Beach...

Recovering at home with a little plate of pre-dinner snacks for myself. Who says you have to belong to the less than 2% of people who suffer from CF, I am enjoying the CF diet, certainly not suffering there!!

More exciting things on the horizon....

Dutch Bike in Canberra

2010-08-03T21:58:00.000+10:00

Came back from holidays and brought home a Dutch Bicycle from Holland! The temptation was too great. Had three days in Holland and was flying straight to Canberra... Did cost me an additional 60Euro for a cab from Santpoort and 43Euro for British Airways to ship it from Amsterdam to London, but Qantas carries it free as a sport allowance! The bike was second hand of course.

It will stay in Canberra till I have a proper house in Devonport, probably another year...

Pulse Oxymeter

2010-06-25T16:55:00.000+10:00

Flying to Brunei in an A320 I register about 85%, and my fellow passenger, KoalaBear registers 90%. On the ground I was 95%. Assuming I am 5% below the other folks I think I might be OK! Next flight, in a week or so, I will try half a Viagra and see if I improve - that is if I remember!

Exercise

2010-06-25T12:38:00.000+10:00

Keeping fit and training for Coughing with CF in polluted environments is tricky. Walking around town is probably the best for me, but running is out - not to mention finding a place to run. The hotel gym looked good, but coughing and spitting there seemed wrong!

Hopefully we will soon get back on the training schedule and run in the tropics! I am ready for some exercise after all the flights.

Sent from my iPhone

Chinatown

2010-06-25T10:06:00.001+10:00

As most of you know I started my www.coughing4cf.com adventure. As a form of 'private diary' I thought I'd start blogging here:

Flight to KL was fine, except for the fact that I noticed my oxygen levels even in the pressurised cabin was very low. Handy to have the device with me to tell me that, but very worrying at the same time.

On board I bought a prepaid phone SIM for a few dollars. In KL I realized that this service doesn't give me Internet over the phone network. I can still connect on wireless networks, which is fine, but means I have no iPhone maps in the street when I need them:

Last night I went to meet the guys at Chinatown. I thought I wouldn't need a map..... Was told to get on monorail. People there told me to go to station X. I get there and ask for Chinatown and get told by passengers that I have to go to station Y. There I got told to go to station Z... There i saw a sign to 'Chinatown'. Walked for 40 minutes and got totally lost and decided to find a cab. There was no taxi anywhere to be found. I saw a durian stall - indicating I was miles away from the tourist routes.... Eventualy found a cab. He refused to take me to China town. But then at a petrol station someone offered me a lift. 20 Minutes later I got to Chinatown and found the guys there in minutes!

They had finished dinner... I thought finding china town would've been simple and locating them hard. With the iPhone on the Internet it would've been EASY! this is why I need Internet on the phone... Ah well.

I probably should've stayed in the same hotel as guys, but they saving money by sharing in a cheap hotel and i was worried I might be quite sick from the flight and booked the 4star Novotel. Killer, Flasher and Cheese bought lots of stuff at the markets but I am over my 15kg allowance with all my meds, so I had to restrain myself!

Today we fly to Brunei! Thrust and Ross arrived last night and we're in same hotel and will go together.

Had the best lunch in hotel yesterday!! Unbelievable yumcha style food in a buffet. That and a clean fresh room where I could nap, nebulise and shower etc made a big difference. From mow on I'll be sharing...

Sent from my iPhone

Kids in my life!

2010-06-21T00:31:00.001+10:00

No no no! Not like that! I just went out with Cindy for an hour to a local playground and tired out her grandchild Lucia (and her step-sister Bianca)... Still, nice to go to a playground and play with kiddies once in a while. Grandma Cindy does not act like a grandma at all...

Back to pH levels

2010-06-11T16:44:00.001+10:00

I heard from a nurse that when people present in hospital with blood that is too acidic they give IV fluids with Alkaline in them to correct the pH. Further research has shown that there is such thing as RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS which I would say could be something that people with CF probably constantly live with in some measure. That would explain why eating more alkaline foods might correct this tendency.

Still feeling heaps better than I have in the past, and all I can say it clearly started when I started watching my diet a little. All I do is try eat more from the alkaline forming foods; drinking a bit more green tea, have soy-milk on my muesli, add some pickles to my snacks/sandwiches, add Spirulina, which allegedly is an alkaline supplement, to my pills and potions... More of my musings, including this one, on the acid-alkaline balanced diet -here-.

Homeward Bound

2010-05-18T09:54:00.003+10:00

Plenty of stops along the way, but I managed to get back to the NW Coast of Tassie without too much trouble. Back to the domestic challenges of everyday unusual life...

Balancing pH

2010-05-17T15:47:00.002+10:00

Since I have been thinking about this acid/alkaline stuff. It is not a diet, it is more keeping things balanced. We are in general too 'acid' and need to eat more 'alakline' foods to be balanced. However a friend of mine was told by a doc who measured her saliva pH that she was too alkaline and had to eat more acid listed foods. The message is that we can go both ways, and we just need to watch it. Maybe I should get some of these pH measuring strips and see where I actually am on the scale.... But still feeling really good!

Fixing Cystic Fibrosis?

2010-05-14T17:55:00.001+10:00

People often ask me if CF comes in different severities. I guess it probably does, but some seem to fare better then others. Someone recently alerted me to the acid-alkaline diet and said from needing a lung transplant 10 years ago to 70% lung function now he swears by it (and medication/life-style too of course). I started it about 6 weeks ago and must say my lungs have been incredibly good ever since. No idea if it really is that, but... Quoting mostly from http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm (and many like it):

Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline (7.35 - 7.45). Below or above this range means symptoms and disease. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. A pH below 7.0 is acidic. A pH above 7.0 is alkaline....

The reason our pH is too acid in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables. Maybe that is why I have been relatively well!

To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods. Generally, alkaline forming foods include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, seeds and nuts. Generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.

Spirulina is an alkaline seaweed based supplement that I have been taking daily in the morning with a pickle or two in the afternoon, and watching the food lists a bit - giving preference to alkaline foods from many lists on the internet... Coincidence or not, but geez, I am starting to suspect it might be this simple diet!

Time bilong PNG

2010-05-08T16:56:00.000+10:00

Visiting Andrew in Port Moresby for a couple of weeks.

Nothing much has changed in the last decade. Still a need for high security, living in compounds, tough cars... I am trying not too drink too much. Really hard knowing there is a cupboard full of duty frees including the bottle of Canadian Club I brought, and beer in the fridge.

Food at the supermarket is incredibly expensive and food in nice upmarket expat restaurants is remarkably cheap. Needless to say every meal has pretty much been out of house.

Oh, and my Tok Pisin (Melanesian Pidgin) is still acceptable!! Enough to show off to the office staff at Andrew's Global Technologies' office in Konedobu!

Tasmanian Sign

2010-04-30T17:02:00.000+10:00

It is not often you see Tasmanian Signs. Coming down the Forth Hill last week they had roadworks. No idea what the sign on the right is, but I am sure that it is obvious to the locals.

Canberra for Easter

2010-04-06T20:19:00.002+10:00

Easter in Canberra on a moped from Motorini!

Breath of Life Concert 2010

2010-03-28T19:56:00.000+11:00

A pretty cool event, http://www.breathoflifefestival.com.au/!
Lauren and I went along for this concert. From 10am till 10pm it is a bit hard to remain entertained, but we just chose the big names.

This meant we started our day with Deni Hines. After that a few beers at Molly's as the event was alcohol (and smoke) free! After a few Guinnesses we were brave enough to face Troy Cassar-Daley and Kasey Chambers. Time out at the car for a couple of homebrews before my favourite; Diesel! This called for a celebratory drink in the car, we had a special bottle of Seven Shed Kentish Ale, cold in the esky.

And the final act was Jimmy Barnes & Band. Huge!

So lucky to have them come to us! And really, an alcohol free event when you can park the car within a hundred meters or so, and even drive off to the pub for a break, is unheard of in most of the civilised world.

Furlined State Capital

2010-03-05T19:42:00.003+11:00

Today I rode home from Woolworths with $115 worths of groceries (41 items). Not a bad effort I reckon. Real problem when you can't resist offfers like 3 for $6 when it comes to 2 liter juices and soymilk,...

On the 8km+ ride home I always laugh at the Turbo Chooks (native hens) which can run at 50 km/hr, stop to pat the bulls in the paddock, see the odd rabbit, geese, noisy plovers, horses, plenty of smaller birds and always some dead possums.... I guess the fact that we have so many animals in the state means lots get hit on the road and hence the title for Tasmania; 'The Fur Lined State'.

Pony Pooh

2010-02-26T20:29:00.000+11:00

Ponies are very curious, and they found a way to look at the house (they cant see over the wooden fence) through the little nookie in the back-yard.

Collecting some Pony Pooh to start off our new compost bin...

Lauren kick-starting the compost with secret formula and a bag of potting mix. Watch out garden, here we come.

Cycling in Devonport

2010-02-23T16:43:00.000+11:00

This rider actually shows common sense. Riding on the road is OK with a light cycle helmet, but riding on the shared footpath is the dangerous bit. Today for instance I came across a crowd of teenagers from Don College. Shout as you may, a few will see you but look doughy eyed at you but not move out of the way nor make any attempt. I see some move a little out of the way for me and I take my chance. Today a stick carried by a student poked out into my way and I rode over it... On the way home I noticed pulled down ti-trees on the path. Aren't kids wonderful.

Environmentally Responsible?

2010-02-12T23:46:00.000+11:00

Gosh, this is starting to resemble a train enthusiast's site!

I do wonder if these old diesel trains are still economical. This middle locomotive is a D class loco built in 1971. Apparently refitted with a new engine in 2001 and after many engine failures again in 2009 with second hand GM motors... Read al about it <here>.

OK, no more trains for a while.

Love those trains

2010-02-10T18:55:00.001+11:00

Maybe I was meant to be a train driver, but I love those trains. This one showed up as I cycled across the rails on my way home from work today... I think it is one of the 'new' DQ class locomotives that were purchased in 1998 (click here for more info).

Bakers Beach

2010-02-07T22:12:00.000+11:00

Oma Connie came to visit me in Tasmania again! I picked her up from Melbourne, from where we took the Spirit of Tasmania to Devonport.

We ran into a Dutch backpacker, Sofie. She ran into us the next day and joined us for the afternoon. These pictures are at Bakers Beach.

More photos <here>...

Life be in it!

2010-01-28T11:11:00.001+11:00

Riding to work I ride along this path where recently these playgrounds were put in.... Then one day I spoke to Katherine who told me she went to have a go at the gym equipment along the path!

Sure enough, having watched them being built I never realised these were exercise stations!

Then Lauren tells me even she knew and that they have them in Hobart too. I must say I pay awfully little attention to detail...

Life be in it....

Living next door to Misty and Dusty

2010-01-17T19:41:00.005+11:00

Lauren likes our neighbours!

From Neighbours at Turners Beach

Me too!

Trucks and more trucks

2010-01-17T19:26:00.001+11:00

Transtrain was at the TruckShow in Deloraine today, so Lauren and I decided to hop on the motor-bike and go have a look! despite the forecast for rain and thunder it was a lovely day. We did get stuck in the Mole Creek Hotel waiting for the RACT when I used my membership to help a locked-out-of-his-car mate of a mate-of-mine! We go past Mole Creek Hotel for the best home-made pies incidentally.

RACT to the rescue!

It took the RACT a while to come, so we got friendly with the owners of the hotel, always a bonus!

New Bikepath between Turners Beach and Ulverstone

2010-01-16T17:43:00.000+11:00

Lauren and I are glad there is a brand new bikepath joining Turners Beach and Ulverstone so we can shop at Woollies on the bicycle. We happily carry home $100+ in groceries on the two bicycles.

Lauren also rides to and from Devonport, and it turns out it is only 45 minutes and really not too bad at all. Weather is perfect here as per usual on the Remote NW Coast of Tasmania!

Free Swine Flu Vaccinations

2010-01-01T11:29:00.000+11:00

Amazing. Was in Hobart for my last visit with Doctor Reid (no, I am not cured, the Doc is moving to Brisbane), and whilst in Hobart just walked past this tent. Good timing, been meaning to get it for a long time.

Down Stubbs Road to FC's place

2009-12-28T22:31:00.001+11:00

Little neighbourhood road where I took the bicycle today. Cool ride down the hill. Always fearful of fast cars or motorbikes coming the other way!

Yeah!

Aussie Xmas BBQ

2009-12-23T17:06:00.003+11:00

Work Xmas Parties do not come any better than this. Not only was it by invitation of the boss, it included limo transfers!

Robert and Michelle live out in the country, so no better way to get folks safely in and out of town. Being a responsible employer none of us were put at risk! Ho ho ho...

Lauren moving to Turners Beach

2009-12-20T09:38:00.001+11:00

Not too much is coming from Lindisfarne...

Dad and Killer helped load the truck as I had breakfast at 3pm...

Killer's van is awesome. Complete with on-board DVD player!

Xmas at Transtrain

2009-12-11T19:51:00.000+11:00

Work luncheon! Cool. We should do this for every public holiday!

Investiture of my OAM!

2009-11-08T16:19:00.002+11:00

Here are all the Tasmanian recipients of the 2009 Queens Birthday honours list.

Here am I with the GOVERNOR OF TASMANIA: HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE PETER UNDERWOOD AC
http://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/

Miss Fish on Adventure

2009-11-08T13:33:00.002+11:00

Jes, AKA Miss Fish at her work, came out for a paddle with me. Being a Tassie born native she had no hesitation to get wet, but for me it was still a little too cool.

The little waterproof Panasonic camera worked well (in this cold climate), apart from sun glare in the lens here and there (considering there is no lens hood this is to be expected).

Only a couple of cormorants on the rookery today, but the whiff (which I am oblivious to) was very strong according to Miss Fish who must have acute olfactory senses...

Miss Fish out of water...

CF Clinic in Burnie

2009-11-06T09:11:00.000+11:00

As much as it is meant to be depressing, visiting the CF clinic is always a bit of an entertaining afternoon. Too bad there is no travel subsidy to travel 65kms there and same back.

Denise and James looking their best....

Doctor Reid thinking about sunny Brisbane...

Although lung function was a miraculous 52% of predicted for FEV1 last month, it is now back to a normal 46%. Considering I have dropped below 40% in the past this is pretty OK. I just had a break of the antibiotics for 2 weeks, which proably explains why I dorpped again...

Heart Foundation

2009-09-25T00:14:00.000+10:00

Doorknocking for the Heart Foundation today after my colonoscopy! If only people knew where I was that morning they may not have answered their doors. As it was I collected $150 and had the sun shine upon me while I did it. Amazing how you get a whole month to do it in and you barely get around to doing it! This house was the oddest visit. An old russian couple took a few minutes of explaining what I wanted and then explained they were pensioners and couldn't make a donation. Maybe she knew what crawled up my bum that morning. They were cute!

Stingyspecs

2009-09-21T18:30:00.001+10:00

Hello, this is the new me. I got new glasses in the mail. OK, so they aren't the best and most fashionable, but darn it they work! My last pair of reading glasses I drove over in my car. Mate Prickle put them back together and the optometrist gave them a final touch, and they are OK. So in any case I thought I'd check out the online glasses. Found Stingyspecs on the Internet and ordered an extra pair of distance (pictured below) and a pair of reading glasses (pictured above)! Total bill including postage was $125 and they arrived within a week! Amazing.

I know I know, the reading glasses look like shit, but hey, I misplace glasses so often and to have a pair of $60 specs in the car or at work or wherever I randomly leave them is great!

Living at Cindy's

2009-09-19T11:34:00.000+10:00

Still living at Cindy's in Turners Beach! Working on alternatives, but looks like I might be here till into the new year. My bicycle is parked at fellow Hasher Mullet's place in Don where I drive to every weekday and from there cycle into Devonport via my favourite Don track. \

Cindy is a whirlwind of random activity, she juggles a million and one things in the few weeks she is at home before going off-shore for another few weeks. She is mulching in the backyard as we speak and never even noticed me sneaking up to take this photo! Cindy the Million Dollar woman.

Smith's Residence

2009-08-22T22:57:00.000+10:00

Tennis buddy Millan getting ready for work. Sister Maddy is shy.

Port Sorell breaky

2009-08-22T14:49:00.000+10:00

I took Jo on the motorbike to Port Sorell this morning. Managed to walk during the downpour... Dried out on the way back.

Jo in town for Spring

2009-08-21T17:30:00.000+10:00

Jo came to Devonport for a few days to check jobs and realestate.

Spring has sprung, the grass is riz....

I wonders where the birdies is.

CF Clinic

2009-08-10T16:29:00.000+10:00

I drove to Launy last friday for the CF clinic. Last time I was scheduled to go (in Burnie) it got cancelled as I had (swine) flu symptoms and was referred to a swine-flu clinic instead. This time I had a sore throat and had a blocked nose as well, but no flu.

After driving for an hour and getting lost both outside and inside the hospital I finally arrived 40 minutes late at the right desk. Having had a good whiff of all the other sick people I felt like whimping out already, but decided to present myself to the reception since I had come all this way. Fortunately I was whisked away promptly and was put in front of Denise the councellor. She asked about Katherine... I tear up, adding to my disheffeled look. Doctor Reid walks in next, sees a coughing, sniffling, watery eyed mess resembling Walter. He calls off the clinic for me, sends in the man in the gown to swab me, prescribes me more antibiotics (in addition to the ones I am on already), puts me on the Tamaflu medicine again and I am left in the little room. someone is sent out to the hospital pharmacy to get my newly prescribed drugs. After an hour I wanted to leave, but got stopped by James. Maybe I had been forgoton, but in any case I got my meds prompto and ran to my car to race back to Devonport in time for tennis. The car had a parking fine...

And then as I drive along the highway I noticed another piece of paper under the wiperblade, wildly flapping in the wind. I stop and read the message to say someone scratched my car in the parking lot... I cough.

The scratch was not too bad, certainly not too bad for a first scratch after so many years. I call the lady to tell her to donate to CF instead and call CF TAS to tell Mark. Mark offers to look after my parking fine, write a letter etc. The lady emails me back says she made a donation and wants to pay for my parking fine. It was her first online transaction, and she promises to donate to CF again! Perfect.

Annoyed

2009-08-10T15:54:00.000+10:00

I easily get annoyed these days. Watching this car wash employee spraying the mud off for 20 minutes was unbearable. Maybe it was the fag hanging out of his face for the first 6 minutes and watching the but go in the drain peed me off most. Who knows what it is, but watching someone pour gallons and gallons of water down the drain and pushing my reformed smoker buttons at the same time tested my anger-management skills. The guy waiting in front of me was so mesmerised by the act that he didnt even see a car leaving a stall - I had to knock on his window and ask if he needed a written invitation to go in and wash his car.

After washing my car I did call into the officeand asked if the man in the yellow pants was an uncle or cousin or something as surely he wouldn't be a paid employee! And so I battle on...

Helulu

2009-08-08T19:51:00.000+10:00

Hello Lulu. This is Cindy's grandchild! That's right, I am living with a granny!! Pictured above with one of the ponies that lives on her property. And pictured below walking in the Don forest.

And Lennie the friendly neighbourhood dog came with us to protect us.

And so we spend the weekend when we get dragged away from our digital universe...

Jes feeds us chops...

2009-07-23T22:13:00.000+10:00

Jes came over to Turners Beach to feed the animals (Cindy and myself)... Yum!

Middleburg Eccentric

2009-07-19T20:34:00.000+10:00

Spotted in the Middleburg Eccentric! Word gets around doesn't it. Spreading awareness everywhere!

Mollies

2009-07-10T19:41:00.000+10:00

Mmmm.... Guinness

Family

2009-07-09T11:28:00.004+10:00

My brother's family....

Had a quiet birthday yesterday, went to work for a few hours, fixed someone's computer, had a pub meal, saw K and got my birthday mail... It is a sad year.

Laundry Day

2009-06-20T11:21:00.000+10:00

Today is laundry day, tonight is party at the Moose Farm to celebrate the Return to the Stone-H, Burnie's 1000th Run celebration.

Birfday in the office

2009-06-18T20:32:00.004+10:00

Here is Marie Smith whose mum Michelle, my boss, had another birthday! And in case you were wondering, Geoff below is her grandad, and yes, Michelle is his daughter. And Michelle's husband Rob is a fellow Lion at the City of Devonport Lions club.

Pride of Harwood

2009-06-14T19:13:00.000+10:00

Check this out, next to the TransTrain/AusTrip office where I work we have a u-beaut vegie patch! Good-on-ya Geoff for doing a grand job at growing vegies here, a great surprise.

Weekend with my bruddah!

2009-06-14T17:21:00.000+10:00

Frank came over from Canberra to look at houses with me... Cindy helped make us sushi for dinner!
The big question is do we find something that is a) a good investment, b) affordable for me to live in now, or c) affordable with housemate now and potentially perfect for later, and d) should we care about resale value if we find some place I would really like to live?

These questions arose after we discovered that if I rent the property from Frank at lowish rent the house would give me no option to have someone share, the option to live in a beautiful place where I could comfortably have a person share for now and pay about the same as a cheap place (but have the option to one day afford it on my own), or find something we can develop which may make me less comfy now but give me potential free rent later on and perhaps even be a good investment... I like option c.

Leave your comments!

Jo visiting from Canberra

2009-05-30T16:53:00.001+10:00

Jo, visiting me from Canberra is not game to try my food, so Molly Malones was chartered with the cooking... Here she is pictured chatting up repairmen about her heater problems at home, over a pint of Guinness.

Edible food today!

2009-05-20T20:52:00.000+10:00

OK, still zero for presentation... and too bad the spinach was raw (turned the wrong stove on), but the champagne helped!

New Commute

2009-05-19T19:52:00.003+10:00

New Commute is OK, I drive to Don and then ride my bike in on the river/beach tracks. Just what I need everyday, only 9kms or so each way, and it is mostly downwind and down hill:

In the morning I reckon it is an easy 30 minutes to work:

In the afternoon I ride home (via the pharmacist today) and take it very easy. Ran into a mate today and stopped for the loo... really is a very pleasant ride:

Dinner time...

2009-05-19T19:45:00.001+10:00

Amazing how good food can really be ruined.... With the flavour gone so is the apetite. These are actually my left-overs as this was gross. I know I can do better.

No fixed address

2009-05-16T21:24:00.000+10:00

One of the worst days in my life... I am leaving home. K is staying with the Puss, I am seeking shelter with a friend. We have separated :(This hurts a lot still. Will take some time to find my feet again. K and I decided to call it a day, but will remain best of friends, just not live together anymore. Why do us humans have to go through thse things...

Unloading at Cindy's house which needs a house-sitter for a while. I will be in Turner's Beach here for a while till I find something a bit more permanent, get my Disability Support back and sort out the bank accounts etc.

voyeurism

2009-05-16T21:17:00.000+10:00

The sexy back-end of work... Odd little building, but the land is great. Would make a perfect development project here! In the mean time I work inside where they look after me well even though I cause trouble...

Railway Maintenance!

2009-04-23T22:02:00.000+10:00

With all the controversy about the poor rail infrastructure in Tasmania I was surprised to see railway maintenance happening! Good on'um! On that note:

Future Transport Tasmania will be meeting this Tuesday next week
28th April at the New Sydney Hotel (HOBART!) in the conference room upstairs. Anyone who
wants to get involved in the nuts and bolts of the group and help us do stuff is
welcome.
Email Toby at futuretransporttas@dodo.com.au

Its
been a quiet week or two in the media regarding transport although the issue
always crops up. As you may have noticed today the Brighton Bypass has begun
construction, which will be fabulous for all those people who want to get to
Launceston and back five or ten minutes quicker! $164 million so that we don't
have to drive slowly through the Brighton shopping
precinct.

Might be worth considering what we could get
INSTEAD of a bypass for $164 million? Indeed, the rail network upgrade is
just $122 million -how good would our rail network be if we spent ANOTHER $164
million on it?

Please feel free to write letters to the
newspaper & ring up talk back radio and help us keep the issue of public
transport and rail in the media.

Many thanks,

Toby
Rowallan
Spokesperson
Future Transport Tasmania

Cycling hazards for men

2009-04-17T21:18:00.002+10:00

Cycling with man-eyes render these rose bush branches invisible. On at least one occasion I rode straight into it with my hand! Idiot! At home I had to pull out one thorn. This is the bikepath (click on this GoogleEarth link and use your mouse to browse around!). I cycle along on the way home each day, up near the Devonport pool.

Formby Road

2009-04-16T22:55:00.000+10:00

Probably the least exciting street in Devonport,... but here it is again, this time I got slightly moist. Notice the old diesel train. Tasmania's national railway is seriously lacking and no longer fit for any passenger service. So here you got the worst of the worst of Devonport!

TasRail's current locomotive fleet includes:-
Purchased from Tranz Rail:
12 DQ class locomotives;
3 QR class locomotives;
2 D class locomotives (similar to the New Zealand DXR class locomotives); and
1 New Zealand DC class locomotive.

How can I make a mess like this

2009-04-16T09:26:00.001+10:00

This is just how it is... The big sofa-bed couch is where I do my nebulising etc. My big mucous cup is on its side (uh oh). The couch does put me in the right position to allow me to 'open my airways', and not sit crouched over... Anyway, I wish there was a more elegant solution. At least it is not in the bedroom anymore - where I used to do all the meds!

PS It is raining cats and dogs and I need to ride to work in 5 minutes time... Where is my rainbow now?

Secret Thai Chicken Curry

2009-04-16T08:23:00.000+10:00

Katherine has found a new favourite Thai Curry sachet at Woollies, even I can make a good curry now! Of course the real secret is the fresh vegies that I use. The Scanpan helps too!

Formby Road

2009-04-15T15:56:00.001+10:00

This is the main road off the highway into Devonport. It does look a little sombre for the odd tourist. I ride along here to work every day. Formby road is tagged for re-development; <read PDF from the council>. At least there is a rainbow at the end of the road... What? That is my work, my own pot-of-gold so to speak. Exactly where the rainbow points! Too funny!

Grass Seeding

2009-04-11T18:59:00.000+10:00

K reckons something was wrong with the grass so she killed patches of it and is resowing seeds... We'll keep you posted! Notice the remnants of the vegie patch on the right? We are still getting tomatoes, and it is April now.

Don River Track

2009-04-11T18:00:00.002+10:00

My usual run/walk... Haven't done it for a bit, but today was a gorgeous day and I had the iPhone to test! The above was tracked by the iPhone. I think it might be more accurate than SportsTracker on the Nokia N95. All pretty cool in any case.

See the Don Railway across the Don river? A little tourist train that runs on the hour...

This is the ti-tree (Melaleuca) forest around the Don track... It's all nice and flat here too, except for the bit from the pool up...

Transtrain and Austrips

2009-04-08T21:57:00.000+10:00

My new office! I spend 20+ hours per week here now. Right above the Coles Shell petrol station, but I ride my push-bike! The silo grains across the road, and next to that is the Mersey River.

Messy Eatting

2009-04-08T07:40:00.000+10:00

Life is pretty routine now. I cycle in and out of work regularly, adding up to about 20 hours per week. Perfect. I take the long way home for the extra exercise/cough. For lunch I ride out to a nice spot where the seagulls clean up after me!

TransTrain?

2009-03-22T08:39:00.004+11:00

Well, I got home from Maui and had a quick look at my online Amex statement. Got a shock (we got the worst ever exchange rates of the Century). We were about to get in the car to pick up Afullah from Kitty-Kamp when the phone rang. It was Michelle, from TransTrain, also someone I know via the Lions Club, asking me if I could do some work for them...

The next day I started working 20 odd weekly hours on a casual basis. I now look after the IT in the office and help out with computer based admin tasks and other computer related areas such as Photoshop tasks, website maintenance, printers, phones, internet,...

TransTrain is run from a converted home in Devonport, occupying the top floor, with the bottom floor occupied by AusTours where several of my friends happen to work. I look after the IT needs for both busineses and run up and down frequently!

Of course I cycle to work (under 15 minutes mostly downhill) and take a scenic detour home (45 minutes with some nice hills) to keep my lungs going. I have enough time to still walk with K. a few times a week, and can take off time to go for hikes etc. Starting at 10am I can get all my nebulising out of the way in the morning without being rushed too. Ideal. I hope it all lasts!

The people I work with are all friendly too, which is a bonus.

Where am I?

2009-03-11T20:57:00.003+11:00

A new day a new gadget... Well, almost. I now have the iPhone instead of my Nokia N95. Not quite as good, but very sexy. One 'app' I am playing with is Firepin, it should tell you where I am...

The flame indicates where I last had it turned on, right at my home. Obviously the tracks are where I had it turned on whilst in my pocket... This could be a good application for when you travel around and want people to know where you are.

When I turn it on (outside) it should show where I am! There is another Google App, Latitude, which is not available for the iPhone yet, which I will try as soon as it comes out!

Reward?

2009-03-07T01:54:00.000+11:00

Doesnt Woollies give a reward for locating trolleys?

Looks like someone took this one out of the sea!

Not starving

2009-03-04T21:07:00.001+11:00

As you can see Jim paid for most of our laviih meals in Hawaii. Now that we are home I went and got a job straight away and Katherine is back in the kitchen - and back at work too!

Gas What!

2009-02-10T21:04:00.000+11:00

I thought we already had gas in the street, but apparently not. Now we do!

But who needs gas when the beach at nearby Ulverstone is just down the road...

Mulching of the new patch

2009-01-30T18:58:00.000+11:00

Preparing the new garden extension, where the old vegie patch was.

Delivery of loads of tambark...

And spreading. Easy? Not if it is around 30 degrees Celcius! In Melbourne, across the ditch, it has been 43 degrees three days in a row!

Sheffield BBQ for K

2009-01-30T18:22:00.001+11:00

That's right, K has done her bit. She is going back to regular shift work and will come home again after work! Working out at Sheffield meant 4 days and nights away from home!

As happy as I was to get her back, the volunteers were sad to see her go again. No doubt she will be back again one day!

Beefing up the walks

2009-01-25T13:31:00.003+11:00

If I am seriously considering skiing in Greenland I need to do more exercise. K and I now walk more in Kelcey Tier, going up the hill twice for instance, walking figure eights etc. As you can see from the recorded track the GPS on the phone is not highly accurate. The forest is thick and the phone is in my pocket, what do I expect? Miracles? Well, yes...

The above walk clocked up as 8.6 kms over 1 hour and 7 minutes. An average speed of 7.7kms/hr. I think that is wrong. We would not walk much over 5km/hr. Vertical up and down ranged from 70m to 170 above sea level, and we hit the high and low spots twice on this walk - giving us a total vertical of at least 200m. which is a nice exercise.

Activity: Walking
Start time: 24.01.09 11:50
Duration: 1h 7min 38s
Distance: 8.64 km
Speed (average): 7.67km/h
Pace (average): 7min 49s per km
Pace (max): 3min 5s per km
Altitude (min): 63m
Altitude (max): 169.5m

Official Nokia link (very very slow) for this run is <here >

Study

2009-01-23T10:41:00.001+11:00

I wonder if this man has any van Praag genes in him?

Josh Freed, author, filmmaker and star of 'My Messy Life,' works the phones and reads a newspaper in his organizationally-challenged office. I found this article on <CTV.ca>.

Snakes in Season

2009-01-21T17:11:00.000+11:00

This is a fuzzy camera picture not of a Tasmanian Tiger, but of a Tasmanian Tiger Snake. We spotted this one pretty much at the end of our usual Kelcey Tier walk, behind the houses there! This one was about 150cm I figured, but we also saw a smaller one up on the hill. Recently we have been sighting some little ones, but this one was a beauty. When I say 'we' it usually means K. sees them first.

Motorbikes and Oliebollen

2009-01-20T17:56:00.005+11:00

Starting the year of with Oliebollen in Isaacs, Canberra was one thing, but little did I realise that at two consecutive Hash Runs in January I was to be fed more home-made Oliebollen!

And not only that, a neighbour, who is currently away, has oliebollen she made waiting for us in the freezer! Never have I been so well endowed in the oliebollen department!

And as for excitement, for a Hash weekend away last week I borrowed Cindy's Honda Motorbike (NT 650). I rode with a couple of people to the town of Ross for the event and back the next day. The riding, camping, drinking and lack of sleep made my sore throat into a bit of a more serious cold. But riding a motorbike is so exciting, it is awesome! I was reminded know why so many men my age buy motorbikes. If you cant afford a Porsche, don't have a 12 inch penis, then a motorbike will make you go a long way too!

A week after borrowing Cindy's bike I borrowed another bike, a 1200cc Suzuki Bandit. Wow! Like a bat out of hell. It was a little bit like how I expect heaven to be. Awesome cruising here in Tasmania. The roads are perfect as they do not get frost or heat damaged.

In the end I swapped the bike back for our car :(

Hash photos are <here> and <here>.

New Years Eve 2008 in Canberra

2009-01-05T18:15:00.000+11:00

For New Year's Eve I went to Canberra to be with family. We ended up celebrating with Mini and Milton at their house in Isaacs, not far from oma.

Views of Canberra as we heralded 2009.

Started the new year walking with oma and Kimba in the Red Hill nature reserve.

All the photos can be seen <here>.

Carins Family on the move

2008-12-29T07:19:00.001+11:00

We gave Ivor and Melissa a hand move house in Launceston last week too.

Fortunately they had a truck with two dudes come and do the hard work!

Alison Track

2008-12-29T07:17:00.000+11:00

We took Peter and Pip and Arlo on the Alison Track and introduced Arlo to Alison's Lizard on top; Preateena.

Wiiii

2008-12-29T06:55:00.000+11:00

Katherine found her new Mii. Here she is getting in shape with some boxing on the new Christmas Wii.

Michelle in Devonport

2008-12-24T18:53:00.000+11:00

Michelle came over for a couple of nights of entertainment! She was dragged to the Sheffield Stastion to have pizza (home made of course!) with K. and then our attempt to kayak was thwarted by the weather and instead she bought a new bike and we took it for a spin! More photos <here>.

Very merry happy

2008-12-22T07:46:00.000+11:00

This is my favourite one for the year!
from Mirel Goldenberg: http://mirel-spot.blogspot.com/

Summer Vegies

2008-12-20T17:01:00.000+11:00

Katherine's vegies are doing well. She also has bean, tomatoes and chilies hiding in other parts of the garden! K is working over Xmas and New Year at Sheffield, which leaves Afullah and myself free to stuff ourselves with chocolates over the silly season. I might pop past Sheffield station to show my face and make sure they are not drinking on duty.

Carwash in Sheffield

2008-12-16T23:02:00.000+11:00

K. did a few hours work in Sheffield for a colleague. I came along and saw what she does at work. She had barely taken our food out of the oven and her pager went off. She jumped in the ambulance, picked up a volunteer, and did not reappear for another two hours, which is what it took to take a lady to the hospital.

Twins Birthday!

2008-12-13T09:40:00.002+11:00

That's right, it was birthday time in Canberra last November, and Katherine and I went there. We had a pool party in the rain! Here are more <photos>.