Categories
Bendigo 2009

Sending my kids down the mine

(Posted 2nd October. Backdated to the day it happened.) Originally the plan had been to go to Canberra for 4-5 days, possibly driving up via Lakes Entrance and perhaps back via Kelly country. One of the reasons for wanting to go to Canberra was that I’d been keen to see a display at Old Parliament  ... [More]

Categories
driving

Grumble

Please note that I’m away for a couple of days, and may not be able to approve comments that fall into the moderation queue while away. I don’t drive as much as many people, but one trip I do regularly is from my place to Marita’s (in Footscray), generally with a big box of fruit+veg  ... [More]

Categories
Consumerism TV

Exchange rate

I’m not going to claim I’m a currency expert, but I think Channel 10 put the decimal point in the wrong place, as I’m pretty sure an Australian Dollar is worth more than US 8 cents.

Categories
Travel

Going to Bendigo

Going with the kids to Bendigo on Wednesday, staying just overnight. Accommodation worked out, and the trams and gold mine are on the list, but any other recommendations welcome: stuff to see, places to eat etc.

Categories
Consumerism Food'n'drink Home life

Aldi product reviews

So, in my quest to become a cheapskate, I’ve tried a few Aldi products. Having pretty-much restricted myself to Aldi products made in Australia (food miles, though it’s something of a generalisation), and ruled-out some categories I’ve been warned about (fresh fruit and veg, meat), here’s what I’ve found so far: The Weetbix clone —  ... [More]

Categories
books transport

The Example

The Example, by Tom Taylor and Colin Wilson (published by Gestalt Books), might be the first graphic novel to be set entirely within the confines of Flinders Street Station. It’s a short but thought-provoking read, combining a most-of-Western-world issue — paranoia over terrorism — with a more decidedly local Melbourne issue: the trains. Speaking of  ... [More]

Categories
Geek Health

How I discovered I’m a bit colourblind

I’m a bit colourblind. It only affects certain ranges of colours. I first realised this when I got a Vic-20. No, really. The default screen colour was white, and the default border colour was cyan. I thought cyan looked like green. People tell me it’s really a light blue, indeed I remember reading an interview  ... [More]

Categories
Food'n'drink Health

No more boiled lamb’s brain for me

I recently had a bunch of blood tests done, a kind of overall health check thingy. It was quite funny actually. M coincidentally went in as well for something, and while waiting in the Pathology place we observed what looked at first glance to be the most unhelpful receptionist ever known to mankind. A lady  ... [More]

Categories
Video games

Avatars

One of the fun things with the Wii is creating your “Mii” — that is, an avatar used in some of the games. While the kids got busy creating some favourite fictional characters, my avatar looks like me. Here’s mine, seen in Wii Sports Resort, playing table tennis. Guitar Hero doesn’t use the standard, cartoon-like  ... [More]

Categories
transport

No, Public transport should not be free

Free CBD PT? DUMB IDEA. That would benefit those who drive in, to the detriment of the rest of us.

Categories
Sport

If your team is out, who are you going for?

If your team is out, who are you going for? First. I’m a Geelong fan, so I’m going for them, of course. Go Cats! What of the others? Equal second. I’d have rated the Dogs or the Saints equally. Both underdogs. I have a girlfriend who lives in Footscray, and a good friend who is  ... [More]

Categories
music

Abbey Road remastered

My old school friend Raoul used to say he went into Brashs in Elizabeth Street sometime in the 80s and asked for Abbey Road and was told they didn’t stock reggae. I asked Raoul last week about the new remixed Beatles CDs, and he reckoned don’t bother unless you have a high-end stereo system —  ... [More]