2012 Woodford 1

We are at Woodford again.

 Setting up back stage.  This year we have a tent and a donger.

 A rare photo of Glynn (left) and Joel (Right).

 And Derek at Left.

 Front view of the stage

The Ark (For want of a better word).  Bound to go up in flames on the last night.












These photos taken Friday & Saturday nights 28 & 29 -12-2012.  On Friday night, Megan was in the Audience and on Saturday night, Frank was on stage supervising cable pulling and so brought Megan's DSLR on and took a couple of happy snaps.

Stage and screens

The SS Imagineer passes the video screen.

 Joel

 Marcus and Sarah videoing Kate Miller-Heidke

 Dan.  Cable puller.

Frank's remote controlled Sony TRV6 Sitting on a block of wood at the front of the stage.  The purple thing is a rain shield cut from a plastic folder & stuck on with GAF.

Should make it stick on with Velcro.
Black and slightly stiffer would be good.

Motivation

This talk on ted.com talks about motivation.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

Traditionally people consider that the best way to incentivise people is to offer a reward (money typically and the better you are the more money)
-> This fellow suggests that for creative or complex tasks this does not work.
Incentivised rewards work best for narrow focus, easy to define goal



In this ted.com talk, Simon Sinek tells us that great leaders inspire action by talking about WHY first then HOW and last of all WHAT.
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html


Adrian's uni course suggests that one way to keep staff is to encourage them to take courses and engage in training and practice such that in a way that the person becomes very employable by our compeditors.










I have another blog post called "Your Not Special"
http://thomsoneu.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/you-are-not-special.html

Intrisic Motivati	Incentifised
hello	Money
hello	Money

Mudjimba2

Friday morning 4:45am saw the sky was a bit light got up and walked across the road and down the beach access track with the hope of watching the sun rise.

 I arrived at the beach to discover that the sun operated on daylight saving time.  Remind me to vote for a single issue party at the next election.

Looking up and down the beach I could see the outlines of figures.  Individuals.  As if a bag of North Poles had been shaken out. 

I turned left and began to walk.

Bar a power walking woman who passes me as she heads south, it turns out all these figures are men.  Some standing looking east.  One with binoculars.  The rest just standing. Maybe it is the last socially acceptable location for farting.  Whatever.  It seems to be an activity for individuals.

In the distance I can see some of these figures are fishing.  As I approach I see a seagull inspecting their buckets and bait.  The bait neatly enclosed in a plastic bag sitting unwrapped on a square of butchers paper.  The seagull back warily away I guess feeling the pangs of guilt having been observed engaging in petty thievery.

A couple of surfers standing beside their boards on the sand. 

Around 5:30 I turn and head south.  The island now looks like and island.  It's 3D.  No longer a silhouette or a perhaps a few dead pixels where the celestial dome meets the horizon. 

Some kind person has placed a couple of seats.  I guess not the council as these are wood and not set in concrete.   Perhaps to stay until fear of litigation causes the council to remove them.  I sit and pull out my 'puta.








Now its 5:50am and I observe the couples are out.  young mum or maybe older sister with two kids.  A couple in their 20's and an old couple.

More people with dogs.  All dogs on leashes.  I wonder if in response to a news report we had yesterday where two kids were mauled playing in the surf by a dog off its leash.

Father and son(~14) both carrying surf boards.  A man with a towel.  All stand and look.  More individuals walk North and South.  The man with the towl has put it down and walks South East towad the beach.  I wonder why not just walk straight in.  Ah he is conversting with the father and son surfers.  The father stretches and the son jogs into the water carrying his board. 

Coffee beckons and I walk South.  A quest?

In the sand a blue disc.  A hat and thongs.  Hmm me thinks.  I turn it over "Daniel Thomson".  I add this to my "treasure"

Coffee is purchased and I walk back to the apartment.  Silence save for the regular breathing of sleeping bodies.  It's about 6:45.

Mudjimba1

 WED 3 PM
Dash out of work and drive to the BGS boat shed at South Brisbane.

I help BGS kids with rowing.  Chris does rowing at BGS but this week he is at Mudjimba.  We (the BGS people) had enough kids for 3 Quads That is 4 kids plus a cox per boat.  However we needed one more cox.  So I had my first ever go at coxing.  These kids put in a super human effort.  We had wind and big waves on Milton reach.  And a bloody great dead weight weighing down the stern.  But they rose to the occasion and I managed to avoid hitting the shore, parked boats and waved politely at city cats as they gave us a wide berth.  We were admirably coached by "Terry".

6pm and we are off the water and the boats washed, wiped down with chamois and put away.

HEADING NORTH
I plug the address into my GPS and head North.  It predicts an arrival time around 7:23.  Dinner is on the agenda but what to have.  A phone call to Mudjimba establishes that they are about to have Pizza.  Hmm Pizza sounds nice but cold pizza when I get to Mudjimba - not so nice.

Into the airport link tunnel and out again onto Gympie Rd.  Hmm what to have.  McDonald's whilst quick, clean, consistent and cheap (all positives) just does not do it for me.  Decide to draw on the reserves tucked away around my waist and simply drive.

ARRIVE MUDJIMBA
The unit is empty and locked and when I phone Megan's phone I see it light up through the window.  They are presumably on the beach.  "They"include the Mawhinney's as their car is outside.
Drive down the road.  "The Lizzard" has obviously made too much money and is closed.  But a Chinese and an Indian are both offering Fish and Chips for $10.  I choose the Indian and they confess they have run out of chips so I settle for a beef and rice dish and a can of rum and cola.  Take it back to the unit by which time the family are back and the Mawhinney's have left.

THURSDAY  In random order.


0.  Got up early and went and bought a coffee.  This is the view looking back from my park bench toward the coffee shop which is behind the surf club.

1.  Chris and I went and visited Aunty Margaret today.   Her place is 5 minutes down the road.  Aunty Marg educated us on our family history showing us photos and enlivening them with the stories that surrond the photo.

2. The children are playing Monopoly on the verandah.  Thank God, the Queen and whoever that we don't have guns here in Oz.  I took a photo and that should appear on my blog sometime.  There is no blood yet but the voices are raised and I suspect we will be transitioning to a game of Cleudo soon.  Death by choking on little green houses.

3. Megan is chatting up the home owner.  This holiday unit is actually two units.  The owners are currently living in the other unit.  Great position.  Walk across the road and through the trees and we are on the beach.  A 1 minute walk up the street and I can buy a coffee.  (2 today so far).  Megan wants to buy the place.   Is she just playing Monopoly in real life?

4.  Jemma and I did a surfing lesson.  These lessons come with a guarantee that you stand up or you get a second lesson for free.  I think I stood up but by the end of it I was absolutely stuffed.  Jemma of course stood up many times.

5.  The surfing lesson was so stressful, I decided to sit down.  Turns out I sat in a barbers chair and he cut my hair off.

6.
Anyone wish to take shares in this house.  The negotiations seem to be proceeding.  There have been phone calls to banks.  It's not a bad place. 

7
Marcus is at "Cotton Tree" with a mate and the mates family.  I think we will be visiting them Friday.

8
Walked up to the Chinese and purchased Fish and Chips.  In the half light (7pm ish),  we sat on the sand using our towels as table cloths.  You know you have to keep on the ball with the quality with these chinese.  The fish was really nice but one was like a quarter of the size of the rest.  Sarah ate that.  And the chips had great crunchy texture but so salty.  Very nice pineapple rings in batter.  yum.  After eating we lay there and looked at the clouds and searched for the odd star peaking through while listening to the waves.  The kids wanted to play "Square Tiggie" but on a full stomach?

9. Arrive back at the unit.  There is some difficulty locating the key.  Maybe it's been stolen. Dan insists that some one has stolen his hat and thongs. 

Creation of the world and the story of a big fat red and white man

Learned something interesting in church today.

When do you think Santa first appearted in his current form - big fat guy with a red suit and a white beard ?

I figured several hundred or more years ago based on the Story of St Nicalaus.

Church today included the annual sunday school play.  Normally an excrusiating presentation of badly planned, boring, un rehersed gibberish presented by kids who can't read and that goes on way too long.  How bad can it be?  I just can't describe how much I look forward to this particular sunday each year - not.  Well this year.  A very pleasant change.  Light and funny.  instead of reading from scrappy paper they read from a video projecting on the back wall.  This kept their heads up and I think this helped their voices up.



The sermon (As interpreted by Frank)
Stories shape our lives and our We have several versions of the creatuon story - Gen 1 Genesis 2 for example and 4 versions of Jesus's life in the Gospels.  These stories were passed on verbally before they were written down.  Stories are re told depending on the audience and the teller.  People remember different things depending on what they want to hear.

We think the story we hear today is the same story that has been heard through the generations and actually I suspect that many people think of bible stories as like reading from a scientists note book.

So when do you think the fat red man with a white beard came into being?
Would you believe 1931 coca cola commercial.
Check this out
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-lore-santa-claus
mind you, in the other corner, wikipedia suggest not so cut and dry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

This video on ted.com is interesting in therms of the way eye witnesses remember crimes.

Helicopter - Limited Power

Today's lesson was titled "Limited Power".  Basically what to do when you have overloaded your helicopter.  (For those not following this, I am indulging my mid life crisis vy learning to fly a helicopter with V2 helicopters at Archerfield)

Well just fly it along the ground with the skids scraping away.

Sort of.

The instructor (Roger) first said to keep the power less than 25MAP.  (Manifold Pressure).  Normally need about 26MAP to take off.  With 25, we just make it to the hover.  It is like the helicopter is sitting on a cushion of air a few inches (or mm) above the ground, but as soon as you push the cyclic forward, you fall off the air bubble and skid along the ground until you reach about 15knts where you get effective translational lift.  Then you start to climb albeit slowly.  Then we would turn round and land into wind.  Again with limited power it was in and down.  No opportunity to fluff around.

A review of resumes and job applications

We (my company - Syndetic) has an add running on seek and I am reading resumes and job applications.

Good Things
Many people send a cover letter and a resume. It is very helpful if the file names of both are the same at the beginning. Then they stay together in the directory.
eg
Bob Smith Cover Letter.doc
Bob Smith Resume.pdf
Personally I would prefer one file.  Say take their resume and stick a cover letter infront of it. and PDF it.

Dot points are great.

Short is good.  So far the longest resume is 3 pages.  This is a vast improvement on a few years ago where sometimes I would receive resumes that seemed to tell their entire life story.  I think I even had some that were 20 pages long.

A few people do not put their name at the beginning.  Its in the file name but not on the screen until the end of the first or sometimes end of the last page.  Pain.  First thing should be their name.

Holiday Breakfast, KPI, Naplan and Wallfle

Chris and Marcus are on holiday.

 Megan is entering music grades into the education department computer. The threat of Naplan hanging over her ensures that she marches to the departmental drum however on this occasion she has hit a wrong note and is late with her assignment. They were due by 3pm Friday and they are still not done. Maybe the little darlings will just have to settle for the love of music.

Obviously her KPI's are down. What grade will she get?.  and even though she was working off and on all week often up well past midnight. Well what can you say.  Work harder or..... I watched a couple and cripes the process is slow and tedious. All in the name of data.

 Jemma made Waffles this morning. The sunbeam recipee from their web site http://www.sunbeam.com.au/recipes/b/basic-waffle-batter/is below.  We only made x1 which gave Megan, Jemma, Dan and I about 3 or 4 triangles each.  Teamed with bacon & eggs and a little maple sirup.

Basic Waffle Batter

Use your imagination to flavour this basic waffle mix- the options are endless.
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 20 min
Serves: MAKES 3 waffles
Ingredients: 
1 cup self raising flour, sifted
1 egg, separated
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup water
45g butter, melted
1 tablespoon caster sugar
Method: 
1.Pre heat waffle maker.
2.Place flour, egg yolk, milk, water and butter in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix until smooth.
3.Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and beat until it has dissolved.
4.Gently fold egg white into batter until well combined.
5.Spoon a little mixture into each waffle mould (this will vary depending on size of waffle iron), ensuring mixture fills all grooves; close lid.
6.Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until golden. Use a plastic spatula to transfer waffles to serving plates. Serve warm.

Catherine's 40th Birthday Party

This is a draft.  Some fixing up needed.

A formal do for Catherine Solomon.  Megan and I donned our finest.  Marcus too as he was co-opted as a waiter.  Sarah babysat Dan and Jemma at Paul & Cybele's.  A glass of champas at Paul & Cybele's (Not for Marcus).

We had been co-opted into learning to dance Gangnam style.  This necessitated watching and following a you-tube tutorial.
 Link to go here

Getting left and right correct proved too much of a challenge for me so I re-rendered it mirror imaged.

At Paul and Cybele's we listened to a rehersal of a coldplay song that some of them were doing (see video below) and then another rehersal of the flash mob gangnam style dance.

Here is the video.  At this time it's the raw footage.  It would be nice to fix the audio and also put in some stuff to cover times when the vision was wrong.



At the party the music started and with no grog to mask the upcoming nightmare we stepped forward and let loose Gangnam style.

Wet saturday

SAT
10am at the BGS boat shed and we are all putting boats in the water.  The first four were well organised and got onto the water and away quickly.  Chris has been promoted to the 4th four and I have been alocated to assist with the 10th four.  As we waited to launch the man in charge - Joe Rodregus, came and told us that if we saw any lightning we were to turn round and come straight back.  The boat before us managed to capsize at the ramp as no one had actually put their riverside oars in the roclocks.  Our 10th four had just placed the boat in the water when we were told Lighting has been spotted. I didn't see any but hey... So we began the task of backing up and putting the boats in the shed.  Our actual coach was dispatched in a tinnie to pass the message to other crews already on the water.  I supervised / assisted my crew to bring their boat in and wash it and put it on the racks in the shed.   People were dispatched to bring the tinnies round to the ramp where they are launched.  There a gazillion single sculls on trollies and these too were rolled in.

 It was a remarkably smooth operation that was completed without panic and just in time. 

The rain started and the roller doors closed.  Joe briefed the kids to let their parents know by text/phone and to not run round.  Then all hell broke loose around us the rain smashed on the tin roof and lighting and thunder exploded outside. 

Megan advised by phone that she thought based on the BOM radar that it would be over in about 20 minutes.

As the rain subsided the roller doors were opened to reveal water and sticks across the concrete apron.  Chris and I began our treck back to the car.  One medium szed tree had split in two and lay across the jetty at the southern end of the shed.

Chris and I drove home to pick up togs and then over to his frined Nick Wright for a sleepover birthday.  4 kids (Nick, Jai White and one other)

I took Marcus to Primavera where he works washing dishes.  I think I am going to sneak our ones from home in.  While at Primavera, I bought a coffee and sat at a table, pulled out my laptop and did some preparation for the motor boat license course I am doing Sunday.

Megan went to see a drama thing that Yani was involved in and Ainslie (ala Erin et al)

I exchanged texts with her and set upon a plan to join her for dinner.  I phoned the Mantheys and asked if Jemma could come over to play.  This was kindly accepted.

Somewhere along the way, Steven had phoned and organised to come over to play.  He wanted Dan to go for a sleepover.

Put Jemma in the car and drove to the Mantheys.  As I walked in the gate I realised that Jemma would need to have dinner with them and I had uncosciously avoided including that in the original RFT.  Luckilly Bob and jenny were OK with feeding. 

So I waived good by and went and retrieved Marcus and took him home.  I was running against the clock but luckilly Dan was ready and so he and Steve hopped in the Tiida and we were off.  Dropped them at Steven's house and continued on. 

Met Megan, Susan Edwards, Erin, Erin's parents, Yani, Pete and various others at the Kookaburra cafe.  Had a nice glass of red, bacon cabonara & nocked off some of Susan Edward's garlic bread to which she raised a protest and then it seems "we" were paying for it so "I" took out my wallet.  :)

We had two cars there and so we took separate cars home.  I dropped in on the Mantheys and everyone was keen for Jemma to sleep over.  So she did.  I assume Nighties and Sunday clothes were provided by the Mantheys because Jemma only had the clothes on her back and by now they smelled of smoke as they had had a camp fire while I was away.

Mercedes Vito Breakdown

Sunday
After church on Sunday, Megan loads the Vito with children to take home.  The plan is to come back and with my help, load the marimbas into the Vito.  The marimbas had been placed in the church meeting room on Friday night after they were used at the streetparty.  It had been raining and this was to give them a chance to stay dry.  I went to the coffee club to get a coffee.  Nice to have some down time in a busy weekend.

My phone rings and it is Megan.  The Vito wont start and she and it are near the corner of Dewar tce and Marlbrough st.  Not far so I walk.  I arrive and the fault is not abvious so we call the RACQ.


Fault Description:
Everything seemed good - lights come on, key locks & un locks the doors, and when you turn it, the lights come on on the dash but when you turn it to the start position, the engine does not crank.  The engine warning fault light stays on after the lamp test cycle is complete.  (The manual says this is a exhaust or fuel issue (bizarre as later I find on the internet that almost every issue results in that light coming on).  (yes there is fuel).

Historical information:
On two or 3 occasions in the last few months, with engine running and the gear leaver moved to the Park position, the vehicle displays "R" even though it is physical in the "P" position.  The gear leaver would then be jammed in the P position.  This fault could be cleared by switching the engine off and then restarting.

RACQ
The fellow dutifully arrived and I described the above to him.

He checked the battery was OK but then seemed to get a bit lost.  At one stage he got under the vehicle and used a screwdriver to short something out and encourage the engine to crank but of course it did not start.

I asked if he could plug in a diagnostic tool and he said his tool would not read Mercedes codes.  He did not attempt to plug in his tool.

I asked him if he should call for more information.  He initially misinterpreted that question and responded that Mercedes do not send their own techs that they just call RACQ.  I clarified that I meant call RACQ and speak to a guru but he didn't do that.

He said that he thought it was the ignition inhibit circuit.  I was not so sure given that the key correctly operates the door locks.  We discussed getting the spare key from home (20 minutes).  He seemed keen on that idea.

He said that it was too hard and that we would have to tow the vehicle.  He offered to organise that but I declined as I figured we would try the spare key and anyway I did not know where we were going to tow it to.

He helped to push the car out of the driveway so that we were not cloging up the persons driveway.

He then went on his way.




OBD2
I called my friend Ross and borrowed his $20 Ebay OBD2 Bluetooth doodad.  Downloaded an app called Torque.  The free version did not do anything much so I figured this is all going to cost a fortune so I figured $4.85 for the pro version may be worth it. 

While I had been waiting for the RACQ fellow, I had established that I did not know the location of the OBD2 connector and google seemed confused.  So on my way to Ross's house I dropped into home to use a real computer to search the net.  It is above the accelorator pedal.

The ODB2 dodad told me there were 4 errors and one was highlighted in red as a "Current Fault".  With little information and no experience, I saved that information and then sent the clear command.  This cleared the errors with the exception of the A/C error.  But still it would not start.  Gave up and went home.

On Monday, I phoned Ash Prestige Auto Repairs at Graceville.  Then orgainsed the RACQ to tow it there.

Tuesday Ash call's me and for $308 I can have my Vito back and all that they found wrong was a fuse in the starter motor circuit.

You're kidding.  I was annoyed with myself for not checking the fuses and I was annoyed the the RACQ fellow for the same reason and at the time suspicious that he had actually blown the fuse while messing around with his screwdriver shorting things out under the car to make it crank.

FRIDAY 16-11-2012
I am at work and my phone rings.  It's Megan and the Vito wont start again and Jemma has to be at gymnastics.  There is an added complication this time in that the Vito is low on fuel and it is suspected that that may be contributing to the problem.  I talk Megan through where to plug in the OBD2 dodad and how to download the App.  The theory is that we may be able to clear the fault and start the engine.  As a backup, I jump in my car and drive home. 

I arrive home and the Vito is still stuck.  Time is fleeting, madness takes it's toll... So I grab Jemma and take her to Y-West gymnastics.  Back home and my phone connects and we see

U0404 - Network - Tap "Web for more information"
So I do and the phone goes to www.dtsearch.com
and that web site tells me that U0404
"Invalid Data Received From Gear Shift Control module 'A'"

So I think we would all agree we have a comms issue amongst other things.

I clear that and now it reports no errors but still it wont start.

Time to pick up Jemma so I drop into Bunnings and buy a (plastic) fuel can.  Pick up Jemma and then buy 10l diesel.  Pour in the diesel and it makes no difference.  Not that that really surprised me but it ruled that out.

Megan takes the Tiida to P1 and Chris, Dan, Jemma and I walk round tor swimming club.  After they are signed on, I walk home

Not wishing to spend another $300 to find a dead fuse I look carefully over the fuses and what do you know there is a blown one.  At some stage I have bought or been given a handy pack of replacement fuses and so the fuse is replaced and the engine now cranks and starts.  I did through the owners manual and what do you know, it is in the starter circuit.  My assumption is that it is in the control circuit for the starter solenoid which in turn provides the power to the starter motor.

THEORY
a) We have two unrelated faults
    .1 The issue with the gear selector
    .2 The starter motor solenoid not pulling in and pulling too much current.
b) The faults are related - Perhaps the gearbox controller is doing something such that when the starter operates that it does not let go at the end of the previous start or perhaps it jams for the current start cycle. 

It would be nice to know WHEN the fuse blows.

RESEARCH
Need to find a service manual or at least a wiring diagram.
A tame expert who is not going to charge me $100 an hour to debug & fiddle.   

http://www.justanswer.com/mercedes/5262r-07-vito-115cdi-blows-fuse-16-whenever-turn-key.html
Fuse 16 blows.  Traced to frayed wiring harness.  As part of the debug process, he disconnected the wire to the starter motor and the fuse still broke.

Handy random words and acronyms

Jesus Junk
Kindercrap
NLTAC = Never Likely to Achieve Competency
MAMIL (Pronounced like Mammal) = Middle Aged Men In Lycra.

The older we get the better we were.
Every day may not be a good day but there is something good in every day.
Before you cristicise a woman, walk a mile in their shoes, then you will be a mile away from them and in agony.

Row row row your boat

I (Frank) did the third Head Of The Yarra time trial on Saturday.  That's me in the white "I love Berlin" Tee shirt at position 7.  Cripes this is a hard race.  8.6km from just above Oxley ck to the university of queensland boat ramp.  Over the three races we improved our time from last place to not quite last place.
Our time improved from 51 minutes to 42 minutes.

18 Grammarians Male D R Rowles 51:22.0 49:36.0 42:51.0

The day was
3:45am rise and shine
4:30 on the water
6:00 at the start.  Memorable as the boys had a pee stop.  Our cox - 19 yo (F) El put her head down shook it and groaned "tell me when it's over".  And it was not confined to our boat as another boat there was a fellow kneeling and peeing over the side.  The things we do.
6:0? And they are off and racing....
        exhausion sets in.  The legs are tired, the back sore, the lungs screaming....
6:40ish the photo was taken
6:42 ish we cross the finish line at UQ
rest and row back to the shed.
Wash the boat and then the most impostant activity.
Debrief (and coffee) at Albertos coffee shop.

The older we get the better we were.
:)

From 10am till 12:30 ish, I went and sat in a Tinne with the BGS kids.
By the time I got home I was stuffed.  

Sri Chinmoy Triple Triathlon

As I landed in Canberra on Saturday evening a text from Henry
"R U swimming, running, cycling or photos and media management".

Earlier in the week when I was organising my trip to Canberra, he had invited me to participate in a triathlon.  IHe said  they had purchased a family entry.

When Henry's text arrived I envisaged something on the lines of little athletics in the form of families running swimming and cycling.  All that was missing was an egg and spoon race.  I sent him back a quick text indicating I was not really into swimming.  Just as well as it turned out swimming took place in lakes - canberra lakes - not known for flowing water.

Henry and I arose while it was still dark.  The darkness made me suspicious that this might not be little athletics.  A bike was strapped to the roof  and a spare shoehorned into the back of the car. Henry morphed into a MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra), This was definitely not little athletics.  We proceeded to the lake where the first swim leg was already underway.  After a few moments we saw movement in the water and a few minutes later a wet suit man exited the water.  ( I was very glad I has indicated that I was not into swimming).  The water teamed the way it does when a school of fish are over enthusiastic and more men and women exited.  Then cousin Michael (who had flown in from Sydney- This was serious)  and Carolyn's husband David arrived on foot.  It appears they had waved cousin Peter off.

BTW, there is an out of date family tree here
http://users.tpg.com.au/syndetic/familytree.html
 This may help understand the relationships.

We observed some fellow exit the water in his speedos.  This confirmed that there were some very strange people involved.  Later on there were some girls too who were just in togs with no wet suit.  I would have wanted a hazmat suit myself.

Hmm we wondered as the lake cleared.  But then whats that - movement on the horizon.  It's it's a person doing backstroke.  Cameras are warmed up.  It's Peter.  Henry dons his helmet and is at the ready.  Peter powers out the final meters and up the  beach and tags Henry and Henry is off.

Michael and David, Peter and I walk back to the almost empty car park.  We decided that we were probably about 5th last.  We drive in convoy 100m from the top of Black Mountain.  We watch cyclists struggle past as their exhausted legs push them toward the summit.  Ten minutes later we see then screaming down the hill past us and into the car park only to disappear down an incredibly steep dirt track.

I am somewhat concerned that Henry may not be up to the task.  Then along he comes.  He makes the up hill look like its flat.  As he disappears over the cliff those of us in cars drive off to Dickson so Michael can prepare for his 20km run with a take away coffee.

We continued to the top of Anthill street where we joined a large crowd.  A few people came through then then blow me over here is Henry coming in at 2hrs and 8 minutes for 36km including it turns out spending 5 minutes helping some guy who fell off and broke is knee and also at one stage Henry apparently took a wrong turn.

Then Mike ditched his coffee and jogs off into the distance.  Henry and I would be hard pressed to jog back to the car yet Michael is running up Mt Majura then down to the saddle and then up Mt Ainslie.  You know the place that we struggle up the stairs to look at the view.  The support crew wandered back to Kellaway St so Henry could have a shower and the rest of us could have yet another coffee.  meanwhile Michael is slogging away up and down Mountains.  We hop in the cars and drive up Mt Ainslie.  As we wait at the top for Michael, we clap politely and offer words of encouragement to the people running by.  I am informed that one lady is 65 or something.

Eventually Michael comes into view and we grab him for a family photo.  Hey what else do you do half way through a leg.  He continues on his run and Henry and I said good by to Peter & David. 




Henry and I went and had breakfast (11:15) at cafe "two for ten" departing at noon.  Then we went shopping for some shirts and then met Andrew Metcalfe at the Belgium beer cafe where I had some unpronoucible beer.  Then we went into the city for a steak and then onto cousin Ian's place.  As we entered I noted his daughter Lizzie had the triathlon team's number in niko on the back of her hand.  She had apparently done the last swim leg.  Ann marie did the second leg but we did meet her.

After chatting with cousin Ian, his partner Justine and daughter Lizzie and some of their neighbors we  departed for the finish line.

The sun had set and the cerimonial presentations were underway.
We discovered that the winners did it in abut 8 hours 9 minutes - a new course record.
One team with all 9 members over 50 did it in 9 and a bit hours.
 And as more runners arrived those on the balcony would clap enthusiastically.  Some of those were individuals who had done all 9 legs.  One person.  All day. Insanity.

Then Peter arrived.  I am amazed. 
We went home to bed.
Such a long day.

Halloween

Things were a little fishy at dinner.

I got suspicious

 Turns out it's Halloween.  That quaint American custom where groups of parents spend inordinate amount of money on costumes and kids pester neighbours for lollies.

 I (Frank) was delegated the role of watch man.  I wandered the streets while my 4 or was it 5 urchins knocked on doors.

 I have decided though that Halloween is a good thing.  We got to meet neighbours we never knew.  And the kids got sugar based rewards.

I was disappointed that no one threw a bucket of water over them while yelling trick ha ha ah ha yeow.

Actually I am not sure I even know the rules.  Kids knock on door and announce "Trick or Treat" to which the home owner responds "O'h you all look so cute" Then they give kids lollies and kids wander away with a distorted view of their own cuteness.

What I want to know has to do with the trick option.  Do the kids throw rocks on the recalcitrant home owners home or does the home owner throw a bucket of water over the kids or offer them celery and cottage cheese.

BGS Music

Chris plays a big sax in a band.  Hmm I think it's a Tenor Sax.

Flashpoint - 28-OCT-2012

Our monthly children's church - Flashpoint - is on this sunday.
This page is my notes / planning.

But what do the bible readings say?
Job 42:1-6, 10-17 - The end of Job's suffering.  Restoration.  Interestingly Job now has Children and the girls are named in the text and recorded as having received some inheritance.  Both of these go against the norms of the time and may imply that restitution byu God has resulted in a new world view.
Jeremiah 31:7-9 - I think we need to get some context wrt to this reading.  I think it is an exultation to sick or diabled or poor people to give thanks to God.
Hebrews 7:23-28 - Jesus is the great high priest exists forever, no sacrifices required.
Mark 10:46-52 - Blind Bartimeaus recveives his sight.
 Need:Blind -> Ask God (& ignore the naysayers)-> Response:Faith has made you well
 Believing without seeing? or is this God answers need ?
The blind theme could imply that the Jews lack faith in Jesus — and that lack of faith is what prevents them from understanding who Jesus really is and what he has come to do.
To me it seems consistent with the idea that God loves us BUT we must take steps toward him.  We must recognise God and ask God...
(This is different to the Flashpoint theme of 3 years ago)


------------------------------
LAST TIME 3 years ago Order Of Service

FLASHPOINT              25 October 2009

Mark 10:46 - 52  Believing without seeing

Welcome

Songs – The One and Only God                                                        Megan

PRAY – thanks and confession

Songs – Jesus is Greater

            OFFERING &

-          The Blind Man

Science – Coloured writing and cellophane …                                  Frank

      (Write on white paper with colured pen and obscure with lighting gel or cellophane or even perhaps coloured light?)

Story -                                                                                                 Unkle Paulie

Bible Reading – Bartimaeus believed without seeing like we do.  You can be happy about that!                 Megan

New memory verse – John 20:29                                                      Megan

Songs  - Jesus is Greater / The Blind Man                                        Megan

-          Jesus is a Cool Dude

Wrap up and Sending Out Prayer  - intercession

(Father Bless Us As We Go)                                                              Megan

Last month’s memory verses … Psalm 15:1,2         

Stuff – Musical instruments, music, song words, piano

            New Memory verses and prizes

Science exp – writing behind coloured cellophane

Bible

Story book

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC IDEAS
C2. The Blind Man                                                   (All Together 23)
P1. I Walk By Faith                                                     ( photocopy)
D9. I’ve Got Something                                           (AT149)
  

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SCIENCE EXPERIMENT IDEAS (brain storm)

Cellophane (GEL) white paper and texta.

Coloued light (from video projector?)  obscures text in same way as the gel.

Big Paper obscures something -> set fire to the paper to reveal something.

Those mottley pictures with a hidden animal / word that you have to go cross eyed to see. (in 3D)

Opening a curtain.

Invisible ink / lemon juice & toaster.

Chis Gets His Cast OFF

In the dieing minutes of the BGS vs Nudgee Under 13 Rugby Match one week before the end of last school term, Chris was tackeled and broke his arm as he hit the ground.  Since then it has been in a Cast.  5 weeks had past so yesterday I phoned Royal Childrens Hospital at Herston Brisbane to find out the procedure to remove it.  Took me a few minutes to find the phone number and I rang the first one that popped up on google which turned out to be the car park.  When I finally made it through to Children's Othopedics, the kind lady informed me that they [the hospital] would call us.  She then kindly asked for the patients details and fed the ever hungy computer which in turn kindly informed her that Chris was expected at 12:30 that day.  (I think it was about 9am when I called).  She looked further and said that she could see on the computer that they [the hospital] had not attempted to call us.

So I texted Chris and phoned him and he did not answer.  I discovered later that he was complying with school rules to have the phone off.  I rang the BGS middle school office who sent a person to alert Chris and he responded to my text.  The middle school office said that I had to come in and sign him out.  I asked if he could just walk down by himself but that would necessitate letters and interviews with more senior staff.  So I stuck with their method and drove in.

Having enjoyed the comfort of the middle school office and signed my life away we drove to Royal Childrens Hospital (RCH) just a few minutes down the road and parked in the large parking station behind the hospital.

Our attempts to enter the hospital were twarted by automatic doors that stayed closed.  A power failure we were informed.  We entered via the coffee shop.  I later mused to myself that in a big public building open 24/7 with security etc etc, one would think that it might be safer for the main doors to move to the open position upon loss of power.  For example if the power failure was the result of a fire.  Anyway maybe closed is better to keep the oxygen out.  Ok back on topic.  We walked in and through to the Childrens Orthopedics.  Luckilly queensland health can continue to operate without the computers and there were still some lights on.  Although I guess the computer will not count the workers as being present during its period of unconsciousness and they [the staff] will not get paid.  (get back on topic).  We took a number and waited.  Knowing that we could be in for a wait, Chris had a book and I brought some work.  Somewhere along the way the power came back on but the computers stayed off.  bet they have a UPS. Eventually our number came up and a kind fellow with what looks like an angle grinder attacked Chris's cast.

Then sent him off for an X-ray.

while we were waiting for the X-ray, the staff apologised that due to the power failure, the X-ray would not work and they were getting an old one up and running. Feeling the threat of competition, the new one conceeded to boot and we were off and running.

 No photographic plates anymore.  Some kind of plate sensor that feeds directly into the computer. 

here is the X-ray on the doctors computer.

He extolled us that for the next 6 weeks not to participate in activities such as horse riding, football, motor bike rising, skate boards, roller skates or rip sticks.  Low impact sport such as Rowing is probably OK.

Hmmm should have asked about dish washing and lawn mowing.

Breakfast

A beautiful sunny day.  Our car is at the Konings.  Aiden and Maddie slept over last night.  They and Jemma wanted to cook Bacon Scrambled eggs and pancakes.

Jemma was keen to do pancakes.  Maddie helped to pour the pancake mix onto the hot plate.

Aiden told me that at home he stirs the scrambled eggs.  So I broke (well didn't break as you can see) 4 eggs into the pan and tossed in a little milk.

Then Aiden stirred it up.

Incidentilly these eggs came from John Ness's chooks.  He gave them to me when I took his trailer back after the boys weekend.

When the eggs were cooked to perfection Aiden advised that he did not eat eggs.  So I did.  And they were beautiful.

Highland Ball

The geriatric party night of the year!

Preparation starts well in advance for the girls anyway.  I did try on my shirt in the morning and established that the collar was a bit tight.  Drove off in search of a replacement.  Dreading the idea of going to Indooroopilly shopping town, I decided to try DFO at Jindalee.  Closer and easier parking.

I entered the building with great trepidation.  No wife or even woman to advise on selection of a shirt.  As luck would have it, the first shop I entered had suitable looking shirts and a range of sizes and a bloke with a tape measure who wrapped it round my neck and announced I was 42.  Knowing my existing too small shirt was 42, I upsized to 43.

Pre party preparation preening.  Megan tinkers with Leigh's hair.

My vice was to drop into the Hilton with David Semple and have a coffee to keep me awake past midnight.

Our group had two tables.

I am hopeful I can get some photos from someone else as my camera is pretty ordinary

I didn't take my glasses but luckily I have a 'business' card magnifying glass in my wallet.  Sean appeared to need to too to read the menu.




The highland ball finished at midnight.  I was hoping we would all go as a group down to the Valley to check out the night clubs.  Never my scene but we did it a couple of years ago and it was interesting.  No traction.  So all the pumpkins were loaded into the Vito and  Fil drove up home.  He dropped us at Calston Street and continued to the Konings where I believe he stayed the night and where I believe the Vito currently is.  I think I will ride my bike over and pick it up.

Windows Moviemaker glitch rendering AVCHD

Megan and the kids at school are making a video to enter in the "Hands Across Australia" thing.

There is a song provided and the kids write a rap that goes in the middle and then take some video and edit up a music clip.  This has to get uploaded to someplace or other.

Footage was filmed using two cameras.
1 Our Sony HDR-CX110E. Records High Definition AVCHD files onto an SD card.
2. The schools Sony that records standard definition onto a SD card.

One of the kids has done the editing - Fantastic!!!.
He used Windows Moviemaker - Could'nt be simpler you say - a simple tool for a simple task.  What could possibly go wrong.......

He showed me that whenever he cut to some of my footage there was a momentary freeze.

I replicated the fault.  Have a look at the 7 second position




THE SOLUTION

Software:
 1.  iWisoft video converter   http://www.iwisoft.com/videoconverter/  videoconverter.exe
 2.  ReNamer  http://www.den4b.com/?x=products&product=renamer   Renames multiple files.
(Also on the computer I used to fix the problem, I had the k-lite codec pack installed.  Not sure if that made a difference but handy to know)


Procedure:
I tried a few different approaches but as luck would have it, Windows moviemaker is willing to load in files with the wrong extension.

So what I did was rerender the offending High Definition AVCHD files as AVI files using DV codec.  Then renamed them back to the original file names.  The software used does all of this in a batch mode.


iWisoft video converter

In iWisoft video converter, I created a new profile based on the AVI one but selecting the codec as DV.  I called this profile AVIDV.

Then I used iWisoft video converter to convert all my files to AVI with the DV codec.


The iWisoft converter also messed about with the file names.
        00000.MTS became 00000_1.avi

Using ReNamer,
 I renamed all the from avi to .mts and deleted the _1 off them.  There were hundreds of files so no way could this have been done manually.

This is a screen grab.  The main window is the lower one and the "Edit Rule" window opened when I clicked the +Add button.  In this rule I am getting rid of the underscore and the number.

One of the really good things is now the main window shows what is about to happen but it does not do it until I click the "Rename" button.

Again this screen grab is of two windows.  The main window is below and in the top window just here on the left, I am changing the extension to .mts (note you do not type the dot)


Again the program shows the preview effect of applying both rules and then I press the "Rename" button to make it happen.












Windows Movimaker
I copied the windows Moviemaker project file (Mymovie.wlmp) to a new location.  So it lost track of the original source footage.

Then I opened WindowsMovimaker and of course, the windows Moviemaker project file (Mymovie.wlmp) was looking for the original files with a .MTS extension.  It highlighted all the files it does not know about.

I double click on one of them and navigated to the new file (the AVI file with the MTS extension) and selected it.  Moviemaker accepted that and managed to maintain the in and out edit points and it went and found the rest of the files in the same directory.

Rant:
The problem seems to be worked around.  But what a pain.  I expect mre from Microsoft.  This is a simple program used by consumers who own consumer camcorders.  You would think that it would all work together.  The internet is full of people complaining about windows moviemaker glitches.

Next time
a) Do not use Windows Moviemaker
b) Use the Serif MovieplusX6 (or ????)