Vomit Sick Virus

One after another we have fallen....

In the wee hours of Friday morning, Megan and I got up and went to the dawn service.  Returned around 7am.

Jemma advised she had felt sick and not made it to the toilet and some of the vomit went on the down stairs floor which she kindly and competently cleaned up.  She  was going to march with the Girl Guides however she spend the morning sleeping. 

Megan, Chris and I walked down our street to watch the local march.  Callan was marching with the air force cadets and there were of course Guides and School kids that Megan knew.  At the service in the park opposite the school we ran into the Horky's who we invited back for morning tea.  On the way Frank H and I discussed how it was such a great day we should drive down the cost for a quick swim.  Coincident with this discussion, Erin had had the same idea and phoned Megan.  It was decided.

Somewhere in all of this ....
Mistake #1 - Jemma went to the Konings.

We then went down the coast.
Upon our return a great dinner at the Horky's.
 Saturday - Chris and Frank started on raising the eastern fence in an attempt to keep Lucy(dog) home.
Saturday afternoon it was noticeable that Megan was off her game.
Saturday night Megan was in bed sick and Frank had moved into the sofa bed in the computer room and was organising Flashpoint.

With potentially no Megan to lead the singing I communicated with Natty to sing and Bob to play.  In this we had ascertained that Paul was struck down and so would be unavailable to do his "story".

However in the discussion with Bob I was unaware of a very important piece if information - Mistake #2 :) Ellie had spent a night with the Manthey's.  By Sunday morning Bob was sick.  So was I and somewhere in this Chris and Dan had thrown up too.

So Flashpoint was cancelled.  The first time ever I believe.

Used Dr Google to self diagnose the illness as Norovirus. 

Carnarvon Gorge Trip - Walks and Photo 1

An Inside Look at my Master Card

Most of us have had trouble with our credit card from time to time.
Sometimes we feel the need for a forensic analysis of our finances.
Well here is a forensic analysis of the inside of my Master Card.


I went to get it out of my wallet and it came out in two pieces.  Worn out?  Over use?

It still works though.

In this picture, you can see the chip and the copper coil near the edge of the card is the near field antenna for the touch and go payments.

 Here is a close up of the chip - the square bit in the middle.  I took this picture with a microscope.  The round dots are the connections through to the contacts on the front of the card.  To the right is part of the near field antenna.  The wire on the left is the other end of that same antenna coil.






I had a look on the net and the first 6 and last 4 digits are supposed to be pretty innocuous.  I have blurred out the rest and my name and expiry date so hopefully I wont see any untoward transactions in my account.

Streaming Video to Youtube

1 Downloaded Adobe Flash Media Encoder
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=fmle3

2. Download the black Magic Driver
http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/au/support/detail?sid=3958&pid=3966&leg=false&os=win

Desktop Video 10.1 for Windows Date Added: 07 April 2014 Size: 114.1 MB
It brings up a page asking you to register.  Scroll down and there is a just download button.

3 Configure Black Magic Mini Analog to SDI
Dip Switch 5 ON.  All others OFF

4. Connect
Camcorder to Black Magic Mini Analog to SDI
Then to the  Black Magic Ultra Studio SDI

5. Ran Adobe Flash Media Encoder
Selected the source to be the Black Magic device
The two screens on Flash Media Encoder were flashing.....
Blue screen of death.
PC Restart.

I suspect we have a disconnect at the SDI level.
1080i vs 720p vs 576i
Dead end.

Google -> http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5891
There is a suggestion to use older black magic drivers. 9.5.2

Carnarvon Gorge Trip - Homeward Bound - Saturday 12-4-2014

Saturday 12-4-2014

We arose from a good nights sleep to establish that although the motel has a toaster and jug that no plates or bowls are supplied.  Later at checkout I asked about this and they said that such items are available upon request.  One of the kids used the supplied milk to make a cerial and drink it from a mug.

I had a look on the net for the Roma rubbish dump / tip.  Neither Google, yellow pages or several other map type web sites knew of its location.  Check it out yourself.  Even the Roma council web site does not have the address.  Luckily the motel manager was able to give us directions.

For future reference the directions to the Roma Rubbish Tip are:
      Head East on Bungil St and look for the blue signs to the Rubbish Tip.

Dropped Megan, Kate, Jemma & Dan in town and Chris and I began our pilgrimage.  Following the managers directions and nice blue signs we headed out of town.  A long way out of town.  When we arrived we knew why the council did not advertise its address and put it so far out of town.  It had an aroma of sorts.  Avoiding vomiting ad trying to position ones nose on the leeward side of our face was the best we could do.  Pausing just long enough for a photo, we untied the rubbish and decided we would ditch the partially shredded blue tarp as this facilitated a quick departure.

Miles Historic Village
After breakfast we drove to Miles to visit the historic village.  Arriving around 1pm

The amazing thing here was we wandered around for about 3 1/2 hours.  It's not one specific era.    Just old stuff arranged in a fascinating way.  It stimulates your imagination.  I recall wandering the War Memorial in Canberra as a kid and just dreaming.  When I have been back in recent years my senses have been overloaded with multimedia shows.  The Miles historical society are probably not blessed with a budget that extends to the creation of such multi media add-ons.

Check out this ancient pin-ball machine.  On the front it looks exciting.  Numbers and lights to tell you the score and on the playing surface pits and places for the ball to land in.

But the real surprise is in the back.  The whole thing runs on motors, solenoids and relays.  I assume a huge electro mechanical state machine.  It would be fascinating to restore it to working order but I suspect that would take a lot of time and I'll bet that even when working it would require constant attention to keep it working.

I hope it operates off something less than 240V.  My guess would be 60V telcom relays.

 On a train bound for nowhere.

How do you get a dam heavy steam loco into your museum.  Well given the rail line is just across the highway, you put in a set of points and build a branch line.  The branch line blocked the highway for two days and they shunted the loco across and into position.

Dinner was takeaway Chinese MSG & Salt.  We dropped into Easterfest.  Tony was on the gate and we bribed him with a corn chip.  Had dinner in Glynn Land.  That is the hub of the comms and power resource area.  Then we went to look at "The Palace"  A new tent this year.  Inside was pitch black.  By phone light we danced on the stage and wandered around. 

Then it was back in the car for the final drive home.  Ariiving 10pm ish. 

Carnarvon Gorge Trip - Warumba gorge - Friday 11-4-2014

After a lunch swim at the rock pool we headed down the road and stopped to walk down the path to Mikey's? Canyon.  As we walked we saw an echidna.  When it heard our footsteps it tried hard to bury its self.  Peaking out every so often to see if the treat had moved on.  Kate was feeling like a rest so she sat and waited for it to move.

We was Frank, Megan, Dan and Jemma.  Chris was having a moment and stayed in the car.

 

This gorge was fascinating.  High and narrow. The challenge was to walk without falling in the water.  There were stepping stones and in places we clung to one side or had our feet on one side and our hands on the other.  eventually we stopped and turned round when we would have had to walk in the water.  It was only symbolic as the water did not seem to deep ..... or was it...? :)

As we drove along to road we spotted this little fellow wandering along.  Not sure whether to intervene in nature.  Decided to stop and move him or her off the road.  Put him/her/it about 20m off the road at the base of a tree.  Hope it survives.






Stopped in at Takarakka Bush Resor.  Blow me over if not soon after, the Horky's arrived.  We bought ice creams and went to the toilet.  The place looks nice.  Toilets are clean and grass is green.  Apparently fires are allowed.  Looks like a nice place to stay.

Carnarvon Gorge Trip - Dawn Walk and Packup - Friday 11-4-2014

4:30AM rise and ....
A torch lit walk to the loo.  Connected the wire to the battery to light the common tarped area.  Lit the gas hoping the roaring and hissing would not awaken the Mantheys sleeping nearby.  Walked over to the Horky tent and woke Massimo.  Established Megan's head torch was flat.  Alistair quickly produced one.  Sipped the coffee.

We set off across the river.  Torches are essential as we traverse the stepping stones across the river.  Alistair is striding out front setting a cracking pace.  I have a hand torch and not knowing how long it will last, I position myself in the middle of the pack.  Walking by the lights of others and only switching mine on to navigate obsticals.   The pace is fast and the track is steep.  Lots of stone steps and steel ladders.  I am soon huffing and puffing.

We reach the top as the sky begins to lighten.  The track levels out.  Walking is easier.

We arrive at the look out and congregate obediently behind the fence.  A metaphor as always for the nanny state.  I hop over and find a comfortable vantage point sitting on a rock with a back rest.  Soon almost everyone except the two elderly ladies and Massimo have climbed over.

There is something about the bigness of this place that can't be captured through a lens.  Possibly says something about my (lack of) skills as a photographer.

A small orange dot appeared wink on horizon.  I had expected an orange disc to rise up from the horizon but the sun rise was more like the small dot wink on and off and then the main disc rose.

The pictures so far are not in chronological order rather they were taken after the sun rose.

Alistair, Massimo, Frank, Megan, Erin.

Carnavon Gorge Holiday - Preparation

We borrowed a trailer from John and as with all borrowed trailers it had some issues with its lights.

Early in the week Chris and I attached a plug (7 pin round) and replaced one of the rear lights with a nice new LED assembly $20 from Super Cheap Auto.  A test drive to Paul's place on Thursday night to borrow and Esky and tent poles revealed that the other rear light showed a pitiful dull glow.

Friday 4-4-2014
Removing the cover explained the cause as the light was completely packed with mulch.  You know the chopped up compost that you put on your garden.  Half of this fell out when the cover was removed.  The other half was moist and jammed in.  Using a screwdriver to leaver some of it out revealed that the mechanism was very rusty.  I tried to remove the bulbs but one was jammed in.  I decided to replace the assembly.  A quick trip to Super Cheap.  They were out of the $20 lights so I had to settle for a $35 assembly.  The new light had a different mounting method and I had to drill a couple of new holes in the trailer.  The new light was attached using supplied self tapping screws.  One went in OK but the other did not and I wrecked the head.  Bunnings (Hardware) was now closed and I did not have a suitable spare so that job was put off till Saturday Morning.

Saturday 5-4-2014
The first day fit the theme of "a change is as good as a holiday" because although it was busy it was also a refreshing change.

The objective was to leave by 10 and drive to Roma.  I am a clock watcher by nature and so I mentally prepared myself for a late departure.  We eventually left at 1:30pm.

The drive to Roma was pretty calm and uneventful.  We had toyed with Dinner at Miles but blinked and missed it.

Afternoon tea was a stop at McDonalds Dalby.  I had my usual Latte with Chocolate Sprinkles and a hot apple pie and the the kids consumed ice creams of various types and chips.  It seem to recall that McDonalds chips have no sugar in them.  Gotta be good. :)

Ann Woodward Campbell had booked a number of the families into the caravan park at Roma.  Some of us had then upgraded those bookings to on site cabins.  We were in cabin #1.  Each cabin had a lean to carport and ours was long enough to back the trailer in as well as the Vito.  The cabin was clean and air conditioned and came with a TV.  Chris sat on the bed and I joined him and we watched something so memorable that I don't recall what it was.  



We un-hitched the trailer and chained it up.  Most of the families then drove in a convoy around Roma on a hunter gatherer expedition.  The White Bull was being renovated so we moved to other pastures.  Not sure where we ate but I had a very nice pork belly and was too full for dessert so skipped on that.


 We celebrated Felix's birthday



















Sunday 6-4-2014
The first religious observance of the day was church.  We arrived at where we thought the UC should be to find us across the road from the Anglicans. They have a big dark Gothic building with a bell tower. I hopped out of the car and went in.  The vibe inside felt good.  There were two video screens and a fair bit of chatter from kids.  The lady holding a baby at the back of the church explained that they were onto communion and that it would all be over in 10 minutes.  There were some in our car that would have figured that was a good thing.

None the less we drove further down the street and located the Uniting Church. It was much quieter and no video.  I was concerned.  The people were relaxed and friendly.  You know you are in the country when the children's story compares road kill to raising of Lazarus.

After church there was no traction to stay for morning tea.  Megan got chatting to someone so I opened the car to let it cool and so the kids could get in.  I wandered around and observed that morning tea included a very good looking chocolate cake.  Finally Megan completed her conversation and we all piled in.  I turned the key.... click click bzzz.

OK so we are staying for morning tea.  We had no jumper leads.  They normally live in the Vito but we had had battery issues with the Tiida a few weeks ago and they had moved to that vehicle and not come back.  I located the fellow with the two boys who had done the children's address on road kill.  He offered to go home and get some jumper leads.  He advised that Repco were open in the next street and Super Cheap were only a few streets away.  Eventually Megan called the RACQ.  The lady on the other end of the line said 3-4 hours but the locals suggested 5 minutes and the locals won out.  Chis missed out on a ride in the mans GTS Monaro which he had been admiring in the car park.

The RACQ fellow arrived and connected his jumper leads and we started the engine.  Along the way he attached a meter and pronounced that the battery needed replacing.  He did not have a suitable one on board and the closest he had was too small.  The battery has to be exactly the right length to be held in place securely.  As a reference I asked the price of his battery $255.

With the Vito running we drove off and looked at the worlds largest bottle tree.  As we took photos I mused that it does not take much to have more tourist attractions than Brisbane.  Keeping the engine running I then dropped Megan, Kate, Jemma and Dan at the Big Rig Tourist Info centre thingo.  This place has a slab hut and a rid on train.

Chris and I embarked on the second religious observance of the day - The quest for a new battery.  We went first to supercheap and easily located the battery at $275 and jumper leads were on offer in various price ranges.   Given the non insubstantial cost of the battery we went to Repco to compare prices.  That process is somewhat harder.  They did not have a book on display to browse through to find the battery and so into the clutches of the salesman we moved.  He looked in his computer and found the same number as we had located at Supercheap but alas he did not have one.  I asked how much it would have been and it came in at $305.  So I was kind of glad he did not have one as it made it easy to go back to supercheap.  Along the way we also observed that jumper leads seemed to be a bit more expensive for essentially the same the same thing.

We parked on the road outside SuperCheap.  The old battery was removed and I met Chris at the counter and paid for the battery and a new set of jumperleads.

Sean and family arrived to collect more stuff.

Then we all drove back to the tourist info park.  The little train had gone to sleep for the day so we looked at the slab hut and had a very nice lunch of hot chook & salad (provided by Sean) and sandwiches with various spreads.

We then parted company with the Mawhinney's taking Dan in exchange for Callan.  The logic being that a grumpy Dan would behave better in a new environment and a grumpy Chris would behave better in the presence of a friend.