Wednesday blokey bash

WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2024

Dinner with Paul, Phil, Frank at "Tiger Eye" and movie "Anatomy of a fall" at Palace Barracks.

Ha felt guilty that they bought me dinner and movie for my birthday. Weird feeling guilty with great friends.

Good to see such a movie because I'd be unlikely to choose it. I guess in a way I'm the quintessential consumer who conforms to the requirements of the algorithm. 

Movie: "Anatomy of a fall"

French. 

As expected, being French, the movie does not have a nice resolution to wrap it all up.

Set in French country side in winter. 12yo son was rendered almost completely blind when 4yo.  Mum is a successful writer and dad is a failed writer. Kid goes for a walk with his dog and upon his return discovers dad lying in the grass.  Calls to mum who appears. There's obvious trauma to the head and blood. An overly focussed prosecutor decides to charge the mother with murder.

A usb stick is discoverered with a recording of an argument that occurred the day before the death.

That was triggering in a weird way. The father accused the mother of controlling everthing. He indicated that they were where they were because of her. In my marriage I had felt that Megan controlled everything. In the movie it was very very obvious that the mother did NOT control the things the father said she controlled and that he was constrained, for want of a better word, by his own emotional state. It made me wonder how much of my feeling was in my own head. How much was I limiting myself and errornously blaming Megan. 

Overall It was a bit slow and I thought there was a scarsity of evidence even suggesting the mother did it. It was interesting to see a depiction of the French legal system which, as I understand it, has this investigatorial judiciary. Not sure how realistic that was. It seemed that that prosecutor was running a very thin case.

Overall though a great night and great to have great friends.

Australia Day Weekend

THURSDAY 

Train escooter to city

 

Coraggio. 

Escooter train home. 

Over to Cybele's to sign off Stat dec. 

FRIDAY 26 AUSTRALIA DAY

Coffee with Phoebe and Magnus at "if you say so" coffee shop at St Lucia. 

Watched a bunch of Indians or packistanies play cricket on Jack Cook memorial Park. 

Work

Fruit and veg at Fairfield gdns

Dinner at Phoebe's

Beautifull food and cake. 

SATURDAY 27

Park run. Insanely hot and humid. Walked a fair bit. Several stops for water. 

Tim and Ro's for a swim.

Phoebe joined after she'd been at her west end gym.

Home. 

Load dish water, make lunches,

Into work. 

Insanely hot. 

Back to Tim and Ro's. Joined by Phoebe for second swim of the day.

Watched some of "wanted"

SUNDAY 28

Grammarians whip 1st draft

Birthday Breakfast with Chris, Dan, Jemma myself and Phoebe at the Pink Cafe at Oxley. 

Grammarians whip job 2nd draft and email. 

Tired to snooze but there's fleas out some tiny thing biting in my bed. Changed sheets and blankets. Washed sheets.

Grammarians v3

Snooze

Dance

Takeaway at DFO. 

Said good by to Phoebe. 

Walked magnus

Packed car for tomorrow. 

amazing art. Little rowing boats. 

The lovely birthday cake Phoebe made. 

We shared it with her kids. Was so nice to just sit together and eat and talk. 

She'd been creative making the rowers

61 Birthday Breakfast

Lewis posted a memory of my 50th birthday party on Facebook. That was rained out. 

Like 11 years ago, rain thwarted plans. Originally we were going to hike northbrook gorge but figured gorges are focal points for run off and maybe best done not after rain unless we took a lifeboat of course.

So Chris, Dan, Jemma joined Phoebe and myself for breakfast at the Oxley Cafe. It was Jemma first time to meet Phoebe. Coffee not to Chris's liking and he ducked around to Black Milk coffee shop. 

Australia Day

FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2024

A few years ago, Australia day was high profile with a proud to be Australian feel to it. We'd don our aussie bling and get out and about. Beach, parties, hanging out.

This year, kind of flat. 

Woolies and coles announced they would not be stocking Australia day stuff. 

Maybe increased awareness of the atrocities committed by white settlers on the indigenous population.

Me personally, I would like to see us find a focus on an inclusive future. If that means moving to another date, and it seems logical to do so, then let's do it.

I do worry that there are those who look for ways to sew dissention.  I suspect that others will never be satisfied and will fixate on the injustices of the past. 

Movie - The boys in the boat

 Watched the movie "the boys in the boat" this evening. Reminded me how the main character had it really tough. So I feel somewhat silly feeling down. My life is a breeze compared to his. 

As I had read the book, there was the inevitable comparison between the book and the movie.  As usual, the movie has to thin down the story.

For me the movie did a great job of highlighting the politics of rowing.  Maybe because the politics hit me when I was on the committee at Centenary Rowing and then president.

The movie severely trimmed the back stories of the kid and the boat builder.  It touched on hardship with the kid living in a wrecked car but I don't think it showed it as tough as I had thought it was from the book.  

One part that I felt the movie did well but it was not until the end was the oneness of the crew.  They got a very introverted crew member up on stage playing piano.  I felt that they could have done more on the individual training toughness and crew building.

The story was book ended by the kid in the present day with a young child in a single scull.  I thought that was pointless.

I actually would like to re-watch it to pick up a bit more of his dialog and inflections.

Grammarians met at the stafford pub.  

I was feeling a bit down and it was nice to get together with a group.  This was a pick up for me.

The pub wanted 40 minute for meals and I had had a great salad and pasta lunch and so I just skipped dinner.  A small number had already ordered by the time I got there and a couple ducked of to maccas and returned with burgers.

Gus said a few words thanking members for their support.

Travel Insurance

Pondering Travel Insurance

I wonder what the gotchas are and what is important.
I know I need coverage for skiing and I think the main thing is medical cover.

WHO	Standard	Enhanced
RACQ	$230 + $148.08 Ski $357.90	$382 + $244.97 Ski $592.10
...	Excess $250 Ski	Excess $250
...	Cancellation         $25000 Overseas Medical $unlimited** Overseas Dental   $2000 Luggage               $7 500 COVID-19           No Rental Car Excess $4000	Cancellation         $unlimited Overseas Medical $unlimited** Overseas Dental   $unlimited** Luggage                $15,000 COVID-19             Limited Rental Car Excess $8000
COMBANK Covermore	$230 Base $347 No COVID	$308 Base + Snow $157 $465 Incidentally Unlimited Cancellation is +$241 Which pushes it up to $706 If one selects $10k the premium is $104 NO Covid
NIB	383	439+154.45 = $593.45
Covermore	303    360	Base $464       = $774 + Snow $310  or Snow Plus $434 Ouch No Heli                Heli

WHO	Standard	Enhanced
RACQ	$357.90	$592.10
...	Excess $250 Ski	Excess $250
...	Cancellation         $25000 Overseas Medical $unlimited** Overseas Dental   $2000 Luggage               $7 500 COVID-19           No	Cancellation         $unlimited Overseas Medical $unlimited** Overseas Dental   $unlimited** Luggage                $15,000 COVID-19             Limited
COMBANK	$347	$465
WHO	Standard	Enhanced
WHO	Standard	Enhanced

 TUH  $501.22
Underwritten by Allianz

 

 

 

QBE  $595.12

It would appear QBE no longer sell travel insurance and they have sold it to NIB

NIB

https://www.nibtravelinsurance.com.au/

RACQ

Now with COVID-19 Benefits

Premium

Regular Price

$696.58

Member Price

$592 .10

Choose your excess	$250
Going on a Cruise?~

Ski/Winter Sports?~

• ~you must pick the relevant option to have cover

  ---

•  
• 
  

Standard

Regular Price

$421.07

Member Price

$357 .90

Choose your excess	$250
Going on a cruise?~

Ski/Winter Sports?~

• ~you must pick the relevant option to have cover

  ---

• Cancellation #
  $25,000
• Overseas Medical
  $unlimited**
• Overseas Dental #
  $2,000
• Luggage #
  $7,500
• COVID-19
  Not Applicable

Saver

Regular Price

$158.69

Member Price

$134 .88

Choose your excess	$250
Going on a cruise?~

• ~you must pick the relevant option to have cover

  ---

• Cancellation #
  Not Applicable
• Overseas Medical
  $unlimited**
• Overseas Dental #
  $500
• Luggage #
  $2,000
• COVID-19
  Not Applicable

Edit trip details

Quote SummaryPremium

Total

$592.10

• Multiple +
• From
  13/02/2024
• To
  22/03/2024
• Duration
  38 days
• Age of Travellers
  61
• RACQ Member
  Yes

• ---

• Premium Policy
  $445.40
• $250 Excess
  0.00
• Cruise
  0.00
• Skiing
  $244.97
• Membership Discount
  -$103.55
• GST
  0.00
• Stamp Duty
  $5.28

Total

$592.10

Benefit	Premium	Standard	Saver
Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits# - Unforeseen Circumstances#	$unlimited^^ per Adult	$25,000 per Adult	Not Applicable
Death, Injury or Illness of Your Relative, Your Travelling Companion or Your Travelling Companion’s Relative#	$1,000*** per Adult	$1,000*** per Adult	Not Applicable
Travel Agent Fees	$4,000 per Adult	$2,000 per Adult	Not Applicable
Overseas Medical and Hospital	$unlimited** per Adult	$unlimited** per Adult	$unlimited** per Adult
Cash in hospital#	$6,000 per Adult	$3,500 per Adult	$1,500 per Adult
Overseas Dental #	$unlimited** per Adult	$2,000 per Adult	$500 per Adult
Funeral Expenses Overseas*	$20,000 per person	$15,000 per person	$10,000 per person
Luggage #	$15,000 per Adult	$7,500 per Adult	$2,000 per Adult
Travel Documents	$5,000 per Adult	$1,500 per Adult	Not Applicable
Luggage Delay	$750 per Adult	$500 per Adult	Not Applicable
Personal Money	$500 per Adult	$250 per Adult	Not Applicable
Emergency Expenses#	$unlimited^^ per Adult	$25,000 per Adult	$5,000 per Adult
Resumption of Travel	$5,000 per Adult	$1,500 per Adult	Not Applicable
Emergency Expenses for Death, Injury or Illness of Your Relative, Travelling Companion or Your Travelling Companion’s Relative	$5,000*** per Adult	$1,500*** per Adult	Not Applicable
Special Events	$5,000 per Adult	$2,000 per Adult	Not Applicable
Accidental Death*	$25,000 per person	$15,000 per person	Not Applicable
Accidental Disability*	$25,000 per person	$15,000 per person	Not Applicable
Your Legal Liability	$10,000,000 per Adult	$10,000,000 per Adult	$10,000,000 per Adult
Rental Car Excess#	$8,000 per policy	$4,000 per policy	Not Applicable
Loss of Income from Injury#	$10,400 per Adult	$5,200 per Adult	Not Applicable
Financial Default#	$10,000 per Adult	$5,000 per Adult	Not Applicable
Domestic Pets^#	$650 per policy	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Domestic Services^#	$1,500 per policy	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Travel Delay#	$3,000 per Adult	$1,500 per Adult	Not Applicable
Hijack and Kidnap*#	$10,000 per person	$5,000 per person	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Overseas Medical and Hospital	$unlimited** per Adult	$unlimited** per Adult	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Equipment Hire^	$2,000 per policy	$1,000 per policy	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Ski Pack^	$1,000 per policy	$500 per policy	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Piste Closure^#	$1,000 per policy	$500 per policy	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Bad Weather and Avalanche^	$1,000 per policy	$500 per policy	Not Applicable
Optional Cover – Ski and Winter Sports - Lift Pass	$500 per Adult	$250 per Adult	Not Applicable
COVID-19 Overseas Medical and Hospital Emergency Expenses#	$Unlimited**	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
COVID-19 Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits	$3,500 combined limit per Adult	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
COVID-19 Additional Expenses# and Special Events	$3,500 combined limit per Adult	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
COVID-19 Travel Delay#	$3,500 combined limit per Adult	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

#Limits and sub-limits apply
^^ $unlimited means that generally there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, subject to the specific terms and conditions, sub-limits and exclusions that apply to this benefit.
** $unlimited means that generally there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, subject to the specific terms and conditions, sub-limits and exclusions that apply to this benefit. This benefit covers reasonable overseas medical and hospital costs as a result of an injury (including that arising from a terrorist act) or illness occurring which first shows itself during your period of insurance. Benefits may be paid up to 12 months from the time you received treatment for the injury or illness, but only for reasonable expenses incurred during that time. Medical treatments must be provided by a legally qualified medical practitioner. You must notify us as soon as practicable of your admittance to hospital.
*This cover is per person listed in your policy
^This cover is per policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men's Group

Met at the Burrow

Great discussion. 

Sticky Date Pudding

PUDDING

155g pitted dates

2 cups of water

1 tsp Bicarb soda

60g butter

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup SR flower

SAUCE

60g Butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup cream

METHOD - PUDDING

1

Place 155g pitted dates and 2 cups water in pan and bring slowly to boil. 

Reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes.

Remove from heat, add 1 tsp Bicarb Soda. Stir it in. It will froth up. 

2

Beat 60g butter and 1 1/4 cups brown sugar until light and creamy. 

Add eggs one at a time and beat each in well. 

Sift 3/4 cups SR flour. 

Fold in the sifted SR flour. 

Mix in the date mixture. 

It was very runny. OK. 

3

Grease tin with butter. 18 x 25 cm

(mine was deeper. I need to get a larger and shallower tin) 

4 

Moderate oven 25 minutes

160

(with this deep pan, I did 30 minutes. Prob needed 35 as a small bit in the middle was not cooked) 

MAKE SAUCE

5

Small saucepan

60g butter. 1/2 cup brown sugar. 

Low heat stir continuously until butter melted.  5 minutes. 

6

Stir in cream. 

7

Simmer. Stir continuously until thickens. 5 minutes. 

Mine didn't thicken. 

After it seemed to have discolouration as if the cream had a problem. 

Ngungun

Not sure how to pronounce it....

Phoebe and I took a road trip. 

Drove then walked up Ngungun. "they" have been "improving" the track. In fact last time I tried to walk up Ngungun, I was met in the car park by a ranger who pointed out the track closed signs and advised he'd be issuing a fine if I attempted to walk up.  Can't say I was impressed by the "improvements". There was a sign that said the improvements are to protect against erosion. Problem is, to protect against erosion, I would have thought there should be rocks across the hillside to slow run off. The next problem is the rocky path is hard to walk on. Risk of twisted ankle. 

At the top we shared the fruit, Yoghurt and muslie and a Thermos of coffee.  It's so nice to sit together, share the view and food. Love is weird hey. 

The original plan was to go for a swim at Caloundra but as the weather had turned, we decided to just road trip it back. 

First stop Woodford for a pie and coffee. 

Phoebe then drove on through Dayboro and samford. 

As we were passing Toowong cemetery I impulsively thought to go show Phoebe mum and dads grave. While there she wanted to look for her grandparents gave which amazingly she was able to locate. 

another 2am

2am woke, as in woke up, as distinct from the current trend of woke. Feeling down. Is that something wrong with me. Obtensibly life is good. Great group of friends, beautiful girlfriend, work going well. Cat and dog. Etc etc.  OK onto more positive and productive stuff. Blog then meditation I guess. Maybe a distraction via wordle. 

Yesterday afternoon, 

I called Ro and headed over for dinner. My contribution is a pack of four and twenty pies from Coles.

Arrived and Tim was in the pool. I had a pair of shorts in the car so grabbed them and jumped in the pool for a very refreshing swim. After the rain of Christmas, it's suddenly gotten hot.

Tim has a deadish lap top that is off at the shop. The difficulty is it will not charge the battery. A key thing with this laptop is it has a parallel port and connects to a programmer that he uses to program pic microprocessors.

His pic of choice is PIC 18F4550

I had a look on Google and there are lots of boards advertised on ebay and Ali express for about $20 that feature a zero insertion force socket and a USB B socket. 

BUT can they program 18F4550 and what software do they use?

PIC PROGRAMMING RESEARCH

These guys seem to be useful

https://www.minikits.com.au/pic-adap-01?search=Pic%20progtammer

Pickit gets a mention. - turns out the PIC manufacturer, MICROCHIP, calls the official programmer Pickit. The current model is pickit5 and has a USBC interface. $154+GST from mouser. The software is MPLAB. 

New Years Eve

New Years Eve 2023-24 was dinner and a bush dance at Herbert's out at the end of brook field.

I'd been invited to their last one which was during covid and had really enjoyed it. My connection was via Dave Fittell and I'd asked him a few times if there was another bush dance so it was great to receive a text from him asking if I'd like to go.  

I find they are a really inclusive, friendly group. Really easy to feel included. 

Dave and I negotiated that I would bring my Mixer and be the roadie. He indicated he appreciated having help setting up the tech as it allowed him to focus on getting into playing.