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Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Audio Mixer

Analogue Mixer
Bluetooth input
USB-C audio adapter

Every now and then I need a small mixer.   I have a 16 channel digital mixer however one needs a phd to operate it.   I need a small and easy to explain and operate mixer. In addition, as more and more phones do not have a physical audio connector, I need Bluetooth. 

I used to have one of these but I can't find it
this mixer seems to meet requirements 
Also need a USB-C analogue audio adapter in case people want to use a wired connection.




Tuesday, November 25, 2025

The Cost of Energy

 Cost of energy. 

 4-DEC-2025 UPDATE

Origin called with updated pricing

GAS 100.73c/da  3.365c/MJ ist 25MJ and 3.133 c/MJ after that
ELEC 112.871 c/day and 27.841 c/kWh

It seems that they wont give the lower rates to keep you.  You actually have to move.  Then they call you and make the offer.  Business v Loyalty - Amazing. 

25-NOV-2025 

Yesterday I called Origin to organise supply at a new place in Fairfield and the fellow said that I can't take my existing rates to the new place. 

The rates he offered were the same as the ones on the internet and significantly worse. 

I asked it to be escalated to the customer retention team. 

Meanwhile I had a look at competitors and the results are in the photo. Called Origin back to see whether the retention team were going to come to the party. I got "put through" and the new fellow said the rates were the rates and "you are more than welcome to move". So I moved to Alinta.

 

 


 


 

Rowing Gym

4:30 Alarm
5:00 Dep Corinda 
5:30 Gym
6:30 done

4 sets of 10 reps:
Leg press 70+70=140
Bench pull 12.5 x 2 -> 15
Romanian 2x20
Single arm push up on chair Frank12.5~~  others 15 
Lunges  17kg

Notes:
Bench pull now 15 x 2
Don't do more than 2x20 Romanian.  We did that one week and it hurt my back. The pain was if I turned and reached.  Say to lean across to open the passenger door. 



Monday, November 24, 2025

Spin down

Monday 24 November.
It's the first day after the business of the HOTY.

Decided not to do any exercise. Took dog for a walk. 

Sitting on my deck. 
Drinking instant decaf.
YouTube music playing random stuff from 60's and 70's.
Mags is mooching.
Broken whispy clouds in a mostly blue sky.
Magpies and other birds doing their things. 

Being apart was good as it reminded me of how much I love Phoebe. Even though I was surrounded by people I know and had a good row and social activities, I still thought of her and looked forward to holding her upon my return. 

Pondering what to do next:
Shower
Unpack 
Make bed. 
AC repair coming today. 
Viewing new place today. 
Men's group tonight I wonder if we will have a quorum. 
Purge un worn clothes
Should we get a Moving truck?
After all we are not teenagers any more. 

MOVING TASKS
ST LUCIA
Pick up fridge from Highland the.
GLENRICH ST
Move tub to lawn. 
Move fridge to carport (plug in)
THEN LOAD TRUCK
Work bench (under house)
Kayak 
Queen bed
Big table (may need to remove legs)
Couch.
Coffee table
TV (box is here)
Book case
Hutch side board thing. 

Sunday, November 23, 2025

HOTY 2025 Race


SATURDAY race day
SATURDAY
 rise and shine. 
8:00 meet in the park. 
Warm up by running. 
8:30 hands on
8:40 Boat in the water
9:00 Race time. 

Only bare minimum in boat. Bags can be put in a pile at the park and Beesties brother will take them to the finish.

DERIG AND LOAD
remember plastic

PUB CRAWL 
Was a bit stop start




Friday, November 21, 2025

HOTY SUNDAY

ACTUAL...& PLAN
4:00 rise and shine 
4:40 check out.  
Reception 24hs
Walk to Sky bus
5:00 On Sky Bus
5:45 Arr airport
6:00 Bag drop
6:40 Boarding 
7:00 am lift off
8:30 arrive

Met Ian on the bus. 

STUFF FOR NEXT TIME
Comb
Back pack on Saturday. 
Don't bother clothes at Hawthorne (just put in back pack at City end).
Spare glasses in back pack. 


HOTY FRIDAY


7:30 breakfast 
8:20 walking back to hotel. 
8:45 walking to Tram 
9:00 Tram 75
9:20 Hawthorne rowing club
Rig boat. 
12:30 water
2:00 off the water at city. 
3:00 finished at Chloes
3:30 waiting for Tram 75 home

MORE DETAIL
Crew is:
1 Chris
2 Drew
3 Rob
4 George
5 Arnie
6 Mike
7 Kingy
8 Frank
C Alice

Woke early. 
7am Walked to Flinders lane and then up to Degraves Street. Initially met 7 and Cher. Shortly Therafter Arnie, Kingy, Chris, Mike & George arrived. We took up a couple of tables in the middle of the lane. 

I ordered a waffle halloumi which included bacon and egg and a coffee.  Eventually I only managed half the meal but I did order a second coffee. 

8:45 
I left the hotel and walked to Flinders st. Caught Tram 75.  A number of other grammarians joined a few stops later. 


HOTY THUR

Phoebe dropped me at the airport. It's weird travelling without her. 

On the the plane, sat down and moments later Kingy from my crew sat down beside me. 

Cribby organised

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

HOTY run sheet


THURSDAY 
5:00 rise and shine
Shower feed dog pack usbc lead
6:00 Depart Corinda 
6:45 Arr airport
8:00 Fly



WEATHER
From what i can see it's looking cold.
Fri 11-22
Sat 16-23
No rain.
Bring a jumper. 

WHAT TO BRING
Zootie or singlet
Hat
Seat Pads (if you use)
Shoes for boat
Water Bottles.
Blazer
I have cox box & speed coach and chargers. 

Waterproof bag for phone. 
FOR PUB CRAWL
Shorts and Tee shirt and footwear. (I plan to take mine to Hawthorne on Friday and hide it in the trailer).
Money.

FORMALITIES
Blazer
ETC
phone chargers. 
Toothbrush. 

THURSDAY 20TH
People arrive (see prev message)
Get MIKI card.
4-6pm Riverland bar.

Also the Melbourne OBA function is on in the evening.

FRIDAY
TBA Breakfast together - thoughts 
8:15 Tram 75 from Stop 8 car Spring & Flinders. Miki card
8:45 Hawthorne Rowing club
Rig boats
(10am other crews depart)
Snack?
12 noon ish when Rob arrives
training row to start. 
Couple of U turns to go back through big bend. 
3pm arr Start line. 
3pm -Alice rendezvous with Angus for briefing.
6pm Dinner - Tazio 
61 Flinders lane. Blazer.
Early night zzzzz


SATURDAY
TBA rise and shine. 
Need to update this. 
8:00? meet in the park. Warm up by running. 
8:30 hands on
8:40 Boat in the water
9:00 Race time. 
Evening
Dinner. Blazer.

PACKING LIST
ON PLANE
Jeans
Dark shirt 
Blazer


HOLD BAG
Cox box
Speed coach
Chargers
Socks x 3
Undies x 3
Black Good shirt
Black Polo shirt


TInnie stay

Last Sunday I observed that one of the supports for a tinnie canopy was broken. 

A busy few days delayed action.

THURSDAY morning I had the real estate inspection of my rental. After that was done,  I checked the BCF website and learned that these covers were called Bimini and the Jindalee store had a spare. Given boats come in different sizes and the Web site showed multiple Bimini's, I guessed that the back stays would come in different sizes. This meant that I wanted to see the pole so I could check the size. 

I arrived at BCF and the fellow at the counter checked the computer and we went looking for the pole. Couldn't find it.  Another employee found it. I checked the length and it was too long. I took it anyway. 

At work I drilled out the pop rivits and cut it to length. Ground off the burrs. Drilled new holes. I used a M4x30mm screw as I did not have me pop rivets. 

WEDNESDAY morning I got up early and took my new pole out to Centenary and reassembled the tinnie.












Monday, November 17, 2025

House Clean

Started a deeper clean of Glenrich St. 
BOND CLEANERS
The real estate had provided contact details for two bond cleaners.  One did not respond to phone and text. The other arranged to meet and quote but cancelled the day before. I contacted the fellow who'd done the Magee St clean. I'd been very impressed with him and his team. He came out but hadn't realised it was a different real estate franchise. He said he only works for Ray White 

Sunday, November 16, 2025

a weird Week in review

It's been a bit of a weird week. 

MONDAY I skipped men's group because I felt a bit weird and too many things to do. 

FRIDAY I misread the grammarians rowing schedule and didn't show for rowing.  A cardinal sin. 

SATURDAY park Run was reasonable with a reasonable time of  36:47. 
The next chuck of the day was spent cleaning. Then into work to fix up the Grammarians electrical spares kit.
Met up with Phoebe at Glenrich st and drove to the Royal Mail at Goodna to watch a guitarist.  We watched a couple of bands.  They were a bit ordinary. The sound was muddy. The guitarist we went to see was part of a band. Left a bit early. 

SUNDAY
Dennis was at Centenary said hello. 

Only 8 boats at Centenary and three coaching plus me.  I asked if it was ok to take an early mark. Swing past home dropped Mags and changed into church appropriate clothes and drove to attend Church with Phoebe.   It's a very sad situation with politics buggering the congregation. 

After church we drive via home and then collected Rodney Metcalfe from Mt Ommaney and proceeded up to the Sunshine Coast. 

Lunch Rob, Phoebe and I at ? Fish and Chips.

We drive to Budrum Private Hospital and visit Aunty Marg. Phoebe had brought a card and gotten Chat GPT to write Aunty Marg a poem. So kind and wonderfully thoughtful of her. Aunty marg is still sharp as.    Lois and her husband Frank arrive. We chat and listen to stories. 

Drive home. 
Drop Rod.
Buy Thai for dinner. 

Sleep. 




Saturday, November 15, 2025

Moving pt1

Slowly clearing and chucking junk. 

MON 17 evening
Feeling a bit down. 
Too many things to do

Park Run


Sweltering sun and humidity Brisbane style. Mags and I started well but faded after the turn around. Several short walks and a drink stop for both of us. 
36:47. 15-NOV-2025
Skip - sweet Caroline 
37:56
35:03
36:21
37??

Monday, November 10, 2025

HOTY Planning

 Once again we are low in enthusiasm for the HOTY.

MINIMUM OPTION
Fly down Friday first flight Friday and return Saturday evening.
As a sweeping generalisation, Qantas seems to have the lowest fares. 

Qantas First Flight  5:05am arr MEL 8:30am $412 then lets add 2hrs to get to Hawthorne 10:30.  
Jetstar is 6am-9:20 am $327 so even later and we really don't trust Jetstar.
Assume say $100 taxi.  So the spend is $512 and we essentially arrive later than the rest of the club who we believe will arrive 9:30.  - So we will forget this option.

 

THURSDAY - SUNDAY (Traditional Option)
The question becomes: What to do in Melbourne during the day on Thursday.
QANTAS    8am-11:25   $335 
Extra legroom $47
Virgin 8:55 - 12:15 Virgin $299 Flex. $35 cheaper but gone
Virgin 10:55-2:15 Flex $389
Flight Centre > Virgin $269 "Choice" incl bags  CHEAPEST BUT!
ahh but add $29.95 Booking fee -> $297.95  Essentially the same as on the Virgin web site.
Extra leg room exit row add $81.  Standard seat $0.  Oter seats vary $22-$28.
Interestingly they have seats in front of the wing.

SUNDAY 
Qantas 7am $284  CHEAPEST
Virgin 8:10am $389 "Flex" includes a bag  ($282 no bags)
Flight Centre>Virgin 7:10 "Choice" incl bags $329
 

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Sweet Caroline

Grammarians had naming ceremony for their quad/four.

The name "Sweet Caroline" came about from two histories.  One was the singing of Sweet Caroline as we pub crawl after the HOTY and secondly, and more movingly, after Caroline who used to Cox us and who was run over and killed while jogging in Graceville. 

As an aside, I see Caroline's mum at park run. She told me she took up running in memory of Caroline. 


Thursday, November 6, 2025

mums birthday

Aniversery of mums birthday.  Pondering life. Relationships. The way we fit in to the world. 

Monday, November 3, 2025

White Sauce


WHITE SAUCE
For Tuna mournau or lasagne 

Need to refine this

100gButter
10 tablespoons flour

120g butter
6 dessert spoons plain flour
1.8L milk

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Park Run

After last week's 35:03 PB, this week- off the pace by 3 minutes- coming in 37:56. Phoebe did her first in ages striding home 46:52.

37:56
35:03
36:21
37??

Felt good up to the 2.5k turn around.  Not long after the turn around, began to feel heavy. Lost the mojo.  It was hot and humid. Walked and Stopped twice on the return journey for water. 



This shows me back in plodding mode