Christmas Day 2008.
The day startd earlyish (in fact I haven't been up this early on CHristmas Day since i was a kid and tappingbetty & son-of-royboy, used to wake everybody up at 6 am to see what santa had brought us). Tappingbetty and Tapmum picked me up at 7.30 am and we headed off to Viewbank to Son-of-Royboy's (aka brother #1)for our first Christmas meal of the day.
KT (almost 9 yr old niece) was cooking pancakes with raspberries & whipped cream, tapmum had made Bircher muesli, & son-of-royboy had burned some croissants, for our breakfast.
I had to 'sing for my supper' as KT had got a download card for her nintendo ds and it wasn't working so my tech skills were called upon to find out what system file was missing and to install said sytem file (which I did).
My time in front of the pc did not end there. 11 yr old nephew was having trouble downloading to his new ipod nano - so I sorted that out for him - I am definitely favourite aunty there at the moment.
BollocksPants (aka Brother #2) rang from England to wish us all a merry xmas and catch us up on his news, and Be-There-With (aka brother #3) rang from NZ where he, s-i-l, and the feral cherubs, are spending Xmas - got a merry xmas from 3yr old nephew (as well as a detailed chat about dora the explorer!).
We exchanged family presents before TappingBetty, Tapmum and I headed for Southbank for our Christmas lunch.
This year's venue was La Camera and it was a great choice as we had a superb 3 course meal.
It was a set menu - choice of 3 entrees, 3 mains, and 3 desserts. TappingBetty had won an excellence award from her work - which was a $100 restaurant voucher - and she very generously put that towards the meal.
Now it's home, feet up, relaxing with my xmas presents, and not feeling like eating again today.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Noisy Librarian - rant alert
Well Friday was one of those days - it started out brilliantly then went steadily downhill.
For the first time ever we used an online booking program (eventbrite) for out school holiday program tickets. And it worked - it worked better than we could have imagined.
Accusations of catastrophism were made (in the light of our evident and profound relief at the lack of problems) but given the volume of bookings - staff, software, and patrons all coped brilliantly.
The high was soon replaced by disbelief(and many other D {and f} words) at news of a colleague's misfortune.
Then the ice cream van ran out of ice cream a the work Christmas party.
Could the day get any worse? Well yes it could.
When I got home there was a letter from the Body Corporate Manager waiting for me.
Apparently he has received 'numerous' complaints of loud music coming from my flat (the music, not the complaints), and of loud music being played (by me) outside of the hours prescribed by law.
Loud music -me?
Loud music late at night - me?
Now those of you who know me will know I am uber nerd - when I am at home I watch TV, frolic at the computer, and read.
I seldom, if ever, play music outside the prescribed hours (let alone loud music).
I don't listen to the radio.
If I've got music on it's while I'm doing housework and I turn it up so I can hear it over the vacuum cleaner - but I sure-as-hell don't vacuum after 10pm or before 7am (11pm & 9am weekends).
On the rare occasions I do vacuum it's in the middle of the day! And, as I mainly listen to show tunes, soundtracks etc., it raises the question is it possible to play "The sound of Music" loudly?
I put all this in an email to the Body Corporate Manager - along with mention of my long standing tenancy here, and the fact that the previous owners used me as a selling point for the unit ('ideal, long standing, quiet tenant').
Despite all these protestations what really p****d me off was the fact that the anonymous complainant went straight to the body corporate - they didn't talk to me, or pop a note in the letterbox, or slide a note under the door.
I suspect this is a case of mistaken identity - the guys in the flat next door work nights and they like their 'doof doof' music loud and late.
I also have a prime suspect for the complainant - I know almost all of the tenants in the other flats - except for the people who moved in downstairs a couple of weeks ago - not really sure how I can broach the subject with them - as I haven't met them or crossed paths with them yet. (I suspect introducing myself to them with boombox on shoulder blaring out selections from South Pacific would not be the way to go!)
Stay tuned for further developments.
If only I used my power for quiet instead of evil.
P.S. Everybody I have told this tale has laughed hysterically at the thought of me playing loud music late at night - should I be insulted or offended?
For the first time ever we used an online booking program (eventbrite) for out school holiday program tickets. And it worked - it worked better than we could have imagined.
Accusations of catastrophism were made (in the light of our evident and profound relief at the lack of problems) but given the volume of bookings - staff, software, and patrons all coped brilliantly.
The high was soon replaced by disbelief(and many other D {and f} words) at news of a colleague's misfortune.
Then the ice cream van ran out of ice cream a the work Christmas party.
Could the day get any worse? Well yes it could.
When I got home there was a letter from the Body Corporate Manager waiting for me.
Apparently he has received 'numerous' complaints of loud music coming from my flat (the music, not the complaints), and of loud music being played (by me) outside of the hours prescribed by law.
Loud music -me?
Loud music late at night - me?
Now those of you who know me will know I am uber nerd - when I am at home I watch TV, frolic at the computer, and read.
I seldom, if ever, play music outside the prescribed hours (let alone loud music).
I don't listen to the radio.
If I've got music on it's while I'm doing housework and I turn it up so I can hear it over the vacuum cleaner - but I sure-as-hell don't vacuum after 10pm or before 7am (11pm & 9am weekends).
On the rare occasions I do vacuum it's in the middle of the day! And, as I mainly listen to show tunes, soundtracks etc., it raises the question is it possible to play "The sound of Music" loudly?
I put all this in an email to the Body Corporate Manager - along with mention of my long standing tenancy here, and the fact that the previous owners used me as a selling point for the unit ('ideal, long standing, quiet tenant').
Despite all these protestations what really p****d me off was the fact that the anonymous complainant went straight to the body corporate - they didn't talk to me, or pop a note in the letterbox, or slide a note under the door.
I suspect this is a case of mistaken identity - the guys in the flat next door work nights and they like their 'doof doof' music loud and late.
I also have a prime suspect for the complainant - I know almost all of the tenants in the other flats - except for the people who moved in downstairs a couple of weeks ago - not really sure how I can broach the subject with them - as I haven't met them or crossed paths with them yet. (I suspect introducing myself to them with boombox on shoulder blaring out selections from South Pacific would not be the way to go!)
Stay tuned for further developments.
If only I used my power for quiet instead of evil.
P.S. Everybody I have told this tale has laughed hysterically at the thought of me playing loud music late at night - should I be insulted or offended?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Christmas whimsy
O Fiona of wonder, Fiona of might,
Fiona of royal beauty bright.
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
from the Christmas Song Generator.
So here it is, merry Christmas,
Everybody's having fun.
Look to the fiona now,
It's only just begun.
Merry Christmas
from the Christmas Song Generator.
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
A fiona in a pear tree.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
from the Christmas Song Generator.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless fiona
The silent stars go by.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
from the Christmas Song Generator.
He sees you when you're fiona,
He knows when you're awake.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
from the Christmas Song Generator.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Christchurch
Love Christchurch -had awesome digs -a short walk into cathedral square - and we saw our first kiwi (bird, not new zealander).
Caught the gondola fromHeathcote Valley for a spectacular view across Christchurch & surrounds.
Christchurch has tourist trams so we felt quite at home. Did a lap on the tram to get our bearings and then headed for the arts precinct. It is housed in the former university buildings - the uni outgrew the space and moved out and the area has been turned into a brilliant arts precinct. There are many arts and crafts shops, galleries, exhibition spaces, theatres, and the fudge cottage (not a cottage made out of fudge but rather a shop that makes, and sells, fudge. They also do tours of the kitchen - the day we were there we saw them making choc orange fudge (always one of my favourites).
The arts precinct is across the road from the botanic gardens, and the museum.
The museum had an excellent display of maori artefacts and the gardens provided a place of shade while we ate our sandwiches and pondered the rest of the day.
Whilst TappingBetty climes to the top of the Cathedral, I headed to the central library where my collection of library related brochures increased dramatically (and now includes a brochure on what to do if a tsunami strikes.)
Caught the gondola fromHeathcote Valley for a spectacular view across Christchurch & surrounds.
Christchurch has tourist trams so we felt quite at home. Did a lap on the tram to get our bearings and then headed for the arts precinct. It is housed in the former university buildings - the uni outgrew the space and moved out and the area has been turned into a brilliant arts precinct. There are many arts and crafts shops, galleries, exhibition spaces, theatres, and the fudge cottage (not a cottage made out of fudge but rather a shop that makes, and sells, fudge. They also do tours of the kitchen - the day we were there we saw them making choc orange fudge (always one of my favourites).
The arts precinct is across the road from the botanic gardens, and the museum.
The museum had an excellent display of maori artefacts and the gardens provided a place of shade while we ate our sandwiches and pondered the rest of the day.
Whilst TappingBetty climes to the top of the Cathedral, I headed to the central library where my collection of library related brochures increased dramatically (and now includes a brochure on what to do if a tsunami strikes.)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Glacier to Greymouth
Well the rain had eased the next morning when we dragged ourselves from our comfy (warm) beds ready to catch the bus to Greymouth to connect with the first of our scenic train trips.
We were catching the TransAlpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch. The trip is 223 kilometres and takes four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres.
It was overcast and drizzly when the train eventually left Greymouth (almost an hour late for some reason) but the scenery more than made up for that. We spent most of the trip on the open air viewing platform (getting very windswept in the process) which provided us with great views.
There were a lot of track works being carried out which meant that from time to time the train was forced to slow down (good for photo oportunities, not so good for punctuality).
The scenery was spectacular - viaducts, picture perfect river views, a lot of postcard moments. (Soon to be posted to flickr)
The closer we got to Christchurch the better the weather became. When we finally rolled into Christchurch it was sunny and bright and we were very happy campers as we headed for yet some more outstanding accommodation.
We were catching the TransAlpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch. The trip is 223 kilometres and takes four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres.
It was overcast and drizzly when the train eventually left Greymouth (almost an hour late for some reason) but the scenery more than made up for that. We spent most of the trip on the open air viewing platform (getting very windswept in the process) which provided us with great views.
There were a lot of track works being carried out which meant that from time to time the train was forced to slow down (good for photo oportunities, not so good for punctuality).
The scenery was spectacular - viaducts, picture perfect river views, a lot of postcard moments. (Soon to be posted to flickr)
The closer we got to Christchurch the better the weather became. When we finally rolled into Christchurch it was sunny and bright and we were very happy campers as we headed for yet some more outstanding accommodation.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
A glacier called fox
The weather had cooled and the sky was a tad cloudy as we left Queenstown before breakfast and headed for Fox Glacier and points beyond.
Today's bus was a 12 seater and it was a pretty good dozen also. Apart from us there were 2 cops from Christchurch, 2 french backpackers, an elderly Queenstown lady visiting friends at Fox, a young american missionary, an irish backpacker, a mother and son heading for a craft market.
We had a lot of fun on the 6 hour drive - the weather grew steadily worse the further we got from Queenstown. We stopped for lunch at a salmon farm (salmon, salmon, and more salmon) - where we bonded even more as the rain beat heavily on the roof of the cafe.
By the time we were dropped off at our motel at Fox Glacier the rain had obviously set in for the day. The clouds were low and dark and the mountains were barely visible through the mist.
Our motel totally rocked. I can highly recommend it. It's a 2 minute walk from the main drag (1 minute from the pub).
We got a local guy (Murray) to drive us out to the glacier. He picked us up at the motel and then waited in the carpark while we dragged our sodden selves to the base of the glacier. (He also supplied us with yellow plastic ponchos to try and keep us a tad drier than our waterproof jackets were doing).
There were quite a few tourists, apart from ourselves, trudging grimly towards the glacier. No one wanted to miss the opportunity so yellow plastic ponchos and purloined Bunnings umbrellas seemed the order of the day.
Heads down we trudged past the sign warning us not to stop for the next 200 metres (or someone might hit us on the head with a rock - avalanche warning perhaps - can heavy rain cause avalanches? - yep); exchanging wry, waterlogged grins with the hardy souls making their way back to the car park.
We exhanged bows with the Japanese gentlemen (in suits and ties -see note re: Bunnings umbrellas), wondered at the 3 young guys in boardies, t shirts, and thongs - they were wet, couldn't get any wetter I guess - and finally reached the glacier.
Everything was grey - sky, glacier, horizon, hills, but no matter we were there. I'm sure it would be even more spectacular without rain but it lost none of it's scenicicity in the rain (we just didn't stand there as long as might otherwise have been the case).
Murray had shown us photos he'd taken over the past 30 years which clearly showed how much the glacier had moved during that time - it was truly awesome to gaze upon and we would have really liked to have helicoptered over it, but the weather had grounded all glacier flights - ah well, it was still an inspiring sight.
It was a couple of soaking wet tappers who made their way back to the motel and curled up in front of the heater with books and hot chocolates (instant I'm afraid...Jarrah chocolatte fudge) as darkness came a few hours early due to that danged rain.
Today's bus was a 12 seater and it was a pretty good dozen also. Apart from us there were 2 cops from Christchurch, 2 french backpackers, an elderly Queenstown lady visiting friends at Fox, a young american missionary, an irish backpacker, a mother and son heading for a craft market.
We had a lot of fun on the 6 hour drive - the weather grew steadily worse the further we got from Queenstown. We stopped for lunch at a salmon farm (salmon, salmon, and more salmon) - where we bonded even more as the rain beat heavily on the roof of the cafe.
By the time we were dropped off at our motel at Fox Glacier the rain had obviously set in for the day. The clouds were low and dark and the mountains were barely visible through the mist.
Our motel totally rocked. I can highly recommend it. It's a 2 minute walk from the main drag (1 minute from the pub).
We got a local guy (Murray) to drive us out to the glacier. He picked us up at the motel and then waited in the carpark while we dragged our sodden selves to the base of the glacier. (He also supplied us with yellow plastic ponchos to try and keep us a tad drier than our waterproof jackets were doing).
There were quite a few tourists, apart from ourselves, trudging grimly towards the glacier. No one wanted to miss the opportunity so yellow plastic ponchos and purloined Bunnings umbrellas seemed the order of the day.
Heads down we trudged past the sign warning us not to stop for the next 200 metres (or someone might hit us on the head with a rock - avalanche warning perhaps - can heavy rain cause avalanches? - yep); exchanging wry, waterlogged grins with the hardy souls making their way back to the car park.
We exhanged bows with the Japanese gentlemen (in suits and ties -see note re: Bunnings umbrellas), wondered at the 3 young guys in boardies, t shirts, and thongs - they were wet, couldn't get any wetter I guess - and finally reached the glacier.
Everything was grey - sky, glacier, horizon, hills, but no matter we were there. I'm sure it would be even more spectacular without rain but it lost none of it's scenicicity in the rain (we just didn't stand there as long as might otherwise have been the case).
Murray had shown us photos he'd taken over the past 30 years which clearly showed how much the glacier had moved during that time - it was truly awesome to gaze upon and we would have really liked to have helicoptered over it, but the weather had grounded all glacier flights - ah well, it was still an inspiring sight.
It was a couple of soaking wet tappers who made their way back to the motel and curled up in front of the heater with books and hot chocolates (instant I'm afraid...Jarrah chocolatte fudge) as darkness came a few hours early due to that danged rain.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Arrowtown
Arrowtown had been recommended to us by so many people that we thought we'd better make the effort and have a look!
We caught a local bus out there and found a delightful (but heavily tourist focused) little town. They had a library which was open in the morning. It was a small library on the corner of the main street (and it featured on a postcard of the achitecture of the town.)
They had a trolley of ex-library books for sale on the front verandah (I picked up a Robert Crais pb for 50c). The trolley was being well and truly picked over by tourists, such as myself, looking for bargain holiday reads.
We then strolled along the main street and treated ourselves to a superb hot chocolate from Patagonia cafe (Arrowtown branch). The hot chocolate is in a huge soup tureen (those big black ones) and when you order a hot choc they ladle it into the mug, add a home made shortbread to the saucer (or the lid of the takeaway container), and voila. It's nice to see the takeawayers getting the same saucer treats as the drink-ins.
Anyhoo as well as a Patagonia cafe, and a Remarkable Sweets shop and a very nice jewellery store, and several galleries (art, photography, craft) and many tourist shops, there is also a chinese museum as Arrowtown was home to many Chinese during the gold rush.
After lunch in one of the many cafe's it was back to Queenstown where we'd planned a relaxing afternoon cruise on the lake.
Dinner was fish n chips (fush n chups) from the kiosk near the Novotel which we ate looking out at the sunset over the lake.
A great day.
We caught a local bus out there and found a delightful (but heavily tourist focused) little town. They had a library which was open in the morning. It was a small library on the corner of the main street (and it featured on a postcard of the achitecture of the town.)
They had a trolley of ex-library books for sale on the front verandah (I picked up a Robert Crais pb for 50c). The trolley was being well and truly picked over by tourists, such as myself, looking for bargain holiday reads.
We then strolled along the main street and treated ourselves to a superb hot chocolate from Patagonia cafe (Arrowtown branch). The hot chocolate is in a huge soup tureen (those big black ones) and when you order a hot choc they ladle it into the mug, add a home made shortbread to the saucer (or the lid of the takeaway container), and voila. It's nice to see the takeawayers getting the same saucer treats as the drink-ins.
Anyhoo as well as a Patagonia cafe, and a Remarkable Sweets shop and a very nice jewellery store, and several galleries (art, photography, craft) and many tourist shops, there is also a chinese museum as Arrowtown was home to many Chinese during the gold rush.
After lunch in one of the many cafe's it was back to Queenstown where we'd planned a relaxing afternoon cruise on the lake.
Dinner was fish n chips (fush n chups) from the kiosk near the Novotel which we ate looking out at the sunset over the lake.
A great day.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Downhill all the way
The boat cruise went for about an hour and three quarters then it was back on the bus for our trip back to Queenstown.
The trip back from Milford Sound to Queenstown took about 3.5 hours, largely in part to young Adam who put his foot down and kept it down the whole way.
Narrow winding roads did not faze him, nor did the thought of speed limits. As a result we were back in plenty of time for a bedtime cuppa with Clyde & Judy who are on a gardens of NZ tour that is being led by their landscape gardener (and ABC gardening expert) son Andy.
The trip back from Milford Sound to Queenstown took about 3.5 hours, largely in part to young Adam who put his foot down and kept it down the whole way.
Narrow winding roads did not faze him, nor did the thought of speed limits. As a result we were back in plenty of time for a bedtime cuppa with Clyde & Judy who are on a gardens of NZ tour that is being led by their landscape gardener (and ABC gardening expert) son Andy.
It's a fiord not a sound
I forget the difference (they did tell us and I did write it down) but my notebook is over there in my suitcase and I can't be bothered fetching it.
(Research my dears, research)
Anyway we arrived at the cruise centre in plenty of time for our 2 o'clock sailing, our embarkation was slightly delayed while the official cruise photographer took (what turned out to be) a really bad picture of us... (bad hair day on so many levels)
The cruise however was awesome. It included a 'free' lunch of chicken & salad roll & unlimited tea and coffee so that was disposed of quickly and it was off up to the viewing deck to make the most of the glorious day - blue sky, calm water, lovely sunshine (and no library borrowers.... :>)
We saw fur seals basking on rocks in the sun,( the previous day there'd been several dolphin sightings but not our day). There was abundant birdlife and I have to admit that the lake-like feel of the fiord reminded me of Interlaken & lake Thun (including several beach like spots where Miss Ferrars could have stopped a runaway motorboat).
We got wet when the boat (deliberately) sailed in close to several of the many natural waterfalls that occur around the place.
The water was like glass - it was such a superb day to be out on a boat - and the scenery - I wish/hope my photos do it justice (I bought quite a few postcards that capture the scenery way better than I can.
Unfortunately I don't have the words to truly describe the beauty of the scenery, but trust me, it was superb.
(Research my dears, research)
Anyway we arrived at the cruise centre in plenty of time for our 2 o'clock sailing, our embarkation was slightly delayed while the official cruise photographer took (what turned out to be) a really bad picture of us... (bad hair day on so many levels)
The cruise however was awesome. It included a 'free' lunch of chicken & salad roll & unlimited tea and coffee so that was disposed of quickly and it was off up to the viewing deck to make the most of the glorious day - blue sky, calm water, lovely sunshine (and no library borrowers.... :>)
We saw fur seals basking on rocks in the sun,( the previous day there'd been several dolphin sightings but not our day). There was abundant birdlife and I have to admit that the lake-like feel of the fiord reminded me of Interlaken & lake Thun (including several beach like spots where Miss Ferrars could have stopped a runaway motorboat).
We got wet when the boat (deliberately) sailed in close to several of the many natural waterfalls that occur around the place.
The water was like glass - it was such a superb day to be out on a boat - and the scenery - I wish/hope my photos do it justice (I bought quite a few postcards that capture the scenery way better than I can.
Unfortunately I don't have the words to truly describe the beauty of the scenery, but trust me, it was superb.
Milford Sound
We were collected from our hotel at some ungodly hour for the bus trip to Milford Sound. To my jaded (not fully awake) eye our bus driver (Adam) didn't seem old enough to drive, let alone drive a bus!
Still no matter we headed off on the almost 6 hour drive to Milford.
First stop (some 2.5 hours from Queenstown) was Te Anau for morning tea.
Whilst most of the bus enjoyed a sit down coffee in the cafe, TappingBetty & I grabbed takeaway and did a quick explore of the town (and lake) in the half hour we had to spend there. It was turning into a pleasant day and we had high hopes that the weather would remain calm for our boat ride@ Milford.
One of the good things about this tour was the number of photo stops we got (obviously why it took almost 6 hours to get to Milford).
We were sitting with an English couple who had come to Queenstown to visit their daughter who is working there. This trip to Milford Sound was the only other part of NZ they were seeing (apart from Q'town) during their entire 3 week visit.
The weather was looking most promising - it was cold but the sky was blue and there's lots and lots of sun - perfect.
Still no matter we headed off on the almost 6 hour drive to Milford.
First stop (some 2.5 hours from Queenstown) was Te Anau for morning tea.
Whilst most of the bus enjoyed a sit down coffee in the cafe, TappingBetty & I grabbed takeaway and did a quick explore of the town (and lake) in the half hour we had to spend there. It was turning into a pleasant day and we had high hopes that the weather would remain calm for our boat ride@ Milford.
One of the good things about this tour was the number of photo stops we got (obviously why it took almost 6 hours to get to Milford).
We were sitting with an English couple who had come to Queenstown to visit their daughter who is working there. This trip to Milford Sound was the only other part of NZ they were seeing (apart from Q'town) during their entire 3 week visit.
The weather was looking most promising - it was cold but the sky was blue and there's lots and lots of sun - perfect.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Queenstown
We are staying at the Rydges Lakefront resort at Queenstown (sounds posh doesn't it?)
On the lakefront is the lavish entry and hotel facade and all us guests enter into the large and well appointed foyer. However after check in we all go our separate ways.
Those of us staying in the 'sleep and go' rooms catch the posh lift to the 6th floor, walk past the restaurant, bar, swimming pool and spa, to the back of the building where we catch the not quite so posh lift to the 9th (or 8th or 10th) floor. The rooms here are utilitarian by Rydges standards. It's fairly obvious that there used to be a motel on the site and Rydges has kept the rooms on the back of the hillside for its cheaper rooms.
No matter.
We still get our newspaper hand delivered and have access to all the Rydges amenities and the location couldn't be faulted (we just don't have the view...)
On the lakefront is the lavish entry and hotel facade and all us guests enter into the large and well appointed foyer. However after check in we all go our separate ways.
Those of us staying in the 'sleep and go' rooms catch the posh lift to the 6th floor, walk past the restaurant, bar, swimming pool and spa, to the back of the building where we catch the not quite so posh lift to the 9th (or 8th or 10th) floor. The rooms here are utilitarian by Rydges standards. It's fairly obvious that there used to be a motel on the site and Rydges has kept the rooms on the back of the hillside for its cheaper rooms.
No matter.
We still get our newspaper hand delivered and have access to all the Rydges amenities and the location couldn't be faulted (we just don't have the view...)
Day 4. Dunedin to Queenstown
It was with heavy hearts that we waved tear stained hankies and, with many a backwards glance, shouldered our suitcases and headed for Dunedin railway station and our bus to Queenstown.
The railway station is architecturally gorgeous and there is a coffee shop/bar which had a very pleasing and acceptable range of McCallum memorabilia on display.
The bus was over 1/2 empty so we were able to spread out and enjoy the 4.5 hour journey (which included morning tea and lunch stops).
We arrived early afternoon to a Queenstown that was a little bit sunny and definitely warmer than Dunedin.
The stop where we were dropped off was about 1.5 kms from where we were staying but luckily it was all downhill so we made it to the hotel fairly easily. It was a glorious 1.5 km walk, mainly along the lakefront, which made the heaviness of our suitcases almost disappear.
After dumping our suitcases it was back along the lakefront and a gondola ride to the top of Bob's pass for a spectacular view of Queenstown and surrounds. There is an option of a luge ride down (instead of the gondola) but the gondola suited us just fine.
It was this luge option that started us making a list of adventure sports/activities we would not be trying in NZ!
The day came to an excellent end with Tapsister finding a copy of Rebel at the CS for $2 in Whitcoulls, and the even more pleasing discovery of the Patagonia Chocolate Shop with it's supremely excellent hot chocolate.
The railway station is architecturally gorgeous and there is a coffee shop/bar which had a very pleasing and acceptable range of McCallum memorabilia on display.
The bus was over 1/2 empty so we were able to spread out and enjoy the 4.5 hour journey (which included morning tea and lunch stops).
We arrived early afternoon to a Queenstown that was a little bit sunny and definitely warmer than Dunedin.
The stop where we were dropped off was about 1.5 kms from where we were staying but luckily it was all downhill so we made it to the hotel fairly easily. It was a glorious 1.5 km walk, mainly along the lakefront, which made the heaviness of our suitcases almost disappear.
After dumping our suitcases it was back along the lakefront and a gondola ride to the top of Bob's pass for a spectacular view of Queenstown and surrounds. There is an option of a luge ride down (instead of the gondola) but the gondola suited us just fine.
It was this luge option that started us making a list of adventure sports/activities we would not be trying in NZ!
The day came to an excellent end with Tapsister finding a copy of Rebel at the CS for $2 in Whitcoulls, and the even more pleasing discovery of the Patagonia Chocolate Shop with it's supremely excellent hot chocolate.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Edinburgh of the Southern Hemisphere
Day 3 - Dunedin continued.
Cadbury only took us until mid morning, so we headed for the architectural beauty that is Dunedin Railway Station. It's a stunning building and, from a distance, hard to imagine that it is what it is.
It also houses the Dunedin Sports Hall of fame/Museum, and a gallery with an artist-in-residence.
Then it was off to explore the Art Gallery, Museum, Octagon, quote at the Burns statue, and join a one hour highlights tour of Dunedin. The weather was cold, very,very cold.
We were looking for somewhere to have a late lunch when we stumbled across the Dunedin Public Library. They are celebrating their centenary so I popped in to see what else they were doing to publicise it.
We decided that a brisk 3 km walk to Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world) would warm us up nicely and help us walk off our visit to (a) Cadbury, and (b) guilt by confection.
Whilst we were attempting Baldwin Street it started snowing, yes really snowing, - the flurry only lasted five minutes or so but that was long enough! By now the temperature was 4 degrees and the snow was followed by sunshine, heavy rain, more sunshine, gusty winds, rain.
We found another, more than acceptable, handmade chocolate shop and forced down (in the interests of research and warmth) a European milk hot chocolate accompanied by some home made fudge. A lovely end to a weatherly challenging day.
Next we're off to Queenstown and the forecast is for 0-9 degrees, with showers, hail, and snow down to 500 feet.
Cadbury only took us until mid morning, so we headed for the architectural beauty that is Dunedin Railway Station. It's a stunning building and, from a distance, hard to imagine that it is what it is.
It also houses the Dunedin Sports Hall of fame/Museum, and a gallery with an artist-in-residence.
Then it was off to explore the Art Gallery, Museum, Octagon, quote at the Burns statue, and join a one hour highlights tour of Dunedin. The weather was cold, very,very cold.
We were looking for somewhere to have a late lunch when we stumbled across the Dunedin Public Library. They are celebrating their centenary so I popped in to see what else they were doing to publicise it.
We decided that a brisk 3 km walk to Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world) would warm us up nicely and help us walk off our visit to (a) Cadbury, and (b) guilt by confection.
Whilst we were attempting Baldwin Street it started snowing, yes really snowing, - the flurry only lasted five minutes or so but that was long enough! By now the temperature was 4 degrees and the snow was followed by sunshine, heavy rain, more sunshine, gusty winds, rain.
We found another, more than acceptable, handmade chocolate shop and forced down (in the interests of research and warmth) a European milk hot chocolate accompanied by some home made fudge. A lovely end to a weatherly challenging day.
Next we're off to Queenstown and the forecast is for 0-9 degrees, with showers, hail, and snow down to 500 feet.
When what to our wondrous eyes should appear...
Dunedin Rocks!
Away to the window we flew in a flash, tore open the curtains and threw up the sash...
When what to our wondrous eyes should appear... but the cadbury factory, directly opposite where we were staying. Talk about a brilliant view from our window...
We started the day with a tour of the cadbury factory - it was awesome. It reminded me of the tours they used to do at cadbury in Tasmania (v.different from the tours at Bourneville in England). You get to put on a paper hat (and a beard snood if you have a beard) and actually walk thru the factory. We saw them making easter eggs - this is the time of the year that the easter eggs are made for next easter - how scary is that?
You also get given quite a few chocolate samples to keep your strength up on the tour. The tour finishes in the gift shop where I may have bought one or two souvenirs of a very good tour.
* with due reverence and apologies to Clement Moore.
Away to the window we flew in a flash, tore open the curtains and threw up the sash...
When what to our wondrous eyes should appear... but the cadbury factory, directly opposite where we were staying. Talk about a brilliant view from our window...
We started the day with a tour of the cadbury factory - it was awesome. It reminded me of the tours they used to do at cadbury in Tasmania (v.different from the tours at Bourneville in England). You get to put on a paper hat (and a beard snood if you have a beard) and actually walk thru the factory. We saw them making easter eggs - this is the time of the year that the easter eggs are made for next easter - how scary is that?
You also get given quite a few chocolate samples to keep your strength up on the tour. The tour finishes in the gift shop where I may have bought one or two souvenirs of a very good tour.
* with due reverence and apologies to Clement Moore.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Day 2. A caving we will go
Due to my *stumble* yesterday afternoon (tripped over the footpath, and in trying to stop myself falling actually wrenched more bits of me than might otherwise have been the case) it was a stiff & sore fifi who 'limped bravely' out to the rental car for our drive to Waitomo and the glowworm caves.
We left Auckland at some ungodly hour (6.30 AM ! - I'm on holidays fgs!) for the drive to Waitomo and the caves.
The first cave we visited was Aranui. It was raining and we passed a party of older Australians who were on a 3 day walk through the area. We shared a shelter with them while we waited for our guide, and they waited for the rain to ease a little.
We had an excellent guide who explained the history of the cave to us, and told us about the efforts being made to preserve and conserve the caves and then totally flummoxed us by telling us she was going on ahead to open the door and turn on the lights.
Tres amusing.
The cave was awesome - stalactites & stalagmites, interesting rock and rock-coral formations. We were allowed to take photos but my shots do not capture the size and grandeur of the cave. I've had to rely on postcards for that.
Next up was the glowworm cave. This too was very intriguing and interesting. This tour finished with a boat ride thru the cave in pitch black lit only by the glowworms. There is one huge cave where they hold concerts - it would be awesome to see the Christmas Carols Concert there.
As I exited Waitomo with my usual grace and poise I stepped in a pothole on the side of the road and wrenched my other ankle. Am now limping bravely on both ankles! (note - i survived the caves without incidents but I apparently can't cope with footpaths and roads - go figure)
Back to Auckland Airport (via Hamilton and Waikato) as we were flying to Dunedin later in the evening.
Air NZ has just redone it's domestic terminal - it's practically all selfserve, you print your own boarding pass & luggage labels and put your suitcase on the conveyor belt yourself.
By the time we arrived in Dunedin it was 9pm and raining and cold so we threw ourselves and our suitcases into a cab (Driven by the Patricia Cornwell reading Jill) and headed to our hotel.
Arrived at the hotel, let ourselves in, had a cuppa and hit the sack - tomorrow would be another day...
We left Auckland at some ungodly hour (6.30 AM ! - I'm on holidays fgs!) for the drive to Waitomo and the caves.
The first cave we visited was Aranui. It was raining and we passed a party of older Australians who were on a 3 day walk through the area. We shared a shelter with them while we waited for our guide, and they waited for the rain to ease a little.
We had an excellent guide who explained the history of the cave to us, and told us about the efforts being made to preserve and conserve the caves and then totally flummoxed us by telling us she was going on ahead to open the door and turn on the lights.
Tres amusing.
The cave was awesome - stalactites & stalagmites, interesting rock and rock-coral formations. We were allowed to take photos but my shots do not capture the size and grandeur of the cave. I've had to rely on postcards for that.
Next up was the glowworm cave. This too was very intriguing and interesting. This tour finished with a boat ride thru the cave in pitch black lit only by the glowworms. There is one huge cave where they hold concerts - it would be awesome to see the Christmas Carols Concert there.
As I exited Waitomo with my usual grace and poise I stepped in a pothole on the side of the road and wrenched my other ankle. Am now limping bravely on both ankles! (note - i survived the caves without incidents but I apparently can't cope with footpaths and roads - go figure)
Back to Auckland Airport (via Hamilton and Waikato) as we were flying to Dunedin later in the evening.
Air NZ has just redone it's domestic terminal - it's practically all selfserve, you print your own boarding pass & luggage labels and put your suitcase on the conveyor belt yourself.
By the time we arrived in Dunedin it was 9pm and raining and cold so we threw ourselves and our suitcases into a cab (Driven by the Patricia Cornwell reading Jill) and headed to our hotel.
Arrived at the hotel, let ourselves in, had a cuppa and hit the sack - tomorrow would be another day...
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tapping NZ - Day 1
Melbourne - Auckland
Well day 1 we arrived at tullamarine airport bright and early for our trip to enzed.
At the security checkpoint TappingBetty was (as is usual for her at airports all round the world) taken off to one side and checked for explosive residue, wanded and patted down. I meanwhile was chortling madly as I've long since given up on TB getting thru an airport security checkpoint first try.
By the time we arrived in Auckland it was mid afternoon so we found our hotel, found our rental car, found a chocolate shop and explored Skytower.
We are staying at the Scenic Circle Airedale Hotel in Queen St. (we love RatesToGo) It is a block from the main shopping strip on Queen St and is opposite The Edge theatre/performing arts complex. (it is also just around the corner from the Auckland City Library!). It is also next door to a pub (great pub grub I am led to believe) and has a restaruant/cafe/bar on the ground floor - not to mention being across the road from the bookshop I dare not name - and a couple of doors along from a Gloria Jeans.
Skytower dominates the view from our window so we headed there and watched mad fools (bungy jumpers) throw themselves off the tower. They sort of let the jumpers 'hang' outside the viewing platform window for a few seconds so we got used to looking up from our coffee and seeing a human fly outside the window. There is also a target painted on the ground for the jumpers to aim at - looking down to see a bullseye on the landing deck - hmmm.
We've a couple of days in Auckland at the end where we'll see & do a lot more.
Didn't see any librarians tho'
Well day 1 we arrived at tullamarine airport bright and early for our trip to enzed.
At the security checkpoint TappingBetty was (as is usual for her at airports all round the world) taken off to one side and checked for explosive residue, wanded and patted down. I meanwhile was chortling madly as I've long since given up on TB getting thru an airport security checkpoint first try.
By the time we arrived in Auckland it was mid afternoon so we found our hotel, found our rental car, found a chocolate shop and explored Skytower.
We are staying at the Scenic Circle Airedale Hotel in Queen St. (we love RatesToGo) It is a block from the main shopping strip on Queen St and is opposite The Edge theatre/performing arts complex. (it is also just around the corner from the Auckland City Library!). It is also next door to a pub (great pub grub I am led to believe) and has a restaruant/cafe/bar on the ground floor - not to mention being across the road from the bookshop I dare not name - and a couple of doors along from a Gloria Jeans.
Skytower dominates the view from our window so we headed there and watched mad fools (bungy jumpers) throw themselves off the tower. They sort of let the jumpers 'hang' outside the viewing platform window for a few seconds so we got used to looking up from our coffee and seeing a human fly outside the window. There is also a target painted on the ground for the jumpers to aim at - looking down to see a bullseye on the landing deck - hmmm.
We've a couple of days in Auckland at the end where we'll see & do a lot more.
Didn't see any librarians tho'
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Bobbsey Twins go to B'Zealand
I have a suitcase
I have clothes
I need to unite the aforementioned.
The weather channel is predicting temperatures in the low to mid teens (and rain, lots of rain,) for NZ in the next week.
Remove shorts from pile of clothes on loungeroom floor, add another jacket. Re-think shoe choices.
Replace sunscreen with gloves and woolly hat? Do I have woolly hat?
Log onto web to avoid packing and travel decisions.
Procrastination thy name is fifi
btw - travel blogs sheepishly...
I have clothes
I need to unite the aforementioned.
The weather channel is predicting temperatures in the low to mid teens (and rain, lots of rain,) for NZ in the next week.
Remove shorts from pile of clothes on loungeroom floor, add another jacket. Re-think shoe choices.
Replace sunscreen with gloves and woolly hat? Do I have woolly hat?
Log onto web to avoid packing and travel decisions.
Procrastination thy name is fifi
btw - travel blogs sheepishly...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Cardiovascular Perfusion
I'm thinking seriously of finishing off my MBA (yes that one) and maybe (maybe) switching to Swinburne to do it.
As i couldn't make it to the postgrad afternoon @ Swinny they've notified me of their Speak to a Swinburne academic staff member through our Postgrad Online Discussion Board which I would like to take advantage of (only I'm away for much of it).
However there are some interesting chat subjects eg. cardiovascular perfusion (which is on immediately after the MBA discussion), aviation (human factors), both of which I'm away for , but I am back in time for Cardiac Technology.
Perhaps I'll just make an appointment to speak to someone in the MBA department.
*The Cardiovascular Perfusionist operates extracorporeal circulation equipment during any medical procedure in which it is necessary to artificially support or temporarily replace a patient's circulatory or respiratory functions, such as in open heart surgery or other heart procedures. Perfusionists routinely administer various types of blood products, medications and control the temperature of patients during surgery.
As i couldn't make it to the postgrad afternoon @ Swinny they've notified me of their Speak to a Swinburne academic staff member through our Postgrad Online Discussion Board which I would like to take advantage of (only I'm away for much of it).
However there are some interesting chat subjects eg. cardiovascular perfusion (which is on immediately after the MBA discussion), aviation (human factors), both of which I'm away for , but I am back in time for Cardiac Technology.
Perhaps I'll just make an appointment to speak to someone in the MBA department.
*The Cardiovascular Perfusionist operates extracorporeal circulation equipment during any medical procedure in which it is necessary to artificially support or temporarily replace a patient's circulatory or respiratory functions, such as in open heart surgery or other heart procedures. Perfusionists routinely administer various types of blood products, medications and control the temperature of patients during surgery.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Hooray, hooray, it's a holi holi day*
Well I am now o'fisherly on holidays.
Although looking at the list of things I have to do before I fly - eeek.
One of the most important (if not the most important) is get a suitcase.
TB & I went shopping on the weekend for holiday stuff. May I say we will look a treat in our matching jackets & shoes!
When we went to Europe a couple of years ago we regressed about 30 years to when our mother used to dress us in matching outfits (but different colours).
Almost all the europe photos of us in 2006 have us in matching outfits (but different colours).
NZ though - a different story. We both have powder blue polar fleeces (with black trim).
Really one of us could stay home and the other could take double exposure photos in NZ and it would still look like we were both there. (embarassing but true)
But hey, when you can pick up a brand name fleece for $10 and the only choice is powder blue then Bobbsey Twins R us is the only way to go!
I've made a stand tho - we will not have matching suitcases this trip -TB has bought a new suitcase and I haven't (yet) and I will not buy the same brand or colour suitcase as her. (This I vow.)
I've also discovered (at the third attempt) that November + overseas + career = do not mix
Maths is so not my strong point.
Anyway back to ignoring the list of things to do.
*(Oh G** bad Boney M flashback)
Although looking at the list of things I have to do before I fly - eeek.
One of the most important (if not the most important) is get a suitcase.
TB & I went shopping on the weekend for holiday stuff. May I say we will look a treat in our matching jackets & shoes!
When we went to Europe a couple of years ago we regressed about 30 years to when our mother used to dress us in matching outfits (but different colours).
Almost all the europe photos of us in 2006 have us in matching outfits (but different colours).
NZ though - a different story. We both have powder blue polar fleeces (with black trim).
Really one of us could stay home and the other could take double exposure photos in NZ and it would still look like we were both there. (embarassing but true)
But hey, when you can pick up a brand name fleece for $10 and the only choice is powder blue then Bobbsey Twins R us is the only way to go!
I've made a stand tho - we will not have matching suitcases this trip -TB has bought a new suitcase and I haven't (yet) and I will not buy the same brand or colour suitcase as her. (This I vow.)
I've also discovered (at the third attempt) that November + overseas + career = do not mix
Maths is so not my strong point.
Anyway back to ignoring the list of things to do.
*(Oh G** bad Boney M flashback)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
B'Zealand
TappingBetty & I are off to New Zealand soon (or B'Zealand as the feral cherub calls it).I booked the airfares back in early March, when November seemed such a long way away.
A couple of weeks ago TB & I decided we probably needed more of a plan than 'fly to Auckland, then fly back to Melbourne a couple of weeks later'.
So I raided the library shelves for NZ travel guides, interrogated my K1W1 sister-in-law, and we started planning.
Things we discovered about NZ whilst researching out trip.
1. We are in Auckland at the same time as a bunch of librarians going to a conference
2. We are in Auckland at the same time as Michael Connelly (one of my favourite authors)
3. We are in Auckland & Queenstown at the same time as the gardens tour being led by our gardener cousin
4. Dunedin has a Cadbury World
5. The Overlander only runs on Fridays & Saturdays
6. Neither of us can remember where Essie Summers' books are set
7. We are in Auckland at the same time as Anthony Warlow
8. Neither of us wish to go bungy jumping
9. We are not planning to hire a car
10. We will need a holiday to recover from all the NZ things we are planning to do, see, & experience
Basically we are trying to cram 4 weeks of sightseeing into a little over 2 weeks
Nuff said really.
If they book why won't they attend?
We had an author event at my library last night.
Thirty-one (31) people were booked in.
Thirteen (13) showed up. That's right less than 50% of those who had gone to the trouble of booking actually showed up.
Even for my branch this is very disappointing statistic.
At my last author event 37 out of 55 showed up - which as a tad disappointing as we were telling people it was booked out (room capacity = 50)
Whilst last night was a higher no show rate (% wise) - it shows a general trend - the no show rate at my branch is significantly higher than at the other branches.
So my questions to you are:
1. What are we doing wrong?
2. How can we improve our booking to audience ratio?
I should add that I sent an email reminder to those people who had booked online.
Do we ring everyone who has booked to remind them? (I'm somewhat anti this as it would be time consuming)
Do we issue tickets?
Do we make a nominal charge for our events?
Our events are free (and we offer light refreshments).
From an organisers point of view last night was disheartening. Just thinking of the staff time and effort that went into organising the event, promoting the event, organising a bookseller to sell copies of the authors books, catering, ...
Nevertheless the 13* people who did show up last night got to meet and hear a very interesting internationally renowned, young, successful, Australian, author talk about how he writes, what he writes, and why he writes.
It's a shame more people weren't there to hear him speak. He was certainly an interesting and inspiring speaker. (I'm almost tempted to dust off ye olde manuscript...)
* of the 13, three were members of the authors family but they had booked...
Thirty-one (31) people were booked in.
Thirteen (13) showed up. That's right less than 50% of those who had gone to the trouble of booking actually showed up.
Even for my branch this is very disappointing statistic.
At my last author event 37 out of 55 showed up - which as a tad disappointing as we were telling people it was booked out (room capacity = 50)
Whilst last night was a higher no show rate (% wise) - it shows a general trend - the no show rate at my branch is significantly higher than at the other branches.
So my questions to you are:
1. What are we doing wrong?
2. How can we improve our booking to audience ratio?
I should add that I sent an email reminder to those people who had booked online.
Do we ring everyone who has booked to remind them? (I'm somewhat anti this as it would be time consuming)
Do we issue tickets?
Do we make a nominal charge for our events?
Our events are free (and we offer light refreshments).
From an organisers point of view last night was disheartening. Just thinking of the staff time and effort that went into organising the event, promoting the event, organising a bookseller to sell copies of the authors books, catering, ...
Nevertheless the 13* people who did show up last night got to meet and hear a very interesting internationally renowned, young, successful, Australian, author talk about how he writes, what he writes, and why he writes.
It's a shame more people weren't there to hear him speak. He was certainly an interesting and inspiring speaker. (I'm almost tempted to dust off ye olde manuscript...)
* of the 13, three were members of the authors family but they had booked...
Monday, October 20, 2008
Rebound Books
Following on from my love affair with all things notebook and diary ... Rebound Books - they have a stall at Melbourne's Arts Centre Craft Market (upstairs on St Kilda Road) and they sell gorgeous notebooks, diaries, journals & photo albums.
For those of us who remember 'Little Golden Books' - check out Rebound's range of 2009 diaries.
Each of the handmade Little Golden Book diaries contain every page from the original book. There is one page from the story placed between each month so you can enjoy the whole story throughout the year.
The diary pages are printed in Australia using vegetable based inks on Australian made, 100% recycled paper. The diary has one week to an opening on the left hand side, and a blank journal page on the right.
Whilst the librarian/bibliophile in me freaks out at the thought of books being ripped apart, the notebook/diary/bibliophile in me loves these diaries and notebooks.
Mind you if I see a Chalet School, Drina, or Marlows, book made into one of these I will definitely be (a) determined to buy, and (b) devastated at its destruction.
Now to decide which ones to buy and who to gift them to.
For those of us who remember 'Little Golden Books' - check out Rebound's range of 2009 diaries.
Each of the handmade Little Golden Book diaries contain every page from the original book. There is one page from the story placed between each month so you can enjoy the whole story throughout the year.
The diary pages are printed in Australia using vegetable based inks on Australian made, 100% recycled paper. The diary has one week to an opening on the left hand side, and a blank journal page on the right.
Whilst the librarian/bibliophile in me freaks out at the thought of books being ripped apart, the notebook/diary/bibliophile in me loves these diaries and notebooks.
Mind you if I see a Chalet School, Drina, or Marlows, book made into one of these I will definitely be (a) determined to buy, and (b) devastated at its destruction.
Now to decide which ones to buy and who to gift them to.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
How cool are these?
TappingBetty is getting the Pride & Prejudice one for her birthday (it's ok she doesn't read this blog; don't you dare tell her!)
I haven't been able to find an aussie stockist so I'll be buying them from the UK but I don't care - I must have one.
Friday, October 3, 2008
My notebook obsession
I am told that I am following some 'weird'* blogs.... mark it down to my love of all things stationery.
My current obsession is with notebook blogs - that is blogs about notebooks (the paper kind with covers, not the other name for a small portable computer).
I am fascinated by the blog that assesses notebooks that are similar to moleskine notebooks; then there is the blog that tests each notebook for line width, cover flexibility, paper thickness (using a sharpie pen, a gel pen, fountain pen etc.) to see if the paper is thick enough that. you can write on both sides.
I have yet to find a similar blog about diaries - that would be an absolute gem for someone like me who is constantly on the lookout for the 'perfect' diary.
One only has to ask petal who casually, in passing, mentioned to me what she loathed about her 2008 diary - she is now the proud owner of a kikki k 2009 diary, complete with built in filing system.
Now if only i can find my perfect diary (or even better the perfect diary blog!)
* weird is in the eye of the beholder - what is wrong with drooling over kikki k, smiggle, officeworks, filofax, etc?
My current obsession is with notebook blogs - that is blogs about notebooks (the paper kind with covers, not the other name for a small portable computer).
I am fascinated by the blog that assesses notebooks that are similar to moleskine notebooks; then there is the blog that tests each notebook for line width, cover flexibility, paper thickness (using a sharpie pen, a gel pen, fountain pen etc.) to see if the paper is thick enough that. you can write on both sides.
I have yet to find a similar blog about diaries - that would be an absolute gem for someone like me who is constantly on the lookout for the 'perfect' diary.
One only has to ask petal who casually, in passing, mentioned to me what she loathed about her 2008 diary - she is now the proud owner of a kikki k 2009 diary, complete with built in filing system.
Now if only i can find my perfect diary (or even better the perfect diary blog!)
* weird is in the eye of the beholder - what is wrong with drooling over kikki k, smiggle, officeworks, filofax, etc?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Stopping the R.O.T.
Well the Reign Of Terror is officially over.
Week 3 was fairly fun. Not as stressful as week 2 - but week 3 had a deadlinish feel to it.
Sunday nite had dinner with the CEO's of SammonHolt Memorial - managed to solve a few of the world's problems there!
Monday. Preparation is everything. Finished the roster. Knocked off the rest of my to-do list and started a 'what do i do now and what do i save until we're offline list'
Tuesday. Finished the 300s weeding.
Wednesday. Networked(!) with Darebin re: periodicals. Did the DLS selection. 1 staff member rang in sick for thursday (they were, of course, DS) juggled BL & CL roster and found a casual to fill the gap. Tried to prepare for the eventuality that the rostered YS team-members for thursdays school holiday program would all be sick on Thursday.
Thursday. ASL meeting. One staff member in tears (not my fault). Tea Relief, Desk shift. Dealt with small boy who'd been kicked off the internet by Council Staff member (not Library Staff) - and he'd 5 minutes left to go on the 15 minute internet.
Friday. Tidied up in the AM. 1on1 in the PM. Buoyed by hot chocolate and feeling good about outcomes and plans headed off to Tandoori Den for a delish Indian meal with the old BL gang (and partners.)
So there you have it. The R.O.T is over. I enjoyed it. As always I learnt a lot - I think i did a good job raining terror - and most importantly (or is that surprisingly) I did no evil for 3 weeks.
Can I keep up the momentum I achieved over those 3 weeks? I hope so - a busy fifi is an happy fifi - (what is it said about the devil and idle hands?)
Must say I'm looking forward to a day off...
Friday. Tidied up in the AM. 1on1 in the PM. Buoyed by hot chocolate and feeling good about outcomes and plans headed off to Tandoori Den for a delish Indian meal with the old BL gang (and partners.)
So there you have it. The R.O.T is over. I enjoyed it. As always I learnt a lot - I think i did a good job raining terror - and most importantly (or is that surprisingly) I did no evil for 3 weeks.
Can I keep up the momentum I achieved over those 3 weeks? I hope so - a busy fifi is an happy fifi - (what is it said about the devil and idle hands?)
Must say I'm looking forward to a day off...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
In which the feral cherubs go to the RCH
Have just been regaled with the adventures of my two youngest nephews which resulted in both of them in casualty this afternoon.
Their dad (my youngest brother) made many a trip to Gippy Base Hospital Casualty as a child - he was into everything and he and my middle brother could just about have had a ward at G.B.H named after them. B's best effort was when, on a school trip to Canberra, he was accidentally kicked in the head by a schoolmate and had to be taken to Canberra Hospital for emergency surgery on his eye/cheek area.
Anyhoo I digress...Just before lunch today almost 3 yr old was riding his toy car when he went over the handlebars and cracked his chin open on the concrete. family immediately loaded into car and headed for Alfred -who don't do kids so it was off to RCH.
Brother dropped his wife and the injured cherub off at casualty and went to park the car. After parking the car brother unloaded 1 yr old into pusher and turned to lock the car.
When he turned back pusher was upended, wheels in the air, with 1yr old cherub underneath (and blood everywhere). Turns out 1yr old had split the webbing between his mouth and teeth so he too was rushed into casualty.
RCH were apparently very impressed with my brother's time management skills - if both kids have to have a casualty visit much better idea to do them both at the same time. (My brothers, my sister, and I, always took it in turns to get taken to casualty!)
Anyway all the casualties are okay - almost 3's chin has been glued back together (and he is proudly sporting 2 band aids on it he tells me), whilst master 1 is enjoying ice blocks.
Just another normal sunday in Elsternwick...
Their dad (my youngest brother) made many a trip to Gippy Base Hospital Casualty as a child - he was into everything and he and my middle brother could just about have had a ward at G.B.H named after them. B's best effort was when, on a school trip to Canberra, he was accidentally kicked in the head by a schoolmate and had to be taken to Canberra Hospital for emergency surgery on his eye/cheek area.
Anyhoo I digress...Just before lunch today almost 3 yr old was riding his toy car when he went over the handlebars and cracked his chin open on the concrete. family immediately loaded into car and headed for Alfred -who don't do kids so it was off to RCH.
Brother dropped his wife and the injured cherub off at casualty and went to park the car. After parking the car brother unloaded 1 yr old into pusher and turned to lock the car.
When he turned back pusher was upended, wheels in the air, with 1yr old cherub underneath (and blood everywhere). Turns out 1yr old had split the webbing between his mouth and teeth so he too was rushed into casualty.
RCH were apparently very impressed with my brother's time management skills - if both kids have to have a casualty visit much better idea to do them both at the same time. (My brothers, my sister, and I, always took it in turns to get taken to casualty!)
Anyway all the casualties are okay - almost 3's chin has been glued back together (and he is proudly sporting 2 band aids on it he tells me), whilst master 1 is enjoying ice blocks.
Just another normal sunday in Elsternwick...
R.O.T week 2
Advance warning: next weeks post will be titled "stopping the R.O.T!
Well week2 of Reign Of Terror is over.
It wasn't filled with quite the same boundless enthusiasm as week1 (but hey timing is everything).
Monday - one of those days - a bit of this, a bit of that - finished week 1 of the next roster (rediscovering the nerd in me who 'likes' rostering)
Tuesday - playing with the grown ups (aka attending LMT). Tuesday afternoon - not quite so good - had to go for a long walk to the lookout to calm down. Discovered Eventbrite - definitely website of the week.
Wednesday - Booktalk @ Q - bemused looks from audience as I spoke of Mathletes and
spelling bees. (I was talking about a great book on American High School chess players).
Bookgroup in the evening
Thursday - depressing day as I had to take the car back - it doesn't take long to get used to having wheels.
Friday - back to walking to work - finished weeks 2 & 3 of roster, did both lots of selection, used eventbrite to invite people to ASL meeting and staff dinner - if anyone can find problems with it it's library staff; almost finished weeding non fic.; tried to deal with van run angst. Just another week @ work.
Am more than 2/3 through my to-do list. Ace!
Well week2 of Reign Of Terror is over.
It wasn't filled with quite the same boundless enthusiasm as week1 (but hey timing is everything).
Monday - one of those days - a bit of this, a bit of that - finished week 1 of the next roster (rediscovering the nerd in me who 'likes' rostering)
Tuesday - playing with the grown ups (aka attending LMT). Tuesday afternoon - not quite so good - had to go for a long walk to the lookout to calm down. Discovered Eventbrite - definitely website of the week.
Wednesday - Booktalk @ Q - bemused looks from audience as I spoke of Mathletes and
spelling bees. (I was talking about a great book on American High School chess players).
Bookgroup in the evening
Thursday - depressing day as I had to take the car back - it doesn't take long to get used to having wheels.
Friday - back to walking to work - finished weeks 2 & 3 of roster, did both lots of selection, used eventbrite to invite people to ASL meeting and staff dinner - if anyone can find problems with it it's library staff; almost finished weeding non fic.; tried to deal with van run angst. Just another week @ work.
Am more than 2/3 through my to-do list. Ace!
Monday, September 15, 2008
In which more gadgets succeed at Hide and Seek
In recent months a number of my gadgets have found excellent hiding spots in my apartment.
A couple of months ago my other mobile phone and my ipod shuffle left their living quarters and went and hid I know not where. I've tried ringing the mobile phone but it was switched off when it left home - no-one else has it as the amount of credit on it has remained the same so obviously it's here somewhere.
This week my ipod nano, a usb drive, and my camera have joined them. I am reasonably organised when it comes to my gadgets so I am surprised by their disappearance. I know where they were - and they're not there now.
I just hope they're all happy together and that they'll return home soon.
A couple of months ago my other mobile phone and my ipod shuffle left their living quarters and went and hid I know not where. I've tried ringing the mobile phone but it was switched off when it left home - no-one else has it as the amount of credit on it has remained the same so obviously it's here somewhere.
This week my ipod nano, a usb drive, and my camera have joined them. I am reasonably organised when it comes to my gadgets so I am surprised by their disappearance. I know where they were - and they're not there now.
I just hope they're all happy together and that they'll return home soon.
Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Mondays!
I've been doing some intensive research of late into the Hot Chocolate's of Melbourne. I've previously posted about the state of the Hot Chocolate in Sydney and in Canberra. Now it's Melbourne's turn.
Melbourne has some amazing hot chocolate shops - here are my current top 4.
In fourth place - Max Brenner. A superb hot chocolate, served in a cuddle mug (aka hug mug). They do many different hot chocolates milk, dark, white, all are extremely delicious. My current max Brenner favourite (at their QV cafe) is the Italian hot chocolate -seriously yummy.
In third place - koko black.
The flagship store is in the Royal Arcade and, like most koko black stores, features superb service (in fact I've awarded them bonus points for service which moved them ahead of Max Brenner!).
The 3 yr old feral cherub (fc) and I, along with some former library colleagues, tested the service (and of course the hot chocolates) and were very pleased. No sooner had we sat down than a waiter appeared with glasses of water, and menus, for all of us (including the fc).
The fc ordered a babycino which comes with a small fc sized chocolate whilst the adults ordered coffees and hot chocs and specialist chocolates. The koko black staff know their product so well that I confidently got them to choose my chocolates for me - I told them I like caramel & mousses and don't like strawberry, would prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate and moments later a small plate containg the selection was placed in front of me. The waiter explained the chocolates that he'd chosen for me and I could not fault his choice. Others at the table ordered the sample plate which consisted of a small chocolate mousse, a small individual choc cake (think mini muffin size) and 2 small chocolates. Also looked yummy.
They make a delicious Belgian hot chocolate. I'm also impressed with their stores in Burke Road, and at Chaddy.
In second place - Cacao.
LHN recommended cacao to me - I'd been waxing lyrical about the first place getter and she insisted I try cacao before making my final decision. (and I'm glad she did - I was very impressed) !They have a store in the middle of the GPO shopping centre in the city and their hand made chocolates and their hot chocolates are first rate.
Due to its location and the time I was purchasing (heading for weekend 1 of the MWF) I was forced to get my hot chocolate to take away - I washed down a couple of delightful chocolates ( a
Melbourne has some amazing hot chocolate shops - here are my current top 4.
In fourth place - Max Brenner. A superb hot chocolate, served in a cuddle mug (aka hug mug). They do many different hot chocolates milk, dark, white, all are extremely delicious. My current max Brenner favourite (at their QV cafe) is the Italian hot chocolate -seriously yummy.
In third place - koko black.
The flagship store is in the Royal Arcade and, like most koko black stores, features superb service (in fact I've awarded them bonus points for service which moved them ahead of Max Brenner!).
The 3 yr old feral cherub (fc) and I, along with some former library colleagues, tested the service (and of course the hot chocolates) and were very pleased. No sooner had we sat down than a waiter appeared with glasses of water, and menus, for all of us (including the fc).
The fc ordered a babycino which comes with a small fc sized chocolate whilst the adults ordered coffees and hot chocs and specialist chocolates. The koko black staff know their product so well that I confidently got them to choose my chocolates for me - I told them I like caramel & mousses and don't like strawberry, would prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate and moments later a small plate containg the selection was placed in front of me. The waiter explained the chocolates that he'd chosen for me and I could not fault his choice. Others at the table ordered the sample plate which consisted of a small chocolate mousse, a small individual choc cake (think mini muffin size) and 2 small chocolates. Also looked yummy.
They make a delicious Belgian hot chocolate. I'm also impressed with their stores in Burke Road, and at Chaddy.
In second place - Cacao.
LHN recommended cacao to me - I'd been waxing lyrical about the first place getter and she insisted I try cacao before making my final decision. (and I'm glad she did - I was very impressed) !They have a store in the middle of the GPO shopping centre in the city and their hand made chocolates and their hot chocolates are first rate.
Due to its location and the time I was purchasing (heading for weekend 1 of the MWF) I was forced to get my hot chocolate to take away - I washed down a couple of delightful chocolates ( a
Calin Caramel because I love caramel, and a Safran because it looked like it had a tartan top!) with a deliciously creamy hot chocolate on my way to Fed Square. Yummy. - Thanks Lorraine.
And the winner is (drumroll please)
Chokolait Hub.
Chokolait hub is located in the Hub arcade (the arcade that sort of splinters off from Royal Arcade near gog and magog). I stumbled across them after a visit to Koko Black and couldn't justify a second hot chocolate so soon after the first so I made a special trip back during the Writers Festival.
Wow and double wow. The range of hot chocolates is extensive - belgian, swiss, italian, milk or dark, I'm hooked on the Belgian Jaffa milk hot chocolate which is so deliciously creamy and rich that there is no way I could drink more than one. The also have a range of chili hot chocolates (you choose on a scale of 1-10) and hot shots of Italian, Belgian or Swiss chocolate which can be served to drink or to eat.
Do yourself a favour - check them (all) out.
******
I also have a list of additional hot chocolate shops to try, and suburban hot chocs as well - will blog about them as I try them.
And the winner is (drumroll please)
Chokolait Hub.
Chokolait hub is located in the Hub arcade (the arcade that sort of splinters off from Royal Arcade near gog and magog). I stumbled across them after a visit to Koko Black and couldn't justify a second hot chocolate so soon after the first so I made a special trip back during the Writers Festival.
Wow and double wow. The range of hot chocolates is extensive - belgian, swiss, italian, milk or dark, I'm hooked on the Belgian Jaffa milk hot chocolate which is so deliciously creamy and rich that there is no way I could drink more than one. The also have a range of chili hot chocolates (you choose on a scale of 1-10) and hot shots of Italian, Belgian or Swiss chocolate which can be served to drink or to eat.
Do yourself a favour - check them (all) out.
******
I also have a list of additional hot chocolate shops to try, and suburban hot chocs as well - will blog about them as I try them.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
I wish I had the guts to do this!
Almost every morning when we open there is a woman in a blue coat waiting. The minute the doors are open she is off and running to the 15 minute internet like she is competing against Usain Bolt.
Each time I ask her not to run in the library -(from experience she'll run through you rather than around you) she 'slows' to a speed walk - equally as dangerous to anyone foolish enough to be between her and the far internet.
Love the Liberry tells how one of her colleagues handles this...
I love it !
Each time I ask her not to run in the library -(from experience she'll run through you rather than around you) she 'slows' to a speed walk - equally as dangerous to anyone foolish enough to be between her and the far internet.
Love the Liberry tells how one of her colleagues handles this...
I love it !
Friday, September 12, 2008
Reign of terror - end of week 1
Well this week I have been raining terror on the good folk of BL.(still have 2 more terror filled weeks to go)
It's been a pretty good week all things considered :>)
Monday: Picked up the work chariot Monday morning, by the time I arrived at work I'd forgotten what is was like not to have a car. Dealt with the leftover 'stuff' from the weekend (new phones, odd messages) and got stuck into what promised to be an entertainingly challenging first week. I've written a master list of everything (I can think of) that needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. It's not as daunting as I thought it would be but I will need to have my time management wits about me. Have been instructed that I must do NO evil! (dagnabbit)
Tuesday: 8 o'clock start - how do I manage to do this without a car? More screaming kids than usual after storytime. After the library closed a select few staff assembled library shelving for the self-serve reservations (and ate pizza) . And it was a tired little teddy bear that drove home after a very long day. Still not permitted to do evil.
Wednesday: One of those full on days (pays, staff meeting, guest speaker etc.). Guest speaker spoke inspiringly on giving your home a green makeover concentrating on low cost and no cost options, and easy things to do that can make a difference. Still a tired little teddy bear driving home (and may I point out - day 3 of no evil)
Thursday: Decided to try and blitz some of the things on the master list of doom - thank you note to speaker, requests, all this weeks selection (both suppliers), scheduled some blog posts in advance (for the next week anyway), lined up a couple of others to blog, and started a list of things to palm off on others while I'm on leave. Also managed to find time to play with camtasia and reacquaint myself with my brushtail notes as well as get some of my usual work done.
Still no evil though.
Friday: The question was could I go 5 days without evil (nope it appears I couldn't).
The HRSS system was determined to taunt me - sending me emails telling me I had leave to approve and then refusing to let me approve the aforementioned leave.
This has baffled those who know about HRSS - we tried cajoling, swearing, yelling, and explaining to HRSS that this sort of behaviour was inappropriate in a local govt setting all to no avail.
This all took rather more of the day than it should have - so not quite the same level of inroad into master list of doom as i'd hoped, but hey s***t happens!
Having a great time. Hope weeks 2 & 3 are as good.
Gotta say she-who-is-sunning-herself-on-leave may not be getting her car back next week - I'm having too much fun with it.
It's been a pretty good week all things considered :>)
Monday: Picked up the work chariot Monday morning, by the time I arrived at work I'd forgotten what is was like not to have a car. Dealt with the leftover 'stuff' from the weekend (new phones, odd messages) and got stuck into what promised to be an entertainingly challenging first week. I've written a master list of everything (I can think of) that needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. It's not as daunting as I thought it would be but I will need to have my time management wits about me. Have been instructed that I must do NO evil! (dagnabbit)
Tuesday: 8 o'clock start - how do I manage to do this without a car? More screaming kids than usual after storytime. After the library closed a select few staff assembled library shelving for the self-serve reservations (and ate pizza) . And it was a tired little teddy bear that drove home after a very long day. Still not permitted to do evil.
Wednesday: One of those full on days (pays, staff meeting, guest speaker etc.). Guest speaker spoke inspiringly on giving your home a green makeover concentrating on low cost and no cost options, and easy things to do that can make a difference. Still a tired little teddy bear driving home (and may I point out - day 3 of no evil)
Thursday: Decided to try and blitz some of the things on the master list of doom - thank you note to speaker, requests, all this weeks selection (both suppliers), scheduled some blog posts in advance (for the next week anyway), lined up a couple of others to blog, and started a list of things to palm off on others while I'm on leave. Also managed to find time to play with camtasia and reacquaint myself with my brushtail notes as well as get some of my usual work done.
Still no evil though.
Friday: The question was could I go 5 days without evil (nope it appears I couldn't).
The HRSS system was determined to taunt me - sending me emails telling me I had leave to approve and then refusing to let me approve the aforementioned leave.
This has baffled those who know about HRSS - we tried cajoling, swearing, yelling, and explaining to HRSS that this sort of behaviour was inappropriate in a local govt setting all to no avail.
This all took rather more of the day than it should have - so not quite the same level of inroad into master list of doom as i'd hoped, but hey s***t happens!
Having a great time. Hope weeks 2 & 3 are as good.
Gotta say she-who-is-sunning-herself-on-leave may not be getting her car back next week - I'm having too much fun with it.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
R.I.P. Choco
It's been a tough couple of days for the midi malcs.Choco got hit by car whilst out for a run with my brother.
KT (choc's 'official' owner) was on school camp when it happened so she didn't find out until she got back friday night.
Choc was an uber cool dog - great with kids - not at all intimidated by the midi malcs or the mini malcs, very patient & very playful.
A private memorial service was held Saturday.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Crime DVDs added to Batgirl's Library
Due to a combination of strong Aussie $ against sterling, and a yearning to revisit classic dvd favourites Batgirl has, of late, been investing some of her hard earned pennies in dvds from Amazon UK.
Three of my favourite cop shows of all time are now available on dvd and I am slowly building my collections
The three are:
Between the Lines. (BBC - UK) 1992-1994. Starred Neil Pearson as Det. Supt Tony Clark of the Ccomplaints Investigation Bureau (Internal Affairs). Also starred Tom Georgeson, Siobhan Redmond & Tony Doyle.
According to Wikipedia a new series was made in 2007 reuniting the major characters.
Hill Street Blues. (NBC -USA) 1981-1987. Starred Daniel J Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Joe Spano, James B Sikking, Bruce Weitz. Set in a US city police station (maybe Chicago?-we never found out exactly where.)
I can remember a long time ago, in a media studies subject at Swinburne, we were shown the first episode of this as an example of the elements of a successful TV pilot episode.
Homicide: Life on the street (NBC-USA) 1993-1999. Created by David Simon and based on his non-fiction book Homicide: a life on the killing streets, this was an excellent police show set in Baltimore.
HLOTS trivia.
One of Robin Williams' earliest dramatic roles was as a grieving widower in an early episode of HLOTS.
One of the HLOTS characters, John Munch, played by Richard Belzer, 'transferred' to New York and joined the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police. (Law & Order- SVU) in fact Richard Belzer has played John Munch on eight different TV series: Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The X-Files, The Beat, Arrested Development, and most recently The Wire.
Author Jane Smiley wrote an episode of HLOTS.
So there you have it - 3 excellent crime series that I am enjoying revisiting.
Three of my favourite cop shows of all time are now available on dvd and I am slowly building my collections
The three are:
Between the Lines. (BBC - UK) 1992-1994. Starred Neil Pearson as Det. Supt Tony Clark of the Ccomplaints Investigation Bureau (Internal Affairs). Also starred Tom Georgeson, Siobhan Redmond & Tony Doyle.
According to Wikipedia a new series was made in 2007 reuniting the major characters.
Hill Street Blues. (NBC -USA) 1981-1987. Starred Daniel J Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Joe Spano, James B Sikking, Bruce Weitz. Set in a US city police station (maybe Chicago?-we never found out exactly where.)
I can remember a long time ago, in a media studies subject at Swinburne, we were shown the first episode of this as an example of the elements of a successful TV pilot episode.
Homicide: Life on the street (NBC-USA) 1993-1999. Created by David Simon and based on his non-fiction book Homicide: a life on the killing streets, this was an excellent police show set in Baltimore.
HLOTS trivia.
One of Robin Williams' earliest dramatic roles was as a grieving widower in an early episode of HLOTS.
One of the HLOTS characters, John Munch, played by Richard Belzer, 'transferred' to New York and joined the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police. (Law & Order- SVU) in fact Richard Belzer has played John Munch on eight different TV series: Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The X-Files, The Beat, Arrested Development, and most recently The Wire.
Author Jane Smiley wrote an episode of HLOTS.
So there you have it - 3 excellent crime series that I am enjoying revisiting.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
How evil am I?
Given that my personal motto is "If only I used my power for good instead of evil" this online quiz seems tailor made for me.
How evil are you?
How evil are you?
Craig will think this is absolute karma!
P.S can't remember who pointed me at the evil but thank you whoever you are.
P.S can't remember who pointed me at the evil but thank you whoever you are.
I thought I was Batgirl actually!
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
Friday, August 22, 2008
Quote of the week
At bookgroup on Wednesday night:
Gladys (talking about a foodie tour of Melbourne she'd been on) "I complained that there was too much chocolate"
Too much chocolate, too much chocolate - there is no such thing as too much chocolate.
And she calls herself a librarian ! huh!!!!!!!
Gladys (talking about a foodie tour of Melbourne she'd been on) "I complained that there was too much chocolate"
Too much chocolate, too much chocolate - there is no such thing as too much chocolate.
And she calls herself a librarian ! huh!!!!!!!
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Limping Games
I have been following the Olympics.
My main interest is in the women's gymnastics and the highlights and low lights that these games have produced (in WAG)
Highlights
The Aussie team's 6th placing (the first time they have made an olympic team final using the 6-3-3 format)
Shona & Georgia making the AA final (top 24) and finishing a creditable 13th (Georgia) and 15th (Shona).
Shona being 1st reserve for BB final.
Lowlights
Dasha's injury -
Back in 2000 my then almost 3 yr old nephew told me he was going to see the limping torch - and the name has stuck.
My main interest is in the women's gymnastics and the highlights and low lights that these games have produced (in WAG)
Highlights
The Aussie team's 6th placing (the first time they have made an olympic team final using the 6-3-3 format)
Shona & Georgia making the AA final (top 24) and finishing a creditable 13th (Georgia) and 15th (Shona).
Shona being 1st reserve for BB final.
Lowlights
Dasha's injury -
Back in 2000 my then almost 3 yr old nephew told me he was going to see the limping torch - and the name has stuck.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Forget love I'd rather fall in chocolate!
As promised a blog post about hot chocolate.
Sydney
Possibly the jewels of Sydney's hot chocolate establishments are the Lindt Chocolate Cafes.
There are three in Sydney.
Martin Place
This was the first Lindt cafe to open in the world and it is very much the concept store. In the business area of Martin Place it is a very short walk from the State Library of NSW (if you need an excuse to be up that end of town!).
Tends to be quite crowded on weekdays with business folk - so much so that there is a sign up asking that business meetings be kept to 30 minutes or less. At weekends however it is a great place for brunch, or a hot chocolate, or a look (and taste) of the new Lindt ball flavours.
Cockle Bay Wharf.
This one is popular with tourists - the inside is smallish, but with a large outdoor area and Darling Harbour views it is a great place for a hot chocolate or iced chocolate, accompanied of course, by a white chocolate eclair.
George Street
This one caters pretty much for the business coffee crowd (it's not open Sundays) and is more 'traditional' coffee shop than the others. Interestingly it is practically next door to Max Brenner who also make a superior rich hot chocolate.
The Lindt Hot Chocolate
When you order a hot chocolate (eat in, not takeaway) you receive a cup and saucer, a jug of hot milk, and a jug of melted chocolate so that you can mix the drink to your desired strength. (If you like your hot choc medium strength then you can pretty much get two cups out of the ingredients).
Now available in supermarkets
You cna now buy tins of Lindt Hot Chocolate flakes at supermarkets (and Priceline Balwyn). To make a hot choc you use 6 (yes six) teaspoons of the flakes. Not as nice as the shop made ones but not bad.
NB: as yet Lindt don't sell a white hot chocolate.
Sydney
Possibly the jewels of Sydney's hot chocolate establishments are the Lindt Chocolate Cafes.
There are three in Sydney.
Martin Place
This was the first Lindt cafe to open in the world and it is very much the concept store. In the business area of Martin Place it is a very short walk from the State Library of NSW (if you need an excuse to be up that end of town!).
Tends to be quite crowded on weekdays with business folk - so much so that there is a sign up asking that business meetings be kept to 30 minutes or less. At weekends however it is a great place for brunch, or a hot chocolate, or a look (and taste) of the new Lindt ball flavours.
Cockle Bay Wharf.
This one is popular with tourists - the inside is smallish, but with a large outdoor area and Darling Harbour views it is a great place for a hot chocolate or iced chocolate, accompanied of course, by a white chocolate eclair.
George Street
This one caters pretty much for the business coffee crowd (it's not open Sundays) and is more 'traditional' coffee shop than the others. Interestingly it is practically next door to Max Brenner who also make a superior rich hot chocolate.
The Lindt Hot Chocolate
When you order a hot chocolate (eat in, not takeaway) you receive a cup and saucer, a jug of hot milk, and a jug of melted chocolate so that you can mix the drink to your desired strength. (If you like your hot choc medium strength then you can pretty much get two cups out of the ingredients).
Now available in supermarkets
You cna now buy tins of Lindt Hot Chocolate flakes at supermarkets (and Priceline Balwyn). To make a hot choc you use 6 (yes six) teaspoons of the flakes. Not as nice as the shop made ones but not bad.
NB: as yet Lindt don't sell a white hot chocolate.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sydney musings
My suitcase and I were strolling through Central Railway Station when a puppy dog came up and started capering around near me.
At the other end of the puppy's leash was a police officer. Apparently the puppy was a sniffer dog in training.
Had to stop (seemed wise to do so when asked to by people carrying guns!) Puppy then went on to feign complete disinterest in me and my luggage but was unseemly excited by guy nearby. Don't know whether fido was in training for drugs or explosives or indeed if guy was a 'plant'.
Made it to Sydney airport where I proceeded to delay the line at the security because when I took the toy (aka asus ee pc) out of its case to be xrayed the security guard fell in love with it and we had quite the conversation as I put it through its paces for her.
Random acts of airport observation
Most seen (presumably purchased) magazine at Sydney airport - Australian Property Investor. 2 people ahead of me in the queue @ Newslink were buying it (and neither of them belonged to the pinstripe brigade) and there were several people in the Lounge, several others in the food court and double figures on the plane reading it. (Might have to reserve it and see what all the fuss was about)
A lot of people carry laptops or portable dvd players to watch movies on whilst in the air. (mind you I didn't have any dvds but I did have ebooks on my laptop, ipod and pda. also on my phone - but you can't read the phone ones in flight.) I also had a real book (made of paper, with pages) and a sudoku book to while away the hours (well 1.5 hours).
The KrispyKreme revolution is over, the harry's cafe du wheels is just beginning. Queues at Harry's, not at KK.
Had a salad from Sumo. (Chicken schnitzel & avocado, with lemon/herb mayo). Is it automatically healthy if it has the word salad in its name? I figure it isn't the healthiest salad around.
VirginBlue had cancelled several fights - this meant my flight (chosen for optimum lack of passengers) was full.
Never mind it landed on time, I walked straight onto Skybus. Disembarked at Sthn X, walked straight onto Belgrave train. Was home by 6.30. Best timing in ages. Very tired now.
At the other end of the puppy's leash was a police officer. Apparently the puppy was a sniffer dog in training.
Had to stop (seemed wise to do so when asked to by people carrying guns!) Puppy then went on to feign complete disinterest in me and my luggage but was unseemly excited by guy nearby. Don't know whether fido was in training for drugs or explosives or indeed if guy was a 'plant'.
Made it to Sydney airport where I proceeded to delay the line at the security because when I took the toy (aka asus ee pc) out of its case to be xrayed the security guard fell in love with it and we had quite the conversation as I put it through its paces for her.
Random acts of airport observation
Most seen (presumably purchased) magazine at Sydney airport - Australian Property Investor. 2 people ahead of me in the queue @ Newslink were buying it (and neither of them belonged to the pinstripe brigade) and there were several people in the Lounge, several others in the food court and double figures on the plane reading it. (Might have to reserve it and see what all the fuss was about)
A lot of people carry laptops or portable dvd players to watch movies on whilst in the air. (mind you I didn't have any dvds but I did have ebooks on my laptop, ipod and pda. also on my phone - but you can't read the phone ones in flight.) I also had a real book (made of paper, with pages) and a sudoku book to while away the hours (well 1.5 hours).
The KrispyKreme revolution is over, the harry's cafe du wheels is just beginning. Queues at Harry's, not at KK.
Had a salad from Sumo. (Chicken schnitzel & avocado, with lemon/herb mayo). Is it automatically healthy if it has the word salad in its name? I figure it isn't the healthiest salad around.
VirginBlue had cancelled several fights - this meant my flight (chosen for optimum lack of passengers) was full.
Never mind it landed on time, I walked straight onto Skybus. Disembarked at Sthn X, walked straight onto Belgrave train. Was home by 6.30. Best timing in ages. Very tired now.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Shelving romance & turning to crime
Well it's over, officially over. No more clandestine sneaking off to Sydney, no more frequent flyer points.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Food, 'glorious' food
After a long day yesterday and a sleepless night - too much to do - not enough night - I used my earlybird 'arrive at sthn cross on spencer b4 7am travel for free' ticket to get me to Sthn X at 7am on the dot. A surprisingly empty skybus had me at the airport by 7.30.
Decided to celebrate with my traditional airport brekkie of coffee and raisin toast only 'petal's mums' coffee shop had run out of raisin toast. World in crisis.Vegemite toast had to step up to the mark – (had to go back twice for extra vegemite!)
Decided to celebrate with my traditional airport brekkie of coffee and raisin toast only 'petal's mums' coffee shop had run out of raisin toast. World in crisis.Vegemite toast had to step up to the mark – (had to go back twice for extra vegemite!)
The flight was slightly delayed but still made it to afternoon tea in plenty of time - no cookies n cream lindt balls, (sorry hannah, )
There were still many, many, WYD pilgrims in Sydney - it seemed every second person was wearing a red/yellow/orange backpack and the prices at some of the souvenir shops reflected the increased number of tourists.
Decided to try Lorraine's dumplings restaurant for dinner - awesome dumplings, extremely delicious - will be eating there again, that's for sure!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Too tired to function properly
It's been a long day. Booktalk in the morning (good audience, seemed to enjoy it) then Genealogy demo in evening.
Intended to record it to load here, however the mind sync between me and the recorder wasn't working and despite positioning the recorder for optimal recording I forgot one important instruction (probably the most important instruction) press record !!!!!
Bugger.
However the demo went extremely well; a really appreciative audience who seemed to get a lot out of it (you'll have to take my word for it as there is, unfortunately, no recorded proof).
Added bonus - the demo finished in perfect time for me to cadge a lift home with the Sammon/Holt limousine service, rather than the SilverTop I was planning to catch.
Suitcase is now packed (can't guarantee the contents are correct, but hey Sydney has shops). Tickets and boarding passes printed and in bag (not suitcase - check again to make sure)
No sharp objects or flammable stuff in bag (nope, good)
No point going to bed properly the alarm will be going off all too soon... (Wanders in general direction of couch and blanket)
Intended to record it to load here, however the mind sync between me and the recorder wasn't working and despite positioning the recorder for optimal recording I forgot one important instruction (probably the most important instruction) press record !!!!!
Bugger.
However the demo went extremely well; a really appreciative audience who seemed to get a lot out of it (you'll have to take my word for it as there is, unfortunately, no recorded proof).
Added bonus - the demo finished in perfect time for me to cadge a lift home with the Sammon/Holt limousine service, rather than the SilverTop I was planning to catch.
Suitcase is now packed (can't guarantee the contents are correct, but hey Sydney has shops). Tickets and boarding passes printed and in bag (not suitcase - check again to make sure)
No sharp objects or flammable stuff in bag (nope, good)
No point going to bed properly the alarm will be going off all too soon... (Wanders in general direction of couch and blanket)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Books, books everywhere and not a book to read
I am in the final stages of a head cold that has required a day off work. Along with this day off were 2 time in lieu days meaning I have wasted 3 whole days and parts of a further 3 days on a cold that I do not want.
The optimist in me felt that these days/times of enforced rest could be best spent catching up on my reading. The TBR bookshelf in the bedroom was full to overflowing with brightly jacketed library books all jumping up and waving at me - pick me, pick me.
There was also the the partially digested crime novel on the bedside table; i'm enjoying it but not right now.
In the lounge room one coffee table groans under the weight of books that don't fit on the TBR bookshelf. On the floor next to the beanbag are several heavily bookmarked travel guides to New Zealand (for trip planning whilst watching TV).
In the study/library/sewing room/gym/spare bedroom there are more shelves of TBR's. On the dek is a pile of HBR's (have been read) waiting patiently to be entered onto the 'puter and then taken back to the library.
Yet still when push came to shove I had nothing to read and/or nothing I wanted to read (and there was nothing on TV)
So what did I do? - yep it was comfort read time. Ballet for Laura, & Laura's summer ballet; the Nancy series by Dorita Fairlie Bruce; and a couple of Biggles books. All of which I could just about quote from memory. Doh!
So I still have library loans in triple figures (none overdue TG) and a TBR pile which, at last count, stands at %@#.
Need more time to read
The optimist in me felt that these days/times of enforced rest could be best spent catching up on my reading. The TBR bookshelf in the bedroom was full to overflowing with brightly jacketed library books all jumping up and waving at me - pick me, pick me.
There was also the the partially digested crime novel on the bedside table; i'm enjoying it but not right now.
In the lounge room one coffee table groans under the weight of books that don't fit on the TBR bookshelf. On the floor next to the beanbag are several heavily bookmarked travel guides to New Zealand (for trip planning whilst watching TV).
In the study/library/sewing room/gym/spare bedroom there are more shelves of TBR's. On the dek is a pile of HBR's (have been read) waiting patiently to be entered onto the 'puter and then taken back to the library.
Yet still when push came to shove I had nothing to read and/or nothing I wanted to read (and there was nothing on TV)
So what did I do? - yep it was comfort read time. Ballet for Laura, & Laura's summer ballet; the Nancy series by Dorita Fairlie Bruce; and a couple of Biggles books. All of which I could just about quote from memory. Doh!
So I still have library loans in triple figures (none overdue TG) and a TBR pile which, at last count, stands at %@#.
Need more time to read
Monday, June 30, 2008
Remembering
Today would have been dad's 72nd birthday.
So as has been our tradition the last couple of years we decided to organise a dinner - easier said than done.
This year the 27th and 30th fell either side of the weekend - making it that bit more difficult for all of us to be available at the same time.
We eventually decided on sunday night (last night) at the Manningham. The Manningham used to be the Melbourne home of the Brisbane Lions - and somewhere dad liked to go to see all the old Fitzroy memorabilia.
So we all gathered at the manningham last night: Mum, tapsister, tappingbetty, son_of_royboy, and be_there_with. Bollockspants lives in England so he was there with us in spirit only.
It was a good evening and we got to relive embarrassing family moments and stories.
Our (small) winnings on the pokies are about to be donated to petermac in dad's name, along with the 'birthday' money.
Next family event ArchieArchie's first birthday...
So as has been our tradition the last couple of years we decided to organise a dinner - easier said than done.
This year the 27th and 30th fell either side of the weekend - making it that bit more difficult for all of us to be available at the same time.
We eventually decided on sunday night (last night) at the Manningham. The Manningham used to be the Melbourne home of the Brisbane Lions - and somewhere dad liked to go to see all the old Fitzroy memorabilia.
So we all gathered at the manningham last night: Mum, tapsister, tappingbetty, son_of_royboy, and be_there_with. Bollockspants lives in England so he was there with us in spirit only.
It was a good evening and we got to relive embarrassing family moments and stories.
Our (small) winnings on the pokies are about to be donated to petermac in dad's name, along with the 'birthday' money.
Next family event ArchieArchie's first birthday...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
I shop again, therefore I am, again
Today the spending of the gift vouchers continued unabated.
After a lightning trip to Elsternwick to see Mamma and her two youngest grandsons, it was in to the city to shop.
I had a Readers Feast voucher and a Myer voucher, both expiring at the end of the month, so shopping I went.
I've long had a fascination with book tokens (blogged about elsewhere), I was always very envious when Nicola Marlow, and/or Drina got given book tokens (it seemed such a civilised gift) so my Readers Feast vouchers always seem to remind me of those childhood favourites.
Although, come to think of it, my spending of book vouchers always seems to be more in the Nicola Marlow choosing her form prize in The Cricket Term, style than anything else.
My unofficial rules are that books purchased have to be 'special' (ie: almost certainly not crime fiction) and they have to be something that I will read or consult often.
So once again a pleasurable afternoon spent browsing the shelves for books to purchase - and now to re-organise the Mont Albert branch to accommodate the new purchases.
After a lightning trip to Elsternwick to see Mamma and her two youngest grandsons, it was in to the city to shop.
I had a Readers Feast voucher and a Myer voucher, both expiring at the end of the month, so shopping I went.
I've long had a fascination with book tokens (blogged about elsewhere), I was always very envious when Nicola Marlow, and/or Drina got given book tokens (it seemed such a civilised gift) so my Readers Feast vouchers always seem to remind me of those childhood favourites.
Although, come to think of it, my spending of book vouchers always seems to be more in the Nicola Marlow choosing her form prize in The Cricket Term, style than anything else.
My unofficial rules are that books purchased have to be 'special' (ie: almost certainly not crime fiction) and they have to be something that I will read or consult often.
So once again a pleasurable afternoon spent browsing the shelves for books to purchase - and now to re-organise the Mont Albert branch to accommodate the new purchases.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
I shop, therefore I am
With the end of June fast approaching I have several gift vouchers that need spending.
So today it was off to Southland to spend the remainder of my gift card. (The majority was spent on the toy but there was still some left)
What to buy, what to buy?
It wasn't my money, so I could indulge myself but in what? DJ's takes the Westfield card so I spend a delightful few hours wandering round, checking out their 'half yearly clearance'.
In the end I came home with new watch (not a gold watch, sorry to disappoint you!). Most of my watches are of teh robust, wear to work, get bashed on the desk and survive, type so I am now the proud owner of a 'good' watch for wearing 'out' (as opposed to wearing to work). Will post a photo when I find a camera.
Bought lots of other stuff (with credit card, not gift card) mainly for me, although the train obsessed 2 year old nephew scored a 'Thomas the tank engine T shirt ($5 @ ABC shop - bargain)
Unfortunately the soon-to-be-1 year old scored nothing as all the archiearchie sized shirts were still $20. I had hoped to get his birthday present but he hasn't decided whether to go with red wine, white wine, or spirits!
So today it was off to Southland to spend the remainder of my gift card. (The majority was spent on the toy but there was still some left)
What to buy, what to buy?
It wasn't my money, so I could indulge myself but in what? DJ's takes the Westfield card so I spend a delightful few hours wandering round, checking out their 'half yearly clearance'.
In the end I came home with new watch (not a gold watch, sorry to disappoint you!). Most of my watches are of teh robust, wear to work, get bashed on the desk and survive, type so I am now the proud owner of a 'good' watch for wearing 'out' (as opposed to wearing to work). Will post a photo when I find a camera.
Bought lots of other stuff (with credit card, not gift card) mainly for me, although the train obsessed 2 year old nephew scored a 'Thomas the tank engine T shirt ($5 @ ABC shop - bargain)
Unfortunately the soon-to-be-1 year old scored nothing as all the archiearchie sized shirts were still $20. I had hoped to get his birthday present but he hasn't decided whether to go with red wine, white wine, or spirits!
Podcast revisited
i have spent quite a few spare moments working on the improving of the podcast.
Finding appropriate editing software was the first challenge - but I bypassed this by breaking the file into many smaller files and cleaning them up one by one using the zoom's onboard editing facility.
This has been (a) time consuming, and (b) boring, so is being done in very small doses. Then I will reassemble the file, convert it to mp3 and voila - podcast.
Having experimented with the introductions - this might just work - although the mp3 version is not as clear as the wav.
I set the recording level down way low for the next attempt - but it's singing and dancing on a echoey floor so need to work out what is recording level noise and what is 'ambience'!
If at first you don't succeed - go shopping...
Finding appropriate editing software was the first challenge - but I bypassed this by breaking the file into many smaller files and cleaning them up one by one using the zoom's onboard editing facility.
This has been (a) time consuming, and (b) boring, so is being done in very small doses. Then I will reassemble the file, convert it to mp3 and voila - podcast.
Having experimented with the introductions - this might just work - although the mp3 version is not as clear as the wav.
I set the recording level down way low for the next attempt - but it's singing and dancing on a echoey floor so need to work out what is recording level noise and what is 'ambience'!
If at first you don't succeed - go shopping...
Saturday, June 7, 2008
In which Fiona fails the podcast
So I recorded the genealogy demo on my new handy dandy digital recorder (aka the zoom). It's a cool little dude - records in wav or mp3 format onto sd cards.
The manual recommends recording in stereo (wav) and then converting to mp3 for best quality. This I did.
However I appear to have had the recording level/volume set to high as even on the max setting Myra sounds crystal clear but faint. Am now trying to amp up the sound before mp3'ing it.
However if you have awesome hearing the clarity is quite good (even if I do say so myself).
So more work to be done on the casting of pod front. damn
The manual recommends recording in stereo (wav) and then converting to mp3 for best quality. This I did.
However I appear to have had the recording level/volume set to high as even on the max setting Myra sounds crystal clear but faint. Am now trying to amp up the sound before mp3'ing it.
However if you have awesome hearing the clarity is quite good (even if I do say so myself).
So more work to be done on the casting of pod front. damn
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Canberra day 2.
Day 2 we started at the War Memorial.
It was a miserable, drizzly, cold, overcast day (and TappingBetty had the lurgy) so we wandered around the AWM (and I decided I needed to read more about the Japanese advance into Sydney Harbour)
We also checked out Parliament House (the house was discussing child care funding) before heading back to the motel - via the hot chocolate shop of course.
It was a miserable, drizzly, cold, overcast day (and TappingBetty had the lurgy) so we wandered around the AWM (and I decided I needed to read more about the Japanese advance into Sydney Harbour)
We also checked out Parliament House (the house was discussing child care funding) before heading back to the motel - via the hot chocolate shop of course.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
In search of the perfect hot chocolate
We found our accommodation in Canberra via rates to go. We wanted to be within reasonable walking distance of the gallery for the exhibition.
We ended up staying at the Bestwestern MotelMonaro in suburban Kingston. A 20 minute walk to the gallery, or a 5 minute bus ride. The motel backed onto the Kingston shops so on our way back to our room at the end of a tough day sightseeing we checked out the shops. In the arcade a secondhand bookshop and, opposite it, All things chocolate - canberra's original chocolate cafe. Well of course we had to go in, we couldn't walk past, what would people think!
We both ordered white hot chocolates (we consider ourselves hot chocolate connoisseurs) and little hand made lemon meringue chocolates - OMG - absolutely delicious.
Amusingly, when I told people at work about this little find - 2 of them, who'd been in Canberra recently both had been to the Kingston shopping centre but had not noticed the choccy shop!
We ended up staying at the Bestwestern MotelMonaro in suburban Kingston. A 20 minute walk to the gallery, or a 5 minute bus ride. The motel backed onto the Kingston shops so on our way back to our room at the end of a tough day sightseeing we checked out the shops. In the arcade a secondhand bookshop and, opposite it, All things chocolate - canberra's original chocolate cafe. Well of course we had to go in, we couldn't walk past, what would people think!
We both ordered white hot chocolates (we consider ourselves hot chocolate connoisseurs) and little hand made lemon meringue chocolates - OMG - absolutely delicious.
Amusingly, when I told people at work about this little find - 2 of them, who'd been in Canberra recently both had been to the Kingston shopping centre but had not noticed the choccy shop!
the sisters tap canberra
Well the TappingBetty and I went to the nations's capital to see the Turner to Monet exhibition at the National Gallery.
We flew Tiger (the latest player in the discount airfare stakes - $20 each way Melb to canberra - bargain).
So we arrived in Canberra at 10, am threw our luggage into the motel room, and headed for the gallery. TB is a Monet fan so we explored the exhibition thoroughly before checking out the indiginous art on display and heading, via the reconciliation path, to the National Library (where there was a display of Bridging the distance which highlighted the distances Australians can and must travel). On display were such treasures as Kingsford-Smith's application for a pilot's licence, a GPS, an Aus drivers licence from 1921, maps, ads, extracts from exploration diaries and so on.
We flew Tiger (the latest player in the discount airfare stakes - $20 each way Melb to canberra - bargain).
So we arrived in Canberra at 10, am threw our luggage into the motel room, and headed for the gallery. TB is a Monet fan so we explored the exhibition thoroughly before checking out the indiginous art on display and heading, via the reconciliation path, to the National Library (where there was a display of Bridging the distance which highlighted the distances Australians can and must travel). On display were such treasures as Kingsford-Smith's application for a pilot's licence, a GPS, an Aus drivers licence from 1921, maps, ads, extracts from exploration diaries and so on.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
In work and in evil
I'm halfway through a fortnight in which the work/life balance is definitely aimed at the life rather than the work.
Elsewhere I have blogged (or am about to blog) about the dance (bangarra - excellent), the sport (aus. national gymnastics championships - good), the theatre (MTC -Frost/Nixon - really good), musicals (seussical-good, Boy from Oz - wow!), the author (Mo Hayder - interesting)
In work.
The genealogy demo went well, despite the fact that only 28 people (of 51 booked) turned up. Nonetheless it was by and large a responsive audience who seemed to appreciate the demo and most of whom seemed to pick up a few handy hints along the way.
BTW: I recorded the demo and am currently playing with it with a view to posting it on the work blog as a podcast.
In evil:
I made a staff member cry. I don't how I did this other than that it must have been my evillness that did it. Despite my flippancy I was quite upset to find this out as the first I knew was when I arrived at work on Thursday afternoon to a pkt of timtams and a written apology.
What upsets me the most about this was that I was able to do it without having spoken to, emailed, phoned, communicated with the staff member in any way - in fact I did not even know that they were involved in the snafu, and it all happened on a day that I wasn't even at work.
We made up on thursday (contrary to popular opinion I do not actively try to make staff cry) but the more I think about it the more weird it gets.
Like I said I did not know they were involved the snafu, my first knowledge of their involvement was Thursday when they apologised (the snafu happened Tuesday afternoon, I had wednesday off), yet I made them cry (Methinks the crying blame should perhaps be attached to those who told them about the snafu not me)
Nevertheless more proof of my evility (if more was needed!)
For the remaining week of the fortnight...
4 desk shifts
2 Day Seniorships
One work Saturday
One work Sunday
One ballet (Oz Ballet - Jerome Robbins bill)
One 'opera' (OZ Opera - My Fair Lady)
One dance (SDC - Inuki2)
One gallery (Turner to Monet - Gallery Canberra)
Hopefully no evil will prevail...
Elsewhere I have blogged (or am about to blog) about the dance (bangarra - excellent), the sport (aus. national gymnastics championships - good), the theatre (MTC -Frost/Nixon - really good), musicals (seussical-good, Boy from Oz - wow!), the author (Mo Hayder - interesting)
In work.
The genealogy demo went well, despite the fact that only 28 people (of 51 booked) turned up. Nonetheless it was by and large a responsive audience who seemed to appreciate the demo and most of whom seemed to pick up a few handy hints along the way.
BTW: I recorded the demo and am currently playing with it with a view to posting it on the work blog as a podcast.
In evil:
I made a staff member cry. I don't how I did this other than that it must have been my evillness that did it. Despite my flippancy I was quite upset to find this out as the first I knew was when I arrived at work on Thursday afternoon to a pkt of timtams and a written apology.
What upsets me the most about this was that I was able to do it without having spoken to, emailed, phoned, communicated with the staff member in any way - in fact I did not even know that they were involved in the snafu, and it all happened on a day that I wasn't even at work.
We made up on thursday (contrary to popular opinion I do not actively try to make staff cry) but the more I think about it the more weird it gets.
Like I said I did not know they were involved the snafu, my first knowledge of their involvement was Thursday when they apologised (the snafu happened Tuesday afternoon, I had wednesday off), yet I made them cry (Methinks the crying blame should perhaps be attached to those who told them about the snafu not me)
Nevertheless more proof of my evility (if more was needed!)
For the remaining week of the fortnight...
4 desk shifts
2 Day Seniorships
One work Saturday
One work Sunday
One ballet (Oz Ballet - Jerome Robbins bill)
One 'opera' (OZ Opera - My Fair Lady)
One dance (SDC - Inuki2)
One gallery (Turner to Monet - Gallery Canberra)
Hopefully no evil will prevail...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Firefox on public pcs
Brian Herzog over at the Swiss Army Librarian blog posted a list of the software that his library is loading onto the public access pcs now that they are going to be using firefox instead of IE.
Where I work we are currently 'stuck' using an organization wide SOE (Windows/IE/MS Office etc.) however looking at Brian's detailed list I'm trying some of the firefox add-ons I didn't know about. (at home of course!)
Being able to customise a lot of the browser features sounds like a good idea and one that we could use on our public machines (especially disabling the mailto: function)
Note to self: Is there a firefox add-on that would re-install the genealogy icons/cds when somebody deletes them?
Brian also has a good post about selling usb drives instead of floppy discs which is something we may need to think about soonish as I suspect the next gen work pcs will not have disc drives.
Where I work we are currently 'stuck' using an organization wide SOE (Windows/IE/MS Office etc.) however looking at Brian's detailed list I'm trying some of the firefox add-ons I didn't know about. (at home of course!)
Being able to customise a lot of the browser features sounds like a good idea and one that we could use on our public machines (especially disabling the mailto: function)
Note to self: Is there a firefox add-on that would re-install the genealogy icons/cds when somebody deletes them?
Brian also has a good post about selling usb drives instead of floppy discs which is something we may need to think about soonish as I suspect the next gen work pcs will not have disc drives.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Mobile library services
To me a mobile library is/was a one of those big library buses or trucks that took the public library to places that did not have a public library.
Now mobile computing brings a whole new meaning to mobile library services.
Librarianinblack has blogged about Maine State Library which has launched a mobile website for those who use web enabled devices such as pda's, blackberry's, smart phones and the like.
Perhaps this is something we could look at doing once we are 'decoupled' and the new website is up and running?
Now mobile computing brings a whole new meaning to mobile library services.
Librarianinblack has blogged about Maine State Library which has launched a mobile website for those who use web enabled devices such as pda's, blackberry's, smart phones and the like.
Perhaps this is something we could look at doing once we are 'decoupled' and the new website is up and running?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Twitter. Thing 35 revisited
've recently had cause to revisit my earlier learning 2.1 posts, and back on January 5 I posted about Twitter.
What amuses me most, looking back on that post, is where I said "I'm not really sure what I would use twitter for - it seems like an online version of sms (although you can access it on your mobile phone as well). "
I went on to say that I couldn't really see the point of it and implied that I probably wouldn't use it.
Well let us fast forward to today.... do I use twitter? you bet.
I have it set up on my Flock homepage at both work and home, and regularly use it as a communication tool.
Am now thinking I need to revisit other learning 2.1 (and 2.0) tools to see what else I could/should/ be using that I didn't think I would.
So much for what's the point of twitter!
What amuses me most, looking back on that post, is where I said "I'm not really sure what I would use twitter for - it seems like an online version of sms (although you can access it on your mobile phone as well). "
I went on to say that I couldn't really see the point of it and implied that I probably wouldn't use it.
Well let us fast forward to today.... do I use twitter? you bet.
I have it set up on my Flock homepage at both work and home, and regularly use it as a communication tool.
Am now thinking I need to revisit other learning 2.1 (and 2.0) tools to see what else I could/should/ be using that I didn't think I would.
So much for what's the point of twitter!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Encyclopedia Britannica has widgets
As demonstrated by the American Literature link on the right hand side of this page Encyclopedia Britannica now has widgets on a range of subjects that you can embed in your webpage.
At this stage there are 30 or so subject widgets with more being added almost daily.
EB are also offering free online access to qualifying websites (webmasters, bloggers, writers, etc.)
You can also follow EB on Twitter.
At this stage there are 30 or so subject widgets with more being added almost daily.
EB are also offering free online access to qualifying websites (webmasters, bloggers, writers, etc.)
You can also follow EB on Twitter.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
and bop when it stopped...
I am typing this on my new toy.
I was a bit concerned that the mini keys on the keyboard would cause my typing to deteriorate, but I am a cack handed typist at the best of times so the smaller keyboard was no worse and no better than the full size.
Everything on the PC eee is smaller but in proportion so maybe that's why the smaller screen, keyboard, touchpad etc. didn't faze me.
I've also found a blog for eee hacks so I may have some fun playing around.
At the moment all the software on the pc is open source although it is Windows XP compatible (prob won't bother tho')
What I wanted was something to replace my late PDA, something that I could travel with, that was sturdy, lightweight and small.
So far the eee meets all these expectations and then some.
Will see how it is after a few more days of use.
I was a bit concerned that the mini keys on the keyboard would cause my typing to deteriorate, but I am a cack handed typist at the best of times so the smaller keyboard was no worse and no better than the full size.
Everything on the PC eee is smaller but in proportion so maybe that's why the smaller screen, keyboard, touchpad etc. didn't faze me.
I've also found a blog for eee hacks so I may have some fun playing around.
At the moment all the software on the pc is open source although it is Windows XP compatible (prob won't bother tho')
What I wanted was something to replace my late PDA, something that I could travel with, that was sturdy, lightweight and small.
So far the eee meets all these expectations and then some.
Will see how it is after a few more days of use.
It went zzzip when it moved...
Today I ventured out to the wilds of Cheltenham, to Southland, a full 1.25 hours by bus from Chez FiFi. I had been planning this expedition for some weeks now. I'd looked up the bus timetables, found my passport, and set the alarm.Why Southland I hear you ask?
Well in March last year I reached 25 years with CoBLS which meant I got a Westfield gift certificate to spend however I chose.
My closest Westfield is Doncaster but much of it is closed for renovation.
Fountain Gate was also a possibility, it depended on what I wanted to buy as not all stores accept the gift card.
However once I decided what to buy Southland was by far the best option as I could use the card at DJ's, Harvey Norman, and JB Hifi - all of whom stocked my marvellous toy.
I decided on DJ's as they had 10% off all notebook pcs, (and the Asus PC eee certainly fits into that category).
The next decision was what colour?
The Asus comes in black, white (actually more of a pearly white), pale pink or pale blue. I went with black (it goes with everything) and headed home with my prize.
It is so cute.
It's not much bigger than a paperback book and it took fully five minutes to get it up and running and I love it already.
Will post a proper review later...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Can it be that it was all so simple then...
Thanks to Catalog Card Generator at Blyberg.net for bringing back some awesome memories.
First job - weeding the University catalogue over the Christmas (largely student free) break, working from photocopies, pulling out cards for withdrawn books.
Second job - typing catalogue cards, running off copies on a duplicator and then typing on the additional entries, subject headings and the like.
Aaaaaaaaah the heady smell of the duplicator (ink, oil or whatever it was)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
MTC: The 39 steps
Shots ring out across a crowded theatre and Richard Hannay is drawn into a murder mystery that takes him from London to Scotland and back again.
Based (hysterically) on the Hitchcock film this play is aprt slapstick, part farce, part Monty Python and completely hilarious.
A cast of four plays 139 different roles (Actually three of the cast play 138 roles as Marcus Graham only plays our hero - Richard Hannay)
I highly recommend this play - it is one of the funniest pieces of theatre I have seen in a long while. The cast is excellent (particularly Grant Piro and Tony Taylor) switching from role to role with ease.
I could very easily go and see this play again...
Based (hysterically) on the Hitchcock film this play is aprt slapstick, part farce, part Monty Python and completely hilarious.
A cast of four plays 139 different roles (Actually three of the cast play 138 roles as Marcus Graham only plays our hero - Richard Hannay)
I highly recommend this play - it is one of the funniest pieces of theatre I have seen in a long while. The cast is excellent (particularly Grant Piro and Tony Taylor) switching from role to role with ease.
I could very easily go and see this play again...
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Sunday, April 6, 2008
High School Musical on Ice
Took my 8yr old niece to see High School Musical on ice (it was her birthday present from me).
I have not seen the films (there are 2 - imaginatively titled High School Musical and High School Musical 2)but I have it on expert 8yr old authority that they are awesome!!!
The guy playing Troy was an excellent skater (and he was the highlight as far as I was concerned).
The story (!) revolves around a group of kids at an American High School. The main characters are Troy (captain of the basketball team), and Gabriella (capain of the science club) who decide to audition for the school's winter musical. This is much to the disgust of brother and sister Ryan & Sharpey Evans who are always the leads in the school musicals.
Troy's friends want him to concentrate on basketball, gabriella's friends want her to concentrate on the science competition, and Sharpey & Ryan want Troy & Gabriella out of the musical.
After the interval we moved into the 2nd movie's storyline.
The gang get summer jobs at the Country Club 'ruled' by Sharpey. Sharpey is worried thqt she and Ryan won't win the talent contest if Troy & Gabriella are in it so she plots for Sharpey & Troy to be the stars of the show.
I won't tell you how it ends but suffice to say the Vodafone Arena was packed full of 'tweens' knowing the words to every single song.
Anyway, and most importantly, Kate loved it.
We finished off her birthday treat with dinner at the Pancake Parlour and we handed a very tired and very happy 8yr old back to her parents.
I have not seen the films (there are 2 - imaginatively titled High School Musical and High School Musical 2)but I have it on expert 8yr old authority that they are awesome!!!
The guy playing Troy was an excellent skater (and he was the highlight as far as I was concerned).
The story (!) revolves around a group of kids at an American High School. The main characters are Troy (captain of the basketball team), and Gabriella (capain of the science club) who decide to audition for the school's winter musical. This is much to the disgust of brother and sister Ryan & Sharpey Evans who are always the leads in the school musicals.
Troy's friends want him to concentrate on basketball, gabriella's friends want her to concentrate on the science competition, and Sharpey & Ryan want Troy & Gabriella out of the musical.
After the interval we moved into the 2nd movie's storyline.
The gang get summer jobs at the Country Club 'ruled' by Sharpey. Sharpey is worried thqt she and Ryan won't win the talent contest if Troy & Gabriella are in it so she plots for Sharpey & Troy to be the stars of the show.
I won't tell you how it ends but suffice to say the Vodafone Arena was packed full of 'tweens' knowing the words to every single song.
Anyway, and most importantly, Kate loved it.
We finished off her birthday treat with dinner at the Pancake Parlour and we handed a very tired and very happy 8yr old back to her parents.
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