Off to the Shed

I was driving home last night from a night out with my girls, and we were following a number of taxis that were doing their usual to-ing and fro-ing for a Saturday night with the many people who rely on them for a safe ride home in whatever state.

I have often been a tough critic on taxi drivers for their general road manner, particularly staying in the right lane on a freeway sitting just under the speed limit and not letting anyone pass! Arrrghhh!! But I thought I would focus on this entry about what the taxi drivers have to put up with on a daily basis with their sometimes grossly intoxicated occupants.

I have many times required the services of a taxi ride home after I have had that ‘one too many’ and always got home safely and in the most cases the most direct path to my place of residence. I have seen on the television and first hand what some taxi drivers are put through during a normal day at work and I think it is unfair and wrong, that any person can be treated like that carrying out their daily job to earn a living and support a family.
So today, I just wanted to say a big thank you to all those taxi drivers that work the late shifts and take us all home safely. Please consider the people who work in this tough job and provide us with a service that is a relentless unrewarding task.

I am working through my list of tasks around the house as mentioned in a previous entry, and one of the things on the list was to hang the curtains in baby M’s room. L has done an amazing job of making some beautiful pink and baby like curtains, and so it was my turn to now hang them; an easy job you may say, but…

I carried out the usual investigation that precedes any ‘little’ project and I tapped around the wall to locate a stud where I could fix the screws into that hold the brackets, but due to a cupboard door needing to open up in the curtain space we had to move the brackets up the wall approximately 100mm. In doing so I could not locate any studs in the area that I could fix into that would allow us to open the curtains all the way, so it was off to the hardware store to buy some plasterboard anchors. Plasterboard is a gypsum product which is not ideal fixing substrate for fixing anything heavy unless it is into a structural component on the other side ie a part of the frame. I purchased some anchors that would support up to 20kg, because as you may already know curtains can be quite heavy and this particular window is about 2.5m wide by 1.8 high.

The anchors are very easy to use, they are self drilling, meaning that all you need to do is insert them into the plaster with a philips head screw driver, you then insert the bracket or whatever you want to fix to the wall and use a screw that is supplied with the anchor, and as you screw it into the wall it ‘butterflies’ out and grips the plasterboard. The idea being of the anchor is to increase the surface area of the fixing which makes it harder to pull out through the weak plasterboard.

Sounds good you say! Unfortunately, it didn’t go that easy for me this time and with much sweat, a bit of colourful language and some serious head scratching, I realised that when I put the screw into the anchor instead of the screw ‘butterflying’ out on the other side of the plasterboard it tangled around the insulation that was in the wall and failed to butterfly!!! Not knowing this until I hung the curtains, I applied the weight and the anchors pulled straight out of the wall!

Following this disaster and with not 2 but 4 holes about the size of a AUD 5 cent piece in our new plasterboard and freshly painted rooms I began tapping around and trying to find another way to fix these curtains. Don’t you just hate it when a little job, something that should have taken 10mins to do, takes more time than some of the larger tasks.

Anyway, I decided to extend the span of the curtain rod and fix the brackets to wherever I could locate a stud just to get the job done. I thought to myself it is better to pre-drill the hole which allows the screws to go in easier. Well, pre-drilling into a 50+ year old house frame with hardwood timber is not as easy as it sounds. First of all, you need to use a power drill and have some decent drill bits. After several attempts at getting the correct depth of hole and two drill bits later, quickly running out of suitable sized drill bits, I had the holes completed. Finally I was on the home stretch, I fixed the brackets to the wall and hung the curtains. Those brackets will be staying there a long time!

A couple of things to remember when buying brackets for curtains and installing them, don’t rely on the size of the screws they provide you with in the packet of brackets, consider the weight of the curtains prior to hanging them, make sure you fix the brackets into adequate supports, and use patience and calm when doing any project…

On the 22.2.08 my/our little girl came into the world and what an amazing day that was and will forever remain. Yes little M was born safe and sound, weighing in at 7 pounds and 10 ounces in the old speak (3.465kg), and so you would be safe to say that the last couple of weeks for L and I have been quite busy, and I am happy to report that we are making the transition of being DINK’s to SIWK’s very nicely. Sorry that is a terrible acronym but if you know the correct term for single income with one child then let me know.

So after a couple of attempts a few mates and I went out for an afternoon lunch to ‘wet the baby’s head’ which means basically that a few of the boys go out on the town and have a few beers to celebrate. However, in an effort to always provide my readers with some education, I managed to find someone who thinks they know what they’re talking about and has provided the following description for your reading pleasure: Since the 1600s, the verb ‘to wet’ has meant to celebrate by drinking, though the earliest use of ‘wet the baby’s head’ as such dates only to the 19th century. When a baby is baptised, its head is literally ‘wetted’ by the priest, so the custom of fathers inviting friends to ‘wet the baby’s head’ is just a sort of secular baptism, as it were.

Well there you have it spoken like a true champion or rather a really good bullsh*t artist who got himself out of another bit of trouble with the missus, very believable, don’t you think?!

So the boys and I headed out for lunch (quite civilized) a few beers and we end up watching some footy and then going to Crown and Casa Del Oro to purchase a cigar each. Casa Del Oro is located in the Crown complex and there is a shop that is a humidor, which means that the cigars are out in the open for close examination. Not being the expert in cigars yet, I stuck to a cigar that I had smoked before the Partagus no.4. There aren’t too many places these days to have a cigar and so we went to a place at Crown that has an outdoor balcony. We continued our conversation and enjoyed a nice glass of scotch to celebrate the occasion. I think the days of having a big night are over for me, but I must say I am glad. An afternoon with a couple of friends, a nice meal, a few beers, a cigar and a scotch, what more can a man want, and what a wonderful occasion! Here’s to M!!

I was thinking the other day, that now that our house has finished being renovated that for me the work has just begun. I did a bit of walk around the house and started to put together a list of things that had to be done. Very overwhelming! As I put the list together, I kept thinking about the TV show (one of my favorites) ‘My Name is Earl’, and his karma list that he put together to right the wrongs that he had done in his life. Although my list doesn’t really go into the whole karma thing, I thought it might be a good way to present all of the things that I have to do around the house, and for each thing I do, I’ll blog about it…

Here is my list!

Please note, due to finances and time required to complete some of these items this list is in no particular order:

• Remove old shed
• Build new shed
• Connect all down pipes to storm water
• Wire in surround speakers in the ceiling
• Build the side fence (left side)
• Build the side fence (right side)
• Put in a new exposed aggregate driveway
• Walkway over heating unit
• Level the backyard
• Build new front fence
• Install ag drains (to extend around new part of house)
• Install new storm water drains (to extend to the new part of the house as required)
• Fill in pits to provide levels for storm water drainage
• Paint the roof
• Dig out the concrete in the back yard
• Install new letter box
• Build cot - flat pack I think
• Install new path in the front
• Pave the side of the house (narrow side)
• Create a new front garden
• Plant trees front and back
• Do something with the awful nature strip tree!
• Install a new clothes line
• Render and paint the boundary wall (the neighbours shed is on the boundary)
• Clean the gutters (ongoing)
• Plant new grass
• Extend height of back fence - sorry Flo
• Install new curtains in M’s room
• Build attic in the ceiling/roof space for storage
• Build furniture - very exciting
• Make a train table for model trains - its a boy thing!
• Fix L’s sunglasses
• Install floorboard pads on the bottom of the furniture
• Fix things that break… This could be anything, from hair straighteners to chairs and tables, to plumbing items and really anything ‘the wife’ tells me to.

So as you can see I have quite a bit on my plate, to my good friends it’s been nice knowing you, if you need me I will be in the garden or the shed and doing stuff around the house.

Hi there again,

Thanks Coolio for your comment, I too look forward to tasting your wares when I am next in Brisbane, I think it will be in June, in time for a nice glass of port and a romeo and juliet on the deck… hmmm! We men are very simple creatures aren’t we!

I have been looking around for some tips about port and how to get different tastes in the barrel. I came across a good website from another fellow port drinker,so have a look at his link and you might get some ideas. Port link
I think all in all it’s trial and error, but there are several people who will tell you different techniques about how to start a port barrel. Some people say to put brandy in the barrel for a few days prior to adding any port, others will tell you to just rinse the barrel with water and then put the port in.

The thing to remember I guess is that you should plan to have this item of furniture in your house for a long time and you will probably be able to try a few things along the way without it affecting the longevity of the barrel. Mix in some brandy occasionally, some sherry maybe, and some different types of port.

I personally, the novice that I am, have just put about 4 bottles of tawny port about 150ml of french brandy and half a bottle of sherry, and now having waited a couple of days, I am happy to report that it is really tasting good.

Have fun in your trials and let me know how you go!

Last year my wonderful wife bought me a fantastic gift, a thing that I have always wanted but never really been in a place permanent enough to warrant something of this stature, elegance and style… I don’t know whether you have ever read a description about a port barrel like that before, but that’s how much I treasure it.

With any new thing, it is good to gain an understanding of how it should work and sometimes if you’re lucky you might get some instructions, most of which I never read but I hear they are a good read… However when it came to my port barrel, I wanted to know how to ensure that it doesn’t leak and how to be able to appreciate this for many years to come.

Having just moved into our newly renovated house and having still a few unopened boxes around the place, I was impatient to get my port barrel off and running and so I was looking around for the instructions and when I thought that they could not be found, I hopped onto the next place that has all the information you need - the internet and Google! however, it seems that there isn’t a lot of information about port barrels on the net and so I thought that now having found my instructions I would share you what these instructions say so that if you are ever googling port barrel preparation, you could come and visit my blog on the way.

So I don’t infringe any copyright rules - I wish to first provide you with the source of my information - the instructions come from the ‘Cooper Import Company’ they are importers of hand crafted wine barrels and they are located in 23 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford, Victoria Australia.

This is suitable for the storage of Port or Spirits, but unsuitable for red or white wine which has not been fortified.

This is based on brand new barrels that have not been used.

Preparing the Barrel

• When you buy a barrel it has often been sitting on the shelf for some time and the oak may have dried out considerably, to give the timber some hydration, fill it with water.
• If the barrel leaks, leave the water in it for the oak to ‘take up’ moisture and stop the leaking.
• Empty the barrel and let it drain completely
• Pour into the barrel a quarter of a bottle of Old Tawny Port, roll it around several times and empty it out
• Fill it with the Port you have selected or blended to be kept in the barrel
• If the barrel still leaks empty the Port out, refill it with water and leave until the leaking stops. In most instances this will not be necessary.
• Remember that patience is necessary at this stage, and is the key to successfully preparing the barrel.
• Never immerse the barrel in water as this will turn it black

So there you have it, pretty simple isn’t it. I don’t know what really happens after that but mine has water sitting into it as I am writing this and I will be getting some Tawny for it tomorrow. Let the years roll on. I have heard that that after a while of putting port into the barrel that it gets a film on the inside of the barrel and assists the new ports that are added over time to have better flavours, even not particularly good ports can improve after being in a matured port barrel.

On the instruction sheet that I was given with the port barrel it has named a couple of port blends that can be used and I dont mind sharing them:

Dry - Fairly alcoholic style

• Three and a half bottles of Tawny port
• One bottle of Fino Sherry (very dry)
• One bottle of St. Agnes Brandy (375ml)

Sweeter, less alcoholic style

• Four bottles of Tawny port
• Half a bottle of Fino Sherry (very dry)
• One bottle of St. Agnes Brandy (175ml)

Please note:

• The blend can be sized up or down depending on taste and the volume of the barrel which does not have to be full
• The blend will take time to marry in and provide a smooth drinking port. Some evaporation of the contents should be encouraged, as this hastens the marrying in process.
• You should also try other blends such as specialised liqueurs, spirits and other suitable liquors.

I think it is just trial and error and time that will put your barrel in good stead. Enjoy your journey. Let me know how you go.

I wish to thank the person who placed a comment on my blog about the flat pack furniture entry. The person made the comment that people are buying IKEA or flat pack furniture because it is cheap and able to be thrown away after a few years of use. The reader made the comment that this has an impact on the resources and the energy used to make the furniture, and that they would prefer ‘proper’ timber to be used to make furniture that lasts for years.

With the comments made, I do agree in part, yes it is difficult living in a throw-away society where things are cheap and not as valued as they ‘used to be’. With this perspective, I would like to point out that generally, furniture made for the market and the likes of IKEA are from plantation timbers and pulped timber products which have been planted specifically for the use in timber products. These trees grow very fast and the WHOLE tree is used in the manufacture of the timber product. This form of timber manufacture does also create a lot of jobs, from growers, to truck drivers, to yard persons, to dock and port workers, to timber manufacturers to retail employees etc etc.

On the other hand, hard wood timbers used for ‘proper’ furniture that lasts a long time, often comes from non-renewable sources, where the tree is cut down and only a portion of the tree can be used and the rest is wasted. These trees are very old and take years to grow back IF there is a replanting regime in place. I am happy to say that I think timber growers are becoming more responsible these days and when they knock over trees for use, they are planting 1 - 10 trees in its place which should assist us to have enough timber for future generations.

Having a keen interest in timber and timber products I think it is good that we have options like flat pack furniture that come from renewable sources and are easy to produce, but we also have the option for good solid (hard wood) timber. Keeping in mind that hard wood timber products are extremely expensive and out of reach for many families.
So thanks to the person who spent the time to not only read my blog but to leave a comment, I hope you come back and read this response too. Timber is a great product and can be enjoyed in many forms.

I’m all about giving credit where credit is due. So today’s award goes to Mini Movers who have provided L & I with great service for the last couple of moves we have done.

Mini Movers are a small but expanding business who basically provide you with a couple of guys/girls (of course) and a truck and you get to run the show. They charge you an hourly rate and so if you are on a small budget for moving and also have some friends available to lend a hand, then this will reduce the time that it takes to move your house and thus the price.
6 months ago, L prepared our house for moving and packed and categorized every single box in the house and then also went to the extreme of coding each box so that when we moved back in we could unpack the box in the actual new location… and this was her at 3 months pregnant! Amazing! She then managed the move from our old house to 2 storage locations and did all this in one load! Mini movers gave her all the help she wanted and I gave her a massage for a good days work… ok and flowers and chocolates, and took her out to a really good restaurant!

So today we moved our things back from the storage locations and into our new home, and it was such a smooth process. The guys from Mini Movers showed up on time (actually beat me) and then wrapped and cared for everything they moved as if it was theirs. Well done Tony and Nathan for a great job.

The Mini movers 4 principles are these:

• Be careful
• Be quick
• Exceed and
• Enjoy

I like these principles and believe that I received the service they wish to provide. So if you’re looking for a good removals company give them a go!

Whilst sitting here on the 11th floor of the Tribeca building in East Melbourne, I am looking out to the east and in clear view is the IKEA building at Victoria Gardens. I started thinking to myself what a great idea IKEA was/is and how one of the worlds richest men, Ingvar Kamprad has made a fortune getting everyone to put their own furniture together.

Let it be known Mr Kamprad was a similar person, not unlike myself, who used to tinker in his shed, but also used to sell watches, pens and Christmas cards from his ‘garden shed’. He got the idea of flat-pack furniture in the 1950s when an employee took the legs off a table to fit it into a customer’s car. Yet again demonstrating the effectiveness of a shed in assisting the modern man to come up with new ideas… I wonder whether Isaac Newton was having a break from toiling and tinkering in his shed and decided to sit under a tree and all of a sudden an apple drops on his head… GRAVITY!!! Its amazing sometimes how just a simple idea like that can go a long way.

The IKEA brand is synonymous with flat pack furniture and is probably the most popular, given the crowds that race down there every weekend, and IKEA furniture can also be the most expensive. So it is good to know there are other stores like Target and KMart who sell this type of furniture too and at a cheaper price, however I dont think they have the assistance of the style police with any of their designs. The less than pretty equivalents are a good option if you have just moved out of home and are looking to give your mates something to sit on, or something for the tv to sit on that doesn’t cost the earth that can be destroyed and passed down the line in a share house arrangement.

I remember some of my earliest (probably most successful) projects at home involved ‘flat pack furniture’, it was always so easy to construct, and it gave a sense of pleasure having a piece of furniture in the home that I put together. Although some times I would end up with one or two bolts or screws left over and then go through the whole piece of furniture again to check that I didn’t leave anything out.

I definitely think in today’s age of the ‘throw away society’ the ‘flat pack’ idea has really a lot of merit, particularly if you are a property investor who wants to spice up the look of a place without spending the money on an architecturally designed equivalent.

So a big thanks to Mr Kamprad of IKEA, for changing the idea of flat pack furniture into something of beauty and giving me my first experience of furniture construction for my home.

It has dawned on me lately that I am quite the expert, but unfortunately I haven’t always been, otherwise I would be a lot wealthier than I am today. Mind you, I am only just getting started. So far I have chiseled my way through life clinging to different experiences and other influences in my life that have truly helped me get to the place I am today (with a long way to go). But these experiences and people in my life, whether they liked it or not were going to answer my questions and let me tell you I had many! Sometimes, I couldn’t be told anything, sometimes it was belted into me, and sometimes when I wasn’t even thinking about it, I just learned. Isn’t it amazing how the brain works.

I didn’t grow up with all of the trimmings of life that others were afforded, (like many others out there i’m sure), but there were things in my life, experiences, good and mainly bad that have shaped me as a person and made me even more determined to succeed. I will tell you that the past couple of years for me have been really good and are getting better all of the time. This is the time where I am truly not looking back and living in the past, but looking forward to how I can do it better and improve things for the next generation, beginning with my little girl (who should be here any day now).

While I sit here enjoying the last few nights of not getting up for a young child and having a whole new person to be responsible for, I am pondering how I got to this place and how it could have been so different. Believe me, the way my life started off, lets just say it wasn’t the best place to be brought up and it wasn’t full of Nobel peace prize winners or upstanding members of the community. However, I often met people along the way who stood up to be role models and who weren’t too busy to notice someone with ambition and passion about what they do and who would use that to challenge me and put me in situations where I had to act. Which is sometimes all it takes.

Life isn’t always hopeless, and life isn’t always going to be full of good times, but whether I have thought it or not, through the hopeless times in my life, I must have always thought there were good times coming, otherwise I may not have got out of bed everyday with a smile on my face and headed off to work at McDonalds, or gone to pick up wool at the shearing shed, or cut up that sheep to feed the dogs, or to do that paper round. At the same time I have often had a case of pessimism where deep down thinking it wont work, but then just keeping going each day at a time to make it work, trying new things, experiences and meeting people who are positive influences in my life.

I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you to all those people who have helped make my life better, and in turn some less fortunate people around me. Most of all thank you to my wonderful wife for making the last couple of years the best I have ever had.