Jonny Rochester

Richmond Bridge

2009-05-25T13:22:00.003+10:00

Painting by Jonathan Rochester. Oil on canvas. Circa 1991.

I will also note I didn't have a great interest in painting, and I am colour blind. I just wanted to earn some money to buy a new Haro BMX freestyle bike, which I did. As soon as I had my BMX I never did another painting.

The morning fog

2009-05-19T21:27:00.004+10:00

So I drive 50km to get to the car that won't go that I am meant to fix. Soon after arriving I find the owner has also lost the remote, and I can't touch the car or the alarm will go off. Two problems. He searches high and low for the remote. I offer some direction, "it's in your other pants, which are in the wash." Sure enough the remote was found broken in the washing machine and after some stuffing around it was still stuffed. After only short discussion, I am given the go-ahead to remove the whole alarm system. The car was unlocked, I had the key, the bonnet was open, but I knew that as soon as the alarm was touched or key turned the siren would go off, maybe for a whole day unless we smashed it with a hammer (it has it's own battery). Of course I had time, tools, the birds chirping (peace and serenity) and was able to remove the alarm without it going off and restored the car to it's normal state. How hard would it have been if I hadn't had the key and daylight? Don't worry, it would have been very hard. Immobilizers are probably effective, unless someone wanted to use a tilt tray truck.

Coffee in Cronulla

2009-05-11T21:48:00.005+10:00

Today I had nothing else to do so I went to Cronulla with Dave J. First stop was Grind coffee.

Bare floor boards. 70s chairs in poor condition. A church pew. Heshen coffee bags. Music was James Brown.

My small cappuccino. $3.

David Jolly was very interested in all this. Short black.

We had another coffee down the road. Strong enough to get a head spin. Dave had a third.

Upcoming blog topics

2009-05-06T00:30:00.002+10:00

I will put some more stuff on my blog shortly, from a variety of topics. But since my youth is now gone, some of it will be retrospective. I wonder what brings most interest:

How not to loose weight.
How to loose weight.
Relationships and what went wrong.
Quick and tasty cooking for the single male.
Fictional stories about people you may know.
Targa Tasmania, how much $ do a I really need.
My 5 year plan.
Home crafts of the Puritans and Pilgrim Fathers.
The list of nice girls I haven't contacted, (excluding some that are uncontactable of course).

That is easy. Home crafts always rates the highest.

Time

2009-04-10T00:23:00.002+10:00

How do you spend your time on the Internet? (Genuine question).

For most jobs or formal employment, you don't need the Internet much. You do need it, but only a trickle of info, a few e-mails and stuff here and there. Mostly, if your on the net, it's for hobby or social relaxation use.

If the government give us optic fibre Internet, will people have more time on their hands because they could finish their daily Facebook activities early?

For hobby/information/technical discussion use, I always am logged in to one or two forums. Plus one or two of my webmail addresses. Sometimes Facebook, or a blog. And e-bay and PayPal depending on the time of year.

I have a ton of stuff to put on my blog here, just not sure if it's worth it. I could watch TV, but that is passive, and not interactive.

Bike

2008-12-27T09:44:00.001+11:00

Lets just pretend I swapped my Commodore for a bicycle. That is the end of my story.

Frame: 2008 Azzurri Torino, aluminium

Forks: Azzurri, carbon fibre

Groupset: 2008 Shimano Tiagra everything

Wheels: Shimano WH-R500

Seatpost: FSA carbon

Seat: Velo 1133

Bars and stem: FSA alloy

Pedals: PD-R540

Shoes: SH-R085

Computer: Cateye Velo 8

In all a basic setup a professional wouldn't touch. But I think it works very well. 9-speed on the rear shifts very quick and is enough gears for me. "Compact" cranks gives the smaller front ring I need as a novice in Hobart. The seat is my third one already.

The main problems are; Hobart roads are too rough, especially on the edges. And not many bicycle lanes are painted on the roads. David Bartlet has a plan to fix this.

Motorists: please remove your bull bars, external aerials and roof racks when not in use.

Tools in Commodores

2008-12-23T09:47:00.004+11:00

I take no responsibility for the driver in this photo, but he seams to have it all under control. Doing a bloody good job actually judging by the smoke. Not sure who's car it is but.

This Christmas, pause and spare a thought for those that live in lower social-economic suburbs. Like the guys that have my tools, and Commodore. Small children will be opening their presents. One gets a 10mm spanner, another a 12mm. And another a 19mm socket, which is the size you need to remove the wheels from the Commodore they now have. Who are we kidding? We are all Australian, and all equal. Everyone has tools, and Commodores. I even bought some tools the other day. It was as easy as going to the tool shop and saying, "I am Australian, it's Christmas, give me tools". Almost that easy. I could probably buy another Commodore next week if I wanted, if I didn't buy cappuccinos for $3.70 each.

Christmas time

2008-12-22T10:28:00.002+11:00

Christmas time is great, because you don't feel guilty for doing nothing. If you have a job, you get holidays (and money). If you are looking for a job, you have no chance so little point in looking. If you run your own business, you are going to loose money between Christmas and new years. Nothing you can do about it.

People go back to their families. If you have no family, you will be very lonely indeed. Unless kind people invite you to their home.

Christmas morning is great, if only you can find fresh dry cell batteries and a small phillips screwdriver. In the past I have tried using a kitchen knife, and batteries from the household wireless phone.

And you get to eat and drink any food you want without getting dirty looks, even in the morning.

Tim Hansard and I are going to loose 2kg over the Christmas period.

Excellent.

Australia - review

2008-12-02T19:24:00.005+11:00

Um, it was OK. But I went in knowing it had bad reviews. The movie set looked great. I nearly cried a few times, despite it having the worst story of any movie I had seen in a long time. 2 stars.

You can't write a critical review of this movie, because the story and character development is just so bad you don't know where to start. The actors are a little wasted, David Wenham probably comes out best. But we have to grin and accept that it was mildly entertaining for the long 2 hours or so it went for.

There had been some objection (from people living in colder climates not comfortable with their own bodies) to Hugh Jackman taking off his shirt. Well consider this. The story is set in Darwin. Look up the weather forecast for Darwin today, and tell me that without A/C you would keep your shirt on.

And as for Nicole's tight skin, that demands a whole website in itself.

Australia

2008-11-12T09:59:00.004+11:00

Australia (2008) IMDb. I have a feeling this movie is going to be big. It will be compulsory viewing for me regardless of reviews. I know what your thinking, just because it has Nic. But also Ben Medelsohn, who I had earmarked to play myself in a future autobiography, except he is older. I look down the cast list and laugh, Bill Hunter!, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson. Someone was trying to make this very Australian. Just keep your eye out for Barry Crocker and Frankie J. Holden in the background.

Nicole and Hugh went on Oprah yesterday. Does anyone like how Hugh Jackman got 30 packets of Tim-Tams into America to share with the Oprah audience? I think someone told me you could buy them in USA.

Opens 26th Nov. Anyone with me?

Food Shopping

2008-11-07T13:45:00.004+11:00

Safeway in Vancouver Canada. This one built in 1966 of a replicted Safeway design that enhances the shopping experience.

I have been looking at a few diets lately. People choose a diet for different reasons. It could be to save money, loose fat, bulk up, increase energy, reduce global footprint, stop cruelty to animals, or other weird religious reasons. A diet that works becomes what you normally eat over an extended period of time, and no longer gets called a "diet".

Housewives weight loss diets of the 80's that didn't work:
no salt - eat everything except salt
no wheat - eat everything except bread and wheat products
no dairy - drink soy milk on your wheet-bix
pigout diet - diet hard, then pigout on Saturdays
Jenny Craig - does not work when you stop buying the powder

Housewives weight loss diets of the 90's that didn't work:
lite diet - buy everything that is "lite" or "light" or "diet". This includes "99% fat free" jelly beans, "natural" flavoured and coloured lollies, light canola oil and diet cola.

Some modern diets:
neanderthal diet - eat only what neanderthal ate
live food diet - only eat food that is or was recently alive
vegetarian - only eat meat when your tied
selective shopping - buy everything except on aisles 5 and 7
fridge diet - eat everything in the fridge that won't last a week
Tim-Tam diet - get them when on special
bogan diet - only drink when you smoke

With the Internet there is so much more info now. Go ahead and Google. But if someone was interested, I think I could have an amature stab at the following diets with reasonable results (tested on myself).

weight loss diet - with almost no exercise
weight loss diet - complimented with regular exercise

Listening to women

2008-10-29T12:24:00.002+11:00

I once had a conversation with a girl, or maybe she was a woman I can't be sure. It is important to listen to the girl you are with, especially if you are on a date. Many guys make the mistake of talking too much about themselves. The girl, probably a practiced active listener, will go along with this and appear interested. You would not know it, but it is up to the man to "lead" the conversation by letting the girl talk at least as much as you do. You can listen with your eyes, it's important to look at her. In my case, I think she was a 34B and I honestly have no idea what she said.

Another Number

2008-10-27T15:56:00.004+11:00

There is still some rubber left on my sneakers, which is good because my Toyota Levin AE86 isn't finished. I have just signed up for much more pain. My second ever road race will be the Point to Pinnacle. It is a 21.4km run up Mt. Wellington, which is 1.2km high. 3 hours 20 minutes is the max time we are given, which will be easy to obtain unless I have to crawl or die.

I did a 20km run/walk yesterday. Someone wants me to run with them up the mountain this Saturday...

If I am still unfit after that, I may look at doing a duathlon in the distant future. There is a duathlon on this Sunday at Baskerville raceway, my home track.

Another idea to get fit for professional motor sport: Remove the rubber boot around your cars gearstick to allow hot air, fumes, and noise to enter the cabin. Turn the heater on full. Put all of your clothes on, and a helmet. Do the seat belt up really tight. Drive around in traffic really fast on a hot day for a few hours, with the windows closed.

I am joking of course (which does not rule out anything I may/may not have done), but I have found that dealing with heat is much easier with some basic fitness.

Burnie Ten - results

2008-10-20T12:03:00.005+11:00

Jerome and myself before the race.

52:02 was my time difference between crossing the start and finish line. Computer says I crossed the line in position 931, but considering my actual time I probably placed 1000th. About 3600 people finished I think, some walked. One person cheated. Another used a electric wheelchair.

Me crossing the line

The run didn't feel very good or especially fast. But I must have pushed myself a bit, because I got a time better than in training, and I am feeling it a bit today. But unlike Jerome, I didn't collapse on the line, which means I should have gone faster. Oh well, there's always next year.

Medallions!

It was a good result, and even better to finish and walk around Burnie and get some lunch and coffee.

Burnie Ten - naming names

2008-10-16T11:09:00.007+11:00

Burnie Ten > Sunday, October 19. 11:15am.

It's in Burnie, Tasmania. You have to run 10km!

People are asking me about this more and more. I will reiterate, that it's unlikely any one you know will win it. The event is about community fitness, and people achieving a PB with a verifiable result. (No cheating). And since there are a lot of people in "the community" a lot of people are going in it, maybe 3042. I have also talked about why some sectors of the community will be better represented than others, but that is a big topic.

However, I will be joined in the race by other Hobart celebrities making a bid to raise awareness and the profile of themselves:

Kate G.

Nick G.

Joel C.
Kerri C.

Jerome R.

Renae P.

Clare H. ?

Pray that none of us goes faster than another may think we are capable of, for pride is... something... oh I forgot the rest of it. It does not matter anyway.

After finishing, I will go to the car to get the camera for some crossing the finish line shots, for my next blog post.

Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins

2008-10-13T23:21:00.003+11:00

These are almost too easy to make. This is my version:

Ingredients:

4 egg whites

1 cup sugar

200g butter or margarine

1 orange

3 cups self raising flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tbs poppy seeds

I used the rind of the orange, using a grater. I then squeezed the orange for the juice and threw the rest away.

Secret ingredients:

ginger

cinnamon

sun flower seeds

salt

Bake for 35min at 180 degrees C.

Icing:

cream cheese

icing sugar

orange or lemon juice

poppy seeds

TGA

2008-10-07T18:00:00.006+11:00

In Top Gear Australia last night they did a "Ford vs Holden" test. It was said that as Australian's, it is in our DNA to be either a Ford or Holden fan. But in the heavily scripted show, it was then Steve Pizzati's turn to say "but what if you vote green, drive a Toyota, and play soccer?"

Another cake

2008-10-05T21:43:00.003+11:00

To mark the beginning of daylight-savings, I had to bake another cake. A carrot cake, with thirteen walnuts to signify the extra hour. Christoph added the mint leaves (clock hands), which he assures me will go well with the cream cheese icing. I am still not sure of this.

Waterfall

2008-10-04T01:19:00.004+10:00

I went for a gentle walk into the countryside, and found this lovely spot. A fresh stream runs down the mountain among ferns and highland rain forest or whatever, creating some waterfalls over rocks and logs and stuff.

I bent down to refresh myself with the cool mountain spring water, almost like what you can buy at the store.

McLaren-Mercedes attempt at _______.

2008-09-26T15:36:00.004+10:00

McLaren-Mercedes prepare for the Singapore F1 Grand Prix this weekend, which will be held for the first time at night.

But something seams not quite right with this video. See if you can spot it and let me know.

Lunch

2008-09-26T13:26:00.004+10:00

My lunch today:

Two steaks of organic tofu gently fried in olive oil and covered in fresh spring onions and soy source, along with a fried egg and some celery. Yum!

My tofu bus.

3471

2008-09-18T11:11:00.004+10:00

From now on I may be known as 3471.

And you may trace my movements with this tracking device.

In Emergency: take to hospital (don't bother calling my brothers...)
Telephone: 911
Allergy: penicillin
Medication: bananas and ice cream

10km

2008-09-17T00:05:00.003+10:00

I have paid my fee for the Burnie Ten and so have been doing some training in the last few weeks. This mainly includes going for a run, some other sport, eating well, and observing my weight. Tonight was my first 10km run. Without giving too much away, generally speaking I am as fit as I need to be at this time. Who else is doing this?

Middle Age

2008-09-10T12:44:00.002+10:00

As the median age of Australia's population is projected to increase over time, and given that my age will also increase in time, I could end up spending an awful long time as "middle aged". Maybe someone can calculate this and comment on any foreseen side effects. I am advised to do crosswords, and keep my mind active. Or maybe that was "old age"?

Dear Sir,

2008-09-08T17:43:00.002+10:00

Centrelink are getting too hard to deal with. I want a job as CAD draftsman, technical officer, engineers assistant or design engineer. My experience is in automotive and other lightweight vehicles, training in mechanical engineering. Will accept jobs with a civil or electrical component. Money, top dollar. Experience, none. Get back to me soon, thanks.

BMI - I'm almost normal

2008-09-08T17:02:00.002+10:00

I recently checked out my BMI (body mass index). It is the ratio of your height, to your weight squared. It is a general indicator that can help tell if your overweight or underweight. The drawback is, it is only a number that does not know the difference between fat and muscle (we all have a lot of muscle, right?). But I think it is a useful indicator, and would only be un-useful if you had a weird sport like weight lifting with the muscles to match.

On some charts, "normal" is 18.5 to 25. 25 to 30 is overweight. Last week I was 26, which is overweight. But with some training I now have an index of 25, making me almost normal again. But on some charts, 18.5 to 23 is normal, and over that is overweight. I am aiming for 23.

BMI = 80kg / (1.755m)^2 = 25.9

Tarmac

2008-08-29T20:58:00.003+10:00

Tarmac road racing (or rally) has received an increase in attention over the last ten years, and Tasmania is definitely not left out. It probably started with Targa Tasmania, with similar tarmac events now in each state and New Zealand. Also, there is a great new magazine out simply called "Tarmac" which includes some articles from Tasmania as the first issue was timed with the 2008 Targa Tasmania. There are other events also, like the "Rally Tasmania" and "Tarmac Challenge" both based around Burnie. The big news is that the "Tarmac Challenge" this year will be part of the ARC (Australian Rally Championship). It will be a rare chance to see the gravel rally hero's in a lowered car with slicks, still in serious competition mode.

Of course I am itching to enter something myself. I sit here counting my coin, assess my equipment and good will I have with potential sponsors.

My AE86 Corolla Levin "racecar". The roll cage is now half done.

I have selected an event! Australia's premier 10km road race, set in the streets of Burnie. The Skilled Burnie Ten. There is still some white space available, so sponsors should get in quick!

Olympics - BMX

2008-08-01T20:45:00.006+10:00

BMX racing will be part of the Olympics for the first time in 2008.

I encourage you to watch it. The acceleration, speed and technical nature should be enough to impress, with speeds up to 70km/h, in the air, with everyone fighting for the win like a pack of wolves. But you will actually watch it to see the massive crashes. Bones breaking in slow motion, a handle bar to the back, a sprocket to the face. This is what you want to see.

Our Australian team being sent is:
Luke Madill
Kamakazi
Jared Graves
Nicole Callisto
Tanya Bailey

I wouldn't want to cross any of these guys, most of them have tattoos and piercings. (Oooo, scary). And at 83kg that indicates a fair bit of muscle. Their power equals that of track cyclists, or a medium sized moped.

Aussie BMX legend Wade Boots missed out as a competitor (getting old at 33) but will be going anyway as a coach.

The design of the BMX track in Beijing was known some time ago, and Luke Madill went and built a replica of it at his home in Penrith (took six months and $50,000). The Americans also built a replica of the track in San Diego and Jared Graves has been over there training. Kamakazi is the one with the beard, and he changed his name to Kamakazi for this event (which is just plain stupid).

I'm on YouTube!

2008-07-30T11:28:00.002+10:00

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, 2 litre turbo, 4WD, 4WS, standard road car.

Lap times: about 68 seconds

Entry speed: ~ 180km/h

Brake lights on at 100 meters.

Vehicle does not seam to slow down, due to overheated brakes.

I turn towards the apex, but the heavy car has too much speed.

In my defence, famous race engineer Carrol Smith once told off his driver for not crashing when his brakes failed. He saw this as evidence that the driver was not driving at ten tenths.

But the owner of this car may have appreciated some room for error.

A Promise

2008-07-28T21:39:00.003+10:00

A blog reader e-mailed me and wrote: "God has given me a promise that He has someone out there for me". She is after a male partner that is of the opposite sex, and she has been waiting for some time. Why did she e-mail me? I'm not much of a match maker.

But I am wondering how God promised her a partner. It brings up the question, how does God talk to us? Through what is written in the Bible I guess. That, and a sense of awe and mystery when we inspect the universe. I don't remember seeing anything in the Bible that promises us a partner, although various other promises are made. So then, does God speak to individuals and give them messages more specific than that in the Bible?

Part 3: TopGear edition

2008-07-26T15:37:00.008+10:00

Today we arrive at a tiny disused racetrack outside the village of Old Beach, somewhere in Australia. The mission? To get a lap time of 70 seconds in a car worth £1200.

One lap of the track is 1.24 miles, so to do it in 70 seconds you would need an average speed of say... 64 miles per hour. But obviously you need to go much faster than that, as you have to slow down for the corners.

In Brittan, we had the Vauxhall Carlton. In 1986, Holden shoved a Nissan Skyline motor in it and called it the Commodore. And quite cheap these days. This one was picked up for £970 on ebay.

Some say, he has a full set of car parts in his bedroom... bla bla bla...

The first recorded lap is 74 seconds, but some smoke is seen to rise from the S bend in the track. Oh dear. Dave the caretaker is coming over in his little truck, this can't be good.

Aarons turbo charged Corolla Levin on race tyres.

With a bit more care taken not to drift this time, we went out again. The clutch slipped and the rear tyres spun but the lap times came down, then a 70 second lap time!

**Persons pictured may not actually be the real stig, or even the driver in this test.

Jonny is a Bogan: Part 2

2008-07-17T12:34:00.003+10:00

Only one day to prepare the VL for the track! The bonnet ornament, monster tacho with shift light, temp gauge, boost gauge, speaker cables etc all got taken out fairly quickly. Window tint on the drivers window was ripped off.

With the car on the hoist, it checked out sort of ok. It was a disappointment I didn't have a Berlina, just a everyday Executive. This meant drum brakes on the back, and normal windy windows. But I did have the Berlina tacho, even if it wasn't screwed in properly.

The suspension bushes, steering and shocks were left alone, but the springs had been cut too low. They were not captive, and fell out. I rushed over to Repco and bought new Kings Superlow springs for the VL. The front brake pads were down to nothing, so I got Bendex Ultimate pads (not cheap) hoping they would hold up to some hot laps. The tyres were not too good either, rears were bald from burnouts, fronts were uneven due to toe-out. I had almost spent my budget so I only got new front tyres, Fedral 235/45/17. Had I mentioned the big 17" wheels? They are a good thing in this instance. And the new tyres are what the Fedral drift team run.

In changing the front springs I took the opportunity to swing the strut tops around for maximum negative camber. For the final "wheel alignment" before hitting the track I closed one eye and agreed that there was indeed a lot of toe-out that had worn the last set of tyres, but I couldn't be bothered changing it. Some people like toe-out on the track anyway, although I don't especially. I just couldn't be bothered anymore.

I swapped the steering wheel for my own leather one I had, and got the horn working while I was as it. The car already had "Monza" race seats, which are cheap and shameful, but I decided they would do the job. It was easy to find new brake and clutch pedal rubbers at the local for only $6 each.

More could have been done to tidy the car up, but I went to the movies to see Get Smart. It was OK, but could have been better.

Jonny is a Bogan: Part 1

2008-07-09T22:56:00.004+10:00

It's a VL Commodore, I know, I'm a massive bogan. But how did I come to acquire this potent street fighting machine?

Some friends were planing a practice day at Baskerville racetrack, with Corollas and things like that. Not wanting to miss out, I needed to buy a car within a few days. I wanted to spend only $2500 or less. I am thinking lap times from a standard car. What is the best Baskerville lap time I can get for $2500 with only a day to prepare a standard car? If I could get a similar time to friends that have spent thousands that would be a bonus. The car you choose for “bang for buck” may not be the same as the one you chose 10 years ago. Cars are getting older, and some are cheaper. I am aiming for maybe 73 second lap times.

I considered a FWD Corolla with the 4A-GE engine, but they are holding their value. Thinking power to weight, RWD, and cost, I chose the VL Commodore with the RB30E. In theory about 114kw, and 1250kg, and currently $2000 or less. I quickly found one on e-bay for 2 grand and clicked the buttons to buy. I found a manual Berlina!

Being “time poor” is the new self respecting term we proudly use to mean “I can't be bothered”. Either way, I didn't bother to check out the Commodore before committing to purchase. Only one small picture on e-bay is what I went on.

To retrieve my new race car we went deep beyond the flannel certain into suburbs I wasn't familiar with. I just wanted to pay the money and get out of there. I found it had a cracked windscreen and the tow-bar was half missing. Expecting to see rear disks since it was a Berlina, I found drum brakes. I actually doubt it was originally a Berlina now.

But there were some extra surprises. Navigating my first right turn a found visibility a bit hard past the A pillar due to... a boost gauge? A nice AutoMeter boost gauge... on a non turbo car. Nice. Along with the monster tacho with shift light, that wasn't hooked up either. Another extra was the bonnet scoop/vent thing. There was no actual hole in the bonnet, lucky for me.

In short, it's a total shit box. What had I done! Everything rattles. The dash is held in with 1 screw. Various lights flash on and off over bumps. The interior is sprayed back with a can. There is nothing I own that seams so old. My 1970s Corollas had better quality.

Adam could not stop laughing as we drove back through the suburbs with my VL. So bogan.

The Fern Tree Tavern

2008-06-28T22:19:00.002+10:00

Good times and fun for the whole family.

Tears

2008-03-27T08:09:00.002+11:00

Sometimes the hardest things to work through as an adult are times when we don't cry, because we can't. We cried as a child, we shed a tear for our Grandpa when he passed on, but when your girlfriend of three years took back her gifts and ran away? No tears. It's not that it's not the most painfull thing, it's just that sometimes we can't cry.

Thankfully you can buy eye drops in a bottle from www.MURINE.com. "To soothe and cleanse, gently squeeze 2 or more drops into each eye as desired. Replace cap."

If you were to bottle my tears they would be invaluable. Thankfully these were about $7.20.

James Nesbitt

2008-02-17T13:35:00.003+11:00

Now while I'm not as young as I used to be, maybe I could still be used to play characters approaching middle age. I have the beginnings of a TV screenplay in my mind. Nevermind the details, but it has me as main character, an Irishman. And despite the story involving gun play, I am constantly having bubble baths and in the sauna, with more than a flicker of interest from the female cast. Could such a TV show ever work?

Under Cars

2008-02-13T00:17:00.000+11:00

I had the radio on tonight on 106.5FM and some people were talking who sounded like they were from Christines part of the world. It was probably Focus on the Family. Anyway, it sounded like an American couple had everything sorted and had written a book about that, and had this story to add:

A girl from their church was engaged to a nice man and everything seamed good except she had one concern, and she went to the older lady for advice. "I'm afraid he might turn out to be emotionally shallow". !!! Also her fiance was a race car driver. (Oh, we get the picture now right?) The older woman had just the right advice.

"Go into the garage with him and ask him about all the engine parts he is tinkering with. Whatever words he says like 'rod' or 'piston' etc, repeat those words back to him".

She did just that, and without knowing what she was saying she repeated all the car words he was saying back to him. And you know what? The man got up from underneath his car and said he was touched. No one else had had such a interest in what he did, or had made the effort to talk about it. She had entered his world! From that time onwards she loved the garage because she could talk to her man and they could communicate!

Oh dear, my eyelids are fluttering with the thought and tears are coming to the corner of my eye. I guess the story is in the telling. Not relivent to me at all, but I have to councel a number of couples and it maybe a good story to pull out oneday. You know, talk to someones wife in the kitchen oneday and encorage her to venture out to her husband in the workshop for some intimate communication. "Spanner, piston, con-rod". Yeah, that's man talk... and definitely not shallow!

My little car as it sits today. 1977 Corolla Levin TE37.

My work for today. R32 Skyline GTS-t on the left. R34 Skyline GTT on the right.

Where have I been?

2008-01-24T23:19:00.000+11:00

I have been all over the place, lots of crazy places. Such as:
www.ae86drivingclub.com.au
www.nissansilvia.com
www.skylinesaustralia.com
Checking my mail. About 5 different e-mail addresses.
2 different mobile phones, plus various landline handsets. I don't always answer.
And sometimes I do this from work at
www.jds-auto-imports.com
if I have spare time.
I also spend time with a offline database Toyota EPC (electronic parts catalog), and the Nissan equivalent Nissan FAST system.

I am currently the mechanic at JDS Auto Imports, 119 Harrington St. Hobart. All my old friends and customers can feel free to stop by to chat or book their car in. Apart from services, I am doing some performance work on Skylines and Silvias and the like. Either small stuff fitting gauges, or tuning aftermarket computers with the laptop.

Bicheno

2007-11-28T13:20:00.000+11:00

Two star accomodation at "Sea View".

John Howards speach.

Gwyd and Huw do Mowvember.

Diamond island. I went swimming.

Jonny is at the beach, not his natrual environment.

A more peacefull place. I tested the handbrake on the Camry on the way out.

Hobart

2007-11-07T15:11:00.000+11:00

Facebook: what are the rules?

2007-10-28T00:08:00.000+11:00

Rule No.1: you must have a profile picture.

If you were in grade 12 in 2006, about 80% of your classmates are on facebook, but the rest are on Myspace. You probably ask random people in the street to take your photo.

If you were in grade 12 in 1997, about 75% of your classmates maybe on facebook. Although due to some tension and misunderstanding, you maynot want to add all of them. Photos will include overseas trips.

If you were in grade 12 in 1991, about 5% of your classmates maybe on facebook, but only in the last 2 weeks. They are married with kids but hadn't totaly forgotten you. Photos will be of babies.

If you only went to grade 10, and did so before 1997, you won't even be reading this and have left the internet for your kids to work out.

If you have alot of facebook friends, it means you are young, or at uni, and probably in a social network such as church or gay/lesbian group etc.

You are allowed to add only 2 people you don't really know, and only if you have friends in common. (and if they are hot).

The whole vampire/zombie thing is stupid. Ignore.

Do not um and ar about whether you really want to be friends with someone. You don't have to sleep with them, it's just on the computer. The more the better if they have friends in common.

Best games: Scrabulous and Traveler IQ Challenge.

And last but not least. If you go to a certain persons profile every single day just to check their status is still "single", you probably should re-evaluate how you spend your time.

Blog topics

2007-10-23T18:16:00.001+11:00

I wonder which topic would get the most interest? I may have a article nearly ready to publish.

Jerome, why? (About his HPV project)
Facebook: who isn't on it, and what are the rules.
My HPV design and history of bicycles.
What radius from home can you travel while still wearing ug boots?
Leadership in the church and home.
When is it ok to wear trackie dacks to uni?
Stuff about girls and relationships.
Engineering stuff-ups from history and UTAS.
New rego rules for racecars (with rollcage) in Tasmania.
Biblical womanhood and the homemaker.

Vote now.

TADTAS - UTAS project

2007-10-18T01:45:00.001+11:00

I gave the presentation to class, lecturers, and TADTAS representatives on wednesday. This is a simple bearing pivot that is bolted to the concrete floor. It holds a motorised bathroom chair used by a disabled man.

Beliefs - a work in progress

2007-10-13T01:19:00.000+11:00

WARNING: some very corse language.

Feel free to comment

IMPORTANT ALSO: People make life choices as much on emotions as on beliefs. If peoples emotional needs are not met, the best logical arguments for a religion are not going to work. I am not writing this to judge anyone, but to give a good starting place for myself and others that have not read the Bible for some time.

1. There is a God. This is on our heart.

2. God created the universe. I currently think this took a few billion years through evolution. God designed all of it and remains in control. Men are spiritual beings made for relationship with God. Other animals are just part of creation and evolution.

3. Men and woman sinned against God and so broke the close relationship with God.

4. God choose to reveal himself to the Jews. The turbulent history of Israel and how God led them is recorded in the OT for the benifit of all people that can read.

5. Jesus the son of God was born into the world, died, and rose. Jesus and his disciples performed miracles.

6. There is climate change, we should recycle. (Seams insignificant in this context).

7. Jesus will return and God will make a final judgement on all people. Maybe in 1million years after men have concoured space and aliens, or maybe in half an hour. We will die anyhow.

If you are unsure about one of these points, let me know. After reading one of the gospels, Romans is a good place to start.

Romans:

1. All people have sinned. We see Gods wrath on earth now.
2. We have no excuse. We are not fit to judge each other.
3. What about good people?
4. Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus.
5. Where, then, is boasting?
6. We have peace with God.

God talks to us through the Bible. We can talk to God through prayer.

Pulp Mill Approved

2007-10-05T19:07:00.001+10:00

Here is the chief scientists "glowing" report.

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2007/3385/pubs/report-chief-scientist.pdf

From the report:

"89. The Department is of the view that, based on the available evidence, the impacts of the
proposed action on the Commonwealth marine environment, listed threatened and
migratory marine species and listed threatened and migratory terrestrial species will be
acceptable, subject to a number of conditions."

And the conditions: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2007/3385/pubs/summary-approval-conditions.pdf

"• Noise-generating activities must stop if a whale, seal or dolphin approaches within
defined safety zones."

A protester put themself under a log truck on Macquarie St. today which held up traffic.

Alex Pos made a bet with me that dispite the approval, somehow the mill will never get built and completed. I am predicting that's an easy $50 to me.

Engineering Disasters

2007-10-04T16:27:00.000+10:00

I have an assignment to write. Please give me ideas. I need to write about some engineering failures from history. And I have to write a detailed report about one of them, discussing what went wrong etc. Was it management or design? And I need to be able to look up most of the info off the net of course.

I also have to write about design and construction principles, and aspects of project management. It is easy for me to talk about small details in mechanical engineering, but since this is a Project Management subject I should probably be looking at the big picture.

But the trouble is a top down management structure does not always produce a quality product. Quality often comes from the factory workers that are given the ability to check and fix their own work.

Myer

2007-10-04T00:24:00.000+10:00

The Myer fire sale on Murry St was cancelled. I have secret photos here of workers with disposable overalls loading the stock into a trailer. They were loading new suitcases at the time, some still in plastic wrap. The stock will either be dumped (supervised land fill) or secretly sold to a liquidator.

There is still no power in Myer. You can see two big generator units sit on the road that power lights in the whole building.

Dear Christine

2007-09-30T01:17:00.000+10:00

Dear Christine,

I have a problem with my relationship. There is a person that I like a bit but I'm not sure they even know my name. Please help.

On her website Christine gives free advice on dating, marriage, and having coffee with people of the opposite sex that may not be married but you don't want to call it a date.

Myer Liverpool St.

2007-09-26T18:07:00.000+10:00

Elison Harker is still there but damaged and will probably be demolished. People went inside today to recover stock.

Two men went up in a basket and were knocking the brick walls down by hand. Everyone wore face masks.

You can see KFC here which was still open and in operation except for no efpos. The shops next to KFC were not open.

A crane was parked in the rubble. Firemen pumped water, maybe out of the flooded basement?

The sprinklers probably went off in Harris Scarf. They open tomorrow with some sales, water damage I suspect. Myre will have a "street party" in a few weeks.

Traveler IQ addiction

2007-09-25T22:11:00.000+10:00

On Facebook... Everyone check your Traveler IQ Challenge scores, because Jerome may have almost beat you. Look, the windows are black, which means it's night time. But it wasn't when he started!

9-22

2007-09-22T23:24:00.000+10:00

Anyone that was in Hobart city this evening took a picture the same as this on their mobile phone. While walking towards ground zero, I was half thinking I should be walking in the other direction. Or at least judging just how close I would get, but the Police had the road blocked off a block away from the fire. The fire was still getting bigger while I watched, even with a few fire trucks there. The old Myre building in the center of the city would be totaly distroyed without a doubt. Without getting close enough to see, I think it's safe to say my local KFC needs to be rebuilt from ground up.

A Police lady said the original Myre building may have been 200 years old.

Kerry overheard a guy talking on his mobile: "I just called to say I'm ok and that you are No.1 on my speed dial".

Checking stuff yourself

2007-09-19T23:57:00.000+10:00

It's easy: Anything that opens and shuts, check it. Headlights, brake lights (may need 2 people), horn, washer bottle, wipers. You need to be strict and fix the smallest of things when they come up, otherwise they get worse or forgotten. You need to wash the car also. Not so much to keep it clean, but as part of an inspection to make sure you notice stuff.

Fuel: All petrol is unleaded, no leaded petrol is available anymore. These are the cars that may require fuel addative due to leaded petrol not being available: Kingswood, 70's Falcon, 70's Corona, late 70's Celica, early Commodore. That's about it. So it's not something you have to think about.

Fuel octane level: Normal unleaded petrol is about 91. Premium is about 95. Good premium is about 98. Race fuel is about 100 or more octane level. The higher the better.

Premium fuel is needed for these cars: Corolla Sportivo, newish Celica, EVO, WRX. So only sporty cars need it from new. You can decide yourself if it makes a difference. Fill the car up and take down the km. Record the km next time you fill up and the litres of fuel and work out the ecconomy yourself.

Tyre Pressures: Check the tyre pressures sometimes when you get petrol. You want them to be about 32psi or 220kpa. The gauge only gives a reading when you are not blowing air. Have a look at the tyre tread also. If you are reasonably attractive, the guys at any tyre shop or workshop will do this free of charge. Check the spare also. It is possible to get a ticket from Transport inspectors for not having a good spare.

Engine oil: There is a dip stick. Take it out, wipe it clean with a hypercolor t-shirt, put it back in. Take the stick out again and see where the oil level is. There are 2 marks, high and low. The oil needs to be within the 2 marks, or at the top. There is also a oil light on the dash, which is for oil pressure. When you turn the key on it lights up (no oil pressure). Once the motor is started the light goes out. If the light comes on when the engine is running, you have no oil pressure and the engine will be dead in about 3 min. The most common cause of no oil pressure is low oil level, caused by leaks and the owner not checking it.

Washer and coolant bottles: There are 2 plastic bottles under the bonnet with water in them. One is for the windscreen washer, and the other is radiator overflow. Follow the hoses to see which is which. The radiator one should be half full. Maybe you can put some glass cleaner in the windscreen washer one for a professional touch.

Coolant: Don't take the radiator cap off if the engine is warm. (Hot coolant could come out and scar you for life). If the motor and radiator has no water/coolant in it, it will not last very long. So whatever you do, take that into consideration. There is a river beside parts of the Southern Outlet where you can get water, if you can find a container... Just call RACT.

Rego and service stickers: Remove the rego sticker with a new razor blade. Clean the residue off with a tissue and a bit of nail polish remover. Do NOT put a new rego sticker on and leave the old one. It looks realy bad and makes you unpopular.

Servicing cars: 4 girls

2007-09-17T10:39:00.000+10:00

When I say "girls", I'm talking about 80% of the population. You know who you are.

Servicing is very easy. Take it to a mechanic every 6 months or 10,000km. But how do you know when it's time? When was the last time the oil was changed? The little sticker on the top corner of the windscreen in very important, because without it you don't know when it was serviced last.

A service is actually just getting the oil and oil filter changed and everything checked. But a mechanic will almost always find something else that needs to be fixed and changed. Often the things a mechanic finds the customer didn't know much about and would have been a bigger issue if it was left.

Other big things need doing in a service, but not every service. The coolant, brake fluid, transmission oil etc all need changing about every 2 years or so. So every second service you may do one of these things also.

Cars 4 Girls

2007-09-17T01:09:00.000+10:00

This is a quick draft because I don't have much time...

A short list of ones I would look at, I havn't looked into prices yet. Try redbook.com or blue book, can't remember.

Toyota Echo, NCP10
2 door hatch is cool, sedan is ugly.
Sportivo has the sedan motor plus different trim, but will cost more.
A very nippy light weight car, and very easy to park. But normal car noises will be more noticeable. A loud whine from the gearbox when reversing, which I am not worried about.
Was about $16,000 new.

Toyota Corolla, AE102 / AE112
The AE112 was made in Japan and is one of the best quality cars ever made. I look under the bonnet of these alot, and often not even a drop of oil leaking. This is a proper car, where the Echo is a bit light weight. Many different options, look for power windows, remote locking, A/C, CD player etc. All of the AE112 are 1.8 liter with power steering. The older AE102/101 came as either a 1.6 litre or 1.8 litre. Was about $22,000 new.

Subaru Impreza, MY95/96
The Impreza is made famous from the high end WRX model, which is 4WD and turbo. You will most likely be looking at a lower end non-turbo model, but many of them are 4WD. The 4WD has nothing to do with ground clearance, it drives like a normal car.

Mazda 323
Made in Japan, generally a good tight car.

Nissan Pulsar N14-N15
The Pulsar is good I guess. In my opinion the quality and feel is just a bit off the mark compared to a Corolla (with similar low km). The Pulsar SSS has the big sporty SR20 2 litre motor.

Mistubishi Lancer
The Evo is the famous turbo 4WD model but you won't afford one of these. A normal Lancer, coupe or sedan should do fine.

Other cars:
Toyota Starlet was a ok small car, fairly basic. Diahatsu Sirion has a few too many vibrations and problems, unless you just want a very cheap runabout. Honda is good. Hyundia Excel is sort of ok, but expect to pay less than a Japanese car. Mitsubishi Mirage is good, like a mini Lancer. European cars may cost a bit more to service as a general rule, and are not any better in my opinion. I do NOT like Kia or Daewoo (but maybe you want something very cheap and don't care).

Widwest Challenge

2007-09-13T23:39:00.000+10:00

My favorite game right now is Traveler IQ Challenge. Get on Facebook, somehow load or get to the Traveler IQ Challenge game/application. You will see on the original world challenge, my score is right up there. Only beaten by Luke Isham and Des Smith amoung my friends. I have the top score on all the others also except for Luke Isham on a few. New is the option to create your own community challenge. Of course within a day there are lots up now. I have done the Midwest one. Feel free to go to that, and see I am at the top. The highest "IQ" in the world!

But I'm not realy that smart. Anyone know my secret?
http://apps.facebook.com/travelpod-challenge/community/790722626/0522

History of time

2007-09-04T15:03:00.000+10:00

I am going to start a museum, just of all my things. I got my first watch (far left) in 1982. Mum said I would get a watch only if I got 100% in a spelling test. I usually got about 1 or 2 words right out of 20. I got 20/20 the very next week. (I think mum had to phone the teacher to confirm this). It was a thursday so I got Mum to take me to Coles New World in Kingston as it was late night shopping. Not many could afford a digital watch. The plain one was just fine.

In 1982 a basic digital watch cost about $130. Then prices went way down after they were given away in competitions too often. By 1985 you paid about $19 for the same watch. I had one of these, but it probably broke. Calculator watches were the good ones.

I got my Casio (second from left) in 1987 or 1988. It was a common and proven design. Stopwatch and alarm and light. Not just the cheap one. It is the same one Napoleon Dynamite had. You could set it to beep on the hour just so kids knew you had it.

In 1994 I got another Casio. The other watch was bought in 2001. And before long people didn't bother having both a watch and a phone.

UTAS Warman Finals

2007-08-28T23:38:00.000+10:00

My AutoCAD model.

At midnight last night my tank-like vehicle still didn't move. A 6V motor running off a 5V battery via a PIC and little power transistor just didn't have enough to even rotate the rubber tracks. But the electronics worked great. Then at night it came to me in a dream, the components, the circuit diagram. As soon as the shops opened I drove out to Jaycar and bought another 12V motor and a 12V 1.2AH battery. Back home I hooked it up still using the 5V power for the PIC to switch the transistor, and the big 12V battery for the motor. Now our robot tank was powerfull and fast. I rushed to uni where we got only about 3 practice runs in. In practice it only got over the 65mm barrier once.

This was fitted with other contraptions but they were too embarasing to show since I didn't make them. I am pleased with the performance of the bare vehicle.

After a short presentation, we did our first official run. The tank lept into life (a little too fast really) and somehow got over both barriers and collected a golf ball as a bonus. Except the 7 second timer ran out just after the vehicle had already got to the end. So zero points for the first run. We changed the program to 5 seconds for the second run, but at the first barrier it broke a O-ring drive belt.

Pictured here is the drive sprocket, which I made on the lathe. I had to get out the calculator and plan this design!

With all that finished, I took the tank over to show Brandon and the kids. They loved it, and Brandon says he is now going to do engineering at uni. Mostly he wants me to teach him how to build little tanks. During the evening we got smoke to come out of the power transistor. Fun while it lasted.

You can see here the battery packs, and circuit board with the heat sink, and the motor with drive belt. It was all zip tied down at the lat minuite.

Mum and Dad

2007-08-25T08:47:00.000+10:00

http://www.skrochester.zoomshare.com/1.shtml/August%202007/pages/6

It seams most weekends Mum and Dad go off to exotic locations, without us. You can see here Dad putting up the tent, playing the part of the middle class British tourist visiting a different part of the countryside. This week they saw Rochester castle (see pictures) and met relatives you would not normally relate to unless you had spent a lot of time resurching on the internet.

UWA Warman Finals

2007-08-21T15:31:00.001+10:00

I will be spending all this week working on my Warman project. I have designed a tankbot (robot tank) and even had a dream about it last night. This video shows the Western Australia finals. I will be running the same course on Monday. The winner goes to Sydney.

Third Levin

2007-08-20T18:09:00.000+10:00

I went on a mission yesterday and got another car. It is a Toyota Corolla Levin, 1983. If you know me you know my other two cars are also called "Corolla Levin" but are all different shapes. Now I have a TE37, TE71 and AE86. Quite a Corolla collection. This one is a second hand import from Japan (probably the only one in the state), as we didn't get this shape in Australia. It is also the top spec model, the Levin Apex fully equiped with twincam EFI motor, disk brakes, LSD, sunroof, two-tone metalic paint, alloy wheels etc. Unfortunately this one is missing many parts and has so much rust you can see daylight through it. So I stowed it away up the back for another day. No time now.

Laser Skirmish

2007-08-12T01:17:00.000+10:00

Yes we did have long range weapons, but sometimes you wait till you see the whites of their eyes. Lets just say the last time I was in this position it wasn't with a laser gun.

Howard and Rudd

2007-08-10T00:08:00.000+10:00

Photo:ninemsn.com

Both John Howard and Kevin Rudd addressed australian churches tonight organised by the Australian Christian Lobby via a live webcast only shown in churches. To me it seamed like a historical moment, but maybe I am missing something.

John Howard talked with confidence and said God was neither Labour or Liberal. He mentioned the good Samaritan and Australian values and every humans intrinsic value. He pointed out the main problem with Africa was their governments, and aid could not have full effect untill this was sorted. He was not ashamed to say Australia has been shaped largely by judaeo christian beliefs, and that he wasn't going to deny his heritage in order to seam tolerant.

Kevin Rudd went a few steps further being (slighlty) more open about having a Christian faith. Both leaders only support man and women marriage, but Kevin Rudd would accept a relationship register that may include same sex couples. Mr Rudd pointed out differences he would make to current workplace rules so families could possiably plan to go to church on a sunday rather than work.

John Howard is a old favorite with me. He is sort of from the old school and has the confidence to go with his beliefs when it may not seam popular. But he has moved to modernise Australia with a more fluid ecconomy. Lets face it, who gets a prize for working with the same company for ten years these days?

Kevin Rudd is younger but has been described as being smug. Some Christians will get a tear in their eye thinking how Australia may soon have a Christian prime minister. But Mr Rudd pointed out we all make mistakes. I'm not sure it would make much difference. When you vote, also think about the other men behind these that you will be voting in also.

Transformers

2007-07-31T22:51:00.000+10:00

The movie night ended up a bit different. Amazing Grace was sold out so some of us had to watch the other movie with the Tasmanian actress. A few ideas for my mechatronics project? Or just a sence of pride that we are all Americans, and a strange desire to buy a General Motors product? You have to love that Launceston accent.

Chloe Lincolne

2007-07-28T21:24:00.000+10:00

Blog worthy?

Jesus V8 ute

2007-07-27T15:44:00.001+10:00

Andrew Fisher races in the V8 Ute series. The V8 utes is a national racecar series that have been going for a few years. Typicaly, they run as a supporting race at the same time and place as the V8 Supercars. Fisher was going to go with a fish sticker on the back window, but ended up going all the way with "Jesus" across the car. For those not familiar with motorsport, it costs alot of money. And alot of money changes hands regarding the stickers on a racecar. Read the story here: http://www.jaalv8ute.com.au/home

The closest I came was when I had a Crossroads sticker on my back window while doing small events at the racetrack.

What are your thoughts? Can Christians do motorsport, and where should the money come from?

Watch out

2007-07-24T22:36:00.001+10:00

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=279903

This probably explains why Jerome can't get a job. I had better clean up my act also.

Saturday

2007-07-23T17:36:00.000+10:00

I had to take my nephew Brandon to soccer, and my favorite neice Emily had to come also. Brandon plays in the 9 and under team. The game started and Emily somehow convinced me to go and get hot chips. By the time we came back Brandon had kicked the first goal, and we saw a second goal go in. Within 5 min Brandon had kicked the third goal and setup a nice pass which resulted in the fourth goal. At this time his coach took him off the field and jokingly said his game was over. He got back on the field but was put in defence and was told to not go past the first quarter. At half time they were winning still so the coach gave them a interesting talk. "You have to remember, it's not just about kicking goals. We have to let the other side have some fun also." Brandon was given the goalie jumper and had to stay in goals all of second half. He saw very little action and had to just stand and watch. They still won. 8 - 0.

Emily and I just took pictures of each other such was our vanity. Emily ate most of the large chips herself.

I took them both to the Woodies rollerblade place after lunch. Sally was told to stay in the car. Emily found the benches for putting your rollerblades on. She saw it as a catwalk and did some moves.

Focus MYC '07

2007-07-14T18:03:00.000+10:00

Focus is the Christian group that meet at the Uni of Tas, both in Sandybay and Launceston. This years conference was on "the Sovereignty of God" with most talks given by Sam Green. The Bible was probably our only text, and the general consensus was that God is sovereign. Meaning there is a God that knows the past and future who is in complete control and had previously planned it all. But we also learned that this does not take away our responsibilities or chances to make a decision.

Chris Bowditch and Sam Green go head to head on some big issues. "How many bananas to make a smoothie" at this time if I remember right.

We were generally warmer than I am now at my own house, such were the modern facilities. People drank tea.

There was a bush dance. Lizzie Lange did such a good job I wonder if she is not from Hobart city but rather a regional area further away, in the bush. Chris admitted later his costume was rather homosexual, as the denim jacket with tassels was tailored for a woman.

Sunrise

2007-07-13T22:57:00.000+10:00

I spent a week on the Focus mid year conference. No internet. Breakfast was at 7:30am anyhow and the sunrise at the beach was strongly recomended to me. I had paid alot of money to be on the camp so thought I had better give it a try. The image I actualy saw was alot bigger than this one, and wasn't made of pixels. The resolution is hard to explain since it wasn't a digital image. Maybe in the future we will be able to put up non-digital infinite resolution pics so I can show you what I mean.

The Jollys spotted

2007-07-13T21:30:00.000+10:00

I got zero views of my blog in the last day or so. So to kick off the ratings again, I spotted the Jollys just back from their wedding in Germany. They came to the Focus MYC. Mike was himself, but somehow seamed happier. Christine wore some weird combinations of clothes.

Middle of the year

2007-07-03T23:44:00.001+10:00

Things to do or have recently done or are doing:

Matt had a party. The silly thing was the drinks were in a bucket of ice, outside, on the coldest day of the year. There was snow on the mountain. The Tzar of bizare told some good stories.
I am buying a third car. Not giving away any details yet.
I should do my tax return soon. Yummy money!
I should go to uni and enrol for next semester.
I am going to go on the Focus midyear conference. Mike Jolly told me to go so he is responsible if this turns out to be a poor use of time. I need to think of some pranks to play on the young people there. Maybe I have some cool tapes for early wake up music.
I signed up for facebook.com. I'm not sure if it's worthwhile yet. Seams a bit pointless somehow.
I am going to a wedding on Saturday. What to wear?
The Galant VR4 got stuck down the road for a few days, wouldn't start in the cold. Got new spark plugs and it started first pop and idled nice. BP6ES-11 gapped down to 0.7mm due to high boost. Maybe we need one step hotter to keep them clean?
I helped Adam get a Toyota T-18 that had not been started for 5 years. We drove it home, after a bit of stuffing around. We got one day rego.
I was on ae86drivingclub.com too much so they made me a moderator.

My Boss

2007-06-28T22:44:00.001+10:00

We were short a mechanic at work so my boss had to don the overalls and use some tools. Still, it didn't keep him off the phone. He was probably chatting to someone about his old Porsche 912.

Jonny boy

2007-06-20T22:38:00.000+10:00

Here is a photo of me circa 1978. I am servicing a tricycle at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Bexley. The trike would have belonged to Mum or Auntie Jenny at one time. Grandpa had restored it with a paint brush. I had a similar trike back at home so I knew what I was doing.

Fast forward to 2007 and the vehicles I have serviced this week are just as exotic. Amoung them are Porsche 928, Mercedes (various models), and new HiAce Commuter.

Too much work. My hands are cracked and sore. The mornings and afternoons are very cold these days.

A Winter night at the Palace

2007-05-24T19:50:00.000+10:00

https://webmail.netspace.net.au/horde/util/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblip.tv%2Ffile%2F239491&Horde=4da1aa2da6e3aaa95adc1742bb68c7c4

Plug your good speakers in and listen to that bass! That's gold right there. Take two.

Mark

2007-04-28T14:34:00.000+10:00

Mark is the newest member of the Winter Palace and is starting to get into the spirit of things (a single life in a cold house). But Mark thought he would try his luck out on the town. Pictured here, Mark has made an effort to dress up for a Friday night in Hobart. Question: Would you go out with a man that looked like this? (Note: He has just eaten a pickled onion. Why I don't know.)

Work begins

2007-04-11T00:17:00.000+10:00

My little Corolla race car is more than just an idea. Mike here needs little imagination to see its potential. I have been watching the current DVD issue of "J.D.M. Option" video magazine. Basicaly it shows the latest round or the D1 Grand Prix (drift racing) in Japan. And the field is still sprinkled with AE86 Corollas like mine, even a few N/A ones. Could I make top 16 against Skylines in Tassie?

Easter

2007-04-11T00:10:00.000+10:00

Jeremy tried to ride his big sisters bike. He can climb on himself but his feet don't really reach the pedals. The only word he often says is "na". His favorite thing is going down the slide. I think Emily must have put some gel in his hair.

Work

2007-01-23T22:26:00.000+11:00

I started a new job at a workshop down the road. Here is my toolbox. Please forgive the mess as it's 3:30pm. All tools are put away at 5pm. You can see the transmission jack that I used to swap a transmission in a Fowel can, and the big drum of TQ95. The workshop specialise in Porsche, VW and Mercedes, but I end up working on everything else. Today I had 3 sausage rolls and a instant coffee for morning tea. For lunch I walked to the corner shop and got the chicken salad sandwich for $4, plus a lemonade.

I can't think of a bible verse to put here because I don't know any. I just go to work and come home, and in the evenings I am a little less intelligent from it.

My hachi-roku

2007-01-06T22:29:00.000+11:00

My favorite car is the '83-'85 Toyota Corolla Levin (or Sprinter Trueno), Toyota model code AE86. Or the "hachi-roku" (meaning eight-six) as it is known in Japan and among it's cult followers.

Here is John Smith racing one at Bathurst back in the 80's. I have the same wheels.

This is Keiichi Tsuchiya, or the "drift king", with his TRD prepared Trueno. This old man has played a big part in making the AE86 legend. I have his how-to drift DVD called "Drift Bible".

And here is Takumi Fujiwara with his fathers Sprinter Trueno GT-Apex, just after delivering tofu or something. I have the same wheels on my blue Corolla.

And this is another AE86 at Bathurst only a few weeks ago. No roll cage!

Here is my very own AE86 at Baskerville racetrack, with panda paint. This was over a year ago, and lap times were only about 76 seconds. After driving it a bit with the slow engine I bought a twincam 20 valve engine for it. So I set about pulling the old engine out, most of which went in the wheelie bin. Then I wanted to take the sound deadener out (to make it lighter). I did that, and kept pulling bits off it. Now the car is a bare shell waiting for me to make the roll cage, and the rest of the car is in my bedroom.

This is what my car would look like, back together again. But I could change my mind on colour. It will be a race car with full roll cage and race seat and harness etc. I have most of it, just need to make the roll cage and get it painted. But since I'm sort of at uni this could be a long term project.

One today

2006-12-31T02:23:00.000+11:00

Here he is again. Jeremy turned one years old today. He showed us how he could already walk, only learnt days earlier. Not a bad effort. He is a very content boy and is willing to try (taste) new things. His big sister gives him a lot of love and attention which may have something to do with his progress. I think he likes his new car.

Christmas 06

2006-12-25T18:58:00.000+11:00

11pm, played bass at church. 5:10am, my niece Emily jumped on me. All the birds told her it was time to get up. Time for coffee.

Little nephew Boo got lots of presents.

Score! Update my list of possessions to include a CD of Herman's Hermits.

I gave Brando a bench vice. Don't think I am pushing him too hard into a career of practical engineering because he is already 8.

I had a tinker on our old piano. You can see middle C is chipped.

Mum and Dad gave me a puzzle. Had it done on the kitchen table before lunch, with some help from my sister's husband's sister's husband.

And there is my cake (which is very good). Someone put a reindeer on top made from wine corks.

Christmas Cake

2006-12-24T16:30:00.000+11:00

Um, I made a Christmas cake. A bit of a rushed job, but it's my first fruit cake in many years. The picture is not very flattering, either of my cake or my kitchen. You can see the Vegemite there that we use for many things. Once at my sisters it may get decorated. It has soft icing that I rolled out. The cake is a heavy Christmas cake, chockers full of fruit and nuts. But it may scare some people to know the substitutes I made. Instead of a cup of brandy and a cup of wine, I used 2 cups of root beer and good dash of imitation vanilla. But it didn't stop there. I didn't have enough almond nuts, so it has heaps of peanuts and walnuts. Some of the eggs were 6 months old. Instead of a orange and a lemon, I used a orange and another orange that was quite old. I didn't have a rolling pin so used a Thermos flask. A few other compromises also, but it's all good and a very nice cake. Happy Christmas.

The Wedded Life

2006-12-19T09:27:00.000+11:00

Many different couples come to me for counseling and ask: "Jonny, how is it that we can keep our love for each other strong, our relationship a fresh, and a life together that is long?" Actually not many say it quite like that. (Refer to my mind reading post). To be perfectly honest, no one asks me at all. In fact I am told I wouldn't know the first thing about marriage. But this often comes from people who seam to think the secret is in positions. But I imagine courtesy and affections during the day would go a long way to smoothing things over in the evening. (I'm talking about sex, as we do so frankly in this age.)

I have some quotes here from the first chapter of "Home Making" by JR Miller. But it takes for granted that couples should actualy get married, not just live together, and aim to live according to Gods plan as can be read in the Bible.

"...and when the wedded life is ruled by love. Then the bridal wreath remains fresh and fragrant till it is laid upon the coffin by the loving hands of the one who survives to close the eyes of the other..."

Remember there are different definitions of love, in our modern english. People worry about this but no one is perfect, meaning everyone is ill mated to some degree. Once married, the priciples are the same.

"It may be discovered after the marriage has been formed that the parties are ill mated... yet the Scriptures are very explicit in their teachings, that the tie once formed is indissoluble."

The weirdest thing to me, is hearing from couples that are already living together being shy of marriage. As if they would latter find they were ill mated after marriage. The mind boggles, such a misunderstanding I don't know where to start.

"...it is but the simplest commonplace to say that the greatest care should be taken before marriage to make sure that the union will be a true one, that the two lives will sweetly blend together, and that each will be able to make the other at least measurable happy. If there were more wise and honest forethought with regard to marriage, there would be less afterthought of regret and repenting."

If you are already living with someone, forget the above paragraph. Get married, make it work.

About marriage, for those that do it without telling Mum, in LasVegas: "It is surely worth while, therefore, to make the occasion itself just as delightful as possible, to gather about it and into it whatever will help to make it memorable, so that it shall stand out bright and sacred among all life’s days and hours. This is not done when the marriage is secret; there are no associations about the event in that case to make its memory a source of pleasure in after years."

Some romantic language: "Angels hover about the marriage altar and hush their songs while hands are clasped and holy vows are plighted, and then spread their sheltering wings over the happy pair as they start out together on the voyage of life."

Some real advice: "The first lesson to be learned and practiced is loving patience."

This one is more important than we think these days. It will come up in several self-help books: "Another secret of happiness in married life is courtesy. ...[why do] so many husbands and wives drop the charming little amenities and refinements of manner toward each other that so invariably the delightfully characterized their intercourse before marriage?"

For those wives that have no interest in motorsport, or never come to the back shed when asked: "No marriage is complete which does not unite and blend the wedded lives at every point. This can be secured only by making every interest common to both. Let both hearts throb with the same joy and share each pang of sorrow."

The above picture shows what two hearts throbbing with, err, joy looks like. And they are about to share a pang of sorrow. Or prang at least.

"Another rule for wedded life is to watch against every small beginning of misunderstanding or alienation... Has a hasty word been spoken? Instantly recall it and ask for forgiveness. Is there a misunderstanding? No matter whose the fault may be, do not allow it to remain one hour."

"Surely too much is involved, too great responsibility, too many and too precious interests, to venture upon wedded life without Christ."

Home Making

2006-12-18T10:47:00.000+11:00

I have the book "Home Making or The Ideal Family Life" by the Rev. J.R. Miller, D.D. Sixth edition. The hand written inscription in the front cover reads:

To Mrs Walker Fletcher. On the occasion of her marriage with very best withes from her Pastor - James Barker. Bathurst St. Church Sydney. Feb 28th 1914.

INTRODUCTORY

---+---
This book is written in the hope that its pages may carry inspiration and a little help, perhaps, to those who desire to do faithful work for God within their own doors. Its aim is to mark out the duties and responsibilities of each memeber of the household, and to suggest how each may do a part in making the home-life what God meant it to be. J.R.M.

CONTENTS

---+---

I. THE WEDDED LIFE

II. THE HUSBAND'S PART

III. THE WIFE'S PART

IV. THE PARENTS' PART

V. THE CHILDREN'S PART

VI. BROTHERS AND SISTERS

VII. THE HOME-LIFE

VIII. RELIGION IN THE HOME

IX. HOME MEMORIES

For those of you just beginning or thinking about marriage, I may give you the first chapter. Or maybe just the good bits if there is any interest in these outdated ideals.

Mike and Christine

2006-12-16T09:39:00.000+11:00

It was the biggest blogger convention I had been to. People had to come dressed as themselves. I recognised some people off their bloggs.

Bloggers Angus and Shaun knew where it was at.

Cameras everywhere. I expect this will go strait to Youtube.

Mike avoiding the hard questions.

I wasn't sure who these people were, they don't maintain a blog.

Mike and Christine

2006-12-13T10:31:00.000+11:00

Well it has been a very slow week for blogs. Here is them again from sunday evening. People don't really want to know what I have been doing or thinking about, they just want to see couples in love.

Mike is a good friend and he would come around to my house when Christine is not on the internet. Previously Mike has helped me maintain the Corolla and come to the racetrack to help change tyres if needed.

Mike said he would bring Christine around here to the Winter Palace, (I don't think any other girlfriends had been). But he told me not to clean up, because he wanted to show her how the poor people live. I am in two minds about this.

Mike and Christine

2006-12-10T23:56:00.000+11:00

In a vane attempt to increase my blog statistics (I don't even have a proper way to check statistics), let's lighten things up abit. I am going to blog about Mike and Christine. (arhhh) She just came here from the USA, already engaged to Mike as you all know. (double arhhh) I saw her in real life at my church, and even touched her to make sure she was real and not just a hologram off the internet. She is nice of course, and Mike is really sweet too :) I should put a link to Christines blog, for what reason I don't know, except to say I have read half of it. More from them later.

Some people don't like the carpet at our church, as you can see. So we have decided to change venue.

But equally as important, I talked to Paul Chew who just came back from 4 years at Moore Theological College. He used to be a member of Crossroads (my church) but will now be ordained into the Anglican church here in Hobart which is good news.

Des Smith is about to leave for Moore College, but will first do stand up comedy at the New Sydney on wednesday. He has a few gigs over summer in Hobart still.

Clustrmap

2006-12-09T18:51:00.000+11:00

You will notice that my last few posts were very strange. I now acknowledge that I may have offended many people.

As you can see I have a silly cluster map thing. Ever since I put up my bank details and other things I probably got less visits from friends, and all these weird dots on my clutrmap. East Germany, Thialand?, Indonesia?, Canberra and where is that (imagine me squinting without my glasses), Arnemland? I have no idea.

Anyway, what's done is done. People didn't get the joke. I am very sorry, and although I may never get your respect, I hope we can still be friends.

I can read peoples minds

2006-12-04T23:35:00.000+11:00

Often I am telling a story, and I can hear the other person say “yeah I think you told me this one before”. Only they don't move their mouth, I can hear them telling me in their thoughts. Am I some sort of psychic?

My code

2006-12-02T17:49:00.000+11:00

Ever since 1990 I think it was, when I was at school I made my own code. This is a code of english, with one character representing each english letter. I have written a few sentences here for you to look at. I can write this at reasonable speed. I use it sometimes in my diary or to write notes to myself. No one else knows the code, and no one has ever been able to crack it. But now on the internet for the first time, I guess that is another thing I risk.

Bank details

2006-12-02T17:24:00.000+11:00

Please look away, this is for my own use only. Just incase I loose my wallet, I can just go to my blog here and get some details I will need. LOOK AWAY this is for me only.

Note to self: Bottom 2 numbers are credit card PIN.

No details

2006-11-28T23:34:00.000+11:00

I am starting to think it is not wise to leave my details on the internet. My house at 56 Molle St. Hobart TAS 7000 Australia is only pictured here as a random picture of a house for this story.

You can see here on Google Earth, that at 42degrees 53' 14.77” South, 147degrees 19' 14.38” East I have blacked out my house so no one can see where it is, or the things that go on.

I should also be careful not to reveal the list of my possessions. I probably should have blacked out my white car (which is very good and expensive) in the Google Earth picture, and spoken less of my CD collection containing Johnny Cash Giant Hits. Plus a VHS tape of The Godfather II and other things that failed to sell on ebay, using my ebay ID of "jonny2tg".

Commonwealth Bank: Jonathan Rochester
BSB: 067 105
Account: 10057927

Please give generously as I run this blog as a volunteer and not for profit.

Barefoot Angels

2006-11-25T10:05:00.000+11:00

This is me playing bass in 'Rowan Smith's Barefoot Angels' last night. I only met Rowan and the others yesterday, we practiced and learnt 9 songs, then did a gig at the Mayf the same night.

Galant is going

2006-11-22T13:07:00.000+11:00

I got the silly Galant VR4 going yet again, pictured here in a typical Tasmanian coastal setting. At night it blows flames. This is sort of a wolf in sheeps clothing, which means it's fast. 4G63 turbo motor, with a big turbo, 3" exhaust no cat, screamer pipe (illegal?), big intercooler, big injectors and fuel pump, MicroTech computer etc. Plus 4WD and 18" wheels. It's not the easiest thing to work on, but Adam thinks it's worthwhile when hitting 18psi and drag racing most other cars. I'm not sure we are going to stop till it does 12s.

my party

2006-11-19T16:20:00.000+11:00

I have some nice big flowers here given to me last night, at about 2am towards the end of my party. If you live along Molle St. and are missing some big blue and white flowers and these yellow daffodil type ones, I am very sorry. Some girls got a bit wild. One 'stage dived' into a nabours lavender bush and flattened it, but came out smelling nice. I am not sure what to do about this.

Big thing eats little thing

2006-11-17T16:31:00.000+11:00

Big truck thing eats little truck thing: http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2006/11/biggest-and-hungriest-machines.html

My American Accent

2006-11-15T14:22:00.000+11:00

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

OK, this is a dig at Christine (who has no accent). This is my accent above, according to the test I did.

Fabulous at 33

2006-11-14T00:29:00.000+11:00

...and I don't use moisturiser
Other notable people with their birthday on this day:
The drummer from Blink 182
Prince of Wales, Charles. Born 1948.

Other successful people born the same year:
-Eminem. Either a rap 'artist' or comedian. Not sure which.
-Kathleen Robertson. Some Beverly Hills person, look her up...
-Neve Campbell. Born Canadian I think. Was in Party'O Five, then did some movies, then back to TV.
-Holly Marie Combs. She is in some movies... you probably know her face, but not her name.

R31 Skyline GTS

2006-11-12T22:52:00.000+11:00

Today I helped my friend Mark get his Skyline going. It had been on jackstands for a few weeks. We fitted the flywheel, and a new pink! heavy duty clutch. Then the hard bit of putting the gearbox back in, which required me to get under the car and 'bench press' the gearbox up into place. And it rained, which ment I was laying in water, not to mention oil and brake fluid. It got all through my cloths and hair. But we got it going, and with the new turbo it's a fast car. Note the new 17" wheels also.

Vehicle: R31 Skyline GTS coupe, ~1988. Engine: RB20 2 litre 6 cyl. twincam turbo.

We got sideways and I was scared. Then Amanda got us coffee and carrot cake. Ahhhh, what a nice story.

Failed?

2006-11-07T15:25:00.000+11:00

Did you know that 85% of blogs fail?
Did I fail Experimental Design and Analysis?
What about my Calculus and Applications 1B exam?
How will I go in Electrical Engineering?