Jacques Cousteau and the Otter

Another day in the low 40’s with any outdoor activity seriously restricted.  I made the mistake of walking on the pavers barefoot and found myself hopping around.

Jan asked if I would move Jacques Cousteau who was prowling around the depths looking for something interesting.

I’ve made a slight mistake error of judgement with the purchase of Jacques thinking he could climb the pool walls.  to my displeasure I subsequently discovered it’s his older brother that has learned how to do this.  Jacques can only clean the bottom of the pool! I need to make a home for him along with all the other pool cleaning equipment.

With Jacques out of the way the family otter took to the water playfully swimming around whilst cooling off.

News

Sometimes I wonder about the lack of common sense or logic being displayed by people in influential positions.  This morning I turned on the TV to watch the national and international news.  The first national article was the decision by the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian to allow the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks display to proceed along with a plea to the public NOT TO ATTEND!  <@#$%^&*>  Of course people are going to attempt to attend and Gladys your fears of a “super spreader event” may well be realised.  Premier you already have the “Ruby Princess” cruise ship super spreader debacle on your hands.  Play it safe….. cancel the display.  The two news readers discussed the plans for the fireworks display with one justifying it by stating “Well it’s a major international event”.  None of the millions of international viewers are paying for the fireworks.  The bill is being picked up by the NSW rate payers…. who are being told to stay at home!!

One of the Chinese reporters who exposed the PRC government attempts to conceal the awful extent of the Coronavirus in Wuhan has been jailed for four years.  No surprises there… Everything is wonderful in China.  The population is 100% happy with the way the Communist Party runs the country.  Of course China isn’t a communist country.  It’s a one party totalitarian regime where public information is heavily controlled to ensure there is no dissent.

German DW News had an extended article about the winners and losers of Brexit.  Unsurprisingly they focussed on perceived losers. 

• With a border down the Irish Sea NI citizens are losers and this will eventually result in the political integration of the island of Ireland.
• UK fishermen will lose because the species of fish they catch aren’t popular in the UK and are exported to the EU.
• The Scots aren’t happy because the EU benefits will cease, accelerating the desire for independence.
• The Financial Service industry aren’t happy and will be seriously affected as services aren’t included in the agreement.
• The DW crew even went to the Commonwealth Caribbean and interviewed some unhappy citizens. 

It appeared to me DW News was pandering to their domestic viewers attempting to portray BREXIT as a disaster for the UK. 

I think Trump played a clever move with the COVID Relief Bill.  He allowed the Republicans to negotiate hard with the Democrats to reach a $600 payment figure.  Then he refused to sign the Bill stating the figure was too low and should be $2000.  This pulled the rug from under the Republicans making them look mean.  He subsequently signed the Bill.  This will enable him to enter the 2024 Presidential Election Campaign telling poor Democrat and Republican voters he is the man to drain the swamp. Trump received a huge number of votes in the 2021 election and many of these voters are loyal to him rather than the Republican Party.  This leaves the Republican Party in a very precarious state.  Moreover the Democrats are also likely to be in difficulty as there will be no pandemic (fingers crossed) and therefore less opportunity or interest in large numbers of voters bothering to vote Democrat.  Trump could potentially win in 2024.

I do try to watch articles from both sides and form my own balanced (I hope) opinion.  However there are times when I get disillusioned and just turn off the TV.

On a more positive note….. 262 days since the last recorded case of community transmitted COVID in Western Australia and the vaccine will start becoming available here in 60 days.  If the temperature would just start to cool slightly life would be very pleasant.

You know it’s hot……

Two water bombing helicopters were repeatedly flying over the house this morning.  I watched them come from the north-east and then drop down south-west of us to take water from the adjacent lakes.  Obviously there was a bushfire around Bullsbrook.

Meanwhile Jan was inside watching the news.  Three absconders from hotel COVID quarantine had been apprehended.    There are some selfish people out there quite prepared to place everyone at risk.  Something similar happened in Sydney where the was a mass illegal gathering on a northern beach during lock-down.  People in New South Wales will be hoping it doesn’t turn into a super spreader event!

The mercury is still around 40°C and you know it’s hot in Perth when

1.  Poultry farmers fee ice to their hens in an effort to prevent them laying hard boiled eggs

2.  Trees whistle for dogs

3.  The best car parking slot is determined by shade rather than distance

4.  Hot water comes out of both taps

5.  You learn it only takes two fingers to steer a car

6.  The effort of towelling off after a shower means you need another shower

7.  You learn a car seatbelt buckle makes a good branding iron

8.  The temperature drops below 32°C and you put on a sweater

9.  Air conditioned shopping centres are places of worship

10.  Bikes aren’t ridden because falling of means being cooked on the road

11.  You realise asphalt is a liquid

12.  You develop a fear of door handles

13.  Sticking your head in the freezer is considered normal behaviour

14.  A cup of ice is considered a great snack

15.  You break into a sweat at 6AM

16.  You keep everything in the fridge… including your clothes

17.  You can sunburn through the car windscreen

18.  An electrical blackout is life threatening as the air-con and fans will stop

19.  The ceiling fan is going so fast you worry the roof will lift off

Unwanted Present

 

Christmas Thoughts

We woke to another hot day.  It’s going to be more than 40°C and a part of my mind is wishful for snow and ice… but not cold driving rain!

Whilst reading the international news I noticed an article regarding Harry & Meghan.  Apparently they had planned to release a Christmas video.   However some old lady has beaten them to it.

 

Jan was born in England and I suspect had a traditional Christmas until she was fortunate to find and marry me.  Probably turkey with all the trimmings.  Not me….. the dinner!  When you are on the opposite side of the world the seasons are reversed and having a heavy cooked Christmas lunch doesn’t make sense to me.  Sometimes we have BBQ’d and on one occasion it was jam sandwiches on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.  More usually it’s tomato sandwiches.

Which has led me to think of our Christmas’ over the last decade. 

2010.  We were living in Adelaide and Waiouru was supposed to be being fitted out.  In the morning we took the dog down to the park and met all the local dog walkers for a drink of orange juice and sparling white wine.  Lunch was tomato sandwiches.

2011.  Onboard NB Ufton loaned to us by the boatyard whilst we waited for Waiouru’s fit out.  Our first cold Christmas in many years.  Unfortunately no snow and so no ‘White Christmas’.  Tomato sandwiches weren’t on the menu.  Jan cooked something, but I can’t remember what it was.

2012.  Still at the boatyard waiting on the final parts of the fit out.  We were joined by our sons who had travelled from overseas to have a family Christmas for the first time in a number of years.  Jan cooked a traditional Christmas lunch.  Again, not a white Christmas.  It was cold and rained!

2013.  Jan was on Waiouru moored at Rugby whilst I was in Saudi Arabia.  They obviously don’t celebrate Christmas and; not for the first time in my life; the 25th was a working day.  I had tomato sandwiches for lunch.  Jan also had a quiet Christmas on her own.

2014.  Back around the Rugby area.  Several days prior we had an early Christmas dinner at the Barley Mow, Newbold.  Again no snow, but it rained.  Several days later the Venetian boatman poled his boat past as he headed to the water point.  Maffi was waiting on a replacement gearbox!

2015. Nantwich.  A windy Christmas Eve night moored on the embankment.  Jan cooked a traditional Christmas lunch, albeit for two.  I had a cunning plan to spend Christmas on the Llangollen where I knew we would be unlikely to be frozen in.  Well of course it didn’t get cold enough and I got bored, so we headed east towards Manchester via Nantwich.  Two days after Christmas the canal did freeze over and Waiouru broke ice heading into Middlewich.

2016.  I mistakenly assumed if we spent three days around Christmas in the middle of Birmingham the ambient temperature would be too high for the canal to freeze.  Wrong!  Christmas lunch was unusual.  We had a chinese takeway 

2017.  Back in Perth, Western Australia for a hot 25th.  My brother invited us to their family Christmas Lunch, a combination of hot and cold food.  Later we watched all their small grandchildren unwrap their presents.

2018.  Tomato sandwiches in Perth waiting on a call from our son in Manchester.

2019.  Tomato sandwiches

2020.  Just the two of us waiting on a call from Manchester.  This time the moths escaped from the wallet and the tomatoes had a reprieve.  I BBQ’d sausages, chicken and some Waygu Beef.  If you haven’t eaten Wagyu Beef then you’ve missed out on one of life’s pleasures.  We purchased a piece from Costco, which probably reduced the price, however it was still around $170.  Jan cut it into 12 steaks.  The steak just melts in your mouth!  Apparently the Australian cattle are fed a diet of grain (instead of grass) and local red wine.

Jan has made one attempt to swim in the pool this afternoon before giving up after complaining about being cooked by the burning heat of the sun.  We may have to look at installing some type of sail/shade cloth over the pool.

This is the part Jan insists on being included.

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

PS…. May your tomato sandwiches remain fresh

You can see the issue

 I've written this post directly in Blogger rather than Open Live Writer to ensure you see the images.

If our blog is viewed using Google Chrome the images are visible

If I use the Brave browser

 

And if I use the Opera browser

I don't have an Apple Mac and I therefore can't tell you if the images appear in Safari.

The problem obviously isn't with Open Live Writer as the images are visible in Blogger and Chrome.  I can only assume Google has done something which prevents competitors internet browsers from displaying images stored by Google.

 

And Jan roared with laughter

Readers you may recall my post dated 10 December regarding “that letter” from my local federal MP.  Yesterday I mentioned to Jan I was surprised our State MP hadn’t also sent me a card at our expense.  

Today Jan roared with laughter when Postman Pat delivered the birthday card.

Of course it has also been computer generated.  Rita if you wanted to impress me you could have at least hand written the message.  The subtle message I take from the card is I’m not that important and this is more about you than me. 

I’m not likely to be around in 30 years to see if my card from Her Majesty is hand written

De facto war and more fan noise

Australia and China are in a de facto trade war.  This has been simmering for some time but came to the fore when Australia suggested an international investigation into the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.  Shortly afterwards China placed an 80% tariff on Australian barley imports on the basis the industry was receiving government subsidies through water irrigation grants in the Murray-Darling river system.  This Chinese claim is rather spurious given the bulk of the barley is grown on the opposite side of the continent in Western Australia.  Subsequently there was banning of beef imports from six major Australian abattoirs, then timber imports from Tasmania and South Australia.  Copper ore was added along with a 212% tariff on Australian wine imports after China alleged dumping.  Coal imports have also been blocked.  More recently crayfish (lobster) imports were blocked. 

The one major product not blocked is iron ore.  Australia provides more than 60% of China’s total iron ore.  There are two major world sources of iron ore, Australia and Brazil.  The quality of the Australian ore is superior to any other source and at the moment iron ore production in Brazil is low after a major environmental incident. The other major component for the manufacturing of iron is coal.  Australian thermal coal is superior to other sources for the smelting of iron ore.  As China has blocked Australian coal, Chinese steel producers are having to purchase more expensive and lesser quality coal (more inefficient and more polluting) from alternate sources such as Russia, Mongolia, Indonesia, South Africa and domestic mines.

The China-USA trade war and the pandemic have dramatically reduced world demand for Chinese exports.  Moreover the shrinking of the global economy during the pandemic has resulted in the Chinese ‘Belts and Roads’ strategy stalling.

In an effort to increase demand the Chinese government and turned to its domestic economy investing in major infrastructure projects.  A major component of this is steel.  The demand for iron ore has driven up the price, which is currently at a high around A$140/tonne. 

Chinese steel producers are hurting.  The price of iron ore is high and the available coal is inferior and expensive.

Meanwhile, although the Australian coal, timber, barley, wine and crayfish industries are hurting, the Federal government is not.  The higher price of iron ore is more than offsetting losses from the above industries.

China would need to block imports of Australian iron ore if it wanted to achieve a major adverse impact on Australian government revenue.  However they can’t currently do that without an alternative supplier.

Returning to coal.  China’s purchase of coal from alternative sources has driven up the price (market forces) whilst Australian miners have cut back on production.  Because the price of coal has risen there is a shortage in China just as winter starts to bite.  Chinese industries are being ordered to reduce their demand for electricity and domestic heating is going to cause some suffering in the cities.  I doubt this will cause the Chinese government to collapse.  But it isn’t going to make them popular this winter.

One benefit of this trade war has been to make Australian producers aware of how dependent they had become on the Chinese market.  They had most of their eggs in one basket.  The barley industry has already found alternative markets and whilst the price they receive is lower, they have spread their risk.  No doubt other industries will follow.

To more local matters

The fan on the graphics card heat sink in the very old desktop computer has become very noisy.  Have you noticed this appears to be the season for very noisy fans?.  This computer was old before we left for the UK in 2011 and was in storage for six years so perhaps it’s unsurprising the fan has decided to play up.  The conventional approach would probably be to replace the graphic card but the pc is so old cards of this vintage are almost a collectors item.

My solution has been to remove the card from the computer and then separate the fan from the heat sink to give me access to the reverse of the fan where the tiny bearing is located.

Using a toothpick I placed a very small amount of bearing grease from the tub of grease I bought to grease the wheel bearings on the 4x4 and trailer onto the fan bearing and then covered it with a piece of duct tape to keep out the dust.  The fan was then super glued back onto the heat sink and reinstalled in the computer.  It seems to have worked!  If you attempt something similar don’t use WD40 or CRC as they are cleaning agents rather than lubricants.

From RAF Brize Norton to Windsor

Many years ago I landed and departed the UK from RAF Brize Norton in a RNZAF aircraft and I haven’t forgotten the noise of the many military turbo prop aircraft.  Wind the clock forward several decades and Jan and I were moored on the Thames at Windsor.  Why do I mention this?  It’s all down to the toilet.  The ceiling extractor fan has been steadily getting noisier to the point where it sounded like a C130 Hercules winding up for take-off.  Then yesterday it suddenly stopped.  The bearing had finally seized.  Removing it wasn’t very difficult, but it did leave an ugly 250mm hole.

Moreover we are experiencing another week of temperatures hovering around 40°C which meant without the fan the temperature in the toilet was rather hot.

We made our way to the hardware store; where we are probably now part owners; and purchased a replacement fan.  This is where the problems started.  Apparently not all 250mm diameter fans are the same size and the original fan was obviously smaller than the one we purchased.  I found myself up the stepladder holding the already wired in new fan in one hand whilst simultaneously attempting to enlarge the hole with my trusty pocketknife. During this process I discovered I can no longer raise my arms above my head for very long.  Suffice to say the fan was eventually installed.

However Jan has now mentioned the noise of the new fan reminds her of our mooring at Windsor where we were under the Heathrow flight path.  Apparently we have a jet aircraft in the roof cavity.

For the last eight days Australia has been free of COVID community transmission and we were almost back to free movement of people.  This morning we woke to discover there has been a community outbreak in Sydney.  Several days ago a couple experienced COVID like symptoms and went for testing.  However they didn’t self-isolate whilst waiting for the test results, instead visiting nine public venues.  Now NSW authorities are scrambling to contact trace in an effort to stop the spread.  Of course it’s entirely possible some of the people this couple came into contact with have travelled inter-state.  Borders may again close just before Christmas.

Four months ago it was reported there were 26,000 Australian citizens stuck overseas attempting to return.  The Federal government committed to having all 26,000 return before Christmas.  Arrangements were made; flights and hotel quarantine organised.  Both the flights and hotel quarantine had to be paid by the returning citizens.  Air travel was via commercial airlines and obviously the returnees had to find the money for the fare before being accepted.  Returnees were required to refund the state governments for their 14 days of hotel quarantine.  61% of them have not paid for their hotel quarantine and some State governments are now handing the debt to debt collection agencies.  26,000 citizens have returned.  But now there are a further 37,000 wanting to return.  10,000 of them are in India.  Therein lies another story!

Fish & Pavlova

On Wednesday evening Boris Johnson and Ursula Von Der Leyen had a working dinner whilst they discuss the BREXIT negotiations.  The entree and main meal were fish (scallops & turbot) whilst the dessert was an Australian style pavlova.  Someone in the EU has a sense of humour.

One wonders if Boris mentioned to Ursula she should saviour the fish as they were about to become rare!

Meanwhile Jan and I huddle under the air-conditioning unit reading narrowboat blogs containing photos of snow and icicles.  Oh for those good years!!!  You can always add more layers of clothing if you are cold.  But there is only so much clothing to be removed when it gets hot!

Here it’s another day close to 40°C and we are avoiding going outside wherever possible.  I did go out earlier in the morning to replace the broken hinges on the lid of the camper trailer freezer compartment. 

Some sand has been levelled around the pool in preparation for the laying of the pavers.  However that project has gone on hold after I discovered the pool isn’t level.  That has resulted in further discussions with the pool installer.

Whilst writing about the pool I should mention how surprised I’ve been about the volume of water being lost to evaporation.  But then it has been quite hot during the last 7 days. 

Unfortunately I’m not having much success with my culinary skills.

 

The Letter

About six months ago Australia Post replaced it’s local petrol motorbikes with e-trikes. 

Apparently this decision was made because the quantity of letters was reducing whilst the parcels were increasing.  Moreover the number of delivery days has been reduced from five to three.  The e-trikes are made in Switzerland and apparently cost approximately $10-15,000 each.  They are powered by a 200Ah lithium battery with a stated range of 153km.

We don’t receive many letters but today Postman Pat delivered one address to me.  Upon opening it I discovered our Federal Member of Parliament wanted to wish me happy birthday.  As I’ve never met the woman, I wondered why she would bother.  Then I immediately realised she hadn’t bothered.  The postage and cost of printing the letter had been paid by the tax-payer… ME!!!  It wasn’t even a personalized letter.  Just a piece of computer generated paper with my name filled in from a database.  It wasn’t even the name I’m usually called but my more formal birth name. 

Then I started thinking about the source of the information.  Yes, I am on the electoral roll and I’ve been online to check what information is displayed.  All I see is my name and address. No date of birth.  But why should this personal information be given to a MP.  The answer is in the FAQs on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website where it states; in part

is supplied to prescribed authorities, such as members of parliament, political parties, approved medical researchers, and public health programs

Then

What information is provided to political parties In line with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the AEC may provide the name, address and gender of electors to prescribed authorities.

Nothing about date of birth!

Yes I am starting to get paranoid about organisations and governments collecting and retaining my personal data.

Another Week

It was a surprise to realise another week has passed.  They do seem to be flying these days!  I know it’s a week because I have to clean Jan’s swimming pool today.  I’d prefer to drop the robot in the pool and walk away but have been informed that can’t be done until the surrounding paving has been laid.  Fortunately the paver phoned yesterday to inform me he will be here next Wednesday.  The pool water is quite warm. Perhaps that’s not surprising given the number of hot days we’ve recently experienced.  The forecast for early next week is two days over 40°C with the fire risk in the goldfields region rated as catastrophic.  KevinTOO I’ll trade you a few cold days for some scorchers!

Jan was watching the UK TV program “Escape to the Country” and when she saw the spare bedroom in one house commented “That’s not a bedroom…. It’s a wardrobe!”  Space is important.  you quickly realise that when planning the layout of a narrowboat. OR trying to find room for something you’ve purchased whllst living on a narrowboat.

Here is another reason why space is important

 

I’d better get outside and complete more of the lawn water reticulation modifications before the sun gets too hot.

Pizza and the Hose Clip

- Hello! Gordon's pizza?
- No sir it's Google's pizza.
- So it's a wrong number? Sorry
- No sir, Google bought it.
- OK. Take my order please
- Well sir, you want the usual?
- The usual? You know me?
- According to our caller ID data sheet, in the last 12 times, you ordered pizza with cheeses, sausage, thick crust.
- OK! This is it ...
- May I suggest to you this time ricotta, arugula with dry tomato.?
- What? I hate vegetables.
- Your cholesterol is not good, sir.
- How do you know?
- We crossed the number of your fixed line with your name, through the subscribers guide.
We have the result of your blood tests for the last 7 years.
- Okay, but I do not want this pizza!,I already take medicine ...
-Excuse me, but you have not taken the medicine regularly, from our commercial database, four months ago, you only purchased a box with 30 cholesterol tablets at Chemart.
- I bought more from another chemist’s.
- It's not showing on your credit card statement
- I paid in cash
- But you did not withdraw that much cash according to your bank statement
- I have have other source of cash
- This is not showing as per you last Tax form unless you bought them from undeclared income source.
-WHAT THE HELL?
- I'm sorry, sir, we use such information only with the intention of helping you.
- Enough! I'm sick of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp. I'm going to an island without internet, cable TV, where there is no cell phone line and no one to watch me or spy on me
- I understand sir but you need to renew your passport first as it has expired 5 weeks ago.

“Eureka Moment”

There was a Eureka moment yesterday when I realised I had a solution to my hose clip conundrum.  Rather than buy a clip I could use a 3 inch length of the 20mm PVC water pipe I’d just thrown into the rubbish bin.  By cutting part of the side of the pipe out with a hacksaw I could make a clip.

After cleaning up the rough edges from the hacksaw blade it was Sikaflexed to the vertical end of the side locker wall.

If the Sikaflex doesn’t hold I’ll secure the clip with a couple of machine screws.  I do like a simple and cheap solution.

Trailer Water System

Modifications to the camper trailer water system are almost completed.  I’ve fitted the gravity fed hose to the underneath of the tank where it’s protected by the vertical heavy rubber skirt I fitted in an earlier modification and by a length of flexible conduit over the lower half of the food grade clear plastic hose.

The final location of the hose in the stored position will be where the upper arrow is pointing.  I need to find a couple of hose clips to secure it vertically in this position.  The current shown location is temporary.  I also need to find a cap to fit over the end of the valve.

The old pump mechanism has been removed.  During this process I cut off the aluminium bracket which secured the pump.  I needed to find a way to fit a sight hose which would enable me to identify the water level in the tank.  In the end I bought 0.5 metres of clear food grade hose and a brass hose tail with a breather.  The breather will prevent an air lock in the hose.  The next issue was identifying how to secure the new sight hose vertically to the trailer.  In the end I realised I could Sikaflex the hose to the trailer where it will be out of the way but easily observable.

The duct tape is holding the tube in place whilst the Sikaflex sets.

The was very little wind this morning and I decided to take my second flying lesson with the drone.  Before flying I made sure the drone setting were on ‘novice’.  This prevents the drone from going too high; too far; and too fast.  The actually flight was rather brief.  All of three minutes.  There were two problems.  The first was the sun beating down and burning the back of my neck.  The second was the flies who persisted in trying to climb into my nose and ears.  With both hands on the controls I was unable to shoo them away.  The next flight may require a head mesh and a sunshade for the controller screen.  After reviewing the captured video I’ve realised I’m still rotating the drone too fast.  More practice is required.

I did take a photo of our house.

You should be able to make the photo larger by double clicking on it

The round orange landing pad is on the front lawn with me standing at the retaining wall wearing a blue shirt.  There are two orange patches on the roof where I’ve removed chimneys during renovations.  The backyard is obviously a mess whilst we wait for the pool paving to be installed.