Old skills and the nuclear option

My nephew asked if I could install a 240V electrical system to his outback camper trailer.  It had a 12V system when he purchased the trailer and he now also wants 240V with the intention of connecting to ‘shore-power’ when he visits a caravan park.  The 240V will mostly be used to recharge the batteries and run his wife’s hair dryer

It’s a ‘pop top’ trailer

He had already fitted the external power socket which I’ve had to remove to gain access to the reverse for the cable terminals.  Whilst the socket was removed I decided to mask up the holes and give then a coat of galvanised paint.

I’ve started making the wiring looms, but won’t do the actual fitment until there is a guaranteed fine day.

Meanwhile I’ve been in the shed working on the bedhead.  It has now had four coats of stain and two of varnish.

All that is left is a light sanding and a final coat of varnish.

The major news here is the Federal Govt decision to cancel the conventional submarine contract with the French and take the nuclear powered option.  After spending $2B on the French contract the country now faces the financial and political cost of cancelling.  It’s also an irony that the proposed French submarine is nuclear powered.  However Australia required to to be redesigned as a diesel-electric.  Why not just opt for the existing French nuclear version and save some money?  Unfortunately the French model will require nuclear refuelling, which would mean Australia would require a nuclear industry.   By opting for a US/UK design the submarine will be fuelled for the life of the vessel thus avoiding the need for Australia to have a nuclear industry.

Naturally the French are very annoyed at the sudden cancellation of the contract and have recall their ambassadors in American and Australia.  The French ambassador to the UK wasn’t recalled and I wonder if the French thought that this would be more of an insult to the UK than the recall (ie, you’re a minor bit player in the affair Boris )

I’m slightly worried that the population thinks life is back to normal here in the west.  There are restrictions on entering and leaving the State, apart from that life looks normal.

Even the weekend Bunnings ‘Sausage Sizzle’ has returned.

Today it was the local ‘Lions Club’ raising money.

Jan has received her second AZ injection.  There was a long queue at our nearest government vaccine hub.

Fortunately for us 95% of them were queuing for Pfizer and Jan was able to go to the empty AZ lane.  The vaccine rollout is progressing very slowly.  With no COVID in the State and no deadline to get vaccinated, many people don’t seem interested.  We’re going to have to learn to live with COVID and my own view is the state government should declare a date by when all people who want the vaccine get it; as that will be the day all COVID avoidance restrictions are removed. 

Ade, without some form of incentive (positive or negative) the commercial world isn’t going to be interested in spending money on training.  Particularly in the current commercial environment where senior executives get rewarded for short term high profits.

Jenny, I was bonded for three years on the completion of my training.

Catherine I suspect the nursing shortage isn’t going to be resolved until the voters get so annoyed that political parties decide to do something.  Unfortunately they let the crisis occur and then look for a quick fix by trying to recruit qualified staff rather than a longer term solution of training and retaining.

And just in case some of our readers think I might have lost my sense of humour.