Bit wintry

Where's brekkie?

Well, 'spose that I'd better write something. Not sure what, since quite a few notions and subjects have drifted in and out of brain over this past week, but have been too lazy to connect them all into a coherent essay, so will just plink this post directly into the mix - "off the cuff", as it were.

At this point, am not sure who's training who .. this little pixie let's me know he's around by the pitter of little feet on the roof of the van. So I poke head out of door. "ChCh Chchch Chchchchchch" he says, feed me. Ah, what the hell, say I and get the plastic container out. "Chka Chacha k k k k k" he says, little tail furiously wagging back and forth.

Ah, have mentioned it in a comment on previous post, but will repeat it here. The "common" name for this bird is a "Willy Wagtail" but is, in fact, a misnomer. It is related to, or belongs in the avian family of "fantails" - Rhipidura.

"Wagtails" (family Motacilla) are "irregular migrants or vagrants from the northern hemisphere" and are generally only seen in the far north of Australia; according to The Slater field guide to Australian birds.

Ah, one might ask, what's the difference? Well, fantails are active flycatchers and, while on the ground, move their tails from side to side, probably to disturb any flying insect nearby. "wagtails" move their tails up and down. Have renamed my little bloke "Fannie", just to confuse things even further (though have no idea whether it's male or female).

It had been hanging around for some time, but had been chatting with one of the locals who told me that he feeds them, and managed to get one to sit on his shoulder so - began project Willy. He was, at first, quite startled and fled the arm action when I threw the larvae over to him , however, didn't take him long to figure out that there was food as a result. Now he comes and calls. Also catches them mid-air -

Wish I could get that on slow motion video. 'Tis an incredibly intricate, beautiful, delicate - but deadly accurate - piece of balletic flight.

Its also been bloody wet, of late. Was a bit wild and woolly a few days ago, apparently. Roofs off houses over on the other side of the gulf and a B-double blown over. Didn't see that here, though. Bit windy, but the rainfall was only slanted at 45 degrees, and am tucked behind a fringe of sheltering scrub. Did manage to collect some welcome water, though. (oh oops, haven't prepared the pics - back soon)

On a different tack .. have just noticed that yesterday was July 4. Does anyone else think it odd; that for a nation which trumpets "freedom" and "democracy" - a rather uncomfortably large number of them see no paradox in wearing identical costumes, standing in straight lines and taking orders from what is, essentially, a strict pyramidal "authority" structure??

am a reconstructed romantic

This little pixie hangs about ..
Why?
Because it has figured out that I may - or may not, feed it these things -


their generic name is 'maggots'.

the genesis of stories

Storm warning .
I will start this story today, since the deadline for the southern Yorke peninsula writers group short story competition is August 14 and not all that far away.1500-2000 words. $5-00 entry fee – first prize $150-00.

Have no idea at this point how it will go, but need to begin – as the thoughts and info are of no use whatsoever if stored in my mind.

There are some words that strike an interesting mix of emotions in the heart of a boat skipper, changing sail while clinging to the plunging bow of a small sailboat in the dark of the night; the words floating forrard from the cockpit through scuds of rain and rising gusts of wind; 'Oy Skipper!”
“What?” the skipper shouts back.
“the tiller just broke!”

We were on a journey from Lakes Entrance in Victoria, northward to Brisbane, Queensland. It all began when I decided to take the boat from Westernport near Melbourne to attempt a circumnavigation of Australia. The boat wasn't new; a Roberts 32' ketch, hand-built in airex core glassfibre by a retired master mariner more used to ocean going cargo steamers than the subtleties of small wind-powered craft, but with the advantage that it was built with strength to survive and withstand anything that the vagaries, capriciousness, that the weather could throw at it - except, perhaps, the tiller – that vital physical lever that connects me with control over the direction of the vessel.

Not the first boat that I owned, nor the first time had been on the open ocean, but the first time I had ignored advice from coastguard regarding weather forecasts – or rather, had no real idea of what wind does to the seas of Bass Strait, and how they interact with the Southern ocean

HF conversation - “CG Loch Sport (repeated three times) this is (boat name).”
“This is CG Loch Sport responding”
“This is (boat name) departing Lakes Entrance,4 persons on board, bound for Eden, over.”
“Um, are you aware of the strong wind warning?”
“Yep. No problem. (boat name) out”
“This is CG Loch Sport. Best wishes. Out”

Am, basically, a soloist;single handed – but recognised that an ocean voyage of that magnitude needs assistance. Am not a machine, and occasionally need sleep – so advertised for three crew in a National 'Cruising sailor” magazine. Six people responded. Crew selection was an interesting exercise, but eventually distilled into – first choice was someone that I already knew. A stalwart, gentle person (let's call him Neil)– a known fighter – with one leg, the other amputated above the knee. He features later in this story.

Another impressed me by his reasons. Admitted to “know nothing about sailing”, and wanted to “gain experience” and “go to Queensland to buy a boat” (let's call him Toby); and the next – someone who convinced me that he knew “everything about Queensland waterways.” (Let's call him Bert). He also features with, perhaps - difficult results.







.

Blurb Blues

In the post "Template changes”, I mentioned (recommended?) the internet publishing facility “Blurb.com” but have had some difficulties with it of late.

For info – these are a couple of screen-shots of experiments with the BookSmart template system.

(click for big biggies)

While the free download “book design” template program “Booksmart” is quite exciting, interesting and relatively easy to understand (once one gets the hang of it) – it does “promise” to be able to “slurp” a blog. In other words, it's supposed to “download” an entire blog into the Booksmart template, as well as “autoflow” or re-organise the entries into correct chronological order – i.e. from first post to last – and so from there, can edit, re-organise, delete posts, or re-write; and is certainly more efficient than “copy 'n' pasting” them all - but have discovered a major glitch.

It won't achieve that – for me at least, at this time,.

Am not really sure what it is, exactly, that is causing the glitch; and while the “tech support” system responds fairly quickly, they're asking me to forward files that don't exist – or haven't been created by this particular glitch.

So, let me backtrack a bit.

Had a fair idea that the “slurp” download of 800 posts and 520+ photos might take some time, and involve more megabytes than the $20 USB recharge allows – so, some weeks ago while at the Yorktown caravan park, went to the nearby “Internet” facility operated by the local council ($6-00/half hour, $4-00 per half thereafter) and attempted the first “slurp” download.

For a start, there is no facility or ability to choose whether to download “photos”, “text” - or both, which to me is a bittuva nuisance. I don't actually need to download the photos on the blog, since they're all full-size on my hard-drive.

So, when I clicked the “start slurp” button it began to download every image on the blog – all (at that time) 516 of them. There IS a small “thumbnail” box which shows which image is being downloaded, as well as a message which says “ ..downloading 1 (2,3, .. 42, etc.) of 516”.

All went well until 515 of 516 .. then the system crashed, and an error message appeared; with a “report this error” contact message box. I filled it in with a brief description of what happened (or didn't happen) and tried again from square one. Same crash.

I tried three times, but same thing happened each time.

Tech support responded via email but kept asking for a file which the program should have created in ../My documents/Booksmartdata – but didn't.

It did occur to me that the problem may have been because Womby's drivel was still using the “old” blogger template system – hence the update.

Have also “upgraded” to latest version of BookSmart, but while in Port V. the other day I went to the Newsagent which also has high-speed internet facilities and tried it again. Same thing happened. Downloaded all but last photo – then connection collapsed.

Am, at this point, thinking that there may be some Javascript in the sidebar which interacts badly with the download program so if things suddenly disappear from the sidebar at some time in the future – it's just me experimenting and trying to solve this glitch.

What's a prayer worth?

[800th post .. heh]


Something unusual happened yesterday.

'Twas payday, so drove the wagon to Port V. to get supplies for the rest of the fortnight. Quite a pleasant drive, actually. A calm, sunny morning and the relatively well-kept dirt road winds its way along the cliff-tops above the coastline, so pottered along at the – now – mechanically imposed 40-45kph.

First stop was the post office. Withdrew $250, paid another $20 for internet access recharge then to the IGA for groceries. Have discovered (re-discovered?) that vegetable soup is a cheapish way of filling the belly so – bag of spuds, carrots, onions and a few bits and pieces (including a couple of “luxuries” like a 200g block of chocolate on special for 99c). $80 all up.

Also said hello to my favourite “checkout chick” - but before anyone has snide thoughts, she's 45 or so, very attractive in an odd sort of way, so my interest perked up some weeks ago when I first saw her and noticed the absence of finger rings. Hopes were dashed somewhat when I mentioned that had just come come back from Innes National Park. “Oh yes”, she says, “hubby and I go fishing there quite often”. Bugga.

Next stop was the butcher. I don't eat much in the way of meat, these days. Too expensive – especially the pre-pack supermarket offerings. However; some bacon bones, six sausages, and a small piece of stewing steak came to the grand total of $5-25. “Sorry about that,” I say to the bloke behind the counter, “am last of the big spenders”.“No problem”, he mutters, “every little bit helps”.

Then to the tiny one-man hardware store for two 9v batteries (don't ask what they're for, long story) - $5-00 each. For some strange reason he's $2-3 cheaper than the supermarkets.

Next, fuel for the generator. ($20 for 15 litres) as well as filling the water containers. Can generally survive on 30-40 litres per week, but have been greatly assisted of late by rainwater run-off from the annexe roof collected in buckets. Even took the drastic step of washing the dishes and some clothes – 10 litres of rainwater wasted .. heh.

The morning became very interesting when I went to pay for the fuel.

Poked my head around the workshop door, saw Geoff the owner, sitting at his desk engrossed in his computer screen; and Nathan, the young(ish) mechanic sitting there watching. “Sheesh”, say I in jest, “don't you blokes ever do any work?” Geoff glanced at me. “Pull up a chair”, he says briskly, so parked bum on stool between the cash register and refrigerator.

Geoff pushes chair back from desk, turns to face me, gives me a long searching look.

“We're Christians”, he says, glancing at Nathan. ??, think I, where the eff is this going? But remained silent.

“We believe in the Bible .. pause, no reaction from me .. and we know you don't have much money to fix your car”, (true) “so we prayed for you at the meeting last Sunday”. ?? think I, what next?, remained silent (and won't mention the sort of 'praying' that I've been doing of late).

“One question, though .. pause .. hope this doesn't offend you ..

(who me ??? Have been around a bit, interacted with a wide range of human beings – not many of them all that polite. Been called every name under the sun – so can't think of very much that could – or would – 'offend' me.)

.. but the other day you told me you play the pokies.”

“What!” exclaim me, “Never! Well, haven't played the pokies for 20 years or so, doesn't interest me. Where did you get that idea from?”.

“You told me”.

Bullsh, think I. “Yer well, must have been joking. I don't even drink - and silently adding 'well, not these days, anyway'.” Which is sort of true, surprisingly enough. Haven't had much in the way of alcohol for 6-8 weeks. No real reason to – must be getting sort of content .. heh.

“Well,” continues Geoff, “a few of us have decided to “chip in” and help you out. Nathan has to go over to Adelaide every now and then, so he's going to search around the wreckers for the best quality auto-transmission he can find. We'll help out with the cost of installing it”.

There was further longish discussion about how much finance that I could actually get hold of ($700, at a pinch), so I agreed to the terms and we sort of left it at that. Will now patiently wait to see what transpires.

At this point will have to admit that am not a “Christian” - or rather, not a “Biblical Christian” but nobody asked, so wisely decided to not raise that particularly delicate issue with them. One thought that sped through my mind at the time, though, was; what gives “Biblical” Christians the notion that they have exclusive ethical rights to “community assistance”? Am quite sure that that principle applies within every group of people on this planet – Muslim, Judean, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, Calathumpian, et al. The major philosophical and sociological problem, methinks, is when these groups restrict 'community assistance' to within their own groups.

In any case, was – am – surprised and gratified by what was – is – essentially overtly-unsolicited “assistance” from the local community.

This isn't, of course, the only example of “community commitment” that have come across of late – but am finding that the further away from “big cities”, the more obvious and accessible “grass roots” community assistance becomes.

Template changes

OK, 'tis time.

Have been reluctant to "upgrade" to Bluggre "new" as it may well entail re-creating the template and side bar. However, a couple of things are prompting me to upgrade .. so will attempt it over the next few days.

One of them was the discovery that I could use a surge protector (Belkin SurgeCube -$30-00) so that I could plug the computer directly into the output of the generator, therefore enabling me to charge the battery, instead of depleting it with the laptop - and the other was an interest in a new "online publisher" - Blurb.com which has some interesting abilities; especially the possibility of "slurping" a blog, and re-arranging the posts into "first to last". Have downloaded and had a play with the free "BookSmart" publishing template(s) but apparently it was in Beta - and they now have Booksmart2; which I've not yet tried. Well worth checking out, though.

Hopefully, if it doesn't work, can revert to "ye Olde" design.

Hmmm, looks as if I'll have to recreate the entire sidebar, oh well .. many a happy hour discovering the options before I have it to my satisfaction .. heh

Dear Mystery Reader

Have had the intention of writing this post for some time – the reason will become apparent later – but some other thoughts have prompted it forward. One, of course, is that have been devouring¹ quite a few paperback novels of late; but that isn't the only reason, and intend to write some “reviews” at some future date.

[ ¹ metaphorically speaking, since actually “eating” them might prove problematical and somewhat unpalatable – but given the fact that the auto-transmission on the motor vehicle has decided to “cease to function” - or rather, the two top gears (drive and overdrive) have ceased to function – leaving me with 1^st, 2^nd and reverse. Can still potter from A to B in relative comfort and no great strain on legs – but only at 40-45 kph. Will be an interesting exercise in fiscal restraint while I figure out how to save (or acquire) enough finance to get it fixed; and may well involve boiled paper for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.]

The other prompt was a visit to David G's “Dangerous Creation” where he laments a “diminishing readership”. While on the one hand I applaud the lofty and altruistic ideal of trying to save the world from foolishness, folly and misery, one blog at a time – somehow have a sneaking suspicion that that might be a tad unrealistic. While yes, folly and misery are still common and widespread – methinks that the prime reason (or one of them, at least) for people to “come together” in passionate discourse has now diminished and dissipated. BushCo and Howard have been defeated.

There is no longer any central, singular foe for the disparate tribes to focus on, or congregate against. Wordswords have been sheathed, and the armies of outcry have apparently dribbled back to gossip among themselves at the parish pump.

This blog has never been particularly concerned with “readership numbers”. Was only begun with one reader in mind (good heavens – in January 2005) and even then, on the assumption that the likelihood of that was remote.

Can even remember being somewhat startled – after I'd eventually discovered Statcounter – to find that “someone else” was actually reading it. Mostly, in the early days, from Goggle search; but found that after I'd made comments on other blogs, there was a gradual increase in readership. Have also found that most “commenters” tend to prefer some sort of follow-up response, otherwise they don't bother (either that, or my posts leave them speechless .. heh).

Have very few readers, these days, and even fewer comments; though that is probably due to the long gaps between posts, but was much easier for me to provoke lively debate in the comments box when I had 24/7 access to electricity and internet.

I will, at this point, thank my few regular readers, you are precious .. heh. There's several from Sydney and some from Melbourne and Victoria; some from NSW (though only one with a Mac OS 10 .. heh); a couple from Brisbane; one from Kapunda - and one from Buckinghamshire. (can't link names to the actual ISP's, but know most of the probable names).

I do, of course, still regularly check Statcounter, and am still fascinated by how some “strangers” arrive on the blog. Mostly through the various search engines, but have to say that none of that is overly exciting – mostly people wondering what wombats eat, or something equally dreary.

There is, however, one visitor that continues to intrigue and mystify me. Statcounter frequently gives the message “multiple visits over more than one day”, and has done so over some length of time. Now, I perhaps know quite a few people who live in Adelaide, but can't seem to put a name to this one.

Your browser is MSIE 7.0; the operating system is Windows XP.

Screen resolution is 1024x768.

It looks like your Service provider is adl6.internode.on.net.

Dear mystery reader, c'mon don't be shy. Do I know you, or blog – or you me? Leave a cryptic, anonymous comment if you like – or email me at the address in the profile.