There's not a good deal going on here and very soon it will all go dark.
You should get yourself over here
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It Doesn't Take Much These Days
2 hours ago
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
reflections: 2
We've been streamlining / minimalising up a storm this weekend and as part of that, I'm finally moving this blog.
Come visit me at carolbaby.com!
On 30 September, I'll be nuking don and carol, mrshardly and the very underdeveloped food blog (love a deadline!).
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Come visit me at carolbaby.com!
On 30 September, I'll be nuking don and carol, mrshardly and the very underdeveloped food blog (love a deadline!).
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Saturday, 23 July 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
so long, mom
After stubbornly (verily, her watchword) clinging on for all she could, Mom died early this afternoon.
Mom, signing our wedding documentation.
This weekend, we'll be celebrating her with impromptu readings from Clive Cussler and memorial viewings of Murder She Wrote, Midsomer Murders, Hustle and Pie In The Sky and loads of white wine.
Vale.
.
Mom, signing our wedding documentation.
This weekend, we'll be celebrating her with impromptu readings from Clive Cussler and memorial viewings of Murder She Wrote, Midsomer Murders, Hustle and Pie In The Sky and loads of white wine.
Vale.
.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
vertigo
Our seats are up so high that I can't look down at the hallowed turf without shaking, dizziness and nausea.
Luckily, am pretty sure a few beers will fix me.
Sent from my HTC
Friday, 15 July 2011
pleasant
Sent from my HTC
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Saturday, 9 July 2011
nu carol
Test post.
Am trying to disentangle my Real Life google account from my InformationSuperHighway account. This is proving a little more difficult than I had anticipated.
Previously maintaining separate identities was not much of an issue, but as teh google is becoming increasingly more pervasive and gobbling up everything, I do worry that at some point I'll be unmasked (though admittedly most of you are already well aware of my secret identity).
Perhaps I'd be better advised to migrate the whole shebang to WordPress.
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Am trying to disentangle my Real Life google account from my InformationSuperHighway account. This is proving a little more difficult than I had anticipated.
Previously maintaining separate identities was not much of an issue, but as teh google is becoming increasingly more pervasive and gobbling up everything, I do worry that at some point I'll be unmasked (though admittedly most of you are already well aware of my secret identity).
Perhaps I'd be better advised to migrate the whole shebang to WordPress.
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Friday, 8 July 2011
difficult
This morning I was awoken betimes by the ringing of the telephone.
Of course such calls are rarely good.
It was Don's bro. Mom is very near the end, a mere matter of hours/days. She's at home, the hospice nurses are visiting.
Don briefly spoke to her, but she was pretty out of it.
Although we had some inkling of what to expect from various friends who have been through this, it is quite frighteningly horrible how rapidly the decline can occur. When we last spoke (around two weeks ago) she was very up-beat and the irradiation to her head appeared to be assisting.
Now we're standing by the phone for that other, final, telephone call.
.
Of course such calls are rarely good.
It was Don's bro. Mom is very near the end, a mere matter of hours/days. She's at home, the hospice nurses are visiting.
Don briefly spoke to her, but she was pretty out of it.
Although we had some inkling of what to expect from various friends who have been through this, it is quite frighteningly horrible how rapidly the decline can occur. When we last spoke (around two weeks ago) she was very up-beat and the irradiation to her head appeared to be assisting.
Now we're standing by the phone for that other, final, telephone call.
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Friday, 1 July 2011
like christmas in july
This evening at SaltMinesLimited there were many drinks to celebrate the almost-but-not-quite meeting of a key target (lessons learned &etc).
Afterward, and drunkenly, NewBoss (to-be-blog-named) dragged me to his office, handed me a glass of wine and unofficially gave me my salary/new role letter.
It would seem that I have arrived.
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Afterward, and drunkenly, NewBoss (to-be-blog-named) dragged me to his office, handed me a glass of wine and unofficially gave me my salary/new role letter.
It would seem that I have arrived.
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Wednesday, 29 June 2011
purchases: 3
For a good many years our winter quilt/blanket arrangement has proved rather unsatisfactory in terms of both warmth and comfort.
Joan has long been evangelising the superiority of Sheridan products, so I finally took her advice and dropped a not insignificant amount of cash (fortunately at 40% off) on a new duvet which should keep us snuggly for a good many years.
Based on Joan's recommendations1 I'd intended to go with the deluxe dream (micro-fibre), and go up a size to King but DJs were out of King, so I went with one made from lambs.
Naturally I was also compelled to buy a cover for lamby, also fortunately reduced by 40%.
We have been sleeping marvellously since lamby made our bed his home.
We flicked our queen sized feather duvet to Joe/Frank who can now comfortably snuggle his rather tall tallness within it - the single polyester weekender quilt (purchased for weekends when he was quite small) was just not cutting it for everyday very grown-up boy use.
Truly, a win for everyone!
1Is quite astounding to have an adult child to whom you can reliably look to for advice.
.
Joan has long been evangelising the superiority of Sheridan products, so I finally took her advice and dropped a not insignificant amount of cash (fortunately at 40% off) on a new duvet which should keep us snuggly for a good many years.
Based on Joan's recommendations1 I'd intended to go with the deluxe dream (micro-fibre), and go up a size to King but DJs were out of King, so I went with one made from lambs.
Naturally I was also compelled to buy a cover for lamby, also fortunately reduced by 40%.
We have been sleeping marvellously since lamby made our bed his home.
We flicked our queen sized feather duvet to Joe/Frank who can now comfortably snuggle his rather tall tallness within it - the single polyester weekender quilt (purchased for weekends when he was quite small) was just not cutting it for everyday very grown-up boy use.
Truly, a win for everyone!
1Is quite astounding to have an adult child to whom you can reliably look to for advice.
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Tuesday, 28 June 2011
purchases: 2
$30 well spent via the book man.
These arrived on Friday, we have yet to cook from either, but they tantalise and inspire!
Speaking of matters gastronomique, regular readers would be aware that I've been religiously photographing our evening meal for roughly 18 months now (though in 2011 have ceased the rare dinning out pix).
And what have I done with my oeuvre?
Not at lot!
Up to this point I've posted roughly 17% of our meals to the food blog. Frankly, I was surprised that it was that high.
While actually taking the photographs is no bother, it seems a pointless exercise if I don't actually do anything with said photographs. Thus, I have given myself until EOFY to make the call whether to continue.
If I choose to go on I've made a pact with myself that the photos need to do something other than reside on my camera - though this does not necessarily mean posting them to the blog.
Darn, I hate making decisions.
.
These arrived on Friday, we have yet to cook from either, but they tantalise and inspire!
Speaking of matters gastronomique, regular readers would be aware that I've been religiously photographing our evening meal for roughly 18 months now (though in 2011 have ceased the rare dinning out pix).
And what have I done with my oeuvre?
Not at lot!
Up to this point I've posted roughly 17% of our meals to the food blog. Frankly, I was surprised that it was that high.
While actually taking the photographs is no bother, it seems a pointless exercise if I don't actually do anything with said photographs. Thus, I have given myself until EOFY to make the call whether to continue.
If I choose to go on I've made a pact with myself that the photos need to do something other than reside on my camera - though this does not necessarily mean posting them to the blog.
Darn, I hate making decisions.
.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
purchases: 1
Joan has indulged her obsession with streamlining and joined the apple cult by acquiring a 27 inch imac.
We helped fund her purchase by buying her old computer and the television she was using as a monitor.
Now we have a quite grunty dedicated, networked, media PC which we've plugged into super-shiny and I have a sexy new monitor!
Zoolander streaming across the home network!
Monitor/television all glowy with marvellousness!
To celebrate Joan's purchase, I snapped up some gorgeous fridge magnets from one of those daily deal websites which I'd intended to present her with when we collected the new (to us) computer.
Unfortunately once the magnets arrived, they bore little resemblance to the advertised item in anything other than that they were square and the images vaguely similar. They were cheap, they were nasty.
This image does not entirely highlight how very shoddy they are. I would not give them fridge room and I really could not give them to Joan.
So, naturally, I cancelled my zazz account and sent them a strongly-worded email expressing my disappointment ... and was thankful that I was only out $13.
In future for daily deals, I will stick to my beloved buyinvite, who never disappoint. I'm currently awaiting delivery of an oval le creuset cast iron casserole which was 1/3 of the retail price!
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We helped fund her purchase by buying her old computer and the television she was using as a monitor.
Now we have a quite grunty dedicated, networked, media PC which we've plugged into super-shiny and I have a sexy new monitor!
Zoolander streaming across the home network!
Monitor/television all glowy with marvellousness!
To celebrate Joan's purchase, I snapped up some gorgeous fridge magnets from one of those daily deal websites which I'd intended to present her with when we collected the new (to us) computer.
Unfortunately once the magnets arrived, they bore little resemblance to the advertised item in anything other than that they were square and the images vaguely similar. They were cheap, they were nasty.
This image does not entirely highlight how very shoddy they are. I would not give them fridge room and I really could not give them to Joan.
So, naturally, I cancelled my zazz account and sent them a strongly-worded email expressing my disappointment ... and was thankful that I was only out $13.
In future for daily deals, I will stick to my beloved buyinvite, who never disappoint. I'm currently awaiting delivery of an oval le creuset cast iron casserole which was 1/3 of the retail price!
.
Friday, 24 June 2011
bald
While I did think my new pictsie haircut was quite pleasing, it was with not a little angst and trepidation that I rocked up with the new 'do to the SaltMinesLimited.
In particular, I was expecting some grief from Heather. He is notoriously hyper-critical (in the style of my good self: indeed it is primarily what we are famed for) in these matters.
To my relief he utterly and absolutely adored it.
As has everyone who has encountered me since - even the Doctor's receptionist. Everyone has gushed and raved and marvelled at my gorgeousness.
Rather makes one wonder quite how unkempt and less than optimal I looked prior to the chop.
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In particular, I was expecting some grief from Heather. He is notoriously hyper-critical (in the style of my good self: indeed it is primarily what we are famed for) in these matters.
To my relief he utterly and absolutely adored it.
As has everyone who has encountered me since - even the Doctor's receptionist. Everyone has gushed and raved and marvelled at my gorgeousness.
Rather makes one wonder quite how unkempt and less than optimal I looked prior to the chop.
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Wednesday, 22 June 2011
correlation does = causation
Holy goodness! I'm on the tail-end of the worst cold I have had in a good many years.
After 6 horrible days in bed (I had do enlist Don to help me to the Doctor), today I was finally able to crawl my way back to the SaltMinesLimited.
I commented to Don this morning that I could not remember the last time I was so unwell, nor could I remember the last time I was so unheathy.
Coincidence?
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After 6 horrible days in bed (I had do enlist Don to help me to the Doctor), today I was finally able to crawl my way back to the SaltMinesLimited.
I commented to Don this morning that I could not remember the last time I was so unwell, nor could I remember the last time I was so unheathy.
Coincidence?
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Sunday, 12 June 2011
magic
In preparation for the haus inspection we finally had on Monday (2 years in the making), last weekend as part of a small cleaning blitz, I decided to wipe down the rather unusual mirror and opaque glass light fittings in the lounge.
However as it turns out, the glass was not opaque at all.
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However as it turns out, the glass was not opaque at all.
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Saturday, 11 June 2011
meta
Blogging about photographing Joe/Frank looking at the blog.
Recursive.
&etc.
This long weekend I'd planned an utterly fabulous project which involved intimately documenting (LIFE photo-journalist-style) our respective mundane weekendly activities and presenting them in a photo book for Mom (with an additional copy for Spinster Aunt and very-elderly-almost-100-grandfather).
Unfortunately my cunning scheme is not panning out as I'd hoped (get on board, family and self!), and as a consequence I may be forced to completely abandon perfection and go with a couple of random expedited-shipping cheery snaps.
Damn.
.
bunch of see you next tuesdays
Times are, at present, particularly difficult at the SaltMinesLimited.
It's coming up to End Of Financial Year and it is pretty clear that the major target for the year will not be met. Actually it has been pretty clear for a good many, many months, but God will not hear it or allow the target to be revised. So now everyone is very fighty indeed and the scent of impending witch-huntery is in the air.
In addition to that horridness and angst, we have Attempt 4 at new computer system, which of course was doomed from the get-go. The people who decide these matters at SML appear to be taken in by any and every passing snake-oil merchant (those who express any kind of reservation or question the strategy are clearly Negative and must be Managed). The usual result is that $10M later we delivered with whole lot of nothing and continue with the system we've used since 1996.
Because of the preposterous and unrealistic time-frames involved (this is another recurring theme in these IT projects) there is not a whole lot of development time left before delivery of the second (and final) phase - so the massive de-scoping has begun. Until yesterday I had been extremely fortunate to have had limited exposure to the project, but I have heard Very Bad Things from those more heavily involved.
Unfortunately my serenity was rendered un-serene yesterday, which saw a 1.5 hour meeting at lunch. I had heard that these meetings were adversarial, but I was utterly unprepared for exactly how adversarial it would be. The MO appears to be calling a meeting at short-notice at an inconvenient time (usually over lunch - so you are hungry and weakened by the end), refusing to issue an agenda so that you are unable to adequately prepare and then bully, belittle and insult you and your work until you succumb to their demands. Other techniques include presenting options at a highly conceptual level and refusing to discuss or explain how these concepts might work in practice, misdirection and totally playing the man (not the ball).
Quite possibly the highlight of the meeting was the lead developer loudly stating that I clearly did not understand maths, because obviously there would be no remainder when equally apportioning monetary amounts into hypothetical buckets. There was agreement from many of the other participants. Wait? Wut? DishyBoss, AnxiousMum and I felt like we were in some sort of alternate, very frustrating, universe. $10 into 3 buckets goes how exactly?
Another highlight was my very calm statement that, "You are completely misrepresenting this process which is outside of requirements and which works perfectly to meet our needs. Why are we spending so much time on this? Could we please just move on to the many issues we have with your design?". Which they naturally completely ignored, but it made me feel better to have it out there. And yay(!) for personal development and getting my (future) managerial on!
I held my own for a very good while, but finally could take it no longer and walked out in fury just before the end (boo(!) for losing the managerial). Then I sat at my desk, called Don1 and cried and cried. My cube neighbours were all "now you know what we have been put through in these meetings, try not to let it get you down, you've got no hope".
Holy Goodness!
Afterward, I went to escort our wonderful auditor (a Partner whom I adore and who appears to very much appreciate my m4d sk1llz) from the building after he'd completed some work for us. Co-incidently he'd been in the next room from the meeting from hell. He told me could hear most of what went on (walls are paper-thin), saw me exit in fury and he remarked that they sounded like a utter bunch of tools. I, in my chatty, friendly way, explained precisely what had been going down with the system development. He remarked that it was fortunate that I'd mentioned these issues, because his firm was going to be auditing the new end-to-end process.
As for management? They appear to be complicit in the whole process. Our new Evil Overlord (previously my manager in Dept cool-until-you-are-in-it) was present and sat passively by and occasionally joined the pile-on (but she has a very, very long history of not taking me seriously - which is a lengthy post for another time).
Unfortunately I've been letting this cloud my THREE DAY WEEKEND! The blogging, it has been cathartic. Hopefully we can move on from here.
1who suspected I might have been over-reacting until I arrived home and re-enacted highlights of the meeting for him.
.
It's coming up to End Of Financial Year and it is pretty clear that the major target for the year will not be met. Actually it has been pretty clear for a good many, many months, but God will not hear it or allow the target to be revised. So now everyone is very fighty indeed and the scent of impending witch-huntery is in the air.
In addition to that horridness and angst, we have Attempt 4 at new computer system, which of course was doomed from the get-go. The people who decide these matters at SML appear to be taken in by any and every passing snake-oil merchant (those who express any kind of reservation or question the strategy are clearly Negative and must be Managed). The usual result is that $10M later we delivered with whole lot of nothing and continue with the system we've used since 1996.
Because of the preposterous and unrealistic time-frames involved (this is another recurring theme in these IT projects) there is not a whole lot of development time left before delivery of the second (and final) phase - so the massive de-scoping has begun. Until yesterday I had been extremely fortunate to have had limited exposure to the project, but I have heard Very Bad Things from those more heavily involved.
Unfortunately my serenity was rendered un-serene yesterday, which saw a 1.5 hour meeting at lunch. I had heard that these meetings were adversarial, but I was utterly unprepared for exactly how adversarial it would be. The MO appears to be calling a meeting at short-notice at an inconvenient time (usually over lunch - so you are hungry and weakened by the end), refusing to issue an agenda so that you are unable to adequately prepare and then bully, belittle and insult you and your work until you succumb to their demands. Other techniques include presenting options at a highly conceptual level and refusing to discuss or explain how these concepts might work in practice, misdirection and totally playing the man (not the ball).
Quite possibly the highlight of the meeting was the lead developer loudly stating that I clearly did not understand maths, because obviously there would be no remainder when equally apportioning monetary amounts into hypothetical buckets. There was agreement from many of the other participants. Wait? Wut? DishyBoss, AnxiousMum and I felt like we were in some sort of alternate, very frustrating, universe. $10 into 3 buckets goes how exactly?
Another highlight was my very calm statement that, "You are completely misrepresenting this process which is outside of requirements and which works perfectly to meet our needs. Why are we spending so much time on this? Could we please just move on to the many issues we have with your design?". Which they naturally completely ignored, but it made me feel better to have it out there. And yay(!) for personal development and getting my (future) managerial on!
I held my own for a very good while, but finally could take it no longer and walked out in fury just before the end (boo(!) for losing the managerial). Then I sat at my desk, called Don1 and cried and cried. My cube neighbours were all "now you know what we have been put through in these meetings, try not to let it get you down, you've got no hope".
Holy Goodness!
Afterward, I went to escort our wonderful auditor (a Partner whom I adore and who appears to very much appreciate my m4d sk1llz) from the building after he'd completed some work for us. Co-incidently he'd been in the next room from the meeting from hell. He told me could hear most of what went on (walls are paper-thin), saw me exit in fury and he remarked that they sounded like a utter bunch of tools. I, in my chatty, friendly way, explained precisely what had been going down with the system development. He remarked that it was fortunate that I'd mentioned these issues, because his firm was going to be auditing the new end-to-end process.
As for management? They appear to be complicit in the whole process. Our new Evil Overlord (previously my manager in Dept cool-until-you-are-in-it) was present and sat passively by and occasionally joined the pile-on (but she has a very, very long history of not taking me seriously - which is a lengthy post for another time).
Unfortunately I've been letting this cloud my THREE DAY WEEKEND! The blogging, it has been cathartic. Hopefully we can move on from here.
1who suspected I might have been over-reacting until I arrived home and re-enacted highlights of the meeting for him.
.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
bump in the night
When I heard the smash at around 3am I thought it must have been all a (not quite beautiful) dream and promptly returned to my slumbers.
But no!
After a quite long spell MIA, it would appear that Joaquim is back with a vengeance and, after decimating the parsley, had attempted to climb the small avocado tree (which, you may recall, we grew from a wee seed) and knocked over the pot.
Bastard native animals.
.
But no!
After a quite long spell MIA, it would appear that Joaquim is back with a vengeance and, after decimating the parsley, had attempted to climb the small avocado tree (which, you may recall, we grew from a wee seed) and knocked over the pot.
Bastard native animals.
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garage a trois
Totally civilised! Will totally be back!
Sent from my HTC
Saturday, 4 June 2011
pictsie
Hacking at my fringe last evening turned out to be a stellar idea, as it encouraged me to get radical.
If it had not been for seeing how cute the very short fringe looked, I would have gone for yet another variation on the same yawnish haircut I've had for the last 10 years.
I very, very much adore it! However it will require a little bit of a wardrobe re-fashioning because some items (such as what I wore today) look really quite stupid with this hair, so I was compelled to buy a cute dress to kick it off (and grabbed the wrong size and had to return to exchange it - the second time I have done that in a month!).
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If it had not been for seeing how cute the very short fringe looked, I would have gone for yet another variation on the same yawnish haircut I've had for the last 10 years.
I very, very much adore it! However it will require a little bit of a wardrobe re-fashioning because some items (such as what I wore today) look really quite stupid with this hair, so I was compelled to buy a cute dress to kick it off (and grabbed the wrong size and had to return to exchange it - the second time I have done that in a month!).
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Friday, 3 June 2011
life lessons 2
The fabulous cast-iron casserole might be astoundingly heavy, but it is quite important to remember to remove it from the oven before taking off the lid.
Else you might end up with yet another quite large and horrid burn on your arm ... just a wee bit higher than the last one, which was just slightly higher than the oven gloves (just as the brand new burn is ever-so-slightly higher than the brand new, ever-so-slightly longer, oven gloves).
If I cannot obtain gloves that reach my arm-pit, I need to change my behaviour because ouch and ewwww.
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Else you might end up with yet another quite large and horrid burn on your arm ... just a wee bit higher than the last one, which was just slightly higher than the oven gloves (just as the brand new burn is ever-so-slightly higher than the brand new, ever-so-slightly longer, oven gloves).
If I cannot obtain gloves that reach my arm-pit, I need to change my behaviour because ouch and ewwww.
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life lessons
Possibly not the best idea to come home from work and decide to give yourself a short hipster / Scandinavian-architect style fringe (bangs for those Americans reading).
Oh well, it'll grow back.
And now I can rid myself of the horrid hair clips I was using to enable me to, you know, see.
From some angles (and in low light) it even looks kind of cute (or so the wine tells me).
<edited to add> Wineless Don is quite keen on the kicky fringe (must visit fave korean hairdressers tomorrow for a wee straightening)
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Oh well, it'll grow back.
And now I can rid myself of the horrid hair clips I was using to enable me to, you know, see.
From some angles (and in low light) it even looks kind of cute (or so the wine tells me).
<edited to add> Wineless Don is quite keen on the kicky fringe (must visit fave korean hairdressers tomorrow for a wee straightening)
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Wednesday, 1 June 2011
geosand max
I do so love a working harbour, but unfortunately these sights are becoming increasingly rare. Gentrification of the waterways?
Sent from my HTC
Monday, 30 May 2011
a bit pokey
Sent from my HTC
view from a bus
So rainy and windows so fogged that it is quite difficult to gauge where we are on the route.
Sent from my HTC
<edited to replace photo which was oriented incorrectly, it would seem that app only goes for landscape>
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Saturday, 28 May 2011
samsung: just don't
Friday last, which coincided with my long awaited annual leave/chillaxing day, I telephoned i-cure, the television fixer, to check on the status of super-shiny.
After a good deal of time on hold I was met with: "our system is down, could you call back in a couple of hours?" |"They might have to order the part which could take a lot of time and they they'll have to test it" | "I don't know who you could contact to complain ... ummm ... maybe you could check the website?".
<sigh>
Fortunately working at SaltMinesLimted has made me infinitely more patient when dealing with customer service folk - and so I was nice and not at all stabby.
Anyways, after a week incommunicado, this morning I called i-cure to check on the status of super-shiny.
"Let me check ... is ready. Didn't we call you?"
Ermmmmm - no.
And so we trekked out the suburbs for collection (which interfered with my plans no end).
Now super-shiny is back in his rightful place on the stereogram.
We've had a number of Samsung products over the years and, on reflection, they've been less than satisfactory.
I think now after having gone through a warranty service, rather than writing an inexpensive item off as a bad loss and buying a new thing as has been our practice, I'm confident that I will seek out other brands in future, especially after my stellar experience with Amazon (so very good that I've purchased two more kindles).
Really, I would recommend that you stay away from Samsung altogether.
.
After a good deal of time on hold I was met with: "our system is down, could you call back in a couple of hours?" |"They might have to order the part which could take a lot of time and they they'll have to test it" | "I don't know who you could contact to complain ... ummm ... maybe you could check the website?".
<sigh>
Fortunately working at SaltMinesLimted has made me infinitely more patient when dealing with customer service folk - and so I was nice and not at all stabby.
Anyways, after a week incommunicado, this morning I called i-cure to check on the status of super-shiny.
"Let me check ... is ready. Didn't we call you?"
Ermmmmm - no.
And so we trekked out the suburbs for collection (which interfered with my plans no end).
Now super-shiny is back in his rightful place on the stereogram.
We've had a number of Samsung products over the years and, on reflection, they've been less than satisfactory.
I think now after having gone through a warranty service, rather than writing an inexpensive item off as a bad loss and buying a new thing as has been our practice, I'm confident that I will seek out other brands in future, especially after my stellar experience with Amazon (so very good that I've purchased two more kindles).
Really, I would recommend that you stay away from Samsung altogether.
.
Friday, 27 May 2011
trouble at mill
There have been interesting recent developments at the SaltMinesLimited.
You may recall that around two months ago I was offered another role. You may also recall that I agonised very long and hard about it and after much advice, including that of an imaginary Internet Friend whom I admire greatly, decided I was going to accept.
Of course things are never that simple.
The CEO (henceforth: God) did not want me to take the role. For, as he explained, DishyBoss would be sad and TeamCareerDeath would fall apart (whatever you are thinking and WTFing, believe me, I thought that too).
CFO and my ex-boss from way, way back in Team Cool-Until-You-Are-In-It then concocted an elaborate scheme whereby I might be shared between the teams, gradually transitioning fully to Team NameToBeDecided.
And then nothing happened for a good while.
And so, miserably, I resigned myself to an infinite period of micro-management.
Then, finally, after I had abandoned all hope - late last week something did eventuate. The transition plan will be actioned!
As part of this whole refocussing, DishyBoss is being effectively demoted - ex-Team Cool(&etc) Boss will now manage him (rather than him having a direct line to God). This was all handled spectacularly badly as is the SaltMinesLimited way. He is verklempt. We all do feel very badly for him because he is a lovely man. Though in between feeling terribly badly I'm wondering why we are all cosseting a very grown-up man/person so.
CFO, who I'd previously thought of as very unhinged has been brilliant and actually treats me as an adult! I have started doing some work I'm delighted with. It is immensely refreshing - though I am sure it will become progressively more challenging.
.
You may recall that around two months ago I was offered another role. You may also recall that I agonised very long and hard about it and after much advice, including that of an imaginary Internet Friend whom I admire greatly, decided I was going to accept.
Of course things are never that simple.
The CEO (henceforth: God) did not want me to take the role. For, as he explained, DishyBoss would be sad and TeamCareerDeath would fall apart (whatever you are thinking and WTFing, believe me, I thought that too).
CFO and my ex-boss from way, way back in Team Cool-Until-You-Are-In-It then concocted an elaborate scheme whereby I might be shared between the teams, gradually transitioning fully to Team NameToBeDecided.
And then nothing happened for a good while.
And so, miserably, I resigned myself to an infinite period of micro-management.
Then, finally, after I had abandoned all hope - late last week something did eventuate. The transition plan will be actioned!
As part of this whole refocussing, DishyBoss is being effectively demoted - ex-Team Cool(&etc) Boss will now manage him (rather than him having a direct line to God). This was all handled spectacularly badly as is the SaltMinesLimited way. He is verklempt. We all do feel very badly for him because he is a lovely man. Though in between feeling terribly badly I'm wondering why we are all cosseting a very grown-up man/person so.
CFO, who I'd previously thought of as very unhinged has been brilliant and actually treats me as an adult! I have started doing some work I'm delighted with. It is immensely refreshing - though I am sure it will become progressively more challenging.
.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
refreshments
Both wanktastic and refreshing!
Sent from my HTC
sunday arvo
Half of Sydney also seemed to think so too - is crazy-crowded. So crowded we were forced to the lower levels of the noble stand.
Sent from my HTC
Saturday, 21 May 2011
hausy-mausy update
Today was super-productive!
Productive happening 1: Busted open the 3D Mouse Telephone (henceforth known as HW-2032) packaging:
Plugged HW-2032 in. Nothing.
Rebooted. Right button works! But otherwise: nothing!
Installed drivers via complicated process of J/F (only computer in the haus with a floppy drive) sharing his A:\ drive and copying contents across to my PC. Maus works! Unfortunately maus only works horizontally - there is no vertical movement.
Searched InformationSuperHighway for XP drivers. Discover that the maus-phone is still being manufactured! Unfortunately no XP drivers to be found.
Decided to disconnect from computer, plug HW-2032 into phone-line and call Joan. Success!
Sure, I was confined to the kitchen (where the phone line and splitter are located) and the tres-stylin' call-centresque head-set gave me a subsequent, persistent ear-ache, but I was using a maus-phone!
Unplug. Consider options.
Time was I would have searched and searched for drivers and then would have spent considerable time to discover how to bend the existing drivers to my will (and all manner of insanity - busting out a ye olde PC running an elderly OS). All that I might have a wacky mouse.
Now? Not so much.
I came. I tried. I photographed. I admitted defeat.
Will repackage and drop back in the St Vinnies bin.
Productive happening 2: rocked down to the local coffee purveyor for some compare/contrast photographic opportunities.
I feel ridiculously delighted with my discovery!
Quite marvellous coffee too. If you are in the neighbourhood you should totally do yourself a favour&etc.
Productive happening 3: Walking to our fave purveyor of meat and then up to GPR for veggies - we're endeavouring to support the locals and are trying to eschew the horrid Broadway (apologies to Harris Farm Markets, whom we adore without measure).
Productive happening 4: snuggling with Albert Campion via my beloved kindly. Go! Obtain one for your own self! You can thank me later.
All in all a quite delightful day.
.
Productive happening 1: Busted open the 3D Mouse Telephone (henceforth known as HW-2032) packaging:
Plugged HW-2032 in. Nothing.
Rebooted. Right button works! But otherwise: nothing!
Installed drivers via complicated process of J/F (only computer in the haus with a floppy drive) sharing his A:\ drive and copying contents across to my PC. Maus works! Unfortunately maus only works horizontally - there is no vertical movement.
Searched InformationSuperHighway for XP drivers. Discover that the maus-phone is still being manufactured! Unfortunately no XP drivers to be found.
Decided to disconnect from computer, plug HW-2032 into phone-line and call Joan. Success!
Sure, I was confined to the kitchen (where the phone line and splitter are located) and the tres-stylin' call-centresque head-set gave me a subsequent, persistent ear-ache, but I was using a maus-phone!
Unplug. Consider options.
Time was I would have searched and searched for drivers and then would have spent considerable time to discover how to bend the existing drivers to my will (and all manner of insanity - busting out a ye olde PC running an elderly OS). All that I might have a wacky mouse.
Now? Not so much.
I came. I tried. I photographed. I admitted defeat.
Will repackage and drop back in the St Vinnies bin.
Productive happening 2: rocked down to the local coffee purveyor for some compare/contrast photographic opportunities.
I feel ridiculously delighted with my discovery!
Quite marvellous coffee too. If you are in the neighbourhood you should totally do yourself a favour&etc.
Productive happening 3: Walking to our fave purveyor of meat and then up to GPR for veggies - we're endeavouring to support the locals and are trying to eschew the horrid Broadway (apologies to Harris Farm Markets, whom we adore without measure).
Productive happening 4: snuggling with Albert Campion via my beloved kindly. Go! Obtain one for your own self! You can thank me later.
All in all a quite delightful day.
.
franken-maus
I recently made a huge effort to rid myself all manner of unnecessary/obsolete computer equipment (I know! I couldn't believe it either - yay! me!)
But I just could not resist the lure of the oddest computer peripheral I have ever seen when I found this at St Vinnies yesterday.
Yes, a mint-in-box (bargain at $6) 3D mouse telephone!
Yes, I said, "wut?" too.
Let me share some of its features:
I know when I've been sitting at my computer, I've long wished (as I am sure have you) that I had a had a way to take/make telephone calls at the same time as I've been using my mouse. Sure, I could use the cordless phone or my mobile, but where would be the futuristic, high-tech fun in that?
I plan to bust it out of the box later today.
.
But I just could not resist the lure of the oddest computer peripheral I have ever seen when I found this at St Vinnies yesterday.
Yes, a mint-in-box (bargain at $6) 3D mouse telephone!
Yes, I said, "wut?" too.
Let me share some of its features:
This product is a combination of a mouse and a telephone that will enable you to use the mouse and the telephone and the same time. The 3D roller will ease your reading by screen-scrolling
- The screenscrolling function of the roller will ease your operation
- A soft click on the flat button will enable you to enjoy the operation
- The streamline shape and the flexible cover make it more attractive
- You can make or receive calls when you are using the mouse.
I know when I've been sitting at my computer, I've long wished (as I am sure have you) that I had a had a way to take/make telephone calls at the same time as I've been using my mouse. Sure, I could use the cordless phone or my mobile, but where would be the futuristic, high-tech fun in that?
I plan to bust it out of the box later today.
.
Friday, 20 May 2011
$200 pushbikes in the park
It started with Ireland's fabulous ear-wormy Eurovision entry and progressed to Duran Duran, Haircut 100, Hall and Oates and finally Australian Crawl (who I adored during my formative years).
It was then that I discovered that the video for Beautiful People was filmed roughly 200 metres from our haus!
At Bellevue, which after a long, long, long hiatus feat. mucho decreptitude has finally been reinvented as our fave breakfast spot!
(via Bessie in early 2010)
Must go back and get precise snap (interesting that they've added more supports.
Truly a testament to my m4d detective sk1llz! (The haus is not the only clue, the giant cementy-towers at White Bay in the back-ground at about 40 seconds in totally give it away).
I feel I should really update the wikipedia article to reflect this vital info.
.
It was then that I discovered that the video for Beautiful People was filmed roughly 200 metres from our haus!
At Bellevue, which after a long, long, long hiatus feat. mucho decreptitude has finally been reinvented as our fave breakfast spot!
(via Bessie in early 2010)
Must go back and get precise snap (interesting that they've added more supports.
Truly a testament to my m4d detective sk1llz! (The haus is not the only clue, the giant cementy-towers at White Bay in the back-ground at about 40 seconds in totally give it away).
I feel I should really update the wikipedia article to reflect this vital info.
.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
what about my ....... corsican?
I'm sure you will all1 be relieved to hear that although super-shiny television is dead, a mere $50 investment has ensured we are able to access essential television.
Yay for the Gadget Geek USB TV Tuner2 from Dick Smith which has enabled Eurovision!3 4
Viz:
Paradise Oscar!
We were forced to trek out to Granville (and what an endless trek it was - highlighted by utterly horrendous traffic) on Saturday morning to drop super-shiny off at the Samsung service centre. It will be at least a week until he is repaired and then we will repeat aforesaid trek to collect him.
On the way home from Granville we braved the always utterly horrendous Inner West traffic and stopped by the Essential Ingredient and, amongst other things, picked ourselves up The! Most! Awesome! Oven! Gloves! Ever!
Leather!
Holy Goodness! So superior to anything I've used before! Do yourself a favour &etc!
Luckily after super-shiny broke, I was able to repair to my computer to continue the Hart to Hart goodness. And verily, thanks to Jonathan and Jennifer, the Mom blanket was finally completed:
Now all wrapped and waiting for posting with a couple of snaps and some L'Occitane hand creme.
1 Well, all of you except for rickybollinger, who is more concerned with the length of my penis and performance of same.
2 Totally does what it says on the box. Highly Recommended! A++, as they say on teh eBay.
3 Anyone else seeing that pulsating heart as a giant, scary epiglottis?
4 Despite my best efforts, I unfortunately found out the winner before the broadcast (screw you, smh).
.
Yay for the Gadget Geek USB TV Tuner2 from Dick Smith which has enabled Eurovision!3 4
Viz:
Paradise Oscar!
We were forced to trek out to Granville (and what an endless trek it was - highlighted by utterly horrendous traffic) on Saturday morning to drop super-shiny off at the Samsung service centre. It will be at least a week until he is repaired and then we will repeat aforesaid trek to collect him.
On the way home from Granville we braved the always utterly horrendous Inner West traffic and stopped by the Essential Ingredient and, amongst other things, picked ourselves up The! Most! Awesome! Oven! Gloves! Ever!
Leather!
Holy Goodness! So superior to anything I've used before! Do yourself a favour &etc!
Luckily after super-shiny broke, I was able to repair to my computer to continue the Hart to Hart goodness. And verily, thanks to Jonathan and Jennifer, the Mom blanket was finally completed:
Now all wrapped and waiting for posting with a couple of snaps and some L'Occitane hand creme.
1 Well, all of you except for rickybollinger, who is more concerned with the length of my penis and performance of same.
2 Totally does what it says on the box. Highly Recommended! A++, as they say on teh eBay.
3 Anyone else seeing that pulsating heart as a giant, scary epiglottis?
4 Despite my best efforts, I unfortunately found out the winner before the broadcast (screw you, smh).
.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
first world problems
Feeling rather poorly, I took a sick day yesterday, which conveniently happened to coincide with the blind repair. This was good, because that Australian flag was becoming exponentially less amusing with each passing day.
After the repair and the completion of some chores, I snuggled down on the couch to continue the Mom blanket - accompanied by the kitschtastic Hart to Hart s2.
And then, in the middle of a gripping scene in episode 3, our shiny-television went pop and was no more.
Now we have to ferry it to Granville for repair - which is quite a distance away.
Annoying.
<edited to add> This means no Angry Boys, no Masterchef and no Eurovision!
The Humanity!
Especially annoying when we so rarely watch television - if it had happened at any other time of the year, we'd barely notice.
.
After the repair and the completion of some chores, I snuggled down on the couch to continue the Mom blanket - accompanied by the kitschtastic Hart to Hart s2.
And then, in the middle of a gripping scene in episode 3, our shiny-television went pop and was no more.
Now we have to ferry it to Granville for repair - which is quite a distance away.
Annoying.
<edited to add> This means no Angry Boys, no Masterchef and no Eurovision!
The Humanity!
Especially annoying when we so rarely watch television - if it had happened at any other time of the year, we'd barely notice.
.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
scythe
Don called Mom yesterday. She's keep(ing) on keeping on as best she can. Latest is that, in addition to the super-strong chemo, she's now having radiation to her brain.
All this horrible illness really does make you consider how you'd react in the same circumstances. Honestly, I'm not sure that I could keep raging against.
In my internetly meanderings in the past week, I've come across two items which have also made me confront my mortality and which made me (and will make you) cry buckets and buckets.
Despite that warning I highly recommend you click through:
Don and Iris
Last Post
Tissues (and reflection) all round.
.
All this horrible illness really does make you consider how you'd react in the same circumstances. Honestly, I'm not sure that I could keep raging against.
In my internetly meanderings in the past week, I've come across two items which have also made me confront my mortality and which made me (and will make you) cry buckets and buckets.
Despite that warning I highly recommend you click through:
Don and Iris
Last Post
Tissues (and reflection) all round.
.
linen
After the very, very nice luncheon1 and promenade about the shops with Joan, I repaired homeward in dire need of a rest. Truly, she is the fastest walker on the planet, I almost have to run to keep up - exhausting!
I took a break from the endless crochet for a brief sewing interlude:
Linen bag for my shoes. I estimate I've had this tiny bit of fabric (which cost less than $0.50 - a remnant from Reverse Garbage) in the stash for 9-ish years. The buttons I made from fimo when I was 15-16 (what hoarding issues?). The drawstring is from the handles of a paper shopping bag.
I've been compelled to store all of my new flat shoes in fabric bags (mostly Aesop bags which I had on hand). I am unsure why, but it does make me really very happy and makes them easy to transport. I'm now planning to purchase some dried lavender and make wee de-stinkifying sachets for them.
And on the subject of linen, I've been long dissatisfied with our tea-towels, so decided that linen was worth experimenting with. I acquired some rather gorgeous (and not inexpensive) retro/vintage specimens via eBay and they do indeed live up to the hype.
There is something very satisfying about using an item (which has been kept pristine as part of a collection for years and years and years) for its intended purpose
I had another small remnant of equally elderly white linen from Reverse Garbage which I'd intended to craft into a shoe bag or two, but realised I could probably get two slender tea-towels from the length.
Behold and admire my superior tiny hems (makes the scorched fingies totally worthwhile). Am thinking of either embroidering or silk-screening to finish.
I have now binned those inferior tea-towels.
Viva Flax!
1highly recommended.
.
I took a break from the endless crochet for a brief sewing interlude:
Linen bag for my shoes. I estimate I've had this tiny bit of fabric (which cost less than $0.50 - a remnant from Reverse Garbage) in the stash for 9-ish years. The buttons I made from fimo when I was 15-16 (what hoarding issues?). The drawstring is from the handles of a paper shopping bag.
I've been compelled to store all of my new flat shoes in fabric bags (mostly Aesop bags which I had on hand). I am unsure why, but it does make me really very happy and makes them easy to transport. I'm now planning to purchase some dried lavender and make wee de-stinkifying sachets for them.
And on the subject of linen, I've been long dissatisfied with our tea-towels, so decided that linen was worth experimenting with. I acquired some rather gorgeous (and not inexpensive) retro/vintage specimens via eBay and they do indeed live up to the hype.
There is something very satisfying about using an item (which has been kept pristine as part of a collection for years and years and years) for its intended purpose
I had another small remnant of equally elderly white linen from Reverse Garbage which I'd intended to craft into a shoe bag or two, but realised I could probably get two slender tea-towels from the length.
Behold and admire my superior tiny hems (makes the scorched fingies totally worthwhile). Am thinking of either embroidering or silk-screening to finish.
I have now binned those inferior tea-towels.
Viva Flax!
1highly recommended.
.
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