Decided we didn't like any of the waredrobes in ikea, or else where for that matter. All the people who came to look at "custom design" weren't really that, they were more kit jobs with cheapy melamine wood, cramped spaces... generally not very nice.
I know I thought, I will build it. At the split instant of uttering the imortal words, the not-to-distant memories of floorboarding came to mind, this was quickly dismissed as it was another excuse to buy yet more power tools.
All it all it went really well, the outcome has been well received based on the unorganised mess we were living in. Just need to put the curtain up in front and all will be done (currently missing photo of finally completed assembly, it does look good honest)
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The big, rather silly when you think about, swim...
The traditional "big swim" is part of the oceanswim series, of which regular readers will know i part take... or try to. Well to be honest, its not actually that big, not when you consider what we undertook the other month. An 11km swim from Circular Quay to Manly. Okay so it was a relay race, so we only ended up doing about 3km each (less as it turns out... see later).
We had a support boat (well more a tub than an actual vessell), a "crowd" of supports (well many ditched at the last minute), good (ish) weather, and no sharks. I got the long straw and with it the prestigeous honour of starting first (yes thats me in the white cap in the dead centre) and swiming from under the harbour bridge. Very sereal.
The oddest thing was the lack of clarity - doing ocean swims you really get used to clear blue water, seeing where you're going, that sort of thing. In the harbour its hte complete opposite. Its pretty much pitch black. Un-nerving to say the least. It started well accept for the very embarassing situation of having a large collection of people, who are swimming solo, pass you with energetic strokes & kicks before even 100m was under the belt. We knew it was not about winning the thing, but still....
The morning went pretty smoothly, the realisation that it was a very long way did set in soon, especailly when someone revealed they'd checked the tides and they were basically against us the entire way. This was very evident on some occasions when standing on the boat looking at the swimmer in the water not moving against the backdrop!
All went well, standard inspirational comments hurled, along with apple cores and pieces of fruit, from the top deck throughout the swim. Then we came towards the heads (where the harbour gets the ocean swell). Ed (who is looks exactly like me, so don't be confused in some of the pictures) struck the first of what was to become many jelly fish. Swarms of them became evident from the ocean swell. As soon as Ed got out of the water to reveal the extent of the number of the little buggers. As it turns out the weather men had predicted a bit of a problem (they're presence is due to northern winds and swells) but none of us saw that broadcast. It turned out to be one of the worst swarms ever witnessed on the North Beaches.
Not surprisingly we canned the swim at that point and motored around it. All the while all we could hear was swearing as people gradually became victim.
It turned out all but one swimmer in the entire race left the water and had to motor / paddle around the swarm.
We did finish the race in the end, jumping in 300+ms from the shore, running up the beach baywatch style (apart from the hideous trunks someone decided to make us wear!), to the cheering crowd. Interviews with the local paper, photos of ed's back, free gifts... all very exciting. It was that point the guilt got to us and we confessed to having used motorised assistance for a good 700-800 ms. That we thought was that, no prizes, just a few stings and "fun" memories. It turns out as everyone, bar one person, had at somepoint got out of the water, they had to re-instate all those that were originally disqualified. We came 2nd (see Eric Hooper our esteemed Captain) in the team event, silver medal, and electric toothbrush to boot!
It became evident in the press following the event that numerous people had tried to struggle on through the swarm, 2 actually ended up in hospital, and 20 odd were treated for severe shock.
All our photos, most not very good to be honest, but they're here
For an alternative description of the days events you should read Boguns account (Chapter 54), the chap in green with the hat who was staying with us on his travels.
We had a support boat (well more a tub than an actual vessell), a "crowd" of supports (well many ditched at the last minute), good (ish) weather, and no sharks. I got the long straw and with it the prestigeous honour of starting first (yes thats me in the white cap in the dead centre) and swiming from under the harbour bridge. Very sereal.
The oddest thing was the lack of clarity - doing ocean swims you really get used to clear blue water, seeing where you're going, that sort of thing. In the harbour its hte complete opposite. Its pretty much pitch black. Un-nerving to say the least. It started well accept for the very embarassing situation of having a large collection of people, who are swimming solo, pass you with energetic strokes & kicks before even 100m was under the belt. We knew it was not about winning the thing, but still....
The morning went pretty smoothly, the realisation that it was a very long way did set in soon, especailly when someone revealed they'd checked the tides and they were basically against us the entire way. This was very evident on some occasions when standing on the boat looking at the swimmer in the water not moving against the backdrop!
All went well, standard inspirational comments hurled, along with apple cores and pieces of fruit, from the top deck throughout the swim. Then we came towards the heads (where the harbour gets the ocean swell). Ed (who is looks exactly like me, so don't be confused in some of the pictures) struck the first of what was to become many jelly fish. Swarms of them became evident from the ocean swell. As soon as Ed got out of the water to reveal the extent of the number of the little buggers. As it turns out the weather men had predicted a bit of a problem (they're presence is due to northern winds and swells) but none of us saw that broadcast. It turned out to be one of the worst swarms ever witnessed on the North Beaches.
Not surprisingly we canned the swim at that point and motored around it. All the while all we could hear was swearing as people gradually became victim.
It turned out all but one swimmer in the entire race left the water and had to motor / paddle around the swarm.
We did finish the race in the end, jumping in 300+ms from the shore, running up the beach baywatch style (apart from the hideous trunks someone decided to make us wear!), to the cheering crowd. Interviews with the local paper, photos of ed's back, free gifts... all very exciting. It was that point the guilt got to us and we confessed to having used motorised assistance for a good 700-800 ms. That we thought was that, no prizes, just a few stings and "fun" memories. It turns out as everyone, bar one person, had at somepoint got out of the water, they had to re-instate all those that were originally disqualified. We came 2nd (see Eric Hooper our esteemed Captain) in the team event, silver medal, and electric toothbrush to boot!
It became evident in the press following the event that numerous people had tried to struggle on through the swarm, 2 actually ended up in hospital, and 20 odd were treated for severe shock.
All our photos, most not very good to be honest, but they're here
For an alternative description of the days events you should read Boguns account (Chapter 54), the chap in green with the hat who was staying with us on his travels.
My ugly mug... first aussie drivers license
Whole process remarkably painless - turn up, UK License, Passport, a few bills to prove the address, sign a couple of documents, eye test, hand over (a rather large sum) of cash and voila... the most painful part.... seeing the photo
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