Make room, make room!

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Today I have decided to bite the bullet and attempt the impossible and get both cars into the garage. Parking in the street is impossible as there are so many restrictions, and because we have 'two' car spaces we don't qualify for a resident's parking sticker. Parking in the visitors' spots seems to arouse the ire of the neighbours, so here we go. This is what it looks like now. Wish us luck

Variety Christmas Party

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Yesterday I helped with the annual Variety Children's Christmas Party at the Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour in Sydney. There Were over 5,000 disabled and disadvantaged children and there carers there. It always is an emotional time, seeing wheelchair-bound children with huge grins on their faces. One of the highlights for me were the wheelchair swings where children and their wheelchairs can experience what we take for granted, the sensation of swinging. This is another example of what can be done when people think about access, inclusion and safety.

UKTV and K9

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Yesterday we went to the headquarters of UKTV, the principal sponsors of Bash Car K9, to show off our trophies and to thank them for their support.
I was asked what I do with the car between Bashes. The answer to that is easy. We work on it to get it ready for the next one. At the moment, we are reconditioning a gearbox so that we can get it into third gear without it crunching embarrassingly. Not much else needs doing except all the things we say we are going to do next year, but never get round to it.

Necessity is the mother of invention

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We have decided to recondition the gearbox from the spare engine. We found that a couple of critical nuts were loose. One was circular, ie no flats on it to accept a spanner, just three dimples for a "Special Tool" which of course we don't have. So we made one using available box spanners. We even managed to fit the torque wrench to tighten to the correct degree. Here is the photo. I don't think we will win any design awards, but, hey, it worked.

Goldfish

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The three goldfish deemed to visit me today. I filmed the pool this morning trying to get a glimpse of them but to no avail. Then this afternoon, in the heat of the day, they flashed into existence, first one, then two, then the third whom I had given up for lost. Anyone who has bought and actually read Stephen Hawking's book, a Brief History of Time will be familiar with the concept of matter spontaneously coming into existence. For those who don't believe it should study my fishpond.



This weekend is the long weekend so I have been informed. Being retired, every weekend is a long one. Also clocks go forward on Sunday. A big job ahead for me. I have to take the engine out of the Austin in order to change the gearbox. The synchro on 3rd gear does not function so it has to come out. Luckily I have spares, several in fact. Finding one that works is another thing. Wish me luck.
More later.

Liberty Swing

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I just read in the Wentworth Courier that Variety has unveiled a second Liberty Swing in the Eastern Suburbs at Bronte Park. For those who have not seen one it's a good opportunity to have a look at one.

Sunday Pommygran8 and I took the Bash Car to Rouse Hill for the Rouse Hill Family Fair. Unfortunately the weather was atrocious and so the number of people who attended was down a lot. This was a great shame because everyone had gone to a lot of trouble to make the day an enjoyable one. Still we managed a photo when the rain eased off for an hour or so.

Saxophone practice

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Yesterday afternoon I had a saxophone lesson. I have been having them every week for a few months. I had been getting a bit despondent as I did not see much improvement. I felt I was making the same mistakes all the time. I told the tutor this and he said that I was wrong. I may have been having some problems, but the exercises have been increasing in difficulty and it is only by challenging that improvement will occur. To emphasise this, he gave me 4 times as many exercises to do for next week. Should have kept my mouth closed. I must say I felt elated after that and couldn't wait to get stuck in.




More photos of the Bash. Our Trophy presentation.

Gym Day

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I go to the gym 3 mornings a week and burn off a few calories on the bike and cross trainer. I used to take the ipod and listen to music but I got bored with that so now I take a book to read. The gym is usually quiet but sometimes, like today, I am distracted as when 2 women get on the machines together and talk, usually non-stop. I have learnt to tune out but it can be annoying. I am amazed how they can manage this as usually the sweat is pouring off me and my heart rate and respiration rate are elevated. It is unusual for this to happen with men, they just nod and smile and get on with the exercise.

One of my favourite people on the Bash is Super Hubert (his real name!). He entertains children in schools on the way and never refuses to perform in impromptu stuations. No matter how many times I have seen his act, I am always entertained and his rapport with the children is excellent.

Here is a clip of part of one of his many performances on the recent Bash.

The K9-K9 (Can-Can)

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Well, here it is, the Bash Idol prize-winning performance at The Da Vinci Club, Wangaratta. First clip is the rehearsal, (there was only one), and then the performance. Thanks to the ladies of car 656, (last year's outright winners and joint Bash Idol Winners with K9) for the makeup and the video. It was perfect for the occasion.

Knitting

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So I had to post that picture with the Dr Who scarf in it. Pommygran8 found a special ball of wool in our usual Department Store, (read Charity Shop) and gave it to me. "So knit me something", she says. I think the fact I have retired and have "nothing" to do is getting to her, especially now, when she has to get everything regarding her business ready for the accountant.

Most people I meet ask what I do with my time now I have retired.

I now have time to pursue all my hobbies. In fact, I don't have time to pursue all of them. Too many. I will eventually get round to them.

Last year on the Bash, we led the parade as we were winners the previous year. Here is a link to some photos of that trip courtesy Zoom Productions.

More photos

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Slowly the photos are coming in. Here is one as we were preparing for a coffee stop. Our theme for the day was Dr Who. And yes, I knitted the scarf myself.


This winter for me has been cold. It may be that the house is a cold one but there have been times I have been sitting watching TV with my coat and scarf on with the heater going too. I am looking forward to the warmer weather.

On Saturday I am taking the car to the St Marys Street Parade with more Bash cars. So today I have to replace the siren as it seems they want a lot of noise. Makes a change I suppose.

The Dark Knight

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Pommygran8 and I went to the movies yesterday and saw "The Dark Knight" at the Imax Cinema in Darling Harbour. What an experience! The film was excellent, acting terrific and Heath Ledger as the Joker was outstanding. The Imax sensation immersed you into the film and I strongly recommend viewing it in this format. Make sure you sit at the back and in the middle for the best view.

A bit of a let down was "the Golden Compass" which we saw on Foxtel last night. Having read the Philip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy, the film missed the mark for me. The CGIs were excellent but the film lacked the courage of the books.

Final night costume

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Found this photo of our final night costumes on Pommygran8's camera. Aren't they great? Pommygran8 has excelled herself yet again. The theme for the night was fishermen so we stretched it a bit and had the table decorated as the octopus's garden complete with yellow submarine. Long live the Beatles.

Welcome to sunny Australia

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On Day 9 of the Bash, we travelled from the lush green of Victoria, over the Snowy Mountains. Here is a small snippet of the weather we went through. It's a good job we turned the heater on for sure.

Over a period of 14 years, the Bash has enabled me to see a large amount of Australia and what a country of contrasts it is.

K9 in Westfield

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For those who have not met him before, here is a video of K9, the robot dog from Dr Who, after whom the car is named.
Before the Bash, we were collecting lollies from Sticky in Bondi Junction Westfield who had donated several kilos to giveaway en route. I built K9 11 years ago and spent a lot of time rebuilding him this year. Unfortunately we did not have the opportunity to show his many talents. He also takes up a lot of room. Its amazing how children love him though.

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Had an early tutorial session with Sydhappyguy today and managed to set up my You Tube channel. Videos will be on their way real soon.

I found a great quote today from Dr Seuss:-

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Quite relevant to all us DAGgers don't you think?

I will have to sort the Bash Car out soon. The gearbox is playing up, crunches into 3rd. (It was an expensive gearbox, cost $20.) I am hoping we won't have to remove the engine yet again. Still, it is all experience and I have the time now to do it.

I am taking the car to a couple of events, St Marys Street Parade on the 6th of September and Rouse Hill Family Fair on September 14. K9 the dog may make an appearance. Watch this space.

The Blame Game

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Yesterday I said how I'd gone to the place who had reconditioned the cylinder head of the engine. And in discussions had ascertained the most likely cause of the problems we had.  No-one to blame, sh*t happens. Yet, if I had listened to the advice of many people on the Bash, I'd be suing the pants off them for botching the job. Why is it that there has to be a scapegoat, a need for someone to take the blame for someone else's misfortune? 

This is a photo of one of our coffee stops. As you can see it is pretty messy, (now that's an oxymoron!).  We will have to streamline it for next year. The green object on the tailgate of the ute is our instant hot water supply which works a treat. The water comes out hot enough for a cup of tea. Save a lot of time heating a pan on the camping stoves. Trouble is, after packing all the coffee gear, there is not much room for anything else.

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Yesterday I took the car to the place that originally machined the cylinder head and block. I was trying to find out why the head failed on the second day of the Bash.  After a lot of discussion, not adversarial, I think I have the answer. The head was pressure tested thoroughly before I collected it.  I do know we blew the head gasket. The likely explanation is that the head gasket blew first, then the head overheated, and caused the problem with the inlet valves. 

No blame game played.  And it certainly wasn't because the engine is pink!

Bash Costumes

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I am slowly going through the photographs I took on the Bash and of course, I don't feature in many. I am putting up four of the costumes we wore. There will be more photos as soon as they become available. This is just a sample of Pommygran8's skill in costume making. If anyone out there has any of K9 and crew, we would be grateful.

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We are still getting to terms with winning the Spirit of the Bash Award for 2008. Already we are thinking about next year and wondering where the destination will be. There are rumours that there will be a national Bash with all the different state Bashes meeting in Alice or Uluru. 

This year's Bash was very different in that it rained for 9 of the 10 days. Virtually no dust.

Hopefully we can sort the car out without having to remove the engine this year. Always optimistic.

It is getting difficult to upstage ourselves for next year. We have video of our performance of the Can Can for Bash Idol. This will be available on www.888dag.com on the 8th of September.