4 jul 26: anniversary of a special friend & some digger woes

Actually while I think of it, today is her birthday. She died by suicides the day I discovered my then wife of 29yrs, was cheating. 
Anyway, Robyn was my first serious girlfriend & a very special relationship we had. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events that any couple would struggle with, bought is undone. But, the memories are of a very special, romantic & loving soul. Some people would struggle to see me as being romantic, but I am, its just that years of little brutalities by "friends" & family have made me this way. 

Back in the now so to speak, I had a restless night fretting over my little digger. Its rubberised cat track had walked out of its runners. The cost of replacing them is legend, & despite having tried to sooth myself, I did fret. 
So this morning I got out early & began trying a remedy.  No luck. I went back home & searched the little manual that came with the Digger when I bought her. Essentially there were no clear instructions, just a photo with an arrow to an adjustment. 
Back on the job, I used the bucket st one end & the blade at the other to raise her up, found the mechanism & really it was similar to a bicycle chain replacement. End result, no cost, lesson learned. Apparently, diggers really don't like working on a sideways slope. Lesson learned. 
I celebrated by giving her more work, some fresh engine oil & more work.    

Popular posts from this blog

a new boat - Norwalk Islands Sharpie 18 "Clancy"

Image
Photo is not Clancy, drawing below shows ketch rig. * photos of building, and possible handover ceremony from professional builder Robert Ayliffe of Straydog  Boatworks to the current  owner John of Canberra in 2009. * An 1880 report by the U.S. Census Bureau characterized the sharpie as "so good a fishing boat and so fast a yacht that it has been adopted in a great many other localities throughout the United States * Clancy  is the first ever ketch rigged NIS18 in Australia, has attended several wooden boat festivals, raced successfully at the large Marlay Point overnight fixture and locally on Lake Burley Griffin where she has also cruised. 
Read more

trip west pt 2

Image
Its the day I leave my daughters place with some sadness & begin a solo drive 100+ kilometres south west. I'll skirt desert lands, seek off piste roads if possible & dawdle at cool places. I know that the main highways will not provide. Let's go! But first some exercise & oats.  1000: my daughter pops in for morning tea (her) & breakfast (me). While we sat talking my son called to report that he had scored a full time position with a local fire management mob. This is huge, his first independent job since finishing homeschooling some years earlier. This news buoys my mood for the day; having him at home will lessen my responsibilities feeding pets & remaining close to home. After I motored almost across the state, my daughter calls to report that her seniors have asked her to apply for several positions on Council that she might prefer. Wonderful to hear my children beingvrewarded.  After sunset I find a lake in the middle of nowhere, known only...
Read more

Radio Operator's Licence

26 May 2025: This morning I sit a Radio Operator's exam with Above Beyond Boating. They have a delegation from the Australian Communications Authority (ACMA)'to conduct exams.  They also have as many as you want to do sample written exams as part of their online training module. After the written component there is a practical element where the student demonstrates how to make various types of calls eg: contact a coastal station, transmit Mayday Call.   It should go OK but I haven't had an exam in years and I'm flashing back to crap experiences I had at uni - I passed OK but the competitive atmosphere was crippling. I know Neil is a much more supportive lecturer, but I can't seem to will away the strain I feel. I know they say a little tension is good.   There will be many benefits of having a radio licence. I can register Clancy & her various electronic items with an MMSI.  Its funny because six months ago DSC & MMSI & even the current radio ne...
Read more