Winter

Well, the shortest day of the year has come and gone, as has another birthday, and boy do I hate the proximity of those dates... It was a pretty quiet day for a birthday, but thanks to those who called, it was good to speak to some people back home.

Jo promised to take me shopping for the weekend - but I wasn't aware that looking at women's shoes properly met that criteria - apparently it does. Still, I did manage to get away with a Freeview receiver, which is a little set top box for the TV that picks up satellite free-to-air broadcasts and takes proper advantage of the widescreen TV (still not high-definition though, but very clear reception nonetheless).

Part of my main birthday present from Jo (the other half is coming next month) was already acquired* several weeks ago - a breadmaker that will be souped up for other duties (ask Steve). Still, to check if it was functional, we've baked a couple of loaves of bread and it works just fine - in fact Jo wants to get another for when I put mine to its "proper" use (that's deliberately vague, but I'll clarify in a few weeks).

*I say it was acquired because it was a $1 purchase on Trademe (broken paddle), and the seller didn't even take his dollar. Then another seller had a used bowl for that exact model for sale cheaply down in Wellington, so hey presto one $20 fully functional breadmaker, when most used ones are asking for about $70 :)

We also picked up a portable air conditioner/heat pump unit that will hopefully be a bit more efficient than the fan and oil heaters at keeping the house warm. We haven't properly got it fired up yet though, because we need to set up an in-fill panel in the wondow frame to keep the draughts out (it needs ducting out the window).

To keep in the shopping theme, we also now have (bought a week ago) a coffee table (the lowest thing ever, ony 18cm high), and a spare bed will be picked up next week, so now you have no excuse for not coming to visit us!

Well, that's enough for rampant consumerism! What else have I been up to? Work is as usual, and I often get a wet arse riding there. I'll be back in Australia next week, from 2-6th July, but I'll be up in Bandiana (out the back of Wodonga) for most of that time doing a vehicle survey (measuring up some tanks and armoured personnel carriers for equipment fitment). I might have some free time on Thursday night or Friday morning if anyone is around the Melbourne CBD and wants to meet up, but I'm not sure of the exact flight details at this stage and I'm travelling with 2 others, so it's a little tricky to plan. I should have my Aussie mobile switched on that week if anyone wants to call.

stay in touch! cheers all,
matt.