Electric Storm

Sometimes I love the awesome power of nature. This truly amazing electric storm passed through Cabarita last night. Natures fireworks in full glory. It was some of the most spectacular lightning I have ever seen. Flashes every few seconds, some forks filling my view of the sky and many seemed to be earthing themselves. Again I was too late to get out there with my camera and actually a bit apprehensive to go up on the headland for fear of being fried. It was seriously that full on. This photo (a 10 second time exposure) was taken in the 5-10 minutes I had before I got hammered by violent wind then rain and mini hail stones. Clearly armageddon was upon us. Shame I couldn't capture the really good forked spider web strikes on camera. Incredibly the whole storm blew by and had gone past us up the coast in about half an hour leaving relative calm and nearly clear sky. Cool.

Wet and dry seat

Tia's stable enough to use her bath seat now. She's enjoying bath time sitting up.

Face plant

Richy dropped by Saturday, no surf, couldn't find a tennis court to play on, so we hit the skate ramp. I lasted about 3 turns before landing on my head. No big deal for a guy like myself with no brains. 3 stitches should at least keep me from bleeding to death.

Ayyyy.

Tia looks pretty cool in her new shades.

Yeah. Thumbs up Yosh.

Koichi's Birthday

Food, beer, table tennis championships and more bouncing babies than you can giggle at all at once. Happy 32 million Koich.

Zoe & Teresa

It was good to see Zoe and Teresa Miller down here. Thanks for the splaydes. See you again soon.

Tia

Learning and growing and playing and growing and...

Birthday Feast

Ayako's birthday Nov 3. Fresh salmon sashimi and tiger prawns. Yumbo!

DC vs Distillation

After including some statistics for jetboats in the previous post it got me to thinking. I'm not really a motor sports person but somehow have been involved in witnessing a fair bit of motor sport recently - stay with me on this one - I conclude, the fact that a jetboat uses 20 litres of fuel in 50 seconds is impressive - sort of, fun - yes. But I think it is rude to the person who spends their money on a hybrid technology motor car for example (to hopefully do something about our suffocating planet), and insulting to the children of the world (or will be by next generation). Have they (the petrol heads) read the news. If that's too convoluted maybe this isn't, read the Stern review summary. Could it be really excessive combustion engines aren't that cutting edge and cool any more?

Right, before you shout "killjoy!", you might want to see this first. If you haven't heard of associations like NEDRA - click here. Imagine how cool it'd be with Indy cars, F1 and jetboats powered by volts instead of burning fuel. They'd be relatively silent and just as fast within a couple of years of manufacturers innovation. Bring it on... remembering consideration to correct battery recycling and renewable electricity production.



In 1982 20 litres in 50 seconds was impressive. I think post year 2000, 336 volts, "Inpira" 12V batteries, Zilla 420 kW controller, is much more impressive. It's all about Amp's baby.

See an Electric Wrightspeed X1 beat a Ferrari, its modified from an Ariel Atom - Top Gear TV test the Ariel Atom

Inland Jetboat Surprise

We went for a nice impromptu little Sunday drive today, to check the surf conditions mostly, down at Hasting Point. On the way back, only a couple of minutes from home, I drove up a rural street to show Ayako where I had explored a few days earlier. It leads off past the local pony club around the back of the hill at Cabarita. There are some really nice properties with horses and cows and open fields, it feels like real deal farm country and very pretty. I bought a big bag of bananas for $2 at an honesty system roadside stall here the other day.
This time just before the bananas we noticed a small helicopter flying low and a bunch of cars parked up a dirt track. Curiosty taking over I drove up the track slowly, with beer and hot chips vendor vans coming into view. This must be a rodeo or a boxcar speedway or something we thought. To our laughing surprise we saw a hill of revheads and a muddy little swamp racecourse at its base. Crikey! Its a bloody jetboat track. Well this was unexpected to say the least. About 5km inland next to a sugar cane field there was this Australian Superboat Championships taking place. We turned up for the finals. Brilliant. I didn't bring my camera, oh well (photos are from the official website). This apparently is one of the premier circuits in the country. It was quite low key with no big signs or fanfare for such a serious event.

"Likened to rally driving on water, the boats can accelerate from 0 to 160km’s in under two seconds while completing 180 degree corners pulling 5-6 G’s similar to those found in a F-111 fighter jet. It is a visual spectacular unseen in any other form of motor sport" to quote www.v8superboats.com.au
"Producing in excess of 900 horsepower. V8 Superboat engines use methanol fuel and have an incredible fuel-burn rate of 20 litres per average run lasting around 50 seconds."

So that was it. 20 minutes or so later we were off continuing our nice little drive in the country, having watched about 5-6 runs and the Australian champ be crowned. So much for pony clubs.

Skate Park

Cabarita has a wicked little skatey bowl. I got inspired, so I dusted off my old skateboard, bought some new bearings and had go. I don't think I've ridden one of these things for about 8 years, certainly not a ramp.

Demolished my shoe, lost skin off my knee and corked my wrist. All worth it though. Yes I'll learn some new tricks later. One step at a time.

Check some video's - www.jords.umaku.com/skate. Yoshi had fun taking them and watching daddy try and kill himself ; )

Sunday BBQ

Happy birthdays to Miki and Kumi.

Tia's Day Spa

After driving from north of Brissy in 30 something degree heat (with no aircon), Tia looked a bit warm, so she had a cool bath followed by a cucumber facial treatment to cool off.

Sandgate

Congratulations to Matt, Reve & Kayden on their newly purchased home in Sandgate, great local on the coast of Morton Bay. Reve looks good with her 6 month baby bump.

Matt always has something interesting going down, besides the house and renovations, this time he cooked up a sample of some fresh goat meat that he had in the freezer from the previous weekends outback hunting mission. Shot then butchered on the spot by him and Reve. I was a little skeptical until I tasted it. Its bloody good, couldn't tell the difference to a good cut of veal. Nice work guys. It'll be goat burgers for months.

Spawn

Meet Tia's new little baby sister. Even with this baby being an immaculate conception, I can see the similarities in both of them.

Indy Friday

This year we didn't go to Indy. Really loud, fast motor cars and drunk people didn't seem like the best place for 2 month old Tia.

I did however go to the Friday night show. The night presented some hot dancing girls, rods and wheels.

This top fueler was too big for its pistons. It blew its 5000hp engine up on its second run (not to mention our eardrums). Behind the rubber smoke screen, it was down the track and out of sight in about 1/2 a second. Plain ridiculous.

Somebody forgot to remind them of the high petrol prices and wars over global oil reserves.
That's motor mania madness.

Bright Eyes

Bright eyes, burning like fire...

Toy Mountain

Toy Heaven, Toy Mountain, Toyopia or Tia in toys. Call it what you will, but she has more toys than hands and brain cells right there.

Look at me

I had to put these photos of Tia up. Too cute.

She got immunised yesterday. Two big needles, one in each leg (thigh) at the same time. Yeeeouch. She's tough though, no tears and is doing well today : )

Herbavour

We got our much desired herb garden started a couple of weeks back, with the initiative of Anna. Basil, sage, coriander, chives, thyme, origano. Also in other pots, mint and parsley. Gotta love fresh herbs.

Introducing Mr PC

Those that know me might be a little unsettled to see that new Mr Microsoft Windows PC laptop taking up residence next to sexy Mrs Apple iMac. Well don't be alarmed. They are getting along well and are helping each other out around the office.

Hand Control

New realisation, "I have hands and can control them". The power is in your hands Yoshi.

Green Apples

"Apple" adding to our planets chemical soup? I read it but scream "Nooo it can't be true. Slander, lies. Obviously a mixup."

The fact is, if you believe Greenpeace, it's true. I agree it may not be that Apple are the only ones or the worst offenders out there, its just that Apple should by default be a leader by example, being the cool, innovative, modern company they are.
The problem is that in most cases "green" equates to higher retail prices, something Apple could ill afford in the current market climate.
I'd pay another hundred bucks for my green apple.
http://www.greenpeace.org/apple

Thanks Mum

Anna went home on Monday. She helped give us some extra time to work and was a pleasure to have around the house - great spaghetti and meat balls. I'm sure Tia learned some new things and enjoyed her to. See you again soon.

Japanese Buffet

We got out this weekend to a Japanese buffet lunch. Oishi Des! Nao, Koichi and baby Lisa (5 months old), Richie, Yayoi and Grandma B. We didn't get much in the way of photos - we were eating ; )

On the way back dropped in to Scott and Penny Boot's to meet 2 week old baby Dorian (no photos??) but trust me he is cute. Tia had a great day with all the people and the realisation that other babies do exist. She wore proper pants and shirt (not a jump suit) for the first time. I think she felt like one of the grown ups.

Grandma's in da house

Its great to have Anna come to visit this week. Tia is very happy with the extra attention and lots of play time. Fun for all.

Filler for grey matter (part II)

So many images, so much media. So many awesome tunes, art, movies, so many amazing stories and ideas. As I lay dying I wonder if its my own life's actual events that will be fleeting past my eyes or just a stream of all-the-other-stuff I've encountered that got lodged in my skull over the time.
For Gods sake lets hope it's the former, I'd hate for the final seconds to be occupied with a rerun of Seinfeld or a Ron Jeremy scene or some crap ; )

I think therefore I don't. (part I)

I think I feel like I don't REALLY think that much. Sure I take onboard ideas and information from a range of sources and excrete them in some sort of opinion or form that feels like my idea or thought, but with analysis I wonder how much of it is unreferenced of my influences.

Blogosphere

Its funny. Now into this blog thing I have been reading some other peoples personal blogs. Some are just straight arrows and others are... well, a living dairy for thoughts available to whoever cares to read them. Don't get me wrong, I read quite alot on a wide variety of subjects by interesting authors, it's just that blogging seems to invite that "taking a sneak peek in someones dairy" feeling by way of candid (probably wouldn't be published anywhere else) drivel. It can be interesting at times.

Ponderosa

Well I guess you can tell by now, not much happens around here that doesn't include Tia as the centre of attention. Its sinking in that that's the way it's going be for the next decade or two. I guess that's why they make 'em so damn cute, natures way to keeping us interested.

The ancient art of pencil

I almost forgot the pencil still existed. Being a computer junkie, I hadn't used one for a while, so it felt nice to see the graphite form her shape beneath my hand. Even though she was asleep she still wriggles and moves a lot for a life model.

Bruno

Its good to see Bronson again. He has recently moved to the Tweed hinterland. Good stuff. We actually dusted some instruments off and played Tia a little concert. She has taken a liking to acoustic guitar sounds.

Engines and Art

Saturday we went to Speed On Tweed, a historic car race that runs around a short circuit through the town at Murwillumbah near Tweed Heads. The variety of about 200 vehicles dating from 1920's to 70's makes it a spectacle for car enthusiasts and not. Uncle Newton "the revhead" and Susan came up from Sydney to see some V8 muscle in the shape of well kept Mustang's, Torana's, Chevy Camaro's. There was some nice old Jag's, Alfa's and Porsche's to.
All the old Bathurst winners were there this year, shame about Peter Brock who was due to wrap out one of his old winning Bathurst Torana's, (he died last week if you hadn't read the news).
It was Tia's first big day out. She slept pretty much the whole day in the chest pouch. During the evening in the main street there was a primary school choir (which freaked Tia out when a hundred overly excited school girls came running past us screaming after their show), bag pipe extravaganza (they are definitely and acquired musical taste) and Symphony. We didn't really watch any just hung out, ate and drank merrily nearby. Justin had been photographing each car every 30 seconds all day (he's an official photog) and Kirsten selling merchandise, so if their enthusiasm was not at its peak for bag pipes one can understand : )
Sunday, Swell - an annual outdoor sculpture exhibition at Currumbin Beach was on again, (it's our version of the Sculptures By the Sea @ Bondi/Bronte for the Sydney-siders). This year was ok, there is always a few really good ones. See you next time Newy and Tia says thanks for the bath.

Newtons changes

Since the last time I saw my brother, I notice he has gone through some considerable changes. I think all that protein powder has had a few side effects.

Mumma

Baby just wants to suck on something when ever possible, and a finger is just fine to keep her happy before feeding.

I just spoke with my friend in Germany via www.jajah.com. Sign up (free) and call me free (I am signed up) using normal landline phones. Incredible ; )

High Seat

Playtime.

Caba Sunset

Amazing days end over Cabarita. No waves but glorious rays. Yes it's the same day. One looking west one looking north, I actually missed the best of it by about 15mins, it was lit up with some unusual full sky silver linings.
Click image to see larger one.

Ayako and Jordan and of course Tia get a Blog

Hello people of the world. We have finally decided to set up a blog to keep track of events in our lives for people we know and well... anyone interested.

Now with baby Tia having entered the world on Aug 4th this should be a good way for everyone to see her grow and enjoy all fun things we have been doing, whenever you feel like it. You can add a comment if you want.

So take a bookmark and see you all regularly.