Charley Brown the Gecko

Here is a pic of Charley Brown. Well, not the real Charlie Brown, a gecko who we got to know when we were living in Queensland (30 years ago). We named him Charlie Brown because he as so hopeless at catching insects. He used to stork them for hours, high on the walls of the house we lived in at Sarina Beach, and just when he was about to launch an attack, the insect would fly away. Charlie Brown provided us with hours and hours of endless enjoyment back then.

Audit of New Workshop Machines

I have been accumulating some new machines for the workshop recently. Here is a photo list of all the new toys. The thicknesser is too heavy at 46 kg (about (90lbs) to be lifting around all the time so I made up a stand with wheels on the front and wheelbarrow handles at he back.

Some More Photos for Dean and Lisa

Hi Dean and Lisa,

here are some more pics from Owen's baptism and Craigs Enlistment Day.

No baptism photos right now. A video in the next couple of days.

Cheers Geoff.

Owen is Baptised

Owen was baptised at St Bernards Catholic Church in Fryers Road Belmont.

His godfather is Regan's brother Craig and Godmother Regan's friend, Teresa.

A Table for the Drier, or...

...a great little home for Madeleine.

The box started life with Gaye assisting in the glue up. As long as I supplied cups of tea, she was willing to stay sitting on the box until the glue had gone off. Like grandmother like granddaughter, Madeline decided she too liked the box and took up residence while it was still in the workshop. Later she re-discovered it relocated to the laundry and again took up residence.

First Day at the Beach for Owen

Monday was a particularly nice winter day so we took to opportunity to introduce Owen to the beach. Initially there were no clouds in the sky and we could have stayed for hours. Unfortunately we had to move on when a cloud did came over dropping the temperature considerably.

Madeleine is a Tough Audience

I managed to snag a couple of photos demonstrating Madeline's critique of a performance put on by Vic, Sue and Dim. As you can see she is definitely VERY impressed to start with, but soon decided that there were better things she could be doing with her time.!!!!

New Box for a New Plane

Part of the deal with the new power tools included a Irwin #7 Smoothing Plane. It is the jewel in the crown of the purchases, like all good hand tools, it is tactile, beautifully balanced and I just knew I had to have it after picking it up. It was brand new, and deserved its own box for protection. I made the box from 19mm MDF using 45deg beveled corners, strengthened with jarrah hardwood splines and finished with Cabbots spray on varnish. Jarrah is a native Australian hardwood with a deep red colour and contrasts the blond colour of the MDF very nicely.

Wow, Too Much Happening....

... and not enough time to update the blog.
In Summary, let me see, in no particular date order:

• Owen was Baptised last Sunday 18th July. Vic and John, Sue and Dim travelled down from Sydney to join in. The baptism was followed by lunch at the Bendit Elbow.
• Gaye wanted to get easier access to her drier, and I had to show something from the big investment in new power tools, so we built a box to lift it up to waist height. You will see later that Madeleine adopted it as a you beaut play house.
• Owen went to the beach for the first time last Sunday where he met up with Madeline and assorted helpers.
• I built a box for my beautiful new smoothing plane.
• We had a going away party on Monday 19th July 2010 for Craig (Regan's brother) who has signed up with the Australian Army and is off to Kapooka, which is near Wagga Wagga in South Eastern NSW for 80 days basic training. For Eila, click on the map reference here: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=where+is+kapooka&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GPEA_en&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Kapooka+NSW&gl=au&ei=sEVGTJOuL4iEvAO619THAg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ8gEwAA
• Steve has finished up with Belmont TV and Electronics having had confirmation that he was successful with application to work with Broadcast Australia at Shepparton. Elia, here is the Shepparton map reference: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GPEA_en&redir_esc=&q=where+is+shepparton&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Shepparton+VIC&gl=au&ei=T0ZGTMOAHpOGvAP325TcAw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ8gEwAA
• Shepparton to Kapooka is 319 klms and takes about 4 hours by car.
• Geelong to Shepparton is 250 klms and 3 hours by car.
• During Vic and John's visit we had a big garage clean out. Got rid of a bunch of things we will never use again.
• I booked a 2 week windsurf trip to Fiji. Will be there from 13th August. No more cold, sailing in board shorts for a whole two weeks - Cool.
• And of course, many late nights watching Le Tour de France, and listening to Phil Ligitt's commentary and swapping emails with John about Gabriel Gate's whereabouts.
• Finally, I am batching again. Gaye went to Sydney yesterday when Vic and Madeleine returned. I can't remember the reason. I suspect just so she could spend more time with Madeleine.
• Shortly Vic will be returning to work and John will assume prime carer role for 3 months. His employer allows fully paid paternity leave of 3 months, providing he is the primary carer, which means Vic has to be back at work.

Machine Numbers are Growing

Last week, I had a little more cash in my pocket, today we are a little poorer, but the workshop is enriched with lots more tools. It now sports, along with the bandsaw, a DeWalt 13" thicknesser, a Carbatec 6" jointer, a Triton combination, disk/belt/bobbin sander. a Triton 235 power saw and a router table. All second hand, but in great nic. All I have to do now is produce some worthy projects that I couldn't have done with my hand tools previously.
The pride of all the purchases is an Irwin #7 Record Smoothing Plane. Funny how it is the old style hand tools which hold all the appeal.
I have been using a router by hand for so long now I cant remember. It is a real pleasure to have it permanently mounted on a table. Make cuts far more accurate and reduces the number of errors dramatically.
The thicknesser and jointer will enable me to buy rough sawn timber (hopefully at much reduced prices) and cut it to size accurately.
The power saw at 3 1/4 HP is a beast and it is unlikely I will be using it by hand, so I have my eye out for a table to mount it on. And then I'm done. I think that's it for the capital items. Oh, unless a Triton Router comes up. They are fare more easily adjustable than mine in the table setting.

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