...and in other news

[vilakins]

For news of exploding whales, my car the LIBR8R, my plans for Star One, the latest about my work, and the airshow I went to last weekend:
.

Exploding whale

This is a couple of days old now, but too bad. Literally. Everyone's heard of the famous exploding whale, that ill-thought-out attempt to dispose of the remains of one--well, here's one that spontaneously blew up on a Taiwan city street. Horribly funny, but eeeuw!

LIBR8R

That's the number-plate of my car--sad, isn't it? Said car is 12 years old and a couple of weeks ago the aircon died. It's midsummer here and the thing's a Honda Integra, sporty model with lots of slanted glass. Even driving with the windows down doesn't help--it's still hot, and very dirty. noisy, and smelly as I work in an industrial area and have to drive through streets packed with huge trucks. The aircon will cost NZ$1600 to fix, and Greg said I might as well buy a newer car. However we've found that it's not that easy to find something with all the features I want (hatchback so I can load it with large objects, automatic because I'm lazy that way, aircon, ABS brakes, guts, and style). Also Integras seem to keep their value, so I may end up biting the bullet and getting the aircon fixed.

If I do, I'll have to get the roof painted too, as the paint there is being eaten away. Nominative determinism--it looks like Avon drove it through an enzyme cloud. My brother, who used to paint cars, says the top protective coat went on either too early or too late and never bonded properly; the rest's OK. All the same, more expense whether I repair or buy.

Star One

Greg says I should go anyway, never mind about the car. If I get a deal he's heard about, I can fly Singapore Airlines for $2000 and get a 7-day rental car thrown in. This would be cool. I want to see things like the Falkirk Wheel, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and Portmeirion, and I suppose I can stay in B&Bs.

Work

My contract at the telephonics place ran out last week, and I wasn't sorry as it's not a happy place. Also, Mook, the office cat, has gone to a new home after management got miffed about staff looking for him one day when he disappeared. One of the guys there took him, along with some toys I gave him which my cats didn't play with. Anyway, I've been asked to work four more days next week; after that I'm up for grabs again. I won't mind a few days off but I hope I get another contract soon.

Airshow

I went to the Ardmore Airshow last weekend. This was an excellent day with a terrific selection of aircraft (I love planes), and the bonus of wine from Karaka Vineyards, and food provided by one of our favourite restaurants, Palazzo Roma. I saw some wonderful planes, old and new, and the grand finale was the Airfield Attack.

This was spectacular and I'd run out of camera memory, dammit! Most of the planes attacked the airfield, coming in for mock bombing and strafing runs, while the announcer in the control tower called, "Scramble, scramble!" and the few left on the ground took off to join the melee. They even set off some sort of petrol-based explosions on the tarmac, huge roiling black clouds lit with flame. Several planes used smoke-trails to imitate being hit. It was wonderful.

On the way out I bought a 1:48 model of a Spitfire, my all-time favourite.

Yeah, I'm a geek.

Comments

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Star One's later than I thought this year so I may well go. I'm staying at the hotel I used last year next week for business, so I may look into reserving a room there now and cancelling it later if I change my mind.

Gina

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good! It's 24/25 April I think. The room prices at the Moat aren't too bad compared to their normal rates though.

Off to bed now, work tomorrow. :-(

Re:

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I do like the Shakespeare though.

Gina

RE: Star One

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

You are welcome to visit/stay with me in South Wales for as long as you can put up with me so budget at least one night free. Give me weeks warning to get the place habitable though.
Unfortunately Portmeirion is not in day trip distance, I have done Newport/Aberystwyth and back in a day and put in a full day at The College on a course but someone else was driving, we started at 6.30a.m and got back 7.00p.m, Portmeirion is farther North than Aber think. But as I said you will be welcome.

Sorry if you get this twice in very variant forms but the first one seems to disappeared into thin air

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I'm not sure I'll make it to your area (you never know--how close are you to Newport?) but thanks heaps! Will I see you at Star One?

Re: Star One

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

If we are talking Newport, South Wales or Newport Gwent as it is often still called I work there in the city centre and live about 12 miles up the Ebbw Valley from it. Please don't tell me the Moat House, of which you spoke, is the one just outside this Newport and I have been ignoring a con because I couldn't get to it I thought. Detail, I need details. (Goes off to try and find Star One)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

No, it's in Bedford near London, sorry. But wouldn't you be kicking yourself!

Does Newport have a transporter bridge though? I know a Newport does.

Re: Star One

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Yes, we are that one. They open it several days a year so you can climb the pylons and walk over the top. I've been told it is a fantastic experience but I've never tried it myself as I have this weird phobia. The stairs are open backed and I am absolutely positive that one day I will slip through stairs like that. Totally illogical, my thighs wouldn't go through let alone my body but I cannot shake it off

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You can walk our Harbour Bridge too. Greg's done it but I'm scared of heights.

I had a cat called Petra who was terrified of stairs like the ones you describe. She learned to cope by having to go up them for a feed. :-D

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Re: the whale: Ewwwwwww!

Much good luck on the car, work, and Star One fronts. (Particularly that last one, even if that does seem like a stupid thing to prioritize. I'm really hoping that you'll be able to make it. Of course, it would be even better if I could be there... Sigh. Maybe the next one after that.)

Btw, I "nominative determinism" is a terrific phrase. I think I am going to have to add that one to my working vocabulary. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I can't claim that one as an original. I nicked it from New Scientist who occasionally run readers' lists of people whose names match their jobs.

When I was at uni, my GP was a Dr Gash--pity he wasn't a surgeon. And there is or was a gynaecologist here in Auckland called Dr Tongue, LOL!

Nico - if you go to Gateshead

[quarryquest.livejournal.com]

You must stay with my parents. They are in Newcastle which is one side of the river. Gateshead is on the other.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how kind you guys are! I hate to impose on people I haven't met though, your poor parents having a complete stranger descend on them!

Hey, maybe I can go on a ramble with you when I'm there. Or if MK's leading one, we could join that... (well, I love in hope).

Down my way

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Don't think you'll be venturing down this far, but if you do you are welcome to stay will us for as long as your like. We have plenty of room.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I really wasn't touting for places to stay, but I'd love the chance to meet as many of you as I can. I'm not sure I'll be in your area as I'll only have a week or two at most.

Are you going to Star One?

Re:

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

No, no Star One for me, so I won't meet you there. Maybe somewhere else though. Once you have a better idea of what you are doing and when, we might be able to meet up with you somewhere.