Category Archives: Life

Howell Cubby House

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IMG_1381
Cameron enjoying the iPad in the cubby house.
The cubby house is (for now at least) complete.  To see the build pictures go to this Flickr set.  At some stage in the future I will no doubt add or improve a few things but everything I had planned for it is now done.  I’ve enjoyed building it and learning some new skills.

A belated update of sorts

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So, it’s been a while since I posted a blog update.  Here goes:

  • I upgraded the RAM in my 13″ MacBook Pro from 4GB to 16GB (purchased from http://www.macfixit.com.au).  The performance boost is nice.
  • The cubby house I am building for the kids is progressing well.  I am looking forward to the first round of bulk rubbish collections in the area for the year so I can stock up on some supplies (mainly Colorbond offcuts and wood).
  • The computer collection received two new additions – an SE/30 and a PowerMac 7600.  Both are used but came in their boxes including all peripherals, cables and documentation.  Two very nice Macs.
  • The N gauge model train collection and layouts are progressing well.  Recent additions include some old Graham Farish Class 43 HSTs, a new Dapol Class 58 and numerous rolling stock items.  I am in the process of planning a small 400 x 1200 mm layout as space in the Howell residence is becoming a little tight (see below for the planned layout).
400 x 1200 mm Layout Plan
  • I purchased an iPad Mini (16GB, WiFi+3G, White).  I am finding it a very convenient size.  This is my iPad, the children have claimed the other iPad (3rd Gen iPad, 16GB, WiFi, Black) for YouTube, ABC iView etc.

Planes I have flown in

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The latest addition to the list is the Brasilia, a plane I travelled on from the Carina mine site (East Jaurdi) to Perth.  A very noisy and bumpy ride.

Edited to add 737-800 (thanks John).

My Apple History

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With the passing of Steve Jobs, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the impact Apple Computers has had on me.  Here is a rundown of my “main computer” Macs.  I haven’t included those acquired for my (rather out-of-control) collection.

  • It all started in the mid-1990s and involves playing the original version of Cyan’s Myst with Simon Wright on his Apple clone (the brand was Umax if my memory serves me correctly).  Simon and I used to prepare all our group assignments on this setup (he had a scanner and a printer as well I think).  This got me hooked on all things Apple.
  • In the mid-1990s my folks bought us a second hand Apple Macintosh IIci (8MB/80MB) from Simon’s Dad’s work.  It was fantastic.  Mum and Dad then splashed out and bought a brand new StyleWriter 1200!  I still have the IIci and StyleWriter.  Years later I discovered the IIci had come with a Nubus ethernet card, making it even cooler.  The IIci remains my favourite Apple product.
  • After a few years of University studies I purchased (for a ridiculously high price) a Performa 5400 (160MHz/32MB/1.6GB).  Not one of my better decisions.  I foolishly chose the higher clocked 603-based Mac over the slower clocked 604-based one.  I bought my first (of many) boxed Mac OS version for the 5400 – Mac OS 8.5 (I updated to 8.6 by downloading all of the disk images over a 33.6 modem).  I did get it to boot MkLinux from a 250MB Zip Disk (once).
  • Early in the piece I purchased (for about $500 I think) my first PowerBook, a PowerBook 150 (4MB/500MB).  I sold it a few years later.  I spent a while trying to find more RAM for it but had no luck at all.  I now have a handful in my collection…
  • My next PowerBook was a PowerBook 1400 (133MHz/Passive Matrix Screen/40MB/1.3GB) and a PowerCD (as the 1400 had no internal CD drive).  I sold the PowerBook a while later but have kept the PowerCD.  I think I paid about $1400 for this.  The 1400 also ran MkLinux briefly…  Needless to say I have kept the reasonably rare and unusual AppleCD in my collection.
  • For the last few years of Uni I had a Lombard G3 PowerBook (400MHz/192MB/6GB) until upgrading to a brand new PowerBook G4 12″ 1GHz (256GB/40GB).  Later I upgraded the RAM to 768MB and the hard disk to 320GB.  This is the only new Macintosh I have ever bought.
  • The latest upgrade (nearly three years ago now) was a second hand MacBook 2.16GHz (2GB/120GB).  I later upgraded the hard disk to 320GB.  I’m currently typing this post on it!  It has been a good work horse.
  • I guess I should also include the iOS devices.  I started with a 2nd Generation iPod Touch (8GB), followed with an iPhone 4 (16GB Black, I was a late adopter) and the latest acquisition has been an iPad 2 (Black/Wifi-only/16GB).  They are incredible pieces of kit.
For the record I think it is perfectly normal to remember the specifications of all computers you have owned.

Study Rearrangement

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I have just finished rearranging the study (again).  The motivation this time around was to make the model train layout more accessible to me (and the kids of course – Declan has been complaining he can’t see trains).  It now sits approximately one metre off the ground and (when I clear out some stuff) is accessible on three of the four sides (including both “long” sides).  The study is quite a high use room: anything of any value that we want to keep the kids from damaging tends to get stored here.  My laptop is in the study, as is Kylie’s G5 iMac, the printer, the ADSL modem and network switch and so on and so forth.  The study is now much easier to access and egress.
The only downside of the movements was that a track section switch on the train layout was destroyed by the door frame.  Thankfully I had a spare and was able to solder (with only minimal burning of flesh) a replacement in situ.

Belated update of sorts

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Well, so much for my plans to update this blog more often…  Life has been busy so here is a quick summary:

  • I am working away regularly again, splitting my time between jobs at the Rio Tinto ports at Dampier and Cape Lambert.
  • The model train layout is progressing, albeit slowly.  I am now starting to consider building an OO gauge layout to run the Wrenn rolling stock I have been acquiring of late.  If I were a betting man I would put money on the era being early British diesel (LMS).
  • I am slowly getting though all of the home maintenance jobs that have accumulating over the last few months.  Still have plenty to keep me busy though.
  • Birding has been good.  Trips north have allowed me to pick up birds like Western Bowerbird, Black-necked Stork, Eastern Curlew and most recently Crimson Chat.  Haven’t had the time to do as much birding as I would like (especially around Perth, I have missed twitching a few “easy” ones like Chestnut Teal and Cattle Egret).  My life list (Australia/WA) is currently at 243.  Only 7 more and I hit 250!
  • My G4 Mac Mini is now hosting a development website (via MAMP) allowing me to develop and test a new Birds WA sightings page.  The project is coming together nicely (but too slowly).
  • For those of you interesting in birding, may a I recommend the following blog published by some friends of mine: Leeuwin Current Birding.
  • I have purchased an Australian reptile field guide and am in the process of working out what reptiles (monitors mainly) I have taken photographs of in the Pilbara.  Stay tuned for some updates on this theme.
  • Oh and the iPad 2 has been announced…. drool….

Return from intermission

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I have come to the realisation that it has been almost two months since I have posted anything on this blog.  Apologies to my dedicated readers for the unscheduled hiatus.

The last two months have unfortunately been dominated by work.  I had hoped to reduce the amount of site time I was doing but have found it steadily increasing.  In an effort to stay in Perth more often I am taking on more managerial roles, something that I am not too comfortable with to be honest.  I am, however, grateful to have a job.
Computer-wise, not a lot has changed.  Kylie has a “new” iMac G5 (replacing her eMac G4 which was becoming decidedly long in the tooth).  I haven’t added much to the computer collection (I think a complete Apple IIC was the last acquisition).  Recent Apple announcements have been a roller-coaster of emotions for me: the new MacBook Air looks awesome (the 11 inch model in particular) but why oh why have they canned the Xserve?
The model train layout I have been building for the last year or so is progressing nicely.  The under-board wiring has been neatened up and more work on the scenery completed.  I have also started to fix the location of buildings.  Still a very long way to go but I’m not sure I ever want this project to end…

The last few months have been fantastic for me with regards to birding.  The highlight was a trip to Neale Junction with Martin Cake and John Graff.  You can read the trip report here.  It was a fantastic adventure into an area that I have never travelled before.  Already there are plans to go back.  In all I got 17 lifers.

Declan and the trains

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IMG_5579, originally uploaded by gjhmac.

Declan REALLY enjoys watching the trains run in the study. Surprisingly he doesn’t break much or try and touch the trains as they pass. The only problem is that it is difficult to get all three of them in the room at once watching trains (and none of them like to be left out when there are trains running). Of course I can fix this problem by building my dream layout in the shed….

Another rambling update…

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Here’s an insight into what I have been up to recently:

  • Started basketball training again (with the intention to play a season on a team). I really need the exercise…
  • Still tinkering with model trains. I’m in the process of re-doing a whole heap of track work I did earlier in the year (or late last year) that I’m not entirely happy with. Contemplated (briefly) a new, much larger N gauge layout but decided to continue with the one I have been working on. Still acquiring random trains/rolling stock/buildings and other miscellanea. Lots of fun.
  • Not bird-watching/photographing anywhere near as much as I would like. Don’t like my chances of reaching 250 species by the end of the year (currently sitting on 215).
  • I have finally delved back into Mac programming. Just working on a simple project to start with but hopefully things will ramp up once I get familiar with it again. Seriously liking the new version of Xcode.
  • Still working (probably too much). Got to pay the bills somehow. While the downturn means less project work it does mean we are putting together a lot more quotations and proposals.