iPad

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I now have an iPad (iPad 2 16GB/wifi/black to be precise).  I am thoroughly impressed.  A friend of mine has the first generation equivalent (so I knew roughly what I was getting into).  I went with an STM cover as the Apple versions did not protect the back of the iPad (what on earth were they thinking?).  The STM cover functions the same as Apple’s with regards to unlocking/locking the iPad.

The only “additional” apps I have running on it at the moment are:
I’m really enjoying having it with me on the (increasingly frequent) flights I am taking northward.

2011 WA AMRA Model Railway Exhibition

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Once again this event crept up on us: surely 12 months haven’t elapsed since the last exhibition?  As usual I attended twice, once with my father-in-law and children on the Saturday and once with a friend (who is also into model railways) on the Sunday.  According to the brochure this is the 35th such exhibition.

While the number of exhibitors and vendors seemed the same as previous years the floor space had increased significantly (this year both the Robinson Pavilion and the Silver Jubilee Pavilion were used).  This was great news as it made navigating the crowds with small children a little easier.  Popular exhibits with the children included anything with Thomas the Tank Engine in it….

My favourite layout by a fair margin was “Avalon”, a British N gauge layout.  We saw this layout as a “work in progress” last year and were very impressed.  Running were a variety of steam and early diesel locomotives (mostly Graham Farish as far as I could tell).

Another highlight was the “Northern Districts Model Engineering” display.  This included a ride-on train that we all enjoyed and some fairly impressive large scale locomotives.

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.

New birds in the Pilbara (for me)

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In the space of one week I managed to find:

  • A group of Crimson Chats (at least 6) in the area around Wickham (mentioned in my previous post);
  • A Masked Lapwing (northern form, race miles) at the Karratha sewage ponds (near the Gap Ridge Camp);
  • A Spinifexbird in the area near Roebourne.

All three are lifers for me and take my total to 245!

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….

Graham Farish Class 25 Repairs (split chassis type)

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I finally repaired my N gauge Graham Farish Class 25 Diesel locomotive.  I took it apart when it first arrived and would not run (in this instance I think a wire had come loose).  Apparently I didn’t put it back together quite right.  What I neglected to do was to make sure all of the copper conducting tabs (between the bogies and the chassis) were below the chassis (and therefore able to maintain a conducting contact) and not captured inside.  It turns out that the locomotive will run reasonably well with one of the four tabs out of place but will stall on bends.  If by some chance you have made the same mistake as me you may find you need to bend these tabs slightly with a small screwdriver to restore contact.

Birding Lifelist Update

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My Australian lifelist (which is my WA lifelist as I haven’t birded in any other states) is sitting at 239.

I was aiming to hit 250 by the end of this year (and may very well have come close had the Rottnest trip paid off and had I survived the Twitchathon*) but I’m still happy with my progress.
Thanks to Alan I finally got a decent look at a Square-tailed Kite (whilst driving down the hill from Lesmurdie, apparently this is a regular haunt).  Also finally sorted out the three Corellas that inhabit the Perth environs.  I have half decent pictures of all three now.
Some birds that are in my immediate target list:
  • Little Grassbird (heard them a few times but really want a good look);
  • Cattle Egret (they are around, I really need to see them in full breeding plumage);
  • Royal Spoonbill (rapidly becoming a bogey-bird, Mandurah area may be my best bet);
  • Red-browed Finch (I know they are a feral population but I still would like to see them);
  • Chestnut Teal (I’m now double-checking all the Grey Teal I see);
  • Bridled Tern (perhaps a trip to Penguin Island is in order);
  • Masked Lapwing (there seems to be a couple each year that show up in the extended metropolitan area).
* – I retired sick early Sunday morning with a bout of what turned out to be tonsillitis.  It was a shame as The Big Twits went on to see 152 birds in the 24 hour race and claim the title!

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.