the monaro

One of the often strange juxtaposition in my life is that of work.

I claim, and to most intents are, an environmentally aware person, working for a better future by tackling the problem of a car based personal transport paradigm.

I also currently work as a retail wage slave for a company that (among other things) sells and installs aftermarket stereo systems into all manner of cars. Occasionally we do a big job like this Monaro.

The Car in pieces.

Originally all the gear went into a V8 Commodore that ended up on its roof after a unfortunate mechanical failure. Luckly for the owners that by the time it ended up on the roof sufficient speed had been washed off so that all three walked away unharmed.

The car has Pioneer yellow cone splits in the front doors, TSD 6" 2-ways in the rear panel, a Pioneer 12" sub, AVHP5750 in dash DVD, with a vehicle dynamics processor and Ipod adaptor. The amp is a JBL 6 channel. All the wiring is Streetwires by MTX.

The dash with new fold out screen and fitting kit to the VY Monaro. We retained the steering wheel controls by using a remote emulator.

When I went to see the car on Saturday (day 3 of the install), I had my kids with me and they were very impressed with Darren, who did most of the install, playing Shrek on the DVD. It sounded awesome.

Darren at work, day 2 of the job, note that the whole rear of the car had to be stripped to run the wiring, install the speakers, etc..

Anyway, that is my work space right now, and even though I enjoy it a lot, I am also trying to navigate to a space that might be more fulfilling.

Such as it is.

bicycles and the spending of tax money

Rode again today, now tired, blazing it all day trying to get things done, brain fried. Sleep soon.

Thought that I might spend my tax return, the modest little amount that it was. New cycling shoes, pedals and a crumpler bag,

excellent :-)

Now I have to decide which bike I will do up as an everyday machine. My thinking is towards the green Avanti. Needs a little work, but nothing that a new bottom bracket, headset and new tyres would not fix. The Avanti came my way via Bikes For Refugees, I bought it from the scheme that I help in some small way with. More photos that I took during one of the workshops in late 2004 are here.

So it goes.

Another day over, all is quite......

dirt tired

raining again outside, spring day with unsettled weather, dark now, dog tired, listening to the most fantastic music on 3d radio, a live recording of AC/Dixie. needing sleep.

Rode the bike to work today. This morning was great, windy and cold. Was in my gortex and long knicks. Thought that it might be a fine day, but no. It was hammering down with rain on the way home. Nothing wrong with that. Makes me push harder and faster, tear through Rymill Park, out of the city and home. Cycling, no matter when, always makes me feel so alive and renewed. I can not imaging not being able to ride a bike.

and what I was listening to....

I was standing by my window On a cold and cloudy day, When I saw the hearse come rollin'
For to take my mother away.

Chorus: Will the circle be unbroken? By and by Lord, by and by, There's a better home a-waitin' In the sky Lord, in the sky.

2. I told the undertaker,"Undertaker, please drive slow, For this body you are haulin'Lord, I hate to see her go."

Chorus:

3. Well I followed close behind her, Tried to hold up and be brave, But I could not hide my sorrow When they laid her in the grave

Chorus:

4. I went back home, my home was lonesome, missed my mother she was gone. All my brothers and sisters cryingin our home so sad and alone.

Chorus:

5. We sang the songs of childhood, hymns of faith that made us strong, Ones that our mother had taught us, hear the angels sing along

Chorus:

6. One by one the seats were empty, One by one they went away, Now my family, they are parted, Will they meet again someday?

Chorus:

short eternity

Last night the lights went out. Sitting at the kitchen table with the kids, mouth full of dinner, when "click" everything is black. A few seconds later, "click", computer re-boots, lights come up, an alarm down the road begins to sound. Kids are a bit freaked, go outside with Chrissy to check on things, and it would seem that the street light are out still. People with torches up the road.

I wonder what would happen if the lights went out and did not come back. How dependant are we on flicking a switch and lighting our homes, heating our water and cooking our food. How far are we really removed from the majority world if these systems that we accept so ubiquitously were to fail?

I think of this as my hot water system in my home is FUBAR and my kitchen tap for the hot water is broken again.