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The British Press British Press.mp4

I saw a short clip of a bloke in England being interviewed on the street. His comments were amusing: "Being British is all about driving a German car to an Irish themed pub with Belgian beer and then going home buying an Indian takeaway to sit on a Swedish sofa in front of a Japanese television to watch American shows and all the while being suspicious of anything foreign".

First time we've had honey from our bees! Despite neither of us really knowing what we were doing, we managed to get about 3.4kg from our one hive.

I suppose that will make it a cruise missile?

He's doing it for a reason. He WANTS an incident in LA so he has an excuse to stomp down harder. He would be thrilled if a protestor killed a cop or soldier. I know I sound like a broken record, but this is 1930's Germany all over again.

Well, it's happened. I have seen the light. I am a changed man, a convert, my eyes have been opened, and I see the error of my ways. Before you have concerns about my mental health, this is not a religious experience. But if I had been on the road to Damascus... it'd be astride a cruiser. As someone who's only ridden sports / sports tourers (Honda VFR750 x 2, Triumph Speed Triple, Suzuki VF750F - but that was a high-revving piece of shit) - I've always had a vague contempt for cruisers. You know, the standard stuff... they're too heavy, too slow, don't handle, can't corner, produce more noise than power, etc. However, while age doesn't always bring wisdom, it usually brings an appreciation for comfort, and a lesser appetite for risk. I'm not 20 anymore. I don't want to do 250kph, tucked down over the tank, or take corners at double the signposted recommendation. For a potted history of my riding, I started on a road/trail (Honda XL185) as my learner's bike at 18, moved to a VFR750 as soon as I had an open licence, and spent the next couple of decades (almost) riding the bikes listed above. When I became a dad at 36, I did the "responsible" thing - sold my bike and packed away the bone-dome and leathers. A while back @nomadpete said he was regretfully parting ways with his XV1100. I'd been feeling the need to start riding again (mid life crisis?) and after mulling it over for way too long, I mentioned this to my missus. To my surprise she fully supported me getting a bike, to the extent she told me to contact Peter there and then. I did, but unfortunately he'd already sold his machine a month before. A few days later however, this prince among men (still talking about Peter) messaged me with a Facebook ad for a Honda 750 Shadow. I had a look at the bike, took it for a test ride (now that was bloody scary, 17 years since I'd been on a bike and a totally different style), thought about it for a couple of days then bought it. She doesn't have a name yet (I was thinking of "H" names, like "Helen the Honda", but one of our neighbours is named Helen, so the phrase "I'm just off to ride Helen" might lead to some marital misunderstandings.) But she's 21 years old, all her chromework still looks great, and she sounds like a motorbike should. She's also very comfortable and easy to ride. This evening I rode to karate. While it was damn cold, it was a beautiful night and I really enjoyed the ride. This being my 4th ride on the bike, I'm starting to get more comfortable with her - although it'll still take a few more rides until I'm ready to have my wife on the back seat. So yes, I'm a cruiser convert. Apologies to all the Harley riders I've thought bad things about. (Only thought, because some of them are scary!) And yes, it's true. Her suspension is made for comfort, not corners. Around 80% of the engine output IS noise. (Very nice noise!) And she's much more comfortable gently swaying around curves at 60km/h than doing 110 up the highway. But now I think all those things are positive. Here she is. The photo doesn't do the colour justice - it's almost a candy apple red.

I have been away for a while. I am coming up to 2 years of EV ownership. As with 90% of EV owners I charge at home. The MG4 came with a granny charger. You don't get one with some brands. Tesla give you nothing now. I have used the granny charger once & that was to make sure it worked. I installed a 7kW wall charger & I get free power for 2 hours a day. I also have 8kW of solar panels so my running costs are negligible. The network is better than it was 2 years ago & there are now many "Destination Chargers" at hotels & motels & these are usually free. In the 25,000km I have driven so far I have spent about $150.00 at fast chargers. As with most people I don't do many long trips. The average car owner travels to/from work each day & except for long trips on holiday etc all charging is done at home. The charging process varies and the simple way is to register with each of the main suppliers. I have with Evie, Chargefox, BP, Ampol & Tesla. I have an RFID card which is registered with 3 of them. I pull up, plug in scan the card & that's it. If there is a queue it is bad etiquette to charge to 100% as the last 20% will be slow. I have not had a problem waiting long & by the time I have been to the loo & had a coffee or bite the car is ready. In the MG4 the WLTP range is 450km. At 110kmh I get around 380. After that many I am ready for a break. From Coffs to Noosa I stop once for lunch & charge top up (20-30 minutes). Admittedly this is on the main highway & chargers are everywhere. The thing is the car has a built in Satnav with a charging planner & it knows what range there is and will tell you which charger to go to & in many cases can tell you if the charger is in use or not. So where are we going from here? Well CATL, the worlds largest battery manufacturer has recently announced a new battery technology that uses a combination of 2 types (lithium & sodium) to provide a range of 1500km and can get 520km of range in a 5 minute charge. That is quicker than filling a petrol tank. The new tech breakthrough is with Sodium ion technology. Of course sodium is everywhere. The sea is full of it & it is cheap. https://carnewschina.com/2025/04/21/battery-giant-catl-showcases-three-innovations-1500km-range-battery-520km-in-5-minutes-ultra-fast-charging-and-2025-mass-production-sodium-ion-battery/ This is now where battery & charging technology is up to. The only thing that will happen from now on is that it will get better & better. Already battery warranties are 1.5 to 2 million km or lifetime, The battery will outlast the rest of the car. EV haters will continue to abound but they are being rapidly drowned out with reality & the uptake of EV ownership continues to climb (Tesla excepted due to the Musk factor). Worldwide 17 million new EVs were sold in 2024 representing a 20% increase on the previous year. The new government is not only supporting the switch to electric vehicles but also getting more home batteries installed. Since the election home battery installers have had a massive increase in orders and inquiries. The electric future is here.

The wife & I had a very quiet 63rd wedding anniversary. spacesailor

It's Europe's time to step up. We seriously have to reconsider both AUKUS (Awkers) and the 5 eyes partnership. What point is intelligence sharing with the US when we have a dictator-lovin' Putin puppet in charge? Plus his cabinet is comprised of arse licking sycophants. Definitely not trustworthy people. I think the global West has to face the sad fact that the USA is no longer a trustworthy partner.

Tell them it's a BAY and a PORT. The Gulf of America is between Trumps EARS. Nev

When it comes to public toilets I can think 2 facilities that are unisex nearby. One is by the water near the pier. It is two long columns of cubicles with a long row of sinks. The other is in the arts centre. This facility is pretty swish. It is a large area of sinks, mirrors hand driers etc and around the outside of the walls are cubicles some marked unisex others marked male or female for those who care. As FH pointed out this is old news in many countries. I remember my father telling me that when he travelled to Japan 40 years ago. He was momentarily surprised when washing his hands at a sink that there was a young woman next to him putting on makeup. He had not realized at first that it was unisex and thought maybe he had gone into the wrong toilets, but he was fine with it. Whilst I can see that change causes issues that will need to be sorted such as sport, I can not see why people get so flustered by this. I have a neighbour who moved in about 5 years ago. This young woman seemed very reluctant to engage in conversation, That was fine, I am naturally inclined to chat to anyone. Gradually I noticed that they were transitioning. It did sadden me that this person probably thought due to our age that we might be hostile, nothing could be further from the truth. Four years later my wife and I are pretty good friends with this person. Their defining characteristics for us are their wit, intelligence and kindness. I don't give a toss what their chromosomes are.

My 93 yr old Italian neighbour, Barney, has a Rheem instantaneous (natural) gas HWS. It stopped working, so he came over to see what could be done about fixing it. His English isn't good, and he has zero knowledge of the "computer world" - and he's deaf as a post, too - so it's all hard work for him. I told him he could call Rheem, they have their own plumbers and repair vans, but it would most likely cost between $400 and $500, even if it was a simple part. If it needed more repair, it might be cheaper to replace it (it's a 2012 model), which he understood pretty well. I told him Rheem take $200 deposit out of your credit card just to initiate a callout - and their minimum charge is $260. Of course, he doesn't have a credit card, he only uses cash at all times! - and when I said they would send him messages via his phone, he decided that wasn't the way he wanted to go (he has a cheap mobile, but hardly knows how to use it, and he only keeps it "for emergency"). So he said he had a plumber mate down at the Italian club, and he'd ask him if he could fix it. A week later, I asked how he was getting on with it. He said his mate looked at the unit, figured out it was "an electric part" that needed replacing, and it would take 2 weeks to get the part, and install it. I was surprised, I told him Rheem parts were easy to get, and Rheem will repair it in a day or two. He said, "I don't think my mate wants to repair it, would it be easier and quicker to get a new one?" (a new replacement gas HWS is $1350 for a basic installation here, and it goes up if any difficulties are encountered). I said, "Rheem will repair it for you quickly, and as I said, it will probably be $400-500, do you want me to organise it?" He looked relieved and said "Yes, I'll pay you what it costs, and pay you as well!" I said, "I don't need any payment Barney, but I'll get it organised for you". I rang Rheem and inquired about parts supply, and they said they can supply almost any part needed for nearly all Rheem HWS's in use, and the worst wait would be 2-3 days. So I got them to put me through to Rheem service, where the (older) lady was very good. She took all my details down carefully and read them back, and advised the $260 minimum and $198 up-front charge (which I knew about), and initiated a call-out. I got a text with the job allocation number within minutes, and the next text was advising the job would be done the following day. The following day I got a couple of texts advising the repairers timing of arrival, and he arrived pretty much on time, in the early afternoon. He quickly diagnosed the problem as a U/S igniter (about a $40 part) and he had one in his van - but the model of HWS Barney had was a bugger to work on, because it was older and the igniter was buried deep in the HWS. He set to, and had to undo about 50 screws and pull off part after part, panel after panel and bracket after bracket. After about 45 minutes, he had the igniter out. He said the current models were a doddle to repair the igniter, and he would've had it done in 10 mins, if it was a current model. When I asked him about the life of a gas HWS, he bluntly stated. "10 years!". So he reckoned this one was past its use-by date! - but it still looked O.K. and didn't show any signs of corrosion. He pulled a new igniter out of his van and had it in and finished about an hour and 15 mins after starting the job. He signed it off and left, and the HWS was working spot-on. I went to my computer and there was the bill! - $339.13 in total - and the money was already gone from my credit card! I went and told a grateful Barney, gave him the invoice (the job was booked in his name and he would need the invoice for any claims), and he insisted on giving me $340 plus $50 for my trouble - despite me insisting I didn't need any payment, I just wanted to make sure he could have a hot shower! I think he got out of it pretty lightly, cost-wise, and he would've almost certainly have been ripped off by private plumbers.

The negative results of his actions haven't hit home yet, they are still living on euphoria. It's only been 7 days. Seeing all the pre-election crap and comments on Farcebook, they are expecting miracles. Give it 3 or 4 months and things don't improve the way they hope, eg. cheaper eggs, gasoline, groceries, etc., and the impact of his policies on the cost of medicines, education, etc. start to hurt, that euphoria will evaporate.

Well, the daughter finished her A Levels (HSC/VCE equivalent) last year. She didn't quite do as well as she expected for one of her subjects, which was her best during the year. In fact, she scored a C (we still use the old letter system here). Bitterly disappointed, her school were fantastic. A little background, the examination boards here are.. privatised.. so any questioning of their results has two impacts - additional cost (less profit) and, if they agree (ie.e conceded, or admit they were wrong), reduced reputation with the government that pays them. She scored a C, and needed a high B or a low A with her other subjects to get into her chosen course. Her teacher was adamant she was at least a low A, and the examination board did concede that they were short staffed (aka didn't pay enough) and for my daughter's region, there was an inexperienced examiner. Our initial "review", which cost us £150 was immediately rejected. So we lodged a formal appeal. I aksed the school if there were others in her class, and she said all of them were poorly marked. I suggested a sort oif class appeal, but because they all got into their chosen courses, or went on to work or for their gap year, no one was interested. So we appealed. It takes some time and was something like £300, with a refind if the appeal is upheld. Designed to keep poorer people from appealing, I guess, we went with the appeal. After reading her paper, and the markers comments, they didn't tally, so I was confident it would get through - just by how much though, and would it be enough? My daughter, rather than travelling and taking a lesser course, decided she would sit a 4th subject. It meant doing a two year subject in one year, but because she was only doing the one subject, it was easy. But, it did cost as it was only available in that format at a private college. She has gone to the first term and then started th second. However, we got the results of her appeal, which I was minded to complain about because it only just took her into the B grade.. And her teacher from the original school is fantastic, called us, and asked if we wanted to challenge the appeal. At this stage, it would go to the local educational authoritym which is the government. My daughter decided to lodge her application for the course she wanted - Law at one of the Russel universities (sort of Ivy leagie of the UK and incudes Oxford and Cambridge - but her chosen university is neither of those). She just got the notice that shed has been accepted unconditionally, and is over the moon, as are all of us! BTW, she cose law all be herself. Both my partner and I agreed to not push or otherwise recommend either child into a vocation/profession - we would advise if they asked. And to top it off, she has just scored herself a temporary job at the local nucelar plant as well (security clearance permitting), paying almost average wage... Good on her.

Yes one must have a benchmark. Nev

Brilliant!

It lives, finished the painting. Rebuilt the carburettor... think I found the fuelling issue. And the proceeded to smoke my house out with the test start. Note for future, don't leave the door open with a 2 stroke exhaust pointing to it

Just got off the phone from my son in Sydney. He is a robotics/computer development engineer. He just received with his tech partner a $100k grant from a big Uni innovation fund to develop a new technology. Can't say what it is but will lead to very big things and hopefully a high tech development of world leading stuff. Just the bottom rung of the R &D bucket but a very important start. Meanwhile he is been head hunted by big venture capital and some dark box government stuff. I am absolutely stoked, all the hard years and effort, never fitting the mould of society and being outside the box. All those years of R/c cars and airplanes have paid off. I will take some credit in upbringing and 50% credit at least for the DNA. I can't say a lot about it, but he has many things all leading to a big future. My son the inventor, has a very nice sound to it. I am incredibly proud, he has overcome incredible health problems, obstacles and many years interrupted from education in a system that doesn't know what to do with a brainiac on the spectrum. He is going to change the world. You may never know but I will. Damn it feels great.

Wow what a week. First Zak found images of a painting my Jane ( his stepmother )did of him as a 5 year old. Done in oils, it was a work of love during her first year of cancer. It was lost in the turmoil of life and death. Zak found it and we will have it replecated in oil paints. To see it again brought back so many great and not so memories. To see my little boy on canvas and now have him reach for the stars is humbling, and ecstatic. It's been a journey that would seem a fiction on paper but life is stranger and far more surprising. I know Jane would be just as proud.

Interesting comment on Facebook... "I'm surprised he didn't pretend to be dead for three days & then rise again."

For the past couple of months I have been trying to get my WLA Harley running after having it sit for nearly two years. I had all sorts of problems - failed ignition coils, flooding carburettor bowls and grossly out of tune engine. I decided to throw some money at it, and was lucky enough to be introduced to a H-D mechanic who knows about real Harleys. I gave him the bike and let him loose. I got it back last week, but had all sort of trouble with the electrical system and could not start it. The problems related to the ignition switch. The mechanic told me to pull the switch off and clean the terminals, which I did. When I refitted it, all the pretty lights came on and I started the engine. BUT.... the generator warning light would not go out. I decided that instead of diving in at the most complex reason for that, I should take a hint from the cure for the switch and clean all the terminals associated with the generator and regulator. So with some steel wool and stiff brush, I polished the terminals and the posts. At one stage I was having difficulty refitting a wire to the regulator and I wondered if it wasn't supposed to go where I thought it did. It had come from underneath the regulator and I wondered if it didn't go on the terminal, but was an earth wire, connected elsewhere. Luckily I had written a detailed set of instructions for installing the regulator, so I was able to get the wire connected correctly. Once everything had been tightened down, I tried to start the engine. I turned the ignition switch and everything lit up. I started the engine and as the revs rose, the generator warning light went out. I'm trailering the bike in for a rego inspection tomorrow. I decided not to ride as I am so out of practice, although there would be not traffic to worry about. I'm hoping that the weather holds over the weekend so I can do a couple of runs back and forth for a few kilometres to get back into the swing of things. I'm so relieved that the bike is back in service. That makes me happy enough to now attack that bloody bathroom and get it finished.

Another page from the fascist playbook . Remove the intellectuals, the free thinkers, anyone who may disagree with "maga" thought. Next it's jail anyone who will not bow to his power. This has already started by detaining immigrants and visitors to the USA, merely on impressions you are anti trump. Very scary stuff

Went for a snorkel off Coningham this morning (bloody freezing - 8 degrees on land and felt like not much more in the water) - and my wife got to try out our new waterproof camera. Despite the cold - hanging out with all the little fish was amazing. Schools and schools of them. Plus the occasional big wrasse.

If you judge a person by the company they keep, then check out who Dutton's best bud and paymaster is hanging out with. Just to join the dots: - Dutton wants to be PM - Dutton's party gets a huge amount of funding from Gina - Dutton and Gina are friends - Gina has previously made statements like working people should be paid $2 a day - Gina hangs out with Trump mega supporters - Trump has laid off thousands of public servants - Dutton wants to lay off thousands of public servants Blind Freddy can see that if you vote for Dutton, you're voting for the same craziness that's killing democracy in the US right now. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/31/a-female-donald-trump-how-gina-rinehart-is-pushing-trumps-message-australia-ntwnfb

Do you believe in common decency and the right to NOT be invaded GON? The war is supposed to end with Russia withdrawing to it's OWN territory and paying reparations to Ukraine for the loss of lives and property. Any other way, and Putin will just do it again. To put it simply. Putin is that horrible bully who beats up other kids and steals their lunch money. Ukraine has stood up to him and punched him in the nose. The bully is surprised but still trying to use his bigger size to beat up Ukraine and not only steal its lunch money but also its bike. The other neighbourhood kids are standing round watching. Some, like Orban and now Trump, see personal gain in the bully winning. Other, more decent and intelligent kids, know that if the bully wins here then he's going to steal their lunch money eventually. The ONLY way they are all safe is to stand together against that bully, but Trump for base personal gain (and spite for Zelenskyy not doing him a grubby personal favour last time) has walked away from the other kids and is trying to help the bully win. Let me know if this is too complicated.

Mrs Octave and I went on an enjoyable hike this morning. We are getting fit for our upcoming NZ trip. Day-to-day life is pretty good, isn't it?

Government ministers often meet with leaders from other countries even if they find them objectionable, this is part of their job, The reality is that Trump won and as a country we have to suck it up and deal with it the best we can. It would be absurd if politicians only met with those they admire. Trump seems to loathe Trudeau but met with him and vica versa. It would be a bad politician who did not attempt to further the interests of our country.

Well... In the interests of the population of our country, I'd like to see political action on the following:- 1. Transparency by all political and business players. 2. Accountability - a transparent Anticorruption watchdog that has teeth & allows public scrutiny. 3. A stop to foreign ownership of domestic property. 4. A better system of making big business pay their taxes. 5. A future fund similar to Norway's. 6. A ban on political parties. Democracy can be served better if each elected member is permitted a conscience vote. 7. Cease using taxpayers money for political advertising. 8. Bring back old fashioned boring but factual reporting and investigative journalism by our ABC. Am I sounding grumpy enough yet?

I see lots of comments on Facebook from people who believe that Trump will save them from the financial problems they are facing, in other words, they voted through their pockets. Unfortunately for the Dems, a number of worldwide circumstances (Covid, Middle East wars, etc.), have caused inflation, and they are blaming the Dems for these effects. I think, when they realise that Trumps policies will increase these problems, not reduce them as he promised, those who jumped ship may change their mind at the midterms. Trump cannot be removed at the midterms, but he may lose control of the House, and possibly even the senate, which will tie his hands. I doubt they would use the 25th Amendment to get rid of him, as that would put Vance in charge. From Wikipedia: Midterm elections historically generate lower voter turnout than presidential elections. While the latter have had turnouts of about 50–60% over the past 60 years, only about 40% of those eligible to vote go to the polls in midterm elections. Historically, midterm elections often see the president's party lose seats in Congress, and also frequently see the president's opposite-party opponents gain control of one or both houses of Congress.

Another bit of good news My NEW KNEE is now capable of a single leg stand up. I haven't been able to do that since I was about 30..Nev

We have been given a multitude of examples in YouTube videos of how ignorant Americans are of anything outside their own local area. Talking to them about anything in foreign countries, or anything about US foreign policy is a waste of breath, they simply would not understand. I bet that the recent elections in several European countries where there was a swing to the Right didn't even get a mention in the news at the State or County level in the USA. I find that the form of Christianity in the USA is almost anti-Christian. If the central tenet of Christian practice is to love one's neighbour, then the refusal of the US population to embrace social welfare standards that apply in the rest of the First World, especially health care or wages that can provide adequate financial support, is actively ignored. It's probably because the culture of the USA has only one goal - that accumulation of wealth and from that accumulation, power.

It's amazing how things can turn around. I was searching for something in the forums and came across a post I made in March of 2023 in the thread The End written by Yenn. Yenn had discussed the return of his cancer and he only had a short time to live. I had said I knew how he felt as I was having annual checkups following my cancer, how I needed a stick for walking, hadn't driven for some time, etc, and how I felt my time could come at any time. 18 months later, I've had another oncology check-up all clear, have been driving 3 or 4 days a week for over 12 months, and haven't used the stick, which lies on the floor in the back of the car, for almost 18 months. Although I've had a couple of episodes and visits to hospital in the last year, generally I am feeling in good health. I try to walk about 2,000 steps per day, usually around the shopping mall pushing a shopping trolley even if there is nothing in it. I hope I'm not putting a mozz on myself.

Couldn't you just let her sit in the passenger seat like anyone else?

Today would have been my late wife's 80th birthday. Happy cake and flame day, Irene.

My Daughter gave us our first grandchild today, so it's a wonderful day for my wife and I. Welcome to the world Harrison.

I wish to apologize for the offence I made. I had not intended to be offensive but I certainly was. I see how my words were easy to take as a slight by Nev and others. My words were foolish and childish. I have always had great respect for Nev and his contributions. I unreservedly apologize for any implications my stupid post made in an extremely misguided attempt at humour. As Nev stated above, it was out of character (too many new meds) but that does not excuse what I posted. I am responsible for my posts and accept I was wrong and insulting. Nev, I am sorry. Phil

Gee, that must have been some bargain, to warrant going to Fremantle from Tassie to pick it up!! 😮 That's on a par with my recent effort. In the best classic fashion, where your plans go to Hell in a handbasket - In early March, I purchased 4.5 tonnes of Caterpillar parts and attachments for my little Cat track loader that I'm restoring, from an old contractor who was retiring - at Seville, East of Melbourne! He was doing a complete clean-up of his yard and workshop, and we did a deal for $4000 for me to take all his surplus parts and components, which parts/components all fit my tractor, and many of which, I'm sorely in need of. There was a fully reconditioned bucket, a canopy (the canopy on my tractor is missing, and I was quoted $2500 from a tractor wreckers to supply one - IF they had one, which they didn't!), a full set of tracks in good condition, many other undercarriage components, hardware, hydraulic cylinders, many miscellaneous new parts, and rock guards for the lower track frames. This was all organised just a few days before I got notice to vacate my factory unit/workshop. I estimated I could freight the Cat parts and components across to W.A. for around $1500-$2000 - but, in the finest Murphy fashion, things didn't actually take a turn for the worse, they immediately went to Hell in a rocket-powered sled! No sooner had I cut the deal, than the Eastern parts of W.A. endured flooding rains that exceeded all known records. Some parts of the Nullarbor received 250mm of rain. The Trans-Australian rail line went under deep water, and the line was closed - for THREE weeks!! The line has never been closed for more than about 2 days, even in the worst rail line disaster. Then the flooding reached the Eyre Hwy, and the Eyre Hwy went under water, West of the West Australian border for four days! All transport to the West was cut off. Shops in Perth started running low on supplies. Trucking companies were swamped with freight being transferred to trucks from rail - but they couldn't handle the massive levels of extra freight, anyway. Freight quotes went ballistic. I was getting quotes of $5300 to $6000 to transport my parts and components - it was ridiculous. So, I made an executive decision to go pick them up, and transport them myself. I reckoned I could pick up a cheap little truck to do the job, and sell it when I got back to W.A. As luck would have it, I found a 1979 model 5 tonne Fiat truck for sale at Pyalong, N of Melbourne - for $3000! It was unlicenced, but roadworthy and in good working order, and the owner even sent me a pile of short videos to show it running! It would cost me $60 for a unlicenced vehicle movement permit from VicRoads, to drive it from Pyalong, all the way to my destination in the wheatbelt of W.A.! I bought the truck in late March, and arranged to pick it up on the 6th May. I had a pile of Velocity Frequent Flyer points with Virgin Australia, and used them to get a one-way ticket to Melbourne. The flight cost was something like $199 or 20,000 FF points. The seller, who was a builder/house renovator on a few acres, was happy enough to hold the truck for me until that date. I was working on having finished my workshop move by 6th May - but as it turned out, I still had a month of cleaning up and moving to do, on that date! Regardless, I still went - telling my landlady I'd be back in a week, to finish moving out! The flight to Melbourne left just 5 mins late at 6:30AM on Monday 6th May, into beautiful weather, and a superb trip. I simply slept for the first 2 hours! I had a window seat on the port side, and enjoyed the last hour of the flight in beautiful clear conditions. We landed at Tullamarine just 5 mins late at 11:30AM, and a mate from Echuca was waiting to pick me up in his Landcruiser troop carrier. This mate was a godsend, I'd already arranged to transport the parts and components from Seville to my mates farm at Echuca, as the seller of the Cat parts had advised me his property handover date was April 26th, and everything had to be gone from the property by then! My mate Mike took me to Pyalong (it's on the way from Tullamarine to Echuca, anyway), where the truck was located just 500 metres off the highway. We checked the truck out, chatted to the owner, got a rundown on all the tricks and tips associated with the trucks operation, and cranked her up! Unfortunately, the batteries were toast on the truck, so we jump-started it and worked on acquiring new batteries in Echuca. We got to Mikes place around 4:30PM on the Monday, and we checked the truck out a little more thoroughly, and found that all the engine belts were looking the worse for wear, so it was decided to replace them, as well as the batteries. Mikes wife Anna put on a great meal on the Monday night and I retired to a neat and clean caravan in Mikes back yard that he used for visitors, and I slept well. Tuesday morning, I took the fanbelt set and air compressor belt off the truck, got the part numbers off them, called a few places in Echuca, and found an industrial supplier that had them all in stock! We drove into Echuca, Mike gave me a quick tour of the place (the Mighty Murray was looking decidedly like a big creek, rather than the massive river it had been in the earlier floods!) - then we called by a tyre and battery place, picked up two new batteries, stopped at the industrial supplier, picked up the belts and went back to Mikes place, about 15kms S of Echuca. I fitted the new batteries and belts, greased the truck - Mike loaded up the pallet boxes and bucket and canopy, and I strapped everything down. I had previously arranged to send 8 new ratchet straps directly to Mikes from a supplier in Melbourne, so they would be there when I arrived. Wednesday morning arrived, another fine day - and the best part, a gentle tailwind from the S.E.! I hit the road just after 9:00AM, after thanking Mike for his invaluable assistance and accommodation, and we were rolling coal! I went North-Westwards, through Echuca, Cohuna, Kerang, Lake Boga, and Swan Hill. Just N of Swan Hill, at Piangil, I turned West, heading to Ouyen and Pinnaroo. I was making good time and the truck was running well, but I was using more fuel than anticipated, I was running at 24L/100kms, whereas I was hoping the consumption would be more like 20L/100kms. The old Fiat engine wasn't in the best condition, and it was likely to be in need of a set of new fuel injectors. Regardless, it was going just fine, otherwise - apart from a few minor issues such the speedo and the fuel gauge not working! Mike had already clued me up about avoiding delays at quarantine checkpoints - you know, the ones where the inspectors hold you up in a line for half an hour or more, so they can check your lunchbox for fruit! I'd already grabbed a superb roast beef roll and cup of tea from the bakery in Ouyen for lunch, and I had no fruit on board - so I took Mikes advice, and turned N at Panitya, just before Pinnaroo and the S.A./VIC border, drove N for a few kms on the Panitya North Rd, then turned West to meet up with the Browns Well Hwy, where I turned N again to head to Loxton and Berri - thus avoiding the quarantine checkpoint! I got into Berri around 5:00PM and fuelled up and hit the road to Burra as it got dark. This wasn't a fun drive, it was straight into the setting sun, and I was worried about 'roos. But I saw no 'roos and the trip into Burra was uneventful. From Burra, the plan was to cut NW to Spalding and Gulnare, and then onto Crystal Brook, where I could join up with the Augusta Hwy, heading to Port Augusta and the West. Unfortunately, getting tired and in the dark, I missed the turnoff to Crystal Brook, went N to Georgetown - realised my mistake, and had to backtrack to the Crystal Brook road. I got into Crystal Brook just after 8:00PM and found the heritage Crystal Brook Hotel in the main street looking very inviting. Despite the dining room officially closing at 8:00PM, the bar and kitchen staff knocked up a feed of beef schnitzel and chips for me - and I then retired to a comfortable upper-storey single bedroom ($120) for the night! A hot shower was very welcome! I left the truck parked in the side street. 7:00AM the next morning saw me hit the road to Port Augusta, where I fuelled up again, grabbed a bite to eat for breakfast, and then started off on the long trek to the West! I made Ceduna by 2:30PM, where I fuelled up again (the truck was fitted with a 180 litre fuel tank, which was just great for distance work), grabbed a late-lunch burger from the local KFC (yes, KFC has made it to Ceduna!) and hit the road again. On through Penong and Yalata, and the Nullarbor roadhouse (no-one stops there if they can avoid it, it's the dearest fuel along the route!) - then the long stretch to the W.A. Border, and Border Village, and the dreaded W.A. Quarantine checkpoint - which I reached around 7:30PM W.A. time, having had the advantage of turning the clock back 1.5hrs, to gain extra hours in the day! I had previously made sure the parts and components were pretty clean, and I was lucky in that I got a cheery and friendly young bloke, all done up in hi-vis, doing the quarantine inspection. He was happy enough with what he saw, but he had to get his leaf blower out and blow the load down, just to make sure he got all the weeds and seeds! After making it through quarantine, it was time to find a bed. I pulled into Eucla, just a short distance up the road from the Border, and the Eucla Motel had just one room left - a family room - at $200!! Beggars couldn't be choosers, so I took it. I was out of luck on meal availability as the motel restaurant was shut, and I had to resort to scrounging a meal from the few food items I had with me. The weather up to now had been superb, 12° to 22°, mostly sunny with scattered clouds, and a tailwind all the way. But Friday morning saw a strong South Easterly wind blow a pile of moisture onshore, and I woke to a very foggy morning in Eucla! It took me about 20 mins to clean all the windows in the truck. Fortunately, the fog started to break up as soon as the sun rose, and I was on the road again by 8:30AM. A quick stop to refuel at Mundrabilla Roadhouse, then on to Madura and the Madura Pass! The Pass was bit of a grunt for the old Fiat, I was down to 2nd gear (5 speed gearbox) climbing that! I zipped through Cocklebiddy and stopped at Caiguna for a steak sandwich. Caiguna Roadhouse used to brag, years ago, about having the best burgers and steak sandwich across the Nullarbor, and despite the place changing hands to some Asians (perhaps Thai people), the steak sandwich was still excellent! I fuelled up with the minimum required to reach Norseman (where the fuel is much cheaper), and got going again. The sky started to blacken as the afternoon wore on, and the wind turned Northerly as a weak cold front approached, as I headed to Balladonia and the Fraser Range. I tried the windscreen wipers and found they weren't working, either! Bummer! I crossed my fingers and hoped any rain would dissipate before it reached me. As it turned out, that's exactly what happened! The cold front broke up and dissipated, and by the time I reached Norseman, there was only scattered clouds! I refuelled in Norseman, hit the highway again, and headed for Coolgardie, which I reached about 5:30PM. It was dark as I refuelled and I pulled out quickly to head to Southern Cross, 200kms away, where I had a cabin booked in the caravan park. The trip to Southern Cross wasn't enjoyable, the Great Eastern Hwy is undergoing a huge amount of road works, and I ran into 200 or 250 East-West road trains heading East, as they all left Perth on Friday afternoon! It was a relief to reach Southern Cross just after 8:00PM, where I enjoyed a good feed of fish and chips and salad at the BP Roadhouse, and retired to the cabin at the nearby caravan park. The cabin and the park (owned by the Shire Council) was delightful - clean, near new, and well run by a couple of ladies who were professional, to say the least. I enjoyed a good shower and a sound sleep here - all for $120. Saturday morning, I was on the road again to my block, after adding some more fuel to the truck for the last leg. At Southern Cross, I turned N and went through the Northern wheatbelt, via Bullfinch, Mukinbudin, Bencubbin, Koorda, Cadoux, Wongan Hills, and thence to my block in tiny Calingiri. I grabbed some lunch in Wongan Hills (pop. 1200), and arrived at my block around 1:00PM. The trek was over! - and it was highly successful! Nothing broke on the old Fiat, nothing fell off, and I never even had to top up the oil or coolant! I burnt up just under $1700 in fuel, and the total cost of my trip, including accommodation, food and spares, was under $3000! That was a huge saving on quoted freight costs - and I'm pretty sure I can get my money back on the old Fiat, by selling it to some truck collector! Plus, I got to see and stay with a bloke I've wanted to catch up with for some time - and I got a great tourist trip from East to West! The Nullarbor has never looked so green and verdant, thanks to all the recent flooding rains.