Celebrating Positives (offset of the Gripes Thread)

[Jerry_Atrick]

Yeovilton has a great museum.. Over 'ere, if you get caught speeding under 10 or 15mph over the limit, you can do speed awareness courses rather than take points on your licence (only once every three years - so if you are caught again in that three years, you have points and a fine). The offeret me a course at Yeovilton.. I jumped on it and the lady on the phone could not understand why I would want to do it there instead of Taunton. During lunch and other breaks, although we weren't supposed to, we meandered amongst the exhibits.

[pmccarthy]

I enjoyed the museum, best item was Eric Brown's helmet!

[red750]

I have to register a historical change. I received my home insurance renewal advice today. The annual premium actually dropped by $18.45. Whoo Hoo.

[nomadpete]

[Marty_d]

I like how Dopamine goes "ho ho".

[old man emu]

I've had a ripper of a day today.

First I went to Woolies to get some groceries. Several of the things I wanted were on really great specials - better that 50% off.

Then I went to Officeworks to buy a new desk chair. I got one on Clearance that was originally priced at $449 for $149, which was the amount I had intended spending on a chair.

On the way home I popped into a hardware store to see if they had the type of insulation I want to put into a wall. I've been chasing this stuff at Bunnings outlets all over the place without success. The hardware store I went  to has enough for my needs and they say it's a slow mover. I couldn't get a pack because the back of my car was filled with the new desk chair.

[onetrack]

You've got a roof, haven't you? What's lacking? Someone to hold onto the pack on the roof, while you barrel down the highway?? 😄 

[old man emu]

If I had brought it home today, I would have to use it this weekend. I've got a lot of prep work to do in the wall this weekend. I'll pick up the insulation, next week and will have something to keep me going over the Long Weekend.

[rgmwa]

Only if the slow moving insulation hasn't suddenly sped off in the meantime. 

[Jerry_Atrick]

Believe it or not, I do enjoy making people laugh. I was in a meeting and we were talking about how a supplier who was brought in to do something wasn't quite doing it so that department had to do it themselves. At which point, I said, "yeah, a bit like buying a dog and still havign to bark yourself." And one person erupted in fits of laughter, having never heard it before, and another said, no doubt an Australian saying...

[nomadpete]

Laughter, the best medicine.

[old man emu]

I think that the creation of witty sayings is something that has been lost from the Australian culture. Say one  in the presence of younger people and you'll see displays of bafflement. Are they heard being used by the Younger Generation? All I hear are Americanisms. 

[nomadpete]

17 minutes ago, old man emu said:

I think that the creation of witty sayings is something that has been lost from the Australian culture. Say one  in the presence of younger people and you'll see displays of bafflement. Are they heard being used by the Younger Generation? All I hear are Americanisms. 

I've got a theory... In the past, witty phrases were used to deflect the mind from a difficult life. A way to bring humour into lives where ' if you didn't laugh, you'd cry'.  Modern lives are less difficult now, than they once were.

 

If you don't like that theory, I've got plenty of others.

[old man emu]

Here's my theory.

 

Initially we began to be spoon-fed our entertainment by television. Before 1956 our entertainment came from reading or listening to the radio. These were the sources of many sayings. Who now can readily pull quotes from the Classics, or even the Bible? After 1956 the television replaced these former sources of entertainment.  We didn't have the production experience of the USA or Britain, so we were swamped by their cultures. Even now, the theatrical culture of the British in both drama and comedy is rarely seen on free-to-air TV. 

 

As time has passed and new forms for delivering entertainment have been developed, the input from our own culture has diminished. "That's not a knife. "That's a knife" might have been uttered by a supposedly Australian character, but the words are American. When was the last time told you that a certainty was "London to a brick on". Put down your glasses. It's all over bar the shouting. Bluey and Curley have passed on. Ginger Meggs ceased to appear in Australian newspapers in 2023.  Anthony Albanese called the decision “...just another step in the decline of modern media.

 

The only light sputtering in the  television literary window is Bluey. At least her popularity in the USA is firing back Australian words to American children.

[facthunter]

TV Could be a great way of learning Instead It's an insult to your Intelligence and a not so subtle Brainwashing experience. Nev

[red750]

Not so much witty sayings, but some oldie worldie type words and explanations.

 

[facthunter]

+ slap and tickle and Codswallop. Nev

[ClintonB]

Watched an Irish tv show called Bodkin on Netflix, witty, and a good story.

all them words Mrs brown uses like idjuit and such.

 

[red750]

Suffering from clinomania.

 

[red750]

And another

 

[old man emu]

Callipygian - A slang word, completely avoided in epic poetry and higher literature. Modern translation: "nice arse"

 

kallipygos, the name of a statue of Aphrodite at Syracuse. 

[old man emu]

Getting back to celebrating positives. I told you that I had located a source of Styrofoam insulation so that I could complete the renovation of another room. Well, knowing that I could get enough to finish the job was stimulus enough to get me back to work. So today I completed 2/3 of the installation. Styrofoam is easy to work with. You only need a hand saw to cut it to size, and the frame of my wall has spaces of many sizes. You do end up with a lot of little balls of Styrofoam, but if you go gently with the broom, you can get it all together and vacuum it up.

 

I feel really good that I have started back at the reno after a hiatus of several months. That the job went along easily was another good thing.

 

And for you lovers of words, 'hiatus' is the short word that means "bone idleness".

[Marty_d]

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.

[nomadpete]

Don't get all carried away.

You still have a Sav to finish.

[Marty_d]

1 hour ago, nomadpete said:

Don't get all carried away.

You still have a Sav to finish.

ZenSav.