Renovated, Modemed, Pancaked, Yellowbricked, Top-Climbed and solar powered!

Have had a frustrating few days dealing with Internet (or lack of!) issues at home, with calls to far-off service technicians in far-flung places failing to resolve the issue.  I was told, after one session for which I had waited more than forty minutes to speak to a human, that he had reached the end of his set answers to my problem and I should talk to my "computer person!"  I informed him that I in fact was my computer person and that I had done talking to myself... I trip to the local telco shop resulted in me spending a relaxed hour or two cycling 15kms to Forest Hill and back, placing an order for a replacement modem and router as "we who are legion" (my off-shore technical advisors and myself, the 'computer person') could not ascertain which of the existing devices, if any, were faulty.

Today the new you-beaut modem/router combo arrived by courier (in only 4 days from who knows which warehouse/country) and I am now reconnected - hallelujah!  

It has been interesting to reflect on how dependent I had become on the readily available access to the internet, and how frustrating it was when that was not readily available - I wondered whether I should have given it up for Lent...

Speaking of which, we had a great Alfresco Shrove Tuesday Pancake breakfast at EDBC yesterday - as the sun rose on a beautiful Melbourne morning, we offered free pancakes for anyone in the local community.  A number of local parents with kids in tow (and on the bike) turned up, together with some of the congregation and even a 12 month old with her grandparents!  As we enter this period of Lent it has been good to reflect again on the approach to the Passion of Christ.  We hope to provide some creative and contemplative space for the congregation again this year as we reflect on the events of Easter week...

I offered from the pulpit on Sunday to give up Brussell Sprouts, Rice Pudding and Mushrooms for Lent.  It was suggested that I should rather be looking at giving up coffee, chocolate and red wine... I mean, seriously???

I am starting to make serious preparations for the annual major maintenance trip over the Tasman, with Kalai booked in to be engine-serviced and hauled-out for anti-fouling next week. Hoping to get some sailing in the week after - have dreams of getting up to Whangaroa harbour for a few days, weather permitting...

Am also taking over some new gadgets (no surprises there!), with a Yellowbrick (you can follow my progress by clicking on the link)  to keep family informed of my whereabouts - and giving another layer of safety to solo-sailing.  Have also acquired a TopClimber and 25m of climbing rope to enable access up the mast (some practice required, I'm reliably informed!).  

Having done a fair bit of research into projected power usage and battery drain in the modern "connected" age of tablets, laptops etc. I worked out that I would need around about 1200 watts/day to keep the batteries fully charged without running the engine (and using the alternator).  So, I am taking over two more 75w panels to go with the 60w panel  already installed.  These semi-flexible and light-weight panels will fit on top of the Bimini and should help provide sufficient charge given an expected average of 6hr/day of sunlight.  Just hope I can get them over safely...we shall see!

Flat pack in... some work  in progress!

Our renovations are nearly complete now, with laundry and upstairs bathrooms transformed from grungy 1970's crud to contemporary elegance thanks to the marvellous  Adrian and Kiwi Steve's hard work and of course SWMBO's direction and supervision! I reckon renovating  these 'wet' rooms are like a good sermon - its all down to the preparation!  The final product doesn't tell the whole story (replacing floorboards, waterproof membranes, removing windows, straightening walls etc.) A slight hiccup in measuring bench heights has meant swapping the existing washing machine for a model which will fit under the bench - but all soon shall be well (and clean!)


Also took the chance to re-model an old Canoe paddle into a close imitation of a single-bladed Aleut version - renovations and now an inconvenient autumnal cold has put paid to trials but we shall see.  Some debate rages as to whether the Aleutian and Alaskan locals used the single and/or double bladed paddles - the simple answer given the several thousand years of tradition is... probably both?

A quick trip to Sorrento on Saturday to swim to Portsea with my mate Ian in our annual Pier to Perignon; one more Sunday service then an early Monday flight to Auckland, shuttle to the city, coffee with Rodger-dodger(?), Naked Bus to Opua hill, then a gentle walk down to E Pier and my second home!