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Safe Tyre Fitting

Cars / By

So the world has been through a lot this year, which sounds dramatic but it’s also true. I won’t go into details about it, because those who know, know, but it has been tragic for millions of people. I was less affected than those around me and for that I feel extremely fortunate. However, I was impacted by the fact that all driving tests closed across the country for almost eight months. 

Eight months ago I was in a good place and felt ready to book my license. I was about to book only to find out I couldn’t and I haven’t been able to book since… until now. And unfortunately I feel like I’ve gone backwards in these last eight months. I’m now scared of driving again and all the progress I had made at the beginning of the year is gone. 

My mum suggested that I visit the local mechanics. Around Toowoomba, there are plenty of highly skilled mechanics, and she thinks that if I get my car repaired that I’ll feel more comfortable driving. I think, and hope, that she might be right. I’ll try anything at this point because I want to get my license by the end of the year. Sadly, I feel a long way off achieving that goal but maybe I’ll feel a lot better after getting my car serviced. We’ll find out tomorrow, I guess.

Well, I’ve just returned from getting my car serviced. As it turns out, I was due for a tyre fitting and so I’m really relieved that I got my car checked out when I did. I still don’t feel ready to go for my license, but I do feel better about the state of my car.

I think I’m going to have to start practicing driving again. I’m going to have to ease myself in and do some little drives, and then gradually build up to longer, harder drives. I’ll get my license eventually.

Marketing Video Production

Video Production / By

I’ve always really been into film and television. When I tell people this, they think that I mean just sitting back and watching movies and TV, but that’s not the case. I’m in awe of film production and the creative stories behind it. When I watch a film, or even a short video for that matter, and realise how much work and editing has gone into it, my mind is well and truly blown. It’s been like this ever since I was a kid and it most definitely fueled my passion for creative industries. Ever since I was twelve years old, I’ve wanted to work for a video production company. Melbourne, where I grew up, is thankfully a very creative city and that has helped me get to where I am today. 

Unfortunately, I’m not a big Hollywood director or even working in video production like I always wanted, but I am lucky enough to work alongside people who do! I work as a marketing coordinator for a small agency, and our agency works alongside a production company to make video content. I told my agency that I really love video production and they agreed to let me be the number one liaison with the video team. I’ve learnt a lot from them and I get so excited any time I get to go into their office and see them in action. 

Seeing as I work for a marketing agency, the work they do for us is marketing video production. We have plenty of clients who have had videos done by our affiliate video production agency, and the videos have been spectacular every time. As the marketing coordinator of our agency, I’m responsible for going through every video and making sure they are perfect before we deliver them to the client. I absolutely LOVE this part of my job. It brings me back to my childhood admiring the work of big films. It’s seriously great.

First Drive

Cars / By

I think we all remember our first drive on our P’s. A lot of us were freshly eighteen and feeling invincible, knowing the world was at our feet. You sit in your car for the first time by yourself, put the radio on louder than you were ever allowed to when driving with your parents, and text a friend that you’re five minutes away from picking them up and taking them to the local fast food drive-through. This is exactly how my first drive on my P plates began, unfortunately it didn’t end with me eating a burger and goofing around in the car park with my best friend.

On the way to pick up Harry, my car broke down. I was driving down the highway to get to his house when my engine spluttered and then completely failed me. My car had never broken down before so I was shocked and I’ll admit, a little scared and feeling a little less invincible than I felt when the drive began. Without skipping a beat, I put my hazards on and called the mobile auto mechanic. Brighton is close to a lot of car dealerships and mechanics, so I was lucky that someone came pretty quickly. This whole ordeal was really ruining my dream first drive, something that I had been looking forward to ever since I got my L’s two years before.

Looking back at that iconic moment in my life, I’m simultaneously impressed by how quickly I reacted, and laughing at myself that the reason I acted so quickly was because I wanted to have the perfect first drive. I vividly remember standing on the side of the road whilst the car mechanic did all the necessary repairs. I was just glad I didn’t have to figure out how to move it to a car repair shop. Brighton was so close to Harry’s suburb that I was pretty much jumping up and down in anticipation of being back in my car and on the road. 

We never made it to the drive-through that day. Instead we drove to the beach and listened to music. It was a good first drive.

Carbon Monoxide Air Conditioner

Cooling / By

I am the resident carbon monoxide of this air conditioner. I have resided here since my home was installed, but I was dormant as everything else was “working” and therefore there was no room for me to move. But things are going slightly awry in the air conditioner now. Which means one more wrong move and I’ll be able to wiggle myself into the good spots and stay there forever. I’m waiting silently for my moment, the moment where I will be able to spread across the air conditioner, taking over completely. And then, when it’s finally turned on, I’ll be dispersed across the room, slowly covering every corner of the living area until it is mine. This is the start of world domination. Carbon monoxide domination. 

One week later…

I have dominated. I’m everywhere. They haven’t even noticed me. Once I spread through this house, I’m going to try my luck outside and see if I can make it to another house. I think it’s possible. I’ve made it this far already.

One day later…

Oh NO. I thought I was silent. I thought I was odourless. How did they notice me?!

They’ve had a carbon monoxide tester come and touch every part of my home. They know I’m here and now they’re trying to get rid of me. I’m not going down without a fight. I’ve gotten closer than ever before to world domination. I refuse to go back to my little crevice and hibernate again. They will not stop me!!

Oh… maybe they will. I heard the humans plotting against me. They said they’re getting one of those air conditioning repairs. Melbourne people have been doing this to us particles for years. They have an unfair advantage. They’re not alone in their domination. They all work together to remain in power. I’ll get them one day. Little do they know is that they’re just sending me back to plot my revenge… 

Fridge Stylin’

Food / By

Do you ever look at photos of fridge interiors, and dream wistfully of your own fridge being so well organised? Do you even look at photos of fridge interiors to begin with? No? Well, evidently you haven’t spent much time checking out #whatsinmyfridge. It’s not all amazing – in fact, be prepared for the occasional downright eyesore – but some of it’s worthy of #inspo status and makes me want to up my fridge game.

The first step, it seems, is having everything in bowls or lovely glass containers with bamboo lids. That means no 32-piece packs of cheap plastic boxes, which are surely leaching weird synthetic chemicals into all your leftovers. It also means having nothing in commercial packaging, unless it’s locally made kimchi, French butter or a trendy brain optimisation powder that needs to be stored in the original packaging. Clear glass mason jars of beautifully executed DIY ferments and preserves are, of course, allowed, as are abundant piles of loose vegetables.

Next is creating easy-access servings of healthy snacks. For weight loss or building lean muscle, these might be lightly steamed florets of broccoli stored next to some homemade hummus. All that’s needed is a drizzle of olive oil, which is waiting on your counter in a stylish glass decanter (no labels allowed, naturally), and you’re good to go. Or maybe some plant-based protein balls in a little bowl. I’d be inclined to cover the bowl with a saucer, but that doesn’t seem to be the done thing, at least not if you’re going for maximum visual impact.

You’ll sometimes see fridge posts from people who seem to be a highly orchestrated weight loss meal plan. Delivery of frozen meals might sound out of line with this whole aesthetic, but it kind of works visually when the portions are neatly stacked on one side of the fridge, and the rest of the space filled with loose fresh produce.

The whole fascination for me is really just the orderly arrangement – I could swear there are conscious decisions about colour palettes going on in some of these photos. Maybe it’s unrealistic to aspire to that, but I just can’t stop looking.

Work ute modifications

aluminium accessories / By

If you want to work right out of your ute, a few simple and modestly priced modifications can do you the world of good. For many in the trades industry, having essentially a mobile workshop attached to their vehicle is a must have in order to get the job done right. Many trade folks, sole proprietors, and handymen use utility vehicles (utes) for both transportation and work. With a few additions, you can have your ute working better and more efficiently for you. 

A hugely popular addition is a ute toolbox, added to the back, or even to the under body, of a ute. the major advantage of a ute is it’s mobility, and commercial ute toolboxes will mean that your whole workstation is now much more portable as well. There are a variety of sizes available for extra storage in your vehicle, from storing bulky tools to roof racks for hauling lumber and ladders.

If you’re looking for something a bit more robust, or just larger, then perhaps a ute canopy is more your speed. A large ute canopy, covering the whole of the back, can hold large or bulky equipment safely and securely. Aluminium is a great choice for both toolboxes and ute canopies; it’s a stronger and more durable alternative to fibreglass, and many come with optional powder coating to increase toughness and water resistance. The coating comes in a variety of colours to match your own personal branding if desired. 

Utility vehicles aren’t just for standard modifications. Most tools will fit in toolboxes, but non standards items might need something more specialised. If you use your ute for deliveries or holdings, then accessories like gas bottle holders could be a great addition to your arsenal. No matter what you choose to add, a stylish, functional aluminium accessory can add that much more to your ute, your workshop, and your business.

European Car Mechanic

Cars / By

As of last week, I became the new owner of a second hand BMW and it is a dream come true. Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve dreamed of owning a European car, and by my mid twenties, I have successfully saved up enough money to make that dream a reality. I now feel like I’m a part of an elite club, the club that I have aspired to be a part of since I first learnt what a car was. 

I aim to own this BMW for about ten years, and in the meantime I am going to save up to buy a brand new BMW, which is my next goal. As this car is quite old, I know I’ll regularly need to visit a European car mechanic, which may be quite expensive but will definitely be worth it. It’s pretty imperative that I stay on top of all my servicing and get the car checked for minor niggles regularly, or it won’t last me the next ten years and I won’t have saved up enough money to buy my next BMW. 

As cars have been such a passion of mine for so long, I’m fully aware of the special TLC a European car needs in comparison to a Japanese or USA brand. I’ll also need to find an experienced auto electrician. Around Seaford, where I live, mechanics generally have some experience in both auto electrics and European cars, but I want someone who’s a specialist in both. I’m definitely going to shop around before my first service to make sure I’ve chosen the right person for the job.

Becoming the owner of this car is the most responsibility I’ve ever put on myself. It’s like I’ve just become the father of my first child and I have to take care of it every single day. Just like I would do if I actually had a child, I have vowed to look after this beautiful second hand BMW as best I can for the years to come.

Strong Women Builders

Hardware / By

I’m one of the only female builders in my area. I only know one other woman in the field but unfortunately we have very little contact due to the nature of the job. Both of us work full time in a male dominated industry, which is fantastic from what I can tell, as it seems that she thrives in it just as much as I do. 

I decided that as women, we should help each other out. I got in contact with her about four weeks ago, and proposed that we work on my home renovation project together. I would pay her for her work, and it would give the two of us a chance to bond and do something that few women have done before us. I’m hoping that if we work well together we could brainstorm ways to invite other women into our line of work, and create a long lasting legacy for future women builders. 

But, getting back to the point, she said yes and we are going to start my renovation at the beginning of next month. We will spend this month planning and gathering the relevant timber supplies. Near Cheltenham, where I am located, there are many different hardware stores that we are both very familiar with. We are definitely experienced enough to take on this job together, and I am feeling very confident after just one meeting with her. 

She’s actually even more impressive than I initially thought. It turns out that she’s also a qualified plumber, but chose to be a builder. She also very impressively knows her way around most hardware stores. Sandringham, Bentleigh, Bayside; it doesn’t matter to her where we go because she can somehow navigate her way through anything. 

Having the support of a strong woman (physically and mentally) whilst undergoing this renovation is going to be fantastic. I’m looking forward to achieving great things together.

Chatty Chums

Gardens / By

Am I alone in chatting to the plants in my garden? Surely not. Anyone who passes a trailing rosemary bush on a daily basis will attest to its cheerful grandmotherly demeanor, while those who deal with roses must have noticed their devious sense of humour, not often noted in the saccharine depictions of roses on Valentines Day cards. Maybe that’s just the ones at my place, or perhaps my poor pruning technique, but still… I’m pretty sure I’m onto something here.

Then there’s the bay tree. It’s got a very distinctive character, a sort of dignified disdain and unwillingness to participate in my feeble human ways. So what if I want to make a soup with several bay leaves? I can only have one, and I should be ashamed of myself for thinking otherwise, even though there are healthy leaves aplenty. I suspect there’s some wisdom of economy in this. Maybe the reason the leaves are so healthy is because I don’t pull too many of them off.

Other characters don’t seem to want anything to do with me. For example, I’ve never been able to bring myself to buy iris plants, because they always seem to be laughing at me whenever I see some at the nursery. Even when they’re dormant, I can’t help but get the feeling they don’t think much of me. Maybe we could get along if I just sucked it up and tried growing some, or maybe they’d cackle evilly at me and introduce some weird pathogen into the soil. I’ve already got those cheeky roses to contend with, after all, and if the irises got the roses on side then all hell could break loose. I’m just lucky that the rosemary is on my side, and the bay tree is neutral. 

It’s also entirely possible that I’m losing my marbles, and that plants don’t communicate with humans at all. I feel like that’s not the case, but I’m open to the possibility.

The Drip

Renovations / By

I think I’m going insane. All I can hear is the constant drip of my ensuite’s shower. It goes all night and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I’ve tried duct taping the shower’s head, replacing it, removing it. It stops for a minute, but as soon as I leave the room that dripping sound comes back, even if it should be literally impossible. I don’t understand what’s going on and it’s driving me crazy.

Tomorrow I’m getting some bathroom designers from Melbourne to come around and have a look. If they can’t hear the dripping, then I’ll know it’s all in my head. If they can hear the dripping, then maybe I’ll need to call the Ghost Police. I feel like there are definitely more effective ways to haunt people than dripping water in the shower, but then again, I am starting to lose my mind here. Maybe it’s just subtle enough to work.

Personally, though, if I wanted to haunt someone, I’d take it a bit further than needing them to get leaking shower repair. I’d be pulling chairs out from underneath them, knocking over expensive televisions and causing all sorts of mess around their house. It would actually be kind of fun. Anyway, hopefully the bathroom designers can give me some advice. I could have gotten a plumber but I’ve been thinking about bathroom renovations for a while now. And who knows, maybe if there is a ghost, they’ll be driven away by the work. Now that would be a great twist of irony if suddenly they were the one being haunted.

In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have bought a house that used to belong to a crazy cult. Who knows what sort of things happened in that bathroom. And then there’s that constant screeching noise from the basement, but I’ve gotten used to that by now. The door is locked and I don’t have a key so there’s no real use in looking closer.