Anything's Better Than Nothing - Part 1
Hello everyone and I hope you're travelling well towards the middle of the year.
Whilst I'm on hiatus and not filling in many shifts at work, I still have the task of tidying up the backyard with the series of trimming back bushes.
Just to recap, I was given a task by my parents to tidy up those bushes especially the rose and daisy bushes. Also, we have a grape vine and also trimmed it up as well and one extra bit, it has grown some grapes that we ate.
And also, the garden area beside the house has also been tidied up. The gate towards the backyard is all go after the tidy up. With all this, I've been wandering how the messy bushes and trees can affect the value of a house, and if so, how much. I hadn't gone far to considering buying a house yet but it'll be worth understanding how those things can potentially reduce the selling price. Likewise, I'm learning.
I've mentioned earlier when I was doing the pruning work in a previous post so for those who are keen, I'll attach the link below.
Now, we shall move on.
What you're seeing here is the final sketch of my upcoming art project titled A Rich Swagman. This'll be another thought-provoking artwork in my new portfolio aside from my Black Sheep Banned painting. With this one, I wanted to recreate the swagman but wealthy instead of being poor back in the days swagmen travelled from sheep station to sheep station for some work. Sketching this one out has been a decent task. I've been able to put in elements about a swagman particularly the tea and a nice looking damper. I've also kept the swagman's physical characteristics including the beard, the sun tanned complexion and his age.
Next, I've started exhibiting my art again for this year starting with the Affordable Art Exhibition last month. The intention of that exhibition is for SECAN members including myself to exhibit our artworks but also have them on sale for the maximum of $100 AUD. I've featured the Aussie Dimetrodon and next to it, my Bored Face painting. Neither were sold but getting as much exposure will be the better thing to achieve.
And with this year's Challenges exhibition in motion, 3 words of the month were chosen: Words, Shadows and 3D paper. This time, I'll hope to exhibit my current artworks with one painting of mine a possibility.
With work, I was facing a dilemma with a lack of shifts. I've been open to an idea of going with an employment agency or otherwise, the worst thing that can happen will be that I could quit working at Repco for good and then my life could be jeopardised.
However, I've received a call from the Pakenham Repco store asking me to fill in. It was surreal after being in a rather uncertain moment in life but I've been lucky to say yes. With me filling in the store, I'm undergoing the process of re-learning. It has been so far so good and happy to say my career at Repco has been saved.
Now for something refreshing. On my 35th birthday, I've been gifted with a bottle of Campari. It's a bottle of red liquor suitable for making Italian styled cocktails and other mixed drinks which I've attempted.
I've had the first go with orange juice and although it tastes alright, it didn't look to appetising. I wanted to make mixed drinks with Campari and fruit juices for sweetness but with that lesson learnt, my next attempt will be to use juices that are more translucent such as apple juice.
And so I did. I enjoyed that concoction along with my mum. An extra step to make this mixed Campari drink better is to use lemonade instead of tonic water. I went about using tonic water being a typical ingredient for gin and tonic drinks. This'll be the final result.
And out of interest, I've tried this blue variant of the Pepsi Max Electric and it was a fascinating experience. Now, we shall prevail.
Last month on Sunday the 6th, I've had the honour of visiting the motor show after god knows how long it's been absent in this Melbourne Exhibition Centre you're looking at here. I can still remember when I was a teenager, I've been enjoying visiting the Melbourne Motor Shows with the amazement of cars on offer and this is how my obsession of cars grew. But this year, here are those glimpses.
I started off my visit with this Kia K4. Their "more upmarket" small passenger sedan. This is the GT-Line model which has their 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine producing 142 kilowatts (190 bhp) of power and 265 newton metres (195 ft lb) of torque from 1700 revolutions per minute. Just when you open up the throttle to get this car going. And last not least, it provides fuel consumption of 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres (35.1 mpg).
I mainly sat in the back seat and it's nice there. This shows how cars evolve, even from my first car which was a 1992 Nissan Pintara hatchback.
But then, hybrid and electric vehicles are more prevalent including this BYD Shark 6 ute which by the way is a hybrid. Another set of automotive evolution has kicked in with tightening emission regulations in force. Interestingly with turbo diesel engines, they're robust and gutsy whilst maintaining good fuel economy. But diesel engines always have decent emission problems particularly with soot. Efforts have been made to make diesel engines cleaner but it isn't without further issues that have plagued modern diesel engines such as diesel particular filters (DPFs) and their need for AdBlue for exhaust emission treatments. Sadly, they've become more headaches to own.
And speaking of utes, I came up with a theory on how Australia's panel vans particularly the Holden Sandman went out of fashion. My thoughts are with the introduction of utes from Japanese car brands with the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Trition and so and so, this could kill off this old Australian motoring phenomenon for good.
For those who aren't into electrified vehicles, there are other things in the motor show that have picked my brain.
The motor show showcases aftermarket brands such as Garret's range of turbochargers. In the time of stricter emission regulations, naturally aspirated engines will have their days numbered thanks to turbocharging. Their functions are to force more air into the engines to produce more power and torque whilst maintaining good fuel economy compared to a bigger engine. All this is done using exhaust gases. This is the most basic idea anyway.
Aside from Bendix and Uniclutch to name a few, it's good to take some notes from the likes of these cars in the Tuff Streets stand. With my idea of still doing my AU Falcon project on my mind, it doesn't hurt to look at other cars like this Falcon GT for some inspiration. I might look into this style decal but I'll definitely look to choose it's Electric Blue colour. But there's something else I'd like to add.
Looking under the bonnet of the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R lies the top strut brace. These add more rigidity and improving handling and cornering abilities. It'll be a cool idea for an AU Falcon especially being a big comfortable car to have those kind of modifications. However, I won't be doing an engine swap even with the Barra, V8 or even the RB26 engine used in Skylines. I'll intend to do a manual swap and that will be it.
It was a good day despite being interrupted the marathon. I have scored some pamphlets, bought the CleanAzFk bug removal cleaner for my car and also, a Hot Wheels Aston Martin DB9 diecast car.
In the meantime, I've been collecting cans and bottles (used and littered) and with the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS for short), I take those in the booths in exchange for 10 cents for yourself or to your desired charity. Here's my haul as an example.
From the end of last month, my total stands at 210 containers all recycled. And $21 AUD refunded.
To conclude this for now, I'd like to bring up my Pokemon escapades. From last year, I started playing Pokemon Shield and I currently have a task to complete the game so then, the Nintendo Switch will be ready to be traded in for a new one. Let's start.
We'll start off with the Corvisquire on the right. With mine leveled up fighting wild Pokemon, it has evolved into the Corviknight. But with other Pokemon, they can't always evolve when they're levelled up. That requires certain stones to help them evolve.
From here, what started from my Oddish evolved into the Gloom but then it stops. Once I've obtained a leaf stone, my Gloom evolved into a Vileplume.
And then, there was my Shellder. With a water stone obtained, my Shellder became a Cloyster. I had to cheat a little in order to find the 2 stones but it's been a learning curve. Hopefully, these along with other Pokemon will help defeat the Pokemon master in the game.
And finally, I felt like showing this Helioptile. A cute electric lizard Pokemon which also resembles a frilled neck lizard.
For anyone who's curious about an AU Falcon, I'll provide the link on my previous post below along with what I'm wanting to do.
See you next time!
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