Colin Warren: the blog

I cant believe that it will be the 1st of May tomorrow! A quarter of the year has gone already – and while it seems quick – it sure feels like it.

Thinking back over the last few months – so much has happened. Amazing to recollect what we’ve all done and how the year is panning out. We’ve still got lots to do…

Looks like a trip to Wollongong towards the end of June to attend a conference – another road trip because the flights are too tricky and expensive. I’ll be trying to get some writing done to present at a conference at the end of the year and Wendy will be getting started on her project in second semester. …and maybe we’ll get started on the block house – that will be nice.

So, on reflection, life’s good. We’re busy, happy, healthy and feeling like we are being productive and making a contribution.

oh, and the coffee smells good.

Sunday evening and the work cycle starts again tomorrow. Nothing wrong with that, it just means the weekend is over and whatever I didn’t get round to doing will need to wait till the next one. It was a hectic week at work last week and I’m looking forward to catching up on a few things this week.

We headed down to Cape Otway on Friday and cruised though Apollo Bay with stopping for the Music Festival, well we did grab a coffee and muffin and shopped for some vitals. Caught up with some friends for lunch and then did the walk down to the Parker and round Point Franklin. I’ve never seen the sea so calm but it was very high so the rock scramble was tricky in between the waves.

On Saturday it was into Apollo Bay but straight through and up to Marriner’s Falls. There were some signs up at the car park to say the track was closed due to storm damage but that didn’t stop us (and a whole lot of other people). It wasn’t that bad, but there were a few trees across the track and you could see that it had been up a meter or two when it rained heavily a couple of months ago. Anyway, it’s a beautiful walk and lots of nice things to look at if you take the time. The falls are part of the Barham River which flows past the caravan park at Apollo bay and out to the ocean.

We stopped for a picnic in Paradise on the way out and enjoyed the company of three Kookaburras who (unfortunately they probably thought – but for their own benefit) missed out on some lunch. It was drizzling a bit (probably meant that we had it on our own people-wise), but not enough to stop us enjoying a very beautiful place.

Nothing like some fresh air and the sound of running water to refresh the spirit.

hmmm, better not ‘fess up that it’s been a struggle to get something written this week. Did manage a couple of posts but it’s been hard to find the time to get the words out and put them down.

Been out every night so far with some sort of busi/y/ness with church, and work has been full on. With all the email and phone calls and stress of pending jobbies, it’s been difficult to make some space in my head to allow a subject of interest come up and to pen a few lines type some words about it. Anyway, feel better now just starting to talk write about it, and hopefully by the end of the post we’ll all be edified a bit more…

My professional blog has got off to a start but it’s been a bit slower than I thought it might be. I don’t want to flog myself, but I recognise that if I want to make it work, I’ll have to be disciplined. Maybe I need to acknowledge that not every post has to be ‘full’ of value, but I do want them to have a least some sort of ‘pearl’ for my readers. If you’ve got any ideas for subject matter to do with e-learning and technology for teaching and learning please let me know.

I’m playing the ‘block’ thing as we’re off to the Otway’s for the weekend and looking forward to it very much. I’ll take some reading matter and the camera and see what happens. We’ll be catching up with a colleague of Wendy’s and giving them a hand exploring the Cape on Friday and maybe doing something on Saturday. Whatever – it will be nice.

ANZAC Day deserves a mention too, and while we won’t get there this year, the dawn service (aiming to get to Torquay one year) makes it all a very special thing to do – pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who would fight to protect us. Our eldest was at Gallipoli last year and told us (without going into very much detail) that he was profoundly moved by the experience.

Lest we forget.

Last weekend we did something a little different. Well, on Saturday paid a visit to the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Bulleen. Strolled around the site that “comprises 16 acres of buildings, gardens and sculpture park presenting a dramatic combination of indoor and outdoor spaces” and we had a picnic in the gardens. Didn’t get to see the Rick Amor exhibition but would like to see his stuff. Saw a segment that features a conversation with him (Episode 10 that you can download) on Sunday Arts (it’s worth subscribing to the podcast…).

The big day was Sunday when we checked out The Golden Plains Arts Trail – 45 artists in 20 locations. The Golden Plains Shire is a sort of rough triangular wedge between Geelong, Ballarat and Lismore. We did about a 350kms round trip from 9:30-5:30 and saw some new (and different) parts of the countryside like Steiglitz, Meredith, Garibaldi, Dereel, Napoleons, Haddon, Smythsdale, Linton, and Werneth. We ran out of time and missed out on Inverleigh, Teesdale and Bannockburn but can get back to these people another time.

We saw the wares of over 20 artists: painters (of all types), sculptures, crafts, paper, printers (lino), furniture etc. I never realised that there were so many people living in the bush around little settlements. They seem to be out in the sticks which is very dry and dusty, and up lonely dirt roads but still close enough to have electricity but need tank water. I suppose many are weekenders but most of the artists seem to be permanent residents. It was amazing to be driving along a lonely flat, desolate even, country road and then suddenly have to turn off into a farm and then walk into a shed that had some wonderful artwork hung around the wall and then have some lovely conversations with these people.

A fair bit to get around to in the one day, but a great concept. Watch out for it next year…

The Lexcen is dead, long live the Golf. Yep, have lashed out a little and invested in a new car that will provide lots of driving pleasure. An economical diesel engine, 6 speed manual, loads of safety and a comfortable drive. Now we’ve a got his and hers – or better still, a couple of ours.

It’s a Sportline model from 2007 and has a sun roof which I didn’t necessarily want, but it got discounted out of the price so I feel like I didn’t pay extra for it. Might actually get to enjoy the hole in the roof as we cruise the Otways forest or meander along the Great Ocean Road. My only complaint is that the Radio/CD won’t play .mp3 disks and it doesn’t have a auxiliary 3.5mm jack for plugging in the iPod. Not to worry, you don’t buy a car just for those reasons.

Any new car is nice and provides some peace of mind to know that there won’t be any bits that wear out and will need fixing for quite a while. The process of going to car yards and dealing with the sale people is still a bit weird and I suppose I’ll never get comfortable with it. If you know what you want and you can feel like you’ve done a good deal – that’s all that matters.

Now it’s time to enjoy the ride…

I have taken the plunge and begun another blog called Learner Bytes! Not sure what I’ve got myself in for, but I’ve seen that others can manage to keep a couple of blogs going so I’m giving it a whirl.

The idea is that this blog remains a more personal one and the other becomes a professional blog. Not in the sense that I want to make money out of it, but more that I can write about my professional life. I wanted to keep the two separate and also be able to ‘build’ a presence online with regard to the things I do at work and what I’m interested in. I suppose I’m intending it to be come a kind of e-portfolio, demonstrating what I’ve done, what I’m involved in, what I’m thinking about, and making connections to other worthy people, ideas and technology.

… and the wash up regarding the broken car …

I initially thought about fixing it myself, but in the end it looked like a couple of hours work that couldn’t be guaranteed to be successful (and expensive). So, after some consultation with greater minds, it was decided that it probably wasn’t worth the investment to keep her going. We agreed that we might be better off without the old vehicle which is starting to get a bit worn around the edges (well, very worn around some edges). We decide to make the best of the situation and donated the car to Hand Brake Turn (which is a program run by Concern Australia) that has a nice philosophy, “Giving young people a hand, brake-ing their predicament, turning their lives around.”

Anyway, the car is off our hands and the plates have been cashed in and insurance cancelled. Its now in some other (good) hands and after the young guys to fix it up, they’ll hopefully pass it on to someone who has a need and will make good use of it.

Vale QGD865 – you were a good and faithful servant.

… and I still feel better now.

Phew, it’s the end of a huge day. Glad I didn’t have to scratch myself…

I met some folk from South Africa earlier this week and got talking to them about cultures, customs and difference. Reminded me of the times (yes they has been more than one) when I’ve experienced culture shock. Can you be ‘shocked’ by as many cultures as there are, or does it depend on how different they are compared with your own, or something else? From my experience there are always be some sort of adjustments to make when you experience something foreign and different in a another place. The models that you’ve built your own existence on, can be dismantled very quickly. I suppose we’ll all deal with these ‘shocks’ in different ways and with different intensities.

These visitors from another place were quite taken with Australian society. Basic things we take for granted like being able to travel on public transport were a little foreign to them. I’m also sure that it will still be a while before their culture/s become integrated like ours. The mixing and overlap when cultures collide and/or intersect can mean significant adjustments for those involved. I reckon I’ve been fortunate to have grown up in a multi-cutural society and also to have travelled a little. I continue to be amazed at the different ways of doing things (eating, working, worshiping, creating etc.) that we can see on this planet.

So, I’d suggest you enjoy the space where you live and appreciate it’s idiosyncrasies, and when visiting other people and places be prepared for the/an other way of life/living and even if it takes you a moment try and come to see it as just another way… Being outside your comfort zone is when you are open to learning.

While a way overseas recently I lashed out on a new lens for my big camera. One of the people I was traveling with had a local contact and this person was able talk the lingo and managed to drive a hard bargain for me which saved me a few dollars. This lens (100mm f/2.8) takes both portrait and macro photos and I’ve had a bit of a play around and thought I’d post a couple of shots of some shells on the blog.

I suppose the idea is to capture an essence of the subject while framing it in a nice composition using light/shade and colour. It’s fun, and I’m learning a little more about photography. Now keeping a lookout for interesting subject matter.

geez, I have to write his post just so I can go on living – you know, getting it out of my system.

I’m “not happy Jan“.

You know how it goes, Friday afternoon, meetings done and emails checked. Maybe a last minute panic to organise something for Monday and then relax – even a farewell function with drinks and nibbles. Then home, ”Hi“, and a hug, put your feet up forget about work – and the weekend begins.

But no, not for me!

Got to the car about 5:45 (after a trip to the library to pick something up for the beloved) and the car sounded like it didn’t want to start, but did – maybe the cold I thought. But on the way out the little engine light was lit, and the battery light was dim and flickering (which it had been for a few days and was something I was going to sus out this weekend). Anyway, off we go – tuned in to Lindy and the guys doing the footy tipping (highlight of the week during the footy season and always good for a laugh) and getting in the mood…

Chugging up a hill I noticed the fuel gauge slowing going down like there was a huge leak somewhere and then turning left and losing just about all power from the engine coasted to a stop and I lifted the bonnet. Well, there was a motor in there, but not a healthy one. Turned it off and then jiggled all the cables I could find (I had realised by now that there was going to be some sort of electrical problem) before trying to start it again. Nothing. Well, a sort of half hearted crank and then nothing. So, get on the phone to say I wouldn’t be where I was going to be, and then on to RACV. After swapping pleasantries and details…

”It will be 60-90 minutes before someone can get there.“
”What!“
”Yes, unfortunately you’re in a busy area…“
”OK (still being in a pre weekend positive frame of mind), I’ll look forward to seeing him (or her).“

Made another call to say I’d be a while. So, what to do now? Got out the laptop and managed to create most of a presentation (over a dozen slides) for a gig on Monday, talked on the phone to a colleague for 15 minutes to catch up on some details, read some of the paper before it got dark, rang RACV to say it had been 90 minutes… ”You’re next in the cue sir.“ and then caught up on some blogs via the RSS aggregator (probably looking a bit freaky with the glow of the screen lighting me up) and then some Friday night footy (enough juice for the radio!).

…and over two hours later a guy turns up and says (without an apology for the wait), ”How can I help?“

Duh! Get my car going please.

Hmm, you need a thingymajingy (voltage regulator) and I haven’t got one. The battery’s flat and you won’t get home – I can organise a tow, or you can get your mechanic to check it tomorrow.

What the *%#@! …. I’ve waited over two hours and you can’t get me home?! Thanks for nothing. See you later.

Another phone to get a lift home and lock up the car and wait (a little impatiently) to get home at 8:30!

I feel better now!