Fire Up The Readers

Life, it seems, has gotten well in the way of this blog. But due to recent motivations, I aim to catch up on photos from as far back as last July, and share what's coming next. It should get interesting from here...

Quick update on the beer - brewed a porter on Sunday night. We know of a couple mistakes that we made, so we'll see how it goes. Fermenting away, though.

Prices

You have got to be kidding.

Airfare

Just to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, Shannon and I are out 500 bucks for booking our Christmas travel early. Air NZ has put on a fare sale, and the change fees are 100 bucks more than the difference.

Awesome.

Brewing Update

Brown ale is coming out of the bottles. It's actually much better than we expected. It's slightly on the sweet side but it may have a little too much priming sugar.

An IPA is in secondary fermentation/bottle conditioning. We know that we've overprimed it. We're having a little bit of runaway beer. But, it seemed like it was tasting pretty good before bottling. It's got a lot of potential, if we can keep it in the bottles...

Free

Brown Ale

New batch of brew is in the fermenter, a brown ale this time. It's slowly starting to bubble...

This is a much more involved method than last time. The fridge smells like hops...

Auckland Transit & RWC

The Rugby World Cup is being held in New Zealand this year. There are matches all over the country, and it's generally a good thing. Auckland is where the final, and a number of big games are going to be held.

I worry about all the visitors.

Transit here isn't geared up for the volume of folks that will be coming. Shannon and I commented about how full a bus was one recent Sunday afternoon. Weekend transit is pretty thin.

A couple weeks back, we took a cab, and the driver didn't know where one of the major train stations was. Not a good look for a country showing off to the world how they can handle big events.

There are a few weeks to go. I hope that the city can shape itself up to move all these people! I also hope that being as close as we are to Eden Park doesn't make this place insufferable for six weeks.

Brewing Update

An update on the homebrew situation. We tried two with moderate success. It seemed a little flat, and still a little sweet. We eventually sorted out the fact that secondary fermentation was too cold. We've relocated the beer to our hot water heater storage room, and things seem to be much better with #3 (less sweet, more bubbles).

We may not be able to recover all the secondary, but we at least understand where things went wrong. Next time should be better.

Brewing

Shannon and I finally made good on our jabbering and brewed a batch of beer. You could easily argue that we took the easy/lame route. We bought a kit. We had gone round and round trying to piece together the equipment, and we finally just slapped down the hundred bucks and got it all in a box.


There are pluses and minuses to this. On the one hand, it got us going. On the other hand, it came with a starter mix for Lion Draught, which is something like Clydesdale Urine. However, if we can successfully produce something that tastes like cheap beer, we'll know we got the process right enough to try something a little more advanced, which is the ultimate goal.

We've gone through what seems like a successful primary fermentation, as the specific gravity changed roughly as expected and the taste changed significantly. It's bottled now, and I hope we're having progress with secondary fermentation. Time will tell.

We should have done this in Melbourne, but I'm glad we bit the bullet. Hopefully the next batch will be rewarding. All I'm expecting from this batch is an understanding of the process and a cheap buzz. Anyone want a beer? Twenty three litres of very average beer is a lot.

Australia, Fin.

Last night, I got back from a weekend in Melbourne. Despite being so anxious to close that chapter, I would be lying to say it wasn't a little bittersweet.

Shannon moves in a week and with that, there will undoubtedly be changes in our relationships with our friends there, and our perspective on the city. Who knows when we will be back.

As much as I am ready to have both of us 100% in Auckland, I feel like my departure from Melbourne (I can't speak for Shannon) has been the epitome of anticlimax.

I resigned from United with zero fanfare. I think my boss expected it. My last day came and went with nothing more than the stroke of the second hand on the clock. It's like it never happened. The the back and forth that we have both done during the transition period has made the whole situation seem even more surreal.

Melbourne was good to us. Part of me is sad to see the chapter close because I fear we won't get the chance to really see Australia like we had originally planned (you know, when we were heading right back to SF at the end of two years?).  But man, part of me is so ready to throw the keys on the porch and slam the door.

Is that wrong?

But isn't it funny how fast you can change from bittersweet to just over it. And a big thanks to the Melbourne airport for that.

After a lovely hour waiting to check in (who needs appropriate staffing, Virgin Blue?) and grabbing a mediocre sandwich, I was greeted with the inconsistent standards of international airport security. Those three L shaped Allen keys that I flew in with on Friday. Terrorist fodder in Australia. Now let's ignore the damage they could cause as tools (Boeings are put together with English fasteners, not metric) and think for a second. As a weapon they are no worse than the pen in my pocket. Compared to the light bulb I have, which I recon would smash delightfully into someone's face, they do basically no damage. Worse yet he threw them away - the guy wouldn't even take them home. Said it was policy. What a waste.

Now, this is no reflection on the employee. He diligently performed his function while using none of his own thought processes or good sense, like a good security robot. But as a global society, we are out of control. What's worse - asinine security measures or inconsistently asinine security measures?

It's time for world leaders to get together, scratch the three brain cells between them together, and sort this out.

I can't wait to replace those in NZ. You can't get punched in the face for less than ten bucks. I am confident tools are more.

Oh, also, to Melbourne duty free imposing a credit card tax and the store that robbed me for my Sprite because they don't take plastic under ten bucks (but takes Kiwi notes) you can both go right to hell.

I was sort of down about leaving Melbourne. Now, I think I am quite over it.

So long.

Car Recovery

The car has been recovered, with not one, but two working keys. It was a pretty spendy incident, but at least I got to take some more pictures while on the ferry and while driving home.

Tsunami

Interesting article about the recent tsunami and it's impact on NZ here.

Adventure

Sometimes, travel is an adventure.

Shannon and I went out to the Coromandel Peninsula last weekend to take in the sights after her conference.

It's a beautiful place, with roads right on the edge of the water, and mountains in the middle. Saturday was some pretty great weather, too, save the warning to stay off the eastern beaches before lunchtime due to the tsunami from Japan. You'll have to excuse the pictures. As a seasoned traveler does, I left my camera at home, so all these are from an iPod.

We had a casual drive around from Auckland all the way to Waikawau Bay (map). Since it was well past lunch time, we hit the beach. As we were putting on sunscreen, we looked up, and saw the ocean rush out about 30 meters in about 30 seconds. Like the other three people on the beach, we retreated. A few minutes later, it eased back in over the span of a few minutes. Very freaky, since the bay is somewhat protected. I wonder what it was like on the open coastline - though obviously not serious by any comparison.

Once it seemed the danger had passed, we, and others, resumed. There was a wonderfully refreshing swim, a walk, a nap, and another splash in the water. Pretty awesome afternoon.

We even got up for most of sunrise and beach tea on Sunday.

We stopped near Tuateawa (map) for the view...

and Shannon made a friend.

 

We were heading back into Coromandel Town, as we needed to head towards Auckland so Shannon could make her flight, when we stopped at Tokatea Lookout (map).

 Aaaaaaaand, cue the drama.

Are you serious? Key snapped in the ignition like an overbent paperclip. It didn't shear, it fatigued. Previous owner probably bent it and bent it back. Thank goodness we have 1) mobile coverage and 2) roadside towing cover.

Lovely chap brought his truck (and his two buddies, despite me insisting there were two of us) to the pass, and fiddled around a bit (by which I mean removed all the surrounds on the steering column, the wheel lock, and the ignition assembly because he was SURE he could start it with a screwdriver, as it's the most stolen car in NZ). Naturally, we found out the long way that there is an immobilizer chip in the key head. Who knew. Tow it is.

What's that, you say? That photo looks like you took it through a rainy windshield on top of the truck because this dude brought his buddies? Correct. We buckled up. For safety, naturally.

Down in town, the mechanic (right - singular) came in from home on a Sunday to confirm that there was an imobilizer in the key and inquired if we had considered the ferry home, as it was a Sunday. Lesson learned - don't need anything more than milk outside of Auckland (and possibly Welly and CHCH) on a Sunday.

After killing time, the ferry ride actually was quite lovely. It's about two hours from Coromandel Town to Auckland, with a quick stop at Waiheke Island.

Now, as for the car, it's still in Coromandel. The first word was that a new key could be had (from Oz) for about $220, but that the car needed to be taken to a Subaru dealer to get it coded. Naturally, that's Auckland, so about a $400 tow. Latest news is that the mobile locksmith can make a new blade and fit it to the existing head for about $150 but not until Friday. Who knows what it'll cost to get the mechanic (singular) to put everything else back together. In an effort to not take a vacation day over this, I changed an international plane ticket for a bordering on reasonable fee, and in theory, I pick up the car on Saturday, after another ferry ride.

The bookies are taking bets.

Update: Obviously, Shannon didn't make her flight. Emirates was very accommodating for very little money. I got two extra days with her. You'd think it was planned or something.

Commute

I've been riding into work with some degree of regularity recently. Crossing the bridge south of Onehunga is clearly the best part.

Razors

My goodness. It has truly been some time since I wished I was still shaving my legs. Today is one of those days.

And on a mountain bike, too. This was truly, a good effort. Well done, you klutz.

Parallel Importing

The San Franciscan in me dies a little when I see this, but at least this type of stuff is available. NZ is much better than Oz about having products from other countries, at least in terms of booze. NZ has a much more international selection of both wine and beer.

But really, $7.95 each?  Shit.

NZ also has a pretty significant microbrewing scene. That's a good thing.

Appliances

I've come to a conclusion. I don't think I ever want to buy a place with an electric cook top.

I don't recall complaining this much at our place in SF, but the cook top in our place in Auckland sucks. Boiling water is a chore. And heaven forbid, you get the element hot - you can't STOP cooking stuff.

Gas range, all the way.

Flood

Everyone who says you should only do laundry when you're home... is right.

My washer, which is already on it's last legs, (ask not for whom the bell tolls, washer... it tolls for thee) was doing it's thing tonight. After a very successful call with Vodafone, it occurred to me that I hadn't heard the washer squealing during the rinse cycle.


You can imagine I wasn't shocked to find my garage under an inch of water, as the latch on the door blew open. Upshot - I know the guys hooked the cold hose to the cold valve.

Good thing I had cardboard left to use as a push broom. I think my day went from "fine" to "I'd like a beer."

Catch Up, Again

It's safe to say that I've done a pretty terrible job of writing this blog during the move and the start of the new job. Hopefully I can break that cycle soon. Let's try to start tonight, shall we?

When we last left off with anything of importance, I think I needed a car. Check. 1998 Impreza Rx-I, with about 169k km on the clock. Needs a cam belt (timing belt) as there is no record of replacement ever but I didn't exactly break the bank getting the car, so I can sink a little cash into it. Clutch squeaks, too, but I can deal with it. First project for myself is adjusting the wiper throw. Second is taking pictures so Shannon can see it, because I am slack. Key detail - it is silver.

I got moved into our new place. Our stuff was delivered. Because they could only drop off on a Tuesday, I only opted for the partial unpack, which left me with twoish weeks of lovely unpacking. But, there is no more cardboard in the house, so it's basically done. Victims of the move - one pint glass and our washing machine, making this the Worst. Move. Ever. The plan is that it was sufficiently insured. We shall see.

Two weeks back, I took my first trip to Melbourne, so it was the first time I had seen Shannon in three weeks. It was a lovely trip, paid for by someone else. But we had a lot of fun. We got to see some old friends. We got to act like we didn't have the 10,000 lb gorilla in the room (living internationally) and mill about the city like tourists. The weather was awesome, although it got quite hot Sunday.

We had a Brew Dog Hardcore, which Ryan hasn't had. We had to sell an organ to get it, but quite tasty.

 

There was new street art in Fitzroy, as you, loyal readers, may recall from my occasional series on the same.

 

It had recently been Australia Day over there, so there were some remnants of the annual protest of Invasion Day.

 

What I didn't realize until this year was that Australia day is the day of landing, not the day the colony became a Commonwealth country. So I can now understand the resentment. We'll not get into any religious debate, as that's not the point.

Sunday was easily the highlight. We went up in gliders! We went to a place in Benalla, which I think was called the Victorian Gliding Centre (or GC of V or something close) where they drag you up in a two seater with a pilot behind a tail dragger to 4000 feet, and let you go for about a half hour. You get to fly a bit once you're up and stable. It was a blast. There was a decent view of the mountains, but generally, it was just awesome to be up, and essentially floating.  It's also extremely quiet (save wind noise) after you pop the tow rope off.

Shannon, taking off, and landing.

 
And me, getting out of town.

Photos from flight were take with Shannon's camera, because it's smaller, so I'll need to pick those up this weekend, when I head back. According to my pilot, we were in a sort of touchy glider, in terms of flight controls. I found it pretty tricky, but still a lot of fun. Definitely makes me think about flight lessons. Again.

On to more serious matters, this is my 5th week at work. Things are going well. I'm learning things and leveraging my previous experience. I like the people I work with, despite missing the folks I used to work with. I think I'm getting good experience. 

The goal, after this weekend, it to finally start exploring New Zealand. I think I'm finally set up enough to work on that. More to come...