Author Archives: admin

May 2017 Update

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted.  Notice a theme?
Anyway, here goes:

  • I’ve quit my job as a Control Systems Engineer in the mining industry and have started a new job as a Control Systems Engineer in the grain handling industry.  The change has been good and I feel reinvigorated.  I’m enjoying engineering more as I no longer have people reporting to me.  I’m also going away with work a lot less (and when I do go away it’s generally a day trip).
  • I’m catching the bus to and from work so the 1975 Mini Clubman is no longer a daily drive.  I’m getting some of the more involved work done on it now (disc brakes and suspension).  I’m planning on it being a fairly original car with some upgrades for safety (disc brakes and suspension) and for the look (period roof rack, possibly a rear window shade).  Recently fitted new plugs and leads as it lost a cylinder…

End of 2016 Update

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted an update.  Apologies to my regular readers…

Here is a point form update:

  • Work and life are very busy (so no change there);
  • I’m not sure what I think about Fitbit buying Pebble (I don’t remember an acquisition like this ever going well);
  • The finches are doing well, the Painteds seem happy and are breeding, the Zebras perhaps a little too happy…;
  • Bird watching has taken a bit of a hit (closely related to amount of free time available unfortunately);
  • Using a 1975 Mini Clubman as a daily driver seems to be going well (after the clutch was replaced).

Pebble Smartwatch

I am now the proud owner of a Pebble Smartwatch (I went for the “Classic” version).  It seems to play nicely with my iPhone 5s.  My favourite “watchface” at the moment is the built in “time as text” one (although I do think the iWatch one is cool).

I have installed the Pebble SDK and I am going to try to develop an app/watchface or two.  Stay tuned.

Birds seen from my office window

List of birds seen from my first floor office window in Applecross, Perth, WA (in order seen/recorded).

  1. Silver Gull – regular fly-bys throughout the day
  2. Singing Honeyeater
  3. Rainbow Lorikeet – frequent
  4. Galah
  5. Australian Magpie – nesting nearby
  6. Australian Pelican – seen circling high
  7. Australian Raven – nesting nearby
  8. Red-tailed Black-cockatoo
  9. Red Wattlebird
  10. Laughing Dove
  11. Australian White Ibis
  12. Rock Dove
  13. Spotted Dove
  14. Willie Wagtail – road verge
  15. Brown Honeyeater
  16. Magpie-lark
  17. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
  18. Eastern Osprey
  19. New Holland Honeyeater
  20. Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo
  21. Laughing Kookaburra