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Scaffolding that Practically Builds Itself

aluminium scaffoldingAnyone remember that movie, Ledge of the Moro? I honestly don’t remember much about it…something about people cliff-diving while eating terrible off-brand chocolate. Also, aliens. Creepy CG aliens that didn’t move like normal living creatures, which I guess was a deliberate design choice to make them seem even more unsettling. Hard to describe, but they were all shifty and warpy, like they were characters in an online game with loads of lag.

That was how I felt going into work today. Jim brought along that new set of mobile aluminium scaffolding that he’s been raving about for so long, he empties it out of the box and it just…sets itself up. It landed in a huge pile, all loose and higgledy-piggledy. Just a pile of metal. Then it starts to hum and sets itself up, this massive bit of scaffolding assembling bit by bit until it’s absolutely huge. Honestly? Really unsettling to watch. Not sure why this was necessary either, because the guys and I don’t usually have any problems setting up the scaffolding. It’s not exactly the hardest puzzle in the world once you’ve done it a few times, and then you get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve handled every piece of the thing you’ll be walking on.

Unfortunately, the boss was totally fine with the weird moving metal thing, and we had to spend most of the day on top of it. Can’t say I was too happy about climbing that thing, and even less about spending time up there, but it at least felt okay. Definitely didn’t feel like a flimsy thing that just assembled itself but…still makes me uneasy. I like my custom ladders to be just that: custom, set up by me. I don’t even care if Lawrence Corp brings out a construction bot that does our job for us, aluminium platform setting up and all…it just makes me nervous.

-Neville

A Terrible Shade of Puce

folding platform stepsI know everyone has their preferences for things. Up until I was fifteen I used to tell everyone that my favourite colour was puce, purely because I thought I was being unique and edgy. So…that was embarrassing. I once dated a guy whose favourite type of music was catchy elevator tunes; he had CDs that he played in the car and everything. Weird relationship in general, not that I think about it. Should’ve been a warning sign from our very first car ride together, when he put in the tape and excitedly told me that it was a jazz version of ‘Hey Jude’. That’s not a jazz song, in case anyone had the slightest bit of doubt.

But yeah, everyone has their thing, and I’ll allow it. But my husband wanting to paint one side of our house purple? Where did he even GET the idea? I only went along with it because I thought it was relatively easy to reverse. Him and my father-in-law showed up on Saturday with their folding platform steps and a whole set of mobile scaffolding that can’t possibly have fit inside his tiny garage, and they went to work. I had to climb that mobile scaffolding to bring them lunch, I’ll have you know. I actually became a part of this madness, no matter how small that part was. So then I go inside and wait for them to finish with the tentative air of a soldier hiding in the trenches and waiting for the bullets to stop flying. All I can see through the kitchen window is the metal of the mobile scaffolding, so I’m trying to keep busy whilst wondering what my house is going to look like afterwards.

Terrible, is the answer to that question. I thought we were going for a dark purple, something classy that would mark us as distinct but still stay subtle. Nope. In the bright light of the sun, that thing shines like a puce beacon, like our house has a skin coating.

So, they’re coming back this Saturday, mobile scaffolding and all, to do it right. This time, they can pack their own lunches.

-Talia

A window into vandalism in bizarre overnight thefts

timber window repairsAn epidemic of vandalism has left an entire street requiring window repairs.

Overnight on Sunday, a number of letterboxes and windows were removed from houses in a quiet North Melbourne street.

“The most urgent action to take is for the affected residents to organise for window replacement, Melbourne citizens should be vigilant about further vandalism that may occur,” said police spokesperson Timothy Carpenter.

It is believed that the thieves only removed open windows and older style windows that do not lock.

The current whereabouts of the removed windows is not known, however all stolen letterboxes have been recovered. The letterboxes had been dumped in the centre of a nearby roundabout.

It appears that no items were stolen from inside the houses, suggesting that the incidents were not motivated by an attempt to rob the houses.

“At this stage we believe that the acts were undertaken as a thrill rather than to harm or steal from residents,” said Carpenter.

It is suspected that a local gang of teenagers is responsible for the spate of attacks. The attacks were believed to be conducted without the aid of a car, as marks consistent with dragging letterboxes have been sighted throughout neighbouring streets.

This is following similar acts of vandalism last month, in which several shops on a neighbouring street had their awning removed during the night.

It is not known if the same perpetrators are behind both incidents, or if Sunday night’s events were a copycat act of vandalism following the extensive media coverage of the awning thefts.

Most of the affected residents are seeking timber window repairs, Melbourne regulations stipulate that the windows must be replaced in line with the original appearance of the house.

Several of the affected houses are heritage listed. Owners have sought permission to install timber casement windows due to the security benefits of having lockable windows.

Residents that believe their letterbox or windows have been removed are urged to contact police.

Old buildings in dire need of pest inspections

termite treatmentsThere’s an abandoned warehouse just down the road from me that I’m interested in buying. No big deal. I discovered it the other day when I was searching for a place to get some milk. In fact, it towers over the landscape so I’m not exactly sure why I haven’t seen it before. It’s old, and derelict, and in need of some care. Okay, a lot of care. And sure, yes, I know I promised myself that I wouldn’t do this kind of thing anymore, but I had to go and take a look. For old time’s sake.

I fancied myself a full-fledged pest inspector back in the day. Sure, you actually need qualifications for that sort of thing, but that didn’t matter to me. I thought my extensive experience would be enough to know what to look for during a termite inspection. Mornington for some reason has the perfect climate for termites to thrive. I’d plumbed around plenty of old warehouses, factories, even mansions. Even the mansion. Still makes me shudder. But you get my point, I thought because I walked around old places a few times, I was at the top of my game. Right up there with the best ! I was indestructible.

I was delusional. The factory I spent so long renovating was knocked down after some real property inspectors took a look and decided that it wasn’t fit to be left standing. They wrote a damning building defect report. Melbourne has strict rules when it comes to buildings. Yeah, a bit gutting. Still, I think it was the right decision. In hindsight, probably. Now I focus my energy on worthwhile things, like my very sweet sort-of girlfriend. Except…well, just this once, the warehouse and it’s termites were calling to me. You know what they say about old habits, and it was just so…derelict. Derelict is my favourite way for things to be, because it means boundless promise. So one more time, I got in touch with a company for a quote on termite treatments. Mornington isn’t exactly the cheapest place in Australia for property, but termite damage can lower prices significantly. In the end I thought it was worth a look. As I thought, the cost would be astronomical. Still, I did a few calculations and made up my mind. I’m going to take the place, termites and all. I can look past the damage and see the potential.

For the love of Lorne

lorne beach apartmentsI know I’m your classic city goer these days, but I’m a real country girl at heart. I grew up on a dairy farm in the near the beach, a solid hour’s drive from anywhere to anywhere, and there’s something about that kind of intense isolation I find myself really missing living in the city. Everything’s just so close and jammed together here, there’s no peace to be had. Even sitting in a park, you can hear the distant thunderous hum of the traffic, the chatter of other people located just a little too close for comfort. So to get that true solitude I so desperately crave, I make a point of going away every couple of months or so. Not necessarily back home, I’m a more adventurous spirit than that, but somewhere relatively isolated where I can just relax and be my truest self.

The last few months have been a completely crazy period in my life. I don’t think I’ve ever felt a more chaotic type of energy. I’ve worn myself thin by all this endless running around and excitement and I just really need some time to myself. I need to calm down and find my centre again, so I’ve booked two luxurious Lorne beach apartments for myself and my best friend Cassie for the long weekend. Cassie’s one of those friends who just understands me on a deeper level. When we’re together, I don’t have to try to have a conversation all the time, she understands my need for silence. I can be on my own with her.

Cassie also has a work thing on at a conference venue near Lorne the next week, so going down there with her is a perfect plan. I just can’t wait to escape from the city and centre myself again. Getting back to my roots, in this round-about kind of way, is just so important.

I need a clean on my new house

carpet stain removalI’ve finally moved in and I desperately need to get a clean for my new house. Moving all the furniture and stuff from the moving van into the house has caused the carpets to get dirty. For some reason the couches also have a funny smell now, I think it was from the moving van. At some point the couches may have gotten wet as there is a distinct damp odour coming from them.

I had used the services of a cleaning company in the past when I was leaving my old place, and I really wanted to make sure that I got a decent cleaner. I can’t have visitors over until I get this mess cleaned up, first thing I need is carpet stain removal, Melbourne CBD isn’t far from my new place so it shouldn’t hard to find someone.

I was given the name of a place that sorts out carpet stains by a friend. It’s such a surprise too, since I hadn’t heard about them until recently. That was my mistake apparently, as there have been many reports about the truly wonderful work that they do. I didn’t know that we could still be surprised by anything that happens in this world.

It’s great when people stick together through thick and thin, letting nothing tear them apart. I don’t know what to say, I guess I’m just a people person.  When these carpet stains are gone I plan on throwing a fantastic house warming party for all my Melbourne friends. The couches still smell a bit funky, I thought a few days outside would help but it hasn’t done the trick. I guess I really do need the best odour removal Melbourne has to offer. I can’t have my new friends sitting on a smelly couch. Perhaps I should spray the couches with air freshener and wait until after the party to have the cleaning done. It occurs to me that there is a chance that people could spill their drink on the couch anyway, might was well wait.

Drastic beauty changes

eyebrow tattooingAt the moment my makeup routine takes up about 40 minutes of my time each morning. Allowing an hour to get to work, Bendigo’s morning rush can be a nightmare, I have to wake up at 6 am in order to be on time. As I don’t do that well with early mornings I have been looking into ways to cut down my routine. A friend suggested I look into eyebrow tattooing in Bendigo, apparently she went to a great place to have hers done and now she doesn’t have to worry about her eyebrows at all. I had never really considered any kind of cosmetic tattooing but this seemed different, it would mean I wouldn’t have to spend 15 minutes every day painting on my eyebrows. I spoke to a cosmetic tattooist about the process and it seemed too good to be true. I could just have my natural eyebrows filled in with ink so they appear permanently fuller.

I couldn’t believe this has been right on my doorstep all this time! I booked in for an appointment and ended up looking into what else I could have done. Turns out I can also cut down time spent on my lips. At the moment I do a three stage process of lip liner, lipstick and gloss to achieve plump lips. Turns out as well as eyebrow tattoos, I can also get lip fillers. Bendigo had an excellent cosmetic beauty salon all this time and I didn’t know! I mean who knew that Bendigo had such modern facilities to accommodate my cosmetic needs, it is so nice to not have go all the way into the city. Between the time I would save on my lips and eyebrows I could get an extra 35 minutes in bed each morning. It may seem drastic but I figure in the long run it is a far more sustainable option than pushing myself to be up by 6 every day and no doubt my lips and eyebrows will look much better for it.

Things you can strap to a roof rack

under tray drawersI have been looking into ways to create a mobile dog washing business since my great idea. Of course, it would have to be Scott’s business, seeing as I never made it to dentistry school. I have been looking at how to modify a vehicle to incorporate all the necessary gear for washing dogs. It turns out that the dog cleaning equipment is quite hefty, so if we get a ute we would have to look into ute under tray drawers to maximise storage space.

I have not yet informed Scott of my incredible idea for him to run a mobile dog grooming business. As far as I know, no such service exists yet. He could be a pioneer. This is part of the appeal, but also part of the difficulty. Because there are no mobile dog washers, there is no precedent for how one would operate or what type of equipment they would have. As a result, I think it would be most proactive for me to focus on the practical details before bringing my idea to Scott.

If a ute with a custom aluminium fit-out seems unconventional, it’s because there is no convention. I am thinking that some of the more hardy equipment could be strapped onto a roof rack, while the rest could be stored in a custom ute under body boxes. I have even thought of the perfect name for the mobile dog groomers, but I do not want to reveal it just yet. You have to be careful with what you put on the internet, and the name is so perfect that I am worried a conniving reader will steal it.

While researching vehicle modifications for the business, I found out that you can get removable service bodies for extra storage. When you have a mobile business, your vehicle needs to have not only all the tools of the trade, but also your office. A drawer system would allow storage for all the hallmarks of being a dog grooming professional. I can’t wait to see all the cute puppies!

Drainage in the digital world

drain inspections MelbourneDevelopment has been going really well with the game world recently. I’ve had a good patch, the game is finally taking some serious shape and I’ve even been chatting with a couple of production teams to start planning some details for the launch. Although that is still years off. During this good patch I ironed out some kinks in the house building mode and made construction and furnishing a far more complex and thus satisfying process. I had a breakthrough when I was coding the various exterior options for home builders. I realised it would be great if homeowners faced domestic challenges, much like in reality. Simple things of course like chipped paint and blocked drains. Melbourne is a city filled with building niggles and servicemen just waiting to repair them. Why should this be any different in a virtual world?

I needed to do my research. I wanted to replicate actual drainage issues and provide multiple options for recovery. I spoke to various drain specialist companies throughout Melbourne to see what I could find. That’s when it hit me. I had to build a drain mode. Turns out when there is a blockage in your drain professionals can actually use cameras to carry out drain inspections. Melbourne is a hub of drain expertise just waiting to be assimilated into virtual reality. I figured as well as gamers experiencing domestic issues like this why not let them actually see inside it. With drain mode, users would be able to not just solve the block but actually see inside it. Extra rewards will be available to those that can correctly identify the cause of the blockage. I wanted this to be as immersive as possible so I even programmed some extras such as audible gurgling from drains and sinks within homes and a signalling system for when there is an odour produced from blocked sewers. This will delay a release of the game by at least 6 months but I think it is essential in order to create the ideal gaming experience.

The gift of flawless skin

laser hair removal MelbourneWhen my mother gave me a gift voucher for my birthday I was a little disappointed. We had a rule in our family – no gift vouchers or money for birthday or Christmas presents. As soon as Mum saw the disappointment on my face she told me that she was buying me a day of pampering, not just a gift voucher. Mum went on the explain that this cosmetic beauty salon is one of the most prestigious in Melbourne, and that people have to book weeks in advance. When I heard that I was pretty excited. I asked her when she had booked the appointment for and she told me I was booked in for the entire day tomorrow. I gave her a huge hug and let any traces of disappointment leave my body. She had made the effort months in advance, this was not just a last minute, thoughtless present.

I walked into the facials salon and was overwhelmed with relaxing smells and a rejuvenating atmosphere. The calming music gave me confidence that I was going to be pampered and come out of the salon feeling great. The beauty therapist led me to a room to get the laser hair removal. Melbourne is a city of beautiful people and I deserve to be one of them!

I was taken into a room with a long table and lots of beauty products on the benches. I was prepped for my laser hair removal and after half an hour of pain I was feeling silky smooth. After my treatment I had anti wrinkle injections, Melbourne ladies have a right to look their best. It was honestly incredible.

Whatever they used on my skin was a miracle. My skin had never been so soft and line free. I finished off my day with a full body massage. When my time was up I floated out the front door and into my car. I was going straight home to thank my parents for the best present I had ever received.