Gambling ads for horse racing have really stepped up a level, with seeing nicely dressed and groomed attractive men at a racecourse cheering on their favourite horse, well the one they hope will win.
However, I am fed up with seeing the ads on YouTube and after a quick search, I found I can get rid of them.
This works for YouTube if you are using Google and logged in. Go here, https://myadcenter.google.com/customize and click the 'Sensitive' tab.
I never know what goes on in my home. As I sit here at my desk, I am in the firing line of little pet toys thrown for Jass for to retrieve after a chase and then to ignore. I am more used to dogs retrieving and demanding another throw. Cats don't retrieve, but still want another throw.
Sunday Phyllis asked me to drive him to pick up a Christmas tree, an ornamental one of course. I think by the box size and the weight, it is huge. It came with a box of decorations and Christmas lights. I'm afraid!
Monday Phyllis and Kosov were up shortly after 5am to catch a train to a business where Phyllis would be assisting at a tyre recycling business. Kosov went along just to make sure Phyllis got there ok, and because he loves him. I would have said, 'Don't make a noise when you leave'. Phyllis discovered there is wire braiding inside tyres. He had the tiny scratches on his arms to prove it. He declared it was hard physical work, and it was only an unpaid trial.
Kosov returned and had to go to work in the late evening. Yesterday, Tuesday, Kosov went to work Phyllis' shift, while Phyllis stayed home and took notes for Kosovo's university studies. I know if I asked why, I would not receive an answer I could understand.
In a way I told Phyllis to stop buying stuffs, in fact to get rid of some stuffs, and a crate has been filled with junk to go to the charity shop.
Today will be an early start as sometime between 7.30 and 8.00, tradies will arrive to install the new a/c. I am a bit excited. I received a $150 credit from the government for replacing an old unit with a more energy efficient model. Still, it is costing a good bit but the old unit is over 12 years old, has become noisy, and my worst nightmare is to be without heating or cooling. When the former unit broke down 12 years ago, it was weeks before a new on could be installed. We bought two cheap electric fan heaters to use in the meantime and end up with a horrendous electric bill.
I am going away on holidays at the weekend, my first proper holiday since Ray died. A plane and train will be involved. I am a little excited, quite apprehensive but quietly confident. I have no one to concern myself about except for myself. If I screw up, it is down to me.
Sue loved balloons, so here are some balloon photos.
Technology can certainly be exasperating.
I've just received an email from the online travel company Expedia, with holiday promotional specials in celebration of Labor Day. Labor Day in Victoria was in March. I suppose I shouldn't care, as a special is a special to take advantage of. But I do care that the system is not correctly set up to know when Labor Day is in Victoria.
Everytime I look at a a product online, Google bombards me with advertising, hence the Expedia email. I spent quite some time looking at lounge suits online, and it took well over a month for the advertising to stop. Next was air conditioning, as I am thinking of replacing my quite old unit. The ads for that didn't last too long. Of late though, I've had the worst bombardment of travel emails. The thing is, all these emails keep arriving long after you've bought a product.
I found a setting in Google to turn off personalised advertising, and I wonder if, having switched it off, I will stop receiving emails. It's a moot point because this week I installed the browser Duckduckgo. My searches there won't be picked up by the behemoth that is Google.
I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the tv story, but AI is now being used in schools to assist students. One student was using AI to write computer code to create an online competitive game to clear plastic and other pollution from our seas. Another was using AI for guidance to write an essay about the play Othello. I put Shakespeare up there with my horror of algebra and trigonometry.
I do love what technology can do for us, and I embrace it when I want to.
It is four days after the second anniversary of my mother's death, on this Thursday the 14th. Yesterday was Ray's closest sister's birthday, and today is one year since Phyllis moved into the then chaotic home, post repainting and recarpeting. I wrote his initials on the calendar for today, and he asked about what was on that day. I don't think he remembers the date he moved in. I might buy him a single rose. It was hard to work out the date he moved in, but I then remembered the weekend after he moved in I went away for two nights, remembering that some of you didn't think it was a good idea to leave him here on his own, with friends visiting, just after he moved in. I had judged his character correctly in two or three days.
I was away for two days, and I had a record of that, on my great niece's birthday, just after I had a melanoma removed from my scalp, still with the bandage on my head covered by my cap.
Today is shopping day but I buy little normal fresh food now. Phyllis looks after most of that. I will replenish the wine cellar, buy a pepper steak pie for myself to bring home, have coffee from my newest cafe in South Melbourne (naturally the barista is hot) and if Phyllis is at work and Kosov is home, I'll buy Kosov a pie too.
I need a photo. Phyllis and Kosov are both reading this book series as they travel on public transport to and from work. I've no idea what Wings of Fire is about, and I am not interested, but if you know, feel free to say so.
Phyllis went off to work before ten, carrying a new broom. He had taken a new broom to work two days ago, and of course I made the dad joke, is that your transport to work today? He wanted the first broom for use at work, and his boss' wife was so impressed with the broom, she wanted one.
Phyllis and Kosov have both being working hard, and Kosov studying hard too. No time for housework at home. They were in bed early Tuesday night, and both slept long, with Kosov waking up with a still sleepy look that can only be seen in young people after 11 hours of sleep.
I wanted to buy something for Sister, a commemorative pack of coins and a pin for the 100th anniversary of her AFL team, Hawthorn. For some reason it was not listed on the Australia Post website, who was selling it among other such overpriced memorabilia. I tried two city post offices and they only received one each and both had been sold. I am not sure if I will persist. Maybe I can order it over the phone, or fill in a form and order it by mail. Dear oh dear. What a backward step that would be.
In frustration at our Logitech keyboard, a few years ago we bought a new one. The old one kept not connecting with the computer via the wireless system. The newer one was no better. We returned it and bought a more expensive one of the same brand. It too would disconnect from the computer. If I moved it closer to the computer, it would work. If I inserted a USB stick, that drove the keyboard and mouse crazy. Once in frustration, I picked up the keyboard and banged it down on the desk, metaphorically hitting it with a hammer, and it worked.
So maybe every second day, I would bang the keyboard on the desk. This greatly amused Phyllis and Kosov. I told them I would buy a new one. On a whim this day I did. Rather than the flashy bells and whistles Logitech wireless keyboards, I chose a simple HP keyboard and and mouse, and it just works, without having to bang it on the desktop. The keyboard is quieter than the old one too. Happy.
Boi!, as Phyllis addresses me at times, you are having chicken noodle soup with an egg. Is that ok?
Yes Phyllis.
It was not a packet of chicken noodle soup with a fried egg on top, as I imagined. It was packet of crinkly noodles in a delicious soup, with some chicken and a drumstick, along with some spicy chicken pieces on the side. The egg was boiled and sat in the soup.
While looking at old photos, I came across photos of the Brighton Antique Dealer's 80th birthday party. That was in 2015, meaning this year 2025, BAD will be 90. I contacted her daughter to see if there were plans, and there is a plan, so a couple of friends and myself will attend. The official invitations will arrive next week. BAD was quite emotional on the night of her eightieth, so it isn't a great photo of her, with Ray.
Kosov was at work, so it was just Phyllis who I took to the big green shed, Bunnings hardware store, for charity fund raiser sausage with onions on top (controversial. Should they be on top or the bottom?). Phyllis declined the sausage. He thought it would be like a hotdog.
He decided it was his turn to choose a balcony annual, and I really wish I had gone to the posh plant nursery in Surrey Hills. Most of the plants on offer looked like they were the leftovers after everyone had bought the best. We bought a purple pansy, which should be ok. Purple and mauve are Phyllis' favourite colour.
It was then on to Port Melbourne's Bay Street, for coffee and cake. Phyllis bought a small pizza, and I as gay man, naturally bought a slice of lemon meringue pie. We both had coffee and then Phyllis bought a cake too.
Phyllis was looking his absolutely girliest, wearing wide flowery pants, his nails beautifully painted, with plenty of bling and a new wrap over his shoulders.
The back story. At the bakery there are two baristas, both of which Ray and I used to like. One is East European, cute with an almost shaved head. I would guess Latvian or Lithuanian. That is an educated guess. The other I think white Australian, and in summer when he wore tight shorts, well the rear view of him was rather impressive. It helps that they are both really nice guys too.
Well, the last barista I mentioned complimented Phyllis on his outfit and look, and then young female staff joined in with compliments to Phyllis. Phyllis was over the moon with the compliments. I full know what people think when they us out together. Ah yes, younger foreign born with a rich sugar daddy. I need a tee shirt, He is just my tenant. But that would be a lie. While Phillip and Kosov are my tenants, boarders, lodgers, whatever, they have become important in my life, and that was not what I was expecting. I know they will move on one day, but... I don't want to think about it.
Phyllis attended Uni today, which is rare, everything is mostly online, and then later passed the final part of his driver learner permit test after visiting he VicRoads office and he now has a driving learner's permit.
I will suggest he has a couple of professional driving lessons by an RACV approved driving instructor, and I need to check my car insurance to ensure that a learner can drive my car.
I was having my afternoon rest in my bedroom and about 5.15 Phyllis and Kosov arrived home. I could hear rapid fire voluble Tamil being spoken loudly. Somethings up.
I ventured out from my room and there much ado, with Phyllis having lost his phone. He soon went out to check where he has been. Later he went out to buy a new cheap sim card, so he could lock down his bank account. He was stressed, Kosov was stressed, and naturally I am stressed for him. He borrowed Ray's phone, but soon gave up on that. The big problem with getting his phone back is that the battery was flat. I hope some kind soul will charge up his phone and call the number that is not locked on the phone. If your memory is good, he lost his phone last year, the day before he returned to India to see his family. He got it back just hours before he was due to depart.
He came to the kitchen just before 7.00 to prepare my meal. I told him to forget it. I can do it myself. He seemed relieved.
I gave him comforting hugs and assured him even if he doesn't get his phone back, it is not the end of the world. Believe me, I know similar after my Google account was killed.
Ah, the kiddies keep me so occupied. Yes, my insurance covers him. He said he first wants a couple of driving lessons from me. I said not. I found a nice looking RACV driving instructor of Indian heritage. After a couple of lessons, then I will get his learning driver up to the needed hours. For a few years I taught people to drive, albeit not cars.
Tonight I called Tradie Brother for his birthday. He left his phone on his car roof two weeks ago, and it has not been returned after I guess falling off. Oldest Niece is sorting out a new phone and logins for her dad.
Here are a few photos of food Phyllis has made or improved.
No, Face Book algorithm, I do not want to join the Gay Illinoi Farmers group and the guy in the teaser photo does not appeal to me. But where in Illinois does he live? Contact? Do you know him Kirk?
Face Book is not just for Boomers.
Lots of photos and I hope you enjoy the memories.
A new museum opened in Hawthorn, a local area known as Glenferrie. There used to be one at the old Richmond Post Office.
It took me about half an hour of searching to find who owns this. It is still not clear to me who owns the site.
We operate museums in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, which maintain heritage telecommunications of national significance. We provide programs and educational tours for schools as well as the general public in the area of telecommunications.
It is called the National Communication Museum and is appropriately located in an old telephone exchange (putting you through now caller).
I certainly remember these public phones. Earlier phones had you rolling a coin into a slot. Press button A to load your coin to speak. Press button B to retrieve your coin if your call did not connect. I recall button B made a kind of buzz noise as it returned your non existent coin. Is below a typewriter with circular typing keys?
The entry fee wasn't cheap, at something like $25 but an annual pass was a bargain and I rather wish I'd bought to revisit.
I filmed some short videos. The first is surveillance cameras, with Big Brother watching you.
The second is, would you believe, is a talking clock machine. "At the third stroke, it will be 5.02 am and ten seconds."
The third is a creepy robot lady I was a little scared of. She did not seem aware of people as obstacles, so people stepped out of the way. Had they not, maybe she would have diverted around them.
I could say it is quiet here without Phyllis but he is often out and about. He is staying with a friend for two nights.
The Swedish Death Cleaning goes on. While it didn't all go in bags, I think I would have taken the equivalent of about twenty of the bags full of stuffs to the local charity shop. Just because you have space, there is no need to fill it. As you well know, I am not a person who exaggerates or is theatrical with detail, but I estimate that one tonne of oven trays and metal baking dishes went into recycling, and another half a tonne of ceramic baking dishes to the charity shop. Phyllis must have found the muller and put it in the bag. In a moment of disingenuousness, I can't remember what we used the muller for. The green thing is a Tupperware celery container. Next to the bags sits a draining board that came with our sink. I was reluctant to throw that out, until I thought about it and acknowledged to myself in nearly ten years since the kitchen was given its makeover, it has never been used.
Aside from one jumbled bookcase in the spare room and bedding in the linen press, oh, and the filing cabinet, oh and photos, there is not much more cleaning required.
What is this, asked Phyllis. I don't have a clue, I replied. I just picked it up, gave it glance, never used, get rid of it. It is car phone cradle, Phyllis proclaimed as he examined it.
Ah, I thought, I will keep that, even though my car and phone connect for calls, the sat nav is pretty awful to use and the voice controls can never understand what I am saying, usually an address. I still use Google Maps and while I can connect the maps to the car screen, I forget how and I can't be bothered checking, given how rarely I need maps in the car. YouTube helps again, with a short clip about where to place the cradle. At the moment I sit my phone upright in a coffee cup holder in the console, close to where this phone cradle appears to clip.
Swedish Death Cleaning can bring sadness at times.
McEwans was a dominant hardware store in greater Melbourne. The late partner of my Port Melbourne friend was an heir to the empire, hence said friend is also quite wealthy.
McEwans had a multi level hardware store in the city, in Bourke Street, just a little west of Elizabeth Street.
At its street front, it had a walk of fame, that is hand prints of celebrities. At the Melbourne Town Hall City Gallery, there was an exhibition of the pavers where famous people planted their hands or feet in wet concrete. Some have deteriorated but I am so glad the pavers have been kept.
Go east, young men, so they did along with me to the town of Marysville. I'd forgotten about this nice art work at the entrance to the M...