Jindalee Beach 6:22am  Olympus E-PL3  ISO200,  28mm  (see below)

Did it, number 1  –  I mentioned I had a visit from an exercise physio last Monday (HBF Health Connect).  She tested my fitness (better than I realised, she said) and set me the task of improving my climbing of the beach stairs until I don’t need to stop for breath every few landings.

I tried it this morning at about 6.30am and did it! First time.  I was slow, and used my right arm to pull myself up on the rail, but I didn’t pause for breath.  I was breathing pretty hard at the top, but recovered in a couple of minutes.  So yes, I’m fitter than I think.

However, my blood sugar has gone out of whack and I’m really feeling the effects.  The transport of sugar to the muscles is restricted because the insulin can’t open the channels and I feel really fatigued all the time.  Just standing up feels tiring, let alone walking.  Which leads me to …

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Did it, number 2  –   I’ve made the move and asked for an appointment with the gastric surgeon to have the gastric sleeve or bypass done.  I can’t go on like this.  My muscles are weary all the time, my feet are aching like hell, my vision is a bit worse, I’m feeling thirstier, I’m just tired all the time.  I’m scared of the operation, but this is bad and getting worse.

The rise in my blood pressure and blood sugar has been caused by stress and anger. I was OK until September, but what was done to me by a family member that month was so bad as to be unforgivable.  Trying to help me?  Pah!!  GO AWAY!  You have done me actual physical harm with your damned unauthorised behind-my-back interference. Trying to help me? No you’re not, you’re trying to feed your need to feel “good”, to be needed.  Well, you’re doing more harm than good, that’s for sure.

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In 2012 I bought a small Fuji mono laser printer to try to reduce my inkjet ink costs.  It only cost about $34.95 and I knew a new toner cartridge was about $65, so it was always going to be a disposable printer.

The toner ran out yesterday, so I took the printer out to the garage ready to be dumped.  But just in case, I’ve just done a web search for the toner and sure enough, a Hong Kong (I think) shop is offering cartridges for AU$14.54.  So I’ve ordered two.  That should keep me going a while.  Up to three years I’d guess.

That shop is a treasure trove of small gadgets (www.dx.com) and I ordered a couple of lens adapters and a watch case opener set.  Postage included in the price.  Good stuff.

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My fourth Photobook has been sent off for printing and I’m working on volume 2 of my all-time favourites.  They offered a 15″ x 11″ hard cover, 40 pages special for $48 in December so I bought two coupons.  I’ve stuck to the 40 pages, so that covers this printing.  It’s a bit better than the Java book, same size but I kept adding pages up to 110p. The cost was $303 each, $606 for two.  Ouch.  But it’s worth it to me – the result is magnificent.

That makes three interactive CD-ROMs, two DVDs, two BluRays, (one 11min and one 32mins) and four Photobooks so far.  Plenty more ideas.

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Our NSHS reunion planning is proceeding strongly.  I’m in a committee of six and we’re having regular breakfast meetings on Saturday mornings.  We’ve got more than 150 names on our list, and after much discussion and checking with the others, I sent out a mass email to as many as we had email addresses for this week, 134 people.  I’m doing a letter to send to the 17 who don’t have email (how can you not? It’s become as ubiquitous as EFTPOS and handphones and credit cards).

We’ve settled on Saturday 11 October (fitting in with football grand finals etc) at the Tradewinds Hotel in E. Freo.  They are offering a two night room package for $137 per night. I think I’ll book a room on that deal and spend Sunday recovering and going into Freo, checking out on Monday morning.  The rooms are very nice and have two double beds and some a single too. I’ve got someone to share with me I think, so it will come down to half that price.

But will I be there?  If I can lose all this excess avoirdupois by September after the drastic gastric, I want to go overseas quick smart while I still have the chance.  September and October were perfect for Europe last time and I want to go then. August is still European holiday peak season – no thanks.  We’ll see.  Lots of bridges to cross first.  Including the old Fremantle traffic bridge and the Stirling Bridge.

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I know I shouldn’t do this, but it was a bargain!  I noticed an Olympus Pen E-PL3 camera with 14-42mm lens included being advertised (at Dick Smith, of all places) for $268.  I wanted the lens for my other OM-D E-M1 and when I checked prices, the best I could find for the lens was $311.  So Dicky was selling the lens with free camera attached for $43 less than the lens alone.  How do they do it?  I don’t care.

So I skedaddled down to Joondalup and now I have it.

E-PL3  6.29am ISO200  28mm

E-PL3 at 6.33am ISO200  84mm

With bushfires in the news, this amazing “artifact” was revealed by a fire in the Trigg bush near me in about 2002.  What is it? Who made it? They’ve gone to an awful lot of effort. It was previously covered by the bush scrub, and only became visible after the fire. Could it be a witches’ coven?

Since then I’ve been struck by the similarity to this:

It’s pure coincidence, of course.  (It’s the logo of DPReview, a great website  http://www.dpreview.com)

Speaking of bushfires … this was the Trigg bushland fire just around the corner from me in January 2002.

It looks fearsome but it was well confined.

This was the aftermath.

But in the picture of the grass tree stumps, they look like Roman Candles and they shot up again as if they were. The spears they put up were incredible – fast, tall and twisted in playful ways. I’ll always regret that I didn’t take shots because I was attributing sayings to them, like “No, not that way, this way”, or “Hi there, I’m just coming over to see you”.

The whole bush regenerated within a year, of course, more lush than it was before. Fire is good if you’re not in the way of it.

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The post title refers to an unusual experience this morning. I was sitting in the outer area of a coffee shop drinking my coffee and reading the paper (it’s a hard life), when out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy approaching me. At first I thought it might be someone who knew me, but no, when I looked up it was an old guy with a white beard and wearing a deer stalker hat. He came up, leant toward me, put his hands on the table and said, “You look like a very distinguished gentleman.”

Well, stap me. I smiled and said “Thank you” and he moved off. I called after him, “Like your hat. Found any deer lately?”  He smiled and moved on.  I’ve never had anything like that before. Nice.  Of course, it would have been a hell of a lot nicer if it was a beautiful lady. Even if she’d been wearing a deer stalker hat.

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Beautiful ladies … I’m in the committee for our 2014 50th NSHS Reunion this year. It’s two “girls” and four “boys”.  Our chats are ranging onto who were the most beautiful and desirable girls at school. Whooo hooo, we had a bumper crop in 63/64.  So many lookers!  It was a vintage year, 1964.

The best thing is, I’ve completely got over my shyness now. Dammit, I was so shy in those years.  But now I talk to them quite often and I even stayed with one in 2008.  I couldn’t have imagined doing that in the future back then.  It turns out some of those girls say they were incredibly shy too.

So now we boys are looking for the list of hot boys from the girls. Hey hey.

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I had a cardiologist appointment this morning at 9.30am. So I went to his office at Joondalup Medical Centre, where I saw him last June, climbed the stairs to the first floor and announced myself.

The receptionist sucked her pen and asked me my full name, asked me if I’m still at 118 Charles Riley (clue), sucked her pen some more and said, “Mr Croft, your appointment is at Duncraig, not here.”  Duh.  I hadn’t read the text message clearly. It said Duncraig.  So I had to drive there. It didn’t matter, it only took 20 mins and they’d phoned ahead.

The verdict was all clear. No problems. See him in six months.  But if I have the gastric bypass, they’ll need a scan of the heart to ensure it’s OK for the operation. Yeah, I guessed that.

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I reckon I’m being targeted for a burglary.  This happened in the Trigg house – I’ve had three phone calls recently with no-one on the other end. They phone to check if you’re out.

I’ve wondered how I can protect myself. If I go to the police, they’ll just say there’s not much they can do. They can’t patrol all the time. They can’t prevent it, only try to catch the burglars after the event.

All my doors and windows are locked and the house has an alarm, but no-one takes any notice of alarms. I don’t much unless it’s next door. Alarms are going off every day around here.  They’ll just smash a sliding door glass. It’s safety glass, it won’t make much noise. No-one will take any notice.

I could have a camera in the house linked by internet to a smart phone  –  I’ve seen a mate’s example. But am I going to check my phone every half hour? I doubt it.

So all I can do is ensure I’ve got serial numbers of everything valuable in an inventory (I have) and hide things, but it’s hard to hide everything.  I’m fully insured too, but there are some things I can’t easily replace. Such as —-

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Watching Foyle’s War the other night, there was a British Army officer with medal ribbons in full view.  He’d served in Malaya and I couldn’t help noticing that two of the ribbons were familiar.  They were these:

These were (still are) Uncle Bob Arnold’s medals.  He was in the RAAF and was killed early in the war in Singapore. I’ve had them for many years (I think since Mum died in ’96) and I made that little bit of wood and pinned them to it at Beverly back in the 1960s.

The one on the right is called the Pacific Star, I think. The left one’s name I don’t know. Probably easy to find on the web. Marvellous thing, the web!  I must pass these on to the next generation asap.

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Speaking of Singapore, one of my photos I like:

And Bangkok, much in the news today:

Speaking of bushfires, did you know we had a nuclear blast in the late 1970s?

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First, take a look at this!  http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/  Brilliant Flash animation.  Really gives you an idea of scale.

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Talking to friends (yes, I still have one or two) a few days ago about old Perth. Here are a few of my early pics:

Perth 1969.  A certain lack of tall buildings.  6x6cm Ektachrome

Jan 2005 The same view.

Early 1970s. A view never to be seen again as it’s half covered by a new building.  You can still see half of it from the square behind St George’s Cathedral.

Early 1970s. Palace Hotel, St George’s Tce before Bondy had his erection behind it.

Early 1970s. Perth Central railway station when Forrest Place was still drivable.

Early 1980s The Horseshoe Bridge, before it was obscured by the covered railway station.

Ooops, edit:  That’s not the Horseshoe, it’s the Barrack St Bridge. Sorry.

 December1968. The old Bairds store cnr Murray and William Sts.

Feb. 2004 The same corner.  There’s now a very ugly new building on this corner, above the underground train station.

Feb 1975  Lake Monger. Pre Bond tower and pre Citibank Tower.

Feb 1985 Perth skyline. Note – no Bondy erection.

1988 Perth.  Now you see the Bond (R&I) Tower

1975 The Mount area

Dec 2013 The same area today.

1975 Perth from South Perth

Dec 2013 The same skyline today.

Dec 2013  A wide view

Keep snapping, folks. It might seem mundane today, but in 20, 30, 50 years it’ll be interesting.

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I don’t know about you, but I find this offensive:

It’s in Coles, but it’s Kleenex paper towels.  Wipe your hands on I ♥ Australia.  Kleenex is a US company afaik.

They wouldn’t dare do this with the US flag in USA.  I only saw this on Saturday. I don’t usually get upset by this type of thing (actually, I do), so I sent it to the newspaper who are going to feature it to gauge reaction. I may complain to the manager of Coles.

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I just had a visit from the exercise physiologist from HBF Home Care, to assess my fitness. I was quite pleased to hear her say, “Actually, you’re fitter than you think you are.”  My number of “get up from chair” and repeat within 30s was pretty good, as was my arm strength with a dumb bell. The only thing I fell down on was balance (boom boom). That’s encouraging.  She’s set me a target for the beach stairs and will be back in two weeks to check. Uh oh.

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My cheap $49.95 capsule coffee maker from Woolworths a month ago has conked out. A week ago I switched it on to warm up, had a visitor arrive and left it on but not in use for an hour and since then all it will do is error beep at me. I’ve tried everything short of opening it up, so it looks like it’s got to go back. What a nuisance.

Randwick cemetery 1994, gravesite of the original
Jonathan Croft in Australia, being observed
by Jonathan Croft, my Dad.

The original Sydney Hospital where Major Jonathan Croft Esq.
worked, now preserved as a museum. Talking to the curator in 1994.
I don't know what his rank was, but Army Medical Staff ... ?
Maybe he was a Major or a Captain.

Olympus OM-D E-M1, 150-600mm at 600mm, hand held.

First results from my new Olympus 150-600mm (e) lens.  Very nice to use although the zoom ring is a bit stiff. Image stabilisation in the camera makes it absolutely possible to handhold this at full zoom.  Back in the 80s I had a Minolta 250mm lens which was small enough that it seemed hand-holdable. It wasn’t. Rarely did I get sharp images from it. No stabilisation in those days.

Here’s a comparison of the Panasonic FZ70 at 1200mm and the Oly at 600mm. Obviously not the same conditions, but the Oly is far sharper, as it should be.

           Olympus E-M1, 150-600mm at 600mm, hand held.

Panasonic FZ70 at 1200mm hand held. 
Much smaller sensor (<1/4 the size of the Olympus).

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I took the first step on the road to gastric bypass today by getting the referral. I just have to pick up the phone and make the appointment. I’m scared of it, but the benefits are so great and clear cut (hah!) that I think I look forward to it.  I’m sure feeling the drag of high blood sugar at the moment. Not to mention the two bags of cement I constantly carry.

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I’ve been told to do water-walking/hydrotherapy for years, and discovered that the physio practice just across the road offers it. I visualised just strolling across a few times a week. Ideal.

But no, not in these rooms.  They only refer patients to pools in other areas.  They tell me there’s a gym at Quinns which has a pool. It’s only 5Km so I suppose that’s possible. Or there’s a big pool at Joondalup Arena, but that’s at least 15Km.

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While browsing the web I saw that there’s a new shop complex just 1Km north of me, cnr Marmion Ave and Butler Boulevard. I wasn’t aware of it. It’s still being built but will be finished mid-year. Bunnings mainly, but I like that.  I could walk it. And then carry all my heavy purchases back. I don’t think so.

As well, the new Butler train station opens late this year, only 1.35Km as the crow flies, and there are going to be a Masters hardware, a Woolies supermarket and a BigW next to it. Opening mid year, I think. Neat. Lots going on around here.

See what my new Super-Dooper State of the Art Digital Camera can doo?  Capture a shot of ET!  Well, goll-lee, Sarr-geant.

Ain’t I cute?

Aunt Marion’s (she didn’t like being called Aunty) wedding on 13 September 1952 in Sydney, of course.

L-R:  Darcy Croft, William (Bill) Croft, Ernest (Grandpa) Croft, Doris (Grandma) Croft, Jack (Jonathan) Croft – my father, holding me, Peter Croft, aged 5.  Cute, ay? Thanks Alison!

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No seriously, this Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera is a game changer.  I’ve also bought an Olympus Zuiko 75-300mm (150-600mm equiv.) lens. I already had a Sigma 120-400mm (180-600mm equiv.) for Pentax, but it weighs 1.7Kg (yeah, just the lens, body extra), as much as a laptop, so it doesn’t get used very often, and only on a tripod. This new lens only weighs 450g for the same focal length range. Guess which is going to get the most use.

I hate to abandon Pentax. It’s a lovely system, easy to use and fantastic quality, but it’s heavy. Not as good at carrying as I used to be. I’m not abandoning them, but … time will tell.

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Feeling the effects of diabetes type II and high blood pressure recently. Guess what’s brought it on. Anger, red hot, burning coal anger about what was done to me in September, and prior to that in 2012 and early 2013. Have I got a lightning rod over my head??!!  Dog save me from family members wanting to “help” me. GO AWAY! You have done more harm than good.  The simple reason is that they don’t talk to me before acting.  This is the story of my life. All my troubles from high school onwards stem from lack of communication, acting first, talking with me later. I’m sick to death of it, almost literally.

The prospects are losing feet, then legs, or both, going on to insulin, with all its dangers and rigmarole, heart attack, stroke, blindness and so on.  I’d rather go quickly and painlessly.

I’ve got the gastric band, of course, but I can’t maintain the discipline of following a baby-food diet. I tried, but I got regurgitation and terrible gastric reflux, in fact burning of the oesophagous.

I’ve known about gastric bypass all along, but it’s scary and not reversible. I was thoroughly put off it by stories from the GP I used to see in the city. However, I’ve spoken to someone who’s had it done and she said, “No problems. Lost 30Kg, a handful of food is enough, eat anything, it’s easy.”

I’m scared of it, but which is scarier, losing legs or eyes? Or an irreversible procedure which:

• Stops diabetes type II within days;
• Stops cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) problems  (not that I have any problem with this);
• Stops hypertension (yes, I have a problem);
• Stops sleep apnea (not that I mind — I’d probably continue using my CPAP machine anyway — I like it);
• Stops gastric reflux (an intermittent problem for me);
• Reduces or fixes leg oedema (big problem for me).

I would have no option but to use the baby food diet, i.e. yoghurts, soups, mashed veges, etc etc.  The point is, with the band, there is an option – give up and revert, which is what I’ve done. With the bypass, that option is taken away.

I’m scared of it, but I’m more scared of losing my legs or going blind.

Sorry to be so melancholy.

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PS:  due to my leg problems recently, I brought my Circulation Booster (look it up) out of its box in the garage and fired it up again. Clear cut result – warm feet, less burning skin,  better feel overall.  It’s masochistic to use (Ooooh, I love the pain), but it feels good.

That was quick. I ordered that new Olympus camera on Monday at about 10am and it arrived at my door Tuesday at midday.

Phwooaaar. It’s like a jewel. Even opening the box is a sensual experience. It’s all black, black packaging, black cloth bag for the camera, tiny add-on flash in a black velvet pouch. All so beautifully made.  Manufacturing has reached such a pinnacle that you wonder how it can get any better. Flawless!  PS: it’s been named Camera of the Year by three of the most respected web sites.  Didn’t influence me, of course …

So I went out and took some pictures in the afternoon. I have the Olympus 14-150mm (28-300mm in familiar terms), so I only need to carry that one lens. But at last I can adapt my Zeiss Contax G lenses with their legendary image quality to this superior camera.  The Contax G film cameras were so damned frustrating to use that I never got any decent results. Here we are 13 years later and the lenses are out of their pouches again, ready to be used properly. I nearly sold them off – glad I didn’t.

Samples from yesterday:

Always carry a camera if you want to get shots. These are at a local supermarket.

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More from past years:

Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye, Cuillin Mts

Isle of Skye, near Portree

Stromeferry, near Dornie

Eilaen Donan Castle, Dornie

Eilean Donan Castle

Loch

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The books arrived dead on 9am this morning.  Heavy and luxurious. Very pleased.

Heathrow 2006

Heathrow 2012. Building new terminal.

I got a bit excited yesterday when I saw an ad for a cruise ship leaving from Fremantle for the UK on 1 April over 40 nights. That would be exactly 40 years to the day since I first took the ship-jet to Britain with Geoff, how about that?

I’ve done four cruises years ago and apart from one, really enjoyed them. The only one not so good was the return Singapore to Freo in November 1974. Nothing wrong with the ship, I just wanted to get home and it seemed as if the ship was stopped in the water at times. Anyway …

I’ve always wanted to do a cruise through the Suez canal and the Mediterranean, stopping at various Euro ports.  So I looked up the details, only to find that it goes via Reunion, Mauritius, Capetown and the west side of Africa.  Nah.  Not for me. That’s the long way and too much likelihood of bad weather.

I wonder if they go that way for fear of pirates near the Horn of Africa and troubles in the Middle East?

Anyway, although the fare was advertised at “from $4,729”, that’s for a quad inside cabin, only available to a block booking of four passengers.  Hah! Other twin cabins are $5,500 upwards. No thanks!

So that set me thinking – one reason I don’t want to fly direct is the boredom and discomfort (for someone my size) of a long flight. What if I did the thing I did in 2008 – Perth to KL, stay a couple of days, KL to Colombo and stay several days there (I would like to see Sri Lanka), Colombo to Vienna and train the rest of the way to London. Slow trip, lots of rest and sightseeing stops.  That would come in at way, way under $5,000 I should think, even staying four star. I’ll have to do the sums.

But to do it, I’ll have to get my legs back in order again. Ulceration started again a couple of weeks ago and although it seems to be healing well, it’s still a worry.

UPDATE:  I’ve just removed the dressings and bingo, it’s almost completely healed. The doctor will be pleased. Inodine gauze dressing is the answer, plus antibiotic.

I’ve done the beach stairs three times in the last four days and I’m starting to enjoy it again. Each time gets a little easier. No sore muscles this time either.

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Gare du Nord Sept 2008

Come to think of it, May/June/July/August is peak season in Europe. I don’t think I want to be there at that time. Sept/October was brilliant last time.  Hmmm, another destination in April?

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In preparation, I ordered a new camera this morning, an Olympus OM-D E-M1 body, as I have several Olympus lenses already.  Winner of two Camera of the Year awards so far. An outstanding design. Should arrive Thursday or Friday, from a Sydney store.

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More book pages:

And right on cue, an email just arrived saying my books (this one, two copies) have been despatched, should arrive Thurs or Fri. Should be exciting days.

It rained a few minutes ago! For Perth, at this time of the year, it’s a bloody miracle. It was light and only lasted a few minutes, but the road is wet outside my front door. Noice.

A few more pages from the book:

It’s quite a buzz.

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I got an email this morning from someone I know headed: Please view this document

Oh yeah?  The body text asked me to click on a link and called it urgent.

Bulldust!  The link led to an address in country code .be, which is Belgium, and it included the word “pictures”.  Naturally, I declined their offer.

I haven’t corresponded with the friend in the address for 3 years or so. That means someone somewhere has one of our emails.  Scary.