Dear Diary...

It’s been 131 days since I looked at you, threw my hands in the air and wrote a blog post… (Yes…) but let’s not dwell on my inability to keep you up to date (bore you to tears) and write…

A lots happened, but the reason we’re here today is to celebrate this little challenge I found! It’s called the “Lunch Time Scrap” challenge, it’s for beginner wood-working enthusiasts… Basically you do what it says, Take a lunch break, use something from your scrap pile and make something functional.

I had a 15cm piece of 19mm (19’ish!) dowel that my friend Kate forgot to take back to kinder! I had a thin stick of maybe oak that I cut off a board about three years ago… it’s been sitting in my pile “just incase” - IYKYK. Annnd I had a small bit of older oak from a cupboard that my neighbour had in HIS “maybe i’ll use this one day!” pile, he messaged me about a year ago, maybe more, and said “Hey, you want to make something from this lot” …of course I did! (And it’s sat there ever since) ..anyway, this was a small off-cut from one of those boards.

Also, protective footwear…

So, I sat them on the desk and thought “Yeah, something to rest my little iPad on?”

Gear Used: (These are Amazon links - If you click them, your children will behave for two weeks!)

That was about it! I mostly hand-sanded the little contraption, and then finished it with my favourite, Collombatti Naturals Raw Linseed Oil with Bee’s Wax… (And a square of ripped up tee-shirt)

Get some, just to hold and sniff if that’s your thing… (click)

Anyways, Yes… Wood and Glue, no screws in this one, so most of the lunch break was the glue setting up, usually takes about half hour, so what I did was cut everything to size, give it a good hard, quick, sand and then glued it together - I didn’t clamp it, I let gravity help…then five minutes before the end of lunch (which when you work for yourself is a bit flexible) I put some Linseed oil on and left it alone to get dry - oil and glue.

My iPad is old, it’s handy for recipes and eBooks… That’s what this stand is for!

Main issue I had was that I only had a 20mm drill bit, the dowel was 19mm, so I just decided that I’d roll with it! Keep the sawdust from cutting the dowel and some of the sanding dust, mix it into the glue to form a bit of a filler slash paste slash glue and it turned it ALMOST fine… one leg was about half a mill offset to the other, so I had to sand a slight angle of the tip of one for it all to be steady and sit flat..

With a little more time, I reckon the sanding and finishing could be perfect, but it isn’t, it’s for me..

Anyways, Fun Challenge, beats scrolling Youtube while finishing off a sandwich I’d mostly dropped in my keyboard.


Halls Gap, Victoria. 2023, is it fire ready?

Went on a couple of walks last week while holidaying with the family in Halls Gap, Victoria.

Coffee in Halls Gap - Large Strong Flat White from LiveFast Cafe in the little square by the creek.
Well priced chocolate croissants from the bakery in that same square, and the Vanilla Slice is pretty damn good, too… Last weird dinner experience, the Halls Gap Tavern, they were booked out, the decor is tired, the chap running the bar / handing out menus was run off his feet… The food was solid fare (Chicken Parma, great size… ) arrived SO quickly. We sat upstairs and the first impression was ‘The is kinda Fawlty Towers!’ but the food was good and the dessert (Sticky Date Pudding) was a ripper! Anyway…

We stayed at ‘Bush Lodge’ - Air BnB it here. Really nice little place, No wifi, Good fireplace, nice views… Cockatoos…

Anyway, that’s not what this observation was about… Is middle Victoria ready for what ‘they’re saying’ is going to be a nasty fire season? I dunno man, I’m not environmental specialist, but there is SO much brush and undergrowth, a lot of it well dry… Lots of remaining felled tree trunks that have dried out, It looks like chaos waiting to happen - I truly hope I’m talking bollocks and it’s all fine.

Here’s a few photos I made.

There are photos of the accom in the Air BnB link, but here’s a shot of the cheeky wood-chewing cockies! (The place is pet friendly and we took our Jack Russell Terrier named Coco, she kept them off the verandah…

Well, she kept them off the verandah after this photo… (I asked her to heel in this photo)

Anyway - great destination about 3 hours out of Melbourne. We took bikes and had a good few days.

My full evaluation and strategy for THREADS for business use.

It’s been live ONE DAY… anyone that says they have a ‘full evaluation and strategy’ of anything in less than 24 hours is pulling your chain.

Here, relax.

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Social Media, but get away camping for the weekend?

After my post about TikTok yesterday, I was thinking about how social media can have quite the negative effect on some people and I wanted to start a series, using social media to help spread the word (my blog, and maybe sharing this article on Twitter and Insta) about things you can do that involve LESS social media! Let’s starting with maybe looking at a family camping holiday?

And no, not THIS kind of camping… (Side note: my direct BCF links are not affil or sponsored, if you find this info useful, we could always share a coffee, and by share I mean you could spring for it, I could drink it while thinking of you… I know, I’m hilarious)

The year festivals all around the world were carnage - this one notwithstanding! Benicassim 2009, Spain.

But I digress… Let’s get back to a place I like to wander around, BCF, here in Australia is, in my opinion, a great all-rounder for the outdoors. Well worth a browse.

You can use this link to find some potential savings at BCF

Camping is an incredible way to reconnect with nature and create lasting memories. By equipping yourself with the right camping accessories, you can enhance your outdoor adventure and make the most of your time in the wilderness. BCF.com.au offers a wide range of high-quality camping gear, and the five accessories mentioned in this blog post.

So what five things are well worth a look at BCF that could potentially make your camping lives easier?

  1. Wanderer Nightfall Dome Tent 10 Person

  2. Telescopic Marshmallow Fork (Hello, yes!)

  3. Wanderer Grand Yarra -9.6C Cotton Hooded Sleeping Bag - Why freeze? Toasty.

  4. Campfire Lawson Cast Iron Set 7pc - Great minimal set for many cooking options.

  5. Coleman 360 light and sound lantern - You need a half decent light, this one has tunes.

A half decent tent is an easy choice, you want a sturdy tent that packs away with little stress, needs to be strong enough to not fall apart! I’ve used both Wanderer and Coleman, either would work well for a family (I”m a family of four, two big, two little)

If I need to explain the hassle of sending the kids off to find that PERFECT sharp stick for their marshmallows, well… (Please make sure if you’re running any kind of open fire / flame that you’re doing so within the bounds of local fire ban conditions… that said, it’s winter here right now, so you’re good to go)

I don’t have THIS sleeping bag mentioned above, but I have an old one that won’t die - I’ll likely update to this one for our next venture out. I like being warm in a tent - I like a cold face and a warm body (that sounds odd, but there you go)

Now, I love the idea of a camp stove and griddle, and this set is on my list, too, hopefully for the next trip! I had family trips as a kid and dad always had a big blackened camp stove / oven that he’d make these (well, I was a kid, they were awesome) crazy potato stews in - good memories.

My last choice was the Coleman 360 light, I have a version of this light from many years ago, an older Coleman - it’s been a great companion. Not a directional light, but something that you hang up and it casts a nice glow - fine to cook by / not trip into the creek with, etc.

So, because you know I always get carried away and go over my list number, here’s number 6, though this is a little crazy, I mean EVERYONE that knows me knows my dog’s sleeping in my sleeping bag!

Still, fun!

6. Pet’s Camp Kennel Really?!

And on that note, I leave you to ponder turning off your phone and maybe, in the very least, going and making yourself a nice cup of tea.

Social media has become an integral part of business marketing strategies. It offers numerous benefits that can help businesses grow and thrive in today's digital age. Here are 22 benefits of social media for businesses:

1. Increased brand awareness: Social media platforms allow businesses to reach a large audience and increase their brand visibility.

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11. Influencer partnerships: Businesses can collaborate with influencers on social media to promote their products or services, reaching a wider audience.

12. Crisis management: During a crisis, social media can be used to share timely updates, address concerns, and maintain transparency with customers.

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15. Customer support: Social media provides a platform for businesses to offer customer support and resolve queries in real-time.

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These benefits illustrate the tremendous value that social media can bring to businesses, making it an essential tool for marketing and growth in today's digital landscape.