8 Oct 2006
So... what was I saying about culture? And then the very next post am here to report roughing it in a tent for 3 nights down at Jervis Bay. Doh! Well - very nice that trip was last weekend (for the Labour Day holiday) where many sites were taken in, and many Km travelled by car & cycle.
As for that culture stuff happening before - well, not quiet the Opera House, but we've recently also enjoyed 'Drum Tao' at the Enmore Theatre and taken in a performance of 'Varekai' from Cirque Du Soleil - amazing stuff that, but really, if they left the mimes at home next time don't think they'd be missed here.
8 Sep 2006
Oh poor old rainton.com... how you've been neglected 
OK, OK - a bit dramatic, but sorry to say have been a little busy on my other site (well, it's not all mine per se, but have been doing a lot on there). Besides, there's not been much going on, aside from the obligatory MTB adventures (again, check NoBMoB or my MB digest, which is a blog, for them). The next few weeks though shall be a little busier and there's some varied stuff coming. Kicking off last night was trip to Ben Folds at the Opera House, complete with the Sydney Symphony - very good, and let me tell you, the acoustics in the concert hall take crowd participation to a whole new level (even with a rather subdued crowd, "...does he really want the opera house audience to sing!?" There's more culture coming over the next few weeks, so rest assumed - there will be more updates (yeah, right!) and life, of course, is gooooood in Sydney!
6 Jul 2006
You know, this site is not a blog. It has a section that used to be updated regularly (daily - back in 1998) but right now it just gets updates once in a while when I feel there hasn't been anything said for too long a period, or hopefully there is actually some 'news' to spill. Sadly (or not really) this is one of those former updates.
It's kindof tempting to bring back the more regular updates with random waffle, but I dunno - it's all a bit too popular now
FWIW - personal life is thankfully good, but there are many disturbing issues around the world. One wonders if we are really living in a democracy when a high percentage of people worry about climate change, the war in Iraq and actually want action taken to stop both - and yet it seems both will be a huge problem for years to come. On that second point - there was a particularly disturbing piece in the news last night - literally thousands of ex-combatants struggling in physio and rehabilitation to overcome horrendous injuries, injuries that would have lead to death in any previous (less technological?) war. I just watched and shook my head - will they (the 'powers' that be) ever learn?
27 Apr 2006
Was that Easter weekend? Not last (no, that was known Anzac weekend here in Aus) but the one before that which seemed to pass by in a blaze? Took a trip up to the Blue Mountains, and very nice it was too. Having considered changing the car for a while was very thankful not to have done so on this trip. Probably close to 300Km of driving on dirt roads to visit suck marvels as Kanangra-Boyd National Park and Yerranderie.
There's a few pictures of it all here.
10 Apr 2006
Here are some random Monday morning ramblings a'la Dan, concerning the last couple of days. Saturday evening we went to a very nice Japanese restaurant, Suminoya. If you like meat, and lots of it, go there and try the buffet (which isn't really at all - they bring the meat to your table where you BBQ over hot coals to your liking).
On Sunday we (a different 'we' to the previous night) took a rather long bike ride in the Blue Mountains. Afterwards I was planning on sitting in the Jacuzzi downstairs for a while, but the jets weren't working so took a hot bath at home instead. This isn't really noteworthy, aside from it's the first time since I moved, and only the second time since returning to Australia (Aug '04) that I've done this (lazed in a bath). Make of this what you will - but it's to do with water conservation, lack of time, or fear of drowning in one's sleep. Well, 2 of them at least.
16 Mar 2006
I read articles like this on a daily basis: "Tower of London on climate list"; and feel very sad. However, this one is particularly sickening as the 'US' (whoever they are) still believe climate change, "... is an unproven theory". Give me a break, some people really need to wake up and make some changes! <sigh>
I know, I know... this isn't really my news, and apologise for the rant, but this is becoming a serious worry don't you think?
12 Mar 2006
Time for a quarterly update? Well, although have just returned from a couple of weeks in Canda to ski and do a little sightseeing (pics) that kills three weekends really which is almost a month, no? So I have a vague excuse is the point!
Either way, Canada was great. Well, aside from the number of American Idiots there - case in point, four rooms of them who were thrown out of our hotel! Nice to get home to sunny Sydney though - how very lucky one is to live here 
16 Jan 2006
So, is it too late to 'post' (well, not that I really class this as a post, or this site as a blog for that matter) happy new year? Maybe, but happy new year anyhow!
Must admit, the silly season was quiet good this year. Haven't been diving for a while so took the chance to take in a couple of Sydney sites. Check the pictures (click the thumb to the left) of some of the stuff you can see here, really rather nice, eh?
Of course there was the usual parade of social gatherings, days at the beach, a little surfing and MTB'ing to be had. It's all good - you know how it is?
2 Dec 2005
Did you know - this site has been running on some home-brew templating system since 1998? Long before I heard anything about XML & XSL (technologies that essentially do the same thing) I hacked up a little engine to allow text files to be formatted as HTML. Of course it was extensible too 'cos that's how all the pictures work. Easy as it is to update, it coule be even easier with one of the fully fledged blogging systems about now and am thinking that part of this site at least could go that way. Don't hold your breath though - plenty of more useful things before that in the todo list!
Talking of blogging systems, take a look at NoBMoB.com. A little site slapped together that has news of the aforementioned MTB thingos - FWIW, the Highland Fling turned out to be a bit easier than anticipated and I came in close to an hour faster than my previous 100Km best (actually it was 103Km - 6h36m on the computer, 7h28m officially).
21 Sep 2005
So, was about to update the Rob's World graphic and thought I should write something to make the rsync more worthwhile.
Erm... so... news? Well, I've entered a couple of upcoming MTB events, and this seems to be taking over as my main sport. This is partly as it's completely awsome stuff, and partly because was I given doctor's orders a while back to quit squash. And funnily enough, no, nothing to do with the right arm which was doing very well, but rather because of a diagnosis of hip dysplasia! More a condition that afflicts cats and dogs (Google it), one that you are born with, and that would probably not have come to light for many years without the pounding on that joint that squash and running puts in.
Seems a hip replacement is a certainty, but if I quit the high impact stuff now they'll have 'better than the real thing'TM ones by that time. And look on the bright side, better to wear it out young and get that done when you can recover than in 40 years time when... well, OK... when one might be able to get a whole new body anyhow!