tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17246480280879243582024-03-14T09:48:55.480-07:00SUGARHOUNDSniffing out the sweetest of quirky observations, travel tips, gear reviews and unconventional methods for designing a wonderful life. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-31687879965956527222014-04-15T02:31:00.001-07:002014-04-15T02:32:30.468-07:00A labour of love, patience and really, really good eyes; the restoration of a classic camera<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am toying with the idea of restoring a few cameras for myself; you know, new foam to keep out the light, new leather if required, maybe paint something if it needs it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check this out. This man has taken that about a thousand steps too far. He now officially my hero. From the Pentax Forum...</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NOTE: This is not my story, but that of another. I don't post this to gain fame or fortune, but just to point out the astonishing talent of people in this world. He certainly has more than me. A link to the story is as follows, and there's also one at the end of the story. Thanks for reading.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/114-maintenance-repair-articles/217936-pentax-67-restoration-project.html</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">"From some time I`m a happy owner of my 1989 </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/browse/Pentax/ci/5403/N/4232860503/BI/5981/KBID/6867/kwid/000/DFF/d30-v1-t2-x151/DFFInline=mfg" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pentax</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 67 </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/medium_format_camera/Ntt/medium+format+camera/N/0/kw/search/BI/5981/KBID/6867/DFFInline=cat3" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Medium Format Camera</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">In the UK they are still pricey and not as easy accessible as in the </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/usa/Ntt/usa/N/0/kw/search/BI/5981/KBID/6867/DFF/d30-v1-t1/DFFInline=mpn" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">USA</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. So after long research and limited budget I found one from photographer student. The camera was in bad condition, light seals completely gone, paint was peeling off, some leather was missing and there where deep scratches on the body and plastic covers. I used the camera succesfully and shoot some 15 rolls of film. But I like to keep and have my equipment spotless so I decide to do something with it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">With bad British weather behind my window I decide to prepare my P67 for upcoming spring time and tried to make look a few years younger. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Below is the description and steps I took to remove all the leather and covers without moving any mechanical internal components. I was following the official Service Manual Instruction of </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/browse/Pentax/ci/5403/N/4232860503/BI/5981/KBID/6867/kwid/000/DFF/d30-v1-t2-x151/DFFInline=mfg" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pentax</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 6X7 camera which you can find here - </span><a href="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/download/Pentax%206x7_Service_Manual.rar" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pentax 67 Service Manual</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">, and I decided to follow one rule only – don`t touch internal mechanical components. I wanted to give the camera a nice look and avoid trouble by removing some mechanical parts which can be calibrated using specialise tools.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Please be aware that this is not an official way of restoring/removing external covers, this was only my project and I was doing this on my own risk. I don`t take any responsibility for any damage caused by using these instructions. </b><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Tools and parts.</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I collect all sort of tools before I started. Below I listed anly the ones I used.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Set of precise screwdrivers - no comment :-).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Scalpel blades with handle - great for removing old light seals and cut new ones.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Loctite 7063 - great for cleaning remains of glue and other dirt - best for cleaning the surface before painting.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Dremel Multitool - </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/google/Ntt/google/N/0/kw/search/BI/5981/KBID/6867/DFF/d30-v1-t1/DFFInline=series" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Custom made tool - picture below. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Lens ring tool - picture below - purchased from </span><a href="http://www.micro-tools.com/" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Micro-tools</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">.</span><br />
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<a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/browse/Pentax/ci/5403/N/4232860503/BI/5981/KBID/6867/kwid/000/DFF/d30-v1-t2-x151/DFFInline=mfg" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pentax</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 6x7 Service Manual - my website - </span><a href="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/download/Pentax%206x7_Service_Manual.rar" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ServiceManual</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Leatherette replacement - </span><a href="http://cameraleather.com/" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CameraLeather</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> - </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/usa/Ntt/usa/N/0/kw/search/BI/5981/KBID/6867/DFF/d30-v1-t1/DFFInline=mpn" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">USA</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> store.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Light seals, self adhesive seals, foams, cussions - UK store - </span><a href="http://www.cam-spares.com/" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cam-Spares</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/tool.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/tool1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before restoration.</span></b><br />
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Here is some pictures I took just before I started the restoration.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP3755.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP3775.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5639.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Removing old leather.</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Before I started removing the leather, I had to make sure that I can find the replacemant. I was looking for self adhesive one to save me the problem of applying adhesive myself. I found a great offer from the shop in the United States and they even cutted for me to my specification. Here is the link to the website - </span><a href="http://cameraleather.com/" rel="nofollow" sl-processed="1" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CameraLeather</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. I decide to get the Seal Grain Black Leatherette (Coarse) and I`m very happy with the results, I belive this leather looks much better that the original one. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If you like to purchase some leatherette from this shop specifically for the </span><a class="dff_inlinelink" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/browse/Pentax/ci/5403/N/4232860503/BI/5981/KBID/6867/kwid/000/DFF/d30-v1-t2-x151/DFFInline=mfg" style="color: #990006; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pentax</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> 67, please ask for it by email, as they don`t officialy offer them for that camera on their website.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Below are the pictures of the new leatherette and the old one from the back doors removed to compare them. I believe this new pattern looks very well on Pentax 67.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This leather has very strong adhesive which of course is great, but becouse it is not easy task to align the new strips properly on the body, I order two sets just in case I do something wrong and I have to start again.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5702.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5705.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Removing back doors.</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Removing back door isn`t a difficult task, after the leather was removed there is only five small screws holding the back doors. I get some small, self locking bags to store all the parts together with descriptions and drawings. I record on video my steps where the assembly was more difficult containing lots of small parts and diffrent screws sizes.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5638.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5640.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Here are the doors with the leather removed representing the state of the paintwork, there is rust and scratches and I don`t like it :-).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Removing the paint was not difficult, after so many years it was just peeling off very easy. In some places, where the paint was harder to remove I used the multitool from Dremel with diffrent sets of metal and copper brushes. I had to watch the film type selecting window in the doors to don`t damaged it.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5645.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5642.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">After all paint was removed there was no way back. I used grey primer paint before applying the gloss enamel on top of it. I forgot to take pictures of the door with primer finish but later in this article you can find other parts with the primer applied.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">There was a few attempts before I get the right thickness of the both coats. First time I aplied three layers of primer and three of black gloss paint and this was a mistake. The finish was to thick and I knew that this can cause a problem when the part have to assembled on the body. After cleaning all again I applied two thin layers of primer and two of black gloss enamel paint. This was the finish I was looking for.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">After some research I found out that the original paint was baked in the oven, the problem was that I didn`t have the experience to try this and didn`t have the oven so instead I used high scratch resistant enamel paint and primer. This give me a nice hard finish, I didn`t paint the internal site of the doors as they are painted using special anti-reflective paint and they was in great condition.</span></span><br />
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Below some pictures after the job was done and after the new leather was applied. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5753.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5716.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And after leather was aplied.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5778.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5781.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And some bigger photo of finished part.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5778a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Removing bottom covers and film locking mechanism, bottom right and left corners of the camera.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On the bottom of the camera on both corners is the film locking mechanism assembled on top of the covers. Disassembling this is not a big problem, only trouble was to make some custom made tools to remove special screws holding the assembly - one for film locking mechanism and other for the covers. After the top screw was removed the spring and locking mechanism is free to be removed. The covers are hold by a ring type screws and the special tool is needed to be able to remove them. I believe pictures below shows more detail and no explanation is needed.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/covers.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">All parts was in good shape and just a proper cleaning was needed. Paint was removed from bottom covers. As the restoration process took me almost two months I was labeling all parts with detailed descriptions to help me assembled them in the wright order after all painting job was finished.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. Bottom covers paint work.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This process was a bit more tricky than the back doors painting job. I found some informations in internet that the bronze is difficult to paint and a good idea is to prepare the surface properly before painting. I used metal sponge to scratch the surface so the paint particles have something to stick to. After that I clean the surface using Loctite cleaner. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Next problem I came across - how to hold parts while painting ? I get some funny but perfectly working idea - I found some old markers pens and glue them to the internal site of covers using super glue, that way I was abble to hold them in my hand while painting and after that I just keep them in the old glass to dry. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On the pictures below where all parts are together you can noticed that one is missing - this is the right corner part, the one with shutter button. I didn`t restore this one from a few reasons:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">1. - The part was in perfect condition so there was no need for painting.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">2. - I was afraid that I will be unable to paint again the 67 marker.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">3. - I was unable to remove the shutter button and the shutter locking mechanism which was chrom and painting this part could cuse that will be difficult to perate it.</span></span><br />
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Paint removed and covers ready for painting.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5688a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5689.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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Two coats of primer applied - old marker pens glued to the internal part of the covers. You can clearly see on the picture that the layers are really thin and only reason I used primer was that when I tried painting the parts without primer the paint was just running down without covering the part, in other words, there was nothing which allowed the paint to stick to the surface of bronze metal.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5735.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5741.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Finished parts - I tried to achieve the same color as the right corner, which I didn`t restored. When the parts was put together site by site there was a tiny diffrent between parts and I was afraid that will be visible on the camera but I was surprise that after the camera was assembled there was almost no diffrent between them.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5721.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5723.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Top left corner.</b></span><br />
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To be able to remove the left corner I had to removed the plastic covers first. After the leather was removed there is all clear and all screws are clearly visible. I started from the back and later the main bottom cover. The top one on the back of the camera is easy to remove, there is only four screws. Two underneath the leather and two from inside of the camera just above the focusing screen. The three TTL Pentaprism connectors holding the part in place so after removing the screews cover have to be pulled upwards.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5710.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5668.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Removing the bottom cover is also easy. After the leather was removed all the screws are clearly visible. I disassembled the battery cover so I can cleaned and prepared for painting later on.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5708.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5659.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5671.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">For plastic covers restoration I faund a great plastic polishing paste - Xerapol. Deep scratches have to be removed using water sand paper grade 1200 to 1500 and after that using paste polished the part to high gloss. It works fantastically and the different is clearly visible on the pictures below.</span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/xerapol.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<b>And the cover after polishing was done.</b><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5639a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5758c.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">After the bottom cover was removed, there is nothing on the way and I was able to easy remove the site covers. I started from left site where the flash connectors are placed. This part is hold by 5 screws, 3 are visible on site of the cover and two are from inside of the camera, just above the focusing screen.</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> I had to make sure that I clearly describe the screws as they are different length and thread types</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Open Sans, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">. There is also spring loaded pin which holds the prism on place so I had to be careful to not to lose the spring and remember the spring orientation. </span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5693a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5670a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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Simmilar steps are taken when removing left plastic cover, just to remember about the spring and pin which holds the prism. On the left site I found a bigger than usual screw, which is protruding through the cover. Becouse the screw is bigger I was sure that this one has a different purpose then holding the cover. It was covered by small copper circle shaped cap which after removing the old leather, sticks to the remaining glue on the bottom of that leather. First I was thinking to unscrew this one as well, but after all the smaller screws was removed the cover become loose and I was able removed it. I don`t exactly know what is that screw for, but I think that is some kind of regulation/calibration screw so I was happy that I didn`t tried to removed it.<br />
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The Mirror Lock-Up switch is a part of the cover and could be removed after for cleaning.<br />
Don`t clean the remains of old light seals as they are a perfect indication and help in positioning the new ones and this have to be done just before replacing them.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/leftcover1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/leftcover.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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After all plastic covers have been removed there is nothing on the way and I was able to remove the right bronze corner of the camera. It is hold by only three screws around it and on top of it by shutter timing dial with three tiny headless screws in it.<br />
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<b>Only one small problem</b> - after removing screws the shutter dial turns around his own axis loosing original position, the screws are tighten in the V shape cut out around potentiometer in exact orientation and there is no any sign and indication of where that position is. But there is a simple clue which helped me to position the dial again in the right place.<br />
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<b>On the potentiometer and between the dial timing marks is the significant jump (gap) between 1/1000 and X position so after turning the potentiometer one way or another is easy to find that jump (gap) and align the dial in to corresponding gap on the timing marks.</b><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5670b.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5709a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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And after all that steps the cover is free to go and ready for painting preparation.<br />
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Below some pictures after the cover was removed and just before painting.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5677.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5679.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5732.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And finished part.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5717.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Removing the Winding Lever for anodizing.</span></b><br />
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This part was the most difficult one. I was afraid that I can break something or lost some parts. The best way is to follow the service manual as there is lots of parts assembled together in the wright order. I was recording all my steps so after a long period of time with help of video I was able to put everything together again. I will try to explain best as possible the steps I took to remove the winding lever.<br />
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Below is the screenshot from the service manual representing the exploaded drawing af the Winding Lever mechanism. The top cover with the window is hold by tiny, REALLY TINY headless three screws in the same way as the shutter dial on the left corner cover. DON`T LOOSE THOSE SCREWS.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/manual.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/cover_removed.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/transport-button.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/counter-dial.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/special-screw.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/counter-housing.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/spring-tension.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/housing-removed.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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After that screw is removed there is just a few washers, so no explenation is needed and the best way is to follow the Service Manual. For cleaning purpuse I removed the cover as wel but I`m not going to show how to do this as this could be done using Service Manual.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">8. <span style="font-size: large;">Removing Bayonet Seat, Spring, Stopper and Coupler ring assy.</span></span></b><br />
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Acording to the Service Manual, Bayonet Assy is set precisly so I was taking small and slow steps when removing those parts. For adjustment, small shims are used so I had to be careful to not to mix them and keep them separated.<br />
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Screenshot from Service Manual representing Bayonet - Back Adjustment.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/bayonet.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5759a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5770.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5767a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5774a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And after.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5662b.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. Anodising<span style="font-size: large;">.<br /></span></span></b></div>
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All parts below have been originally anodised but after so many yeras they was exposed and highly scratched and damaged. Working in aircraft industry I was lucky to have access to anodising department in my work. After short chat with my friends on anodising area and getting some advice I was told to not to remove or polish the scratched areas on the parts. This of course was judged by them and if the scratches are deep and big they have to be removed manually before anodising. I have to admit that I tried to removed old anodising using Dremel tool and the result was just devastating - part was completely damaged by me and I spend a few weeks to find replacement. Old anodising was removed very easy by my friends in anodising area. My mistake, but I new the risk when I started this project.<br />
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I was so excited seeing new parts that I forgot to take some pictures after and even before they have been anodised, but the final effect will be visible on the fully assembled camera on the end of this article.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP3775a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5782a.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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Counter dial cover and film type switch before anodising. (I forgot to take pictures after anodising.)<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/counter.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">10. Handle restoration.<br /></span></b></div>
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I was hoping that the handle will be the easiest part of this project, but I was wrong. I had to make a decision - remove permanently the hot shoe and anodise the covers as originally or keep the hot shoe and paint the covers. The reason why I get across this problem was easy - the hot shoe on the handle is from steel and I was told that this cannot be done especially together with aluminium cover attached to it. Problem is that hot shoe is attached using short rivets and they, once removed cannot be attached again. So on the end I decide to paint the covers as they was badly damaged and scratched.<br />
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Before painting.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP5695.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And after.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/handle1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/handle2.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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And slowly we get to the end. I try to review and update this article if I forgot about something. Please keep in mind that steps and instructions presented in this tutorial are only part of the job. I didn`t describe all steps taken as some of them can be found in Service Manual and others don`t need any explenation. I pointed the most important parts of this process.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And finally <span style="font-size: large;">some comparison of camera before and <span style="font-size: large;">after this looooong process<span style="font-size: large;">.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">BE<span style="font-size: large;">FORE</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP3775.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /></span></b> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.tom-art.co.uk/small_restoration/_IGP3755.jpg" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Read more at: <a href="http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/114-maintenance-repair-articles/217936-pentax-67-restoration-project.html#ixzz2ywfvD2RO" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/114-maintenance-repair-articles/217936-pentax-67-restoration-project.html#ixzz2ywfvD2RO</a></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-1921734594127686032014-04-14T06:45:00.002-07:002014-04-14T07:10:43.851-07:00An engineeering masterpiece- the 1963 Asahi Pentax SV.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF4fCZbnLDVcWLNhYfUNqosOAdvYUfwuLngGehZGY3-IcKk7YOPAfgD8zuOm4uUKm8J-9rkwAmwI31bDmvN1U9alDgRMxFFRr0QseNQbTExOpIbeEsxozSEHE-azwD_MbUoXP-drgKy-G/s1600/1975218_10152083198273063_2138963284_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF4fCZbnLDVcWLNhYfUNqosOAdvYUfwuLngGehZGY3-IcKk7YOPAfgD8zuOm4uUKm8J-9rkwAmwI31bDmvN1U9alDgRMxFFRr0QseNQbTExOpIbeEsxozSEHE-azwD_MbUoXP-drgKy-G/s1600/1975218_10152083198273063_2138963284_n.jpg" height="489" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have grown up around cameras all of my life. My brothers had a dedicated darkroom at our house when I was five. They had new-fangled SLR cameras, an East German Praktica and a more respectable Japanese Cosina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up in the same vein, buying and selling stuff as a teenager and finally getting a Vivitar which I used and quickly resold, and then an Olympus OM-10. I traded it in on a Pentax P30 when I was about 21, and proceeded to begin my love affair with Pentax cameras.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward a quarter of a century, and I managed to acquire a classic Pentax SV almost by accident, but I'm glad it happened. The second I brought it home and placed it amongst my arsenal of Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Mamiya, Ihagee and many other cameras, my wife said "Ooh, that looks cool. I'll use that."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Japanese made a half a million of these. It's ancient. It is heavy. The metal used in it, painted silver or black, is actually brass. It has absolutely no modern technology in it by today's standards (like metering and automatic exposure), but Asahi Optical Company (Pentax) invented a few things for the mass market that reportedly made them come from relative obscurity to a manufacturing powerhouse in the camera world. The film cocking lever on the right hand side was a first, as was a pentaprism. The film rewind lever on the top left, with a winding handle, was also a first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other firsts included a film speed reminder on a dial under the film rewind crank. Ingeniously, this dial also acts as a retractable self-timer. Wind it around, press the secondary shutter release next to it, and when the big "V" engraved on the dial's edge comes around to the front of the camera, the shutter fires. The coolest thing I've seen on a camera.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGGvj4QUFNCcP5kIgvgafYRkf4BiOSWFflG042LRArlqro3falyU4PL7FBW8FrE0Z27eDJQ_SGYOVPoLWXVKitj8_6eOZlKp9PqoSKc5y2RSEvToqK77m6tl64Eq25zZKYXN1ogLUBXn6/s1600/top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGGvj4QUFNCcP5kIgvgafYRkf4BiOSWFflG042LRArlqro3falyU4PL7FBW8FrE0Z27eDJQ_SGYOVPoLWXVKitj8_6eOZlKp9PqoSKc5y2RSEvToqK77m6tl64Eq25zZKYXN1ogLUBXn6/s1600/top.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Picture nabbed from an old instruction manual. There's no plastic in this sucker, except for a film take up spool. That's all I could see. The rest, precision brass, metal and glass.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing I really love about this is it's simplicity. There is no battery or electronics of any kind in this camera. Everything works from the cocking of the shutter, the clicking of a precision dial, and the press of a button. In a modern camera, there's a myriad of choices available to get the perfect shot. On the Pentax SV, there are only four things to adjust: the film speed, the aperture of the (screw-mount) lens, the shutter speed, and the focus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why muck around with film, you may ask? Well, a full frame 35 mm DSLR body and 50mm lens runs at between 2500 and 3500 dollars in 2014. A 35 mm film camera IS the equivalent to full frame digital quality. With a 50mm lens, a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">really good camera that may have cost the equivalent to 5 grand in today's dollars </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can be had for between 150 to 250 dollars. I will still utilise my digital cameras for 98 percent of the time for cost and speed, sure. However, I will use a film camera for certain occasions, because it's fun and is a valuable self-teaching tool on how light actually works. And in a world of instant gratification, its good to take things slow. It calms the mind. Who knows, I may even set up a dark room some day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned to how the photos actually turn out. Also, stay tuned because I want to get a "mint" Pentax SV or "newer" Spotmatic for myself now, and with a trip to Tokyo coming up in a couple of weeks, it will sure make life interesting to scour the used camera shops over there...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, half the fun is tracking one down, yeah?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-62127986283801783142014-03-24T05:00:00.003-07:002014-03-24T05:00:28.790-07:00SUGARHOUND CLASSIC (AND CONCISE) USED CAR REVIEW: The 2003 Mercedes C180 Kompressor Classic.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk9VmsD8gO5XHsRHQiSy3K3jbeTLx9k2Y5OH1P1dxioJHiPcP5BNA7o3fbRLw-URYGfWxWwiIVsFNOrwl64B6TXzIKla0uQM5aGI_ABq5YzChrMPeT5DxZ1hrxZNaHpNH6HSGbCZv0Kwg/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk9VmsD8gO5XHsRHQiSy3K3jbeTLx9k2Y5OH1P1dxioJHiPcP5BNA7o3fbRLw-URYGfWxWwiIVsFNOrwl64B6TXzIKla0uQM5aGI_ABq5YzChrMPeT5DxZ1hrxZNaHpNH6HSGbCZv0Kwg/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" height="328" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had the chance to utilise a very nice old car for the past few days, and thought it may be opportune to do a review of it. After all, it was this very model that re-piqued my interest in the marque when a family member bought a C180 Kompressor, new, in 2005. I had a 2004 Subaru Outback 3.0R at the time and when I drove the Merc, I knew I would have to have a new one at some stage, thankfully realising <a href="http://sugarhound.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/sugarhound-road-test-mercedes-class.html">that goal</a> last year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First, "the look and the feel".</b> When the Mercedes-Benz designs changed in the early 2000's, they were so different, a world apart from the previous squared-off C-class models. The new design wasn't conservative any more. The reliability was heavily scrutinised as well. Apparently, in a moment of ecological madness, Mercedes utilised wiring looms in some models in the 1990s, including the C-class, that were bio-degradable. 10 years later, the wiring looms would invariably deteriorate, rendering the cars virtually useless, at a cost of a couple of thousand dollars to replace and repair. This wasn't a good look for the best car maker on earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now; back to the car above. When I got into the car, the first two words that sprang to mind were "heavy" and "quality". The doors are heavy and shut with a reassuringly Teutonic "thunk". Normal Mercedes oddities apply; the emergency brake is a footbrake that is depressed to activate and released via a handle adjacent to the steering wheel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cabin is remarkably well soundproofed and the 1.8 litre supercharged 4 can hardly be heard. The engine launches such a heavy car off the mark with ease, and propels the rear wheels of the car to highway speeds effortlessly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Road noise is virtually non-existent thanks to the 195/65/15 tyres. My biggest bugbear with modern cars is that the public want something that looks cool, usually with low profile tyres, which makes it handle well, but the road noise factor rises sharply. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tyres on this example were Pirelli P6's, and if it were mine, I would soon replace them with even quieter Yokohama, Goodyear Eagle, or Michelin tyres.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YFVijVoyvXBwIjWX1j8lBrMsDKj6LpaKnHre1tkqAs3xYhoVJzCTKwfnc2K3eZLP381VAKNF4Z8AcHzKVWE_PB3zhvLyEVg3NJCIuLW3gop1nvcXBVbswcEaLICt6RzVaigmongzg1Dk/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YFVijVoyvXBwIjWX1j8lBrMsDKj6LpaKnHre1tkqAs3xYhoVJzCTKwfnc2K3eZLP381VAKNF4Z8AcHzKVWE_PB3zhvLyEVg3NJCIuLW3gop1nvcXBVbswcEaLICt6RzVaigmongzg1Dk/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The seats in this car are remarkable. 11 years of use, and the MB-tex is still pristine. No cracks or tears, and they have maintained their shape. The front pair are electrically controlled for recline and height. Fore and aft movement is via a chunky lever. The steering wheel is solid and feels extraordinarily nice in my small hands.Legroom front and rear would serve most people well. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2BYAA6I_EpCS6dXG9LAK4qs_kTTmsbxO0bd2tTkZaGXTNytWJDwPQRoWqD1zJSkcxOAf62VzBhXHPnFiidljwGKesqkBegkpkvW8ry7xutvRjEJxgstnQ4iPsF8LEoQwVQuw4ncSotex/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2BYAA6I_EpCS6dXG9LAK4qs_kTTmsbxO0bd2tTkZaGXTNytWJDwPQRoWqD1zJSkcxOAf62VzBhXHPnFiidljwGKesqkBegkpkvW8ry7xutvRjEJxgstnQ4iPsF8LEoQwVQuw4ncSotex/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioygmuIU-40482tV8IRh-RxoIZyYv3ZnJgDbxjxEzowsW5Voff8TPecjEoPeVNE5VVT_CQd42tIn92szc7yo9nnSRMlepEMhKViFTrVlxv0rNwFT22plrDxzP3Q6zg-qpQQB13JnwcpHnU/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioygmuIU-40482tV8IRh-RxoIZyYv3ZnJgDbxjxEzowsW5Voff8TPecjEoPeVNE5VVT_CQd42tIn92szc7yo9nnSRMlepEMhKViFTrVlxv0rNwFT22plrDxzP3Q6zg-qpQQB13JnwcpHnU/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" height="326" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The steering wheel-controlled radio and single CD player, once a revered piece of technology in this car when new, is now simply ho-hum. If I had this car, I would replace it, but I would put something in that was sympathetic to the marque.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5sZ-eXhgn7ag3MjzHWMfRt8jw62OQfaH1AjYZOoZbagnX-q0gde29lTXC_mPidFLBh-FnxBjXEZmJNnU8cD7tbE7WHbhUbsLfQHc2kpwwr301DuSKLOIiupsST0Qfsx4IWvCHwX16L2y/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5sZ-eXhgn7ag3MjzHWMfRt8jw62OQfaH1AjYZOoZbagnX-q0gde29lTXC_mPidFLBh-FnxBjXEZmJNnU8cD7tbE7WHbhUbsLfQHc2kpwwr301DuSKLOIiupsST0Qfsx4IWvCHwX16L2y/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" height="340" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The instrument panel is simple. Almost too simple. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyceeU2q_EJKR64v9MWcfu21OuetLWFFELnVsaJHdGAr6zdXKbQDpCpeIbCT7kj7trjRapDryFo2GLwWVh_QqDnmRMvz25laTnpE0GnY6kmQIpjrbVuRA-XGnH8b4Ntoy6-MwBgFaII7jt/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyceeU2q_EJKR64v9MWcfu21OuetLWFFELnVsaJHdGAr6zdXKbQDpCpeIbCT7kj7trjRapDryFo2GLwWVh_QqDnmRMvz25laTnpE0GnY6kmQIpjrbVuRA-XGnH8b4Ntoy6-MwBgFaII7jt/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Check out this wired -in Nokia phone. The late 1990's just called. They want their phone back.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nit-picking.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are my only two complaints about the car. The plastics on the door handles and surrounds is atrocious (see below). It has aged poorly and has perished.Looks terrible, eh?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB0Zyk02bB-G25_2VWSKsCIvdIT3AzWW4_g7gM-sUMlm5MU2QA0yCUEHiH3sSuycc8banfqml8L2cjqAPbir6g49M0cXWF2ybdNVkB_cD2WQmlrQhyRubZfxvMrrg4vie47govfN8Xgw0/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB0Zyk02bB-G25_2VWSKsCIvdIT3AzWW4_g7gM-sUMlm5MU2QA0yCUEHiH3sSuycc8banfqml8L2cjqAPbir6g49M0cXWF2ybdNVkB_cD2WQmlrQhyRubZfxvMrrg4vie47govfN8Xgw0/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsssQCI30m3JzHK264IBrYmgAdc_DHOurLgY_0xo2KD8KmnJEx3IITfayuISImgKponLrewwqr7Ksl02b99Nz0By50opdTq9F2hcPuqKDEzoyT2xP4V50zzu9IX_Nhm6iI7MGzha00_COM/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsssQCI30m3JzHK264IBrYmgAdc_DHOurLgY_0xo2KD8KmnJEx3IITfayuISImgKponLrewwqr7Ksl02b99Nz0By50opdTq9F2hcPuqKDEzoyT2xP4V50zzu9IX_Nhm6iI7MGzha00_COM/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" height="640" width="622" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second, I take great notice of something I call "cruising RPM". The worst case I have seen is a Holden (Isuzu) Rodeo ute I had that would cruise at 110km/hr, revving its head off at 3200 RPM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other end of the spectrum, the best I have seen is my Saab 9-3 Turbodiesel that does the same speed, but at a more sedate 1450 RPM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The C180K is a different beast. At 110km/h, it actually feels comfortable, but is whirring along at almost 2400 RPM, almost 500 RPM higher than a modern counterpart. It's just enough to have the potential to annoy on a long trip. It wouldn't be breaking any fuel efficiency records at that rate, either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Conclusion</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this car. Possibly enough to buy one for my daughter to learn to drive in, and keep. It's new enough to be relevant and old enough to be affordable; about $7,000-11,000 in Australia dependant on age and condition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4.5 stars out of 5.</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-14078016284233288802014-03-14T01:26:00.002-07:002014-03-14T01:27:40.561-07:00If I ever buy another old house, slap me. A tale of downs, ups, and sticking it to The Man.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"If I ever buy another old house, slap me". </i>The</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">se are the words I uttered in 2009 when we moved into our 18 month old rented ultra-modern home on Ballarat Golf Course (see below). I had seen the other side, and at the time, I thought it was pretty good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had lived in older homes most of our married life and to move to a modern mansion like this was a great feeling. It had been an incredible week; we had driven down from our previous home in Sydney for yet another chapter in our life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems the very day we move somewhere, something big happens in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2003, the space shuttle exploded. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Michael Jackson died. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, we got a new Prime Minister under some weird and dramatic circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Why was moving to Ballarat, of all places, such a 'great feeling'?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to hear stories of the little guy sticking it to "The Man". Overcoming the odds, and not laying down and giving up, and all that jazz.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is mine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, there was a time in the mid-late 1990s (a very short period of time, mind you) when I was close to losing hope. I had thrown in a respectable job and spent all of my days walking with my young son, Liam, who, much to our horror, was diagnosed with autism. None of this "mild autism" stuff, mind you.......we won the "profound intellectual disability" jackpot. He would never have a normal life like his sister. The only way to get rid of this toddler's energy at the time was to get him out of the house......... and walk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We would walk for hours on end. Well, I couldn't do this forever, and when it came time to look for work, and there was nothing. We lived in country Queensland, in the middle of a significant drought. As we walked, I gritted my teeth and said to myself "I will survive". Over and over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We always wanted to live in Ballarat. Victoria, and I spent almost the last of our meagre savings at the time on a 20 hour bus trip to Ballarat for a job interview that I was eminently qualified to do. I didn't get the job. They actually said "we cant believe you don't have a job. There must be something you aren't telling us". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What the Hell?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I went to a large Ballarat Employment Agency to register with them. They wouldn't even take my details. They were only interested in providing LOCAL people with employment. To say I was disheartened was an understatement. I left by bus the following day, and the 20 hours on the bus was some sort of "resolve strengthener". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I resolved to someday drive back into Ballarat in a nice car, to a nice house </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with good possibilities for my growing family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I resolved to never have to feel that bad again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I resolved that I would have an old antique wardrobe at my home (a home we had purchased a year before)with a large shelf filled with boxes that would be bristling with cash.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>They all came true. (Legally, too!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward a dozen years or so, and I drove my new black Honda up the driveway of this place, with a good job, a family that had doubled in size, and lots of money in the bank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, it still wasn't "ours". The new house seemed unusually large to us, and just not what we were used to. Our family is used to living in each other's pockets, and this was <b>so</b> different. It was about 60 steps from our room to Liam's! We are a family that prefers to buy, not rent. So the search began for a house that we would be proud to call our own without suffering that overused word "mortgage stress", which is probably what would have happened if we bought the house on the golf course, a game that I don't actually like. Time to get real and find something authentic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Narrowing it down</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started looking at historic homes closer to Ballarat Central, and to our dismay, they were starting to increase in price by thousands of dollars every week over the year. The nicer ones were similar in price to those we left in Sydney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We narrowed some areas down by doing what we do best; walking the streets with our family at certain times of the day and seeing what it felt like. There seemed to be a certain excitement about Soldiers Hill, but it was very pricey and seemed a bit overrated. Lake Wendouree? Great, if we had spare couple of million dollars! "Eureka" precinct is a sleeper area that is slowly being "gentrified" with more historic houses being renovated and less being rented out. So we decided that "this is the place".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We first inspected our home to be in Feb 2010 and it was being rented. The home was a brick on bluestone semi detached terrace house, built in the 1850s and had a fortune spent on it on the inside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Also, it had 4 bedrooms and its own driveway; a rarity in central, historic Ballarat. Somehow, from our very first inspection, we just knew it was going to be ours. My mentor in Real Estate, June, told me that <i>"nice people buy nice houses"</i>, and this just seemed to scream out to us to make this grand old dame shine again. Sure, it was small but the overall package is livable and suits our needs, and will be renovated and extended soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Serious point: Write lists. Do stuff. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a great believer in writing lists to help with achieving things, and we had a half a dozen things we needed to complete (and sell) before we could comfortably proceed. The list was devoured in 4 weeks. After a bit of negotiating, the house was ours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My advice....Set goals. Take risks. I love that old BMW ad that said <i>"to set lowly goals is to cripple oneself from within". </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most important: Make your goals worthwhile and meaningful to YOU, not what you think others want you to do. After all, they are not paying your mortgage! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it. My tale of woe, betrayal, not getting served and then overcoming stuff. "Like a Boss", as they say.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oh, and you might want to know what happened to that Ballarat employment agency that wouldn't serve me. They went bankrupt and disappeared from the landscape. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves the buggers right.<b> : )</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-69153434694445422172014-03-13T04:18:00.001-07:002014-03-14T05:44:58.556-07:00My favourite little camera just grew up. And became way more expensive.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FAe_6Bv1QIk" width="480"></iframe>)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As often-bullied fat kid Martin Prince </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">from </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Simpsons</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> says in his high pitched, enthusiastic voice <i>"Behold!!"</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is the new Nikon 1 V3</b>. Check this thing out. 18 megapixel sensor. 20 frames per second shooting. Flip out screen. Add-on grip and viewfinder. And a price well north of $USD 1000.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really keen to check these out first hand in a few weeks in Japan.<b> I have the first version of this series, the aptly named V1</b>, and I am amazed by how good it is. I bought mine when they were heavily discounted, because they were around a thousand dollars when they came out. I got mine for around $300 with the kit lens (10-30 mm). It goes everywhere with me, because it fits in the centre console of all of my cars. Its metal body is worn nicely around the edges like a battered old Leica. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also has an optional (frightfully expensive) lens adapter that makes it work with my larger lenses; the downside is that it dramatically extends their focal length. However, the shutter speed is blazingly fast on the V1 (equivalent to 60 frames a second, which is actually a 15 frame burst in a quarter of a second. It's amazing).</span></div>
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<i>(Just like the Dewalt cordless drill, that has probably extracted and inserted about 20,000 screws in its lifetime, a camera is a valuable and well-used tool. Make it work for you. I have also been told I have a good face for radio, hence the angle of this shot).</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't held the new V3 in real life, but if it is anything like mine, it'll be robust and feel like a quality object as opposed to a toy. However, as good as it may be, for the list price of well over US$1000, expect it to be heavily discounted in the coming months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This means that the current V2 model, a fantastic yet odd-looking package that looks like a missing piece of Skylab, should be VERY cheap in the coming weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am of the opinion that the best camera is the one you have on hand, whether it be a camera phone, a DSLR, or something in between. Have a good look at this under-rated family of small, but serious cameras. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did, and I am glad I bought mine. It's survived hundreds of daytrips around Victoria, South Australia and Queensland and a trip to Japan, and it's about to do it again in a few weeks......</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-85840807565322391022014-03-10T06:18:00.005-07:002014-03-10T06:43:46.225-07:00SUGARHOUND ROAD TEST: the Mercedes A- Class.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said in a previous post, 2013 was a pretty good year. It wasn't perfect, but we hit a lot of personal goals, had some good things happen and decided that we needed a (new) car for my wife. We wanted to remember 2013 as "the year we bought a new Mercedes and travelled to Japan", among other things, NOT as "the year we aspired to buy a Hyundai i30 and had a trip to the Dubbo caravan park" (<i>sorry, Hyundai and Dubbo, but I have never experienced either, and am not about to</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new Mercedes A-class came out earlier in the year and we ordered one very quickly, aware that there was a 5 month wait. We chose the A180 as it was to be my wife's very first car, so getting the more powerful version for a P-Plater (Provisional Licence) wouldn't have worked. After the traditional round of spluttering surprise from our respective families (that my wife finally got her licence; first go, I might add, and that she bought a Black AMG-styled Mercedes as her first car), the day finally arrived in the middle of a rainy, miserable Ballarat winter when we actually picked the thing up: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bDHbbyl9VbwcPZ1kKcws-LFMA1H9YZdbA_hwG9r7jMjDs0HtjHUrChLa6SMy9Z-9o8rc9JuE5lFv7E59pUKb1v-7UFqxOJEicTodZ7xllPjc56qWAg-5emqteGa8Tom9SFrGQakdG6Mm/s1600/399177_10151601447868063_43250096_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bDHbbyl9VbwcPZ1kKcws-LFMA1H9YZdbA_hwG9r7jMjDs0HtjHUrChLa6SMy9Z-9o8rc9JuE5lFv7E59pUKb1v-7UFqxOJEicTodZ7xllPjc56qWAg-5emqteGa8Tom9SFrGQakdG6Mm/s1600/399177_10151601447868063_43250096_n+(1).jpg" height="344" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first things to go in the car were aftermarket, thick rubber mats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as options went, we chose the "Becker Maps and Becker 6 CD stacker", of which the sound quality is absolutely brilliant. Second, the AMG styling pack, which included the AMG bodykit, black/silver 18 inch AMG light alloy wheels with Continental repairable run flat tyres, and AMG interior, including a carbon fibre-look dash, AMG seats, leather wrap AMG steering wheel and AMG-embossed mats. We avoided the sunroof because in Ballarat, there ain't much sun for 8 months of the year, and for the remaining 4 months, it's way too hot to have a gaping hole in the roof inviting unwanted UV's in to kill us. As it rains every other day in Ballarat for those 8 months of the year, we thought a sunroof would just be something else that could leak. In short, we are not "sunroof" people, if that makes sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to also forego the Xenon lights. They look cool, but at $450 a pop for the module when they go out, and they aren't under warranty, we gave it a miss. Tinted windows also came as part of the option packages we chose.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZwdFSiVXC_5m53mBrSOL3jyCM664wCUtNtZQCotHfkZqF5NMjinc9rVbcQyU2OzSyp4RU7JnoJh45BXmO-T9bq57o9MzIrd-c3ryLc2NuB7_Liucm2Oe89Y1H9IVoCI5gWntpk0ixNM/s1600/1170716_10151621820813063_540379769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZwdFSiVXC_5m53mBrSOL3jyCM664wCUtNtZQCotHfkZqF5NMjinc9rVbcQyU2OzSyp4RU7JnoJh45BXmO-T9bq57o9MzIrd-c3ryLc2NuB7_Liucm2Oe89Y1H9IVoCI5gWntpk0ixNM/s1600/1170716_10151621820813063_540379769_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Interior.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, we just love the interior of this little car. The retro-styled air vents add a nice touch, as does the carbon-fibre look dash (it's a fabric weave; I would hate to impact with carbon fibre. It'd hurt). The central command jog-dial takes a bit of getting used to, because it pretty much controls everything on the car's audio, media, communication and navigation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about the rest of the cabin? Bloomin' marvellous: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPYbHIOrX4k9GP1nZrfwR0CE-22FjMAZ4-1XYw_eaUQII_OMYsq_gnLerCnHk4Y7ANqIabKpHtIFqYYiWMZTDLOdJZoyt11i4H028VWPy5BguZCGx05LI5SHOSIcUgGtizYjGO7DNNKL_/s1600/1441492_10151798121513063_313149509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPYbHIOrX4k9GP1nZrfwR0CE-22FjMAZ4-1XYw_eaUQII_OMYsq_gnLerCnHk4Y7ANqIabKpHtIFqYYiWMZTDLOdJZoyt11i4H028VWPy5BguZCGx05LI5SHOSIcUgGtizYjGO7DNNKL_/s1600/1441492_10151798121513063_313149509_n.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The seats in the front are absolutely magic. I drove from our home in Ballarat to Adelaide, approx 600 km, without the usual accompaniment of a sore bum or back. However, the rear seats are another matter for adults, at least. Legroom is limited, the seats are relatively upright, and it's fairly claustrophobic for back seaters due to the high waistline of the body at the rear. Very nice centre armrest front and rear, though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The centre console is excellent. It holds two drinks and has an additional three cubbyholes that will easily swallow valuables, such as mobile phones or wallets. My small DSLR camera will fit comfortably in the larger storage pocket under the centre armrest. There are also two hard-shell storage compartments at the front of each (front) seat, with ample room for "smalls" like a wallet or mini handbag/purse. Each of the four doors has enough storage for a drink bottle and a folded pullover in a pinch.The glove compartment is tiny, and is encroached by the Becker maps module. The car manual and service book won't fit. The traditional Mercedes storage netting is there at the passenger's feet in the front, also the back of the front seats. I haven't had the need to use them yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The centre console is uncluttered from controls other than the nice jog dial; there is no central handbrake or gear selector in this car. The emergency brake is electronic and is a button on the dash, low and adjacent to the steering wheel. As in most Mercedes vehicles, the gear selector and cruise control binnacles are at the right and left of the steering wheel respectively, like an indicator stalk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Climate control</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The air conditioning in this car is incredible. We have had a few days where the mercury hit 44 degrees C this summer, and I was concerned that a black car with no rear outlets would be the death of us. Not so. The kids were asking me to turn the AC down because they were getting too cold. Heating and demisting work quickly and effectively as it should on a $44,000 car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nifty standard fare</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car has a huge Mercedes emblem on the grille that doubles as a radar pod. This tells you in a hurry if you are tailgating a car in front, by means of a bright red triangle (light) that hits you in the face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also has this thing called <i>"Attention Assist"</i> that scans your face and detects if you are nodding off, and reminds you via audible beeps like a smoke alarm.. I'm a pretty attentive driver, used to travelling long distances, so it hasn't smacked me yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This car , like many others on the market, is almost impossible to see out of the back. Tiny back window. Huge rear pillar. Solution? A really big screen and rear camera, with sensors all around the fore and aft. <i>"Parktronic"</i> also makes pretty short work of reverse parallel parking. Scares the hell out of you the first few times, but is an absolute Godsend. I love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car also has "start stop" technology called <i>"BlueEFFICIENCY",</i> which can be turned off, but I dislike it. (It means that every time you are stationary, the engine switches off to save fuel. Put your foot back on the accelerator, and it immediately sputters back to life).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But really, how much fuel could you really save in a 1.6 litre, seven speed, turbo car?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuHQJbxB2Ck1s_FlXoPtlOhlkNqDtmLuIG4C0skS7HzikDmCf84kEOtdcctoTA9k97u2dp7GmxZMDemhOedM1aaKwQi11RmD4KQEj4X7yNThhw5Vk5uKoXHR45mCF64cnk9wM7PNqcTdg/s1600/1098227_10151616111258063_1296661335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuHQJbxB2Ck1s_FlXoPtlOhlkNqDtmLuIG4C0skS7HzikDmCf84kEOtdcctoTA9k97u2dp7GmxZMDemhOedM1aaKwQi11RmD4KQEj4X7yNThhw5Vk5uKoXHR45mCF64cnk9wM7PNqcTdg/s1600/1098227_10151616111258063_1296661335_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The ride quality and driveability</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's where the trade-off lies. This thing is low. Too low for the concrete buffers at the Bakery Hill Coles carpark. It has stiff AMG suspension. Virtually no body roll. It rides on low profile 18 inch run flat tyres. If the road isn't perfect, you feel every bump. If the tarmac is that rough stuff, the road noise is very noticeable. (Maybe that's why they put in such a great audio system). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gearbox, as previously stated, is a seven speed dual-clutch auto. It is silent and you can't tell when it changes gear. To make things more interesting, the car has a "Manual" mode that is controlled by steering wheel paddles and is fun to use. It also has an automatic "Sport" mode that actually makes the little 1.6 litre engine snarl with a nice exhaust note. Finally, the Economy mode is the default mode and is relatively sedate. Good for "wives dropping off kids to school", mode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car takes 95 RON fuel and above, so it's a bit more costly to run. But, seeing the thing costs twice as much as a Hyundai i30, saving a few cents a litre doesn't become much of a consideration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This car is very tight. It feels like quality. The interior is faultless. It looks great. It drives well. Would I buy one again given what I know? Yep, absolutely. We drove to Adelaide for a New Year's getaway with three adults and a five year old with all of the usual luggage, and bought up big at Ikea while we were there, and it all fitted in without resorting to the kids sitting on an IVAR shelving system and a BJORN set of collapsible boxes, and half a dozen DWERP curtains all the way back to Ballarat. (I just made those ridiculous names up).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Score: Five out of Five (three-pointed) stars.</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-51269892724764538982014-03-09T22:40:00.002-07:002014-06-15T04:47:24.426-07:00What's new? What's shakin'?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TReMHW4KDcD2PnJ_2KGS5bXo9ThJDJT8iS6Jzlyunm0FBKF7V9djg8o319dkg3cDUfA8rRcfobsOnvB97meXl34_f8AFraifSCHo1t-0fLLNywpcr868CoM_Fq9TiRQuo5MfGSwvN7fL/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TReMHW4KDcD2PnJ_2KGS5bXo9ThJDJT8iS6Jzlyunm0FBKF7V9djg8o319dkg3cDUfA8rRcfobsOnvB97meXl34_f8AFraifSCHo1t-0fLLNywpcr868CoM_Fq9TiRQuo5MfGSwvN7fL/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The introvert in me makes it almost impossible for me to participate in small talk with people. I just can't talk about the weather and the state of politics for half an hour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, when I meet someone I haven't seen in a while, I usually say <i>"Hey, what's new? What's happening in your world?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It is because I genuinely want to know, rather than to fulfil the need to make small talk. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence my title to this blogpost. Since I haven't posted in a while, here's what's new; in "things", and "things that are happening", because sometimes the two are related. These are the things I'm currently reading, studying, watching, planning to do, and otherwise enjoying!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So above, from top left to bottom right, here goes....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b><i>The Dirt 100</i>; the ultimate Mountain Bike products of 2014.</b> Having an acceptable level of physical fitness is really important to me. I have young kids and I want to be around to see 'em grow up. I really got into cycling in 2007 as a way to keep my fitness up. I rode 45 km a day. I really got absorbed in it; the whole shebang, <b>except</b> Mountain bikes. (Sydney was the perfect p</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lace to have a road bike because of the fantastic network of new, smooth bike paths near Rouse Hill, where I lived). Now that I live in Ballarat, riding on the road is really dangerous, due to the state of the roads (and poor weather six to eight months of the year). It only takes one inattentive fool to kill you on a road bike. The bike paths here are good</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but dirt, and not suited to a nice shiny carbon fibre road bike with tyres that are inflated to 120psi. We also live 600 metres away from an amazing Mountain Bike Park, so I'm looking at a (Canadian) Norco Fluid trail bike or a Giant Glory 2 if I'm going the full downhill insanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>Canon AE-1 Body from about 1978</b>. I love old cameras. I have a bucket list of cameras to buy and keep hold of, which will be the subject of another post. I picked this one up at the Ballarat Swap Meet a couple of weeks ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <b>Central Tokyo Map.</b> We are going again, in 49 days! We were there for a family trip late last year, and we vowed to go back. This time, my wife and I are going for our 23rd wedding anniversary. I can't wait!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>Japa</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>nese Phrasebook</b>. I need all of the help I can get.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.<b> Citizen Eco-Drive watch in black chrome.</b> I love watches. I have never really had the chance to wear a good one, because, like sunglasses, they always get smashed or lost. When I fitted tyres for a living, many years ago, I had really cheap dull plastic watches from K-mart. In my earlier years in the military, particularly when I was in an Expeditionary Squadron, (i.e. never home and sleeping next to an airstrip, or in a hole in the ground with a sub-machine gun), having a shiny watch just wasn't practical. Or good for your survival. This Citizen is just fantastic. Solar powered quartz movement. Relatively light, but feels like a quality watch. Purchased in Shibuya, Tokyo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. <b>Seiko stainless steel watch</b>. As per above, I've always wanted a good watch that I can wear every day, without worrying about it too much. I hate cheesy (gold) watches and wanted a classic, conservative style. Enter the nice, safe Seiko. Purchased in Nagano, Japan. (Winter Olympics city).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. <b><i>The Idiot Factor</i>, by Larry Winget</b>. <i>"The 10 ways we sabotage our life, money, and business". </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This guy is abrasive, offensive to some, but right on the money. My favourite lines: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"People spend millions of dollars a year on Psychics. Come on people.......psychics!!!!!" </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the clincher: <i>"seven per cent of society believes that Elvis is still alive." Yep, people are indeed idiots". </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ha! I love this book (And yes, he DOES offer solutions, not just criticise)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. <b><i>Superself; doubling your personal effectiveness</i>, by Charles J. Givens.</b> I've had this book for about 20 years and I re-read it every year. It gives me the perfect "kick along" that I need. It also gives me a lot of helpful habits to live by. If you take heed of this book, you will have the best goal list imaginable. On a practical front, you will never run out of fuel in your car. You will never lose a key, answer a ringing home phone, or be unnecessarily interrupted again. You will also question how you spend money vs time on stuff you hate doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. <b>SEAF Standard Magazine.</b> Japan has incredible magazines. They are incredibly specialised (focused on specific subjects). In Japan, newsagents are packed three people deep around all of the magazine stands. They love their magazines!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their magazines are extremely detailed and of very high quality. This is no exception. It categorises a man's collection of cool vintage treasures in his shop, near the (albeit fictitious) <b>SE</b>tagaya <b>A</b>ir <b>F</b>orce (SEAF) base. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. <b>Nikon D7100 Digital SLR body</b>. My wife's little Nikon D3100's SD memory card holder gave up the ghost a short time ago, after taking thousands of product shots (resulting in thousands of sales) for her online stores. Time to upgrade. The larger, heavier, high-end enthusiast body has dual SD card ports, 24 megapixel sensor, usable low light capability to ISO 6400, and full HD video. It's the undisputed best cropped-sensor camera on the market at present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. <b>Nikkor 50mm f1.8D lens</b>. Our most used lenses are a 50mm f1.8G and a 35mm f1.8G. The new lens goes nicely on the body listed above. Light, small, inexpensive. Best bang for the buck, so to speak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12.<b>Nikon FT1 Lens adapter.</b> This little (outrageously expensive, but brilliant) gadget allows me to use my larger DX DSLR lenses on my smaller Nikon 1 body, retaining full autofocus and light readings. I haven't used it to its full capacity yet, as it creates a crop factor of 1.7 (in plain English, it means that a 50mm DSLR lens attached to the little Nikon 1 body becomes a longish- 85 mm lens equivalent (50 times 1.7 = 85). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13.<b><i>High Fidelity</i> Blu-Ray starring John Cusack and Jack Black</b>. I simply love this film. The music, the actors, the "top five" lists for everything, the incredible Saab 900i convertible driven by Cusack's love interest, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And...... who hasn't dreamed of owning a vintage vinyl record store?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. <b>Sony 1 TB hard drive.</b> I realised I had 28,000 photos on my laptop, all of which my wife and I took over the past couple of years. They were later safely stored on this lovely hard drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. <b>Car keys.</b> We take our cars pretty seriously. Folks, this blog isn't meant to come across as some bragfest thing, but we had a a pretty special year in 2013, hit a few goals and had some good things happen, and didn't want to remember it as <i>"the year we bought a Hyundai i30 and had a trip to Dubbo". (Sorry, Dubbo!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, the CAR KEYS. Look out for a full road test for my wife's new Mercedes coming up. This little thing is a pocket rocket when it needs to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. <b>Vintage "Kershaw" leather case for compact camera</b>. I love old bags and satchels, particularly leather ones. I also collect vintage leather jackets, my favourite being a vintage Camel Cigarettes pilot's jacket from the 1960's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This case though, fits my small backup camera, a Nikon P7100, really well. The case is made in England and is from about the 1940's. Purchased in Daylesford, Victora on one of our regular scavenging trips.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, that's all for now. What's coming up in your life? What are you looking forward to? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favourite (related) quotes is from the film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off": </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.030000686645508px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till next time, happy hunting! Plan (and have) great adventures! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-84202239096568236802013-11-18T04:52:00.001-08:002013-11-18T04:52:38.165-08:00SUGARHOUND: Markets 101; How to dominate any Market.<a href="http://sugarhound.blogspot.com/2013/11/markets-101-how-to-dominate-any-market.html?spref=bl">SUGARHOUND: Markets 101; How to dominate any Market.</a>: My wife has always been interested in fashion and design. She is a keen seamstress and has a keen eye for what "looks good"....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-48315687845863498812013-11-16T06:54:00.000-08:002014-11-28T00:09:32.050-08:00Markets 101; How to dominate any Market.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUudnfY-Ht9VFtYnVWj058MHKMpbdzjRPAAawCcmb_g9ateCwihxrYDb4MiFugzMokqQauBRpaIOb1eggnz0l1W-eAoRexWuG59N8Lpn8Ua8xZkyKoeiUDGG3bzWnJn9IEXxjMAke46pE/s1600/45770_1603628173079_2162585_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUudnfY-Ht9VFtYnVWj058MHKMpbdzjRPAAawCcmb_g9ateCwihxrYDb4MiFugzMokqQauBRpaIOb1eggnz0l1W-eAoRexWuG59N8Lpn8Ua8xZkyKoeiUDGG3bzWnJn9IEXxjMAke46pE/s1600/45770_1603628173079_2162585_n.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wife has always been interested in fashion and design. She is a keen seamstress and has a keen eye for what "looks good". A few years ago, she decided she wanted to start a small-scale, high quality children's clothing line. A few weeks later, we happened across a local market that specialised in handmade items, which was relatively distinctive and exhibitors were thoroughly screened to maintain the integrity of the market.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I predicted that she would dominate that particular Market with her stall within about five tries, but she managed to do it within two. I've been a veteran of many markets in my time, but my products were more automotive-related and at large rural markets. Anyway, we pooled our collective experience and strengths and did really well over a period of a couple of years at selected markets throughout Victoria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It goes without saying that you need really well-made and distinctive products, but in general, here's how she did it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Positioning your stall is important. Internal or external corners are best. Corners are great crowd "choke points" that slow people down. They slow down just long enough to browse, regardless of the product offering. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Have enough stock to make the space seem interesting. Not cluttered, but not too sparse, either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Run the numbers before you start. A good return is 20 times the stall fee. Do you have enough stock at full retail to add up to this figure, if you sold everything?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Have a variety of stock priced at high, medium and low levels. The low priced things usually sell well and they add up over the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Keep a running sheet of what you sell and review them after each market. This will provide a written evaluation of what sells and what doesn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.Make it easy for your customers to buy from you, and even easier to remember you. Everything you sell needs to have your label on it, and a website/ blog, etc. If possible and feasable, have a mobile EFTPOS machine. If you are only dealing in cash, go to the bank the day before and have a float of at least $150.00, ($250.00 is better), mainly in small note and "gold coin" (in Australia, gold coins are a dollar and two dollars) denominations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.Display your goods at different levels; never merely laid out flat on a table. Try to have at least three levels of products available. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.Unless you are selling rusty car parts at a flea market, your goods must be clean. If you are selling clothes, they need to be freshly ironed and hanging up on nice timber hangers. They must also smell nice. Never use those incense sticks in your home in the same place as you store your goods ; quite simply, they stink. For added professionalism, clothing displays should be on a mannequin, not a hanger. It's OK to have your sales stock on a portable clothes horse that holds about 20-30 garments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9.Price everything clearly, but not so it screams at the customer unless you are selling on price only (as opposed to quality). You need to have the prospective customer stop and look at your goods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. A market should not be a solo act. Always take a friend with you to provide relief on breaks, to assist in busy peaks, and remain vigilant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Sitting down behind your stall is tempting, but it implies apathy, disinterest in your own goods, and laziness. Psychologically, people are drawn to stores that are bright, clean, and inviting. Standing up gives a feeling of urgency and action to your customers. Standing up allows you to see who is interested, and an opportunity to initiate a conversation with the potential customer without having to get up. This leads me to my next point...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Don't jump on your potential customers. Think how you would like to be treated. Educate them about your goods. Speak slowly. Listen. Be cool. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Valuable, delicate or theft-prone goods should be in a glass display case. This is really important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Looks are important. Your stall must stand out from the crowd. You have about five to ten seconds to capture the potential customer's attention. I went to a market recently and saw the same props used (bunting, a mini rotary clothesline that had products hanging off it) in four other stalls (in a really small market, so the stalls all started to look the same).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Marketing hint:</b> Markets are a valuable way of getting your name out there. My wife doesn't do them anymore, because she always had literature made that would direct people to her online stores. She was thinking ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has now diversified into vintage homewares and craft supplies, both stores online. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Links to her stores can be found <a href="http://sheadoresvintage.etsy.com/">here</a> and <a href="http://sweetnkitsch.etsy.com/">here</a>.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-6946645842359931732013-11-15T01:58:00.000-08:002014-03-22T06:04:00.243-07:00Vintage Volkswagens, as a Religion. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above: a beautiful example of a 60's VW Beetle at a recent show I attended. Loved it. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However......</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first car was a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle 1300 deluxe. I loved that thing, even though it had a six volt electrical system and drum brakes that had the stopping power of wet newspaper. I took the (then) 20 year old car on camping trips, where I would fold the seats down and sleep in it. It was my trusty companion. That car would be getting on for fifty years old now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently attended a Vintage VW show and the owners were fantastic, dedicated people, and were understandably obsessed about their cars, which in many cases (but not all), often the only type of vehicle they had. Their conversations were not so much about where they had been in them, but what they needed to do to make them more reliable. Or in some cases, to actually run. There seemed to be an element of relief for some people that their car had actually made it to the event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For most, it seemed that their car was never "finished". Different strokes for different folks, but that would frustrate me to no end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These cars have reached cult status. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think I would own one and use it as a daily driver any more. Here's why: They actually cost as much as a nice, modern used car now. (Mine cost 600 bucks in 1986). They don't have air conditioning. They don't have airbags. They require constant maintenance. They have four gears. They have a habit of catching fire if the battery isn't properly insulated from the springs sagging on the back seat. The fuel tank is in the front, between whatever you hit, and...you. The windscreen is 6 inches away from your face. The dashboard in the pre-1967 models are metal. They aren't fuel efficient compared to a modern car with a similar sized engine. They are unreliable. Their lights are terrible. They have vinyl seats. They are incredibly dangerous in crosswinds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are beautiful, though. That's about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a late model turbo diesel Saab 9-3 that I have driven 70,000km in the last 18 months. No problems. Just get in and go, without a care in the world, and not a concern that it won't make it to point B. My other car (which is "another German brand", not a Volkswagen) actually parks itself. It wakes me up if it detects I am nodding off. (Thankfully, my own common sense over-rides this feature, but it's nice to have).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Convenience. Reliability. Air conditioning. Lights that work well and brakes that stop you. A crapload of airbags and ABS. Nothing too bland, either. That's what I want in a car in 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would I consider having another VW Beetle as a stored "collectible" car? Absolutely. I just wouldn't drive it much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Financial/ Life Tip: </b>A car is a machine for getting you and your family around safely, with as much class and so-called "prestige" as you want, or choose to justify. I love cars, but that's really what they are; just another machine. If you can, try to make it as nice as you can and as reliable as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have fallen into the trap of buying money pits of cars, unfortunately. (Ask me about a Fiat that I had when I was 23; it actually deserves its own post). Take it from my early days: Don't be the person whose whole life is spent fixing a car or worrying about it's reliability (unless you actually <i>enjoy</i> breaking down on the side of the road).</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-75334216865679151442013-11-14T20:05:00.000-08:002013-11-15T01:18:33.658-08:00A Great Realisation has set in. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7TXF4eHOT-8vobkrQcLAUWtF22bxy7pT-zVdA5LlhqdRbTZIp7dnlXx5p0IjV-UuSa_5U8HHvVjjG-_ZXqqUqZpKEpFVmx-bZn6badsDaSqKLqD5U44Gw4i7bo351XI__UQUsCyNND3Y/s1600/1393879_10151757110283063_1058581114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7TXF4eHOT-8vobkrQcLAUWtF22bxy7pT-zVdA5LlhqdRbTZIp7dnlXx5p0IjV-UuSa_5U8HHvVjjG-_ZXqqUqZpKEpFVmx-bZn6badsDaSqKLqD5U44Gw4i7bo351XI__UQUsCyNND3Y/s640/1393879_10151757110283063_1058581114_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the dust has settled from our family holiday to Japan, a great realisation has set in: For our first family trip overseas, we went to a country that is non-English speaking, with no guide or any concept of what the country would be like, other than the experiences of others. We stayed in, and completely navaigated our way around the greatest metropolis in the world, a population of 36 MILLION. (And I hate crowds). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took our four children with us, three of which are autistic and largely unpredictable in their behaviour and requirements at the best of times, even in a home setting. Two of the three can't effectively communicate if they are ill or why they may be distressed. We dragged these kids halfway across the globe (they loved it) to a country that recently had one of earth's largest earthquakes in history, one that made the entire country drop by up to a metre, and a resulting Tsunami that wrecked countless lives and dropped a century's worth of debris on the coastline in the space of 30 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The city of Tokyo also has another elephant in the room; a rather large active volcano called Mt Fuji, a mere 70 miles up the road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes; we are CRAZY. </span></div>
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And we are going back soon. : )</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-66103876669953224442013-11-14T05:11:00.000-08:002013-11-14T05:11:51.198-08:00"It's a Nikon thing. You wouldn't understand". <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JFooBV2jHGxM06KK-T9NDUYQgccyfMR6wltcaYVf7fZtUeW9YPuEvcn2gcM2Ih-9E7DPqBUhUD5_YnNXekj8F2u2Lk4Sj3hPyh0gutCAcMEXtVywe6gWkJPRrByzC1J41mLs1QKrJLtQ/s1600/249185_10151458399678063_1526281255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JFooBV2jHGxM06KK-T9NDUYQgccyfMR6wltcaYVf7fZtUeW9YPuEvcn2gcM2Ih-9E7DPqBUhUD5_YnNXekj8F2u2Lk4Sj3hPyh0gutCAcMEXtVywe6gWkJPRrByzC1J41mLs1QKrJLtQ/s640/249185_10151458399678063_1526281255_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ford vs Holden. Mercedes Vs. BMW. Toyota vs. Nissan. Nike Vs. ASICS. Apple vs Samsung. Nikon vs Canon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I studied Consumer Behaviour at University what seems like a lifetime ago, because I wanted to find out why people had a preference to to particular brands when the product offering was relatively similar. It may be because of a good experience they have when they buy such a product, so they keep buying it. It may be a social expectation. Perhaps they had a terrible experience with Brand A and switched to the competing brand. Perhaps a brand has a particular status or positive culture that the person wishes to identify with. Either way, all of the brands listed above are respected, but pretty similar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Case in point; cameras. As you may have gathered, I love cameras and have had one since I was a kid, much like my son Ronan, pictured above. I've had many brands, but I have a soft spot for Nikon. It is completely irrational. I'm not a Pro photographer, so it doesn't mean the difference between eating or not eating. It's just a feeling that I got as a kid, drooling over Olympus and Nikon cameras, specifically the Olympus OM and Nikon F models of the 1970's and 1980's. I vowed that I would always have one or the other. I had an Olympus in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Olympus seem to have lost their way when Digital SLRs became affordable, and I bought a Nikon DSLR a few years ago, and have continued to buy Nikon since. For me, nostalgia seems to be a strong buying motivator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Marketing hint: </b>If you can sell a person something that is attached to status, a cool subculture, or a particularly pleasant memory of days gone by when things were made to a standard and not to a price, you have a strong point of difference to your competitors. </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-12437084356374403652013-11-13T06:24:00.000-08:002013-11-17T07:19:43.412-08:00The joys of the "Financial King Hit" and the Mini Retirement. <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JPbxSlrAfQ5izYOId73sEuBUsp3vtPibek0tu9lnCSCkHpngfzAlN2n4LMRmeKKqND-P2CkKgecIpx356ga0r0_ZZL6B_gBq-oI7GgR99_MqD3f6PrYz1y5r4VC6k2M7c7S7Y8ghNeck/s1600/1525_40875818062_4157_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JPbxSlrAfQ5izYOId73sEuBUsp3vtPibek0tu9lnCSCkHpngfzAlN2n4LMRmeKKqND-P2CkKgecIpx356ga0r0_ZZL6B_gBq-oI7GgR99_MqD3f6PrYz1y5r4VC6k2M7c7S7Y8ghNeck/s640/1525_40875818062_4157_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In another post, I mentioned that I am hopeless when it comes to saving money. I am also hopeless at budgeting. It's something I cannot (well, choose not to) do. However, what I am good at is spotting opportunities for the occasional financial windfall, something that I refer to as a "Financial King Hit"; where it can replicate the effects of months, even years of saving. Some things I have done are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b>Making the most of "Pure Dumb Luck":</b> Entering contests in rural areas. Its surprising how few entries there actually are to compete with. I entered two contests in Kingaroy; and won both; by purchasing a much-needed home utensil and won a truckload of electrical appliances for our home. I sold some, gave some to family and kept the others. This was cool! (The second "win" was a new fangled cordless phone for the home when they were a big deal). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>Making Redundancy Work for You:</b> I applied for a voluntary redundancy package after working for an employer for a bit over three years because the conditions of the package were so good, and I had something to go to. I used it as a deposit on a house and some other real estate with the proceeds, and got into the tyre and wheel business after I took three months off with my wife and baby daughter. I effectively had a mini-retirement at age 25 that energised me for the next ten years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <b>Appreciating Real Estate:</b> I bought even more houses, sold some, and had another mini-retirement for six months at age 35. I walked my kids to school every day, had lunch with my wife, and explored the countryside. I also added value to my existing home, ready to sell it a couple of years down the track. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>Market Mania:</b> Is there a really large market or annual swap meet in your area? If so, is there something you can offer that will be seen by tens of thousands of people? My brother and I would save up all of the automotive-related junk that nobody in the city was interested in, such as farm tyres and wheels for pickup trucks ("Utilities" in Australia) and bull bars, driving lights etc, and we would go to a couple of large rural swap meets a year and make absolutely thousands of dollars in cash. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are only some of the things I have done, but I hope you get the idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Life Hint:</b> Learn to look out (and be prepared) for opportunities. Realise that money can not only buy "stuff", but can buy you some quality time with your family, that I call "mini-retirements". </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-56237889926914996282013-11-13T03:50:00.000-08:002013-11-19T03:27:51.206-08:00Opportunity is everywhere. Just look for it ( It will probably be in your street).<div class="_4-u3 _5cla" style="border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: none; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 14.545454025268555px; padding: 16px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxctJqpBdwPU9pxGPaflSaDdtucbqjsVcx0WWOma_oCNyO5gsMILutuNMwTbrBZhv6lgzECUttQmMPfhpBT5eC5vDopzqTnIBCD_1eqBJfI0-VrzvvxZKOynKsl7oSbj8bZ-XK3MP2r2c/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxctJqpBdwPU9pxGPaflSaDdtucbqjsVcx0WWOma_oCNyO5gsMILutuNMwTbrBZhv6lgzECUttQmMPfhpBT5eC5vDopzqTnIBCD_1eqBJfI0-VrzvvxZKOynKsl7oSbj8bZ-XK3MP2r2c/s640/DSC_0069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I realise that not everybody can buy the home of their dreams in the perfect spot. (I definitely fall into that category). However, over time, locations can become more desirable as the demographics change. For my non-Australian friends, Ballarat is one of Australia's largest inland cities, population 100,000. It is about 110 kilometres west of Melbourne, population just under 4 million. Melbourne was recently listed as the World's most livable city, but unfortunately is one of the world's most expensive cities for Real Estate. Inevitably, people start to move away from larger cities for a lifestyle change, and they want to re-create some of the positive aspects of the city lifestyle they have "lost". The new area can really benefit culturally as a result. (Case in point: I had my first Thai meal about 10 years ago. 20 years ago in Ballarat, Thai restaurants were non-existent.<br />
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Here's some timely advice: Whatever town or city you live in, if you can't buy in the most desirable of areas, buy as close to it as you can reasonably afford, in places that aren't as popular. Pick some place a little quirky, with a bit of character. Wait a while and it will start to become popular and more gentrified. Obviously, you may have to wait longer in some areas for changes to become visible.</div>
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I followed my own advice, did a lot of homework, bought in an area that was really undesirable about 20 years ago, got laughed at by some, but noticed in under 18 short months from purchase, that blocks in our street were being subdivided. An old school that nobody liked living near was sold and is apparently in the process of being re-developed into retail and boutique housing. Some unsightly homes have been demolished to make way for new homes and town homes. Even the most modest of cottages are being treated to sympathetic high quality extensions.</div>
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Inevitably, the demand for centrally located, character homes rises rapidly. The people that buy them usually have money to spend on improvements. Many of these people also like the finer things in life and have the money to buy such things. Accordingly, in pockets, our street is starting to look like Prestige car showroom. ( Old Fords and Holdens have been replaced by an Audi S4, new Saabs, Volvos, BMW M5, Mercedes, Range Rovers, Rolls-Royce, Volkswagens, a Skoda, Mini Cooper, and even a new Porsche 911 convertible- and that's in the space of 3 blocks).</div>
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<b>Real Estate Hint:</b> Do your research and actually get out of your car and walk the streets of an area you desire. Look at these places at different times of the day, night and week. Are long-neglected homes being repaired in a short space of time? Are the "For Sale" signs turning into "Sold" signs quickly? Are the cars out the front getting nicer? Are boutique, specialised stores and restaurants opening nearby? If so, you may be in a neighbourhood that is gentrifying and increasing in value fast.. It may be worthwhile grabbing something now!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-1862708535875131712013-11-13T02:56:00.000-08:002013-11-14T04:45:01.548-08:00How my Saab obsession began.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHOHnnncWT91H6fI9wmPqqfvBpVdghtM3mqLv6UccrZQJsBSkFZDaReZwdXJ9h3yKZq5v07sUAUg5mt1rnKH5smS5-p_YyYkUO0DkmlUmUIpUdLJV_ZEgkyDAe6Iw6Qi6ll_kSJ7RTcjF/s1600/542574_10151165187398063_1409416789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHOHnnncWT91H6fI9wmPqqfvBpVdghtM3mqLv6UccrZQJsBSkFZDaReZwdXJ9h3yKZq5v07sUAUg5mt1rnKH5smS5-p_YyYkUO0DkmlUmUIpUdLJV_ZEgkyDAe6Iw6Qi6ll_kSJ7RTcjF/s640/542574_10151165187398063_1409416789_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, my family moved from Sydney to Ballarat, Victoria. We managed to rent an incredibly impressive ultra-modern home on the Golf Course, but it just didn't seem "right". We kept it in the back of our minds that we should look around to buy a house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An old, interesting, historic, centrally located one, with most of the hard work done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have moved a fair bit and the thought of actually signing a contract to buy another house seemed a bit surreal. We have endured many years of living in old homes and while they are cool and quirky, they always manage to drain our cashflow while renovating them. Also with a disabled teenager and an energetic, growing five year old , along with our other two children, it's expensive to be me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To assist us in getting things done, we decided to sell both our new cars and get a cheap one that would be a temporary car, until we got another better one after the money draining, fee intensive house purchase...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9FXkJdxxK8gsN30MObovvJizlC_Pp-s_YZ5P6uzuCtpVgaONNNL205gHUNfagwh_IqMaglq-GXkM2kuqCSdaLrWwe8hzneDTeivo-1jquvh4UzenMen35TOSe41U15S_PHuNBiFT1AqF/s1600/64912_10151257046478063_1085129448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9FXkJdxxK8gsN30MObovvJizlC_Pp-s_YZ5P6uzuCtpVgaONNNL205gHUNfagwh_IqMaglq-GXkM2kuqCSdaLrWwe8hzneDTeivo-1jquvh4UzenMen35TOSe41U15S_PHuNBiFT1AqF/s640/64912_10151257046478063_1085129448_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter the SAAB 9000 (right). What hardly seems possible is that for a lousy fortnight's pay, we purchased a car that is built like a tank, has a full leather interior, incredibly good air conditioning and heating, looks relatively modern for its 19 years of life, and cruises at 110 like it's idling. The toolkit is still intact, the heated seat still works, the boot and bonnet linings are carpeted, and there are no dents. The electric windows and mirrors still work perfectly. The boot ( trunk) is massive and has a ski/ cargo door for hauling long loads. The original Sony 10 stack CD player still works. The doors shut with a "thunk" like a new Mercedes. I also spent another weeks pay on replacing a radiator and heater core. ( Big deal; whoopee!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2.3 litre, 4 cylinder motor is not turbocharged like many of it's counterparts, but requires top quality oil to ensure longevity. Apparently, I have been told this car was something like $60 000 new, but it seems a bit ambitious to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was initially thinking it would be a perfect car to park at shopping centres and train stations because if someone parked too close to it, it wouldn't matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, it's starting to matter. I love this thing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quality of these old things is just overwhelmingly good. The reliability will never be as good as a new modern car, but I plan on keeping this Swedish- built classic for as long as I can; it's a keeper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Financial Hint:</b> Its worth sacrificing some things you love in the short term and buying something cheaper if it will help you get into something like a business or house that is going to appreciate rapidly, and more importantly, meet your needs. (I bought the new grey Saab, pictured on the left a couple years later, when the time was right). </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-58302147386087938862013-11-13T00:54:00.001-08:002013-11-21T01:35:36.344-08:00Fourteen reasons why Japan is amazing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h1ddKtMDiolufc8ZspPBc-vrZQAzSFCisoafqjjL0NXN8EqGhr9bERew7HrtqFhjBv7BWmNhXENA-7R2j_3uxQ66NOPMr3RSKKa9gaKZN7FCcnT5TzDALsQ9szcqOC2VmRIKOQQaLi2C/s1600/DSCN8766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h1ddKtMDiolufc8ZspPBc-vrZQAzSFCisoafqjjL0NXN8EqGhr9bERew7HrtqFhjBv7BWmNhXENA-7R2j_3uxQ66NOPMr3RSKKa9gaKZN7FCcnT5TzDALsQ9szcqOC2VmRIKOQQaLi2C/s640/DSCN8766.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b>Vending Machines. </b>They are everywhere. In convenient locations. Surprising variety. Cheap prices. So good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>Customer Service.</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"> I went to a nice Department Store in the city of Nagano, and while my wife was looking at stuff for the kids, I start my mission of looking for a watch. Not just any watch (nothing too fancy, I just wanted a particular look and brand). I enquired to one of the store assistants and she immediately retrieved a manager. A gentleman in an impeccably tailored suit approached me, bowed politely, and asked which brand I prefer, and I said "Seiko". He walked with me, out of</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"> the store, into their other site, accompanied me up a few levels, introduced me to the lady at the watch counter and explains I'm interested in a Seiko watch. She showed me what is available, and invited me to try anything on. All the while, the manager stood patiently and then at an appropriate juncture, explained to me that the "Grand Seiko" watches are upstairs in another area. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">(<i>Er, they literally cost as much as a car. Um, thanks, but no thanks)</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">When I finally got around to buying my Seiko that didnt cost as much as a car, the lady fitted it to my small wrist, removed the necessary links in the band, polished it, boxed it, wrapped it, and bagged it. This was all done without a word of English, but with the most ostentatious amount of courtesy imaginable. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">It was like I was buying a Lear Jet or something. Incredible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<b> Customer Service.</b> It's so good, it needed another entry. A</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">t closing time for retail stores in each (massive) train station, the staff stand out the front when they close the shop doors and all solemnly bow to the thousands of people walking past as a sign of appreciation. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">Also, when the attendants to the Airport Limousine bus have loaded your luggage on the bus and it's ready to leave, they all bow in unison to the bus and its passengers as departs. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">They take immense pride in what they do. Do some of them dislike their job? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">Probably, but you would never know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>Toilets.</b> The seats are heated. They wash your butt. They have sound built in to muffle other "sounds". What is there not to love?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. <b>Trains. </b>Outrageously clean, efficient, fast (Bullet Trains) are the preferred mode of travel. As for the normal metropolitan trains, if you miss one, another comes in exactly three minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This requires its own future post.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.<b> Punctuality. </b>See "Trains".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Honesty.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My sister-in law inadvertently left her entire handbag on a bus. She rang the bus company, and they said the same bus will be passing her way on a loop ( a few hours later). She boarded the bus, and sure enough, the handbag was where she left it...; untouched. Unbelievable but true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. <b>Feeling safe and valued as a tourist. </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">We rode on trains as a family at all hours of the night and day. At no time did we even remotely feel threatened. (If you ride a train after about 7pm in Melbourne, its like taking your life in your own hands). It just doesn't seem to cross the minds of Japanese people to be abusive, loud, argumentative or rowdy. They don't even talk on their phones on the tra</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">in because it would disrupt the comfort of their fellow passengers. (How good would that be in Australia!!) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. <b>Cleanliness. </b>Very little graffitti. No litter ANYWHERE. There was even a nice man sweeping up all of the leaves near our hotel and putting them into bags. Spotless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living with the threat of Earthquakes and Tsunamis.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I'm a bit intrigued/ obsessed with how incredible the earthquake and tsunami warning systems that exist in Japan. I'm trying to get my head around the following: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">a. They have sonar buoys in the water all around the coastline (It's a BIG coastline). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">b. When a quake hits in the ocean, it instantly sends earthquake alerts to EVERY mobile phone, computer, television, radio, etc, in the country, with details of magnitude, and estimated time of "impact". </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">c. Ten seconds later, a similarly-detailed tsunami alert is sent by the same means, which shuts down heavy industry and tells you to get to high ground, because there's a wave coming for you at 800 km/hr. The tsunami walls and their adjustable sea gates are instantly activated around ports and low lying areas.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">This gives everyone a few precious minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">This is why "relatively" few (tragically 20 thousand plus) died in this tsunami compared to hundreds of thousands in the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">Technology is incredible, eh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. <b>Making stuff.</b> Seiko. Lexus. The Nissan GT-R. Enough said. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Convenience stores that don't suck (and are really convenient). Fresh, hot packaged meals for about four dollars. Drinks for a dollar. Spare shirts. Business services like printing and photocopying. All with the high levels of customer service I have spoken about in this post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. <b>Airports.</b> Ever been to Haneda? Compltely built on reclaimed land in the bay. You will never view airports in the same way again. Super clean, efficient, well laid out. The shopping isn't too shabby, either. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14.</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Traditional Japanese Weddings. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bride has up to five costume changes, all of which include looking a lot like Queen Amidala out of Star Wars. We happened across a wedding being photographed in the grounds of our hotel (traditional Japanese Garden) and I nearly walked into the pond, I was that gobsmacked. Google it. : )</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-9678533655624782312013-11-13T00:20:00.001-08:002013-11-13T05:48:47.746-08:00Don't Die Wondering.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d5Lg-yfbESlMpMU6fqBC0dmsgQ5gvDFrU5euvmm9SqXJO8cLObkg4-QpuKB86E_gpD_VmqDlJ9HkYhlATzM4Qs4jlk6u7FHSqBP1f9BjPwhchFjx9S4cMFIrgqz-0BsrJsSl9DY6Zvu8/s1600/299_20600463062_9057_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d5Lg-yfbESlMpMU6fqBC0dmsgQ5gvDFrU5euvmm9SqXJO8cLObkg4-QpuKB86E_gpD_VmqDlJ9HkYhlATzM4Qs4jlk6u7FHSqBP1f9BjPwhchFjx9S4cMFIrgqz-0BsrJsSl9DY6Zvu8/s640/299_20600463062_9057_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">Since 1990, I've adopted the strategy of doing whatever needs to be done, coupled with the desire to answer the question "I wonder what being a Real Estate Agent/ Professional Driver/ Tyre Fitter/ Contractor/ Marketing Consultant/ Military Officer/ Small Business Advisor, etc. would be like". So I did the following:</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">1.lived in four states in Australia,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">2.Moved about 2500 new and used cars from one place to another , (all with no petrol in them) and dealt with a total of 26,000 tyres.(purchased, fitted, disposed), </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">3.Inspected over 3000 houses for sale, and sold several hundred of them in two states,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">4.Helped hundreds of people start their own businesses in extraordinarily diverse fields, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">5.Spoke in heaps of weird and wonderful places about "Marketing your Business on a Shoestring", </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">6.Became an Officer in the Royal Australain Air Force, met some fantastic people of all ranks who work wonderfully well as a team, lived in a hole I dug with a crow bar and slept with an automatic weapon while not showering, changing clothes or boots for a week, hosted all manner of dignitaries, flown over Sydney Harbour in a Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter with the doors open, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">7.Raised four children with my wife Elethea, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">8 Helped my wife start a clothing line for kids (her brains entirely, my brawn in helping her out with markets, etc),</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">9.Got into road cycling, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">10. Renovated lots of houses, marvelled at Elethea's house painting and plastering skills,and mastered the art of period home fence building, and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">11. Had our youngest child late in life (which required mastering the art of Nappy/ Diaper Changing all over again at age 42. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">Life Hint: There are many times in life where you may reflect and think you havent done much. (I do it all the time!) However, after making a list of cool stuff you have done, it will quickly mount up. Seriously. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">What happens then? You will be energised, ready to set some more goals! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">Live life. Take educated, considered chances. And... Don't take yourself too seriously!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663489313395726744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724648028087924358.post-48525419371035133272013-11-12T21:05:00.000-08:002014-03-15T02:52:51.558-07:00Fun Fact: I've never saved up for anything. Ever.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCkHHAKgpDVA3R1lps7eeqjz83PFdwUpaIGLqg7q5Qo4CnH738gttORwmN8Si2qcFvHbeCX73FCAX9o4i2FXgzE2TinHNs56nBANlsc2rxJTYTGoKPQC4JgHb6qO-WRogv4MYPBd9-yfy/s1600/252_15066898062_9879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCkHHAKgpDVA3R1lps7eeqjz83PFdwUpaIGLqg7q5Qo4CnH738gttORwmN8Si2qcFvHbeCX73FCAX9o4i2FXgzE2TinHNs56nBANlsc2rxJTYTGoKPQC4JgHb6qO-WRogv4MYPBd9-yfy/s640/252_15066898062_9879_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">That's right! In my 46 years, I have NEVER saved up for anything, ever. I admire people who do, but I never had the patience to do it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I've just found creative ways to get stuff, because when I (really) want to do something, I just absolutely fixate on it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">Simple example: I wanted an expensive Olympus SLR camera when I was a kid; I bought and sold stuff from Pawnbrokers Unredeemed Pledge auctions I would attend with my Dad (wagging school in the process). I had an advertisement from a camera magazine that I used to look at every night before I went to bed, with that particular camera as the object of my attention. The end result was that I was a 16 year old kid with a camera that most adults couldn't afford. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">As a newlywed "kid", with the expenses that go with a family, housing, baby, etc, I wanted one of those big screen stereo TVs that cost a fortune at the time. I purchased some peanuts and confectionery in bulk, some plastic bags, and screen printed some labels with my wife's Print Gocco. Cost a couple hundred bucks all up, and I made thousands by re-packaging them. I bought the desired TV a few weeks later. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">As an adult, I was self</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">-employed as a contractor for a while and had a house (that I didn't save up for) but wanted to buy one in another area. I didn't qualify for any traditional loan because I didn't have a long enough financial history. I submitted my financials to a Mortgage Broker and he said "How many houses do you want to buy?" and I bought three more houses in the following two years. (Don't ever let the Bank tell you that you cant do it). </span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">In 2004, never having had a car that cost more than $7500, I wanted a fancy car that cost $51,000, so I read a $12 book by Dolf de Roos about making your real estate portfolio worth more. I had recently bought another old house, so I cut the bushes back, washed the house with a power washer, built a really nice period-style fence myself for a thousand bucks, giving the place instant street appeal; got the house revalued that week and it went up by $70,000. Knowing I would only have the house for a short period, I had the car added to the house loan a week later, so it cost me about 40 dollars extra a week for a nice new car. I sold the house 18 months later and made a huge profit on it. This meant that I owned the car outright with no real outlay. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I never made a habit of regular study while at school or university. At high school, I never did homework. I was busy riding my motorbike, abseiling off cliffs and out of tall trees, or drawing Nike shoes. I just wrote every lesson out the night before and remembered it. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">Life Hint: Break the "Rules". Don't conform to the norm. Have a bit of fun with life. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">Learn to say "no" every now and again. And... timing is everything. </span></div>
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