An old friend finally retires

Given to me brand new in 1983 for my 21st birthday, my reliable old 26 inch AWA Thorn Colour TV has finally been retired. Although still working fine, the ravages of time had taken their toll. The stunning plastic imitation woodgrain veneer started to lift from the chipboard cabinet within the first 10 years, and the channel selector knob fell victim to the rough and tumble of family life (kids!). By the early 2000s it was apparent no amount of sticky tape and blu-tack was going to keep the curling veneer in place, so I peeled it all off and gave the cabinet a few coats of "monitor style" coal grey. Surviving more than 2 decades, a family and 4 house moves, the poor old thing has finally been overtaken by picture aspect ratio changes and the impending switch to Digital TV.

So here's my tribute to you dear old TV, thanks for your 26 years of faithful service. I only hope my new LCD TV can last even half as long as you.


Trivia: With only a single coax aerial input and no RCA jacks it was a challenge using this old CRT TV with modern devices. The suitably 80's picture of Madonna appears on screen thanks to a DVD player connected via an RF Video Modulator from DSE.

Back from the west

In spite of the changeable weather we had lots of fun in WA. First up 4 nights in Perth CBD seeing the city, dining out, museum/art gallery, Northbridge, Leederville, Perth Mint plus a Day in Fremantle (River cruise, Markets, Old Gaol, etc.). Then hired a car and drove south west, staying 2 nights in Busselton and seeing the Margaret River region (Mammoth Cave, the township, wineries, Chocolate Co., and back up through Cape Naturaliste). Returned via Fremantle and Cottesloe on the last day.

Dining out ranged from fine to fun, with Miss Maud's in Perth worthy of note for it's sheer quirkiness (a Swedish themed Smorgasbord right out of the 1970s, complete with live accordion music!). The free Perth "CAT" bus services were also great, making it very easy to get around. Managed to visit a few vintage shops too, with "Off the Wall" in Fremantle being my Fav (for more on vintage shopping in Perth/Freo see these posts by B'rat Bloggers BVS and CR&VT).

Here's some random holiday snaps (cam & mobile):

Part 1. Perth: City from river, Mall (CBA building), Mint, Museum (3 pics), Cottesloe beach.


Part 2. Fremantle: Stree cafe, Markets (2 pics), Prison (2 pics).


Part 3. South West: Busselton pier, Mammoth Cave, Margaret River vinyards, Margaret River Hotel, Cape Naturaliste (2 pics).

Westward bound

Following what seems to be a bit of a local trend, Ms C62 and myself are heading off to Western Australia for a week. We'll be exploring Perth and Fremantle, with a side trip via the coast to the Margaret River region. Fingers crossed for some good weather.

Pic: Perth City from the Swan River

This however means we'll be away for the ARMAGEDDON Expo on Oct 17-18 in Melb, but strangely Ms C62 doesn't seem too upset by this.

A colourful weekend

Picked up a nice old PMG/Telecom rotary dial 'ColorFone' at the Sebas Salvos on Saturday, and went to the Hans Heysen travelling exhibition at the Ballarat Art Gallery on Sunday. With inspired use of light and colour, Heysen is part of the first generation of painters to realistically capture the essence of the Australian landscape. The first major retrospective of his work in three decades, it's an exhibition well worth seeing.

Below: the ColorFone 802 range, mine is the 'Topaz Yellow' model

Trivia: The PMG introduced the 800 series ACF (Automatic ColorFone) in 1962/63, with the previously unheard-of choice of 6 designer colours! They were standard issue throughout Australia in the 60s & 70s, and are becoming quite collectable now. Some fully reconditioned models are being sold online for more than $300.

A tribute to Joyce

Driving home last night I was surprised and saddened to see Joyce’s Junkatique in Main Road draped with black balloons, streamers and floral tributes. A true Ballarat Icon of second hand treasures and collecting has left us.

I came to know Joyce though my Mother and Auntie’s avid op-shopping expeditions (which I had no choice but to join from a young age during school holidays). Since the late 70’s I’ve been an occasional regular, seeking her assistance in the search for many an odd item for High School and Uni dress up days, costume parties, and on into adulthood as a collector in general. Always cheerful and happy to help, she will be fondly remembered.

Picture from the Ballarat Courier, 02/09/2009.

A nice example of how well regarded she was is Schmookie's post about Joyce’s Exhibition at the Learmonth Art Hall in 2008.

Happy birthday, internets!

From an article by Ruth Brown @ Crikey.com.au .....

"Today is the internet’s 40th birthday. Well, maybe: 2 September marks 40 years since a bunch of geeks gathered in a lab at UCLA and successfully sent some data between two primitive computers through a five-metre cable. Some will probably celebrate the date of 29 October the same year, when the US Department of Defence hooked up the first two nodes of the ARPANET and the Stanford Research Institute."

.... keep reading at crikey.com.au/../happy-birthday-internets


pic from Crikey