2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 S - 2013
Robin @ The Big Valley Easter Show, Benalla, 2013
I have been active in photography 'stuff' over the last few weeks. Some photography, some new software and some picture repository selections. Good fun! More details in My Shutter Blog.
The newly purchased NIK Software Color Efex Pro 4 on the 4S at the Toolangi State Forest - 2009
It is a tough time for the Essendon Football Club at the moment and they need the help of the faithful to get them through what will be a stressful 2013. Get on board and do ''WHATEVER IT TAKES'' to support our great club. Stick fat. We have. Go Bombers!
Last weekend we mingled with 'some kids'. An 18th birthday for Catherine Prior and a 21st birthday for Lani Cleland. I feel much more lively after hanging out with these wonderful young folk!
Lani @ CloudHill Restaurant - 2013
Better get to it ...
February has been busy so far with a combined music/photographic outing, another of my semi-regular hi-fi get togethers, my Dad's 87th birthday, a Colin Hay concert and of course Valentine's Day. All memorable events.
It has dried right out at our place in January so we need to hand feed the calves, as well as hard feeding the horses. Here is a short clip of the calves hard at it!
I have to say that I am loving my Olloclip lenses on the iPhone. Not high quality, but high fun!
Olloclip @ Home - 2013
Happy Australia Day to us!
I am celebrating sitting here enjoying wine 'out of a box' and Kraft 'plastic' cheese slices. It doesn't get any more Aussie than that!
Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!
Happy to publish my New Year's resolutions here. The method in the madness is that I hope the public visibility will make me focus on achieving them!
Hope you all sail happily into the New Year - 2013
Along with the Baxters, Robin and I attended a fantastic NYE dinner party hosted by the Peninsula Masons.
To see what we got up to on Christmas Day, click on Dad's happy snap below.
Christmas celebrations at SomerCare - 2012
Our final MTC production of the year is over and done. Read about it here.
In early December, Robin and I took a driving holiday to Mildura in country Victoria and we had a great time. Full report here.
Lock 11, Mildura - 2012
Great news. Robin and Lily won their class at the State Quarter Horse Show in Tatura in late November. Back-to-back wins no less! Well done to Robin and the Lily filly!
I am just back from a multi-day golf trip to Yarrawonga & Border Golf Club. A great time was had, the golf not quite so but the weather really smiled on us. And the courses were in great shape. Trip summary here.
Yarrawonga Golf Club clubhouse - 2012
Plenty happening around here lately with an audio outing, some Porsche stuff, music musings and cooking successes. Also I am really proud of finally getting blo*dy Windows to work on my Mac.
Dirty doings down at the car wash… Click the pic for the skinny….
Down at the Car Wash - 2012
One should wait, and I made up my mind to do just that, but I read a forum post about how one could 'jump the queue' for a new iPhone 5 if you register for a 'reserved walk in' place for daily stock at an Apple Store. Basically, it is a daily entry lottery system. I duly registered and the email confirmation of my success didn't arrive… Oh well… A couple of days later, I saw my initial application and thought, well just one more time. And voila! My confirmation arrived last night and I picked up my 64GB white iPhone 5 from the Apple Store, Southland today with online backorders still at 3 - 4 weeks!
I have again dipped my toe in the water of computer-based audio and am trying the tiny USB DAC/headphone amplifier from audioquest, the DragonFly. Click the picture below for more info.
The audioquest DragonFly USB DAC / Headphone Amplifier - 2012
New additions to the property arrived this week. Very cute they are too! In late September, Mt Eliza was again lashed with strong winds and heavy rain. Violent enough to rip a neighbour's tree from the ground. Wouldn't have rated a story here except for the fact that it fell on our side of the boundary fence. Aarrggh. Three hours later, all was cleaned up again.
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The GT3 needs a respray due to some paint peeling issues on both doors and stone chips on the front. One might argue that I wouldn't get the stone chips if I was leading rather than following on the track. Most unkind. However the car doesn't look too bad with the road wheels/tyres fitted in this recent low level snap with the little Leica P&S edited / enhanced in FX Photo Studio PRO.
'Rumour is fact', as a local radio station is want to say. My thoughts of obtaining a new Canon 5D Mk111 are now a reality. The eagle has landed and more details here.
Canon 5D Mark 111 w/24-70 f2.8L lens - 2012
My drive report for the August GT3 Register Brunch Run to Loch can be found here.
As part of my scouting for the GT3 outing, I found myself on the Bass Coast and took some time out to snap the famous old bridge at Kilcunda.
Kilcunda Railway Bridge - 2012
'Boxster in the distance' from a July road trip to South Gippsland - 2012
Just a quick post to report that my new MacBook Pro Retina Display laptop has landed. And I cannot find the words to describe how good it is. The speed and screen resolution are both stunning. All of the rave internet reports are true. My review is here.
The GT3 had a spring clean prior to a social outing with PCV last Sunday to a winery in central Victoria. Full details here.
Plenty of discussion recently regarding the new Essendon 'clash' jumper. We fought the good fight avoiding the mandate to have such an alternative strip but finally had to succumb. The major criticism of the new jumper is that it is not black with a red sash. The club had to move away from that you idiots. Sheesh. Anyway the Bombers Shop had a promotion for a special edition boxed copy of the new guernsey (along with a John Coleman DVD) so I felt compelled to pick one up. The reason is that if we keep it, I was in at the start, and if they change it due to the public backlash, I will have a real souvenir!
My latest competition outing with the GT3 was at Phillip Island on Sunday. For those who care how I went, check it out here. My favourite guitar store, Guitars Plus, held a cocktail / marketing event of rare and vintage guitars last week and I went along to 'look'. To learn what happened click on the Telecaster below.
I am getting excited about photography again and have now renewed my membership of the Frankston Photography Club for the coming year. Plus I have been playing around with the program 'Posterino' and generated another montage to share. And a trip with the Porsche Club to central Victoria created some shots to share.
Box Stallion Winery - June 2012
The little device below might save me a lot of pain and heartache with the cars. Click the image to find out why.
There have been a few changes on the Canon camera front recently, with one new zoom lens arriving, one old zoom lens returning and a used prime lens departing. What's the story? As a famous Australian once said 'Please explain'. And I got a glif...
We are back from a very pleasant four day escape to Daylesford in central Victoria. Food, wine and photography were the main objectives. Click the photo montage below for the full story.
The AFL season is now well underway and have been recording my comments on all the home games we attend here.
After staring at the tea leaves (OK, the bottom of a wine glass), I have made my 2012 predictions for the new AFL season. Let the embarrassment start here.
Some more new music has arrived in the form of a couple of Box Sets, one from The Beatles and the other Pink Floyd. And I had my first taste of being a wedding photographer...
But I am enjoying the learning experience so far...
Santa managed to sneak a few audio goodies down the chimney for me. Some success for the Humphries family at the Porsche Club annual awards this year. Check out more details here.
Great news in late November with Robin winning her class at the Victorian State Quarter Horse Show in sunny Tatura. Well worth the six hour round trip drive to see her and Lily salute!
Robin and 'Lily' - 2011
At last some hi fi news. I recently purchased a First Watt Aleph J power amplifier. Initial thoughts here and a new DAC / headphone amplifier from Benchmark here. Also I recently attended the Australian A/V and Audio Show and a brief report can be found here.
The last Porsche Club track day for the year was held at Sandown Raceway on Sunday. My summary report can be found here.
Told you it was wet on Presidents Day at Sandown! - Photo by Rod Prior 2011
We are just back from another excellent long weekend in Benalla for a test day at Winton on the Friday then a PCV Sprint event on the Sunday. Full report here.
A panorama of the Bright township from Huggins Lookout - 2011
So what's new?
- A new toy has arrived in the form of HD Video Sunglasses by Imging. Strange but true! See the product details here.
- An early morning drive with the car club to the nearby hills recently, click here for more details.
- I am delighted to see the Bombers make the finals this year. The results fell our way over the last couple of weeks and I am looking forward to the mighty Bombers making a stand and maybe causing an upset or two in September! Update: We lost in the first week to Carlton to finish eighth, but a good year boys. Well done!
- Another Porsche Club competition event at a sunny Phillip Island on Sunday was fantastic. And a personal best time to boot! Details here.
- Robin had a win on 'Lily' at a recent West Gippsland Show. Good work! The happy couple pictured below.
Greetings from a wet and wintry Mt Eliza. I am however taking advantage of this chilly period to focus on my personal fitness and wellbeing. Great news as my autographed copy of Matthew Lloyd's book, 'Straight Shooter' has arrived just in time for some holiday reading on our trip to Maroochydore. I am looking forward to learning more about this Essendon legend. Also I picked up a copy of Ben Collins's 'Stig' expose. A nice racy read!
Our recent cultural attentions can be found here, and follow our latest news on the Bombers progress. And in early July I had an excellent outing in the GT3 at Phillip Island. Check out my report and videos here.
Thinking - 2011 (Leica D-Lux 5)
As usual, we were looking forward to our annual Queens Birthday long weekend trip to Benalla, in northern Victoria to compete in the Porsche Club sprint at Winton Raceway. Full details here.
The Big Rig leaving The Comfort Inn Motel, Benalla - 2011 (iPhone 4)
A report on recent activities around hi-fi / music and a quick word about my new camera.
Plenty happening in May and it has been a big audio and photography month so far. Check out the hi fi news here and photo stuff here.
My Porsche Club Hunter Valley Tour trip report is slowly taking shape. Follow the progress by clicking the picture below.
Early morning on Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra - 2011
April has already been very busy, with the huge Anzac Day AFL clash still to come. Go Bombers! Update: We lost... I have just finished a quick cleanup & refresh of the website layout. I hope you like it. Plus, check out my YouTube Channel for some of our latest motoring videos. And we recently took the chance to attend a Bob Dylan concert.
A Museum Collection 962 Le Mans race car at Porsche Centre Melbourne - 2011
In mid April, we head off in the Boxster S for a tour of the Hunter Valley with the Porsche Club. It seemed like a great opportunity to buy some new stuff. A new GoPro Motorsports Hero HD video camera has been acquired. Attached by suction cup to the front of the Boxster, it took this video of Robin driving Mt Panorama at road speeds.
Click on the above picture for the Gizmodo review
We are back from a four day holiday in Lorne, a pretty town on the western Victorian coast. Click the lighthouse for more details.
Cape Otway Lighthouse - March 2011
I competed at the Broadford Hillclimb circuit with the Porsche Club last weekend in the GT3. Details here.
At some point in the not too distant future, this site will get a freshen up. A bit of a new look. I am seeking something cleaner, more modern and integrating the content more effectively while still giving easy access to specific areas of interest. Should be exciting to design & build. I am looking forward to the challenge.
I am back! Sorry for the delay in updating our recent news. Lots of reasons, but nothing that would pass close scrutiny. Of course, there has been plenty happening here. Family stuff, new toys, football, weather (!), cars, photography, horses and more. Keep reading & follow the links for the details.
First up is some photo stuff. A new 'lens' purchase plus a few interesting (I hope) animal pictures.
Robin competing on 'Lily' at Halter Showcase Australia - March 2011
I mentioned in the lead in that the weather has been interesting here this summer. Strangely cool AND humid, very wet, not very hot with almost none of the 40+degree days with the hot north winds we usually experience in summer in Melbourne. Of course with floods up and down the East Coast, the whole country's weather pattern seems heavily disturbed. As an example of the strange season, the following photo was taken a week or so ago at our dam. Water levels would usually be much, much lower with the surrounds of the dam brown and cracked. Not in February 2011.
Our dam in February really shouldn't be this full - 2011
I had my first outing for the year in the GT3 at Sandown recently. A full report here plus a video of the rolling start for the first (wet) lap. I was scared!
Your humble pilote focusing... - Photo by Julie Mason 2011
After some scouring of eBay, I finally found a set of Ping irons I might like, a new set of S59. Graphite shafts, new grips. They look really good. As a blade style, they are a bit tricky to hit with my slightly variable swing plane...
*** Happy New Year ***
We had a great 2010 and wish all our friends a happy & healthy 2011!
*** Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2011 to All ***
As always, December is a hectic month. So what have we been up to?
- The Christmas Day lunch was again held at our place this year. I think a great day was had by all;
- The mighty Essendon Bombers are getting their act together for a big tilt at the finals next year. We saw a glimpse of the future in late December;
- Robin and I attended the Porsche Club Annual Dinner in early December. A great night with a 'Martini' theme. A few more details can be found here.
I have done a little new work on the hi fi front as I have started to dabble in 'hi res' computer based audio. It is a 'challenging' area with some interesting results so far.
Well, spring has finally arrived but the cold and wet conditions have continued here on the Peninsula. The sun has briefly shone through, enough to make the grass grow seemingly as you look at it. I am spending as much time driving the ride-on mower as driving the Porsches these days! But it is worth it to see the lush greenery around the property after several years of the 'big dry'.
So what have we been up to lately?
- We took in a great Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' recreation concert. Check out my review here;
- Also I have discovered the best pizza in Victoria!
- We took the Boxster on a club run to Mt Macedon;
- Made what I hoped were my final GT3 'upgrades' for the year;
- And my final Porsche Club of Victoria competition event for 2010 was at Winton Raceway in late October. A sweet and sour outing with full details here.
In mid September I took a few pictures for the Porsche Club at Calder Raceway. See the back story and some more pics here.
I am pleased to offer a very warm welcome to the new iPhone 4 and iPad (64GB wi-fi) that landed at Chez Humphries recently. Click the highlighted link for my original & updated thoughts.
Some trouble here in early September. A large storm ripped across South Australia & Victoria leaving floods and wind damage in it's wake. Sadly, we were hit by the wind and lost another couple of trees and some large branches. The one below took out part of the electric fence as well.
An ex-tree and an ex-fence tended by 'Chainsaw' Robin
A couple of weeks earlier, some heavy rain caused a landslip on the Esplanade at Mount Martha. A very picturesque road closed for many months I suspect.
There has been plenty happening around here lately. Very heavy winter rain has seen more than 300ml falling on the property making it one of the wettest winters since we moved to the Peninsula in 2002. Our holiday went well and catch up with some photos & details here. There has been positive progress on the hi fi front over the last couple of months. Check out the details in the 'Hi Fi Journal'. Also I have been getting plenty of enjoyment and challenges from the GT3, including sprint days at both Phillip Island and Sandown. Finally, I am now back home again after another round of surgery. Thanks to the medical and nursing staff at The Bays in Mornington for their professionalism, skill & care.
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A holiday two course meal...
Apologies for the lack of updates but here are some roundecent highlights. I am still drinking too much, especially enjoying a run out special of 2007 Red Hill Estate Chardonnay and some tasty King Valley Pinot Gris; exercising too little although a recent golf outing saw me play to my handicap for the first time in ages; plenty of fun with the Porsches in competition days, two advanced circuit driver training events and social runs; Robin has purchased another horse (welcome Lily) and I am continuing to enjoy my photography, especially with my new 1D. Sadly, the 'once mighty' Bombers continue to lose... And while we haven't yet taken the iPad plunge, I certainly see a new iPhone 4 in my future.
I am currently mentoring two really talented women as part of the Vic ICT for Women Mentoring Program and being just a small part of their development is really satisfying.
We have finally found Dad some permanent support at SomerCare, an aged care facility in Somerville. It is a modern purpose-built building just 15 minutes from home with a bright and airy feel to it. The management and staff are excellent and Dad seems to be settling in very well.
You can catch up with the Porsche news from Winton, Blue Pyrenees and Harcourt and more here, plus an update on the new shed!
On the way to Harcourt (Photo by Mardi Peters - 2010)
I had the pleasure of taking the Turbo out for a spin last weekend. So after a gentle wipe and chamois over, we 'quickly' found ourselves at the Rye Wine Lounge and spent a very pleasant hour or two chatting with the owner, Geoff and trying a couple of peninsula chardonnays and pinots, before (reluctantly) making our way home again. I am looking forward to getting back there again soon to try some of the mighty tempting sounding tapas which they have to offer.
On the Thursday before Easter, we left on our road trip to attend the 'Porsche Clubs at Bathurst 2010' event and returned some eight enjoyable days later. Click on the picture below to get the full story.
Yours truly 'at speed' at Mount Panorama (Photo by Julie Mason - 2010)
My guess is that he will be in the Caulfield Hospital for another week or two (sincere thanks to the staff at the Alfred and Caulfield Hospitals for their superb care) before hopefully coming a little closer to us in a rehab/care facility on the Peninsula.
Check out our evening at The Beatles tribute show, 'Rubber Soul', here.
It's March and footy is back so let's go to an AFL match in Morwell. Yes, really!
Another Canon bird landed today. A thing of beauty to be sure. Appropriately, click on the picture below for more details.
A sort of enjoyable but mechanically disastrous day was had at Sandown last weekend. Read all about it. And in the lead up to Bathurst, more trailer news here.
We took a drive to the You Yangs National Park recently for a picnic lunch and to take the Turbo out for a spirited run. Click on the image below for more pictures and details.
Robin & 'The King' - (Canon 5D, 50mm) © 2010
Robin was competing on 'Scooter' at the Victorian Appaloosa Championship Show in Tatura this past week and they duly won the 'Novice' dressage and scored a number of placings in other events. Great riding from Robin and a big thrill. Please click on the picture of 'Scooter' for more details and pictures.
The Blue Ribbon Boy! @ VACS Tatura - (Canon 5D, 24-105mm) © 2010
I have just completed the first PCV event of the year at the fast and challenging Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in hot conditions. See my results and details here. Also I had an outing with the local camera club recently. Beware of some average photos here.
Bathing Boxes, Mornington (Canon 5D 24-105mm) © 2009
My enthusiasm for photography is returning and have been taking all sorts of pictures with the 5D, the IXUS and my iPhone lately. I had a semi-serious outing with the Canon 5D recently and a few of the results can be found here.