New Washing Machine

The other day my washing machine didn't get to finish it's load. I has turned the machine on, it started filling up with water as normal then the machine made a noise and stopped. I tried every thing and nothing got it going, let alone being able to open the door to get my washing out. Someone came out to look at it and said the drum had rusted through along with a hole in it :o and many other problems. He managed to get the door open so I could get my washing out, which I got washed next door. It was time for a new washing machine.

Old Simpson 5.5kg


I got a 7kg Samsung front loader washing machine and it was delivered and set-up this morning. The guy took away my old machine which was good.

Orthotic Centre

I went to the Orthotic Centre with mum today to sort out some winter shoes for me. I'm going to get the same shoes made as last time, those were made in 2004. The new shoes will be leather and have baby wool inside to keep my feet warm. But sadly I was told they won't be finished till September when Winter is almost over!! But guess I will have them for next winter.

I need to keep my feet warm as I get chillblains on my toes and they are quite sore. I had these over the last 2 years and thought they were pressure ulcers, but looks like they are chillblains.

Once I get my winter shoes done, they will make me another pair of shoes for everyday wear, like the ones I wear now.

Mum and I went to Slyvia Park for lunch and some shopping after.

2008 Iveco Series All Blacks vs England

Last night my brother and I went to the All Blacks vs England game and what a game it was!!

I totally loved the game and whole outing, Eden Park was fully seated too. Loads more people there making it hard to get to our seat, but we got there and stayed. My friend Richie and his carer and other friends I knew were all there too. It wasn't as cold either, which was good.
All Blacks take the win 37-20

Dan Carter (Dan the man) set up a tri and kicked all the conversions, he got lots of points
07 June | All Blacks vs Ireland | Wellington | Result: 21-11
14 June | All Blacks vs England | Auckland | Result: 37-20 (I went too)
21 June | All Blacks vs England | Christchurch | Result: 44-12
03 September | All Blacks vs Samoa | New Plymouth | Result: 101-14

More about the game here

Leon Baker Passed

I got some really sad news this morning, that my long time friend Leon baker passed away last night around 7pm :( I've known Leon for the past 19 years and have lots of memorys. Leon was 32yrs and had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is a progressive disease that get's worse as he grows older.

I will miss you Leon and your in my heart forever:)

Power Module and Other Parts Arrived for my TDX 5 - Update

After talking to a Eddy at Invacare we got things sorted.
Just a Record For Myself. The below solved the 'Press Reset' problem on my TDX 5.

To use Tilt/Recline and Elevating leg rests via the joystick in Drive 4, I did the below settings...

Drive 4
No Driving - ON
Tilt/Recline - 4-SWITCH
Standby Mode - OFF
Standby Select - OFF
(I can still use my Single Toggle Switch for Tilt/Recline while I'm driving as well as no driving)

To have the Standby Time option, working in Drive 1, Drive 2 and Drive 3, I did the below settings...

Drive 1
Standby Select - ON
Standby Time - 1205%

Drive 2
Standby Select - ON
Standby Time - 1205%

Drive 3
Standby Select - ON
Standby Time - 1205%


I'm going to now add ALL the settings in each drive on my settings spreadsheet, for future reference

Power Module and Other Parts Arrived for my TDX 5

The 'MK5 Power Module' that was ordered on May 9th and it arrived and was put on my TDX 5 today. The tech calibrated the HDTTGB motors as I asked for them to be done.

I was able to reprogram my settings back into the PM with my programmer. I have all my settings on a spreadsheet even the Standby settings. I set Standby Mode ON in all 4 drives, then I was able to set the Standby Time. After doing this I ran into the problem of 'Press Reset' on my LCD. I then turned Standby mode OFF in all 4 drives again and was able to move. Standby in ECU was ON, can't remember if this was ON or OFF or even recall having this setting but I left that.

Drive 4 is for Tilt/Recline via the joystick as well as elevating leg rests. I use the single toggle switch mostly for Tilt/Recline instead of via the joystick. At the moment Drive 4 is drive-able and I can't use 'powered seating' via joystick. I'm guessing I need to turn the Tilt/Recline setting ON so I can use those via the joystick as well as my toggle switch. I'm hoping by turning Tilt/recline ON will also enable me to use the joystick for the elevating leg rests which is left/right via joystick.

I'm going to ring Invacare tech tomorrow to see what I need to do.


I also got some new tread/foam filled tires and new arm pads arrived. One arm pad went on and I made sure that the arm pad wasn't moving an inch. The tech didn't use the new screws either, just the current screws that were used on the old arm pads. I've had issues with these arm pads before. The tech put them on, then the next day the screw fell out, then the tech arrived to screw it back in, then the following weekend the screw and arm pad came completely off on both sides. If this happens again, I will be really frustrated. The right side arm pad needs to go back to the workshop and a new hole drilled (tappered or something, they call it) so the arm pad sits foward more. I really dislike the way the arm pads go on the arm rests, there is no 'adjustability' for the arm pads and it's very annoying.

Apart from that my TDX is all good... Time to clean my chair I think HA

Got a Hard drive for Backups

I went into DickSmith and I asked the guy about who I can talk to about HDDs and then I released it was my Mac friend Matt who used to work at JB HI FI. I was so happy as I knew he'd be able to recommend what I need, he uses Mac too.

So after 3 weeks or so researching Hard drive's (HDD) I bought a Western Digital 500GB My Book Studio Edition. I feel relieved now as it's hard finding out all the information and getting the right equipment HAHA!!


Matt also said that the My Book HDD that I bought was newer model than the one he got from JB and mine is much smaller.

It took minutes to setup, power in, Firewire 800 in and plugged into iMac. I just need to set it up to backup tonight....will udate.

UPDATE: I've completed my first backup and it only took *wait for it* 31 minutes!!
I only had 19.42GB used and Time Machine says it was backing up 790.683 items WOW that's a lot, more than I thought I actually had. It does backups every hour, just any new changes.

Speakeres are setup

I now have a set of Logitech X - 530 Speaker's setup around my iMac:XD and they are loud!!


A friend of mine got the latest set of these so gave me his speakers. You should see the Sub on that set, it's freakin HUGE!! and the sound is even loader.

He's handing me his old Sony 26" TV too so I be able to put that into my bedroom. He got a 26" LG LCD Tv and has hooked it up to his pc and it's an awesome setup.

Rugby Super 14

I went to the last four Blue's games at Eden park with my brother Ben and I loved the whole outing. The amphispere at the rugby was awesome and the games were tense too. The Blue's actually won 3 of those games and some of them had nail bitting endings which made it more exciting!! The disabled area in the ASB Stadium is great, security was great too and the food stalls, bar and cafe were all accessible.

Blues vs Stormers 17-14
Blues vs Bulls 23-21
Blues vs Brumbies 11-16
Blues vs Hurricanes 19-17

Anna

Anna my sister came up to stay with Mum and Dad for a month in March/April which was nice. Anna and I had a girls day out at the mall spending money hehe and some window shopping. We then watched some dvd's back at my place and had some drinks:XD Other days we all went out as a family. Mum, Anna, Ange and I went to the Food and Wine show at the Viaduct too and that was a good day.

It was nice to have Anna here with us and I miss her, as she is back home.

Show Your Ability Show 2008

I went to the Show Your Ability road show today and it was pretty good. I got to see some back cushions that i personally am interested in, which were the Motion Concepts backs.

Invacare unfortunately didn't have a TDX SR on demo as it's arriving tomorrow, so hopefully the TDX SR will be at the other shows.

Invacare did have a 'pimped up' TDX SP though and WOW!!! Rims painted gold, castor forks painted gold, lights, radio and speakers, PSP, GP, seat decoration, 8 Que ball on top of joystick controller etc.. Below are some photos

TDX SP Pimped up with lights, radio, PSP, GP (global positioning) etc

Wheelchair Sports Started Up

Electric wheelchair sports started up again today and it was fun. I played hockey today and it went well, no idea who won.

I then went food shopping after

The Black Sticks did it, they are going to Beijing!!!

The Black Sticks did it, they are going to Beijing!!!

Black Sticks captain Ryan Archibald with the cup

Black Sticks captain Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrows after the golden goal

New Zealand celebrate victory

Olympic hockey tournament participants New Zealand

The game was so tense to watch, we thought Argentina had taken it but in the last few seconds the Black Sticks scored the golden goal, what a goal that was too. It was 1-0 to Argentina at half time, then the game ended in a draw 2-2. NZ took the win with 3-2.

World Hockey Olympic Qualifier - NZ vs France

YAY New Zealand beat France 2-0 which means New Zealand are in the final playing against Argentina tomorrow. Ireland will be playing against France.

World Hockey Olympic Qualifier

I went to the World Hockey Olympic Qualifier the other day to watch my first live hockey game and it was awesome!!! Since I play the game it made it easier to follow.
I sat above the teams area and had a clear view of the whole grounds.
The 2 games I watched were New Zealand vs Argentina which we lost 0-2. The other game was Ireland vs USA and Ireland kicked USA butt's heheh 7-0 Argentina, Ireland and New Zealand are the top teams but Argentina is the better team as I have heard. Argentina had great defence along with great attack when playing against NZ.

NZ didn't play too good that day I thought, compared to the game I watched 2 day's before. Every time the NZ team tried to pass, Argentina players were all over the NZ player's. But we did score then Argentina protested about our goal bad's sportmans ship.
My Auntie and Uncle are here from Ireland to watch the hockey and of course are wanting Ireland to win. So it's been kinda funny trying to see what teams I want to loose to keep NZ top and get into the finals. NZ did beat Ireland 2-1 :D

Web site click me

I'm Back!!!

Woah what a week or so I've had. I found out that the motherboard had blown and would have to replaced along with a new CPU and DDR RAM (my pc is 4yrs old). I decided not to get it fixed. I had to wait a week before I could get a new computer (money reasons). I had been researching in getting a new computer since August 2007 and was debating over a windows pc or a Apple iMac.

I am now sitting in front of my beautiful iMac:) It's such a nice computer and will take me a little while to get used too.

.::Isn't she just beautiful::.

iMac, 20-inch, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Apple Mighty Mouse
SuperDrive 8x (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
Apple Keyboard + Mac OS X
Apple USB Modem
320GB Serial ATA Drive

iWork 08 (pages=word, numbers=spreadsheet, keynote=powerpoint)
AppleCare Protection Plan (wsrrenty)

I did manage to order it all under Educational as Dad works at a Uni :XD
I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today from Sydney, Australia. That's fast delivery!!!

One thing that I find I will have to get used to is: the menu bar for each program. If I'm using a browser the menu bar is up the top next to the Apple icon, if I click on another program like yahoo messenger or Adium or whatever, the menu bar is still at the top but changes per program you click on. It's the same for the Mail program and here I was trying to find the mail menu bar, when I realised it was at the top.

Good to be back online again :XD

Computer Is Slowly Turning On Me

My computer is really failing on me now gahhh I didn't think I would get it going again.

Last night I got home and turned the computer on and nothing happened so tried again and still nothing. Now my heart was starting to beat a little faster getting worried as I had not backed up my stuff. I turned the power off at the wall, my brother checked all connections and plugs and all ok, swtiched power on again. I turned the pc on, it's green light came on then it died. It did this quite a lot, it just never started. Later I tried again and finally the pc started up, green light on, diskdrive light flashes (normal) and HD was running. Nothing was on the monitor, monitor had power to it so nothing wrong there. Modem, USB Hub lights were not all on either so I knew the HD wasn't loading. I left it going for 20mins then turned it off. I tried turning it on again and it didn't start up at all again, the green HD light came on but it quickly turned off.

Today I tired turning it on again and all I got was a quick start, green light, then it went off. Did the power wall trick again and nothing. I guess it's not the Power Supply, which I thought it might be, but it can't be that since the HD is starting up every so often. It could be the HD struggling to start up, as this is failing I've been told, but again I don't know. I turned the pc on again and this time I got a blue HP logo on the screen and then nothing else so later turned it off.

Well I don't know what happened, but it was good, the computer started up straight away, got the HP screen then the windows loading screen..this looked promising. I let it carry on and it finally loaded up and here I am.

I'm backing up stuff as I type this and I'm not going to turn the freakin thing off!! I don't know what's wrong, but will give my tech shop friend a ring and see if she can idenifiy the problem. It's time to get my new computer!!

It's been awhile but I'm back for 2008

It's been awhile since I last blogged, infact 2007 flew by so no news for that year.

Racing legend Brock killed in car crash

Nine-times Bathurst 1000 winner and Australian motor racing legend Peter Brock has been killed while competing in the Targa West Tarmac Rally in Western Australia.

Brock was competing on the second day of the Targa West Rally when his Daytona Coupe hit a tree on a country road near the small community of Gidgegannup, about 40 kilometres east of Perth.

Brock, 61, was killed and his co-driver Mick Hone was injured. Hone was later taken to Swan Districts Hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition. The Confederation of Australian Motorsport said the crash happened at about midday local time. No other cars are believed to have been involved. The road had been closed to traffic and spectators and road rules had been suspended for the race.

WA police spokesman Graham Clifford said the Major Crash Unit from Perth was at the scene and was investigating the accident. "We believe that a vehicle is approaching a sweeping bend and for whatever reason lost control, left the road and collided with a tree," he said. He said it was unclear how fast the car was travelling when it crashed into the tree. "At the time it was a speed section, so it would have been travelling fairly quickly at that location," he said.

It was the first time Brock had competed in the rally. Event organisers will hold a meeting tonight to decide whether the race will continue.

Prime Minister John Howard said Peter would be remembered as a legend. "I was shocked and saddened to hear of Peter Brock's death," Mr Howard said.

"The removal of Brockie takes away a legend of motor racing in Australia."

'Peter Perfect'

Known as 'Peter Perfect' and the 'King of the Mountain', Brock won the Bathurst 1000 nine times in the 1970s and 80s.

In 1969 the Holden Dealer Team gave Brock his first break to drive at the Bathurst 1000 - he placed third.

He became the team's lead driver and won his first Bathurst 1000 in 1972, going on to win the 1979 race by a record six laps.

In 1980 he became the first driver to win the trifecta of Bathurst, Sandown and the Australian Touring Car title in the same year.

Brock's Bathurst reign was marked by a long-running rivalry with Ford driver Allan Moffat, and the pair were so intensely competitive that they never flew on the same airline together.

In 1997, Brock retired from full-time V8 Supercars racing and launched the Peter Brock Foundation, which provides support to a wide range of community programs. But returned to Bathurst to win the 24-hour race in 2003.

Peter Geoffrey Brock

26 February, 1945 - 8 September, 2006

Taken from here and here

~*Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Dies*~

'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin has been killed in a stingray attack near Cairns on Australia's far north coast today - Monday September 4th, 2006.

Irwin had been filming a segment for his daughter Bindi's upcoming television series. Irwin was in the area filming his own documentary, to be called Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for his daughter's television program.

"It is understood he was killed by a stingray barb that went through his chest," and put a whole into his heart.

Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later.

Stingray attacks are extremely rare. There have only been two similar deaths reported in Australia.

Irwin is famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter," which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel.

He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the Australia Zoo as a tourist attraction.

Prime Minister John Howard, among many other politicians, expressed his "shock and distress" at the death, saying that "Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son.

” Steve Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in Cairns, where stunned family and friends were gathering on Monday night. His wife Terri was informed of her husband's death while on a walking tour in Tasmania, and returned to the Sunshine Coast with their two children Bindi and Robert.

"He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, "Crocs Rule!"


Steve Irwin
1962 - 2006