Sunday night was dread night for me.
I had run out of my anti nausea medication and was dreading going in for my last week of full on Chemo. 5 more days of injections and drugs and feeling unwell, followed by the last 2 weeks on 1 day a piece.
I had seen my oncologist on Thursday who was impressed with my general health and gave me some stirring words to last out the next 3 weeks. He booked me in for follow up CT and Blood and reminded me that only 20% of people in my position need to have a follow up operation (to remove the two locations of spread). So it is looking good for monitoring instead of surgery and therefore being closer to the whole things being over.
Mentally however I was still dreading the last leg. I was very ill during the 2nd cycle - I actually threw up more than once and while I worked and got around I felt ill a lot of the time and it is taxing to be strong for family, work, kids, life etc. Hell even just speaking to people at the shop is struggle when you think you might throw up at any moment.
I went and checked out the local music store, to source that last part for the guitar build that has taken forever!!! I found them but need to order and find the $70. It was hard just speaking to them and being civil. I don't want to explain why I look like I'm about to throw up to a sales assistant...
Also the work gossip mill is not working... or at least it didn't for one person. He joked about my new hair style, to which I said "it will it will grow back!" His reply "I hope it's not because of chemo...". "Well actually it is..." I felt bad as I could see he was shocked and he apologized straight away. I wasn't offended he truly did not know, I felt sorry because I thought I had got the word out there so that people wouldn't feel bad and could talk to me honestly or ignore it if they couldn't.
I realise that even making it public has some issues, but I still stand by being out there and open about it. It's not something to be ashamed of or even touchy about. There are plenty of people who are touched by Cancer... and like mental illness it should be talked about more and understood more to people can survive this horrid disease.
So back to the start of this final leg.
I posted something about struggling to go back, about the mental strength it takes to go the clinic and take the drugs and my friend Darren called me the strongest person he knows. I don't see myself that way, I just see that I do what has to be done - no matter the pain no matter the costs. I WILL DO IT. It was thinking this and trying to pull a witty reply that I understand that my doing, and keeping on doing is showing strength. So Darren - I turned up on Monday, I took a deep breath and went in head held high, stomach in, shoulders back ready to rock!
Monday wasn't too bad, it was a late slow start but Anji stayed with me and Mumpa took on the kid wrangling for us... which I am sure she enjoyed! I know Kate and Tara love having her here helping us!
But I felt good... I was ill and had my script filled so I could take my pills and sleep...
Today was similar - even quicker than Monday which was good... I went for a walk after my session and felt mostly OK. we have Pizza for dinner tonight and I have managed to write this blog... so while there are still 3 days to this week (and more to come) I am feeling strong once again and happy that I am able to handle this.
What makes it a little tainted is that our friend Graham Swam lost his fight to Leukemia yesterday. I will still be fighting on in your name Graham - you had a bad hand dealt and fought all you could, I am one of the luckier ones. Good night Graham.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Cycle one down and hair loss
So that's it. The first cycle of three weeks is over, and only another two to go!
I have mixed feelings about the end of the first third. On hand I am down three weeks and heading toward the finish line, next week is a full week (due to public holiday on Monday I only have four days with a slight increase in dose...) and after that I only will have one more full week to go. On the other hand I know it will start to get worse and my bounce back will take longer if at all between the sessions.
After Thursday I was quiet ill, I went to bed with a bucket as I wasn't sure I would not be sick. That was the worst I have felt the whole time. I don't want to feel that way again but I know I will. Knowing you are going to be sick and still going in for treatment is hard thing. You have to be mentally prepared for the situation and the aftermath. Next week will be hard, but I will get through it and I will do it. I just have to summon up the will and energy.
My parents are coming down this weekend to help out at home and for that I am very thankful. With them here I won't have to think about Anji and all the work she shoulders while I am otherwise engaged (i.e. asleep or at least lying down so I am not sick). They will help out with the girls and also some of the normal household stuff like washing up and cooking etc.
All in all it is like a band aid - rip that sucker off and the pain is only fleeting. Have the treatment feel ill for a few weeks and then it is all over. At least that is the plan!
As for the treatment - well if hair loss means that it is working, then it is working well.
This week saw drifts of hair start to fall out and this morning it reached a point where I looked like a mangy dog.
I have mixed feelings about the end of the first third. On hand I am down three weeks and heading toward the finish line, next week is a full week (due to public holiday on Monday I only have four days with a slight increase in dose...) and after that I only will have one more full week to go. On the other hand I know it will start to get worse and my bounce back will take longer if at all between the sessions.
After Thursday I was quiet ill, I went to bed with a bucket as I wasn't sure I would not be sick. That was the worst I have felt the whole time. I don't want to feel that way again but I know I will. Knowing you are going to be sick and still going in for treatment is hard thing. You have to be mentally prepared for the situation and the aftermath. Next week will be hard, but I will get through it and I will do it. I just have to summon up the will and energy.
My parents are coming down this weekend to help out at home and for that I am very thankful. With them here I won't have to think about Anji and all the work she shoulders while I am otherwise engaged (i.e. asleep or at least lying down so I am not sick). They will help out with the girls and also some of the normal household stuff like washing up and cooking etc.
All in all it is like a band aid - rip that sucker off and the pain is only fleeting. Have the treatment feel ill for a few weeks and then it is all over. At least that is the plan!
As for the treatment - well if hair loss means that it is working, then it is working well.
This week saw drifts of hair start to fall out and this morning it reached a point where I looked like a mangy dog.
So off it had to go. It was a bit of an endeavour to get it all off. At first I tried the razor and in the ended up with the electric clippers. Anji had to come in and fix me up...
The new streamlined me...
Good news in Anji likes the new look and to be honest it isn't that bad! Maybe a new style for me? 2015 the year I went bald!
This weekend will see our six year Anniversary and shortly we will mark 18 months in Melbourne. A lot to look back on and a lot to look forward to.
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
2 Week Update
Before starting the treatment I had plans that I would write something each day. That proved impossible.
Not only was I too tired and distracted in the hospital when I got home I either did a few hours remote working or fell asleep or spent time with the kids and wife.
Life seems to get in the way and the being tired and constantly feeling queasy even with the anti-nausea drugs I just couldn't be arsed to write a blog. Maybe I should have Vlogged instead...?
In any case here I am the night before my next instalment of treatment. Tomorrow I get the 1 day a week drug Bleomycin, I am getting 6ml in 500ml saline and it takes 3 hours to pump into my system. This stuff is strong and hopefully doing the right job and stopping the Cancer from growing, in essence I hope killing it dead.
So this week has been a lot different than last. I truly thought I would be able to go back to work for the last three days as normal. Boy was I wrong.
The weekend and indeed Friday was a killer last week, I was so tired and wrecked I mostly just slept. In fact Sunday was a perfect example of what I felt like.
It was a nice sunny day, better and one of the few we could see coming up. So we jumped at the chance and headed out to the park with the girls. Anji did ask if I wanted to just stay home but I thought "no" I wanted to spend the morning with the girls and enjoy being out in the sun and watching them play etc. Indeed it was nice.
I pushed swings and helped Tara navigate some of the obstacles, Kate climbed the rock wall with me standing behind her - it was nice. That lasted about 30 minutes before my head and tummy started to turn on me. I was weak and queasy again and sat in the shade until Anji could gather the girls and went home with promises of lunch and juice. I went to bed and slept until late afternoon.
I really can push myself anymore.
This week was the same.
Monday: Anji drove me to work after dropping Kate at day care and picked me up on her way to getting her in the afternoon. 5 hours at work
Tuesday: I took the train to work and lasted until around 3pm when a colleague drove me home.
Wednesday: Anji drove me to work after dropping Kate off, did some shopping while I had a meeting and collected me around 12.30pm - I did work form home in the afternoon after a rest.
Tomorrow is treatment day and Anji will drop Tara at her day care, me at hospital while she and Kate spends 3 hours at Doncaster Westfield getting some more school supplies and maybe some sushi for lunch.
I think I will work from home on Friday and avoid the travel (which makes me feel terrible) if I can cope.
However, there have been some positives this week.
I have eaten more and worked out that eating really does help my queasiness. In fact Monday I had hot chips from the Fish and Chip shop across from work. I ate them over an hour and the salty simple food just helped me cope so much better. It was a pity when they finally run out.
Tuesday night I cooked! Sausages, mash potato and steamed peas (from the garden) and broccoli. It wasn't much but I felt better about being able to do something and I ate a mid sized portion. Maybe my appetite was coming back.
Tonight I have even been reading through recipe books to find a perfect burger as I want to make us burgers over the weekend. At this stage I am leaning towards Jamie Oliver's Botham Burger, but that might be more then I should or could have... it might end up being a simple plain burger (cheese for the girls, and Vegan for Anji) with me having as much as I can handle... But to me thinking about food like that is a good sign.
Anyone who knows me knows I love to cook and cook inspirationally. I like to invent and use recipes as a guide in the lose sense... something to fall back on but not necessarily follow to the letter.
The other thing I want to note about this week is the work and efforts that Anji has put in and continues to put in. I do as much as I can but mostly that isn't much. I fall asleep easily and I think it was Monday night I slept from 6pm to 6am... Anji has taken up the jobs and tasks with out a beat. I love her and thank for for that.
I know that this is a fight she can't take off me, but by taking the load of what she can she has helped me more that I can say. Thank you Honey!
My beautiful girls how make me smile and be happy just by being there. Daddy will be well again soon!
I will continue to do what I can and be a body when I need to be and such, but I can't promise to always be able to do all I should while this is going on. If there is one thing this last week and half and taught me - I need to listen to my body and just give it what it needs. If that's hot chips, or sleep, water or peace and quiet.
Thank you also to all those who have checked in on me. To Jessica who has written an inspirational true story. Frank for listening, Les and Colin for the links to music. Marco and Tracy for the good vibes. Tash for her magic and wisdom. The Mothers Group for their support to Anji, and all the friends for messages and hopeful comments, offers and assistance. Nery for his real life experience, Elye for falling over and admitting that I was right!
To my work colleagues and Manager who have ferried me back from hospital when I needed it and have been generous to give me the time I need to heal and also the opportunity to get my head out of the sickness and back to work when I needed to.
Finally to our families who have supported us through this whole time and are coming down again soon to lend a hand and offer more support. To Cookie Dogs for the cuddles and snuggles.
I know I have missed people and I am sorry I hope that I managed to thank you in a comment or private message back.
Not only was I too tired and distracted in the hospital when I got home I either did a few hours remote working or fell asleep or spent time with the kids and wife.
Life seems to get in the way and the being tired and constantly feeling queasy even with the anti-nausea drugs I just couldn't be arsed to write a blog. Maybe I should have Vlogged instead...?
In any case here I am the night before my next instalment of treatment. Tomorrow I get the 1 day a week drug Bleomycin, I am getting 6ml in 500ml saline and it takes 3 hours to pump into my system. This stuff is strong and hopefully doing the right job and stopping the Cancer from growing, in essence I hope killing it dead.
So this week has been a lot different than last. I truly thought I would be able to go back to work for the last three days as normal. Boy was I wrong.
The weekend and indeed Friday was a killer last week, I was so tired and wrecked I mostly just slept. In fact Sunday was a perfect example of what I felt like.
It was a nice sunny day, better and one of the few we could see coming up. So we jumped at the chance and headed out to the park with the girls. Anji did ask if I wanted to just stay home but I thought "no" I wanted to spend the morning with the girls and enjoy being out in the sun and watching them play etc. Indeed it was nice.
I pushed swings and helped Tara navigate some of the obstacles, Kate climbed the rock wall with me standing behind her - it was nice. That lasted about 30 minutes before my head and tummy started to turn on me. I was weak and queasy again and sat in the shade until Anji could gather the girls and went home with promises of lunch and juice. I went to bed and slept until late afternoon.
I really can push myself anymore.
This week was the same.
Monday: Anji drove me to work after dropping Kate at day care and picked me up on her way to getting her in the afternoon. 5 hours at work
Tuesday: I took the train to work and lasted until around 3pm when a colleague drove me home.
Wednesday: Anji drove me to work after dropping Kate off, did some shopping while I had a meeting and collected me around 12.30pm - I did work form home in the afternoon after a rest.
Tomorrow is treatment day and Anji will drop Tara at her day care, me at hospital while she and Kate spends 3 hours at Doncaster Westfield getting some more school supplies and maybe some sushi for lunch.
I think I will work from home on Friday and avoid the travel (which makes me feel terrible) if I can cope.
However, there have been some positives this week.
I have eaten more and worked out that eating really does help my queasiness. In fact Monday I had hot chips from the Fish and Chip shop across from work. I ate them over an hour and the salty simple food just helped me cope so much better. It was a pity when they finally run out.
Tuesday night I cooked! Sausages, mash potato and steamed peas (from the garden) and broccoli. It wasn't much but I felt better about being able to do something and I ate a mid sized portion. Maybe my appetite was coming back.
Tonight I have even been reading through recipe books to find a perfect burger as I want to make us burgers over the weekend. At this stage I am leaning towards Jamie Oliver's Botham Burger, but that might be more then I should or could have... it might end up being a simple plain burger (cheese for the girls, and Vegan for Anji) with me having as much as I can handle... But to me thinking about food like that is a good sign.
Anyone who knows me knows I love to cook and cook inspirationally. I like to invent and use recipes as a guide in the lose sense... something to fall back on but not necessarily follow to the letter.
The other thing I want to note about this week is the work and efforts that Anji has put in and continues to put in. I do as much as I can but mostly that isn't much. I fall asleep easily and I think it was Monday night I slept from 6pm to 6am... Anji has taken up the jobs and tasks with out a beat. I love her and thank for for that.
I know that this is a fight she can't take off me, but by taking the load of what she can she has helped me more that I can say. Thank you Honey!
My beautiful girls how make me smile and be happy just by being there. Daddy will be well again soon!
I will continue to do what I can and be a body when I need to be and such, but I can't promise to always be able to do all I should while this is going on. If there is one thing this last week and half and taught me - I need to listen to my body and just give it what it needs. If that's hot chips, or sleep, water or peace and quiet.
Thank you also to all those who have checked in on me. To Jessica who has written an inspirational true story. Frank for listening, Les and Colin for the links to music. Marco and Tracy for the good vibes. Tash for her magic and wisdom. The Mothers Group for their support to Anji, and all the friends for messages and hopeful comments, offers and assistance. Nery for his real life experience, Elye for falling over and admitting that I was right!
To my work colleagues and Manager who have ferried me back from hospital when I needed it and have been generous to give me the time I need to heal and also the opportunity to get my head out of the sickness and back to work when I needed to.
Finally to our families who have supported us through this whole time and are coming down again soon to lend a hand and offer more support. To Cookie Dogs for the cuddles and snuggles.
I know I have missed people and I am sorry I hope that I managed to thank you in a comment or private message back.
 |
| I still have hair! |
Friday, 9 January 2015
Day two, three and four... a quick catch-up blog
Day two.
Tuesday went uneventfully in most ways. No sign of side effects and the nurse at the end of the last lot of drugs accidentally took the cannula out. Ops! I still have three days left.
Oh well we laughed about it and I said at least I will be able to have a real shower tomorrow morning!
I went home, thanks to a lift from Nic at work. Work have kindly set up a roster to get me from hospital to home each day for the week - so kind and thoughtful of my Manager and the team to do that. It takes a big load off my mind and lets Anji get on with the kids and house stuff without having to drop everything to get me in the afternoon.
After a restful afternoon I even went to the pool for a bit and did a few very easy very light laps - mostly 25 walk 50 breast 25 walk. Which kept me moving and released some of the energy I had built up sitting around for hours on end.
 |
| The ward is brand new and very well equipped. |
 |
| Windows... |
Day three.
On the way in in the morning I started to feel unwell. The bounces and movements in the car made my stomach turn a little and I felt queasy. I knew this would be coming however it still was not nice.
 |
| Crossing the days off |
The nurse gave me some drugs to help we feel better but I really didn't feel like eating much or drinking. I made myself eat some nuts and have some water during the day but that was about the most I could handle.
 |
| The main doors |
Coming home it was all I could do to have some light miso soup and fall asleep on the lounge - with Cookie dog for company. I remember Anji starting or at least watching Downton Abbey Christmas Special… I wonder if she got through it all?
Soon after Tara awoke from her nap Anji went and collected Kate from daycare and I drifted off again, after some cuddles and lots of waving goodbye and kisses from Tara. Finally I was able to get up when they returned and got the kids ready for bath, while Anji did dinner. She bathed them as I can’t get my arm wet, I did dress Tara and play with her while dinner for being finalised. Thanks Anji!
It was delicious mini quiches made with our eggs, corn and some bought asparagus and yummy pastry. The kids and adults loved them and devoured them… yum!
Day 4.
Today, yes I was amiss in writing for the last two days but I couldn't even see clearly to do much else then lie at the hospital.
I felt more unwell this morning, not sure if that was down to the storm last night which kept me awake or the side effects and drugs reacting… Either way I was not myself this morning and have been out of sorts until just a few minutes ago.
I have been told to have some medicine to help me go number 2… Apparently the anti-nausea drugs can clog you up - hopefully I will get some movement down there shortly. Enough of that delightful subject…
I had the three drugs today, which meant that I need to be here much longer than the other days. First call was 9 - 4, however as I managed to get the first two lots through quickly it looks like I will be leaving about 3pm… yay an early mark.
The nursing stuff are really great at the hospital, all of them are fun, hard working and dedicated to looking after us. There are quite a few people getting treatment for various cancers and perhaps some other ailments. I have noticed that I am one of the only ones here every day. Most it seems are on weekly or fortnightly visits and I asked today if I was on a faster or higher stream
It seems that yes for this cancer the way to hit it is hard fast and powerfully. One nurse said she felt for guys like me who are getting big doses quickly. “It’s tough” she said, “But it’s over quickly and you can move on”. I agreed and said the quicker the better! Short pain for long term gain.
I will try to get to these blogs more regularly but I can’t promise I will always feel OK to write. When I do I will be able to jump on and send these out into the air waves.
Thanks again for reading and the support I get through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (and of course here!)
Onwards and upwards!
Monday, 5 January 2015
C-Day has arrived
So today was the first day of Chemotherapy. I wasn't sure what to expect the one thing I was certain of was that it would be a lot of waiting and sitting and learning.
Anji stayed with me for a while until I was settled and getting my first lot of fluid pumped into me - 1 litre of saline.
She left to get back to the kids (who were staying at home with grandparentals)
The reason I needed to have to much fluid (and there will be more to come) was that one of the drugs Cisplatin can cause damage to kidneys, the fluid helps to get them over working so that the drug is passed through quickly.
I also had some anti-nausea drugs which are supposed to last around three days - and tonight I've got to say I don't feel too bad... then again I think that the longer I am on the treatment the worse I will feel. But today is a good day and I ate dinner!!!
The Cisplatin was delivered with at least another litre and some extra saline to clean the line, the Etoposide had a little less liquid but I'm sure that added to the amount flushed I ended up with 3 litres of liquid running through my system.
I also had a cup of tea and some juice as my mouth still felt dry... who'd have thought!
I did a video of the drip on high speed getting the initial saline in... soothing in a strange way!
The ward, like the rest of the oncology unit is brand new and part of the redeveloped Box Hill Hospital and I have to say it is wonderful to be treated in something so new, clean and with all that is needed. I was there for around 4 and a half hours in my section the 6 chairs (managed by two very good nurses) turned over at least twice and in at least 2 cases 3 times (mine obviously didn't!). A lot of people were there on long term monthly chemo getting just a single injection or drip for 30 mins. I felt lucky that my cancer is treatable in a very simple way. Sure it will be a hell of a ride for the next 9 weeks but all going well that will be it. Done and dusted...
Kate is worried about my sore arm and cut hair, we have told her I need medicine to get better, and it will take some time but at the end I will be OK so she doesn't have to worry. Tonight going to bed she said "You don't look like my Daddy anymore". I replied that I am still here the bandage, the hair are just like clothes they don't make me, me. I gave her a cuddle and tickle telling her that only Daddy knows how to make her laugh.
I'm concerned how she will react when I do lose hair but at least she has seen me with less hair and we will keep talking about it.
All in all today was an eye opener, I learnt the process and what to expect and how to deal... I have time to work and even got a few hundred words down today on my never ending novel. Tomorrow I have some work reports to read and maybe I will watch another IT Crowd...
Tonight I feel a little light headed and foggy (sorry if the blog reads strange) I am tired and I guess I will go to bed early.
Lastly I want to thank everyone for your comments, private messages, likes and love. I have to say I spent the most time today in that chair answering you all and reading the messages and words of inspiration. To know that so many people are out there supporting me from family, old friends and new and the crew at work.
I love youse all!
 |
| Waiting to commence... pre jacked |
She left to get back to the kids (who were staying at home with grandparentals)
 |
| Preparing for her first day at school... Made my day to have this sent to me... |
I also had some anti-nausea drugs which are supposed to last around three days - and tonight I've got to say I don't feel too bad... then again I think that the longer I am on the treatment the worse I will feel. But today is a good day and I ate dinner!!!
 |
| I hope this lasts the week... so much easier than getting new ones each day |
I also had a cup of tea and some juice as my mouth still felt dry... who'd have thought!
I did a video of the drip on high speed getting the initial saline in... soothing in a strange way!
The ward, like the rest of the oncology unit is brand new and part of the redeveloped Box Hill Hospital and I have to say it is wonderful to be treated in something so new, clean and with all that is needed. I was there for around 4 and a half hours in my section the 6 chairs (managed by two very good nurses) turned over at least twice and in at least 2 cases 3 times (mine obviously didn't!). A lot of people were there on long term monthly chemo getting just a single injection or drip for 30 mins. I felt lucky that my cancer is treatable in a very simple way. Sure it will be a hell of a ride for the next 9 weeks but all going well that will be it. Done and dusted...
Kate is worried about my sore arm and cut hair, we have told her I need medicine to get better, and it will take some time but at the end I will be OK so she doesn't have to worry. Tonight going to bed she said "You don't look like my Daddy anymore". I replied that I am still here the bandage, the hair are just like clothes they don't make me, me. I gave her a cuddle and tickle telling her that only Daddy knows how to make her laugh.
I'm concerned how she will react when I do lose hair but at least she has seen me with less hair and we will keep talking about it.
All in all today was an eye opener, I learnt the process and what to expect and how to deal... I have time to work and even got a few hundred words down today on my never ending novel. Tomorrow I have some work reports to read and maybe I will watch another IT Crowd...
Tonight I feel a little light headed and foggy (sorry if the blog reads strange) I am tired and I guess I will go to bed early.
Lastly I want to thank everyone for your comments, private messages, likes and love. I have to say I spent the most time today in that chair answering you all and reading the messages and words of inspiration. To know that so many people are out there supporting me from family, old friends and new and the crew at work.
I love youse all!
Sunday, 4 January 2015
C-Day Minus One
So tomorrow I begin my chemotherapy to rid my body of the cancer.
Yesterday I shaved my hair in preparation - I didn't want to have drifts of hair falling out. It has in some ways made all this more real. I guess up to this point it has been something happening 'next year' something not imminent not in my immediate future. Tomorrow the future arrives.
This week has been very enjoyable. After the trip back to NSW, and seeing all out family and friends which was awesome, we were treated to a week child-free thanks to my in-laws who took the girls for the New Year's week.
Anji and I got to eat out and enjoy NYE in the City, we slept-in, watched movies, ate spicy dinners and didn't watch ABC2 (until after 7pm) the whole week... In fact I think the TV was hardly on at all expect to watch movies and of course Dance Moms (Anji's vice).
I also got to play some video games on my Computer during the day!!!
It is quite though, the chickens are pecking around the garden near me and the horses sometime whinny, the birds sign and someone is gardening next door. It's missing that constant noise of children, games being invented, or toys crashing and the asking for food, drink, do this or do that and the fall back question "what are you doing?" often followed by "why?".
I miss it and I love it's absence...
I have used this time, this brief moment before the unknown to relax, enjoy life and prepare for whatever may come next.
Yesterday I shaved my hair in preparation - I didn't want to have drifts of hair falling out. It has in some ways made all this more real. I guess up to this point it has been something happening 'next year' something not imminent not in my immediate future. Tomorrow the future arrives.
This week has been very enjoyable. After the trip back to NSW, and seeing all out family and friends which was awesome, we were treated to a week child-free thanks to my in-laws who took the girls for the New Year's week.
Anji and I got to eat out and enjoy NYE in the City, we slept-in, watched movies, ate spicy dinners and didn't watch ABC2 (until after 7pm) the whole week... In fact I think the TV was hardly on at all expect to watch movies and of course Dance Moms (Anji's vice).
I also got to play some video games on my Computer during the day!!!
It is quite though, the chickens are pecking around the garden near me and the horses sometime whinny, the birds sign and someone is gardening next door. It's missing that constant noise of children, games being invented, or toys crashing and the asking for food, drink, do this or do that and the fall back question "what are you doing?" often followed by "why?".
I miss it and I love it's absence...
I have used this time, this brief moment before the unknown to relax, enjoy life and prepare for whatever may come next.
 |
| -1 Day... |
Sunday, 21 December 2014
Writing, Place, Bravery and other things - Marking 2014
I have not written anything in this blog for basically a year.
I have however, written in other places. LinkedIn for work and industry related things - including some posted on the Australian Small Business Commissioners site and even a post on www.Lifehacker.com.au. The wife started a blog about our move to a small rural acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne HillShadowHouse, to which I have contributed.
Of course I write a lot for my job and have won a few grants and written annual reports and other work related stuff which has been good. I even send an abstract to speak at s conference next year (yet to know if I will be accepted)
So in many ways 2014 was the year I wrote - but it wasn't the year I wrote anything fictional - it wasn't the year I wrote "my one great thing".
I'm not sad about that, it just wasn't the right time to do that or maybe I wasn't in the right place.
I did however read a staggering (for me and my life) 37 books this year.
2014 was the year we settled more into Melbourne.
We found a place we truly feel more at home, it's still rented but in a long term way and has some much to it that we can do more with - the landlords lets us paint interior walls and put up pictures and it had built in book shelves!!!! (not enough but enough to unpack the books... having them out means so much to me and wife). See HillShadowHouse blog for more on that aspect.
Our friendships grew and the network was able to meet up and see each other with us as the connector not us coming or tagging along to other peoples events. That one night meant so much to me - I am and forever will be the host.
2014 I found my stride at work and have a lot on the go and plans afoot to move into and beyond 2015, it's exciting to have plans that will make a difference.
2014 was also the year I found out I had cancer.
It was what I would describe as the most shit day of my life.
I had had a call from wife in the morning, she couldn't find Henry our orange miniature farm dog, breed unknown. A more loyal, kind, honest, strong, protective dog you would struggle to find.
He wouldn't return to calls and was last seen in the back paddock.
Lately he had become more and more deaf, not able to hear us when at a distance.
After checking the back paddocks and not being able to find him, wife had left to take our eldest daughter to preschool thinking he would be back when she returned - and he wasn't.
After hanging up I rang around the local vets to see if he had been dropped off and left our number.
Short time later I got a call from a Council road crew who had found him. He had been hit by a car and was deceased.
The road crew got my address and said they would return him to my wife.
It was with a heavy heart I rang through to prepare her.
I had an appointment with the doctor that afternoon to find out the results of a scan - I managed to move the appointment up so I could leave early and get home to be with family on this saddest of days.
The news I got was bad.
I had cancer and would need to get in to see a specialist as soon as possible. I told the young doctor about the day I had already been having. He nearly cried.
I'm not sure what I said but I left trying to simply get home.
He called me later, he had arranged a booking for Wednesday with the surgeon, he wanted to know if I was alright, I wasn't, I lied.
Fast forward and after the operation to remove my cancerous left testicle I went to see the oncologist to see how things were going. An earlier scan had revealed a shadow they didn't like, the follow-up showed it had grown.
Chemotherapy was the offered solution - I was prepared, I had researched the treatments. I asked questions I arranged a date to start. I got the material, the pamphlets, the advise, I was reassured and told to prepare and relax this was a normal treatment.
I sit here now 3 days from Christmas, with planned treatment to start on 5th January for a total of 9 weeks. It's going to be 3 cycles of 3 weeks.
Week 1 - 5 days
Week 2 - 1 day
Week 3 - 1 day
rinse repeat, repeat...
I have no idea what will happen or how the treatment will affect me. I only know that I will survive, I will beat this by fighting or by letting it pass through me.
In her book "The Art of Asking" Amanda Palmer recalls the story of her mentor Anthony and his battle with cancer. He told her he wasn't going to fight it, he would let it pass through him.
The oncology nurse explained how chemotherapy will work, they will put the cocktail of drugs into my arm intravenously and I would have to wait until all the chemicals have been passed through my system. In other words until I wee'd it all out.
That quote and the explanation from the nurse has given me resolved to fight and let it pass through me. To know when to battle and know when to just let it go - let it out of me, and like Obi Wan Kinobi become one with the force. Not to die, but to live another day and another and another... on and on.
With Christmas we traveled north to visit family and friends, I knew this trip would be a lot of people asking how I am and asking for more explanation of what is happening and what will happen.
What I didn't expect was someone to tell me they respected me for checking, for going to doctor when something was wrong.
Someone told me they thought I was brave and strong to even find out I had cancer.
I found that weird.
It wasn't brave to know you had to do something about something being wrong. My testicle felt strange, it felt heavy, it was not normal, something was wrong.
I have been thinking about this and the only answer I can come up with is that it's because it was testicular cancer, to me it wasn't about the organ that was affected, it was about living and being able to step up and say "there is something wrong and I want it fixed".
Sure there was a thought or two of getting naked and having a doctor touch my bits, but they went quickly with the thought that they were medical professionals, they had probably seen, examined and touched more balls then anyone I was ever likely to meet.
They were professional and certainly put me at ease.
Or was it that I was brave to not only be examined but to also follow through and get the operation, to stand tall and follow up and be on the path I am on.
I've got to say the medical system worked well for me, the choice was simple. To live we need to do this, the medical science tells us that by doing these things we can make sure that you live.
To quote Terminator "Come with me if you want to live"
It wasn't brave, it was the solution to a problem I had. I went with them 'cause I want to live.
What I really wanted was them to say that it was a cyst or something else minor and no worthy of the sleepless nights of worry. I didn't want to hear it was cancer, I didn't want to hear it had spread, I didn't want to hear I needed chemo. I want it to be over.
To hear those words, to hear them say "I never want to see you again, you aren't healed but you are as healthy as the next person" is by doing these things. I do these things because I have to, not because I want to, not because I am brave.
I do it because I have so much to live for.
I have however, written in other places. LinkedIn for work and industry related things - including some posted on the Australian Small Business Commissioners site and even a post on www.Lifehacker.com.au. The wife started a blog about our move to a small rural acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne HillShadowHouse, to which I have contributed.
Of course I write a lot for my job and have won a few grants and written annual reports and other work related stuff which has been good. I even send an abstract to speak at s conference next year (yet to know if I will be accepted)
So in many ways 2014 was the year I wrote - but it wasn't the year I wrote anything fictional - it wasn't the year I wrote "my one great thing".
I'm not sad about that, it just wasn't the right time to do that or maybe I wasn't in the right place.
I did however read a staggering (for me and my life) 37 books this year.
2014 was the year we settled more into Melbourne.
We found a place we truly feel more at home, it's still rented but in a long term way and has some much to it that we can do more with - the landlords lets us paint interior walls and put up pictures and it had built in book shelves!!!! (not enough but enough to unpack the books... having them out means so much to me and wife). See HillShadowHouse blog for more on that aspect.
Our friendships grew and the network was able to meet up and see each other with us as the connector not us coming or tagging along to other peoples events. That one night meant so much to me - I am and forever will be the host.
2014 I found my stride at work and have a lot on the go and plans afoot to move into and beyond 2015, it's exciting to have plans that will make a difference.
2014 was also the year I found out I had cancer.
It was what I would describe as the most shit day of my life.
I had had a call from wife in the morning, she couldn't find Henry our orange miniature farm dog, breed unknown. A more loyal, kind, honest, strong, protective dog you would struggle to find.
He wouldn't return to calls and was last seen in the back paddock.
Lately he had become more and more deaf, not able to hear us when at a distance.
After checking the back paddocks and not being able to find him, wife had left to take our eldest daughter to preschool thinking he would be back when she returned - and he wasn't.
After hanging up I rang around the local vets to see if he had been dropped off and left our number.
Short time later I got a call from a Council road crew who had found him. He had been hit by a car and was deceased.
The road crew got my address and said they would return him to my wife.
It was with a heavy heart I rang through to prepare her.
I had an appointment with the doctor that afternoon to find out the results of a scan - I managed to move the appointment up so I could leave early and get home to be with family on this saddest of days.
The news I got was bad.
I had cancer and would need to get in to see a specialist as soon as possible. I told the young doctor about the day I had already been having. He nearly cried.
I'm not sure what I said but I left trying to simply get home.
He called me later, he had arranged a booking for Wednesday with the surgeon, he wanted to know if I was alright, I wasn't, I lied.
Fast forward and after the operation to remove my cancerous left testicle I went to see the oncologist to see how things were going. An earlier scan had revealed a shadow they didn't like, the follow-up showed it had grown.
Chemotherapy was the offered solution - I was prepared, I had researched the treatments. I asked questions I arranged a date to start. I got the material, the pamphlets, the advise, I was reassured and told to prepare and relax this was a normal treatment.
I sit here now 3 days from Christmas, with planned treatment to start on 5th January for a total of 9 weeks. It's going to be 3 cycles of 3 weeks.
Week 1 - 5 days
Week 2 - 1 day
Week 3 - 1 day
rinse repeat, repeat...
I have no idea what will happen or how the treatment will affect me. I only know that I will survive, I will beat this by fighting or by letting it pass through me.
In her book "The Art of Asking" Amanda Palmer recalls the story of her mentor Anthony and his battle with cancer. He told her he wasn't going to fight it, he would let it pass through him.
The oncology nurse explained how chemotherapy will work, they will put the cocktail of drugs into my arm intravenously and I would have to wait until all the chemicals have been passed through my system. In other words until I wee'd it all out.
That quote and the explanation from the nurse has given me resolved to fight and let it pass through me. To know when to battle and know when to just let it go - let it out of me, and like Obi Wan Kinobi become one with the force. Not to die, but to live another day and another and another... on and on.
 |
| Let it pass through me... |
What I didn't expect was someone to tell me they respected me for checking, for going to doctor when something was wrong.
Someone told me they thought I was brave and strong to even find out I had cancer.
I found that weird.
It wasn't brave to know you had to do something about something being wrong. My testicle felt strange, it felt heavy, it was not normal, something was wrong.
I have been thinking about this and the only answer I can come up with is that it's because it was testicular cancer, to me it wasn't about the organ that was affected, it was about living and being able to step up and say "there is something wrong and I want it fixed".
Sure there was a thought or two of getting naked and having a doctor touch my bits, but they went quickly with the thought that they were medical professionals, they had probably seen, examined and touched more balls then anyone I was ever likely to meet.
They were professional and certainly put me at ease.
Or was it that I was brave to not only be examined but to also follow through and get the operation, to stand tall and follow up and be on the path I am on.
I've got to say the medical system worked well for me, the choice was simple. To live we need to do this, the medical science tells us that by doing these things we can make sure that you live.
To quote Terminator "Come with me if you want to live"
It wasn't brave, it was the solution to a problem I had. I went with them 'cause I want to live.
What I really wanted was them to say that it was a cyst or something else minor and no worthy of the sleepless nights of worry. I didn't want to hear it was cancer, I didn't want to hear it had spread, I didn't want to hear I needed chemo. I want it to be over.
To hear those words, to hear them say "I never want to see you again, you aren't healed but you are as healthy as the next person" is by doing these things. I do these things because I have to, not because I want to, not because I am brave.
I do it because I have so much to live for.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
On writing...
2014 is the year I get something done.
It's the year I get serious about writing this novel that has been in my head for so long.
But how? I hear you all ask me. You work long hours, have two children under 4 and a wife... That's impossible!
Normally I would agree with you 100% - but I have a plan. I'm not kidding myself I doubt I will finish said novel in 2014, just get serious about! To that end I have some tools to help me along.
Before I get into those tools and the methods I will try to use, here is something inspiring that makes me happy and makes me feel like I can actually do this. I need to post this here so that when I get down (and I will) I can look on this and think that I really can make it. I still have time.
Writing tools
These are the things that I will use to turn ideas into words and words into paragraphs and scenes and chapters and such. The basic elements...
And that is Microsoft Word - I use it everyday at work, I understand the way it works and I already own it... what more do I really need? I have seen a number of writer word processor style programs but the truth is I don't need them I don't need the angst of learning something new. I just to be able to write when I have the chance and for it to work and be able to be sent on for proofing or comment from my panel of experts (more on that later)
I am also using Evernote to note down ideas or thoughts as they come to me - I use the iPhone app which is great as my phone is always with me - so I can easily jot something down and have it there on my PC when I get home. I can also add images which is also great for idea generation - if I see something I like something that could be described or used in the story I can take some pictures or link to a website and there my idea is saved for me to use later.
I also use Pinterest to capture images and ideas I find that having a heap of different images around a theme helps me to describe that in my novel. The Metropolis in this story is vast and has many layers and levels, it is more than any physical city we have today and yet I am finding small bite sized chunks of my city in the world. So I have been collecting them on a Pin board - one I can look at easily and grab a few simple snapshots from to help describe a scene or a moment in the story. I will also use this idea for many other aspects of the story as it develops. I liken this to research. You can see my Pin board here if you want to see what I have so far.
Jerry Sienfeld, no I haven't employed Jerry to help me write but I have employed his productivity tool. A calendar. From Lifehacker
I have my own small version of his calendar courteous of McDonalds Ringwood... it's BATMAN!
Each day I do something on my novel I get to mark it off. It might be research, character development or actually banging away at the keyboard, this is the trick to getting it all to work this year. To actually do something on it each day.
Process Mapping. It sounds a little managerial speak (and truth be told that's where I got it from) but for me this technique allows me to 'see' the connections between characters, places, events and mark out the plots and movements. It's nothing new or ground breaking it does however give me something to work from and on.
Panel of Experts will be people I can call on to read through parts of the story, give me feedback and comments on the characters, ideas, grammar and spelling!!! My beautiful wife is a teacher and librarian, we know others similar and my good friend Zles has a degree in creative writing and is hopefully embarking on his writing journey as well this year. So I hope to be able to get these friends to help me find my voice and make sure it is creating what I want. A tale people will want to read and experience.
I have found a wealth of books and tips on writing online and through Amazon and recommendations from other writers. I quite like Eddie Jones "Writing Skills - A Novel Idea: Story Structure Tips for the Break-out Novelist" (very reasonable price on Amazon for the e-book). K M Weiland has some great stuff on her blog and I want to get her book "Outlining Your Novel" as some stage... TOR have many great articles and items and I subscribe to their newsletter...
Books, books and more books. I also need to read this year - to get a better understanding of what makes a good story better, what works and what doesn't (at least for me). I have heard a lot from writers saying they went out to write a story they would read. There is a lot to be said about that. The writers I like have written a number of books and get a hell of a lot of readers, so my tastes can't be that bad. If I can write something that I like then chances are there will be others that like it as well.
There are other tools I will be using, my headphones (at times), music, dedication and support, maybe even this blog will be a tool I can use to test chapters or scenes with you all.
However, mostly I will need confidence that I can do this and that I will achieve what I want.
I turned 38 last Tuesday, I learned this week that John Mahoney (Fraiser - Martin Crane) started acting at 37... I have plenty of time...
It's the year I get serious about writing this novel that has been in my head for so long.
But how? I hear you all ask me. You work long hours, have two children under 4 and a wife... That's impossible!
Normally I would agree with you 100% - but I have a plan. I'm not kidding myself I doubt I will finish said novel in 2014, just get serious about! To that end I have some tools to help me along.
Before I get into those tools and the methods I will try to use, here is something inspiring that makes me happy and makes me feel like I can actually do this. I need to post this here so that when I get down (and I will) I can look on this and think that I really can make it. I still have time.
Writing tools
These are the things that I will use to turn ideas into words and words into paragraphs and scenes and chapters and such. The basic elements...
And that is Microsoft Word - I use it everyday at work, I understand the way it works and I already own it... what more do I really need? I have seen a number of writer word processor style programs but the truth is I don't need them I don't need the angst of learning something new. I just to be able to write when I have the chance and for it to work and be able to be sent on for proofing or comment from my panel of experts (more on that later)
I am also using Evernote to note down ideas or thoughts as they come to me - I use the iPhone app which is great as my phone is always with me - so I can easily jot something down and have it there on my PC when I get home. I can also add images which is also great for idea generation - if I see something I like something that could be described or used in the story I can take some pictures or link to a website and there my idea is saved for me to use later.
I also use Pinterest to capture images and ideas I find that having a heap of different images around a theme helps me to describe that in my novel. The Metropolis in this story is vast and has many layers and levels, it is more than any physical city we have today and yet I am finding small bite sized chunks of my city in the world. So I have been collecting them on a Pin board - one I can look at easily and grab a few simple snapshots from to help describe a scene or a moment in the story. I will also use this idea for many other aspects of the story as it develops. I liken this to research. You can see my Pin board here if you want to see what I have so far.
Jerry Sienfeld, no I haven't employed Jerry to help me write but I have employed his productivity tool. A calendar. From Lifehacker
He revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here's how it works.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.
He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. "After a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain."
"Don't break the chain," he said again for emphasis.
I have my own small version of his calendar courteous of McDonalds Ringwood... it's BATMAN!
Each day I do something on my novel I get to mark it off. It might be research, character development or actually banging away at the keyboard, this is the trick to getting it all to work this year. To actually do something on it each day.
Process Mapping. It sounds a little managerial speak (and truth be told that's where I got it from) but for me this technique allows me to 'see' the connections between characters, places, events and mark out the plots and movements. It's nothing new or ground breaking it does however give me something to work from and on.
Panel of Experts will be people I can call on to read through parts of the story, give me feedback and comments on the characters, ideas, grammar and spelling!!! My beautiful wife is a teacher and librarian, we know others similar and my good friend Zles has a degree in creative writing and is hopefully embarking on his writing journey as well this year. So I hope to be able to get these friends to help me find my voice and make sure it is creating what I want. A tale people will want to read and experience.
I have found a wealth of books and tips on writing online and through Amazon and recommendations from other writers. I quite like Eddie Jones "Writing Skills - A Novel Idea: Story Structure Tips for the Break-out Novelist" (very reasonable price on Amazon for the e-book). K M Weiland has some great stuff on her blog and I want to get her book "Outlining Your Novel" as some stage... TOR have many great articles and items and I subscribe to their newsletter...
Books, books and more books. I also need to read this year - to get a better understanding of what makes a good story better, what works and what doesn't (at least for me). I have heard a lot from writers saying they went out to write a story they would read. There is a lot to be said about that. The writers I like have written a number of books and get a hell of a lot of readers, so my tastes can't be that bad. If I can write something that I like then chances are there will be others that like it as well.
There are other tools I will be using, my headphones (at times), music, dedication and support, maybe even this blog will be a tool I can use to test chapters or scenes with you all.
However, mostly I will need confidence that I can do this and that I will achieve what I want.
I turned 38 last Tuesday, I learned this week that John Mahoney (Fraiser - Martin Crane) started acting at 37... I have plenty of time...
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Another Day in Melbourne
I took a strange journey to get here, where I am now. Not in the physical sense - although it was a day's travel, but in the mental and almost spiritual.
At my previous job I was, in my mind at least, on a path to career progression. I was given a lot of opportunities (ones I felt I earned) and it seemed that things were going well. A good job with a career path - I knew it would not be forever, in my mind I had always known that if I really wanted to reach heights in my industry I would have to at least try a different work environment and were I was that meant moving (relocating). I was surrounded by family and friends, with interests outside of work and a huge network to call on.
Then it happened.
I am not sure if I didn't try hard enough, or if I didn't impress the right people or even if it had nothing to do with me at all, but I missed out on a promotion.
I had been working that position in an "acting" role for nearly 12 months - getting some good results and making positive changes. Even winning an award - which I attribute to the changes I had made.
That really set me back, and with a new baby on the way I had to make a choice about my life and my family.
Now I'm not going to get into the whole debate over who should or should not provide for the family - hell if things were different and I needed to I would stay at home with the kids. However, our situation was that I need to be the one providing at this stage and my wife supports that and I support her. As far as I am concerned we are both working full time - I just get a pay cheque for mine!
So I needed to decide if I was going to stay in the position I had (my substantive role) and wait around for another opportunity with no guarantee or look for something else.
I will admit that I was pissed off - I was angry (and so was my wife) and I did really start looking for alternatives.
An opportunity came up, 800 kms away, in a different state far away from any family or friends, with no support network in a very different (although similar) work environment.
I applied for it. Thinking if nothing more this was a chance to get my resume into order and hopefully practice some interview techniques.
Not only did I get an interview (phone followed up by in person) I landed the job a few short weeks before my second child was born.
The decision to take this job came not from the anger and disappointment I had felt but from several moments of serendipity.
Call it fate or whatever but ever since saying yes and exposing myself and my family to this big upheaval the choice has been vindicated in more ways than I can recount.
Today was filled with such moments.
We had learnt about a kids event at Art Play that was on today, it's a short train ride to the City so off we went, all four of us for a day out.
It was a little rainy as we came into Flinders Street station and we stopped for coffee and some morning tea. Then crossing the road to Federation Square we sat and drank and ate while a street performer (from Circus Oz) did a 30 minute show - brilliant, funny and I even partook with some assistant work holding his unicycle.
We planned one event, a trip to Art Play and instead saw, experienced and took part in so much more.
This day is typical of any day out in Melbourne.
We took a trip to Warrandyte last week (when my parents where visiting) and found not only some great shops, a kids play ground, access to the Yarra River and walks but a community theater group with a play that started that night. With grandparental babysitting we got to go and met some theater people - we plan on joining or at least trying to attend more shows into the future.
I took a big risk, and I won't lie there have been moments that we have regretted it, the fear, the isolation, the unknown has contributed to us doubting our choice. We put ourselves out there and asked the universe to give us a break, a break we felt we earned and one that we worked for (and still do).
A friend once told me, "put our good vibes and you shall have them come back at you" - all I can say is that whatever happens and whatever the future holds this choice this step we took has been for the better and can only get better.
Looking to the future.
At my previous job I was, in my mind at least, on a path to career progression. I was given a lot of opportunities (ones I felt I earned) and it seemed that things were going well. A good job with a career path - I knew it would not be forever, in my mind I had always known that if I really wanted to reach heights in my industry I would have to at least try a different work environment and were I was that meant moving (relocating). I was surrounded by family and friends, with interests outside of work and a huge network to call on.
Then it happened.
I am not sure if I didn't try hard enough, or if I didn't impress the right people or even if it had nothing to do with me at all, but I missed out on a promotion.
I had been working that position in an "acting" role for nearly 12 months - getting some good results and making positive changes. Even winning an award - which I attribute to the changes I had made.
That really set me back, and with a new baby on the way I had to make a choice about my life and my family.
Now I'm not going to get into the whole debate over who should or should not provide for the family - hell if things were different and I needed to I would stay at home with the kids. However, our situation was that I need to be the one providing at this stage and my wife supports that and I support her. As far as I am concerned we are both working full time - I just get a pay cheque for mine!
So I needed to decide if I was going to stay in the position I had (my substantive role) and wait around for another opportunity with no guarantee or look for something else.
I will admit that I was pissed off - I was angry (and so was my wife) and I did really start looking for alternatives.
An opportunity came up, 800 kms away, in a different state far away from any family or friends, with no support network in a very different (although similar) work environment.
I applied for it. Thinking if nothing more this was a chance to get my resume into order and hopefully practice some interview techniques.
Not only did I get an interview (phone followed up by in person) I landed the job a few short weeks before my second child was born.
The decision to take this job came not from the anger and disappointment I had felt but from several moments of serendipity.
Call it fate or whatever but ever since saying yes and exposing myself and my family to this big upheaval the choice has been vindicated in more ways than I can recount.
Today was filled with such moments.
We had learnt about a kids event at Art Play that was on today, it's a short train ride to the City so off we went, all four of us for a day out.
It was a little rainy as we came into Flinders Street station and we stopped for coffee and some morning tea. Then crossing the road to Federation Square we sat and drank and ate while a street performer (from Circus Oz) did a 30 minute show - brilliant, funny and I even partook with some assistant work holding his unicycle.
After the show (we deposited some $'s into his hat because he truly was worth it) we turned to head down to Art Play and walked into the Greek Festival. We also found a Fine Design Market full of wonderful hand and locally made items. Deciding that we had come to see Art Play but wanting to come back, we moved on.
At Art Play my 3 year old played on the equipment while the baby was fed. We met a Chilean family who are over here for 6 years while the husband studies his Masters and Phd (on a scholarship). That put our lives into perspective - our move while a long way was nothing compared to coming to another country with a new language with three children (one born here) and no easy way to get to family.
After all this play and looking at wonderful things we headed off for some lunch and a rest, and it was here that I realised that all we did that morning was within a few hundred meters of Flinders Station - a mere 30 minutes from our front door.We planned one event, a trip to Art Play and instead saw, experienced and took part in so much more.
This day is typical of any day out in Melbourne.
We took a trip to Warrandyte last week (when my parents where visiting) and found not only some great shops, a kids play ground, access to the Yarra River and walks but a community theater group with a play that started that night. With grandparental babysitting we got to go and met some theater people - we plan on joining or at least trying to attend more shows into the future.
I took a big risk, and I won't lie there have been moments that we have regretted it, the fear, the isolation, the unknown has contributed to us doubting our choice. We put ourselves out there and asked the universe to give us a break, a break we felt we earned and one that we worked for (and still do).
A friend once told me, "put our good vibes and you shall have them come back at you" - all I can say is that whatever happens and whatever the future holds this choice this step we took has been for the better and can only get better.
Looking to the future.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Apple TV
Thanks to my good friends and colleagues from my former employer I was given a gift card that allowed me to buy an Apple TV.
Why did I go down this path? To have access to stream (through rent or purchase) TV shows and Movies to my TV. Sure the Xbox 360 can stream movies or files I have on my PC but TV show subscription was not really an option (as far as I could tell).
iTunes and Apple have a heap of stuff at a reasonable price that means I can watch what I want without having to either break the law or my budget.
The device is simple to use... as can be demonstrated by the back (where all the important connections are located - the front only have a small white LED to show it is on)
Why did I go down this path? To have access to stream (through rent or purchase) TV shows and Movies to my TV. Sure the Xbox 360 can stream movies or files I have on my PC but TV show subscription was not really an option (as far as I could tell).
iTunes and Apple have a heap of stuff at a reasonable price that means I can watch what I want without having to either break the law or my budget.
The device is simple to use... as can be demonstrated by the back (where all the important connections are located - the front only have a small white LED to show it is on)
Power, HDMI, USB, Optical and Ethernet (I use WiFi so only have two leads coming out of the device)
The remote is equally simple and built to the high standard you expect from Apple... how the hell they make the remote is beyond me - I cannot see any way to open the damn thing!) - MAGIC!!! DEVILS WORK...
It works great I have been able to stream movies and have subscribed to a couple of TV series...
The thing I got working today was AirPlay... this is brilliant. I watched the new Doctor Who mini episode regarding Paul McGann's Doctor (number 8 for those counting at home) regeneration... Go see it if you have not... Anyway I obviously wanted to see it on the larger screen after seeing the video initially on my iPhone. Easy with AirPlay - I swiped up, hit AirPlay and bang it started to play on my TV...
Same with videos, images, music and more on my iPhone. Truly this is the feature that makes the Apple TV....
And a good thing it have AirPlay.
While the remote is simple it lacks a hell of a lot. I want to search I need to move a cursor around to type single letters - more often I go to my PC and using iTunes search to buy/rent whatever I want. The device is great to play things through BUT not to find them. The menus also seem to be too deep take too long to get to the part that you need to... Not what I expect from Apple.
Apple TV is great but it is not perfect.
For a comparison maybe I should try Roku 3
3.5/5
Monday, 11 November 2013
Getting Fit... one lap at a time
Those that know me or follow me on Twitter have been bombarded by my #swimfit tweets. I have been going to the local indoor pool after the kids are in bed in an effort to lose some weight and ring my general fitness up to speed.
I've been a fan of swimming for a long time - running puts too much pressure on my knees and the gym is just too much for me. I like the quiet and almost trance like sound of the water and my breathing, and when tired you can move into the recreation area and just float.
However I do struggle with breathing and getting my timing right while swimming freestyle - so I usually end up doing more laps breaststroke but in my mind at least I am doing them.
I have taken some swimsperation from instagram and follow a few official and unofficial swim pages. Ones like this...
I'm never going to win a gold medal, I'm not the fastest at the pool nor the thinnest or best looking - but I know I am giving it a go and getting better very time.
In the end that's all we can do - my motto is the only person I need to beat is the one I was last week.
I've been a fan of swimming for a long time - running puts too much pressure on my knees and the gym is just too much for me. I like the quiet and almost trance like sound of the water and my breathing, and when tired you can move into the recreation area and just float.
However I do struggle with breathing and getting my timing right while swimming freestyle - so I usually end up doing more laps breaststroke but in my mind at least I am doing them.
I have taken some swimsperation from instagram and follow a few official and unofficial swim pages. Ones like this...
I'm never going to win a gold medal, I'm not the fastest at the pool nor the thinnest or best looking - but I know I am giving it a go and getting better very time.
In the end that's all we can do - my motto is the only person I need to beat is the one I was last week.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Promotion...
A good friend of mine, Tracy Verdugo) will be publishing her first book next year. It's based on her art classes and the techniques that she uses.
This is her specialty and she has created opportunities all over the world for her art classes - the book is a natural extension of that.
For promotion Tracy has used Social Media to it's full power - she is on her various pages on Facebook (her personal page has reached capacity at 5,000 friends and her business page is at 2,500). She is real, approachable and connects with all her friends and fans - from this she has been able to run her classes all over Australia and USA.
She has now started her campaign for her book - with preorders open (Fishpond for Australian shoppers or Amazon) already she has been able to create a buzz from her fans and gain sales.
This got me thinking about how to best promote something in this new world - this smaller world within the internet and how individuals have been able to create niches and opportunity.
I work with marketing and media however I have always been promoting something an entity bigger than an individual - mostly with the budget of an individual, however at least something that was already in the mind of the public.
I've been heavily involved in mass marketing bus, train visuals, TV commercials (with great success - see video below), online display and search advertising and print. I've managed online social media staff across several platforms and linked with major statewide and national brands. Yet always it's been a product or a place - never a personality. I've tried to use personality but it is hard to do within a corporate environment.
However I see the benefit of a more personal approach to marketing - especially in the realm of selling something that person owns or has created.
It's not something limited to the small time or the novice either - Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are some of the bigger names out there promoting their work - I would not have known about Neil Dr Who short story if he had not tweeted it.
John Scalzi has created a suite of opportunities for his work, from books to his involvement in TV Shows and Computer Games.
Wil Wheaton sold his book Happiest Days of Our Lives from his website (hell he and his wife spent a weekend or more packing and posting them out... I know I got one). In fact most of the people I read or listen to I follow, like or read about via the internet and various forms of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and such).
It's also not limited to the "official" pages either. The best news about The Cure is Chain of Flowers a fan channel who post songs as they are played in gigs around the world - or link to tips and bits of news.
What's common about all these things? What is it that makes them great and makes so many people follow, like or be part of them?
I looked at Charlie McDonnell - first UK You Tube account to hit 1 million subscribers and now sits at over 2 million. How did a teenage boy from Bath, England gain so many to follow and like him? It's simple - it's what Tracy does. He has been himself, warts and all, he connects not because he is a salesman or trying to be whatever is the latest fad or do whatever (think Justin Beiber here - he is a product first a person second...) This has become his job - his career. He also plays music and has commenced writing and producing short films (check out his Tea Chronicles) with a feature film in the pipeline.
So if you are looking to create an opportunity for promotion via the digital world the only advice I can see and I can give - is be yourself and let your work sell itself via you...
I also think that you need to create content and be online as much as possible - allow people to see you - post pictures and links to things you like - cross link all your bits of Social self to a central place that has the real information especially the link to how they can buy your stuff... Don't be a salesman but be someone that people want to buy from.
Handy links for those who need them...
Hugh Howey on why he favors self-publishing
Adventures in self-publishing: Why I took a year's work and tried my hardest to give it away
Self Promotion
Take Control with Independent Publishing
This is her specialty and she has created opportunities all over the world for her art classes - the book is a natural extension of that.
For promotion Tracy has used Social Media to it's full power - she is on her various pages on Facebook (her personal page has reached capacity at 5,000 friends and her business page is at 2,500). She is real, approachable and connects with all her friends and fans - from this she has been able to run her classes all over Australia and USA.
She has now started her campaign for her book - with preorders open (Fishpond for Australian shoppers or Amazon) already she has been able to create a buzz from her fans and gain sales.
This got me thinking about how to best promote something in this new world - this smaller world within the internet and how individuals have been able to create niches and opportunity.
I work with marketing and media however I have always been promoting something an entity bigger than an individual - mostly with the budget of an individual, however at least something that was already in the mind of the public.
I've been heavily involved in mass marketing bus, train visuals, TV commercials (with great success - see video below), online display and search advertising and print. I've managed online social media staff across several platforms and linked with major statewide and national brands. Yet always it's been a product or a place - never a personality. I've tried to use personality but it is hard to do within a corporate environment.
However I see the benefit of a more personal approach to marketing - especially in the realm of selling something that person owns or has created.
It's not something limited to the small time or the novice either - Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are some of the bigger names out there promoting their work - I would not have known about Neil Dr Who short story if he had not tweeted it.
John Scalzi has created a suite of opportunities for his work, from books to his involvement in TV Shows and Computer Games.
Wil Wheaton sold his book Happiest Days of Our Lives from his website (hell he and his wife spent a weekend or more packing and posting them out... I know I got one). In fact most of the people I read or listen to I follow, like or read about via the internet and various forms of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and such).
It's also not limited to the "official" pages either. The best news about The Cure is Chain of Flowers a fan channel who post songs as they are played in gigs around the world - or link to tips and bits of news.
What's common about all these things? What is it that makes them great and makes so many people follow, like or be part of them?
I looked at Charlie McDonnell - first UK You Tube account to hit 1 million subscribers and now sits at over 2 million. How did a teenage boy from Bath, England gain so many to follow and like him? It's simple - it's what Tracy does. He has been himself, warts and all, he connects not because he is a salesman or trying to be whatever is the latest fad or do whatever (think Justin Beiber here - he is a product first a person second...) This has become his job - his career. He also plays music and has commenced writing and producing short films (check out his Tea Chronicles) with a feature film in the pipeline.
So if you are looking to create an opportunity for promotion via the digital world the only advice I can see and I can give - is be yourself and let your work sell itself via you...
I also think that you need to create content and be online as much as possible - allow people to see you - post pictures and links to things you like - cross link all your bits of Social self to a central place that has the real information especially the link to how they can buy your stuff... Don't be a salesman but be someone that people want to buy from.
Handy links for those who need them...
Hugh Howey on why he favors self-publishing
Adventures in self-publishing: Why I took a year's work and tried my hardest to give it away
Self Promotion
Take Control with Independent Publishing
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Bullies, #StopBullying
Wil Wheaton has this great blog post over on Wil Wheaton dot Net - check it out... read it then come back here...
It was a well timed post from Wil as today I witnessed some bullying in the playground as my daughter and a friends child were playing. Although not physical bullying and it was stopped thankfully by the mother of the bully it did raise the question of when I, as a parent, need to step in and how do I make my children strong and safe (there is a difference between them and I don't believe that it is ALL up to my child to defend themselves from bullies or me.
I'll set the scene - not as an excuse but to allow you, dear reader, the opportunity to understand this particular situation better.
We (my wife A, K 3 yr old and T 10 wk old, both girls) met with a friend (Pt) and his 3 kids (R 5 yr old girl, B 3 yr old boy, and P 1+ yr old girl) at the museum for a fun day out (and it was).
B is a vibrant and funny lad who K loves to play with and they get along like a house on fire. R is great with them and when together the 3 of them just do there own thing looking after each other and having a great time. As parents we all love this - we can watch them and of course monitor them while not needing to be hovering or controlling. Fantastic.
B (and indeed his siblings) have grown up without the typical gender roles - he has long hair and more often than not wears a dress or like today a smock style over shirt and trousers. It's his thing, he likes it and who the hell cares!
Unfortunately this makes him a target and in the cause of my daughter, upsets the general gender ideas. After the first play-date (since they were under 1) K kept referring to B as a girl (correcting us by saying "no, he's a girl!"). She has since worked out that wearing dresses and having long hair does not make you a girl and accepts B for what he is... besides he rocks a skirt like nobodies business.
So after lunch as the kids were playing on a playground Pt took P and R to the toilets and left B and K (and us watching) to play. Two boys slightly older than our two started talking to them and A and I over heard the familiar, "you're not a boy" in reference to B. At first we thought it was K getting confused again but as we watched more closely and listened we realised it was one of the two boys. B said something back to them and they commented about his hair and clothes and B was noticeably getting upset (angry). K said something as well and I was getting ready to head over and say a word or two when the boys mother (guardian?) walked up and told them it was time to leave.
They walked past us on the way out and she was telling them off saying something like it doesn't matter what other kids wear it was rude to say nasty things (one of the boys piped up as well agreeing with the mother figure).
That made me happy, I didn't have to be this defending father over-stepping the line, the mother took responsibility, but what made me (and A) happy was the reaction from B and K.
They walked off as the mother took the boys away, as they came around the play equipment they were mirror-images of defiance. Arms crossed in solidarity they marched up to the ladder daring any other kids to say anything - stern looks on their faces, united! They stood up to the boys and afterwards made an almost victory march around the play ground to show off their combined strength.
That made me proud of K for standing tall when another is being bullied and of B for fighting back and not letting them tell him how to be.
A and I (and indeed Pt and his wife) intend to bring our kids up with the sense of self worth to be able to weather these storms but also with the decency to stand up for others and their beliefs.
Wil Wheaton is right - parents, schools, teachers, neighbours, friends and society need to #StopBullying but it is also nice to see kids sorting out some of the minor infractions and being strong enough to defend and maybe by doing that change the course of history.
I remember being bullied and thankfully it didn't last, I had good friends and more important things to do, but not so for many others. I often think about one boy who, in high school, ran away from home and ended up on the street selling his body. I never knew what happened to him and as I write this I think about what I could have done to help him more. True there was more than bullying in his life (broken family and not fitting in with either parent) but it must have impacted on him. Could I have done something - did I bully him in anyway myself? All lost to history and the past. I only know I can make a difference and while I may not have stood up then I sure intend to now and I will make sure my daughters have every opportunity to do so as well.
It was a well timed post from Wil as today I witnessed some bullying in the playground as my daughter and a friends child were playing. Although not physical bullying and it was stopped thankfully by the mother of the bully it did raise the question of when I, as a parent, need to step in and how do I make my children strong and safe (there is a difference between them and I don't believe that it is ALL up to my child to defend themselves from bullies or me.
I'll set the scene - not as an excuse but to allow you, dear reader, the opportunity to understand this particular situation better.
We (my wife A, K 3 yr old and T 10 wk old, both girls) met with a friend (Pt) and his 3 kids (R 5 yr old girl, B 3 yr old boy, and P 1+ yr old girl) at the museum for a fun day out (and it was).
B is a vibrant and funny lad who K loves to play with and they get along like a house on fire. R is great with them and when together the 3 of them just do there own thing looking after each other and having a great time. As parents we all love this - we can watch them and of course monitor them while not needing to be hovering or controlling. Fantastic.
B (and indeed his siblings) have grown up without the typical gender roles - he has long hair and more often than not wears a dress or like today a smock style over shirt and trousers. It's his thing, he likes it and who the hell cares!
Unfortunately this makes him a target and in the cause of my daughter, upsets the general gender ideas. After the first play-date (since they were under 1) K kept referring to B as a girl (correcting us by saying "no, he's a girl!"). She has since worked out that wearing dresses and having long hair does not make you a girl and accepts B for what he is... besides he rocks a skirt like nobodies business.
So after lunch as the kids were playing on a playground Pt took P and R to the toilets and left B and K (and us watching) to play. Two boys slightly older than our two started talking to them and A and I over heard the familiar, "you're not a boy" in reference to B. At first we thought it was K getting confused again but as we watched more closely and listened we realised it was one of the two boys. B said something back to them and they commented about his hair and clothes and B was noticeably getting upset (angry). K said something as well and I was getting ready to head over and say a word or two when the boys mother (guardian?) walked up and told them it was time to leave.
They walked past us on the way out and she was telling them off saying something like it doesn't matter what other kids wear it was rude to say nasty things (one of the boys piped up as well agreeing with the mother figure).
That made me happy, I didn't have to be this defending father over-stepping the line, the mother took responsibility, but what made me (and A) happy was the reaction from B and K.
They walked off as the mother took the boys away, as they came around the play equipment they were mirror-images of defiance. Arms crossed in solidarity they marched up to the ladder daring any other kids to say anything - stern looks on their faces, united! They stood up to the boys and afterwards made an almost victory march around the play ground to show off their combined strength.
That made me proud of K for standing tall when another is being bullied and of B for fighting back and not letting them tell him how to be.
A and I (and indeed Pt and his wife) intend to bring our kids up with the sense of self worth to be able to weather these storms but also with the decency to stand up for others and their beliefs.
Wil Wheaton is right - parents, schools, teachers, neighbours, friends and society need to #StopBullying but it is also nice to see kids sorting out some of the minor infractions and being strong enough to defend and maybe by doing that change the course of history.
I remember being bullied and thankfully it didn't last, I had good friends and more important things to do, but not so for many others. I often think about one boy who, in high school, ran away from home and ended up on the street selling his body. I never knew what happened to him and as I write this I think about what I could have done to help him more. True there was more than bullying in his life (broken family and not fitting in with either parent) but it must have impacted on him. Could I have done something - did I bully him in anyway myself? All lost to history and the past. I only know I can make a difference and while I may not have stood up then I sure intend to now and I will make sure my daughters have every opportunity to do so as well.
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Jazzmaster Guitar Project
I have talked about this project on Twitter and Facebook but I really need to put it down in a central place. Oh wait yeah I have a Blog for that...
So anyway to bring you up to speed aside from learning to play a song all the way through... (Achieved here) I have also been playing with building a Guitar.
I have dabbled with re-wiring my old Peavey (Strat clone) which while I got sound to come back out of it... I now only have 1 pickup working and that goes straight to a Volume control (no tone and two useless pickups in the guitar) - but it makes noise and that was all I needed!
My good friend Les has been more productive and had a body lying around not doing anything so he gave it and some very nice pickups to me... This was the beginning of the Jazzmaster project.
I didn't want the traditional JM layout so I went for two P-90's a three-way switch, single tone and volume.
I liked the contrast of the black jack cover, knobs (I went for black) and pick guard against the chrome pup plate and other fittings. with the blue burst it all seemed to work. The neck was a lovely piece of birdseye maple with a beautiful top that has such wonderful contrasting colours and shades...
As mentioned above I am not that confident with soldering and in the end I was prepared to pay someone to do it for me. When, right out of the blue, a mate at work tells me he has heaps of guitars and has built and repaired more that a few and sure he can solder the JM up for me.
So a VERY big thanks to Brett!
All in all I am very happy with this Guitar and the way it all came together - while I didn't end up trusting myself to do the electronics I did start and I planned it all out so that was good and while I still have a few things left these shouldn't be too hard and then I can do the set up and start playing this baby!
So anyway to bring you up to speed aside from learning to play a song all the way through... (Achieved here) I have also been playing with building a Guitar.
I have dabbled with re-wiring my old Peavey (Strat clone) which while I got sound to come back out of it... I now only have 1 pickup working and that goes straight to a Volume control (no tone and two useless pickups in the guitar) - but it makes noise and that was all I needed!
My good friend Les has been more productive and had a body lying around not doing anything so he gave it and some very nice pickups to me... This was the beginning of the Jazzmaster project.
 |
| With a standard JM pickguard - which I wasn't going to use... |
I didn't want the traditional JM layout so I went for two P-90's a three-way switch, single tone and volume.
 |
| This was to choose silver or black knobs - nothing had been fixed at this stage also I hadn't got the three-way switch |
 |
| Birdseye Maple is a lovely wood (same wood used in my drum kit) |
 |
| The neck is lovely both to look at and touch - can't wait to play it! |
So a VERY big thanks to Brett!
 |
| All parts added - still need to finish the neck with some tuners and bits so I can string it up but the body work is done! (oh and some strap buttons) |
 |
| Shiny... also flash flares (sorry) but you get the idea! |
Monday, 1 July 2013
A few weeks with a Surface Pro
So I needed an upgrade for my work PC and Laptop, I wanted something that would give me power, flexibility and be lightweight to take with me when out of the office.
There were a few options open to me and our IT Department took me through the usual suspects they had in the system - basically a laptop with dock all of which where heavier than I was really after - also I already had a laptop and desktop I just wanted one device! On device to rule them all!!!!
OK let me get this straight up front, yes I could have just gone with the normal procedure and got a laptop - a Dell Inspiron or similar and yes it would have been fairly light and as powerful as the Surface Pro - but really why settle for just the usual when there are so many new options available, and on top of all that work was looking for a guinea pig to try the tablet hybrid world!
Alternatively you can use the on screen keyboard or the script to text using the pen/stylus (more on that later)
Both work OK for times you are without the Type Cover (or in full tablet mode) - not something I'm likely to do for long stretches but useful at times.
I have yet to use the mini Display Port - work are getting me a lead to use the in house projectors etc... in the mean time I had to borrow a laptop at the last presentation - kinda defeats the purpose of the all in one machine but we are working out the bugs...
Well the Microsoft Office suite for starters! We use the usual suspects, Word, Excel, PowerPoint,Outlook, Project etc and they all work really well. What I have found to be the MOST useful is OneNote.
Here is a program that I had not used previously which I find myself using all the time. Print PDFs to OneNote and suddenly I really can be paperless at meetings - using the pen or Type Cover I can make notes straight to the PDF. Create historical documents for all my various meetings and programs in one place and with my handwriting!!!
The stylus/pen makes all this possible and the power of the software that seems to be learning my handwriting and adjusting - script to text in OneNote and the native Surface (Windows 8??) is brilliant - so much better than I expected!
We have gone with the Toshiba Dynadock USB 3.0, this provides me with MORE than enough features and is powered by one USB from the Surface.
My one big thing screen resolution.
At under 11" the Surface is small - I already have glasses and I don't want to be bent over in front of a tiny screen when working away from my desk. In that case when using the Surface and a Tablet/Laptop I upscale 150% size (it's simple to do and has three levels of preset 100%, 125% and 150%).
However to change resolution you need to log-out, maybe this is due to the security that we have at work, (log-in is something that we just do all the time to our machines and phones) but if I want to jump out to a quick meeting I have to adjust screen and log-out - losing all my open work, files and webpages only to do that in reverse when I come back to my desk...
Maybe I have this wrong but I would say that is my one big gripe at this early stage...
4/5
There were a few options open to me and our IT Department took me through the usual suspects they had in the system - basically a laptop with dock all of which where heavier than I was really after - also I already had a laptop and desktop I just wanted one device! On device to rule them all!!!!
OK let me get this straight up front, yes I could have just gone with the normal procedure and got a laptop - a Dell Inspiron or similar and yes it would have been fairly light and as powerful as the Surface Pro - but really why settle for just the usual when there are so many new options available, and on top of all that work was looking for a guinea pig to try the tablet hybrid world!
Firstly as a tablet/laptop hybrid
As you can see from this first image the screen gets a little messy with finger prints and such however as you will see it really doesn't matter as when on as you really can't see the finger marks when it is working - and yes I am working with it so it's going to get finger marks - it's a touch screen! |
| Finger marked |
 |
| Once turned on they seen to disappear |
One note - this is a work machine so it is covered in work ID stickers - I have blurred them out - not that they mean anything outside the IT inventory but hey I guess I should be good and not show them off to the world!
We got the Type Cover, which is the more keyboard like cover with mouse touch pad and the usual keys that you would find in a laptop - this cover basically turns the Surface Pro into a 10 inch laptop and I don't have too much trouble typing in it - even with my big hands. The keyboard are sold separately to the device and they are essential to the unit - without the keyboard this is an expensive tablet (MicroSoft please just bundle them together!!!)
 |
| I needed one hand to take the picture (where are my Google Glasses?) but you get the idea I have easily type two handed on this thing! |
Both work OK for times you are without the Type Cover (or in full tablet mode) - not something I'm likely to do for long stretches but useful at times.
 |
| I found this very similar to the iPad keyboard - only downfall is screen area is greatly reduced |
 |
| I was VERY impressed with the script to text function and the pen is easy to use - even has an eraser! |
The Look and Specs
Microsoft call it a Dark Titanium colour... and who am I to argue? It certainly looks the part of a futurist piece of computer hardware - it feels solid and has enough weight to it so you are reminded that this is an expensive and solid device.
From the spec sheet on MS.com it's packed with a 3rd Gen i5, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4 GB Ram, 128 GB SSD HDD, 10.6" ClearType Full HD Display 10-point multi-touch, two 720p HD LifeCams (front and rear), Microphone, Stereo speakers, USB 3.0, mirco SDXC car slot, Heasset Jack, Mini Display Port, Cover Port.... and more - see it all here
Basically it is a powerful little machine for something under a kilogram
 |
| Dark Titanium Colour (or black as I called it!) the rear camera is angled so that when sitting open with the kick stand it still points straight ahead - neat addition... |
 |
| Here you can see the USB 3.0, volume and headphone jack |
 |
| The microSDXC card slot, power and Mini Display Port - the power uses magnet to hold the lead in which also serves as a place to put the pen... which means I had better get some extra pens for when it falls off... |
 |
| Pen in place.... |
 |
| And all set up ready to go... |
I have yet to use the mini Display Port - work are getting me a lead to use the in house projectors etc... in the mean time I had to borrow a laptop at the last presentation - kinda defeats the purpose of the all in one machine but we are working out the bugs...
Work Use
So I got this thing for work - but what do I do and what do I need it to do...?Well the Microsoft Office suite for starters! We use the usual suspects, Word, Excel, PowerPoint,Outlook, Project etc and they all work really well. What I have found to be the MOST useful is OneNote.
Here is a program that I had not used previously which I find myself using all the time. Print PDFs to OneNote and suddenly I really can be paperless at meetings - using the pen or Type Cover I can make notes straight to the PDF. Create historical documents for all my various meetings and programs in one place and with my handwriting!!!
The stylus/pen makes all this possible and the power of the software that seems to be learning my handwriting and adjusting - script to text in OneNote and the native Surface (Windows 8??) is brilliant - so much better than I expected!
Desk Setup
This is the real power of this device. When I am at my desk there is NOTHING different from using a normal desktop machine - I sit down to two 19" monitors, a normal sized keyboard, mouse and just get to work. Currently I have set up with only the two monitors, once more programs become available through Windows Store I might change to use the Surface Pro as a third monitor for things like Social Media or news but for now this is the perfect setup.We have gone with the Toshiba Dynadock USB 3.0, this provides me with MORE than enough features and is powered by one USB from the Surface.
 |
| The DynaDock is a versatile little unit - perfect for most office or home uses where you want to take your device with you and use it as a desktop machine... Yes I need to tidy up the cables... I'm still not certain this is the 'right' position for it.. |
 |
| I can use the Surface as a third monitor at the moment I don't but I might when there are more Windows 8 touch capable apps that meet my work needs |
 |
| As a desktop unit nothing has changed and it looks just like any other desk at work... |
Downside
Because with everything there is a downside.My one big thing screen resolution.
At under 11" the Surface is small - I already have glasses and I don't want to be bent over in front of a tiny screen when working away from my desk. In that case when using the Surface and a Tablet/Laptop I upscale 150% size (it's simple to do and has three levels of preset 100%, 125% and 150%).
However to change resolution you need to log-out, maybe this is due to the security that we have at work, (log-in is something that we just do all the time to our machines and phones) but if I want to jump out to a quick meeting I have to adjust screen and log-out - losing all my open work, files and webpages only to do that in reverse when I come back to my desk...
Maybe I have this wrong but I would say that is my one big gripe at this early stage...
Conclusion
I would have to say that for me and many in my position this is a perfect device for work - for the moment it does everything I need it to and as Windows 8 develops with more "metro" apps the true potential will shine. For the average desk jockey this has no advantage over a desktop machine but for someone in my position who if often in and out at meetings being able to simply unplug and go bringing everything with me it is perfect.4/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)