Who wants to know if the new computer is working?????????

I suppose the title of this post might have gotten your hopes up?  Want to hear the latest on the Great Computer Debacle?? 

Well, it goes like this.....

1) Stupid thunderbolt computer-to-computer migration freezes overnight
2) Force quit said stupid computer-to-computer migration
3) Trick Time Machine into successfully backing up the old-new computer
4) Migrate contents of Time Machine onto new new computer
5) Wait for The Lovely David From Apple to phone
6) In the meantime take Jessica horse riding - highlight of my day (pics to follow), and finally nail Grant Hughes and have my next showjumping lesson booked for next week.
7) Come home, start cooking dinner
8) The Lovely David phones
9) We do the tests of the migration.  Mail refuses to open under my Bronwen Healy account
10) Create new Account
11) Delete all of the possible causes that could mean it is related to a user account
12) Attempt to open mail in the new test user account
13) Mail refuses to talk to me and quits immediately
14) I hang my head in despair
15) The Lovely David says it is not user related, there is corrupt data
16) We erase the hard drive on the new new computer
17) Reinstall the Mac Operating System.
18) The Lovely David phones back, it's still going.  He says let it install, but we don't migrate anything, and then asks me when it's done to try to open mail.  He says goodnight and will talk to me on Monday.
19) Operating System installs successfully
20) I follow all the prompts.  No migration has been done.  All I do is accept the setting up of iCloud
21) Open Mail
22) I receive another "I hate you" from Mail, which then quits...  again...
23) I tell Mail I hate it back
24) For good measure, I tell Mail that I really, really, hate it back
25) Sit and reflect in frustration
26) Tom, over for dinner with the boys, comments that perhaps the "bling" has gone out of the new computer, and we talk about it
27) I think that iCloud is the only thing that is consistently present, and wonder if The Lovely David will think that perhaps the problem is coming from iCloud, or an email account in iCloud??????
28) Shut new - new computer, again, in disgust...
29) Deal with nasty hypo that Heath throws in for good measure.   His new fangled blood glucose meter decides that this is the exact moment that it's battery should die.  Stupid meter gives no warning that batteries about to die.
30) Search for new batteries through camera bags
31) Err on the side of caution and give Heath 2 juices
32) Finally find batteries and get test meter working.  Sugars recovering, so is he
33) I feel shattered.....

SO Contrary!

I'm sitting next to Freelance writing this. My ace hay man, and friend, Matt, just dropped off some hay. And I'm sitting on my yellow upturned bucket next to my mare as she eats it. She's dropping bits of Lucerne on me as she does. But it is calming and peaceful next to her. And I can think.

I brought some stamps down to show and give Matt. He thinks that they are special. He said just even being able to photograph that horse was special, but look at what you've done. He's going to put them somewhere special and for him the fact that he knows the person who took them makes them more special.

Ok. Back to business. I know that there are a few readers following The Great Computer Debacle with interest. Perhaps even with a smile on their face. I've lost count of what round I'm up to. And I'm certain that so far I haven't actually won any of them!!

The migration last night was a spectacular victory to the computer (thanx for that Freelance, I say as I dust myself off again).  I looked suspiciously at it last night. My 42 hour migration (42 hours!!!) had suddenly jumped up to 48 hours. It then sat like they without moving for at least an hour. I narrowed my eyes, then went to bed. Maxie is still in disgrace and is still sleeping in his little bathroom area. He started his usual jailbreak attempts at 5am. Without success I might add. He's losing his touch.

When I got up the migration was still saying 48 hours. I scowled at it , and did a force quit on both machines. The Lovely David is calling back about 1pm. In the meantime I will attempt another migration, this time from Time Machine, which I outsmarted this morning, and try again and hope to have some success before he calls.  In the meantime I'm working hard at all my other jobs I have to get through and I'm staying busy and just getting on with life.

Freelance has just realised that there are no pellets. No Pellets!!!! We've run out. There was a hopeful nibble at the phone. She's like Nelly searching for carrots. Sorry baby, I will try to pick some up today. And remember to bring your packet if sugar cubes down as well. I attempt unsuccessfully to remove the Lucerne hay from my hair, thank Dan for not letting his battery run flat even though I left his lights on, put my favourite song right now on (Music for a Found Harmonium by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra) and set off home.

Postscript:

The migration (for the 4th time) appears to have worked from the Time Machine backup.  But I'm not declaring any winners to this 'round' until I get talked through the next step with David.  So this afternoon I've spent some time trying sort out some hard drives and get them backed up and my images sorted out a little bit.  One of them is still being stubborn and is making me do it really manually, and that is a pain.  The newer ones are fine.

Jessica has her riding lesson shortly.  I'm going to take the camera down this time.  I'm a little bit frustrated that Grant Hughes hasn't gotten back to me with another jumping lesson time, and when I'm down there now I'll get more restless and impatient.  I must get Freelance sorted out soon and see whether those legs will stand up to some work.  I also had news that my poor sore neck will start getting some help next month and that's a very good thing. 

Nelly..  doesn't this view of her make you want to leap on her back, grab and and handful of mane?  And wish that she was in a paddock and you could fly away with her??????

Oh Maxie.. will you ever learn

Maxie fell in the bath.   Again......  That's almost every night this week.  Slow learner kitty, slow learner!

Meanwhile....... The old new MacBook and the new new MacBook are connected to each other via the newfangled thunderbolt cable. We are trying the migration for the 3rd time. Supposed to be blazingly fast said David. I look dubiously at the computer screen. 42 hours doesn't seem fast to me. Perhaps David is right and it won't actually take this long? My bookwork plans for tonight will have to involve sitting on the couch checking transactions off the statement.

Jessica has an iceskating party to go to on Saturday.  The kids are with me this weekend instead of the usual rotation.  I'm sure there will be kiddies at the party who will love another grownup to skate with!  Ok, ok, so I'm not needing much encouragement.  I love that the kids are so keen.  We are going to make a regular thing of it.

Busy, busy, busy.....

The Silver Coins

Our silver proof Black Caviar coins arrived today.  I was getting worried we wouldn't get any, as they are sold out.  But the Royal Australian Mint were great and today sent me the 3 coins they had promised me.  One for me, one for Heath and one for Jessica.  If I was Darryl Kerrigan, from "The Castle", I would say that they were going straight to the Pool Room.....  They are beautifully produced.

My computer is still being problematic.  No word from Apple in a couple of days, which is out of the ordinary as he was getting back to me really promptly.  I've left messages, but he hasn't rung back.  Now the brand new Time Machine disk isn't working, it keeps saying 'looking for backup disk.....'.  I want to point at it, and say 'it's right there, see, right there?????', but I suspect that won't help.  

A diabetic life

Life with a diabetic child is often not straight forward. It is a perplexing and tricky condition and it doesn't always behave predictably. And the management of diabetes takes a watchful and observant eye. It's all well and good to say "but he should be self managing by now". But I've seen grown men and women repeatedly fail at this. And I've read heart breaking stories about the tragedies that can arise from low blood sugars, or hypoglycemia as it is technically called.  The fact is that low blood sugars affect brain function. And brain function is critical to the ability to self correct and self manage, and therein lies a huge problem.

Sometimes the signs are not obvious. It can start with a small meltdown, and a little bit of confusion or distracted behaviour. But for the child who has always been prone to tantrums and an inability to cope this is not outside of the ordinary. Neither is vagueness, as he has a history of inability to focus and concentrate, and frequently just does not 'hear' instructions.  Quite simply, he transports himself to "Heath-land", and often looks quite surprised, and frequently indignant, when I have to drag his mind unwillingly back to where I need it to be.

This morning he had what we should be able to class as "great sugars". He was 5.0 and that's supposed to be terrific.  But perhaps he didn't wash his hands well enough? Perhaps in his bleary eyed still sleepy and possibly hypoglycemic state he left a trace of nashi pear from the night before? Again, a self managing child would ensure he washes them thoroughly. I'm going to have to make some small changes to the house because of this.

Frequently when his sugars are 'lowish', I err on the side of caution and give him his insulin after he finishes his breakfast instead of before he starts.  This morning I did just that, and, following my insulin chart, gave him a lower and more conservative dose of the fast acting Novorapid that he has. After breakfast came the struggle to get him dressed.  He just wasn't concentrating and was tuning out, and being silly with the cat. Again this is not necessarily out of the ordinary for Heath. He's as vague as buggery sometimes. And prone to silliness and not listening.  

He then got dazed, confused, argumentative, distressed, and uncoordinated.  I looked at him, thinking 'but he's only just eaten, and surely his insulin can't have worked already'.  He went on like this 5 minutes.  It was close to time to leave, but I sat him down and did a test.  He couldn't do it himself, and I had to do it.  He was in another place altogether.  The result was 7.2 which would indicate all was well.  However I knew he wasn't right, so got him to eat a honey sandwich.  Because I was cautious about not over treating a non existent hypo I didn't give him a juice.  He didn't come good though, and completely dissolved, so I stood hugging him and just calmed him down, then slowly took him out to the car.  While we drove to school I ran over what had happened in my mind.  

I wondered if the reading had been false, both of them, due to non handing or poor handwashing.  The only handcleaning thing I had in my car was a Nikon lens wipe.  We pulled up at school and we cleaned his fingers and did another test.  This was more indicative.  He was lower, at 5.2, after eating a honey sandwich, confirming that my observations of him had been correct.  He had definitely been low.  So I gave him a juice to make sure he didn't plummet again, and I sent him, now much more happily, on his way. 

After he left, I got back into my car, and took a deep breath.  I played it over in my mind, and made some notes to change a few things subtly.  These episodes always it made me wonder how we'll manage as he gets older and more independent but not necessarily more effective in his diabetes management. .  His LSA (learning support assistant) last year didn't have that same eagle eye and quick reading of him just by the glance of an eye that his former LSA, the wonderful Chryssy, had.  I have it.  My brother now does too.  But the new LSA is excellent, and she rang, and we had a chat, because again, he'd acted strangely.  She was onto him straight away.  She is sensible, smart, and reads him well.  She's not Chryssy, who I became such firm friends with, but she's pretty good.

It would be wonderful if he could self manage even just a little bit better.  His condition has made my photographic work more complex and difficult to achieve, and I've been fortunate to have understanding and flexible clients, and supportive and wonderful family members.  It's not uncommon for me to have to take numerous phone calls when I'm on track or on a stud farm, and advise what to do.  My sister once phoned me on the first Tuesday in November at 3.18pm.  I went into a panic, thinking 'Heath!!!!', because I thought her calling me 2 minutes before they opened the barriers and let the Melbourne Cup away meant he was unconscious.  He wasn't.  Caroline didn't realise the race was about to start.  She just wanted to know if a crumpet was ok!  I said calmly yes it was, and was everything ok, and that the Cup was about to start, and she said 'sorry!' and we hung up.  It was no different when I was working at CSIRO. There have always been phone calls and problems.  It's just part of life I guess.

Heath took this image of Nelly swimming at Caulfield.  It's pretty good I think.

Heath and Nelly.  13 October 2011.

Mr Fixit

Heath is trying valiantly to put the tiny computer desk together.  I'm long since confused.  It's all double dutch to me, and I've walked off in disgust.  It comes with super stupid, unclear and tiny instructions.  They are stupid.  I can't tell the left from the right, or which bit goes where.  It's got a slidy-out keyboard shelf that goes underneath.  It is times like this when I think having someone who could saunter through and say cheerfully 'hey baby, I'll do that for you' would be ace.  If the lower shelf stumps Heath, hopefully my brother will come to our rescue. 

Heath is however doing an ace job of the frame.  I'm still staring suspiciously at the parts of the complicated bits in the box that we don't understand.  There is every chance that the cool slidy-out keyboard thingy will go uninstalled for a while I think.

I photographed some pieces today for Evan.  One was the most exquisite river red gum "Stork" hall table.  It takes my breath away.  He is truly clever.  But it's a tricky little piece because of it's long thin shape to photograph.  I still haven't taken the plunge and bought some soft boxes to use with my flash and some stands to sit them on.  Mostly because I need some advice on which sorts, what size, which brands, etc.  So this will sit in my 'too hard and no time to think about it' tray for a while longer. 

There's been no phone call from the lovely David at Apple either, so I'm no closer to solving my computer issues, and am beginning to feel pressured by this too.

Maxie and I had a little wander outside this afternoon.  He was begging to go outside because he could hear Heath outside.  He now purrs when I get his cute pink harness out (ok, he's my cat, and I'll bloody well buy him pink if I want to....) and jumps up to put it on.  No..   I'm not feeling comfortable enough to let him outside on his own.  We live so close to such a busy road.   The loss of our precious kitty is more than we could all bear right now.

This was a pretty great sort of message to receive on a grey, cold and gloomy day though.  It's from one of my big stud farms.  Their creative marketing team is I believe the benchmark in producing really fabulous material.  I got this email this afternoon:

 "I'm putting together the stallion brochure at the moment - you are going to LOVE it.  Actually we've gone done a whole new path with the brochure because the guys we work with are so enamoured with your images.  It's basically had all the text based content stripped right back then your big pictures of the stallions dominate each page".

So even though Spring seems a long way off, we are already beginning to plan the next stallion shoot.  I love that they really get that the image makes a difference.   And I love that they see the worth in having me there several times each year.  I especially love how they really get that truly great images make all the difference.  I cannot wait to see the brochure, and to see how it is received through the industry.  I strongly believe that we are setting the benchmark.  Is the image important?  No!  The Image is Everything! So for all my USA readers and thoroughbred lovers, The Animal is coming!!!!!!

And finally, just for a little bit of trivia, I walked across the road to the coffee shop to grab lunch for Evan and myself.  They were playing "Drops of Jupiter" by Train.  By the end of the day I'd downloaded it and played it over and over.  Your best friend sticking up for you???  No matter what?  The real ones do.  I'm not sure I get the meaning of the deep-fried chicken in there though.  Odd...

 "Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the milky way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you... even when I know you're wrong"

Once in a Lifetime

I had an interesting phone call this afternoon from an ace ex Pic Editor of a major masthead newspaper.  He was always a good bloke, and I liked him a lot.  I think he always like the work and could see its merit.  He rang me today to talk about the future.  I listen to Talking Heads play on my iPhone "Once in a Lifetime", as I try to get my computer migration to happen in the background.

And you may ask yourself, how do I work this?
And you may ask yourself, where is that large automobile?
And you may tell yourself; this is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself; this is not my beautiful wife!

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground.

Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...

What is the significance of an image the moment I take it, or at the end of that day?  I don't know.  What is it's significance a year later?  Or 10 years later?  I don't know those answers either.  What I do know is that he thought my scanning discovery last night was excellent, and thinks that there's some good material there. 

It was lovely that he thought to call me, and to ask me the question.  We had a little joke at his reluctance last year as Pic Ed to pay proper money for a set of fabulous images of a very famous and fabulous broodmare and her $5 million colt!  He thought it was funny too.  I think that Black Caviar is a Once in a Lifetime horse.  And the connections with her family go on and on it would appear. As always, on going in and reading the terms and conditions I feel a bit at sea and wonder what is the best and right thing to do. A sounding board, in someone you trust, is always valuable and reassuring, in these instances. Still. It is important to look forward and not back. And I like the fact that there is recognition that the contents of my library are special. And important.

Postscript:  Just before I go to take the kids swimming, my computer finished migrating.  Will Mail work??????? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....  Walking off in disgust. I will have to await further advice from the lovely David at Apple. 

Dan. Living to fight another day.

Thank heavens for the humble tow bar. My beloved and trusty Dan lives to fight another day. We were rear ended this morning on the way to school. I'm not quite ready to give up this precious car who has worked so hard for me. I look at his Speedo-Counter-Thingy. 339,985 kms. We are not in a position to think new cars at present. He must keep going. Which reminds me that his service is again overdue. And that I haven't checked his oil and water for a little while.  Not to mention his tyres. My standards are slipping.

My first reaction was "damn now we will miss the bell!", then "oh no, my Dan" so it was a nice change that luck smiled on us this morning.

Before and after the hiccup we were playing ABBA over Dan's crackly speakers. Heath asked me what the song "The Name of the Game" was about. I tried to explain while listening to the lyrics, "your smile and the sound of your voice". They seem too little though to be given the lecture "but rely on yourself not someone else to make you happy".

I'm feeling a little triumphant this morning. My late scanning session did indeed yield some treasures. And that's a good thing.

And yes. That's my Dan behind the horse being led about in the carpark. He was in the company of greatness. You won't need 3 guesses to work our which horse it was. And was I consciously shooting so to get my truly ace car in the background. Well, yes, I was.

Computers.. Round 3. And finding some treasures..

I'm not winning yet.  My old machine has again been refusing to do a Time Machine Backup.  It's a contrary and temperamental beast, and it seems it is determined to have the last word.  My lounge room also looks like a bomb has hit it, with various bits of paperwork on the floor and I've had a spread of negatives laid out too.  I'm still trying to track down old images, and have the scanner ticking away while I work on other things.  I think it's because I'm trying to do about 4 things at the same time that I don't actually feel like I'm making progress on any one issue.  

We are again trying to do the Time Machine Backup. I've been taught how to properly erase (ie this actually means clicking on the partition thingy) a drive, and we've again asked, very nicely, the old machine to PLEASE back up.  The lovely David will phone back later this afternoon, and see how we are traveling.  In the meantime, after school the kids and I went out to Officeworks.  We bought a very small desk to sit the old computer on, and a chair for it as well.  Then we went across to the Apple Shop.  The Apple Shop is the most seductive of places, filled with seductive and velvety white boxes, and all things Apple.  The kids love to play on the many iPads and are therefore unproblematic, and this is not frowned upon at all.  I came away with a new white keyboard and a thunderbolt to thunderbolt cable, which will help the manual transfer of data from the old new computer to the new new computer.   And on returning home I discovered much to my relief that the old machine had finally, and no doubt grudgingly, agreed to finish the backup. 

Here's a little result from my searching cross legged again on my lounge room floor this afternoon.  It's Bel Esprit winning the 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes.  He is of course the sire of the Famous Pony Black Caviar.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the events that would follow after photographing this precocious and brilliant 2 year old colt.  At the time all I could think about was the loss of my camera bag by Qantas the day before the race whilst on my first trip away with Heath.  He was only 3 months old, and I was having all sorts of issues.  And my doing this trip wasn't popular.  On my return I booked myself into the Public Infant Health nursing system, and had the most fabulous woman take me by the hand, say she knew exactly what our problem was, and she could fix it.  And she did fix it.  And looking back now, I am glad that I didn't give in to the pressure and stay home.  And I'm glad that Geoff Ampt came to my rescue, loaning me a camera and lens to use for the day, because it means I have the sire of the Famous Pony winning a Group 1 at the Famous Pony's home track.  Was I dogmatic or just determined?  I'll let you be the judge of that.  Just a little bit of trivia.

Maxie

He's been deep in disgrace this weekend after his apparent destruction job on the curtains, which saw me want to sit with a cup of tea on my kitchen stool yesterday morning.  This afternoon, after iceskating, I grabbed my 500mm lens out for a bit of fun with him.  He is growing into an exquisitely beautiful cat.  He's still a complete Bad Ass though...

Next month, on the 27th of June, Maxie will be a year old.  My life has changed so much in the last 12 months....

A Birthday Party on the Ice

These are the images of Jessica's 8th Birthday Party today.  I'm going to humour myself here with this post.  I didn't even take most of these images.  My brother Tom did.  He was on sideline and camera duty.  I was on the ice with all the kids!  We went to the Phillip Ice Skating Rink.  

I haven't skated since I was about 16.  It only took about 2 laps for it to come back, and I loved it.  Just loved it.  We are going to start going regularly.  It was ace.  Perhaps all the years of water skiing, and lately scooting, helped, but I found I didn't have to hold onto the edge except for the first lap when I was supporting little Korben on his very first and unsteady lap.  My friend Tracy said, when she saw the photos, that it was good to see me smiling.  It felt good today.

I always say it's not a birthday party until Heath throws in a spectacular low blood sugar episode.  He was on the ice and started coming around with me.  And in about 30 seconds I knew he was in strife, with his legs collapsing everywhere on him.  Such is the life of the diabetic child who is still a long way from self managing.  He didn't even feel the low coming on either.  Between the three of us, however, we fixed it, and he was back on the ice again in no time, this time with his legs firmly in control!  Good job!!!!

 

 

 

 

It's not a party till Heath's sugars have a dive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moody and his Little Girl - Sunday Telegraph

This image, and story, is running in the Sunday Telegraph this weekend.  It's also going into the Herald Sun (actually they may have chosen different images).  From the online issue of the HSun they have spelt my name incorrectly, which, if it runs Front Page, like they said this afternoon it would, will be frustrating.  The image of the horse, and the fact that she has earnt yet another front page however, is the main thing.  Peter Moody is tired of all the press attention.  He was reluctant to speak and give words.  I gave him a little nudge yesterday, and said I'd think he would be really ace if he gave them something.  Judging by the article, I think he has.  He's a treasure..

I'm watching "The West Wing".  It's the final episode of Series 2. When President Bartlett faces the press conference about whether he'll stand for re-election. It's my absolute favourite episode of this great series that I love.  Yes.  I like American politics.  When I finally go to the United States, I will visit the White House.  I will visit Congress. And I will visit Arlington National Cemetry, where my idol John Fitzgerald Kennedy is buried.  I will also go to the Newseum.  

The scene is set to the wonderful Dire Straits song "Brothers in Arms", which is my favourite song after Money For Nothing (which I can't listen to at present).  This scene is brilliant.  Imagery wise, I've never seen anything like it.  The interplay of the close ups, fading away, the music score, and the emotion in the scene, is wonderful.  It hits on all the important senses.  I think it's great.

After it finishes, it's time for bed.  I've finished baking.  The lolly bags are packed.  And I'll set my alarm for early, to get the fairy bread and fruit platters done for Jessica's party.  I'm sleeping terribly at the moment, and tonight Maxie the Bad Ass is banished to the bathroom area after he destroyed the curtains.   I'm going to try to get up extra early to get down to the newsagent to see whether my image really did make front page in Melbourne, and brace myself for the name to be spelt wrongly.

Baking Queens

I hope I'll have good news tomorrow.  I've had the phone call.  I just need for the rest of the night to go without disasters.  This means no more trucks plowing off highway bridges.  And hopefully nothing stupid happens with the football this evening.  If all goes to plan, a certain Pony and I might just make another headline or two, and ensure we stay in people's eyes and minds.

This afternoon I am trying to put that out of my mind though, as it is entirely beyond my influence now.  Heath's soccer game went ok.  He's just tidied his room AND even vacuumed it for me.  There was threats of me ruthlessly vacuuming Lego up if I had to do it.  He surprised me by doing without any tears at all.  Jessica was happily sitting at the old computer doing Mathletics.  I have put all my groceries away, and am getting ready to be Baking Queen.  They are putting the lolly bags together for me now.

Unpacking the groceries saw me have to organise my tiny kitchen cupboards a little in order to fit things in.  The thing with this house is that it's so little that I have to keep it tidier or it turns to chaos, and so it always finds me discovering things I've lost and/or forgotten all about.  

This afternoon was no different.  I found a 1.25l Black and Gold soft drink bottle that had been pushed to the very back of my cupboard.  It's got pasta and rice in it.  It was a shaker bottle to use with stallions.  I stared at it for a little while, recalling that it came from a trip to the Hunter Valley that now seems so long ago.  It now sits with my camera bags, and therefore stands a fighting chance of accompanying the famous Pinkie on our next trip to photograph the boys.  And I'd hope that there will be more than an outside chance that I will reunite with the Famous Pony again.

Sepoy.  Darley Australia.

Giving up in disgust for today. Rounds 1 and 2 to the Computer.

I thought that The Great Mail Dilemma was almost solved.  However today, when the lovely David from Apple phoned to try to finish it all up, we suddenly ended up back at square one.  Three hours on the phone.  Nothing achieved.  The old computer may have had corrupted date on it, and there's a complicated process on Monday to try to re migrate to the brand brand new one.  Hopefully the lovely Craig at Designwyse won't hate me utterly as I try to sort this out.  He's been completely ace, as has the lovely David at Apple.  

I have to admit that this, on top of the broken curtain rail I discovered this morning thanx to my complete and utter little Bad Ass Kitteh Maxie, made me feel like sitting on the little stool in my kitchen with a cup of tea.  My computer screen looks all upside down and back the front, as we took all the preferences out, so now it seems foreign and I can't find things.  I finally managed to at least do the one thing that makes me feel ok sitting in front of the computer, and that's to put 2 new lovely photos of Nelly on each desktop.  One winning her final race, the TJ Smith Stakes, and one swimming in the pool the day before.  My kitchen stool beckons invitingly, but there's a birthday party to organise and face the music for, as well as a soccer game this afternoon.  I can tell that the old computer isn't going to go down without a fight....

There are times when it's not just the fabulous Kimmy at CSIRO who I miss so badly.  Amongst other things, my computer and other issues would get sorted with a smile, and I'd be told it would all work out fine...

Definition of Dog

"Definition of dog...   NOT a cat" 

Blackadder.  Loving it.  Maxie (not a dog) fell right in the bath again this evening.  Soaking wet.  Just a little bit of trivia.  Yes.  I am procrastinating, and avoiding the bookwork.  Sod it all....

Facebook Updates

I'm currently not spending a lot of time on Facebook, so some readers who also follow the Bronwen Healy Photography Facebook Page may have noticed this.  There's a few reasons for this.  I won't go in to all of them, but one of them is that Facebook for racing industry photographers seems to be being frowned upon.  I don't understand the rationale for this, but until the situation is resolved, there won't be as much happening on it.  I will endevaour to remember to share Blog Posts on the Facebook page, which will give a direct link back to the Blog and the story/images involved, and which I can do remotely as well.  I hope that this will work for regular visitors to the Facebook Page.

All Too Hard is apparently settling in well to his new home at Vinery Stud in Scone.  I'll be looking forward to seeing him again, and to capturing some really terrific paddock imagery of him this coming Spring.

Vinery Stud's ad for All Too Hard.