The Yarrawonga screw job

My dad would have turned 77 this week and in celebration I planned to raise a very special glass to his memory, like I look forward to doing on that one special day in October each year. Just myself out in the backyard, gazing up at the stars with my ears filled with some of his favourite music in remembrance for an hour or so, a glass of one of his favourite tipples in hand.

And this year instead of the customary tumbler of scotch ice and soda (J&B Rare was his go to), I picked out a very special bottle with a hugely deep connection with not only the man of the hour but also my family.

But so far in this genius idea I’ve hit a couple of snags. Firstly I’ve found out I don’t have anything in the house to open it and worse than that, I may have left this brilliant idea about ten years too late…

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Upgrading to a Samsung S24+

Samsung Galaxy S24+

Well it’s been a while since I’ve last upgraded my phone, my hard working Samsung S20 FE doing all the heavily lifting (er calls) and plenty of YouTube filming til now. But my tax money came through, I finally found a phone option I liked and now I’ve got a brand spanking new Samsung S24+ to get used to.

And it has arrived with an AI on board I’ve renamed ‘Fabius’..

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Time to see the man about my taxes

Oh good, it’s tax time again. Which once upon a time involved me breaking out a bottle of red wine and the tax pack from the local newsagent (in that order) and then doing it three times with varying results. Then came online which made things far simpler, right up until the time when my tax got a little more complicated with many more moving parts.

Luckily I now pay a very clever tax agency to cast their eyes over things so I don’t have to. And they have been great in doing a far better job than I have so which is very helpful you see…because my mechanic just called and he seems very keen on buying his kids a boat.

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Let’s home brew an awesome beer! (Coopers Lager kit)

Coopers Lager Extract kit

If you missed the amazing news from yesterday, I’m now the proud owner of a new smoker and now a DIY Beer Coopers Lager kit! Yes indeed I’m truly strapped in for one ripper of a fathers day with future thoughts of smoked meats matched perfectly with copious amounts (23 litres when all said and done) of beer from the shed.

We’ve still got to bolt together the smoker but while I waited for my wife to finish work, I figured it was the perfect time to put this kit through it’s paces. After all I’ve already unboxed the whole kit and caboodle, now it’s time for all the ingredients of this Lovely Donna Lager (named after the wonderful woman who bought me the Coopers lager kit of course!) to come together in one foamy contained wonderful mess.

Let’s get mixing Brewmaster Flex!

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Smoker em if you got em!

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure who’s more excited about Fathers Day coming up – me or the kids, who seem just about at bursting point to give me their presents crafted from school and shopping with mum.
But then last night I found out early that we’re getting a new addition to the family…a Jumbuck smoker from Bunnings Warehouse – so now my excitement levels are insanely peaking as well, so…

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Can we please bring back the stock exchange bar concept?

stock exchange bar

After ponying up $25 for a beer and a hard solo for my far better half over the weekend, I’m reminded about why I don’t go out and drink anymore.

Maybe if every pub and venue incorporated the stock exchange bar system that used to be in Melbourne back in the day, I’d be far more inclined to venture out and sample the night life a little more. Because in 2024 there’s so much more I prefer to buy for $25 than a schooner of German Ale and an alcoholic lemon thing..

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