What made you feel good today?

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by mad2

no they are not!

The Suffolk ones here aren't real bright.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Most brainless animal on this earth those black faced sheep

I thought it was humans that took that mantle. Too bloody smart for our own darn good most of the time.

[jaydee]

Belated Fathers Day gift from my daughter who lives up north. The tomahawk weighs 1.3. Gift pack.

[.:4:.]

So my kid was telling me the prank they pull at school. Man kids have no malice in them these days. If someone goes to the toilet and leaves their laptop open, changing their browser home page from google to yahoo.... when i was younger, granted we didnt have laptops at school, but at a mates place you'd change the browser home page to some form of porn site. That would usually go un noticed untill their parents used the pc. So i didnt tell him that. I dont want my kid to be a grot.
But what i did do, i asked him to leave his phone on the table unlocked and look at the wall. He knew i was going to do something to it. I did. I went settings and invert colours. So he knew i didnt break his phone, but didnt know you could do that. He was honest and had that happened without him knowing he would have thought his phone was broken. Yeah its bad parenting from my end sorta, but my kid is my mate.

[anobserver]

Went to the all Aussie day at lakeside raceway this sunday just gone.

Crowd seemed a bit subdued compared to previous years, but lots of decent made here cars to check out.

Also got to drive the track during one of the scheduled cruises. All good fun. And unexpectedly won an award for "south aussies finest"! Very cool.

https://youtu.be/2vwYMOn9ysM

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Went to the all Aussie day at lakeside raceway this sunday just gone.

Crowd seemed a bit subdued compared to previous years, but lots of decent made here cars to check out.

Also got to drive the track during one of the scheduled cruises. All good fun. And unexpectedly won an award for "south aussies finest"! Very cool.

https://youtu.be/2vwYMOn9ysM

Well done.

Those Mitsubishi 3.5 V6's were streets ahead of the equivalent Ford and Holden 6's of the time.

[.:4:.]

So I'll start bt saying i have been to korean restaurants before and like korean food. Never had take away korean.
So for something different i tried out my local korean takeaway place.
So i ordered the garlic fried chicken, chips and coleslaw. It came with a garlic dipping sauce and a chilli sauce.
The chicken was really good. The chips, dunno if the cap fell off the chicken salt shaker, you can never have too much of that and there was a **** tonne. The coleslaw was as to be expected but they use that pink asian mayo which is nice. Im deffinately going to go back there in the future.

[.:4:.]

My mums a funny one.
So the wireless headphones i bought for her a couple weeks back, yes they were on special, but had i asked her in advance if she'd like a set, she'd say no. If i did it anyway she'd get up me and not use them. Hence why i didnt ask and bought them for her. Even not in special $55 isnt expensive, but on special for $17, even if she used them once, they paid for themselves.
So when i gave them to her i said theyre more for around the house, pair them up to your phone and you can listen to music without having your phone on you, as in gardening or laying in bed etc.
So a few days later she paired them to her phone and informs me that they work.
Last tuesday the question was will they work with her laptop for zoom meetings. Short answer was yes. My son explained how to do it.
Dunno why old people only text late at night or super early in the morning, but my mum texted me super early this morning to say how happy she is with them and uses them every day.
So im happy shes happy. Its one of those things where something doesnt seem usefull untill its thrown at you.

[Citroënbender]

Solid day’s graft, didn’t achieve a whole lot but managed a good physical effort. Collapsed motor mount removed, new one installed.

[roKWiz]

Beaut day for a drive to pick up the spare 6 pack Perkins/Mazda diesel which came with the previously bought other Trader.
Out through the glowing yellow Canola farms of Tungamah and onto Katamatite

[HIPO]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Well done.

Those Mitsubishi 3.5 V6's were streets ahead of the equivalent Ford and Holden 6's of the time.

yep, miss my Mitsu R & D built TW AWD.


https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11449741

[DFB FGXR6]

Not much is making me feel good lately, except................I have started reading.

I have never been one for reading novels or fiction, I crave facts and figures and would once read car magazines from cover to cover. I stopped reading car magazines, mainly because most cars are all the same these days. I stopped "reading" newspapers because of the crap that gets printed, and I mean that from two angles; one, I have enough drama in my life without reading about other people's drama. Two, I do not in any way care about which AFL footballer has dyed his hair purple this week, what he ate for breakfast or when he last went to the toilet........you get the point.

But, and I don't fully know how, but I have started to read novels. And what a lovely escape they are. I "get it" now why people love reading, it allows you to disappear into a completely different world, free of your own pain and hurt. I have even been reading during my lunch breaks, helping me to escape my hell for a moment or two.

I don't know how long this phase will last, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the escape and looking forward to it more often than not.

[LG17]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Not much is making me feel good lately, except................I have started reading.

I have never been one for reading novels or fiction, I crave facts and figures and would once read car magazines from cover to cover. I stopped reading car magazines, mainly because most cars are all the same these days. I stopped "reading" newspapers because of the crap that gets printed, and I mean that from two angles; one, I have enough drama in my life without reading about other people's drama. Two, I do not in any way care about which AFL footballer has dyed his hair purple this week, what he ate for breakfast or when he last went to the toilet........you get the point.

But, and I don't fully know how, but I have started to read novels. And what a lovely escape they are. I "get it" now why people love reading, it allows you to disappear into a completely different world, free of your own pain and hurt. I have even been reading during my lunch breaks, helping me to escape my hell for a moment or two.

I don't know how long this phase will last, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the escape and looking forward to it more often than not.

Get into Matthew Reilly, a young Aussie author.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Not much is making me feel good lately, except................I have started reading.

I have never been one for reading novels or fiction, I crave facts and figures and would once read car magazines from cover to cover. I stopped reading car magazines, mainly because most cars are all the same these days. I stopped "reading" newspapers because of the crap that gets printed, and I mean that from two angles; one, I have enough drama in my life without reading about other people's drama. Two, I do not in any way care about which AFL footballer has dyed his hair purple this week, what he ate for breakfast or when he last went to the toilet........you get the point.

But, and I don't fully know how, but I have started to read novels. And what a lovely escape they are. I "get it" now why people love reading, it allows you to disappear into a completely different world, free of your own pain and hurt. I have even been reading during my lunch breaks, helping me to escape my hell for a moment or two.

I don't know how long this phase will last, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the escape and looking forward to it more often than not.

Great to hear. Never was into fiction much but love to read true adventure stories.
Still have a rather large collection of incredible sea voyages, my favourites would be......

Alone Against the Altantic, (crossing in a 18ft boat)
An Ocean to cross. (a disable couple who built and sailed to Brazil)
500 days (an Aussie building a 12ft boat and sailing around the world)
The long Way (Bernard Moitessier, famous French circumnavigator)

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Not much is making me feel good lately, except................I have started reading.

I have never been one for reading novels or fiction, I crave facts and figures and would once read car magazines from cover to cover. I stopped reading car magazines, mainly because most cars are all the same these days. I stopped "reading" newspapers because of the crap that gets printed, and I mean that from two angles; one, I have enough drama in my life without reading about other people's drama. Two, I do not in any way care about which AFL footballer has dyed his hair purple this week, what he ate for breakfast or when he last went to the toilet........you get the point.

But, and I don't fully know how, but I have started to read novels. And what a lovely escape they are. I "get it" now why people love reading, it allows you to disappear into a completely different world, free of your own pain and hurt. I have even been reading during my lunch breaks, helping me to escape my hell for a moment or two.

I don't know how long this phase will last, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the escape and looking forward to it more often than not.

I love to read and also prefer fact over fiction.
So what you do is buy autobiographies or true stories. I finished a couple on the sub invasion of Sydney Harbour and the Darwin attack not long ago and all I want to do is head to Sydney and visit sites now.
For fathers day I was given books on Ned Kelly, Ronnie J Dio, Chris Cornell and Eddie Betts. Not sure which one to pick up next.

[HIPO]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Not much is making me feel good lately, except................I have started reading.

I have never been one for reading novels or fiction, I crave facts and figures and would once read car magazines from cover to cover. I stopped reading car magazines, mainly because most cars are all the same these days. I stopped "reading" newspapers because of the crap that gets printed, and I mean that from two angles; one, I have enough drama in my life without reading about other people's drama. Two, I do not in any way care about which AFL footballer has dyed his hair purple this week, what he ate for breakfast or when he last went to the toilet........you get the point.

But, and I don't fully know how, but I have started to read novels. And what a lovely escape they are. I "get it" now why people love reading, it allows you to disappear into a completely different world, free of your own pain and hurt. I have even been reading during my lunch breaks, helping me to escape my hell for a moment or two.

I don't know how long this phase will last, I don't care, I'm just enjoying the escape and looking forward to it more often than not.

Plenty of audio books on youtube if youre that way inclined. I do that or buy books for my Kindle. Do both on your phone these days too.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

For fathers day I was given books on Ned Kelly, Ronnie J Dio, Chris Cornell and Eddie Betts. Not sure which one to pick up next.

Bloody Ned Kelly, just head for Glenrowan on the way to $ydney.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by HIPO

Plenty of audio books on youtube if youre that way inclined. I do that or buy books for my Kindle. Do both on your phone these days too.

Have listened to a few audiobooks, they are great to have on while I'm mowing.

[DFB FGXR6]

Soaked to the bone after working in the rain all day, I had a late customer come in for a wander. I was in no mood to chat, and yet I spent far too long with this man than the boss should know about.

This gentleman had moved to the area about two years ago and hadn't know we existed till today. After he told me that he had just had to put his dog down this morning, I knew he needed the distraction, someone or something to take his mind off losing a companion. Suddenly, I had all the time in the world to listen, despite being cold and wet. Somehow, the chat turned to cars, I said that I hope he wasn't into bloody Holden's, me also saying I was a Ford man when questioned why I asked that.

Well, it turns out he worked for Tickford and FPV. We talked T-Series, 5.6 Windsor's, Barra Turbo's, Boss and Miami V8 engines. We even chatted about David Flint, the man responsible for leading the Tickford/FPV brand. Apparently, he didn't take any sh.t from Ford, which I always thought was the case. I also agreed with his statement that Falcon's often had the better engineering quality over the Holden product. Comments regarding the transition from FPV under Prodrive to being brough back inhouse at Ford were interesting, although not surprising.

I hope I managed to take his mind away from his grief for at least a little while. And I hope he returns; I have more questions to ask!

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Soaked to the bone after working in the rain all day, I had a late customer come in for a wander. I was in no mood to chat, and yet I spent far too long with this man than the boss should know about.

This gentleman had moved to the area about two years ago and hadn't know we existed till today. After he told me that he had just had to put his dog down this morning, I knew he needed the distraction, someone or something to take his mind off losing a companion. Suddenly, I had all the time in the world to listen, despite being cold and wet. Somehow, the chat turned to cars, I said that I hope he wasn't into bloody Holden's, me also saying I was a Ford man when questioned why I asked that.

Well, it turns out he worked for Tickford and FPV. We talked T-Series, 5.6 Windsor's, Barra Turbo's, Boss and Miami V8 engines. We even chatted about David Flint, the man responsible for leading the Tickford/FPV brand. Apparently, he didn't take any sh.t from Ford, which I always thought was the case. I also agreed with his statement that Falcon's often had the better engineering quality over the Holden product. Comments regarding the transition from FPV under Prodrive to being brough back inhouse at Ford were interesting, although not surprising.

I hope I managed to take his mind away from his grief for at least a little while. And I hope he returns; I have more questions to ask!

You know what you did there? To the customer you turned yourself into a person, not just some guy. Yes there is a line between wasting time, but also it creates repeat business. And, work is always more tolerable when you arent a robot and can have a quick conversation with clients. One thing i was taught early on at my past job was find out and remember a clients interest. That way next time you can ask and then you become a person to them not just that guy who does the work. Its not a dodgey sales move or anything, you'd be surprised how many people you become friends with. You don't waste their time talking their ears off, but they ask you your interests or whatever and yeah.
Most interesting was a contact in an office that id worked for for a couple years. This lady told me she liked going to gigs and music festivals. One day she was taking me to where the issue was and was walking in front of me. I saw the issue and said so but she kept walking. I did the unproffesional and tapped her on the shoulder. I apologised, and she told me she was deaf. So i fixed the issue, spoke to her later. Apologised again. Said my kid was born with a hearing impairment, got that fixed but he has a speach impediment as his first 3 years he couldnt hear properly. So this lady tells me she was born completely deaf. I complimented her as she didnt have any speach impediment or anything, i did not know at all. Out of curiosity i asked why does she like live music? She likes dancing and you can feel loud music.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

You know what you did there? To the customer you turned yourself into a person, not just some guy. Yes there is a line between wasting time, but also it creates repeat business. And, work is always more tolerable when you arent a robot and can have a quick conversation with clients.

This is something the boss's don't understand very well. You are correct, there is a fine line, but I know there are customers who ask for me specifically, likewise a colleague in the same area, because we have put in the effort to understand the "person" as a customer. I have struggled with this concept for a long time, I'm a very point blank "get to the point" type of guy, but I know when I put in the effort to take a moment and break the ice, ask questions, make comments ect, that it often improves the sales experience for both the customer and myself.

From managements perspective, your time with a customer should be covered in the sale you make with them. Talk too long to the customer who only buys a single item and "you have cost the company". Never mind the relationship building, or the possibility of that person retuning next week to spend $2000 because they were given information to be comfortable spending such amount. Or the word-of-mouth effect, as in "DFB at ........ was so helpful, he will be helpful for you too....." and thus generating more sales.

I'm not a hard salesman, if someone is going to spend money, then they will do so. I don't chase or pester customers for sales, I let them happen organically. That way the customer feels comfortable spending money, and hopeful return again later on.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This is something the boss's don't understand very well. You are correct, there is a fine line, but I know there are customers who ask for me specifically, likewise a colleague in the same area, because we have put in the effort to understand the "person" as a customer. I have struggled with this concept for a long time, I'm a very point blank "get to the point" type of guy, but I know when I put in the effort to take a moment and break the ice, ask questions, make comments ect, that it often improves the sales experience for both the customer and myself.

From managements perspective, your time with a customer should be covered in the sale you make with them. Talk too long to the customer who only buys a single item and "you have cost the company". Never mind the relationship building, or the possibility of that person retuning next week to spend $2000 because they were given information to be comfortable spending such amount. Or the word-of-mouth effect, as in "DFB at ........ was so helpful, he will be helpful for you too....." and thus generating more sales.

I'm not a hard salesman, if someone is going to spend money, then they will do so. I don't chase or pester customers for sales, I let them happen organically. That way the customer feels comfortable spending money, and hopeful return again later on.

It very much depends on the industry. If its say commercial like i was working in doing service, so a lot of repeat business as every other day something would crap out, so its nice to make friends. If its over the counter style stuff, most are 1 and done and you cant be mates with everyone. But you get what i mean by turning youself into a person to regular customers?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

It very much depends on the industry. If its say commercial like i was working in doing service, so a lot of repeat business as every other day something would crap out, so its nice to make friends. If its over the counter style stuff, most are 1 and done and you cant be mates with everyone. But you get what i mean by turning youself into a person to regular customers?

I do, it's certainly more enjoyable when you become the "person" rather than just a robot who takes someone's money.

This is retail by the way, and a business which has a lot of regulars. Having the personal touch helps retain customers, it's what separates us from the Big Green Shed.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I do, it's certainly more enjoyable when you become the "person" rather than just a robot who takes someone's money.

This is retail by the way, and a business which has a lot of regulars. Having the personal touch helps retain customers, it's what separates us from the Big Green Shed.

Man, one client we had was known as the ice lizard. Nobody i worked with liked attending her jobs. I attended one, introduced myself. Asked to be shown what was on my job card. Did that, took her for a walk to show the work was done. Then pointed out other issues and asked if she wants those rectified. It was a do and charge. If she said no, thats fine. But she said yes.
So that was done.
Later my admin lady called me. Internal calls no ****s are given. She tells me the ice lizard called giving myself positive feedback.
I did find common ground with that client, she is actually a really nice person. Common ground to start with was paying for fuel in a mazda cx9. I had one at the time. Difference was she was old and had 3 teenage kids, i was incredibly good looking (subjective) and my then wife had the opinion that 1 young child needs a 7 seater suv.
That client, for trivial **** i didnt get those jobs. Thats good, so it was a long time before something major came up and that was why it was my job. To everyone else she was still considered the ice lizard, but i was there to sort things out not catch up socially. Office's, no staff give a crap if comms go down. If its the curcuit in the kitchen for the coffee machine, thats no time for chit chat.

[danzvtil]

Replaced my 10yo laptop this week, keyboard was slowly dying. It’s amazing the level of rage you feel when the A,N and enter keys only work intermittently.

[asagaai]

So with Covid my work slowed down, got in a rut and just vegetated like a sedentary carrot in the ground and put on weight.

Anyway to try to pull myself out I started road cycling.

From the front verandah of my house I look directly over Mt Sugarloaf, which is a steep road to a lookout that looks out over Lake Macquarie.

I tried after some weeks to ride up it, needed like 3 rests and had to do the walk of shame up the steepest part. Further training and riding, and I managed to get it down to 2 rests (walk of shame up steepest part), then lately, 1 rest just after the steepest part.

The problem is that you climb for some kms at about 10 -12 degrees, then three quarters way up it jacks up to 15% (steepest part inducing walk of shame), and after some 400 metres at 15% it backs down to some 12-13% for another 400 metres.

When you ride 15% it is so steep your front wheel is hopping with the strain, and you are going so slowly and it is so steep that if you cannot keep enough pace to keep upright, you can fall over as it is hard to unclip your feet out.

Anyway, last week I rode Wottons Way over Mt Buledelah (44km with 968 metres climbing-fantastic road now that is soo quiet) and today had another crack at Mt Sugarloaf- and finally got it.

So happy. And bonus was I was passed by a beautiful Mk 2 escort (thought it was a classic 1000 cc motorbike by engine sound behind) , and when the Escort passed me on the way down I gave a big thumbs up and the driver waved and gave a big smile.

So it was a double feel good day for me today!!!

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Replaced my 10yo laptop this week, keyboard was slowly dying. It’s amazing the level of rage you feel when the A,N and enter keys only work intermittently.

My old laptop was prolly 12 when i replaced it. Half the keyboard didnt work. I just bought a wireless keyboard to work around that. It was when the motherboard said no that i replaced it. To retrieve my files i bought a cheap hdd dock and pulled the old hdd out. That worked to do the transfer.
New laptops are so much thinner, lighter and faster. I bought a pretty basic azus. It absolutely craps all over my decade + old hp. Press the on and no joke it takes 3 seconds to boot as opposed to 30 seconds or more of the old one.

[Citroënbender]

“Excavated” some of the toolbox today. Mr 4 would definitely call me a grub or slob for not keeping my gear shipshape. In archaeological context I’ve probably dug down to early 2020.

It was good to bin a bunch of dead sealant cartridges and return about eight aerosols to the garage shelves, where they really belong. The extra space created is noticeable.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Have been fortunate enough to be able to get my daughter away for a few nights to reset after her stressful last couple of school weeks.

Ended up getting a place in Marlo, right in front of the Snowy River. Here's the view from the balcony:



Daughter went for a surf today at Salmon Beach, so I took the opportunity to go for an 8km beach run. Looking towards Point Ricardo



Looking back towards Salmon Rocks / West Cape



Apart from the few people on Salmon Beach, I was the only one on the whole beach.

Beautiful.

Not a lot actually as i have been pretty crook now for a couple of months...

But i still want to be part of something special, so medication aside lol i just sit back and read posts on the old interwebs and this place just draws me back even tho' i don't own a ford anymore...

This made me feel good today

A lot of memories have been posted that many people here currently dont know about , but i have pic's from a decade and a half ago and it truly is something amazing about this place that Russel and the members created that i am super proud to have been a part of !

Peace Out Daz