A NEW TOY

Hope Rachel Cabanossi dosen't report me to Centerlink for payment fraud, I mean, how can one go getting a new camera on all those Centerlink handouts. Surely there must be some fraud going on.

OK, I suppose it is my turn to prove myself a hypocrite as well. I have said for quite some time that I would be sticking to film only and not going down the digital SLR path. Besides, I don't like the quality of digital, it is to sharp, I don't like the idea of your important images being stored electronically, film cameras are far more rugged and, well quite frankly, I don't particularly like change all that much.
Regardless of this, I went out and got myself a EOS 1000D. Not the top of the range camera, but it is no piece of bollocks either. The last few months of saving up those dole cheques has really been beneficial and I look forward to experimenting with it between now and the time I reach my much anticipated end of existence.
Like the Fuji contraption before it, this is going to take some getting use to. However Canon, unlike many people, will not usually let you down.

I took the opportunity early this morning to head down to the airport and give it a bit of a test run. If I am to take it to Vietnam this year (god bless dole cheques) I want to be ready to give it the thrashing of its life.
The Fuji was about to pack it in on my last ever trip to the Philippines in 2007, but it held it together. The Canon has big shoes to fill.

Anyway the following collection were taken early this morning. Feel free to email me any comments on the shots as I strive to get better at aviation photography.

Air New Zealand takes off from the third runway and immediately banks to the east and, well not surprisingly, New Zealand.

Watch the sprinkler Brooooooooooock - oh well, to late!

Now normally I hate security guards almost as much as I hate human vermin, however this poor bastard had to slowly push this car from one end of the runway to the other.
Despite this - he was still friendly to me when he passed.
Wanted to help, but passing the fence would get me shot nowdays.

Virgins everywhere.
One is leaving while another arrives.
Waited bloody ages to try to get this sort of shot which is occasionally seen in such good reads as 'Aviation Australia'.

Mascot residents see the black smoke all the time, most wondering where the hell it is coming from.
Now you know - they practise putting out fires between the bay and third runways.

I usually don't photograph anything Philippine related nowdays, it is a topic that really turns me off at the moment. However I saw a plane approaching Qantas Drive and by the time I saw who owned it, I had already got out of the car.
So what the heck! As it turned out, it was one I needed anyway.

The A380 is admitedly impressive, but for all round style, grace and beauty, I still think Boeing's 747 dumps a steamy one all over the Airbus product.
It will indeed be a sad day that they stop building these beautiful birds.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed these few shots from the new camera.
There will obviously be far more in the future.
For more shots taken today you can check out my 'Semi-Retired Foamer' website later on tomorrow.

Best wishes
Brad

~~ DINNER BY A RUNWAY ~~

G'day all my beloved readers. Been a big night and your fave reporter of bollocks is sitting here a tad sozzled and thaning the good lord for spell check at the end of this report.

Well it has been a big week following the assault at Mato RSL.

The lies being spread about what happened has had us laughing so hard that, beside risking a unexpected follow through, tired us out with the strain of the hilarity.

I suppose the thing that brings on the most bowel trembling hilarity is how the lies continually change. The art of a good bullshitting is to keep the story the same all the time.

One also should lie believeably, I mean, "A PUNCH IN THE FACE" yet no blood, no marks, indeed not even mentioned until being told the assailant was in big trouble.
Yeah right. Try standup!

Anyway after all the stress of such joviality - it was thought opportune to head on down to the airport for dinner while watching some planes, just like the good old days before air wasters entered my life.

Its a shame they lock the gate around 7pm as there was still lots of plane gunzels (PUNZELS?) and families still there watching the parade of jets. There was nothing truly amazing, just the normal, but who can fail to be impressed at the sight of a 747 (arguable still the worlds best looking aircraft - despite the arrival of the A380) landing.

Bit disappointing that none were seen taking off, as were any A380 monsters.

I took a few shots, but alas it was late in the day and I had no tripod, so they certainly are far from ranking in my highest of quality. Actually bloody far.

Heck I was going to rant on about my sledom shown interest in planes, but I am tired (and more than a little tipsey following tonights celebrations - Celebrating one week since the real nature of people was revealed) and think I will hit the hay like a hungry horse.

And like Fox Mulder always said "THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE"!

Actually he may not have said that, it may just have been the shows subtitle. Anyway, the truth will out, indeed it already has.

Email me for the true version of events last week, once you are fed up with the bollocks. I would happily sit a polygraph test to confirm it and MAY STILL DO SO!

Tally Ho

Brad (A bit pissed and a lot pissed off)

VH-OGV landing above a Singapore Airlines jet this evening at Sydney Airport.

The bed of water is known as Botany Bay and is often freqented by another of societies vermin, sharks. Sharks at least don't lie, they just bite your leg off.

Same aircraft again.

My good mate and brother Daven Walters (a plane and railfan currently living as close to the middle of nowhere as you can get in Borroloola, Northern Territory) tells me this was originally in the 'Australian' fleet, an earlier attempt by Qantas to launch a budget international carrier.

It was late in the day so quality is the dogs bollocks, while my current state of inebriation revents any serious Photoshop work.

A plane throttles back (slows down?) after touchdown at Sydney Airport.

Heading in to land on the bay runway.

These smaller craft aren't as impressive as the ol 747, but who bleedin well knows in these arty farty type shots hey.

Thanks to Daven Walters for some of the information and his moral support during lifes current bollocks. LOVE YA BRO!

Cheers

Brad

Another Philippine Selection!

Hi all,
Been a bit slack with the posts of late. Extended work hours, lack of sleep and just the usual bollocks of day to day life has been getting in the way of internet time.
Indeed, as I type this I am half asleep, scrounging around a totally fried brain looking for something witty to say. Alas nothing but tribble is coming through in the thought patterns, so if you wanted something intelligent to read, then perhaps you have come to the wrong place.
As always, in an effort to look like I have made a great effort, I attach a number of random photos from the Philippines last year. They mostly show members of the family, people who I think were members of family and others who likely weren't anything to do with the family but were out to score some pera (money that is).



Possibly the only negative thing I can say about the Philippines is the lack of family members that are willing to talk to me. It makes being at home uncomfortable to say the least, evening are especially dreaded.
The last trip was turning out to be another one of those until my niece Aireen (above) turned up from Roxas City.
Aireen is an example of real Philippine beauty, though she would deny it, and she can sing fantastically at karaoke.
The biggest plus was that she was always wanting to talk. Wow and did we talk, even ghost stories till well after midnight. :-) She turned a lonely Quezon City stay into something far more enjoyable.
If only customs would have let me bring her back - I am sure she would have fit inside the suitcase. :-)
Salamat Aireen.


Must be something about the Roxas City part of the family, never have I found so many family members actually wanting to make the effort to speak. It justifies the asawa's decision to purchase land down in that beautiful city.
Part of the Roxas family is Christine (purple-far side of table) who, like Aireen, instantly talked to me and made me feel more at home. Indeed the whole family here lead to quite some debate as the asawa wanted to push on, but I just wanted to stay.
I suppose it needs to be said, I mean you guys were already thinking it, but wow they breed them maganda in Roxas! :-)
Thanks to Christine, Cisa and all the gang down at Roxas. I certainly miss you and will be back there ASAP.
The one in the red is our cousin Annabelle. Now if you want to negotiate a bargain, or wish to avoid being ripped off on transport, then Annabelle is the one to have with you. She takes no %^$# from anyone and stands up too people better than anyone I know.



Always wanted to get up close to a caraboa for a look. Ning's family has one (perhaps more - who knows) at Lantangan. Poor creature looks less than happy in its new position as a fun park ride :-)
Still it has to be better than plowing rice fields all day and it did get to chew grass through the whole ordeal.


OK, now I have to admit I have no idea who these people are. Almost sure the shot was taken on Jintatolo but it was more likely I wanted the shot for the hornbag in the orange than to get any real shot of a family member I needed to remember.
Hmmmm yeah, probably was because of her. She certainly is quite the hornbag.
Anyway who knows, perhaps someone can identify them for me. In the meantime feel free to just admire that little orange top.

Well thats it from Down Under tonight. My head is about to hit the keyboard and thats without going anywhere near the Tanduay tonight.
If any of the QC/Roxas family wish to email some latest photos for inclusion please feel free to do so.

Night

MASCOT - Shots During A Park Picnic!

What do you do when there is no party, mahjong and karaoke nights taking place? You get the Philos together and head to the park for a picnic!
Why would you stay home bored?????

Sadly this isn't another string of photos showing the most beautiful woman the Philippines has to offer, this is just a few random shots taken around the park during day and night!


A tree during the day!


A tree during the night!


A tree based friendly just awaiting for an unsuspecting human!



Ahhhmmmm - A rather smutty looking tree!