Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Lyndon's Western Sydney Garage (amongst life's other stories).

[Grizz1963]

Survivors guilt is very real in so many ways.

But……

Celebrate it,,that is all.

 

[hewey]

That's a significant milestone Lyndon, given the odds involved. I think Bob hit the nail on the head: "Every one of those patients who didn't survive would want you to celebrate in their name. If nothing else, celebrate it for me".

 

[hewey]

On a different note I spotted this Jag today, what a stunning car! Had to get some pics for you mate.

 

[Bob Heine]

On a different note I spotted this Jag today, what a stunning car! Had to get some pics for you mate.

Beautiful Jag! The TWR on the backlite caught my eye. Based on the size of the exhaust pipes it might be a Tom Wilkinshaw Racing special edition. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/twr-announces-second-coming-eye-catching-v12-jaguar-xjs

 

[Geoff289]

Beautiful Jag! The TWR on the backlite caught my eye. Based on the size of the exhaust pipes it might be a Tom Wilkinshaw Racing special edition. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/twr-announces-second-coming-eye-catching-v12-jaguar-xjs

Down here we all remember Walkinshaw blitzing the Bathurst 1000 in one of those in 1985.

 

[Lyndon]

OK - so it's been a while....

- Hewey - thanks for posting those pics. First time I've seen them....... Shows how busy life has been on "Other Stuff". Bob's right. It's a de-badged TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) XJRS, V12 version of the XJ-S line. TWR built them to go racing in Europe and ultimately coming out here to win Bathurst in 1985:



The actual car that won that race was owned for a long time by a Jaguar specialist in Melbourne named Mike Roddy (website: Here) who's place it was that I sent the XJ6 to for the massive engine re-build that it received in 2020. The 1985 car was for sale in the UK after making an appearance at Goodwood this year, but I believe it has come back Down Under to a new owner now.

All Others - 2024 has been a busy year, with NZ (north Island tour in March) and East Coast of Tasmania (including the famed Freycinet Peninsula) in October for 2 weeks, culminating in an AGM and Conference at Devenport. We did 1884 kilometres (1170 miles) over the 2 weeks in a hire hybrid Corolla. 1st Hybrid I've ever driven, and despite not being able to use the cruise control (stupid system that reduced speeds, sometimes alarmingly, when any steering input was applied - scaring the sheet out of motorists following on freeways etc) we achieved 3.4 litres/100 kms (nearly 70 miles/gallon), which was good because I was paying for the fuel this time! It had other useless nanny tech on board that had to be turned off after every start to make driving more enjoyable (lane departure warnings and steering correction - frightening stuff), and overspeed warnings etc...... We arrived in Hobart, went over to Triabunna and - oh well - look here:



It was a ball of a time, with 2 very hairy boat rides - Maria Island and Wineglass Bay!

Pickleball has also been crazy busy recently as I now host/organise 3 of the sessions per week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), and am hoping to be qualified as a level 1 coach early in 2025. Here (I'm 2nd bloke in from the right in the first pic on the front page, and Irene is 1st woman in from the left...). We now have access to a dedicated in-door centre with 6 courts, and an out-door centre with 8 courts.

Even though I officially only work 2 days/week now, I'm still very busy. I did reduce my Association links by 1 in late October, coming off the Council of the ATA (Australian Trucking Association - the biggest trucking Assoc in Australia), but I'm still the VP of the State Association and represent my employer on the Executive of the National Body...... I have travelled Australia constantly over the past 9 months, Adelaide, Melbourne (repeatedly), Canberra (many times), Brisbane and Gold Coast etc so that has kept me busy. If I can convince the Director to come we use his jet - otherwise it has been commercial airlines (it's a burden but someone has to do it....):



And certain big industry players in the State body want me to run for President in March, but Irene doesn't think I need the time burden.... We'll see.

House still hasn't started construction, though we do have a finalised plan that has Basix and NatHers certification. Our Draughtsperson has had problems with her mother's health and seems to have left the planet. However we believe she has sent it for independent DA (Design Approval) certification. I have started sending the plans to builders to get quotes. We want it to start construction in the early New Year and for us to be in it by Christmas 2025...... I would show the plan but SWMBO'd hasn't approved releasing them yet - meaning I haven't asked yet. The house overall is 322 sq metres (34 squares or 3465 sq ft), of which 90 sqm (968 sq ft) is my double deep garage and workshop at 15m x 6m (last 3m x 6m being the workshop).

Not much has been happening in the current garage, as I'm over it and waiting for the new workshop (and access to the many machines available at the Yass Men's Shed - Here), after which I have plenty of projects stuffed up in my head.......

Both of the Jags are still in fantastic condition and both have proven reliable, fast and smooth (Space, Pace and Grace as Sir William used to say). We took both cars to the British Display Day at the Hawkesbury Showground in September:



Just don't get me started on the new Jag ads and releases..........!

Irene wanted to get out of the house on Boxing Day (day after Xmas day) so we took the XJR for a run down the coast. It was over 40 C (104F) but the Jag was faultless and ran like a train. I had to be careful as it's Double De-Merits points for speeding time again, so was watching the speedo like a hawk! Xmas day was at my daughter and grandson's place. Now just enjoying the time off (till 6th).

Anyway - time to go and do other things. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and will enjoy a safe and happy New Year (tomorrow down here). We are off to watch Australia vs Great Britain at the United Cup (Tennis) on NYD at Ken Rosewell Arena at Homebush Park (site of the 2000 Olympics). Should be a good evening.

Have fun all!

Lyndon

 

[Geoff289]

Good to see you back Lyndon. That's pretty exciting about your build starting soon. I hope it goes better than the place next door to us which is still not finished after 3 1/2 years. Nothing much has happened for 3 months now when the builder went belly up.

Your Tassy trip sounds pretty good. We've been twice in the last few years with the Mustang Club.

 

[Grizz1963]

Good to see you and an update Lyndon.

A magnificent 2025 to you and your family.

 

[ajohno]

Happy NEW YEAR Lyndon. Jags look great as well.

 

[Bob Heine]

Lyndon, thrilled to see your post and happy your absence was for good reason. I know your suffering on commercial flights but my only private airplane flight was a whole lot less impressive than yours. Five people in a four-seater meant that cabin service was quite limited. I would apologize for my suit but we dressed up for airplane travel in 1957.

I know of two people more excited about your upcoming build in Yass than me. My only question is: are you going to have to build your own Pickleball court at the new place or is there something already available in Yass?

Wishing you, Irene and the rest of the clan a Happy and Prosperous New Year from Up Over. And I believe I heard Irene's comment ringing as my head hit the sidewalk.

 

[manbike26]

OK - so it's been a while....

- Hewey - thanks for posting those pics. First time I've seen them....... Shows how busy life has been on "Other Stuff". Bob's right. It's a de-badged TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) XJRS, V12 version of the XJ-S line. TWR built them to go racing in Europe and ultimately coming out here to win Bathurst in 1985:



The actual car that won that race was owned for a long time by a Jaguar specialist in Melbourne named Mike Roddy (website: Here) who's place it was that I sent the XJ6 to for the massive engine re-build that it received in 2020. The 1985 car was for sale in the UK after making an appearance at Goodwood this year, but I believe it has come back Down Under to a new owner now.

All Others - 2024 has been a busy year, with NZ (north Island tour in March) and East Coast of Tasmania (including the famed Freycinet Peninsula) in October for 2 weeks, culminating in an AGM and Conference at Devenport. We did 1884 kilometres (1170 miles) over the 2 weeks in a hire hybrid Corolla. 1st Hybrid I've ever driven, and despite not being able to use the cruise control (stupid system that reduced speeds, sometimes alarmingly, when any steering input was applied - scaring the sheet out of motorists following on freeways etc) we achieved 3.4 litres/100 kms (nearly 70 miles/gallon), which was good because I was paying for the fuel this time! It had other useless nanny tech on board that had to be turned off after every start to make driving more enjoyable (lane departure warnings and steering correction - frightening stuff), and overspeed warnings etc...... We arrived in Hobart, went over to Triabunna and - oh well - look here:



It was a ball of a time, with 2 very hairy boat rides - Maria Island and Wineglass Bay!

Pickleball has also been crazy busy recently as I now host/organise 3 of the sessions per week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), and am hoping to be qualified as a level 1 coach early in 2025. Here (I'm 2nd bloke in from the right in the first pic on the front page, and Irene is 1st woman in from the left...). We now have access to a dedicated in-door centre with 6 courts, and an out-door centre with 8 courts.

Even though I officially only work 2 days/week now, I'm still very busy. I did reduce my Association links by 1 in late October, coming off the Council of the ATA (Australian Trucking Association - the biggest trucking Assoc in Australia), but I'm still the VP of the State Association and represent my employer on the Executive of the National Body...... I have travelled Australia constantly over the past 9 months, Adelaide, Melbourne (repeatedly), Canberra (many times), Brisbane and Gold Coast etc so that has kept me busy. If I can convince the Director to come we use his jet - otherwise it has been commercial airlines (it's a burden but someone has to do it....):



And certain big industry players in the State body want me to run for President in March, but Irene doesn't think I need the time burden.... We'll see.

House still hasn't started construction, though we do have a finalised plan that has Basix and NatHers certification. Our Draughtsperson has had problems with her mother's health and seems to have left the planet. However we believe she has sent it for independent DA (Design Approval) certification. I have started sending the plans to builders to get quotes. We want it to start construction in the early New Year and for us to be in it by Christmas 2025...... I would show the plan but SWMBO'd hasn't approved releasing them yet - meaning I haven't asked yet. The house overall is 322 sq metres (34 squares or 3465 sq ft), of which 90 sqm (968 sq ft) is my double deep garage and workshop at 15m x 6m (last 3m x 6m being the workshop).

Not much has been happening in the current garage, as I'm over it and waiting for the new workshop (and access to the many machines available at the Yass Men's Shed - Here), after which I have plenty of projects stuffed up in my head.......

Both of the Jags are still in fantastic condition and both have proven reliable, fast and smooth (Space, Pace and Grace as Sir William used to say). We took both cars to the British Display Day at the Hawkesbury Showground in September:



Just don't get me started on the new Jag ads and releases..........!

Irene wanted to get out of the house on Boxing Day (day after Xmas day) so we took the XJR for a run down the coast. It was over 40 C (104F) but the Jag was faultless and ran like a train. I had to be careful as it's Double De-Merits points for speeding time again, so was watching the speedo like a hawk! Xmas day was at my daughter and grandson's place. Now just enjoying the time off (till 6th).

Anyway - time to go and do other things. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and will enjoy a safe and happy New Year (tomorrow down here). We are off to watch Australia vs Great Britain at the United Cup (Tennis) on NYD at Ken Rosewell Arena at Homebush Park (site of the 2000 Olympics). Should be a good evening.

Have fun all!

Lyndon

Good looking cars and a handsome Phenom! Thanks for sharing!

 

[kitdoctor]

On a different note I spotted this Jag today, what a stunning car!

I've always thought the styling was only outdone by the E Type.

I remember cutting out for sale adverts from Saturday's newspapers for E Types (when that's how cars were advertised) and suggested to my father these would become collectable. Same for Falcon GTHOs. Not bad calls for a 10-year old but my pocket money fell short of what was needed.

 

[Lyndon]

Part1.

Well....

11th September 2025. I have spent the last month re-reading this thread from the beginning, and I just got to this date 7 years ago, and the following message from Bob H:

Happy 66th Birthday Lyndon!

Well - today - 7 years later - Bob's finally correct! And since its been nearly 10 months since my last post - I guess one is due (??? )...

So - goings on since December 2024.

In early March Irene and I returned to NZ to use up an Air NZ credit we still had from our previous visit (that involved a cancelled Air NZ flight rapidly replaced by a Qantas substitute). This time we spent 4 nights in Auckland (including a great day trip touring the wineries of Waiheke Island, and finding somewhere to play Pickleball....), then we went north (the only direction we hadn't covered in previous trips) to the magnificent Bay of Islands and the town of Paihia. Spent 5 nights at a magnificent AirBNB (this is a pano from the balcony):



That's the Bay of Islands (here):



We took tours to the "Hole in the Rock" in a big catamaran:



An extremely fun day on a "Tall Ship" (The R Tucker Thompson):


And:



(She was fun to drive)! And we were accompanied by a large pod of playful dolphins for part of the day trip. Fun to watch.

We also did a fascinating walking tour of Russell (across the bay from Paihia) - the town once known (in the 1800's) as the "Hellhole of the Pacific) - more here . We enjoyed a very full day bus trip (that saved me 5 hours of driving) to 90 mile beach at the top of the North Island:



And we toured the Waitangi Treaty Grounds . Another fascinating look at NZ history.

A fun couple of weeks all round.

Work and associated Industry Representation continues to be hugely busy. And the House Build continues....

Onto Part 2.

Lyndon

 

[Lyndon]

Part 2.

This could be a bit wordy - sorry...

It was also interesting looking back at the first year of this thread - 2127 posts, and 165,000 views in 100 pages (in the old format of GJ - now 52 pages). A lot of banter with guys no longer with us - 1/2 Cup (Shepparton) and Dan (Maine), and other guys who no longer post here - Guster, Grumblebum (Rod), BBChevro (Mark), Hotfr8 (Simon) - banned..., Ned Norton, and the list goes on.

Anyway - other happenings. The House build that was (I have now discovered) first being discussed all those years ago. Well - the builder has been chosen, and he has the first 2 initial deposits. We first went out to see the builder in about May (I think) and we are travelling to Young (where he is based - about 3 hours west of here) next Thursday for our "selections" meeting, where we finalise colours and fittings, after which he will formalise the quote and we will have the bank pay the first 5% payment for things to start. It should be an 18 month journey to the completion from there. We have visited the block many times during trips over the last couple of months (it's still there thankfully), and have met a couple about 5 blocks from our place who used the same builder. The main road block in the process so far concerns/concerned my father.....

In March this year my father insisted on having a 90th birthday party:



And despite big restrictions with walking, he was doing well. Then, in June, after feeling a bit poorly, his Dr ordered blood test. The results showed very bad numbers for his kidneys. A renal specialist was booked for the 1st July, and I took both him (in a wheelchair for ease of movement) and Mum to that Dr. The Specialist very calmly explained that he DIDN'T have Cancer, and since there were no known reasons for the kidney failure he had 2 choices. Either go to Hospital to be prodded, scanned and tested until they did know the reason (at which point they probably wouldn't be able to do anything - as he was 90), or go home and live out his days. Mum and Dad chose to go home. After I wheeled him out I went back into the rooms and asked the Dr - how long has he got - to which he replied "if he's still with us in a month I'll be surprised"..... Anyway, Dd went downhill mentally very quickly from that point on, and Mum became very concerned for her ability to look after him. The Renal Palliative Care team that came to see him assured Mum that when she was ready they would arrange his transfer to Palliative Care. As it turned out that day was Wednesday 6th August. He was initially taken by Ambulance to Campbelltown Hospital, and the Palliative Specialist there came to see him (I was there), and she advised that by pure coincidence there was a bed available at Camden Palliative Care Ward (across the road from my place). He was transferred there on the same day. Over the coming weeks he didn't get any worse..... And the Team at PCU were starting to say "this isn't a long term facility" and they were looking at transferring him into a Nursing Home (we were hoping it would be at the same facility where their Retirement Apartment was located).

Anyway - on Thursday 28th August I received a call that the PCU Dr wanted to see Mum and I. In the meeting she indicated that Dad's condition had worsened, and he was showing signs that the Potassium build up in his system was at the "terminal" point. Family was organised and prepared. On the Friday night he had to have a nurse spend the entire night with him as he continually woke up and tried to get out of bed. On the Friday night my youngest sister and my niece (brother's daughter) stayed the night with him. We went over and got them on the Sunday morning, brought them over to our place and Irene cooked them a nice breakfast. They went back over after about an hour. Irene and I got there just as Mum arrived. The nurses then gave him a bed bath, but advised that he was in a state of terminal agitation. Suffice to say - he passed away about an hour later with Mum, me and Irene, my sister and her husband, and my niece all present.

I must say - that the PCU Teams of Doctors, Nurses and Welfare were absolutely brilliant people. Positive, informative, caring and just all round beautiful people. They got flowers from me after the event, and will get high praise from me to the Health Department when I find out how to....

As per his wishes in the correspondence I had been instructed to open after his passing (arranged many years ago) - he wanted a private cremation without anyone present, and had prepaid and prearranged that. That happened on Monday just gone, and I will be collecting his ashes tomorrow after lunch.

That he got 9 weeks down the track after a 4 week prognosis was astounding. I visited many times every day, and have been looking after their finances since the diagnosis in June. I also had to become nominee on his Centrelink Pension Account, and his Aged Care info. As per my experiences in my job - the dealings with the various Government Authorities was exhausting and time consuming....

So this whole process virtually stopped all other things going on in our lives, including the process related to the house build....

Onto Part 3

Lyndon

 

[Lyndon]

Part 3.

In other happenings. In February I became a qualified Pickleball Coach (Yay), but the coaching company hasn't engaged me in any coaching at this point. That's OK - I mainly wanted the Quals so that when we get to Yass I can start and train newbies down there.

Speaking of Pickleball - I was talking to one of the ladies that comes to our sessions, and in our talks she mentioned she had her stepfather's old toolbox in her shed and she was going to throw it out as it was taking up too much room..... Um - NO I said. "Do you want me to remove it for you?" I asked.... She agreed, and I duly picked it up and brought it home:



It is very dusty, and covered in years of sheet and corruption.....

So - I got it out onto the concrete under the awning and started into it. This is what I found:





















And on and on.....

So - it all got dusted (from the thick dust and saw dust that everything was buried in), sorted (lots of useless stuff went into the bin (like all the one inch long pencils and miscellaneous unmatched screws), and the rest either went into the big box in the Garage marked "for future restoration"- read once I have a workshop in Yass, or got nicely packed back into the cleaned up toolbox:



Don't know what I'll do with the box yet, or all the duplicates of tools I already have.... Time will tell - about 18 months or so....

In other things - I went out somewhere the other day, and a neighbour had randomly left this on the sidewalk:





I knocked on his door and asked if it was there to be discarded - to which he said "Yes". So, thank you - I'll have that.

It's metal and in very good condition and will perfectly suit the job that I said about 8 years ago (I now know from re-reading this thread) I wanted to do - which is a drill bit storage method. I know in my head what I need to do - I just need to find an efficient and accurate way to split poly tubing down the centre.....

Might move onto part 4.... (It's lunchtime and my insides are growling!).

Lyndon

 

[zanyad]

That NZ trip looked fun!

My condolences on your loss.

Two lucky acquisitions! Glad you were able to save both!

 

[Lyndon]

Part 4.

See - I told you there was more - always something happening at the Lyndon Hacienda!

So, I mentioned over on DFB's thread ( post 1316 - (here) ) that his detailing bent had led me astray (I don't think he liked my post where I called him by his name - he didn't comment at all)....

I had wanted one of these since I realised my back wasn't playing nicely with the rest of me:



And from the same place I got a box of these:



Rip-n-rags..... (keep up)!

There are a couple of small thing with both items I need to slightly adjust though (of course I hear you mumble)....

On the wheel stand you might be able to make out to little holes in the visible corners of the bottom frame. Well, they are supposedly the mounting point of these:



But that doesn't work, because the nut just pulls straight through the rubber (even with the supplied washer - not visible here). And the ones DFB has show casters under the stand. And that would suit me better. So - I've got to find some (another job) casters. And secondly, I noticed when rotating a wheel the wheel tends to want to wobble off the rollers. Upon closer inspection, it would appear that I haven't located the rollers in parallel. And that's the next problem, because to undo the bolts to re-align them, I need the extra thin "spanner" to lock the shaft in place - that was supplied with the kit - that muggins threw out when he thought he was DONE... Duóh!). I have now been to the big green box store to buy a replacement spanner (I bought 3 in 9, 10 and 11mm sizes just to be sure), which I will now have to grind down on the grinder to get into the shaft......

And with the Rip-n-Rags - well the very full roll is nearly impossible to spin inside the box to tear out the next rag when required. So - I'm going to remove the roll from the box and construct a simple stand and axle to mount it on - somewhere in this overstuffed space.

See how every job creates 3 more......

So - for the first use of the new "tools" - the XJR's wheels have needed a clean for ages, so the chance arose. This is before:



Tools assembled:



And again due to DFB's OCD - I decided I'd better round up all the brushes I had hiding all over the garage to choose one for the job:



Honest your honour - I had no idea I had that many...... The one I used is the one hiding behind the BEER bottle - Beer - what beer (Must have been a Saturday if that was there...)?

I didn't take any pics during the process because, honestly, I didn't have enough hands, and they were filthy anyway. But this was the result of the wheels off and scrub process:



and the whole car now looks much better:



OK - 2 last topics. Back in the mists of this thread I almost accidentally started collecting number plates. And it kept growing. Well, now, nearly 10 years later, I have 50 plates mounted throughout the garage, and this:



There's about 200 more, domestic and international plates here. And the pile just keeps growing..... Lots of people in the company now know I collect them, and keep sending me more. And this lot is all going onto one wall in the new garage. The 5.2m (w), 3m (h) wall is the one in the workshop, so it can't be seen from the street, which will be wood lined and stained. ..... Looking forward to seeing that (me and you).

And lastly - I need to make some time to go and clean this lot up:



What a mess (I've decided to make some sort of mounting board for all those brushes... - more work)!

So that's about me up to date - See you all soon. I was thinking of going to the Bottle Shop, but my view out my Study window indicates that the traffic in both directions on the main road is moving horrendously slowly, and I just heard sirens going off.....????

Lyndon

 

[ajohno]

Great update Lyndon.

Sorry about your dad. At least you and your family spent time with him before his passing.

The Jaguar looks great. Do you still have the white Jaguar?

 

[Geoff289]

Lots to respond to in those posts, Lyndon, and I will try to do justice to them when I have a moment. For the time being I'll just say it's great to have you back and express my condolences for your Dad's passing.

 

[hewey]

Lyndon, so sorry to hear about your dad. He looks like he was still reasonably bright and sprightly at his birthday party? That's an amazing effort for a 90 year old.

Proving doctors wrong must be in the genes

All things considered, being so close to the pallative care space and being able to support your family through that time, and to have such empathetic staff, makes it a tiny bit easier at such a tough time.

The dealing with government services? Geoff and I feel your pain! Your professional experience and level of organisation will help you wonders. But I wonder how others would deal with that.

Its nice to see you again, I was just wondering the other day how you were going. Shame the circumstances weren't better.

 

[Bob Heine]

Lyndon, my dear brother, so sorry to hear of your father's passing. Mine passed at 55 when I was 24. You've been blessed with your father's presence your whole life and you obviously have had wonderful times together right up to the end. His wish for "a private cremation without anyone present" is a beautiful parting gift. I arranged my brother's funeral when I was 19 and the indelible memory I have of him is in a coffin, looking like he would sit up at any moment.

My math skills are really poor but as I approach my 81st orbit of the sun, I looked back at the start of my GJ thread and that was 9 years ago. In another 9 years I will be 90 and for some reason that no longer seem that old. Then again, life [and death] happens while you are busy making other plans. I like to focus on today and figure out how to enjoy it. Mourn your father's passing and do something with Mum that makes her remember all the happy moments she shared with the love of her life.

I assume there's some vinegar baths for those tools in your future. And I'm jealous of your neighborhood, where slightly used gifts miraculously appear.

 

[Bob Heine]

Lyndon, my family has an amazing track record for making holidays sad. My great grandmother died on July 4, 1953, my father died on Thanksgiving Day 1968 (the American one) and my mother died on Mother's Day 2008. I suspect your father didn't want to mess up your birthday celebration so from him and me...

Happy Birthday Lyndon!

 

[Geoff289]

As I said, great to have you back, Lyndon.

Your NZ holiday looks like it was great. Apart from transiting through Auckland airport on the way to Bob's homeland, I haven't been to NZ since the '70's but it seems from your pics that there remains no shortage of wonderful scenery. My partner's ex is a kiwi and she has had more than enough holidays there so it's unlikely I'll be going again.

it's very exciting that things are about to get underway on your new digs. I'm sure I'm not alone in looking forward to details, photos, plans etc. and anything else you care to share. I think I'm very much a house planning and construction junkie.

Now, your old man, my condolences again. Ninety is a very fine milestone to make (I think I've recorded on my own thread in the past my firm intention to make it to at least 92 years, 2 months and 9 days so that I draw from my superannuation scheme for as long as I paid into it) and it looks like until quite near the end your Dad was in reasonable shape. The circumstances of his passing, the proximity of the palliative care place to you and the involvement and presence of his family all seem kind of as good as it could be.

You may or may not have read on my thread that we lost my Mum a year ago at 92. I have just more or less wrapped up her estate apart from trying to ensure one of my brothers does something sensible with his share. I have recorded on my own thread various dramas dealing with bureaucracy on behalf of my parents over the years and it can be enormously frustrating. The errors, poor communication, very slow pace and tedium of sometimes having to explain to Centrelink staff their own policy or legislation really drove me up the wall. Since I started my own public sector career in the then Department of Social Security, effectively Centrelink today, I found it particularly irritating and often resorted to the grumpy old man mantra of "things were different in my day". The icing on the cake was how rapidly they were able to cancel Mum's pension and how surgically accurate their calculation of a $30 something overpayment that resulted from her unreasonably dying on a date that didn't neatly align with their payment periods. Oh well, first world problems.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing from you more regularly, in particular about your build.

 

[Coolabah]

Great to hear from you Lyndon, and of course also sorry to hear about your dad. I'm not really sure why I am so certain of this- maybe it's the bow tie- but I'm absolutely positive your dad was " a real character" and you will all miss him sorely.
Good luck with your build in .... my memory might be failing but.. Yass ??? Very close to where I grew up if so

 

[thomfr]

Condolences on your loss.

Cherish the memories.
Thom

 

[kitdoctor]

Hi Lyndon, great series of return posts!

Sorry to hear about your dad passing, no doubt you have many fond memories to reflect upon.

Well it seems your build is just about to start, while we are getting towards the end of our first stage. All the best.

 

[rharman]

@Lyndon - Sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.

 

[Bob Heine]

I've recorded on my own thread in the past my firm intention to make it to at least 92 years, 2 months and 9 days so that I draw from my superannuation scheme for as long as I paid into it)

Geoff, I had a similar goal. My IBM pension withdrawals started when I was 50, after working there for 30 years. I hit the time match when I turned 80 but I won't hit the money match until I turn 82, which is a year away. I started paying into Social Security at 17 and started collecting at 62 so I'd have to live to 107 for a time match but I'm sure I passed the money match a long time ago. Kinda makes up for all the years my father paid in but never collected a dime from either his pension or Social Security.

 

[xtremek]

Thew Jag looks nice. Condolences on the passing of your Dad.

 

[Lyndon]

Great update Lyndon.

Sorry about your dad. At least you and your family spent time with him before his passing.

The Jaguar looks great. Do you still have the white Jaguar?

Aaron

Thanks, and yes - the white XJ6 is still here and in fine form. I've owned her for 33 years now....

Lyndon, so sorry to hear about your dad. He looks like he was still reasonably bright and sprightly at his birthday party? That's an amazing effort for a 90 year old.

Proving doctors wrong must be in the genes

All things considered, being so close to the pallative care space and being able to support your family through that time, and to have such empathetic staff, makes it a tiny bit easier at such a tough time.

The dealing with government services? Geoff and I feel your pain! Your professional experience and level of organisation will help you wonders. But I wonder how others would deal with that.

Its nice to see you again, I was just wondering the other day how you were going. Shame the circumstances weren't better.

Hewey

Thanks - yes- he certainly had a well lived life (Career Public Servant at the top levels of the Government, and long time professional Tennis Coach, world traveller etc).

And even though I do it daily - dealing with the banks and Government Authorities is very trying. I might do it daily for work, but int that environment - I'm the expert - in this one I'm not.....! Means every bit of advice is always only half right, or incomplete, requiring lots of extra work (and F#$#%&ing paperwork).

Lyndon, my dear brother, so sorry to hear of your father's passing. Mine passed at 55 when I was 24. You've been blessed with your father's presence your whole life and you obviously have had wonderful times together right up to the end. His wish for "a private cremation without anyone present" is a beautiful parting gift. I arranged my brother's funeral when I was 19 and the indelible memory I have of him is in a coffin, looking like he would sit up at any moment.

My math skills are really poor but as I approach my 81st orbit of the sun, I looked back at the start of my GJ thread and that was 9 years ago. In another 9 years I will be 90 and for some reason that no longer seem that old. Then again, life [and death] happens while you are busy making other plans. I like to focus on today and figure out how to enjoy it. Mourn your father's passing and do something with Mum that makes her remember all the happy moments she shared with the love of her life.

I assume there's some vinegar baths for those tools in your future. And I'm jealous of your neighborhood, where slightly used gifts miraculously appear.

Lyndon, my family has an amazing track record for making holidays sad. My great grandmother died on July 4, 1953, my father died on Thanksgiving Day 1968 (the American one) and my mother died on Mother's Day 2008. I suspect your father didn't want to mess up your birthday celebration so from him and me...

Happy Birthday Lyndon!

Bob

Thanks, and belated Happy Birthday for yours (sorry I missed posting, but things have been hectic).

As I said, great to have you back, Lyndon.

Your NZ holiday looks like it was great. Apart from transiting through Auckland airport on the way to Bob's homeland, I haven't been to NZ since the '70's but it seems from your pics that there remains no shortage of wonderful scenery. My partner's ex is a kiwi and she has had more than enough holidays there so it's unlikely I'll be going again.

it's very exciting that things are about to get underway on your new digs. I'm sure I'm not alone in looking forward to details, photos, plans etc. and anything else you care to share. I think I'm very much a house planning and construction junkie.

Now, your old man, my condolences again. Ninety is a very fine milestone to make (I think I've recorded on my own thread in the past my firm intention to make it to at least 92 years, 2 months and 9 days so that I draw from my superannuation scheme for as long as I paid into it) and it looks like until quite near the end your Dad was in reasonable shape. The circumstances of his passing, the proximity of the palliative care place to you and the involvement and presence of his family all seem kind of as good as it could be.

You may or may not have read on my thread that we lost my Mum a year ago at 92. I have just more or less wrapped up her estate apart from trying to ensure one of my brothers does something sensible with his share. I have recorded on my own thread various dramas dealing with bureaucracy on behalf of my parents over the years and it can be enormously frustrating. The errors, poor communication, very slow pace and tedium of sometimes having to explain to Centrelink staff their own policy or legislation really drove me up the wall. Since I started my own public sector career in the then Department of Social Security, effectively Centrelink today, I found it particularly irritating and often resorted to the grumpy old man mantra of "things were different in my day". The icing on the cake was how rapidly they were able to cancel Mum's pension and how surgically accurate their calculation of a $30 something overpayment that resulted from her unreasonably dying on a date that didn't neatly align with their payment periods. Oh well, first world problems.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing from you more regularly, in particular about your build.

Geoff

Thanks, and yes - I do remember you mentioning the passing of your mother. I'm in the throes of Bank and Centrelink negotiations on many fronts now (I didn't know Dad had so many different credit cards - and neither did Mum, whom Dad kept it all secret from... And which I now have to tidy up).

Great to hear from you Lyndon, and of course also sorry to hear about your dad. I'm not really sure why I am so certain of this- maybe it's the bow tie- but I'm absolutely positive your dad was " a real character" and you will all miss him sorely.
Good luck with your build in .... my memory might be failing but.. Yass ??? Very close to where I grew up if so

Greg

Thanks - and yes plans for Yass are now finally moving and the builder is just about into "Engineering Drawing" stage....

Condolences on your loss.

Cherish the memories.
Thom

Thom

Thanks. I'll enjoy the cherishing part when all the bureaucracy stops....!

Hi Lyndon, great series of return posts!

Sorry to hear about your dad passing, no doubt you have many fond memories to reflect upon.

Well it seems your build is just about to start, while we are getting towards the end of our first stage. All the best.

Joel (? correct me if I'm wrong)

Thanks. We are hoping this will be completed before the end of next year.... Irene has just about (finally) completed her selections. All I care about is that it's got the giant garage, the workshop, and a roof.....

@Lyndon - Sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.

Thew Jag looks nice. Condolences on the passing of your Dad.

Thanks gents.

It's 3.30am here, and for the first time in a long time - insomnia has snapped back in.

I do have another garage update shortly, but I'm going to see if I can get back into sleeping mode (I've been up for the last 2 hours).....

Lyndon

 

[hewey]

Over the long weekend we went to 'Autobrunch St Ives' (cars and coffee when you're not from St Ives ). You know you're no longer in Sydney's west when there's THREE GT40s at cars and coffee.

I had to get some pics of this beauty for you though Lyndon

 

[Lyndon]

Over the long weekend we went to 'Autobrunch St Ives' (cars and coffee when you're not from St Ives ). You know you're no longer in Sydney's west when there's THREE GT40s at cars and coffee.

I had to get some pics of this beauty for you though Lyndon

Hewey

Thanks for those magnificent pics of the gorgeous XK140 (some say the best of the litter...), I think I know that cat.

And now - the promised update... It's 2:30am again, and once again I can't sleep - but this time it's OK, because it's Bathurst weekend (Supercars), and Irene has gone to her sister's place in the city to see Marcia Hines in a show and I'm on my Pat Malone - so I can do what I want, when I want, like now when sleep is avoiding me!!!!

Anyway mid September we went to the All British Day again this year at Hawkesbury Showground. Same as last year that I posted photos for. We took both our big felines, Irene again driving the XJ6 (which was fresh out of a full wheel balance and alignment, and driving absolutely magnificently), and me with the XJR. In the weeks before that we took the XJR to the JDCA run to Scheyville National Park, a place that Irene told everyone was where she was conceived..... By way of explanation - her parents lived in a 2 room hut at this camp in the late 1950's when it was a migrant refugee camp. Her parents hut was exactly here:





Front door was to her right..... They moved when Irene was 3 months old into the house that her father had built (by himself) in Seven Hills....

The site now has a military historical society looking after and restoring many of the buildings. Our guide (who we sat with for lunch), giving some history:


That's a "Ferret" that he's standing on (that he owns), with other historic military machines in the background.

Some of the other attendees:




(Oh - that's my car on the left...).

Other goings on. For a few years I have had an E-Flay alert set up for "Bosch Sliding Mitre Saw".... Well - it finally happened:



(sellers pic, not mine). And:



So I jumped on this badboy for $220. Which I will balance against the sale of this (much smaller) Ozito unit that was given to me by a friend at work (who was cleaning out his garage):





Balance means I should end up with the Bosch costing me about $100. Not bad. Plus, I will probably now sell the small Ryobi mitre saw that I bought for $9 many years ago (and detailed it's restoration on here in 2016):



Overall the big Bosch unit should owe me about $60... Not bad. I'll build mounting table for it, next to the big bench, when I get to the new garage in about 12 month time.

In other goings on - the yard was due for it's spring wake up call.... The top lawn looked like this at the beginning of September (having not been mowed since early May):



And:



Well, one good run over with the mower (self drive Victa, with electric start, DFB, with the Briggs and Stratton engine - I'll give more detail later), it came up well:



Yes - garden weeding is next, and has now been done!

Next I'll fertilise and get the lawn going again properly for summer.

Also, using the (now correctly setup - see earlier post) wheel cleaning unit, I attacked the very sad wheels on the XR8:





Using a razor blade to remove years of old weight backing material that had been left over from ages old re-balancing:



(Gees that took some work, and a toll on the old back....). Worked in the end, over 3 days on the October long weekend:



Then a full snow job (plus Happy Endings finish - see Bowdens, here) wash of the whole car, and she came up ok....:



(pic taken at the pickleball courts in Currans Hill.....). Not looking too bad for 414,000 kms (257,000 miles) on the old girl (I've now owned her for 19 years).

Anyway - I've been at this now for an hour - time to see if sleep is available.....

Night all!

Lyndon

 

[Bob Heine]

Using a razor blade to remove years of old weight backing material that had been left over from ages old re-balancing:

Lyndon, thank you for a wonderful and informative post. Great to hear the Yaas estate is progressing and all the cars look great. I bought a box of stainless steel single edge razor blades and have had great luck with them. I recently had to do some scraping on polished aluminum and didn't want to leave scratches so I bought some double edge plastic razor blades to see if they would work. They do a surprisingly good job as a scraper but of course mediocre for cutting stuff. I managed not to wound myself with the double-edge blade but to be safe, I picked up a holder. Should have purchased the holder first because it came with blades but I'll give the extras to kids for Halloween. Hey, it's: "TRICK or treat," right?

Bunnings sells the blades but I didn't see the holder on their site...

https://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-plastic-scraper-blades-20-pack_p0515776

...but Detailing Warehouse has both.

Plastic Razor Blades with Scraper Tool (Blue)

The Detailers "Save the day tool". You never know when you will need one, but when you do you will be so happy you have one in your tool kit. You can purchase your blades with or without the tool holder and you can use them with just your fingers/hands without a tool if required. Standard...

www.detailingwarehouse.com.au

 

[ajohno]

Wheels came up great Lyndon. With 414000km stills looks good.

The Jaguars look good also.

 

[Lyndon]

OK - time for the 2025 wrap up, and the hopes for a new year.

Lets call this - Part 1.

So - after some time reading DFB's thread, I decided to round up all the cleaning brushes I had in various places all over the garage....:



Gee - I didn't realise there were so many! I have laid them out here on a piece of pine I found elsewhere in the garage. I planned something new here:



This is the old mounting point, just inside the garage door, that held a few brushes that were mainly for use outside.... This happened to that:



And I got to work on laying out and marking mounting positions for the new board:



And:



I know - boring pics..... After using the new mitre saw (what a beast that is!) to square up the board, I broke out the painting items:



And got to work:



Grey, because my tin of Ford blue had gone to the great paint bone yard....

Test fit:



And fully loaded:



Final perspective inside the garage door:



Pretty happy with that...

Onto part 2..... Coming soon.

Lyndon

 

[Lyndon]

Part 2.

In the 2nd last week of December, at a pickleball social session, one of the ladies present asked me if I knew a mechanic that could do a rego check on her step-through motorbike.... Well - yes I did - My mechanic. Then she asked if I knew some one that had a trailer that could take the bike to the mechanic for the check - Well - yes - me, AS SHE WANTED TO SELL IT!!!! AND IT WAS RED!

Now - to put that highlight into clarification - Irene has been saying for the last few years that she wanted a step-through for when we move to Yass, as her local runabout. And this lady's bike was 5 years old, red and had a total of 219 kms on it from new!

So - I arranged to use my trailer, pick it up and take it to my mechanic (who immediately tried to gazump me on the sale - till he got a slap across the back of the head - from me). Rego done, price negotiated, and without taking the bike out of the trailer - it was straight to my place. Irene on her new toy:



She is very happy!

It is an Italian make - Torino, model - Famosa 150.

And:



BTW - Irene inadvertently became a license Qualified motorbike rider about 30 years ago, when we owned a General Store, including a post office, in the country town of Douglas Park. She signed up for her learners license, but never took the test as I mainly did the mail run..... But when the renewal of her licence turned up the next time, she was endorsed with the "R" moniker meaning she was licensed to ride......

But she is so happy with the new bike that she WANTS TO PUT IT INTO THE LOUNGE-ROOM in Yass..... Don't know about that? Here it is in it's new location on a trickle charger, in front of the XJ6:



And the key holder I made several (many?) years ago (mentioned on here I think), always had a vacant spot that was labelled "Toy 3", that Irene wouldn't let me fill with the keys to another Jag, but the keys to her bike now reside in that position....

Next. In Yass news we have finalised the cost variations for the new house, and just prior to Christmas received the HMIA building contract to sign, which we will finalise in about a week when the builder returns from the Annual Builders Xmas close.

But - the lead up to the garage move I decided to do a clean out of excess tools and other things in the garage. So far about 15 lots of various old, duplicated tools and other bits and bobs have been sold (quite cheaply) on the Bay of Fleas. And about 12 bundles remain yet to finish. That should lighten the move load significantly. And I am dreaming nightly of the layout of the new workshop. French Cleats will be included.... I can't wait!

And to round out the Christmas period, we had booked a harbour cruise for Boxing Day, on the old Sydney Ferry - Lady Northcott now renamed as the "Wirawi" (local Aboriginal word), now privately owned by a local Sydney Aborginal Foundation. The cruise is on the harbour is to watch the start of the famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Here is Irene and I with her sister and brother in law, with the ferry in the background (we'd had quite a few wines at this point... after we got off the ferry):



Some of the maxi yacht participants - first - Law Connect:



And Wild Thing:



And Scallywag:



These 90 footers are amazing things, and huge! The harbour becomes chaotic with hundreds aof spectator craft of all sizes:



And in the background here you can see each yacht has to show to the Race Director that they are equipped with the emergency orange head sail (I think that's what it's called), mandated after the disasterous 1998 race when 6 sailors died at sea. Look closely and you can see the orange sails up on the yachts in the disatnce.

As soon as the start gun went off these maxis accelerated down the harbour like Formula 1 cars. They were flying!:



Law Connect lead the field to sea, only about 5 or 6 minutes after the start gun went off. Then came the rest of the field, with the multicoloured sails, here:



Master Lock Commanche was the eventual race winner BTW, after a slow run down the coast caused by strong southerlies blowing back at the field.

We then turned and headed back to the Opera House at Circular Quay where we dis-embarked at the Man-O-War steps.

Great view back down the harbour, looking west, of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House (to the left):



Despite the extremely unseasonal cold weather, the day was great!

Part 3 anyone? In a bit (after some lunch)

Lyndon

 

[Geoff289]

But - the lead up to the garage move I decided to do a clean out of excess tools and other things in the garage. So far about 15 lots of various old, duplicated tools and other bits and bobs have been sold (quite cheaply) on the Bay of Fleas. And about 12 bundles remain yet to finish. That should lighten the move load significantly. And I am dreaming nightly of the layout of the new workshop. French Cleats will be included.... I can't wait!

Great update Lyndon, and Happy New Year. You'll be getting excited about seeing your new house start.

Your para above about duplicate tools leads me to chime in. If I remember correctly, you've described your new digs as having a garage for the daily drive cars on the main level and another larger one for the Cats and QST underneath and at the side, suggesting a corner block and a slope to the land that, like our place, makes the place look like a single story from the front but with a lower level and two story at the rear. As this is just like ours, I just thought I'd mention that we have found ourselves having a second basic set of tools easily accessible on the other level from the main toll and equipment collection.

Specifically in our case, the Head Gardener has most of her gardening equipment in her garden shed in the back yard accessed from the lower level of the house, but in the garage on the upper, street, level, I've been obliged to make provision for a second basic set of gear - a spade, rake, broom, pruning saw, various small hand gardening tools etc. so that when she's doing something in the front garden she doesn't have to trek down and out the back to her shed to get something she needs.

Similarly, I have a small selection of basic tools downstairs so that I don't have to come up to the garage to get something I need to use out the back or inside the house downstairs. So, I've got a couple of hammers, a handsaw, a few spanners including a couple of shifters, a few screwdrivers, a spirit level and a few other things that don't come immediately to mind. Recently, since updating my cordless tool gear I'd added my old AEG 12 volt drill and impact driver to the gear downstairs.

I think we already had all these duplicate items, which I'm glad we didn't dispose of. This arrangement doesn't totally prevent trips to get a tool from the main collection, but it cuts that down significantly. Anyway, if I were you, I'd hang on to the duplicate stuff until you're moved in and can assess whether you have the same experience we did.

I'm looking forward to following your build.

 

[Lyndon]

Great update Lyndon, and Happy New Year. You'll be getting excited about seeing your new house start.

Your para above about duplicate tools leads me to chime in. If I remember correctly, you've described your new digs as having a garage for the daily drive cars on the main level and another larger one for the Cats and QST underneath and at the side, suggesting a corner block and a slope to the land that, like our place, makes the place look like a single story from the front but with a lower level and two story at the rear. As this is just like ours, I just thought I'd mention that we have found ourselves having a second basic set of tools easily accessible on the other level from the main toll and equipment collection.

.
. Snip

I'm looking forward to following your build.

Geoff

Our new place is just about all one level, except for 2 steps leading up from the garage level into the long entry way hall (situated in the middle of where the cars would be parked. The garage is all on one level, is 15m long and 6m wide, with a cavity wall 3m from the back wall and a 1200mm cavity slider door into what will be my workshop.....

The garage level is about 2 1/2m above street level with the driveway having an initial 4.4m of 4% gradient, then a 9.5m section at 16%, then a final approach of 4m to the garage at 12.5%.

So the 2 Jags will park side by side deep into the garage and the 2 daily drivers behind them, with Irene's Q3 on the side with the house accessible door (for shopping ease).

And I have always had a well patinated old metal cash box in my study, labelled "House Tools" which has the basics that I need laid out in Kaizen foam for day to day stuff in the house. And it won't be a long walk from anywhere in the house to my workshop...... Gardening tools are not coming anywhere near the garage, and I'm not sure if Irene knows this yet, but there will be a garden shed in the backyard somewhere!

After we sign everything and get DA approval I will probably post plans for all to see.

Thanks for looking in.

Lyndon

 

[Geoff289]

Geoff

Our new place is just about all one level, except for 2 steps leading up from the garage level into the long entry way hall (situated in the middle of where the cars would be parked. The garage is all on one level, is 15m long and 6m wide, with a cavity wall 3m from the back wall and a 1200mm cavity slider door into what will be my workshop.....

The garage level is about 2 1/2m above street level with the driveway having an initial 4.4m of 4% gradient, then a 9.5m section at 16%, then a final approach of 4m to the garage at 12.5%.

So the 2 Jags will park side by side deep into the garage and the 2 daily drivers behind them, with Irene's Q3 on the side with the house accessible door (for shopping ease).

And I have always had a well patinated old metal cash box in my study, labelled "House Tools" which has the basics that I need laid out in Kaizen foam for day to day stuff in the house. And it won't be a long walk from anywhere in the house to my workshop...... Gardening tools are not coming anywhere near the garage, and I'm not sure if Irene knows this yet, but there will be a garden shed in the backyard somewhere!

After we sign everything and get DA approval I will probably post plans for all to see.

Thanks for looking in.

Lyndon

Ah, seems I either misunderstood or misremembered the details of your house. Sounds like you've got it all covered.

 

[ajohno]

Happy new year Lyndon.