Simon Rumble’s blog

Geo: -36.978000,147.147763 This morning started out beautiful and sunny. When I got up to pee at dawn the view out the window was spectacular. I got some photos on my real camera. About 1000 clouds started moving and and the peaks are now completely covered. The visibility is very poor and I did a brilliant face plant when I dropped down a lip I couldn't see. Currently heading lower where you can still see.

Geo: -36.988866,147.145640 Up early this morning to hit the slopes. It's a really interesting resort and we've covered a fair chunk of it. I'm quite happy with my boarding. First run and I nailed my turns so I haven't forgotten too much.

Geo: -37.054151,149.943536 View from Ben Boyd National Park near Eden. We had a fun night last night with an Elvis and Johnny Cash impersonator at the local pub. Driving up to Mt Hotham today and snowboarding tomorrow!

Geo: -37.707143,148.454433 In retrospect an anti logging sticker in Orbost might not be a brilliant idea.

Geo: -35.650248,150.292883 In South Durras on our way to the snow. Don's been proving his manliness with the chainsaw. Beautiful weather! Off to Eden next.

Geo: -36.489320,149.741006 We're back in my old stomping ground near Bega. This is the big dam that supplies the area. Seems smaller than back when I was a kid.

Geo: -33.85967,151.207025

Udo van den Heuvel is visiting and would like to do a key signing to improve the web of trust. I've suggested The Australian in The Rocks where I tend to take overseas tourists because they have good beer and pizzas topped with both our two national animals, in a good central location.

If you're coming, please bring identification that matches your key and a bunch of little slips of paper with your key details and fingerprint on it, to enable people to verify your identity and key. I'll be following the "informal" method.

Friday 12th September
18:00 for 18:30 key signing, then beer and pizza.
The Australian, 100 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Probably the back room "ladies" bar. I look roughly like this.

I just bought some coffee beans at the phenomenally-busy Campos Coffee on Missenden Road. I had to write down the description to share with you.

The Obama Blend

Great deptch of character, strong and eloquent. This very appealing blend unites coffees from Africa and the Americas to produce a cup which has gotten us excited. Formidable middle palate flavours, syrupy with an uplifting finish. Excellent choice for going forward and ideal for those interested in change.

I didn't try the McCain blend. Don't think I'd like the thin, weak, old-fashioned bitter flavour.

Geo: -33.902166,151.163230 Before our big trip around Europe I set up this system to blog with added geographic tagging. Turned out that on the road I couldn't use gprs so it never happened. I'm off skiing next week so I want to see if it all still works.

I planted out all the fruit trees and vines today. There's two types of apple, Dwarf Dorsett Golden and Dwarf Tropical Sweet, two types of plum, Maiposa and Narabeen, and two types of passionfruit, the familiar Black and one called Sunshine Special. They all came from Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery up in Kyogle.

You may be concerned that I've put them so close together. This is intentional, as I'm following the Backyard Orchard Culture idea, where you grow fruit trees much closer together than normal, and the trees compete with each other. This, and aggressive pruning, keeps the tree sizes manageable. In a small inner city backyard, this is the only way to go really. It also means I get some cross pollination and more varities. We'll see how it goes.

Also in amongst the apple trees and passionfruit is a Comfrey Bocking 14 from Digger's Club. This plant apparently digs deep and pulls up trace minerals from the sub-surface, making it a valuable compost and mulch crop.

The garden is really starting to take shape. Two nice garden beds, the fruit is in. I get the feeling we're nearing the end of Winter and in the next few weeks, the weather will really turn. Then this garden is going to go nuts! I can't wait to get the Spring plantings in, though we're still waiting to harvest broad beans, brocolli, silverbeet, kale, parsnips and brussels.