Stormy Sydney....

Freak weather hits sydney this week.... We never had stormy weather as freaky as this one in 30 years, according to the weather bureau....


I had a hard time going to work myself since friday.... Grabe talaga ang ulan....! Some of the roads to work were really too foggy in the morning and with trees falling on powerlines everywhere, some stretch of roads didn't even have any lights on at all....! Visibility was so dangerously poor....!


At work i sat close to the windows and i could see outside that rain pours like Niagara Falls i reckon, for the whole week non-stop....! Like a scene from that movie, " Hard Rain "....! It was a bit scary though....! 10:00AM mid-day appears like 7:00PM at night....!


Radio says, there were floodings elsewhere, and some people are already missing after their vehicles were being washed-away by the flood....!


In Central Australia few months ago, farmers were complaining about the harshness of the drought that they've been battling for a long time.... Frequently, the rain here doesn't even fall on the area where it is badly needed....! There was even a story of a girl who haven't seen the rain until she was 4 years old....!


Imaginin nyo na lang kung paano nagtatampisaw sa putik ang batang yun on her first ever experience seeing water falling down from the sky....! Grabe ano....?


Since friday, i've lost two umbrellas already from the strong wind.... I still have one last one, so let's just wait and see on tuesday kung tatagal ba ang isang to o hindi ha-ha....!


By the way, i said tuesday 'coz tomorrow is " Queen's Birthday " and it's a public holiday here.... If my memory serves me right, it's also a public holiday there in pinas tomorrow isn't it....? Independence day is it....? Then on june 24 ay fiesta ni San Juan, talaga namang ingit ako sa inyo dyan....!


Ano nga ba naman ang magagawa ko e nadito ako....! Okay na lang, enjoy nyo na lang mga fiestas nyo dyan....! Kakaingit kayong talaga ha-ha....!

Homemade Wine 101

NEXT ENTRY:
HOMEMADE WINE....
My desperate attempt to make homemade bottles of wine....! It's curiosity driven, but a very exciting experience....! I know how to do it, that's why i want to share it with you....! But not now yet, busy pa kasi sa work.... We'll get there somehow, probably in the weekend he-he....! Keep visiting....! =D

HAWAYAAH....! Good weekend all....! Hindi naman siguro masyadong nainip ang lahat sa naudlot na entry na to he-he....! Masyado lang kasi akong kinapos sa oras nitong mga nakaraang mga araw bunga ng very bad and stormy condition dito sa sydney ngayon.... I will also post that topic on my next entry....

Yep, this entry is about wine making at home.... This is not one of those BOOTLEGGED adventures (piracy) na talagang kasuklam-suklam ha-ha....! This one is just a simple " try-to-prove-case " na napilitan lang akong gawin....

Meron lang kasing nag-challenge sa'kin na ka-workmate ko tungkol dito.... I was not really going to do it since i was also busy finishing another painting for ages now.... Anyways, out of curiosity siguro ay napilitan na ako, kaya eto pinagbuti na lang ang paggawa dun he-he....!

Sa pinas is a bit not so wise idea ito kasi wala naman tayong sapat na source ng grapes at talagang table varieties lang ang ini-import natin.... Another thing is the not so affordable na presyo, lalo na sa mga imported goods tulad lang ng mga fruits halimbawa....!

If only we have a suitable area to start a vineyard dyan, okay sana....! I wish someday i can go back home and be a fruit farmer, then i will try growing this vines ha-ha....! Nananaginip....!

Back to my topic proper, i bought about 6 kilograms of the black MUSCAT variety kasi ito raw ang traditional red wine variety na commonly used by most of the wineries.... Of course any varieties naman will do....!

No wonder red wines leave such hard to remove stains, this thing is a stain-machine so you must keep it away from your clothes at all time....! Anyways, on with our wine making.... Muscat is a very juicy variety, a kilogram can squeeze-out about half a liter of juice....

Here's how to make wine at home....

STEP 1: You'll be needing at least 3 kilos of grapes to make one standard long bottle.... Crush them with your hands in a big plastic bowl, Palanggana or even use a food processor or a blender but make sure not to mince it too much....

STEP 2: Once crushed or minced including pulps, stems, seeds, and all, pour them into a big plastic container or tupperware and cover for 2 day to soften a bit.... Fermentation process starts straight after the crushing.... Commercial wineries sometimes add bacterias to speed-up the fermentation process, but the Romans didn't do that with the grapes crushed using only their feet in the first place, so why should we bother....?! Perhaps there was enough bacterias from their feet already that's why their wines are fantastic ha-ha....! But just incase you want to try adding it, those bacterias are available in every bottles of commercial wines.... It's a form of yeast that breaks down the fruit into a good consistency....

STEP 3: In the third day, pour the mashed grapes and all in a piece of cloth to strain it and squeeze that as hard as you can into a big container again.... Better if you can really squeeze the pulps dry to get those extra juices inside the skin.... It also adds a bit of deeper color and flavor to your wine....

STEP 4: Next, pour the collected juices minus the pulps, stems and seeds back to the container and cover that for another 40 days.... It will still taste fruity after that, but already good for drinking.... You can then fill it into bottles, cover with corks and dip the the head in a melted wax to seal it more tighter.... It will be ready for drinking in 6-9 months or so....

Dont get me wrong, hindi ako lasenggo ha....? 2 bottles of beer lang ay solve na ako he-he....!

So there you go....! Very simple lang di ba, no rocket science needed at all and very straight forward ang procedures nya.... One day, i will be the first vine-grower ( keep on dreaming peng....! ) and wine maker sa pinas ha-ha....! The hardest part lang talaga is growing your own vines, everything else is so simple....

That's it....! Tulog na muna ako at mukhang nalasing ako dun sa wine making natin ha-ha....! I have a big container of wine fermenting in the cup board for 4 days now.... In 40 days, i will take then to work for the taste test ha-ha....! Sana pumasa....! Good weekend....! BBQ all....!

DEJA VU....

So much for the magpie issue na....! The magpie saga ends here now....! I'm already avoiding the other side of the road though she's still keeping a vicious look in my direction at times, but not attempting to proceed anymore which is good....!

I wanna touch a topic about books and comic-books triggered by Tina's entry in her blog.... I call it " Deja vu " because when i was reading that entry, i had this funny flash back memory of how i was before as a kid....!

When i was about 8 or 9 years old, i always jump accross bamboo fence at my grandmother's place just to avoid being caught wandering outside.... My plan was to cross to that house just next door once belongs to my mother's uncle....

He owned a little comics-store in one part of his living room that was turned into benches and shelves that time....! It was great having a comics-store owner for a relative then ha-ha....!

I've enjoyed going there alot to read, specially it was for free ha-ha....! I've never missed any issues of Marvel super heroes, Spiderman, Batman and Robin, Green lantern....etc. Also Books like, Casper, Richie Rich, Archie, and even the book version of Looney Tunes, Charlie Brown at madami pang iba na hindi ko na halos maalala ang mga titles....!

Those are all original volumes ng mga comics and books na talagang worth collecting....! I then found-out that at the end of the year, every christmas ay basta na lang nya pinaglalagay sa shredder ang mga ito para gawing parang yung mga grass sa " Belen " every christmas season....! Sayang ano....?!

In short, ay hiningi ko na nga ang mga old comics and books na umabot sa isang carton box talaga ang dami at kandahirap kami halos na buhatin yun ng mga kapatid ko ha-ha....!

It was a fiesta of comics that day....! We even agreed to devide those amongst ourselves at kanya-kanya nang basa at hiraman....! Hindi ko lang talaga maalala kung anong nangyari sa mga yun at bigla na lang na nawala....! Obviously, napabayaan o napunit na ang mga yun....

Nakakapanghinayang lang.... Hindi ko pa talaga kasi alam nun ang value nya in the future.... No one of us brothers really thought of keeping and collecting those items before that will be of great value pala nowadays if we only did manage to take care of all those....!

Imagine having in your collection the complete editions of Marvel super hero and other comics or comic-books....! Astig di ba....? Anyways, don't cry over spilled milk na lang daw....! It's never too late naman to start collecting all-over again, yun nga lang ay maghihintay na naman ako ng 20 - 50 years or so before na maging rare-collections na naman ang mga ito ha-ha....!

I'd say, the passion of collecting itself lang is an amazing experience na.... Whatever it may be na gusto mong i-collect ay hindi mahalaga, importante ay happy ka sa collecting hobby mo di ba....?

By the way, i'm starting to collect coins nowadays ha-ha....! It's alot more fun because some new and old issues are really hard to get by which made it more exciting once you find another one....! Exit na ulit ako....! Until next entry all....!

Assassin Part - 2....

I was reading an entry about books from Tina's blog-site tonight and i had that instant " Deja vu " effect in my mind after that....!


But before that, again i would like to share with you this long list of ideas that i've made-up today while at the work-place about the 10 possible ways to repel magpie's from swooping down on you he-he....! I still hasn't got-over that two attacks that i've had earlier this week yet....! Mabuti nang naka-prepare ako para bukas ulit....!


Mind you, magpies are very clever birds.... I've witness a few of this cleverness many times....! The birds collects nuts of any kind, waits 'til the pedestrian-crossing lights flashes walk, leave the nuts in the path of the waiting cars, then return to the spot to gather the inner meat of the nuts after being cracked by the passing cars when the light flashes walk again....! Astig di ba....?



Magpies are members of the mocking-birds family like the talking Mynas or " Kiyaw " (inset photo) as we commonly call it back home in pinas, na available as pets in most pet shops world wide....


They can also learn to talk if taught patiently like their cousin the Mynas....


10 ways to avoid Magpie attack....


1) Eyes on the back of the head - Takot raw ang mga magpie na mag-atake kung tinititigan, so i thought i'd wear something that resembles an eye at the back of my head.... Pwede na kaya yung dalawang kutsinta he-he....!


2) Strange hats - Yung katulad ng sinuot nung mga ibang contestant sa miss universe....! Tingnan ko lang kung makakalapit pa sya sa laki ba naman ng mga yun....! O di kaya yung kay Inspector Gadget....! Go-go-gadget tirador he-he....! Tingnan ko naman galing mong umilag ngayon....!


3) Keep staring - Titigan mo lang daw ng titigan para ma-demoralised sila at hindi na maga-attempt pang umatake....! Wag lang sa malapitan at baka mapuwing ka sa kakatuka nya he-he....! Bulag kamo labas mo nyan peng....!


4) Carry a red flag - Okay din yan na idea.... Wag mo lang lagyan ng star sa gitna at mapagkamalan kang kumonista ha-ha....!


5) Wear a helmet - Ito na siguro ang pinaka-effective na paraan para dyan....! Walang biro, madami akong nakita na nakaganito sa park every magpie season....! Para silang kasali dun sa Bob the builder ha-ha....! Can we fix it, yes we can....!


6) Wear Nike shoes - It's your big chance to really test this brand, kumaripas ka ng takbo and hope that the shoe will stick to it's reputation just enough for you to cross the park ha-ha....!


7) Walk with pets - Since animals nga ang talagang primary targets nila ay may big chance na ma-divert ang attentions nila dun sa kay doggie at hindi na sa'yo aatake he-he....! Takbo doggie bilis....! Bow-wow-wow....!


8) Ran as fast as you can - Yun nga tulad dun sa Nike brand....! This time, subukan naman natin ang tibay ng Puma takbo na ulit bilis....! Ayan na sya....!


9) Bring a frying pan - Kung hindi pa naman sya nadala nito ewan ko lang....! Kung yung shark nga natakot dun sa scuba-diver na may hawak na niyog at isang boteng suka, ang magpie pa kaya sa frying pan....! Tyak ang pagiging malutong mo dito tsong....!


10) Wear UN shirts - United Nations, astig na organisation....! Effective sa safety raw to kasi nasa neutral side sila....! Kahit terrorist man o assassins ay salute at hindi gagalawin ang sino mang maysuot nitong damit na may mark na ganito.... So grab one UN-shirt, isuot mo ito sabay magdasal ka na sana ay marunong magbasa yung magpie he-he....!


Yun na ulit sila....! I'll just post Tina's books and my Deja vu-experience na lang sa next entry ko kasi very late na....! Ingatz na lang sa lahat.... Exit na ulit si ako....!

Assassin at the park....!

WHEW....! This morning i was targeted for the first-time by an assassin dun sa may golf club where i normally cross every morning on my way to work....! Buti na lang at daplis lang pala ang tama ko he-he....!

They seldom attack people naman, normally dogs and other pets lang inaatake nila.... Pero today, why me....?! Maybe i was at the wrong place at the wrong time lang o baka akala sa akin ay animal din whaaaa....!

I was bombarded with aerial attacks twice, buti na lang at naka-baseball cap pala ako kanina....! Seriously, the council should do something about it kasi baka makabulag sila ng mata in the future....! They really must relocate them in some safer areas far away from the busy streets....

Oo nga pala, what i'm pointing-at here is a particular australian bird the MAGPIE....!

For readers who wonder what the * boink * is a Magpie, they are actually big black and white birds who are very protective of their nests during the Australian winter and spring season....

People walking past may be seen as an invader of it's territory, promting the bird to swoop-down at them and attack....! And mind you, the experience is quite alarming specially for a first-timer like me....!

Naku, kung hindi lang talaga bawal ang animal cruelty dito sa downunder ay binalikan ko nang kanina ang lokong yun at ipinalaman sa pandesal....! Anyways, yun lang naman nangyari sa akin nitong magandang monday morning na to he-he....!

Sana wag naman maulit bukas at baka hindi na'ko talaga makapagpigil at bigla ko na lang mangasab ang * boink * na ibon na yan ha-ha....! Lamang t'yan din naman yun a....!

Eto nga pala mga dramatic photos na nasilip ko sa web about magpie attacks :

Okay na....! Exit na muna ako, manghuhuli lang ng magpie for dinner he-he....!

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HEY IT'S ME....! On my office computer, updating on that magpie attack.... Today i was attaked again ha-ha....! This time i ran away na....! Well, there's no other option but to take the other side of the road i guess untill the nesting season is over....


I just felt sorry for the old man and woman taking a morning walk behind me, they walked back where the came from i reckon....! Anyways, that's me for today....! Have a wonderful day everyone....! Bye for now, but not forever....! See you later....!

Painful tricks....!

Before i go busy for the weekend, i'll leave you with this image that i've found on the web ha-ha....! Credits to the site where i got this from, i forgot the name of that site....

Your mind already knew that it's a trick, but you eyes still wants to focus ha-ha....! It's a painful kind of trick isn't it....?! See how long can you last looking straight to this girls eye.... This will keep us busy for a while ha-ha....!

It's amazing how people's imagination works and and come-up with something like this....! Pag ganito naging girlfriend mo ay para ka na ring binantayan ni Jaworski sa sobrang dami ng matang nakatitig sa'yo ha-ha....! Aaaahg....! Masakit sa mata....! See yous all tomorrow....!

God save the devils....!

So much for my crankiness this week, happy thoughts naman tayo ha-ha....!

American Looney tunes company is about to release a DVD in support of the Tasmanian Devils.... A dollar of the revenue per DVD will go to the wildlife foundation for the protection of the endagered creatures....

In reality, the tasmanian devils are vulnerable creatures.... Unlike the looney tune's version, they are prone to disease (facial tumour) and predetors that cause a decline in the devil's population and still going down as we blog....

There could be as little as 60 devils left in the wild capable of sustaining a species survival program.... One thing's for sure, i will be chasing and monitoring this DVD's....! I'm interested to get one....! I'm a big fan of looney tunes, and this could be my big chance to contribute and be a devil's hero myself....! Wooohooo...!

For those of you who doesn't know the devils that much, they are a very gentle creature.... Contrary to the expectations of some, this guys we're just cuddly, noisy creatures that loves to fight over a smelly carcass and not over your hands or legs ha-ha....!

Yun na rin yun ha-ha....! I'm a bit busy today finishing a painting that i've started ages ago....! Okay, have a good weekend all....!