Farewell Perth

I was originally going to call this post The End of Another Era, or something similar, but the reality is that Perth has not been part of my life for a very long time now. This trip was just a chance to revisit some old stomping grounds, see some old mates, and properly farewell what was, at one point, a significant place in my life. It's not that life is dwindling for me, not by any means. But I am more aware now than ever, that life is fleeting, and precious, and I want to make some wonderful new memories in a whole variety of places in the years to come. Alas, Perth is not really one of them. Time, nor finances, allow it I suspect.

I had been looking for a while, for a quarrying-related conference somewhere, as it has been many a year since I have been on one. Yes, motivation was professionally driven, but it was also driven by the possibility of going to one of my old haunts. So when the ISEE (International Society of Explosive Engineers) announced they were having a Drill & Blast conference in Perth, both the subject matter and location were ideal for me to jump at the chance. Of course I took our D&B Manager with me, and the first photo is us enjoying a beer at Finean's, one of my old haunts, around the corner from the Bennett St apartment that I shared with Adam at one point, in 2003-2004.

The second photo is the Brass Monkey, in Northbridge, adjacent to the CBD. It is a Perth institution, and one of my most-frequented pubs back in the day. Bully and I had a couple here too, on two or three different days during the week.

Day 2 saw Bully go off and see Sandvik, and me go off and catch up with some old friends. The first of these was Luke. The below pic was not on that day, but I forgot to take one when we were together, so I asked him to send me one. 

We rekindled our catch-ups of old by meeting in Northbridge for some dim sum. It was a pretty good lunch too. He told me all about his journey from mining administrator, to project manager and onto mine manager, before ditching it all and becoming a property developer. It sounds like he is going really well. A couple of kids, a job he loves, and life is treating Luke well I think. He has always been a good guy, and someone I will forever call my friend. It was lovely to spend a few hours with him.

Following that, Luke dropped me back at my hotel and I made my pilgrimage - walking down the hill of Hay St into East Perth and to the home of cricket in these parts, the WACA. These days, the WACA is only used for Shield cricket, with the newer and much larger Perth Stadium over the river and easily seen from here. It looks like they are pouring investment dollars into the area though, with a large sporting complex next door currently under construction. It was like somewhat of a homecoming for me to come here again. For whatever reason, the WACA has become my come-to place in Perth over the years. I needed to do this one more time on this likely, final trip. They had a new feature, which was like a bar at the back of one of the stands, complete with stools. It was very cool to sit here and watch the game - the local W.A. team vs. Tasmania. Tassie were getting a towelling as it happens.

Fortunately, I was able to kill the proverbial two birds on this visit, by arranging to meet my old mate Darren at the WACA. We worked together at Tarmoola way back when, and have been friends ever since. He began working for the government some years ago, and is still going well with them. He hadn't changed one iota, just, as with me, a little older and greyer than I remember!

We spent a couple of hours watching the game, having a beer, and reminiscing about old stories in our mining days. We certainly shared some laughs, some great games of squash, and some real friendship. I am so glad I caught up with Darren, we had not been in touch for a while, but we hadn't missed a beat really. He did have some sad news - a couple of our old Tarmoola work mates are no longer with us. It's to be expected I guess, but hearing that Cass was among them was very sad.

It was just grand to see Darren. I probably should have made more of the opportunity, but we had a few hours, and then I headed back into town and caught up with Bully.

The next day was the conference. I won't blog much about it, as honestly, it wasn't all that special. Yes it was good to see Patch, and good to see some of the new tech' ideas floating around. But most of the papers I sat through didn't interest me all that much. It did Bully though, which is great, as his interest and energy to make improvements is what is going to take our blasting performance to the next level. I am just here to assist.

Wednesday evening was another catch-up, this time Stu. Stu was one of our Group Mining Engineers for Avocet, and was instrumental in helping us rebuild Penjom, such that it could be sold for a pretty penny. We did some great work together. He was also someone I played a lot of squash with, and enjoyed many a beer with in the Malaysia years. He is one of life's true gentlemen, and another good old mate I was very happy to see.

Ok, that takes us to Thursday. By then, I was feeling the distance from home. We do better as a family when we're all together, so I'm glad I very rarely need to be away for more than one or two nights these days. The second day of the conference was ok too, with a case study on an historic explosives disaster in PNG the highlight for me. I took off after lunch, to do some shopping for the family, and then prepare for my last catch up of the week, Adam.

Adam was also an old mate from Tarmoola, but also Murrin. We were roommates for a period too, staying in a cool modern apartment in the Perth CBD. Those were good days, albeit interspersed with shit ones for me. But Adam had no involvement in the bad stuff - he was level-headed, fun, loyal and a top bloke. We caught up at another of the old haunts, the Uni Bar. Much of it was the same, but to be honest it lacked the character it used to have. Seeing Adam was grand, and hearing how he is going (he is going very well these days, and is now a seasoned mining engineer). 

So that's it for Perth. We had a fairly early night on the Thursday, and spent all day Friday getting home. I finally arrived at 8pm. We had a couple of issues to deal with, which I am pleased to say, we did, even if not straight away. None of us are perfect, most of all me, and I am ok with that. The main thing is that we all continue to grow, and continue to aspire to do and be better.

So, as I say, I kind of expect that this trip was my last to Perth. I don't see me going there for professional reasons again, not unless I change jobs and need to do another event. But I doubt I'll pursue that anytime soon (the event, not so much the job, I may well pursue that soon!). And as I mentioned elsewhere, I doubt I'll have Perth on the shortlist for holidays. We are going to Cairns in March, likely Melbourne in January, and hopefully Malaysia sometime next year. I just can't see Perth featuring. So I'll take all the positives out of that week away, particularly the time spent with old friends. It was also good to visit some old haunts, reminisce about both good and bad times, and properly farewell the grand old lady of the WACA. Thanks Perth, like many things in life, it wasn't all a bed of roses, but I choose to focus on the positives, and I enjoyed my time there. 

My Family History - Part 9 - Uncle Ted & Aunty Jan

I don't recall the specifics, but I believe Uncle Ted was the next brother older than my dad Cyril. In any event, Ted was the Brown who inherited running of the China Construction Company, following the Brown's return to Hong Kong, perhaps not the immediate post-WW2 period, but certainly the 1960's period. That was when my siblings were there, prior to my birth. In the late 70's my parents went back again, that time just with my sister and me in tow, and not in the employ of the Brown company. 

But those are other tales for another post. Here we're talking about Ted and Jan. I don't remember a whole lot about Uncle Ted. I do recall meeting him at least once, when we came back from HK on holidays in the early 80's. He died sometime later that decade, while we were living overseas. I saw Aunty Jan again years later, in the early 2000's at Phil's house. Sadly, she is no longer with us either. Such is the inexorable march of time. 

I didn't have any photos of Ted and Jan myself, so I asked cousin Phil to send me some. Check these out. First is one of my parents (on the left) with Ted and Jan on the right. I suspect this was at some HK club back in the 60's. 

The next one is in the same timeframe, and likely also in HK, with my parents in the middle, flanked by Ted and Jan, and some other guy on the left.

They were a good-looking, well-to-do bunch back then. I never knew my parents at that age, as I was an accident, and they were already a fair bit older when I was born. But I wouldn't change anything of course, as I have written about before. Life has taken me just where it needs to.

As for Ted and Jan, well I don't have a lot of memories. Other family members do, not always fond ones either. But for the person I am thinking about, well most of what comes out of his mouth is negative anyway, so it's hardly a surprise. I think Ted did lead a pretty extreme life though, one that was pretty heavily booze-infused too. That was a common trait of the Browns. My dad was no good on the drink, but fortunately he didn't partake all that much, especially in my childhood. I remember one story about Ted, stopping at the pub on the way to the post office mid-morning. How much of that is true I don't know, but it is somewhat in keeping with what Phil describes about his own childhood in his book The Kowloon Kid. In many ways, Phil's and my own families upbringing were very similar, and very much Hong Kong infused. That my family did it twice says something. For my dad it was even more times, with him having lived there as a child himself too. Ted and Jan, like all that generation, are gone now. The sole survivor is my mum. It's sad, especially reflecting back on old childhood memories when there were a lot more people in the family. But it is also life. I am at terms with that. It would have been nice for my kids to have met some other members of the family, but at least they have met some. 

Today's Walk - Campaspe Esplanade

So, as per a recent post, I am keen to revive my old Today's Walk theme, both because I find it interesting, and also to help me stay more active. The other afternoon, B and I did this walk, going across the suspension bridge straight across from the new Fools, back to the highway, and back home. About 5km all-up, and a good walk in the heat of the afternoon.

B wasn't keen on the suspension bridge, claiming it was unsafe. It certainly didn't look all that sound, but I can only assume that the shire engineers keep on top of this. Anyway, I am happy to continue to use it, but not sure that he will be. That's ok, as these walks are largely about me anyway, although I am happy to have company from time to time. 

Unlike the KL days, this one did not end with a beer or a meal. Actually, those walks were generally closer to 10km, almost always one-way, with a cab ride home afterwards, and targeted at a bar or restaurant as the destination. This approach is unlikely in Echuca, although I guess I could walk to somewhere like the Workers Club, have a few beers, and maybe get the courtesy bus home? Worth thinking about I reckon. So where to for the next walk? I am not a fan of the highway, so might scoot around our area, perhaps out to Fehring Lane, and check out that area, we'll see.

Today's Walk - Perth

Way back, when this whole blog journey began, I started with a plethora of "Today's Walk" posts. All of them in KL, as at the time, we lived there, and it was in the waning days of ASN. Thus, I didn't have a whole lot to do much of the time. So I kept myself busy a couple of times per week going for long walks, be it to the city, PJ, or elsewhere. I really enjoyed it, and always finished off the walk with a lunch or a drink, or commonly, both. I'd like to reinstate the habit. Perhaps I'll come up with a list of possible "today's walk" locations in my area, and in those areas I travel to. It's a nice idea, and I reckon I'll go right now into my timetable file and put a spot in for that. Hang 5....

Ok done. So back to the reason for this post. What reminded me of my old KL walking posts was the Google Maps diagram that came up when I was trying to figure out how Bully and I would get to the conference in Perth from our hotel. Yes you can taxi it, and yes we did that on Day 2. But on Day 1, we wanted to walk. Or more accurately, scoot! We saw these hire electric scooters everywhere in Perth. Bully tried one out when I was at lunch with Luke, and raved about them. So on the first day of the conference, we grabbed a couple, logged in, and off we went! 

That's me, scooting past Gloucester Park, near the WACA. Ironically enough, I was standing across the road from there the day before, saying goodbye to the place in my mind, as I don't expect to be back. Yep, there I was, less than a day later! Haha, but anyway, so you can see in the Maps map below, the path we intended to take. I say intended, because all did not go according to plan. Firstly, my scooter promptly ran out of juice about 5 minutes before the photo was taken. Luckily, we found another one close by. The thing is, when they run out of battery, you can leave them wherever, but otherwise, you must park in a designated spot, which is not always all that convenient! 

Anyway, the real issue came when we got to the bridge. We managed to get about 50m across, then our scooters died. It seems that marks the boundary of where you can use them. Seems silly to me, as why build the foot bridge if you're not going to encourage people to use it? I think extending the scooter area out to include Burswood would be a great idea! So we had to hot foot it from there. Still, it was a super and fun experience, and I spent most of the rest of the trip on a scooter, travelling all over the city and Northbridge. I don't think such things exist over here in Echuca, but I am inspired to kick off the Today's Walk series again, and post on my progress. Watch this space!

You Have To Sell To Make Money

I saw this quote on one of the various share trading newsletters I subscribe to today. It rang a bell. I do see my juniors get diluted fairly often, I do see some of them lose almost all their value, or even disappear altogether. I have made money on some, but as the guy says, I have only made money when I sell them. This rings a bell because it ties into my plan - my plan to have income shares at retirement, that help supplement my lifestyle. Let's revisit the plan:

1) Retire at 60 at the latest, and live off my super (hopefully it'll be $500k+ by then).

2) Get the aged pension at 67 if I can, but it will largely depend on where I am - I'm not sure if people living overseas are eligible. Let me check....Wow, it seems that it is indeed possible to get the pension while living overseas! Fark yeah! Malaysia here I come. Haha, I know, I know. It all depends. Yes, I do very much want to retire in Malaysia. I love the lifestyle, climate, food and cost of living so much there. So much more than here in Australia anyway. But if my kids all decide to stay here when they grow up and start their own lives, am I really going to go to another country and limit my chance of seeing them? On the one hand, no way am I doing that. On the other hand, I do need to live my own life, and I do need to let them live theirs. So we'll stay open-minded on this. It sure does help that I can get the pension over there though.

3) My own income - passive income is a big deal. I have been slowly moving towards more income shares over time, now making up 60% of my share portfolio. Where possible, I opt for dividend reinvestment, but after I retire, hopefully the income from dividends will be able to supplement both super and eventually pension. I doubt I'll ever build the nest egg enough in that timeframe to live off it alone, but who knows. Just this week I have sold some more shares in growth companies, partially due to the quote that inspired this post - you have to sell to make money. Yes I could continue to hold them, but I can now reallocate the earnings and capital, into both more income shares, and also some project work at home.

Served Us Well

Recently, we had to finally replace our old kettle and toaster. We have had them since Lala was a toddler and B a baby, back in 2013, so they lasted over 10 years. 

Interestingly, they just seemed to perform better, and last longer, than more expensive and more complicated (feature-ridden) alternatives. We have since replaced them, and already the new toaster is not as good as it was when brand new. It took the old Philips toaster almost 10 years before it lost any of its mojo. I guess they just don't make them like they used to. 

It was funny to always have to have adaptors for these two, as they always had Malaysian plugs, being bought over there. When we moved as a kid, Dad would always change the plugs, perhaps because international adaptors weren't a thing in those days. It definitely is easier with local plugs. I wonder what we'll do if we end up back in SEA.