Major Update

[Jiminee]

Ok, have a bunch of things going on over here so thought I would group it all into one update.

Firstly – come the middle of June there will be a new putty thrower in our midst as the Jiminee family is set to expand. Was a huge surprise to learn that Mrs Jiminee was pregnant last October as we were told it was not going to happen and it was the last thing on our minds given the tribulations of living in Whyalla these past couple of years but happen it did so Razzy is on his way.



Also looks like the Steelworks is set to stay open with new ownership. How that all falls out with remaining employed remains to be seen but hopefully this means I will be able to sell the house one day if nothing else. This could be just a stay of execution or it could lead to another boom in Whyalla, really hard to tell at this stage but there are positive signs. Much too jaded to get excited just yet but fingers crossed.

Last month I had two weeks of 3D drafting (Solidworks) training in Adelaide so I took this Escort along to kill some time each night and to minimise interaction with the parental units. Made a good start on it – still not exactly sure how I am going to make the WRC wheels fit but this will be loosely based on this bad boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgmdHzqtqA

Also having a great time researching Escort history and the current trends for modification. For some reason this is starting to make sense to me where it never really has in the past so that is a nice side benefit. Might be because my head is clearer than it has been for 25 years so it’s easier to absorb information at the moment.









Had a nice win with the Alclad yesterday. There are bits from three different models in the mix here and it has been a major roadblock getting to this point so hopefully with these parts done now there will be some progress on these kits – now I just need somewhere to put them! Space is about to be put at a premium at the House of Jiminee and I’m not sure it would be possible to have a less toddler friendly home short of hanging a collection of samurai swords on the walls but we will work something out.



Whilst in Adelaide I dropped into Model World and picked up a few treasures. Now it’s entirely possible the decals will crumble to pieces the moment they hit water but had to take a chance for some Aussie classics. Now the hard bit will be find the necessary Sierras to hang the models on. They are rare as heck, not even a case of them being expensive, they just don’t seem to be available especially as I would like 4 of them!



I also bought a “thank **** that is over model.” As neither Mrs Jiminee or I is under thirty we had to get extra scans done on Razzy and it was a pretty horrible week actually, but the scans were all good (and everything still appears to be going well) so we went from the hospital to Hobby Habit and they had the Peugeot there. Have long had visions of making one of these into a Sports Sedan as I have mentioned previously so I grabbed it. The NASCAR will donate its engine whilst the rest of the drivetrain will come from the Audi DTM car.







I found a really good way to research different kits – search for the online instruction manuals. The DTM was the best FR layout I could find that had a transaxle and modern aero so I found one online. No idea when I am going to build it and I imagine modelling time is about to be DRASTICALLY cut down but I don’t smoke or drink (much) so sod it.

[sandboarder]

That's great news mate!!!! hopefully the news for Whyalla is good for the whole region, but it's great news for Whyalla!!

[Bear]

Congratulations, your life will never be the same again, but it's all good.
Good news also about work up there.
Have a look at junkyard sales on ebay, that's how I got one of my Sierras.
Have those decals myself along with a few Escort kits waiting in the wings.

[bodgybro]

congratulations on the bun mate!
Don't stress yourselves over space and being kid safe yet... razzy will sleep in with you for the first year or so, trust me... when he/she wakes every 2hrs, you do NOT want to be fumbling around the house. so you will definitely set up in with you.
Harley is almost 14 months now and is just about to go into a room with Blake (8).
for the better part of the first 6 months, child safe is not a word you will use as he/she won't move around much. so you have time to move things higher.
once he/she starts to crawl, you will see what can be got to and start moving from there until the walking stage... then it's all hell!! climbing comes next and that's when your patience will be tested... and lots of things broken, so start learning to detach from items lol
my youngest is at the "will climb anything and dive off" stage now... he climbs up onto the lounge, walks to the arm and literally belly flops off it... wether his little lounge or pillow are on the floor or not. it;s funny when they are but bone chilling when they aren't and you hear him hit the ground before you see him up there. good things kids bounce and are very soft for now lol taking bets on how old he will be for his first broken bone, bloody ranga rough nut!

as bear said tho, your life will never be the same again but it's all good.... well all except some of the poo's. god damn, bottle that sh*t and sell it as a biological weapon!

good to hear about the work, hopefully it is all on the up.
you will have plenty of time for modelling when razzy comes along.... just look at how much i get done.....

best bit of advice i can give you. take over the parenting duties when you are home so your mrs can catch up on sleep from the up and down of the nights, while you are sleeping for work. that old saying, happy wife, happy life... is somewhat true and better than saying, "tired grumpy bitch makes your life hell"

[Ray]

Good to hear Duncan, hope all goes well with the new arrival and fingers crossed for Whyalla mate

[Jiminee]

Thanks for the tips.
No rush to get the house baby proof and we still dont know where we are living long term so not rushing anything yet but my plan at this stage is to buy a cabinet and keep it at Mum and Dads for my models to keep them safe.

This will likely be their one and only grandchild so I'm milking that for all its worth!

I certainly intend to be very hands on as yeah, this is most likely to be our only shot at this given our ages so I see it as having two choice - embrace it and be positive and enjoy it or be all doom and gloomy.

Basically anyone who has said to me about how my life is over now has been crossed off an imaginary list and is not someone I want anything to do with. I have had enough negativity at work recently so whilst I know this will be hard and bloody tough, I'm looking forward to it.

[bodgybro]

whilst I know this will be hard and bloody tough, I'm looking forward to it.

that's the perfect attitude mate
it's only really tough to begin with, being your first. you will be super careful and nervous of so many things us with 3 now don't even think about.
I used to hold my daughter like she was made of super fine glass and now... i throw my son between arms and hold him like he's a sports bag you'll get the hang of it.
some more useful tips.... if the mother thinks something isn't right, TRUST her! can't tell you how many times i've been through that. a mother has some extra sense when it comes to something not right with their baby. if a dr says it's fine and she doesn't agree... go to another dr! had to go to 3 different dr's for the 3rd to pick up my daughter had pneumonia. first prescribed panadol, second, rest... mother was NOT convinced so we pressed on until someone found something that she KNEW was there.. just didn't know what.

don't listen to anyone on how to settle your child... i mean yea sure, listen and take their advice on board, but you don't HAVE to do it their way. doesn't matter who they are, friend, family or stranger... you will find your own way, wether it's something new or a variation, maybe even straight out what someone suggested but don't ever feel like because something doesn't work, that you have failed or done it wrong.. babies don't work like that.
My daughter would not settle unless i held her in my arms and rocked her forward away from me and back, bloody near killed me doing that every night for hours!
my oldest son, finger rattle on the back... you know how you tap your pinky, then the ring finger, rude finger, index finger and then lift them up, do it again... like an impatient persons taps in a desk. he settled for that.
this one.... he likes his hair and face being gently touched and stroked, doesn't like being rocked and thinks it's a game when you pat him.

I love being a dad!
even when they piss me off, it's still the best thing to be a dad.
i have had a moment of pure joy and pure happiness with the births of my 1st 2.
I saw my daughter being born and the feeling..... is literally indescribable, i have never felt anything like it before or since. purest form of happiness i have ever had.. best i can describe it really.
and when my oldest son was born, extreme terror.... the cord was around his neck so every contraction, tightened the cord and choked him. the heart beat was getting slow on the monitor each contraction, so i knew something wasn't right but when they unplugged my wife, unlocked the bed and removed her, running down the hall WITHOUT telling me anything... I followed and was not allowed in to a restricted area... still not a word! half hr later a nurse came and told me i had a son.
all i wanted to know was what happened? no one told me anything.
that half hr, not knowing, was not only scary.. but true fear. i have never felt fear like that before. i am scared of heights but would rather hang over the edge of a tall building, than go through that again...... but i did.
second son, her first c section scar started to tear internally, so they packed her up and rushed off... only this time, i heard what they had said so i knew what was happening. not as terrifying waiting to hear something but still not fun.

After writing all that, i read it back and think, shit, i hope that hasn't scared you in any way... not meant to. the point i was trying to get to was, kids will give you the biggest moments in life. wether it's through joy or worry... or laughter as they come out with some hilarious stuff or do some of the strangest things for no apparent reason.
my youngest (14 months), squats and blows raspberries, all because i did that to him once.. a real fart and he know copies me and because we all cry laughing, he does it all the time. i do have to video that.. it's gold.
it's even funnier when he squeezes out real farts because he cracks up laughing too... which makes everyone else laugh more.

i'm excited for you now lol

[Bear]

It's all shits and giggles, until someone giggles and shits.
Pretty much what he said. Everyone has an opinion just smile and nod and do what works for you.
Only advice I give is to never have a quiet house for the baby to sleep.
Seriously, they will get used to noise pretty quick and sleep through anything. Otherwise, a quiet house means no noise for freaking years. Trust me on that one.
Good luck with your little human, nothing like it.

[bodgybro]

Only advice I give is to never have a quiet house for the baby to sleep.
Seriously, they will get used to noise pretty quick and sleep through anything.

agreed
and it also helps them sleep when you are out somewhere, my kids can sleep through fireworks and thuinderstorms

[Jiminee]

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topi ... -roadster/

I know I need a bit of a chassis jig when it comes to building my Sports Sedan and bang, there is my solution.
The answer, as it is to most of life's problems, is Lego!