Saturday, August 27, 2005
Hey Man, Now You're Really Living!
I bought an apartment today, and it was everything I had hoped for and more.
Well, OK, it wasn't really anything more than I was expecting, and technically I have only reserved it - I am signing contracts on Monday. Regardless, that sucka is mine!
After a drawn-out inner dialogue (well, argument really) I decided to grab some lunch from Red Rooster, which is pretty much totally irrelevant, except for the fact that I picked up a copy of Rave Magazine (which was free and just lying around on a counter there).
Granted, the magazine is about 50% advertising, but it is a great source of information on local gigs - past, present and up-coming. It was timely too, because it did inform me that tickets for the Eels went on sale today. Being the loyal fanboy that I am, I bought some without hesitation.
On a side note, I bought the Eels' latest album, the sublime double CD 'Blinking lights & Other Revelations'. It has a similar ambience to 'Electro-shock Blues' and a couple of really pretty instrumental interludes. I cannot wait until their show in October!
The problem is, that I saw about half a dozen other gigs that I now want to go to, including (but not limited to) The Mountain Goats, Electric Six and Reel Big Fish. Looks like I am going to need a comission, and soon!
Anyway, Rave is great and you can download the latest issue from their site in PDF format to find out all about gigs in south-east QLD.
Well, OK, it wasn't really anything more than I was expecting, and technically I have only reserved it - I am signing contracts on Monday. Regardless, that sucka is mine!
After a drawn-out inner dialogue (well, argument really) I decided to grab some lunch from Red Rooster, which is pretty much totally irrelevant, except for the fact that I picked up a copy of Rave Magazine (which was free and just lying around on a counter there).
Granted, the magazine is about 50% advertising, but it is a great source of information on local gigs - past, present and up-coming. It was timely too, because it did inform me that tickets for the Eels went on sale today. Being the loyal fanboy that I am, I bought some without hesitation.
On a side note, I bought the Eels' latest album, the sublime double CD 'Blinking lights & Other Revelations'. It has a similar ambience to 'Electro-shock Blues' and a couple of really pretty instrumental interludes. I cannot wait until their show in October!
The problem is, that I saw about half a dozen other gigs that I now want to go to, including (but not limited to) The Mountain Goats, Electric Six and Reel Big Fish. Looks like I am going to need a comission, and soon!
Anyway, Rave is great and you can download the latest issue from their site in PDF format to find out all about gigs in south-east QLD.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Saab Wars: Revenge of the Nils
In a slighly surprising, but wholly satisfying conclusion to this little story, I received an email today informing me that a cheque equal to the value of the costs I incurred repairing the mistakes of the people who installed my alarm will be in the mail shortly.
Win!
Win!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Let's Push Things Forward
It may well be attributed to an overdose of Kiyosaki and similar stimulants, but I have finally got off my arse and established the whole company/trust/separate bank account trifecta as of today, with the impending purchase of my first investment property to take place this weekend.
The unit in question is in a refurbished hotel/apartment building in Broadbeach and should be able to give me a return well above most of the local property - in fact, it should work out about cash flow neutral - which is nice. Because I am technically buying for a trust that I have a controlling interest in, rather than for myself, I can also get paid a commission on the sale.
The tough part now? Finding a second property to meet my lofty standards - I know that they exist, the hard part is getting to them first...
The unit in question is in a refurbished hotel/apartment building in Broadbeach and should be able to give me a return well above most of the local property - in fact, it should work out about cash flow neutral - which is nice. Because I am technically buying for a trust that I have a controlling interest in, rather than for myself, I can also get paid a commission on the sale.
The tough part now? Finding a second property to meet my lofty standards - I know that they exist, the hard part is getting to them first...
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
SAAB Wars: The Saga Continues
I went to Lismore today.
I don't reccomend it, but the SAAB guys there are very good, and their labour costs are much lower than many of the metropolitan mechanics.
The source of my SAABs electrical woes was discovered, and low and behold, it is not of the SAABs own making. Turns out that the aftermarket alarm that I had installed was done so poorly, with exposed wires causing the old indicator unit to short out. Needless to say the aftermarket alarm was ripped out, and I am presently on the warpath with the 'good' people of Gold Coast Car Sound in an attempt to get them to pay for what essentially they broke.
I will keep you all updated with this one, because I am damned if I am going to pay for someone elses mistakes. I am only going to send them a nice letter at this point, but I am more than happy to get the Office of Fair Trading involved should they decide against acquiescing to my requests.
It promises to be an interesting confrontation...
I don't reccomend it, but the SAAB guys there are very good, and their labour costs are much lower than many of the metropolitan mechanics.
The source of my SAABs electrical woes was discovered, and low and behold, it is not of the SAABs own making. Turns out that the aftermarket alarm that I had installed was done so poorly, with exposed wires causing the old indicator unit to short out. Needless to say the aftermarket alarm was ripped out, and I am presently on the warpath with the 'good' people of Gold Coast Car Sound in an attempt to get them to pay for what essentially they broke.
I will keep you all updated with this one, because I am damned if I am going to pay for someone elses mistakes. I am only going to send them a nice letter at this point, but I am more than happy to get the Office of Fair Trading involved should they decide against acquiescing to my requests.
It promises to be an interesting confrontation...
Monday, August 15, 2005
Back by Popular Demand!
...If by 'popular demand', you mean 'my girlfriend asked me to post more so that she knows what I am up to.'
OK, well, it pretty much been work, work, work. I have one fantastic listing, and I am confident that I will get a contract on it this month - which will make me very happy.
In the ongoing saga of my car, my indicator is still messed up, simply because my local mechanic didn't have the diagnostic equipment neccessary to link up to SAAB Europe and sort out the electrical bug. For some reason, there was an 18-month period of where the electrics were slightly different (only on my model) and my local boys could treat any other model under the sun, except mine.
With Gold Coast SAAB no longer in existence, and the Brisbane mob a bunch of overcharging incompetents (to paraphrase my mechanics) I am going to the next-nearest guy, who comes highly reccomended.
The downside? He's in Lismore. So, it's a roadtrip for me on Wednesday - all to get my bloody left indicator firing properly. For some idiotic reason, I still love my car, and am glad that I didn't get a Corolla or something boring and pedestrian like it. SAAB POWAH!!
I am still eyeing off a nice late 80's or 1990 model 900 Aero for my next vehicle, which is probably a good indication that I am both in love with my SAABs and stark raving bonkers. Ah well.
In other news, it seems that damn near everyone is turning 21 this month (well, ok, only a couple of people, but still) so my next few Saturday nights will be taken up with merry-making and fun. It will make my next few Sunday open homes a little less fun - but Sundays are high traffic days, and I don't have enough sales on the board to neglect them just yet.
That's it for now. I have been posting heaps on my other blog, but it's purely work-related and probably a bit less interesting... or not... You be the judge.
Why do I want one of these? I don't know.
Just wait until I can afford to buy and restore an early 70's Sonnet.... Then there'll be strife...
OK, well, it pretty much been work, work, work. I have one fantastic listing, and I am confident that I will get a contract on it this month - which will make me very happy.
In the ongoing saga of my car, my indicator is still messed up, simply because my local mechanic didn't have the diagnostic equipment neccessary to link up to SAAB Europe and sort out the electrical bug. For some reason, there was an 18-month period of where the electrics were slightly different (only on my model) and my local boys could treat any other model under the sun, except mine.
With Gold Coast SAAB no longer in existence, and the Brisbane mob a bunch of overcharging incompetents (to paraphrase my mechanics) I am going to the next-nearest guy, who comes highly reccomended.
The downside? He's in Lismore. So, it's a roadtrip for me on Wednesday - all to get my bloody left indicator firing properly. For some idiotic reason, I still love my car, and am glad that I didn't get a Corolla or something boring and pedestrian like it. SAAB POWAH!!
I am still eyeing off a nice late 80's or 1990 model 900 Aero for my next vehicle, which is probably a good indication that I am both in love with my SAABs and stark raving bonkers. Ah well.
In other news, it seems that damn near everyone is turning 21 this month (well, ok, only a couple of people, but still) so my next few Saturday nights will be taken up with merry-making and fun. It will make my next few Sunday open homes a little less fun - but Sundays are high traffic days, and I don't have enough sales on the board to neglect them just yet.
That's it for now. I have been posting heaps on my other blog, but it's purely work-related and probably a bit less interesting... or not... You be the judge.
Why do I want one of these? I don't know.
Just wait until I can afford to buy and restore an early 70's Sonnet.... Then there'll be strife...
Thursday, August 04, 2005
My Growing Respect for Mechanics
My lovely little SAAB is down at the mechanics. The indicators were playing up (on the blink, so to speak) and after a few days, it is still being sorted out. Why? Electronics. The sheer amount of electronic and computerised bits and pieces that mechanics these days need to know about blows my mind. Keep in mind my car is 11 years old, I shudder to think what kind of knowledge you would need to work on something high-end and new.
The only real positive to come out of my car being out of action is that I get to drive Kat's 300ZX. I must say, my opinion of that car has grown over the last few days - that's not to say that I ever had a low opinion of it but, well... while there is a lot that I love about my SAAB (and I am already thinking about buying another one, when I decide to replace my current car) my love of acceleration, that no doubt makes it impossible for myself, and any other male under 25 to reasonably insure anything with a large engine or turbocharger, is quite well satiated by a 3 litre six.
The fact that the car is not mine though, means that I treat it with a lot more care and drive a lot more sensibly than I probably would if it belonged to me, which is probably a good thing. I speed enough in my own car, and while it isn't poky, a speed machine it is not. I think I will save that last point on my license for something memorable.
In other news, I am trying to contact the Finnish Military in order to get myself exempted from military service. I sent them a letter when I was eligible (had turned 18) and thought it was all done and dusted, but apparently not, so I'll have to give them a call in a few minutes to see what I need to do to avoid being drafted should I decide to set foot in the country.
On a side note, having never really had much to do with Finnish people except my mother (strangely enough), I never realised just how unbelievably sexy the Finnish accent is when they speak English.
Very hot indeed. (Well, at least the receptionist at the Military authority's is...)
The only real positive to come out of my car being out of action is that I get to drive Kat's 300ZX. I must say, my opinion of that car has grown over the last few days - that's not to say that I ever had a low opinion of it but, well... while there is a lot that I love about my SAAB (and I am already thinking about buying another one, when I decide to replace my current car) my love of acceleration, that no doubt makes it impossible for myself, and any other male under 25 to reasonably insure anything with a large engine or turbocharger, is quite well satiated by a 3 litre six.
The fact that the car is not mine though, means that I treat it with a lot more care and drive a lot more sensibly than I probably would if it belonged to me, which is probably a good thing. I speed enough in my own car, and while it isn't poky, a speed machine it is not. I think I will save that last point on my license for something memorable.
In other news, I am trying to contact the Finnish Military in order to get myself exempted from military service. I sent them a letter when I was eligible (had turned 18) and thought it was all done and dusted, but apparently not, so I'll have to give them a call in a few minutes to see what I need to do to avoid being drafted should I decide to set foot in the country.
On a side note, having never really had much to do with Finnish people except my mother (strangely enough), I never realised just how unbelievably sexy the Finnish accent is when they speak English.
Very hot indeed. (Well, at least the receptionist at the Military authority's is...)
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Another Month Gone
It is with a casual wave that we bid July adieu for another year. It was a big month, with me starting my new job, and Kat being overseas, but in a lot of ways, it wasn't.
Work is progressing at a rate bordering on satisfactory, which is really a cop-out way of saying that I could be working a bit harder, making a few extra calls and knocking on a couple more doors each day. All in all though, I am not unhappy with my decision to go into real estate sales.
It's also been well, different, having the house to myself. After living by myself for a couple of years, I had become used to living with Kat, but now that I am on my own again, I have to say that I am enjoying it. It's not that I don't enjoy living with my girlfriend, but with my new job kicking off and all my routines changing around, it is a good time to be living on my own.
Not much else is going on, I am not really finding (or making) the time to catch up with as many people as I would like to, and I am slowly developing a mental list of wines that I do and don't like, but that is about it. For the record, nothing feels sillier than drinking wine and watching the footy.
To see my work-related blog, just click here, otherwise stay tuned for an update in a few weeks time...
Work is progressing at a rate bordering on satisfactory, which is really a cop-out way of saying that I could be working a bit harder, making a few extra calls and knocking on a couple more doors each day. All in all though, I am not unhappy with my decision to go into real estate sales.
It's also been well, different, having the house to myself. After living by myself for a couple of years, I had become used to living with Kat, but now that I am on my own again, I have to say that I am enjoying it. It's not that I don't enjoy living with my girlfriend, but with my new job kicking off and all my routines changing around, it is a good time to be living on my own.
Not much else is going on, I am not really finding (or making) the time to catch up with as many people as I would like to, and I am slowly developing a mental list of wines that I do and don't like, but that is about it. For the record, nothing feels sillier than drinking wine and watching the footy.
To see my work-related blog, just click here, otherwise stay tuned for an update in a few weeks time...
