Wishing you a happy new year and all the best for the year to come.
Fireworks on New Years Eve in Melbourne
As in previous years, we ventured into the city to see the fireworks. I took my camera and filmed the complete New Years Eve 2012 fireworks show from the Docklands, Melbourne. Watch the show in High Definition on YouTube.
I do not remember when I first encountered vacuum bags. It must be many years ago now and I can not imagine moving or travelling without them.
Vacuum bags are designed to reduce the storage size of your bedding or clothes. They are plastic bags that allow air trapped inside to be pumped out. You put your clothes or linen inside, then you vacuum out the air. The result is an impressively shrunken rigid bag.
Typically the vacuum bag requires a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out. Some smaller bags can be rolled to remove the air; this type is great for travelling.
Today I got the chance to photograph and film a new vacuum box being used. This box was a new variation on the vacuum bag theme for us. The vacuum bag is fixed into a semi-soft box. When compacted the bag is neatly contained in the box. The box makes the final rigid bag easier to pack or ship.
Watch the bag being compacted on YouTube in High Definition.
An empty vacuum bag
Vacuum bag with 3 duvets inside
Compacted vacuum bag holding 3 duvets
Close up of the compacted vacuum bag inside the box
Closed vacuum bag box ready for storage or transport
Melbourne’s Chinatown district marked Chinese New Year with celebrations today. Megan and I went along to enjoy the parade and see the assorted stands and stalls in the streets.
Crowds waiting for the Chinese New Year parade to pass, Melbourne.
A food vendor, Chinese New Year celebations, Melbourne.
Unlike last year, I managed to keep clear of the fire crackers and generally kept away from the smoke and noise. The short film below focuses on the parade. A High Definition (HD) edition is available on YouTube.
Today marks my films’ 20,000th viewer on YouTube. The last couple of years have shown me how time consuming and challenging film editing can be!
grahamcmiln channel on YouTube reaches 20,003 views.
Thank you for your support and for watching.
Megan and I spent New Year’s Eve 2010/2011 in Melbourne, Australia. I took the opportunity to put together two short films of the fireworks. Both films are available below, and on my grahamcmiln YouTube channel in High Definition.
New Years Eve 2010/2011 Melbourne Fireworks
New Years Eve 2010/2011 Melbourne Family Fireworks
For photos of the fireworks, see Megan’s Happy New Year post.
Fireworks launch boat waiting in the harbour
It must be nearing Christmas, because this weekend we made our traditional snowflake shaped gingerbread biscuits.
Making homemade snowflake shaped biscuits
Homemade snowflake shaped biscuits
Homemade snowflake shaped biscuits
So many gingerbread biscuits to enjoy…
Last weekend Megan and I joined local friends and family for an event at the Botany Bay Yacht Club. The club’s location is stunning. I could not resist putting together a short film to share.
Watch in high definition on YouTube.
Sunset, Botany Bay Yacht Club
View from Botany Bay Yacht Club
View from Botany Bay Yacht Club
Megan and I enjoyed a visit to the new Lace in Fashion exhibit at NGV International. Below are a selection of photographs.
Making bobbin lace
Lace fan
Lace dress
Black lace shawl
Detail of a black lace shawl
European Masters' names outside the NGV International
Seasoned journalists have an interesting perspective on the world. If you get a chance to listen to a journalist talk freely about their career, listen.
This month iMug, a Mac User Group (MUG) based in Melbourne, hosted two journalists: Garry Barker and Matthew JC Powell. Both talks were engaging and covered a wide range of subjects. The iPad and Apple’s entry into the publishing world has their attention.
Garry Barker at iMug
Matthew JC Powell at iMug
Megan and I have always enjoyed going to the cinema and catching up of recent movie releases. Recently we stumbled upon a big green box outside of a local supermarket. The Oovie box claimed to be a self-serve DVD rental machine. I looked up the name and discovered Oovie offers free rentals on Wednesdays. You need a code, but they are distributed freely on the company’s FaceBook page and through an e-mail mailing list.
For the last few weeks, we have been enjoying a Wednesday movie night courtesy of Oovie. Only once have we encountered problems, and a quick e-mail to support sorted out the mislabelled film.
Oovie's big green box - self serve DVD rentals
Oovie was founded in 2005 and is now part of the Australian Hoyts Group. Great to see a small company find success.
I now hope they will publish a little more history, drop the Flash web site introduction, and maybe share a story or two about the creation of their boxes.