It’s Not Fair

Posted on December 19, 2008 by burks

Those who follow this blog know of my short-lived love affair with Starbucks. Their generous armchairs, their coffee, and the fact that they would happily let me sit for hours and read were all things that constantly drew me back each weekend. Then they went and shut down most of their Australian franchises, and I cannot find one near enough me to be worth it.

Then Beth goes and gets me reading Undomestic Diva, which does bring some humour to my days. Then next thing I know, I’m following her on twitter. And then, she’s twittering every second day about Starbucks.

It’s just not fair.

Not a Good Day

Posted on December 17, 2008 by burks

So far, in the past 24 hours, I have managed to:

Stub my right big toe
Stub my left big toe to the point of breaking nail and making it bleed underneath
Accidentally driving a the bonnet support rod bracket in between the finger and nail on my right index finger, and cause that to bleed.

I’m not doing so good at the moment. I also blame the lack of sugar.

Or the day’s worth of landscaping I did yesterday.

The Battle Continues

Posted on November 24, 2008 by burks

Day 8 of the gastro is now nearing it’s end, and it’s starting to get rather tiring. I’ll go almost a whole day (as I have done the past two days) thinking that it’s near it’s end, that it’s all but over, only to get a return of the cramps at night, just before bed. Frustrating.

The doctor wasn’t entirely much help. “You have gastro!” he proclaimed, as if daring me to ask what I wanted him to do. A discussion of Mustard VS Mud did follow, but probably one that none of you want to hear. He was glad to hear I was in the Mustard category, though.

Off to the land of toast I return.

Thanks Cards

Posted on November 20, 2008 by burks

The past six months have been somewhat of an ordeal in getting a set of ebay wireless flash triggers (known sometimes as “poverty wizards”), from a certain eBay store, which promised them reasonably quickly, and at a decent price.

The first ones they sent me were DOA, and it took me a good few weeks to finally work out how to return them back to Hong Kong, where they originated from. When the replacement units didn’t arrive for some time, I double checked with them, and they assured me that the items were being sent to James Burke of Launceston in Tasmania – not Melbourne. When I pointed the mistake out, they assured me that the replacements were being sent to the right address. Seven weeks went by without anything (allow 10-13 business days for delivery, they proclaimed), so after more contact, they told me that the items had never made it out of the country, but had been bounced back by the Hong Kong Post.

By this stage I had had enough, and was trying to get them to refund my money. It wasn’t so much that their service was that shoddy (but let’s face it, it was), more the fact that by then I’d bought my PocketWizards, and had no need for severly-limited cheap remotes. There was an exchange of emails during which I never confirmed that they had my right address as they asked – and then two days ago they turned up on my doorstep. I guess they got worried they may have to pay me, so they chanced the address (the correct one that I’d given then in April when I first purchased them), and now I have them sitting on my desk.

Tucked inside the parcel with the following card, which did make Beth and I laugh somewhat:

Dear buyer,

Thanks for your business involvement with LinkDelight! When you read the card, we believe you have receipted recent purchase which sent with care from where we are locating – Hong Kong, China. We hope item arrive on time.

Having positive feedback in all transactions and an overall Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) of 5 is the ultra goal we strive for always. Please don’t stint of your rating if our service delights you, also recommend LinkDelight to your contacts who love photography as your comments will turn to motility to drive us continue delighting.

We look forward to welcome you again.

Best regards,
LinkDelight all staffs.

I still laugh.

ATT: Hairdresser

Posted on October 23, 2008 by burks

Dear Hairdresser,

Before I begin, I must state from the outset that I am feeling upset, and am harbouring more than a little resentment towards you. I know that I have been a client of yours for going on two years now, however I don’t believe that time should have anything to do with the treatment I received whilst having my hair cut yesterday afternoon.

I understand that sometimes there are days where you don’t particularly feel like being happy, bubbly, or even painfully nice to customers. I know from experience that everyone has days where they just don’t want anything to do with work at all. However, since you are a service provider, I feel that it may be beneficial for me to provide you with some handy hints for dealing with customers, that will hopefully prevent a repeat of yesterday’s hair cut.

Smoking inside a shopping centre is something that has been outlawed for quite some time in this country. Therefore, emerging from the back-room with reeking of fresh cigarette smoke (to the point where I could smell it on me once I went outside) is not a good idea.
Being gentle is a good way to keep your customers on side, and make sure the experience is pleasant for all. This is directly linked with taking a minute or two longer to make sure you aren’t racing through the haircut, and whipping your customer’s head from one side to the other.
Personal issues are simply that: personal. Do not use me to take out your frustration.
Combs are not a weapon. Do not use them as such.

I hope that this list does help you in dealing with your customers in future, and I also hope that you can move on from whatever is causing such problems that is spilling over to your work.

Please also note that next time I visit your salon, I shall be requesting a different hairdresser. Like the guy. While he is gay, and I think he may have been trying to flirt with me, at least he was gentle with my head. And didn’t stab me with combs.

Sincerely,

James Burke

Frustrating, much?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by burks

Today was supposed to be purely filled with finishing a project on our website, and making sure it’s ready to go live next week.

Today our website goes down, and the lovely people who host and manage it seem to be either dragging their feet or encountering problems getting it back up. Either would be equally possible.

And so, I’ll go back to sitting here, finding little tasks to fill my time, with the knowledge that I was only 30 minutes away from having it all finished.

Burn Baby, Burn

Posted on September 29, 2008 by burks

Who knew cooking risotto could be so dangerous? Seriously, the thing attacked me!

I didn’t even know that risotto was capable of such inflictions. This photo is five days on, as well – this was last Wednesday. And it wasn’t as silly as touching my arm to the pan or anything like that. This was full-on, jumping-out-of-the-rice-cooker attacking. In fact, the burning risotto traveled a good half-metre or more before it hit my arm.

Consider yourself warned.

(And yes, I know the picture isn’t the best, but I can’t be bothered heading down to the carpark to get my camera, so phonecam it is!)

Master of His Kingdom

Posted on September 15, 2008 by burks

For some uncanny reason, I can never blog about significant events for at least a week after them. Like my birthday. You would have thought that it was something I would mention, even for the fact that I got some really cool presents that I’d been wanting for a long, long time. But no – it falls until now, 10 days after the event, that I actually do anything about it. Typical.

Friday week ago was my birthday, and I did get some really nice presents – mainly two stands, two hot-shoe mount umbrella clamps and shoot-through umbrellas. What exactly, you may ask? Lighting gear.

More importantly, lighting gear I’ve wanted for a long time.

Over the previous year or so, I’ve slowly had my must-have-studio-lights mentality challenged, confronted, and finally dissolved under the realisation that I can do most of what I wanted with speedlights. And so the new buy-up has begun. My stands and umbrellas (in a quick-access bag) are here, my triggers are ordered, and come January when work buys my new kit, my speedlight count will double. Add to that a third light I’m tossing up purchasing with some weddings that are booked for the coming Summer, and soon the strobist factor will be cranking seriously. I can’t wait.

And so last night, I headed down into the studio, amidst the equipment I’ve collected and built (including the wheeled bases for new stands which are yet to be painted) and stood and surveilled my kingdom. It is growing. Slowly, but definately growing.

Oops

Posted on July 16, 2008 by burks

And on a not-so enticing note, I got an SMS from wifey telling me that I left my lunch sitting on the table in the hallway by the door. Crap.

Headed Down Under

Posted on July 13, 2008 by burks

Top Gear has to be one of my all time favourite shows. But the news of the Australian franchise starting up after the Olympics has me quite disconcerted. This is the first time that the format of Top Gear has been tried elsewhere. I don’t have nerves about how it’ll fare in this market, or whether there will be teething issues with a new series starting. What really unsettles me is that I can’t seem to figure how the show is going to work.

The original format has been something that I’ve watched over the previous 4 years or so. As time’s gone along, I’ve watched the show grow, develop and evolve into a package that sets the bar unbelievably high (in my mind) for any that dare to follow. Now, knowing that there is going to be a local version, I’m confused. Is it going to be a copy of the British version? Attempt to fare out on its own? Will it retain certain elements? I can’t help but wonder that if it tries too much to copy the original, it’ll fall flat on its face, in the light of the clearly much more brilliant forerunner. If it tries to do its own thing and fails miserably, it will bring disrepute to the Top Gear name – a name I can’t stand to see soiled.

Several weeks ago, the Australian hosts were named. And while the write up does sound promising, I can’t shake the feeling that it won’t have anything on the dynamic that exists between Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Ever since the original locked down the third host as May, I’ve watched avidly as the interaction between the three grows and changes, and have become big fans of them (particularly Hammond). The way the three of them tackle the show is undoubtedly an even draw card as the challenges they face, and the cars they show case. I can’t shake the thought that when Top Gear Australia debuts, the chemistry will not be there, and the franchise will flop.

Maybe I’m simply a purist, a nay-sayer, or someone who can’t face change. But as the weeks draw nearer until we see Top Gear Australia premiere, I’m scared. It’s that simple.

the sound of green

Category Archives: whinge