seawind-network.com

A good friend of mine asked my help to advice him on what PC to buy. He had the unfortunate experience of a triple hard disk failure this weekend. One disk is a new WD 500GB SATAII on a portable case, but the 2 are old IDEs which are probably just waiting to fail. But for it to fail all in the same week is quite some luck - if you believe in that.

I’m torn between advising him to get a Dell off an online catalogue and be done with it - or put myself out there and build him a Shuttle XPC system.

I use an SD30 XPC myself, running an Ubuntu 8.10. It is very quiet and cool (as in operates on a relatively low temperature). It is switched on 24 hours a day and I’m very happy with it. I promised myself that if I ever have a need for another PC that I’ll pay for myself, it will definitely be this small form factor beauty. Because, not only are these very reliable - they are beautiful.

Of course budget and purpose will have to dictate the final choices, after all, the range can be from a practical K40 without any PCIe slots to SX48 which would take 8GB. Some models even have HDMI outputs if you wish to use it as a Multimedia PC.

But my friend is a business man, practical, but needs the occasional grunt. I will stay away from the K40 - although I know it will probably address all his needs. But you’ll never know if one day he’ll want a dual monitor and would actually want a graphic card added.

I choose the SD32, just a few models up my SD30 which allows for 1 PCIe and 1 PCI slot. I also decided against getting a more expensive E7400 Intel CPU in favour of the E2200. I was also tempted to fit it with a fast Seagate HDD designed for Video Editting - but once again, I know that the prime use is business. I also held back in adding a graphic accelarator and would use the on-board for now. I’m hoping that it will be good enough to drive the 24″ LCD monitor he requested to put on.

Hmmm. I know that when I’m finished with this PC - I will be salivating - for really - I’ve set out to build a PC I would like to have … but just can’t justify the expense

When parents envision their children getting married, they are wishing for a wedding like Graham and Clarina’s. Both of them are in their late twenties, have stable and productive jobs, well travelled, with good education. They had a good six years of friendship before they tied the knot. They seem to have done everything by the book. My impression of them is that of two independent and strong willed individuals, yet graceful in their manners, friendly and easily liked by people who are fortunate enough to see them up close.

If the speeches for the night are to go by, a passionate salute of a step brother and a father swelling with pride for Graham - then one can be assured that our dear Clarina has found a deserving man.

Everyone are also singing praises to the speech given by Rudy (father-of-the-bride). It was simple, honest, often funny and entertaining - delivered in a manner that is neither hurried nor laboured - but enviously effective.

The wedding is neither elaborate nor ceremonious, yet you could tell that Graham and Clarina had made allowances for both culture to play a role in the wedding. It is a secular ceremony with a dash of religion from her deeply religious and Catholic upbringing. The Rupac Family has even showcased a “Tinikling” dance as one of the highlights for the night.

A good wedding is important, as I realised tonight - because years from now, as you attend other people’s wedding, you would always look back to your own. Graham and Clarina had a superb marvellous wedding day that they can cherish for the rest of their life.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Graham Talbot. As Graham’s Dad had said … May you never lie, cheat or drink … and if you must lie - lie with each other, if you must cheat - cheat death, and if you must drink, then please - drink with us.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

It’s always a bonus if you planned a short break and it panned out to be relaxing and enjoyable. Although Christmas eve is spent partying and consequently lead to a sleep-in, we still try to do a family activity to make Christmas Day itself special. This year we booked a small but picturesque place in Wentworth Falls. It’s called the Lakeside Bed and Breakfast and is literally a few steps away from a lake.

We left Sydney at around 1pm after some tidying up. As usual - we packed our bags about half-an-hour before we actually left. Jessica packed the Wii, but later realised that she forgot to include some games. I also packed my Christmas gift - a box set of Fawlty Towers. Jeanne brought along a badminton set but only Celine packed a cozie (bathing suit).

We also made the mistake of expecting to find a restaurant in Wentworth Falls, after checking in - we were starving. On account of being a Christmas Day, all shops were closed but one small restaurant in nearby Katoomba. We waited for over an hour in this very busy establishment before realising that they’ve lost our order. We walked out, non-grudgingly of course, but without a meal. Instead, we contented ourselves with some pizza pieces and kebab from a take away shop down the road. This was our lunch and the left over, our Christmas dinner later that evening. But - really it was not a big deal, we were so looking forward to get back to the B&B to do some canoeing.

At first, Jeanne and I were apprehensive for the girls. They have not canoed before and are not very good swimmers. But, the day was too perfect and the water so inviting. Besides, the girls were keen to give it a go, so I helped them launch and they had a wonderful time. Jeanne and I played badminton but with one eye on our precious ones on the water.

The following day, Celine and Jeanne joined me for a hike around the lake, enjoying a bit of bush and the sight of nice houses. It gave me a bit of scare as Jeanne and Celine walk pass a snake just inches away from their feet. I was walking behind them and did not notice it until I was close enough myself. Luckily it didn’t bother us nor did we bother it.

We got back to the B&B just in time to be served a real country breakfast which we enjoyed at the veranda overlooking the lake. Later that day - we drove to the Blue Mountain Scenic World were we have more nature walk and rides. We even spotted a couple of mountain climbers while travelling on the skyway. See if you could spot it on this photo .

Being summer, there was still lots of sunlight when we returned to the B&B in the afternoon, where Celine and Jessica once again indulged in canoeing before dressing up for a majestic dinner at the Carrington Hotel. The dinner itself is in a stately 19th century dining room with a pianist on a grand piano to set the theme for the evening. If only - everyday is Christmas like this - but alas all good things come to an end and before long we’re back to the grinding stone for another year.