An ergonomic mouse

My first computer was an XT clone, and I think I acquired it in 1985 or thereabouts.   So far as I recall, it came with a mouse.  So I’ve been using a mouse for about 35 years, without ill effects.   Yet just recently, I started having pain in my right hand, especially when clenching.   I started to feel it mostly at night, in bed, so it took a couple of weeks for the truth to dawn – it was being caused (at least to some extent) by the curvature of my fingers over the mouse.

The solution, at least partially, has been to use an ergonomic mouse.    We happened to have one, acquired from Officeworks a few months ago, and it certainly has helped with the issue.    It’s cleverly designed although slightly more cumbersome than a traditional mouse, but this has been a small price to pay.    I’ve combined this with flexing my hand more often, and trying to take it off the  mouse except when actually using the device.

I’m at a loss to understand why the issue with my hand has only just arisen, although I admit there is a little joint pain developing in one finger (part of the aging process, I guess).  But overall, things are now slowly improving.

On the banks of the Yarra

Our permitted distance allows us to get to the banks of the Yarra, so we met up there with C who brought along coffee in a thermos and some yummy home-made custard tarts.

That classic view of the CBD

Home made custard tarts – yummy

Morell Bridge

River scene

Windows 11

I had thought that Windows 10 was going to be the last version of Windows, and that in the future, Microsoft would merely upgrade it as required. But seemingly, things have changed, and Windows 11 is on the way.

From what I’ve read, Windows 11 has some cosmetic changes but also upgrades the security features. I really don’t know why people get so excited about cosmetic changes (oops, sorry, it’s a “redesigned and refreshed look”), but I suppose it’s not limited to software – think clothes and cars!

But scrolling down the Microsoft link there’s a fairly unsubtle suggestion that you should buy a new computer so as to take advantage of Windows 11!

However, existing users of Windows 10 supposedly will be able to upgrade, hopefully for free – so long as their device supports it.  I checked and found that the processor in my not-so-old (but mid-range) computer was on the list, but I’m not sure about a couple of the other requirements. 

Support for Windows 10 is supposed to be available until 2025.   It sounds a long way away, but the years do pass so quickly.   However, based on past experience, there’s a good chance I’ll have to have up-graded my computer by then anyway but hopefully not just to get Windows 11.

Building insurance

I always get a shock when the renewal arrives for the house insurance.   I know that the cost of any building work has risen in recent years, and I suppose there’s an element of cross-subsidisation for those affected by natural disasters, but, well, it just seems a lot of money. The renewal notice says it’s increased 9.2% from last year.

I obtained a few other on-line quotes and found that there was in fact quite a range of prices.    The renewal price was at the lower end of the range, but was more than the lowest.  As against that, the lowest was from a company that advertises as being “budget”.  I looked for reviews on the  internet, but they weren’t very helpful.  It seems that the only people who post reviews of products such as insurance are those who have a grudge to air (compared with accommodation reviews where there’s almost always a good range of opinions on sites such as TripAdvisor).   Just the same, the company with the lowest quote seemed to get even more negative reviews that the others.

In the end, I decided to renew and stay with the same company.  Hopefully, if we do make a claim, then “loyalty” might count for something, although perhaps this is just wishful thinking!

 

Spring….

Amidst the bleak weather and depressing lockdown, nature is signalling that Spring isn’t too far away!

Cherry blossom

Daffodils

Magnolia

Census

I guess we’re all thinking about the census.  It seems to ask for a lot of information about certain things and hardly anything about other matters (technology?  travel?) that to the uninformed mind would seem equally as relevant.

The unpaid domestic work question intrigued me.   I was particularly interested in the fact the “maintaining home internet connections and computer systems” counts towards the number of hours, along with “car/bike maintenance”!

We also had some interesting discussions at our place about the place of birth of parents.  What happens when the place was in a particular country at the time but is in a different country now?  I won’t go into details, save to say that we had a number of conversations on the matter.

Lockdown mk 6

Deju vu – lockdown again!    I suppose the “good news” is that we had our couple of days away at Torquay in what we now know was a window of opportunity of just a week between the two lockdowns.   And I got a haircut during this time as well.  However, my dental appointment has – yet again – been rescheduled.

I was at the GP for other reasons and thought that, with nothing to lose, it was worth asking if he could give me my 2nd vaccination.   And yes, he did so.   This is a week earlier than the booking made at the time I got my first dose, but it saves a special trip down to the Prahran Town Hall.  And, once again, no perceptible side effects.

Free phonecalls

Did you see the report that calls from “payphones” will now be free?   Well, actually we other phone users generally are paying because these phones are provided under Telstra’s “Universal Service Obligation“, reported to be worth $44 million per annum to Telstra.   This is funded by the telco industry.   Nevertheless, by making these phones free to use for all national calls,   Telstra will forego about $5 million a year in revenue (I wonder if this takes into account the savings from not having to pay the cost of collecting coins from these phones?)

I’m not sure if this move is going to make a big difference to my life, as I can’t remember when I last used a payphone, and I really can’t see this as changing.   Except, of course, we’ll have to refer to these phones as “public phones” from now on!

 

 

 

 

As a hypothetical question, will the phones retain the ability to make payment for calls that won’t be free?   The only calls I can think of are international calls.   Presumably such calls can be made from these phones, as they’ll accept up to 8 Australian coins, which means you can  pay up to $16 for a call.    But it’s hard to imagine that there’s any need for this.

Eating on the Bellarine

We came home from Torquay via Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove.    At the Heads wasn’t open for a morning coffee, but a local pointed us in the direction of The Dunes, which is a cafe at the Ocean Grove SLSC.   

Ocean Grove beach, from The Dunes

It was too early to stay on for lunch, so we rang ahead and booked in at Mr Grubb.    This is the restaurant at Oakdene Winery.   It had been on my radar for a little while.   In appearance, it’s what might be called “quirky”, but in fact the food is quite sophisticated.   I loved the gnocchi, and S liked her duck, although asked that it be cooked a little more than as initially presented, which they were happy to do.    We washed our meals down with some of the Oakdene bubbly.

Eating at Torquay

We’re home now, but I can report that we ate well while at Torquay.    The only meal (apart from breakfasts) we had at the resort was a late lunch on the day of our arrival – fish and chips and a hamburger – satisfactory although perhaps not awe-inspiring!    The breakfasts were good, as is expected at all RACV resorts.   There was no self-service, but instead the food was all laid out and you could select what you wanted (with self-service for coffee and juice).   

Buffet but no self service at resort

The evening of the first day, we headed out for Thai.    Very satisfactory food, even if served with Australian accents in a fairly bland environment.

Lunch the next day was at Pond cafe, where the service and food were both really good, with an innovative, albeit relatively limited, menu.    

Pond cafe, Torquay

Dinner was at Il Matto in Bell Street.   Behind a rather unassuming exterior is a busy and seemingly authentic Italian experience.    We enjoyed our ossobuco and saltimbocco, with on-tap Italian beer to wash it down.