How to get the best deal from your energy provider

1. Find a comparison website (e.g. run by the government like Victoria's Energy Compare)  https://compare.switchon.vic.gov.au
Try another comparison site, for a 'second opinion' (e.g. Canstar).

2. Find the cheapest provider. Check other discounts for Direct Debit payment, Percentage off Usage and/or Supply Charges. No exit fees? No credit card surcharge? Electricity/Gas Combo Deal?

3. The new provider will do the rest.

4. You may get a better counter offer in the mail from your old provider (see below). Previously my old provider's best discount was 35% off electricity usage and 20% off gas usage. The "jumping ship" offer to stay was 46% off and 35% off respectively!
They even sent me a letter addressed to my new provider to facilitate the cancellation of the new contract.

5. Final decision
I am staying with the new deal (Globird Energy) as it has no exit fees. It must be a good deal if the old provider can offer such an attractive counter deal. Be prepared to swap again if you are not satisfied.

Applying for a Letter of Probate without a solicitor (Australia). Save at least $1000

Most people go straight to a legal firm or trustee company, probably whoever is holding the will of the deceased. This is not necessary in most cases. You can spend $1500 - $2000 on an average estate (not including Supreme Court costs, see below).
Request the will, if it is held by a solicitor. The funeral director organises the death certificate.
With these two documents, you are ready to do-it-yourself.
You need:

• Original Will
• Death Certificate
• A computer and printer
• Application forms (filled in by typing or clearly printed)
• Advertisement (see below)
• DIY Probate kit suitable for your state/territory (recommended but not essential)

If you live in the state of Victoria, Australia, paste this in your browser:

https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/forms-fees-and-services/wills-and-probate/applying-for-a-grant-of-probate-or-administration

Other states or territories will have similar sites.

Supreme Court of Victoria website is clear to follow, set out step-by-step. For extra help and tips, you can buy a D.I.Y Probate Kit online that includes stationery and application form templates according to a wide variety of cases - e.g. original executors, substituted (in the event of death) executors, multiple executors and beneficiaries.
The Supreme Court gives you a link to LibreOffice (used for entering in your application for probate that you simply print out and take to the Probate Office in Melbourne).

Costs (in Victoria, as of June 2018):

Advertising your intention to apply for probate through the Supreme Court website) $45.50
Application fee (paid on the day you go to the Probate Office)  $320

Optional D.I.Y. (I used Legal Kits of Victoria) guide $99 + $15 postage (money well spent)

In my situation I found the only tricky part was finding out the full names and addresses of witnesses to the will (written nearly 40 years ago, it there were two indistinct signatures). However, my father's solicitors had this information on file and emailed me this (at no cost).
The staff at the Melbourne Probate Office (Level 2, 436 Lonsdale Street) were friendly, helpful and not intimidating to a legal-newbie like myself. Note, the office is only open on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Forget Sydney's Bondi Beach, Manly Beach is the place to go

Only 30 minutes from Sydney, Manly is a unique destination. A world class beach with consistent waves, towering Norfolk pines and two kilometres of white sand. Surf Lifesaving has its origin on Manly Beach.
Once off the ferry, stroll down The Corso (pedestrian mall) to the surf beach. Manly's plazas and laneway give it a village atmosphere, unlike Bondi's rather tawdry and touristy environs.

Manly Beach 1900
Source: Powerhouse Museum

Only a few minutes walk from the bustling Manly Beach is Shelly Beach. You could be on a deserted island, not suburban Sydney. Great snorkelling spot.

The view from Queenscliff, looking back towards Manly Beach

The best way to get to Manly is by the ferry (30 minutes from Circular Quay - adjoining Sydney Opera House and the International Passenger Terminal. A perfect day trip if you only have one day in Sydney.

The historic quarantine station on North Head is a 40 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride from Manly Village (featuring colourful plazas and interconnecting laneways)

Sunset, looking back across the harbour to Sydney.

Bali tourist spots in 30 words

Tuban - airport, bogans, no accessible surf
Kuta/Legian - bogans, surf
Seminyak -  sunset beach bars, villas, funky shops, dodgy surf
Tanjung Benoa - water sports, petrol fumes
Nusa Dua - sunrises, resorts, weddings

Tanjung Benoa

Nusa Dua

The A-Z of Retirement (so far)

A Adapting, learning to relax, not meeting a deadline.
B Budgeting
C Crosswords - keeps the mind active, hopefully.
D Dog - crucial
E Exercises
F Five o'clock drinks at home - wine o'clock.
G Garage becomes a gym.
H Hammock
I  Internet - more time for trivia.
J  Jetting off.
K Kitchen - more time to shop around for bargains, better and varied meals.
L Long Service Leave - use it all up before retirement.
M Morning walk - with the dog. Win-win situation.
N Netflix - more time to binge.
O Out with the old - declutter.
P Photograph albums are replaced by Facebook posts.
Q Queensland
R Reading crime fiction.
S Seniors Card - invaluable - free weekend travel in Australian cities.
T Travelling - out of holiday/peak time, saves a bundle.
U Utilities - check your entitlement for concessions and rebates on water, gas and electricity
V Vacuuming, my job; after while wife dusts.
W Whinging - grumpy old man
X Xenophobia = ignorance
Y Yeast, new product in the kitchen now partner has taken up baking.
Z zzzzz's Afternoon naps

Remember when....?

• When a skyscraper was under construction, the workers would mount a cut tree on its highest point. I'm remembering this as an Australian kid in the early 60's. I'm assuming it was a European tradition as many workers were European in the 50's and 60's.
• Front doors with central knobs were cool in the 60's. Now dumped in solid rubbish collections.
  

Bodysurfing in an Australian winter, Palm Cove, Queensland

Like a washing machine, but great fun

 It's the middle of June in Palm Cove (26 km north of Cairns). Usually the water is placid, with ripples, rather than waves. But with quite strong south-easterlies, the waves (up to 1.5 metres) can get quite interesting. I never expected to be bodysurfing here but I was getting 20 metres trips into the shore. No one in the water. The water was 26 degrees Celsius. So what if it decides to rain.

The next day, waves were more moderate, but still catchable. It's more of a challenge anyway. Judging which wave to take occupies my tiny mind. I might have looked like a bit of a wally to joggers, dog walkers and tourists strolling the beach, but what the heck.

The following day, looking north to Clifton Beach.

Where are all the people?

Scourge of the Suburbs: Knock down and Rebuild

Goodbye houses with character and a decent front and back garden in the suburbs. Hello McMansions.

In Australia the average family size in 1966 was 3.5 people, now it's around 2.4. How come houses are getting bigger? Now people MUST have at least 4 bedrooms, home theatre/rumpus room, study, an outdoor room (because there's only a pocket handkerchief sized backyard) and a butler's pantry/second kitchen for Christ sake. More to heat, cool, clean and maintain. What will these McMansions look like in 50 years' time? 

Us working class baby-boomers lived in the family 3 bedroom house - all crowded around the black and white telly in the lounge ("the good room").

Established trees are chopped down. With no space for an established garden, our suburbs are becoming soulless, no longer homes for native wildlife and hotter in summer. 

New owners are either time-poor (too busy paying off the mortgage to devote time to gardening) or have no desire to keep up a garden.

Ikea : Saving the Planet??? Bottled water bullshit

Ikea Australia sent me an email this week telling me they were replacing free coffee/tea in their restaurants with 50% off bottled water, "better for you, better for the planet". What crap. Australian tap water is fine to drink (especially Melbourne water).
How irresponsible for a so-called environmentally-friendly multinational company to promote bottled water.
"Better for the planet"
.... better for landfills and clogged waterways? What a waste of money and resources.

Okay, Ikea, if you want to pull the free coffee, okay, but don't clothe it in fake 'green' credentials.

Melbourne Water catchment area, 5 km from Ikea Springvale

The cheapest transport in Cairns - Sunbus to Palm Cove

Background: My Australian family visits Queensland each year.

Palm Cove is closer to Cairns than the over-rated Port Douglas, with lots more charm.

Leaving from Lake Street (CBD), you can catch a 110/111 bus to Palm Cove (26 km) for $5.50 for one adult, one way ($2.70 Seniors/Concession).
You might want to use the day pass option, so you can hop on and off the bus, tour all the Northern Beaches, Cairns Zoo, Botanical Gardens/rainforest walks, shop at Smithfield Shopping Mall on the way to Northern Beaches (Palm Cove,Clifton Beach, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Yorkey's Knob).

Punctual service, friendly drivers, download timetable: Sunbus.com.au website.

If arriving at the airport (6km from CBD) and there is at least 2 of you, I'd grab a taxi to Cairns. Only 10 minutes, taxi fare $20-$30.

Cairns Botanical Gardens/Red Arrow Track

The best (full body) $5 massage in Legian, Bali?

Anggita Spa (Jalan Lebak Bene, off Jalan Melasti) is a little gem. Very daggy, but cool inside and a massage table that fitted my head and was long enough for my legs. I had a young bloke ("Ian") and my wife had "Retha". Ian started off by walking across my back, necks and legs - think tenderising meat. Jokes aside, he was an excellent masseur. A perfect blend of strong and relaxing. For an hour - finishing off with a killer neck and back massage. A bargain at 50 000 rupiah (about $5 Australian). A superb massage.

Update
The salon above is now a tattoo parlour. As if there isn't enough. As Australians continue to gain weight, I suppose there's larger "canvases"to work with.

New favourite for 2016:

Green Beauty Salon. One block down Jalan Lebak Bene, Gg. Senen No 3, off Jalan Melasti. Even better. Same price. Ignore brochure price. One hour. My wife assures me the older Balinese masseur was the best.


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"Murder in Mississippi" by John Safran, true crime, 2013

I have followed John Safran's ballsy and brave documentaries since the mid 90's. His wry humour, as well as the ability to get himself into (and out of) explosive situations, make his films compulsive viewing.
In his series "Race Relations", Safran spends time with Richard Barrett, a white supremacist in the Deep South. In 2010 Barrett is brutally murdered by troubled black youth, Vincent McGee. Safran turns from filmmaker to investigator/author.
True crime books are not my bag, however I could not put this one down. Carefully constructed, witty and insightful. The characters Safran tracks down, the twists and turns, the secrets, the politics and culture of Mississippi, the honesty of the interviews are astounding. It's amazing how people just open up and tell Safran so much. It highlights the huge differences between Australians and Americans. John Safran (raised in a comfortable part of Melbourne, Australia) has an amazing knack of fitting into any situation, letting people tell their stories while he stands back, without making judgements.
There is a lovely little bit about one third of the way through where the author reflects about the impact parents can have, referencing his own experiences in his late teens.
Part history lesson, part crime story, part personal journey.

When you finish the book .... go on Vincent McGee's (use lowercase "g") Facebook page ...chilling.

"Murder in Mississippi : The true story of how I met a white supremacist, befriended his black killer and wrote this book" John Safran, author.
Highly recommended. Published by Penguin Books, 2013, 368 pages
U.S. edition title "God's Gonna Cut You Down"

PS A nice companion piece is HBO's moody and dark "True Detective" - Southern Gothic set in Louisiana.

Tony Abbott, obviously an Austin Powers fan

Yes, Australia's next likely PM is a "suppository of all wisdom". Not since Doctor Evil's "Preparation H" line have I laughed so much. Mr Abbott was a Rhodes Scholar?! As Scott Evil would say, "What an A-hole!"

ABC3 Kids Television

Quality kids television (aimed at the 8 year+ age group) that blitzes the cable alternative (Nick/Disney) on Australian TV ... and it's FREE.
Friday night has amazing anime (albeit English dubbed). Witty, well produced British kids shows (far superior to Nickelodeon pap). Plus new episodes of the Australian produced "Nowhere Boys", U.K.'s "Horrible Histories" and repeats of the sublime "Outnumbered".
BUT, NO ONE WATCHES IT. Last night's ratings were 0.5% viewers.
Go figure. I am assuming the shows do better in the overseas market.

It's not easy being green - energy saving devices installed in your home/solar power - the drawbacks

Have you been visited by the polite young man who offers you free energy saving devices? This Victorian Government (Australia) is commendable and sounds good on paper but...

Being a whingeing old fart, here is my rant.

We already had been visited by another friendly young man with free devices to save electricity – powerboards that turn off automatically, you have to keep pressing your remote each hour or the television goes off.

Yesterday another visit from another energy saver. My wife said yes. Because this dude also offered some good stuff: weather seals on front and back doors and a nifty inflatable damper that fits up your chimney to stop heat loss (free pump – looks like a sex aid – I think).
This stupid balloon thing spread soot everywhere each time you removed it and deflated over time.

The not so good stuff:

He replaced our low water pressure shower head with his version (boring and no adjustable flow). The replacement shower head in our daughter’s bathroom leaked, not much of a water saver, so I had to reinstall it when he left.

Now the really crappy stuff:

He took all our light bulbs, replacing them with 24 of his, except the dimmers he couldn’t change – thank Christ for that! The new bulbs are so dim it is like mood lighting, tough luck if you drop a tiny object and want to search for it. The ceiling recessed downlights used to have globes that fitted perfectly. These new screwy, ugly looking bulbs leave a huge gap so draughts from the roof cancel out any energy saving from other means. So this morning I’m up in the ceiling placing cloth around these circular gaps to stem Melbourne’s wintry winds.

An extra word on solar power:
Unless you have at least 8 panels (2 person house) or 12+ panels for a large house/family the outlay isn't viable. It also concerns me that people cutting down north-facing trees so they can get more sun for their solar panels. In the Southern Hemisphere, surely north-facing (particularly deciduous) trees are environmentally (as well as aesthetically) desirable.

As a cute amphibian said once, “It’s not easy being green”.

It's winter and the ocean is warm - northern beaches, New South Wales, Australia

Byron Bay late June

Just travelled from Sunshine Coast down to Sydney. It's one third into winter and the ocean temperature is 20-21 degrees C. Same story wherever you swim - Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie or as far south as Port Stephens - it's like a bath. The combination between warm ocean temperatures and cooler air temperatures is making the waves bigger too.
In the early morning, as you approach the water's edge you feel a faint warm draught from the ocean mass - spooky. Daytime maximum temperatures in these places: 19-21 degrees C, compared to 12-16 degrees C in Melbourne. Brrrr!

No wetsuit needed. My wetsuit had a lovely holiday in my suitcase, all the way from Melbourne.

Port Stephens, Australia - let's keep this place a secret

Port Stephens is about 2.5 hour drive north from Sydney. It seems to be a secret only the locals know about.  People from New South Wales holiday there, but few interstate or overseas tourists. 

Fishing, whale watching (winter), surfing, bushwalking though national parks and rugged coastal scenery, dolphin watching (year round).  Just walking around a local track 5 minutes from our accommodation, we saw a dolphin dart out of the water. 

Quiet harbours and inlets, clear water, powder white sand, stunning sunrises, picturesque headlands, bushland, native birds galore.  A surprising lack of litter (unlike many resorts, especially Asia – the curse of the plastic bags and bottles).

As Dale Kernigan from “The Castle” would say, “How’s the serenity?”

What is a nature strip?

In the suburbs of Australia we have "nature strips", called "grass/y verges" in some states, in U.S. I think they are referred to as "tree lawns". Americans always have the simplest term. I think "nature strip" is a bit pretentious.

 There is a delightful tradition in our area of leaving old timber or lopped boughs on this area with a "Free Fire Wood" sign. Now that's being a good neighbour.

This shot was taken in the middle of a hot Melbourne summer, hence the browned-off grass. It is a hassle to mow the lawn (some folks put in flower beds or rockeries, depending on how lenient the local council is) but I wouldn't like to do without my "nature strip". A true suburban icon.

Whatever happened to "ockers"?

It's a term you don't hear a lot now. Remember John Meillon's Wally Stiller character, Ted Bullpit - the urban ocker from Kingswood Country, Crocodile Dundee, Hoges & Strop or the female equivalent - the "You tell 'em love" housewife portrayed hilariously by the late and great Dawn Lake? Shit that's a long sentence - as an ex-teacher, I should be shot.
Ockerism is not about class, whereas the term bogan is. John Singleton (Singo is a Sydney ocker) and John Elliott (Melbourne) cultivated the ocker personae.
I recently watched The Adventures of Barry MacKenzie again. My, how we have changed. Now the Australian media is full of "new age guys" like Adam Hills, Wil Anderson and Charlie Pickering. Which is a good thing. Good role models for the Gen Y.
The satirical sting when out of Sir Les Patterson about a decade ago. No wonder Barry Humphries retired last year.


Image Copyright www.nma.gov.au