I have been into computing since they first started to get established in Australia and looked into building my own computer from parts available from Disk Smith. My first computer was a Texas Instruments Ti994a. No monitor (used a TV), no hard drive and no disc drives. You could buy an expansion box (~$1000) then add huge floppy disc drives to it at $300 each, otherwise I had to type in my own BASIC programs and save them to audio cassette. Most of the time it wouldn't read them back.
I went to Uni in Toowoomba and studied 'Information technology' and an option in 'Human Resource Management'.. all the good stuff that I learned and still have use for today has little to do with computers!
I ended up starting my own computer business in town.
Have always liked camping and got into 4WDriving a number of years back. I started with a short first model Pajero, later bought a 1986 Landcruiser factory turbo diesel.. loved it but rust started to become a problem. I sold that after buying a 1998 Landcruiser 80 series and have farkled it to the way I like it and have kept it ever since. A few years ago my neighbour built an off-road camper trailer for me (he's a boilermaker) from parts that I bought. Both Landcruiser and camper trailer have serious off-road abilities. One of my favourite off-road treks was to go camping in the NSW and Vic high country. They are special places. Oddly enough I have never taken my own vehicles to camp on Fraser Island which is a hop, skip, and jump away.
My first vehicle was a motorbike (Yamaha DT175b) road/trail bike. I have owned bikes off and on most of my life. I moved towards road bikes after watching 'Long Way Round' and liked the idea of adventure with less expense of 4WDriving. I bought 2x Honda CX500s for $1200 and got one going. Then I bought a Honda Silverwing touring bike (Touring version of the CX500 but this had the 650 conversion) and a CX500 custom for $1200 or so. I sold the custom straight away but the Silverwing was a project in pieces. I rebuilt it from parts supplied (some restored) and ordered missing bits from the US, UK, NZ. Once it was up and running I tried a few long distance trips camping away by myself.. and absolutely loved it. Parts were too hard to get with the Silverwing, so I went for the best priced and most reliable shaft drive Honda I could get my hands on.. the ST1100. So, I guess you could say that mechanics is an interest for me and I do all the mechanical and maintenance on the Cruiser, bike, wife's car, and both daughters cars.
My latest interest is singing. The best and easiest outlet that I have found for it so far is with karaoke, so I do that as much as I can to keep my strength up! :D
I am very happy to have found that I CAN sing going by the responses of those that have listened and I enjoy it greatly.
