BurbleChaz

Today, I got my Christmas present. You, see, in December, we knew we were going to be moving halfway around the planet for the third time. We really didn't want to accumulate any more stuff than absolutely necessary. Christmas, therefore, was deferred. Other People stood by the bargain. I gave them a tiny, almost non-existant object whose value/mass ratio probably stretched the understanding a little far. Anyway, here we were at Warringah Mall. No. Wait. Let me backtrack a little.

After camping out in a serviced apartment in Bristol, then camping out in our flat, we came here and camped out in another serviced apartment until we found this place. Now, we're camping out here until our sea freight arrives. We've been camping out for longer than it took Burke and Wills to walk across the continent. Eventually, it palls somewhat.

Anyway, since we have no bed, we bought an air mattress. They didn't have the pump we wanted, so we bought a cheap bicycle footpump. You, know, nothing nice. we're only camping out. Still. After nearly two years. (Do you get the feeling we're bored with the camping out thing?). Anyway. Bicycle pump. About 200ccs a pump. Air mattress. About 600L. You do the sums. An hour later, it's almost full. Over the next few days, it becomes clear that a $30 air mattress is not entirely leak-free. Each night, I spend longer and longer wheezing air into it, and each morning it is less and less full. Sisyphus, I feel your pain. So. Today, we decide enough is enough, and return to Warringah Mall for a new air mattress. Only $30. Joy of joys, this time they have the right tool, too. Pump and cheapo just-make-do air mattress in hand, as we stroll through the mall, The Expert Shopper jolts to a halt. Bargain spotted. Just what a Burblechaz needs as a not-Christmas prezzie. Reader, she gave me a pair of 15x70 binoculars. Eventually, after camping out for ever, you get the good stuff. Happy.

I can see your house from here!

The harbour, without zoom

The harbour, with 2.4x optical zoom

Open the big can of zooooooooom!

The last shot was taken by holding a digital camera up to the eyepiece of the binoculars. I'm delighted with the result.