Used to be a Holden Dealer

29/05/2026

This is how the first QLD trip is shaping up. Dealership lists are as per my 1991 and 1999 lists (they have addresses)

After conquering the Gold Coast HM and either spectating or Volunteering at the Marathon the next day, we go to Brisbane and do most of the Brisbane metro areas. Optional non-driving day exploring Brisbane....worth it? Anything to see?

Then we head north along the coast and stop at Noosa for the night. Then we head inland going down to Ipswich, before capturing a couple more sites on the way back to Dubbo.

As this is potentially a 9-night trip, I don't really want to add anything else to it - after all, following weekend after we get back we are off to Melbiurne for the Run Melbourne 21K.

29/05/2026

Planning begins for the QLD trip

In other news - did get someone seriously interested in the Subaru - we got close on price, but couldn't make it work. Which actually fills me with relief. Whilst almost 5 months on I do not notice the absence of the Camira one bit - I absolutely would the Subaru. Its the first car I've owned that

- has been a model kit
- has been on a game like Gran Turismo
- I've seen in motorsport.

Also end of the day I am an overweight 43yr old wanna be marathon runner - I am going to get injured again at some point (already had two scares this last week) - if/when that happens I'm going to need maximum alternate 'hobby/passion' outlets.

Selling the Subaru either brings a house 8 months closer or turns a 5% deposit into a 10% deposit. Whilst either are helpful, they are not life altering. I'd have to rely on a 26, 30, 35yr old car for daily transport indefinitely. This way might be $40k worse off but the daily transport situation is much more secure.

So the ad is paused (paid $450 for the bastard so I'm not deleting it entirely!)

This weekend I can share details of the upcoming trip.

24/05/2026

The next UTBAHD trip is scheduled to be South East QLD. Tied into this is the Gold Coast Half Marathon

Starting in parallel with the Gold Coast Marathon in 1979, The Gold Coast Half Marathon is Australia’s oldest regular major half marathon.

When released last December, the Half sold out in 3 hours. I entered the full on a whim just before it sold out (it took 10 hours), transferred to the half as I concluded doing 2 marathons 9 weeks apart (Dubbo in September) wasn’t a good idea.

My money says next year it goes to ballot, so this will be perhaps the only time I will ever do it.

Dealership trip plans will be forthcoming.

15/05/2026

Haven’t shared much about the running so here it goes

So far this year:

Orange 10k - 55:40
Canberra Half Marathon- 2:02:02 (with an actual HM split within the race of 1:59:59!)
Western Sydney Airport HM - 2:05 (marathon paced training run)
Sydney HM 2:07:55

- Orange and Canberra were good hit outs that resulted in significant negative splits.
- The airport run…..just as well it was a one off, it was 900m short (before the finish chute turned around and ran extra) and the communication and organisation was terrible before and during the event.
- Sydney half was a bastard - I was done at 15k, heat and hills getting the better of me. The routes they use for major events have variable surface changes too. But the general scenery was nice.

Coming up -

- Parramatta Half Marathon - training run
- Gold Coast Half Marathon - training run
- Run Melbourne 21k - race
- City to Surf
- Mudgee Half Marathon - training run
- Dubbo Stampede Marathon - as I didn’t get into Sydney Marathon (ballot was unsuccessful) this is the A-race for the year. A very focused build for hopefully a sub-4hr effort.

Then

Sept - Lonely Mountain Ultra 22k - trail run on Mt Canobolas nr Orange
Oct - Melbourne Half Marathon - ballot was successful
Nov - Carcoar Cup Half Marathon

Didn’t get into ballot for 2026 New York Marathon and I expect London 2027 will be unsuccessful as well. Was looking to do 2027 Christchurch Marathon or the Half but my rotary club has a major event on that weekend and as president I should be there…..

13/05/2026

So - Victoria Pass is now closed for 12 months according to evening news reports.

Two consortiums/proposals have been shortlisted and it’s going to take a further 4 weeks to arrive at a conclusion.

However since I last wrote about this issue, some interesting info has come to light.

Thanks to some sleuthing from diligent social media users (not my work), the narrative arc reveals itself, courtesy of DMR/RTA annual reports of the 80s/90s.

- DMR recognises the need to replace/rebuild/bypass Mitchell’s causeway as far back as 1985.
- costs were incurred for the development of proposals c1987-1990. Only a few grand - enough for a small design team to do basic plans.

It appears TfNSW and its ancestors have been playing the long game on this one. Why replace The Causeway in the 90s when you could get another 30-35yrs out of it?

Anyway - the detour route is some 30km long, and $50 million is to be spent upgrading it. A huge sum for not a lot of road. You don’t do upgrades of that magnitude unless you are going to be using said road for a while.

Whatever is coming is possibly quite big.
(But no, it probably won’t be a tunnel!)

12/05/2026

Updating things

- despite being priced at what Carsales would say is a fair market price ($36600) 8 days in there have been zero enquiries let alone offers on Subaru. So it’s probably staying. I’m not slashing the price and taking a further hit to appease coastal buyers.

- Budget last night was a kick in the nuts. Long term plan was to get an existing 4br house, let out two rooms to pay it off quickly, and take advantage of the negative gearing benefits of that situation. As of middle of next year, that can no longer happen. As I can’t afford to build a 4br house (but could do a 3br) that’s a massive dent in the long term planning.

So far on this page I’ve yet to state a political preference …….but since turning 18 - until last night - my 2PP allegiance has always been to the ALP. In fact for 4 years I was a greens member and 5 years ALP. In both parties I stood as a candidate at local govt elections, and at the very election from 2010-2019 I would do How to Vote cards at designated booth. I left the ALP in disgust due to member conflict in 2019, but remained loyal at the polling booth. This had basically stemmed from the fact that I’m a teacher and union member, a worker, a tenant, and someone who cared about society in general. However that’s now all in doubt. So I’m spinning a bit.

But the options are now to build a decent 3br house at one of the new housing estates in Dubbo and take advantage of existing negative gearing arrangements or still get the 4br and pay the full tilt in tax (not doing cash, tax evasion isn’t my bag, baby!). Whilst both options still put me in a position of strength, this new development could cost me significantly long term.

05/05/2026

Now the decision has been made to move the BRZ on, transitioning to using the Commodore to daily usage, a few tidy up jobs that I’ve been putting off are now on the radar

- window tinting starting to peel -replace
- door belt mouldings - ordered
- front bar resprayed (was done 8 years ago but was botched and needs constant attention)
- roof rails sun damaged - repaint

Documenting these should give us a bit of content before the QLD trip in July. The window tinting and front bar will be shopped out.

04/05/2026

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2024-subaru-brz-zd8-auto-my25/SSE-AD-20387053

Well - here goes nothing!

ZD8 MY25 Coupe 2dr Spts Auto 6sp 2.4i

04/05/2026

Putting something out there - idea I'm toying with

Getting rid of the Subaru gets me into a decent house much sooner. Deposit is sooner (saves $50k in future loan payments), borrowing capacity much higher. Would be nice to get a decent 4br house in my regional location where two rooms can be let out for some serious cash flow (like now.....)

It would mean relying on the VT as a daily - but even at 26 yrs old it does what it needs to do. Its a good drive, has never really let me down and parts are still cheap and plentiful.

Doesn't have the driving appeal - but let's be honest. 98% of the time I drive the VT and the BRZ in exactly the same way. Leave it in drive, stick to the speed limits. Even on a proper driving road like Alpine way, you aren't getting point to point much quicker allowing for traffic, safety and road rules.

But the Subaru has that factory warranty and would be even more reliable. Cheaper on fuel and is safer.

Discuss.

25/04/2026

Transport related at least

New Western Sydney International!