Remembering PRESTAGS

Problem solving for the home handyman

There were going to be photos with this post but I can't get them to load ...

Wednesday the dishwasher didn't drain completely. Cleaned the sieve trap and screen (which were not really grotty at all).
Did a clean on hot cycle yesterday - still some water remaining.
Fiddled around in the water, found the outlet hole, didn't seem to be blocked.
Did a shot hot wash empty. Still water remaining above the normal level.
Recourse to Dr Google for potential causes and to try to find a manual for the model online. Both searches moderately successful.
Easiest thing to test was the outlet hose.
This morning had a go at trying to check that - which meant pulling nearly everything out from under the sink to find the power point.
Then to get the bracket screws holding it to the cabinetry walls out (not sure how the installer got them in!)
Then feeding hoses back from under the sink to allow the dishwasher to move.

Slight diversion, when I go the dishwasher out far enough to see in the recess there was a mostly desiccated mouse ... (photo). If he could get in, not sure why he couldn't get out? Maybe success of rat bait stations - apparently the tend to go off somewhere out of the way to die.

 

Anyway, back to the hose, 'voila!' the hose had a fair kink in it behind the dishwasher. The kink probably there from when it was in stalled 8 or 9 years ago (never needed servicing). 
Managed to get some gunk and water out of the hose, indicating it probably was blocked.

OK, then 'how to address the kink in the hose?'.  Pressing around it pretty much returned it to norm shape but it would be liable to kink in the same place again. 
Thought about a replacement hose but further Dr Google and YouTubes indicated I would have to take various covers off the bottom of the dishwasher to access where it attaches to the pump. I wanted to avoid that if possible.

I thought 'maybe if I wrap something stiff around the kink site ...
Then, what if I can find something cylindrical about the same diameter as the hose? A 'sleeve' to support the kinked area.
I tried to type of drink bottle lid - standard soft drink bottle, and the blue outside bit of a juice popper.
Cut off the lids with a hacksaw, then split one side with the hacksaw.
The Popper lid was too wide and it was liable to crack.
With the help of some boiling water to soften the soft drink lid plastic I got it over the kink.

Next problem - how to hold it in place, and if possible make it a tighter fit?
Tried a plastic coated wire tie (like comes in toy packaging) first - wasn't strong enough.

Then thought - hose clamp. Found my stash of those in the shed (minor miracle?), and got one on and tightened over the sleeve.
Now to put it all back in place and see if the draining problem is resolved.
Quite happy with my simple fix.

 

dinner

usual big wok of stir fried vegetables with some honey and peanut butter. plus stir fried chicken from previous night - garlic, ginger, little chilli, pepper & soy sauce.

Very unconventional carbohydrate though - boiled potato.

Inspired by Paul

yummy but bloating ...

A Cabbage

Italian Breakfast

Fresh and warm from the bakery. Spaghetti Bolognese Arancini and Pane Di Casa bread.

(This is also my first post using an iPad).

Inspired By Thygo - Aussie Chiko Roll

Following in Thygo's footsteps, I have tried the retro Chiko Roll. I'm pretty sure I haven't had one in over 20 years.

PRESTAGS era junk food.

I liked it but better half and #2 daughter were not particularly impressed.

We are spoilt now with lots of alternatives like spring rolls and numerous yum cha offerings I suppose.

More Lockdown Meals

What better way to celebrate Python's birthday than with some more food posts.

Bangers and Mash

Possibly my favourite comfort food.

Prawn Cocktail

Actually made by Yours Truely.

PRESTAGS ERA food!

Christmas Pudding

If Python can have Christmas in July I can have Christmas Pudding in lockdown.

I had a mad craving for Christmas pudding, and found some online that were delivered very quickly.

Tuna Patties

Trying out Thai Chilli sauce and Thousand Island Dressing to see which was better with the patties. Thai Chilli won.

Bubble and Squeak

Another comfort food classic.

Chicken Parma and Baby Potatoes

The clubs might be closed but you can have Chicken Parma at home. Tinned baby potatoes nice and easy.

New toys. Food. Old toy. Birds.

NEW TOY

So I got a poor man's RX100 - a used Canon S120 (for $120 incl post) with the teeny 1/1.7 inch sensor.

I'm pretty impressed. Solid build - metal top and bottom. Lot to learn to drive it though.

Should be good for quick photos.

Dinner last night.

Carl: spring rolls, chicken things, wedges


Thygo - stir fry / satay + kanga bangas

Packet cake made by Carl & Thygo last night, iced today, tastes good.

Lexi enjoying the sun

selfie of Grumpy old Man

 

Another NEW TOY - old binoculars (Gumtree special, $30)- object d'art

image quality good and much more comfortable to hold than the new-bought Olympus.  Both 8x40. Dad had/has a pair like these older ones when I was young.

thi

 

OLD TOY - D7500 + (stellar little) AF-P 70-300 DX VR - Crested pigeons from the clothes line. No cropping.

PRESTAGS Gold Medal

Many thanks to my fine friends who celebrated my birthday with me on Zoom.

Chinese food and Charddy was compulsory.

A PRESTAGS gold medal goes to Python for the best Charddy quaff.

Wargame Counters and Food

I did a search of images for wargame counters and food, trying to blend Python's two favourite kinds of posts.

What came up was the Prestags card!

When you think of what the card is used for this was actually a very accurate search result.

Lock Down Meals

Coffee and Cardamom Cake:

Salmon and Noodles:

Salami, Anchovies and Olive Pizza:

Dinosaur Pasta in Lamb Soup:

Raw Honey from Collector on Crumpets:

Easter Day dinner Peter & Carl

Peter & Carl had a nice Easter dinner, with Carl driving the camera remote.

BBQ lamb chops (and Kanga Bangas too)

roast vegies

Carl food [sigh]

at the table [note Prestags Grand Tour shirt, and Lexi nuzzling in hope of a hand out ...]

cheers! [Sparkling red & creaming soda]

Carl decided it should be by candlelight

Carl's egg/bunny haul

 

Easter Sunday Under Lockdown

Good Friday Brunch

Hot Cross Buns under lockdown.

Lockdown Bakery Delivery

Bakery delivery arrived early.

In time to make ham and cheese croissants for breakfast.

food

mine & Carl's

 

Brunch - A Victory for Sausage Rolls

Thygo knows why I chose this.

Health star rating of 1. What would they know.

 

Sound Recording 4 - Sausages Sizzling

I wanted to try out my new Rode microphone pistol grip, so I whacked in an Audio Technica mono shotgun mic, the AT 897, and wandered around the house annoying the wife.

No particularly interesting sounds, and as usual Sir Lancelot refused to talk.

The most excitement I had was the sound of sizzling sausages, preparation for a katsu beef sausage and sweet potato curry. Pity I can't capture the smell.

It's a soft recording, the sizzle getting a bit louder as I moved closer. In the second recording you can just make out small pops from the hot oil.

Sausages Sizzling 1

Sausages Sizzling 2

Very quiet sound wave.

I got some practice with the Sound Devices MixPre -6 in a sound bag over my left shoulder, and the pistol grip in my right hand. Nice sound in the headphones. Ready for some outdoor field recording when I can get somewhere interesting.

 

Grilled Cheese on Muffins

Sunday breakfast.

Simple But Effective

Saturday morning after a long stressful week.

A treat breakfast is warranted.

Grilled cheese on Greek bread. Mozzarella on the top half, cheddar on the bottom.

A sprinkle of black pepper and dried basil.

 

Mooncake Festival Feasting

Last night was part of the mooncake festival and I was allowed to have duck.

Duck is one of the special foods for the festival:

The mooncake festival marks the end of the autumn harvest, and is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. The official festival day was Friday 13 September.

Last night the moon was certainly very full and bright. I'm surprised Thygo did not post a moon photograph.

We were also still celebrating #3 daughter's important birthday, and she had a second birthday cake of her favourite kind, ie a family meat pie.

Apparently Duck Rather than Chicken is the go-to fowl for this festival. Not only are ducks fattest at this time of the year, their natural game-meat flavour is the richest too, making it the peak season to enjoy duck meat. It is also believed that eating duck in Autumn helped to expel pathogenic heat to restore the balance of yin and yang in the body, hence enhancing one’s health. I'm only allowed duck once a year. Python gets it all the time so he must have a perfect yin and yang balance.

We got a whole Peking Duck, chopped up to go:

Adding to the festivities, Satay Chicken :

Desert, the birthday meat pie:

Where is the moon?

Since Thygo hasn't done a photograph, I have done one. B700:

Father's Day Treat for Dad

Breakfast, but not too much because need to keep room for special lunch.

Preparations for Dad's favourite meal - Roast Lamb.

The feast arrives. Spoilt and Contented Dad.

(Slightly) Healthier Weekend Breakfast

Poached egg and fried egg, on rye bread.

Placed near green things to absorb 'greenness".

 

Aussie Breakfast

Can't go wrong.

When you're on to a good thing stick to it.

Three weekend. Three breakfasts.

Two Points for Python

One point for Python's Beef Wellington.

A Second Point because Python still managed to do a turn and send it to Thygo.

Nice table setting too.

 

Toad-in-the-Hole

Number 3 Daughter offered to cook dinner. She wanted the meal to be a surprised but said we could name a nation, and she would pick a recipe.

We eat a lot of Chinese and Italian, and I wanted something different, so I said "England". I was probably also influenced by watching lots of one of my favourite TV shows, Midsomer Murders.

What we were treated to was a wonderful English classic, Toad-in-the-Hole.

It looked fabulous and tasted fabulous. Pork sausages in yorkshire pudding, with onion gravy and beans. #3 Daughter even did her own decorations.

I wondered where the name of this dish came from. I obtained the following from theculturetrip website:

The Beef Wellington Excuse Just Doesn't Cut It

Python's pathetic excuse to avoid an ATG smash session because he had to cook Beef Wellington for a 'Christmas in July' dinner party just doesn't cut it.

On the day we were saved by his considerate better half, who enabled the smash session to proceed.

However, for future reference the Beef Wellington excuse won't work. Why not?

Because the Beef Wellington can be prepared in advance.

I wonder what recipe Python will use when he pre-cooks his Beef Wellington, thus giving himself plenty of ATG time. The one from Mary Berry looks good.

Even if Python absolutely insists upon cooking fresh the day of the dinner party, there is a recipe for Mini Beef Wellingtons that only involves 15 minutes preparation time. Easily achievable while Precious (aka the Bastard) does his ATG turn.

This is so quick, that Python can even whip up a nice Spicy Cucumber Salad  - 10 minutes preparation time -while Spetz does his ATG turn.

Yes, Mini Beef Wellingtons with Spicy Cucumber Salad. We should lock it in for the next FMW.

 

Of Cucumbers And Ravioli

I have found a recipe for Python - it's Cucumber, Herb and Four Cheese Ravioli Salad.

The recipe is on the Buitoni Pasta Website.

I reckon you could use meat ravioli instead of the four cheese one if you wanted.

I have also found a recipe for cucumber sauce suggested for ravioli, but (frankly) it sounds disgusting.

The photograph of this food travesty is even more disgusting.

The vodka sauce recipe that was immediately after sounds a lot better.

Ravioli with vodka sauce - very nice, and very quick. Lots of time for an ATG turn before the guests arrive.

 

Democracy Pie

When the politically correct Maoist vegans take over after the election they'll probably ban meat pies because they contain meat and cows fart.

 

Old and Fat but Happy

I wonder why?

I had a fantastic birthday.

Easter Feasting

Bad Python

Bad Python ruined the PRESTAGS card so it has needed to be laminated.

This Is What 200 Nothing Burgers Look Like

How Does One Cope With The Heat Wave?

Easy.

Ice cold G&Ts.

Heavy on the Bombay Saphire. Ice cold tonic water. Fresh lime. Three blocks of Ice.

 

Brunch

Saturday Morning Horse Riding

The rain is fantastic for the farmers, and we need lots of it.

We had a very convenient one hour respite exactly when we were at Badgerys Creek for horse riding.

I tried out the Nikon B700 bridge camera for 4K videos and the results were excellent. Also took some nice photos with the B700 , including using the super zoom.

Because we left early we skipped breakfast. After lots of fresh air we returned with a very healthy appetite. A nice brunch (shot taken on the mobile):

 

Long Weekend Breakfast

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Peasant food

dinner Monday night.

 

not for drinking but nice colourful label ...

Double smoked duck breast

I have a lovely double smoked duck breast yesterday for lunch. I ascribe my sexual prowess to eating duck - and can't get enough of either. I also note that since focussing on duck, I am typically doing 6 turns a night. Get-it-in-ta-ya!