Seasons Greetings
Merry Xmas to one and all.
Geoff
Smartphones
For the last 2 years or more I’ve used Sony-Ericsson mobile phones - the last being the Z800i. They’ve all been good phones, quite simple to use and they’ve met my needs quite well …. or so I thought. I certainly have never complained about them in any way more than I’ve complained about other phones.
For years I have held a view that menu navigation on all phones left a lot to be desired and in this regard the Sony-Ericsson phones were no better nor worse than any others I’ve had in the past (primarily Nokia or Motorola years ago).
A month ago, after saying I didn’t need one only a few weeks beforehand, I bought a 3G iPhone.
At first I was a bit dubious about it. Now a month later I say, without any concern, that it’s the best mobile connection device I’ve ever used. To call it a phone is to sell it short. To call it any one thing also sells it short. I don’t know how to categorise it to help with its description - which is unfortunate.
Menu navigation and control of user preferences are the simplest and most uncomplicated of any phone I’ve ever seen or used before.
The larger screen is simply wonderful.
Typing on the touchscreen keyboard is far more accurate, for me, than on any keyboard of any previous phone I’ve ever used. At last I can type an SMS without at least 50% spelling or punctuation errors. I mean what I say and say what I mean now - far more often.
Calls are clear and connections consistent.
And it syncs so easily with my AddressBook and Calendar without a hitch.
And I suspect that as Apple continues to evolve the firmware for the iPhone that the experience will only get better and simpler in the months ahead.
So a thumbs up from me for the iPhone.
2006 Honda Accord 3.0 VTEC LEV - For Sale
We’re selling our Honda because we need a vehicle with greater towing capacity for Fiona’s horses.
Roaming Post
This is my first blog post from a smartphone while out and about. Pretty interesting.
Sheehan Family Tree
I am spending the day today getting the Sheehan Family Tree in a bit better shape. Of course this is a “Never Ending Story”. Fiona plans to watch the Olympics so this’ll give me something to do.
I have published a Family Tree, of sorts, which can be found here. If you find any errors, omissions or have more information don’t hesitate to email me and let me know. It only takes a few moments to update the database and to republish to the web.
All family tree information is stored in a GEDCOM compliant database using the MacFamilyTree application (we are Apple Mac people). If you also have a GEDCOM compliant application let me know and I can send a copy - in exchange for a copy of your GEDCOM database. It is doesn’t matter if you use a Mac, Windows, Vista or Linux with your personal computers - as long as you have a GEDCOM compliant database we can exchange genealogical information very easily.
Cheers
Sheehan Family Tree
I am spending the day today getting the Sheehan Family Tree in a bit better shape. Of course this is a “Never Ending Story”. Fiona plans to watch the Olympics so this’ll give me something to do.
I have published a Family Tree, of sorts, which can be found here. If you find any errors, omissions or have more information don’t hesitate to email me and let me know. It only takes a few moments to update the database and to republish to the web.
All family tree information is stored in a GEDCOM compliant database using the MacFamilyTree application (we are Apple Mac people). If you also have a GEDCOM compliant application let me know and I can send a copy - in exchange for a copy of your GEDCOM database. It is doesn’t matter if you use a Mac, Windows, Vista or Linux with your personal computers - as long as you have a GEDCOM compliant database we can exchange genealogical information very easily.
Cheers
95 Course - Fly Past List
Bob Harvey sent me a few more pics yesterday. This is a scan of the formation flypast list of Captains and Students flown a day or so prior to our graduation. Thanks Bob. (If memory serves me well, Col Mitchell was not well and couldn’t participate in the flypast.)
95 Course Nominal Roll
We started at 1FTS Point Cook as 35 cadets. Bob Harvey managed to track down the nominal roll. Thanks Bob. Those in blue are the graduating members with my recollection of the aircraft type each was initially posted to fly. (Thanks to Noddy and Bob for corrections - especially the note that Greg Collins was back coursed to 96 Course) 
95 Pilots Course - Pre-Graduation
A photo of 95 Course graduating cadets taken, I think, just before or just after our Graduation Day Flypast at 2FTS RAAF Pearce.
Backrow (L-R) John Blackburn, Brad Johns, John Herbert, Sean Trestrail, Phil Carkagis, Chris Sawade
Middle Row (L-R) John Payne, Steve Byrnes, Ross Birch, Pete Watson (on wing), Bob Jenkins, Tony Vollebregt, Geoff Sheehan, Col Mitchell
Front Row kneeling (L-R) Markus Khoo, Tim Sloane, Mick Maher, Bob Harvey
Brad Johns got in touch with me overnight from UAE and will be sending some more pics through, as will JP who has been in London.
1FTS Detachment “A” Wagga Wagga - 95 Pilots Course
During our basic flying training at 1FTS Point Cook the weather was so awful our course fell about 6 weeks behind in the flying syllabus. The RAAF decided, I think it may have been Wg. Cdr Bill Monaghan who later became my father-in-law, to send our course to RAAF Forest Hills in Wagga to ensure that we finished our basic flying training on time. Any major delays would have screwed up 2FTS RAAF Pearce, and courses who succeeded us at Point Cook.
This is a photo of us just after arriving at RAAF Forest Hills.
