Plans for June

Wing and I went for a bit of a long walk today. It was good and it was to test something.

Although I can wear the compression knee bandage if I am going for short walks, or around the house and yard. Longer walks, I will be needing the hinged knee brace.  It's good to know this now, before we head to Sydney! Would be a disaster to get there and not be able to walk long distance .

So, pack or wear the hinged brace, pack the three compression knee bandages.

And we have been discussing what gear to bring.  One camera body, 5D4.  Lenses: 24-70, 70-300 and the 12-24.  Should have all bases covered that way. Also, bring SD cards, as I found out they will have cameras set up for the studio/photo sessions, and the ones set up only take SD cards. I will bring CF cards for when we do our own photowalks in Sydney.

Waxing Gibbous–Golden Hour

Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone...

Waxing Gibbous in a blue sky - 5D4, 100-400mkII, 1.4xmkIII extender

Damn, I'm good!

The on suite cistern wasn't filling fast enough. So, being my fussbudgety self, I took apart the cistern valve assembly.. again. I checked the large silicon gasket and made sure it was flush (no pun intended) on the intake. Then I checked the gasket that fit onto the pressure lever. I took off my glasses so I could get a close look, and there was no discerning marks, so lined it up and placed it on top of the large gasket.

I then took the collar and made sure the threads lined up, and starting to twist it back on. That's when I noticed that a small lip on the intake wasn't tucked under it. I unscrewed it, and carefully lined it up, and I noticed it tightened down further than it had done previously. Reattached the anchor collar, put the ballcock back on, and turned the water back on full, prepared to shut it off should I get the fountain effect again.

No fountain, just pouring out from under the screw on collar, as it should be, and no longer leaking from the pressure lever.

Damn, I'm good!

The joy of eBay

I managed to find two more dual stabilizers FUTURO knee supports.  This particular type I just could not find in any of the local, or slightly distant, pharmacies. So, I took to eBay. 

I'll still need to use the "Cyborg" knee brace, especially if or when I've overdone something, and my knee is feeling wobbly. The lighter compression support for day to day living.  And with three of them, old one, and two new ones, wearing a clean one every day will stop the itchiness from using same one over and over.

Regular laundering is a good thing, but problematic when it takes 2 days for the thing to dry out. I can't hang them outside because of wattles being in bloom. Do NOT need contact dermatitis on the back of my knee.  With three, I will always have at least one clean and dry.

DYI with real replacement parts

When Wing got home, we headed to Bunnings and picked up a 1981-2000 Coroma cistern valve gasket set. Don't get me wrong, my rigging worked perfectly, but it probably wouldn't have lasted as long as a proper set of gaskets/washers.

Dismantled the cistern valve, removed all the old rubber gaskets/washers, replaced them with new silicone ones, reassembled the valve, once again, forgetting to put the anchor collar on.

Turned the water on, and I had fountain! In my hurry to get the job done, I forgot Number 1 rule when replacing gaskets/washers:  turn the water on slowly to allow the water pressure to properly seat the gaskets. *sheepish grin* 

It's all working.  But boy is my back stiff and sore from staying slouched over the cistern. 

DYI Repairs

The cistern of our on suite toilet kept running. 

I typed in "Caroma Cistern Valve" in YouTube search bar, and watched.

I then, armed with grips, pliers and scissors (yes, scissors. Reason will become apparent) and took apart the cistern valve (removed float, arm, adjustedment screw, level, anchor collar).  Lo and behold, the  gasket on the threaded pipe was disintergrated, and the rubber washer on the valve stop was no longer 'springy' enough to lift the floatation arm to the shut off point.

Hmm, I didn't have any washers or gaskets handy, so this is where the scissors come in.  I got a rubber band, the same thickness as what was left of the original gasket on the threaded pipe. Bevel cut, so the cut ends would rest against each other.  Then I got waterproof bandaging tape, and cut about a 1cm piece. Folded it in half, so the sticky sides faced each other. Then cut it to the size of the rubber washer on the valve stop.

Reassembled valve. Replaced floatation arm. Turned the water on. Waited until the water got to the level line and adjusted the screw until the water stopped filling.  And it stopped filling without continuously running.  Then I noticed I forgot the anchor collar.  I will put it back only if I see there is a problem without it.  On a nifty aside, I probably saved the household $300 in parts and labor getting a plumber in here to do it.