Saturday, December 25, 2010

Myer Stocktake sale catalogue

Myer Catalogue: Australia's Biggest Stocktake Sale Starts Tomorrow - Ends 26 Jan 2011 ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Friday, December 24, 2010

Boxing day sale catalogues

After Christmas there are always sales, so I decided to check out if the latest Target catalogue was available online and it was. I’ve found if you’re about to buy something popular it is a good idea to check the online catalogues. This approach has saved me money in the past and I thought it might also help others. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Libs sweep Manningham's electorates

Nick Kotsiras celebrates his win at Yiannis Greek Tavern in Kew.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Activist poised to control state's upper house

JOURNALIST and shareholder activist Stephen Mayne could hold the balance of power in the new Legislative Council... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Monday, November 29, 2010

Victorian Election results 2010

For those interested in the Victorian Election results for 2010 visit the VEC site. Select Current Election. Select Results. On this page you’ll see a summary in terms of numbers of votes and percentages for parties. If you select the “More detailed” link you can then change the result for your district and similarly for the region. The VEC doesn’t show a good summary of the situation with the seats for each party. For that it is best to check a couple of the main media sites.

Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by Kelvin Eldridge 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Stephen Mayne good chance for Upper House seat

MANNINGHAM Councillor Stephen Mayne looks set to become an MLC with analysts predicting he will take the fifth spot in the Northern Metropolitan Region.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Manningham voters brave wet weather in Bulleen, Doncaster and Warrandyte

VOTERS were forced to dodge rain drops, a barrage of voting flyers and the smell of a sizzling sausage while heading to the polls today.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Voters head to the polls in Doncaster, Bulleen and Warrandyte

Doncaster’s Laurel Moorfoot said she was not enthused about voting for either party because they had become too closely aligned.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Friday, November 26, 2010

Libs outdo Labor on Manningham election promises

THE Liberal Party has announced more than $17 million worth of promises for Manningham in the lead-up to Saturday’s election compared to less than $500,000 from Labor.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Flemington Sports Bet

VIC Seat - Bulleen

- Kelvin Eldridge
Authorised by: Kelvin Eldridge, 12 Stradmore Avenue Templestowe 3106

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thai Restaurant Bulleen - Instead of Chicken Tonight perhaps think about Thai Tonight

The aim of JustLocal is to encourage local businesses to promote themselves online so locals can more easily find and use their services. It is my belief every restaurant, tradesperson and in fact any small local business can help their potential customers by having a basic web presence.

When we have friends over and we’re thinking about grabbing some local takeaway, often the only menu we can find online is one of the big well known companies. There’s nothing wrong with that but I also like to also help the smaller businesses when I can.

I’ve recently sponsored and completed a menu for a new Thai restaurant in Bulleen, Tra-La Thai Restaurant, so now you can check out their menu online and enjoy some delicious Thai food. I’ve eaten there a number of times. Recently my daughter and a friend went there and we’ve all had a lovely experience.

Please feel free to check out the Tra-La Thai Restaurant’s menu at www.Tra-LaThaiRestaurant.com. You can also find Tra-La Thai Restaurant on the JustLocal 3105 page (www.JustLocal.com.au/3105).

 

Kelvin Eldridge

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

TED: Ideas worth spreading

I’ve listened to a number of the talks from a site called TED. I find some of the ideas shared to be thought provoking and felt that perhaps others may wish to know about the site.

 

Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world

- Kelvin Eldridge

TRUCK LANE RESTRICTIONS ON EASTERN FREEWAY NEXT WEEK

Trucks travelling on the Eastern Freeway will be restricted from the right hand lane from next week, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas announced today.

I found this article as a result of the discussion on this forum http://www.netrider.net.au/forums/showthread.php?t=116059. I hadn’t been aware these changes were coming about. Things just seem to happen in Victoria without any input by the people.

I was driving back from Geelong on Monday using the freeway and noticed some writing in the right lane indicating some form of restriction. There was three lanes. No one was in the right lane. I was in the left lane and a car was further back in the middle lane. I could see a truck approaching that was stuck behind the car in the middle lane. I had my cruise control on and my car was gradually moving further forward. The truck moved into the lane behind me. My cruise control was set to 100kph but I know because of the way most speedometers are set low and I’d just measured my 100kph speed using the speed check, that I was really doing 95kph. So here is a truck that can overtake in the right lane which had no traffic at all, now forced to be stuck behind slower cars in the middle and left lane. I moved into the centre lane enabling the truck to move on and then moved back to the left lane after the truck had moved ahead. The driver showed their appreciation.

I understand there will be reasons for the laws to be changed. But when I see a situation like this it reminds me the government seems to use a sledge hammer to crack a nut. Surely when there is a low volume of traffic and no one is in the right lane, trucks should be able to use the lane for a short period to pass slower moving traffic. I have to add I don’t know any of the specific reasons for the new legislation. It would be interesting to see a list of the reasons for the change in legislation, the options considered and why this was considered the best compromise.

- Kelvin Eldridge

New SmartBus Routes and DART Smartbus 901, 905, 906, 907, 908.

I found the references to Smartbus and then DART to be somewhat confusing. Are there now three bus services or something I thought. So I thought I’d simplify things. A bus is a bus. Just think of the Smartbus and DART as marketing, remove the terms and think of a bus service. Then it becomes simpler.

901 – This bus goes from Frankston to Melbourne Airport. Quite a few people have said to me who’d bother. But I reply, “think of the bus as a continuous route where you can get on and off where it suits you. If I just want to go from Templestowe to the Pines I can”. Just because a bus can go from Frankston to Melbourne Airport doesn’t mean we all have to use it that way. The 901 travels up Blackburn road to the Pines, along Reynolds Road, Fitzsimmons Lane, Main Road, Para Road, Greensborough Station. To me we now have a service which services Templestowe, Doncaster East, and can be used to go to Greensborough Plaza, The Pines and at a push, Ringwood shopping centre.

905 – City to The Pines. This bus travels from Lonsdale Street, Victoria Parade, Hoddle Street, Eastern Freeway, Thompsons Road, Parker Street, Porter Street, Blackburn Road, The Pines. It replaces the old 301 route and now makes the service a continuous service every fifteen minutes between 6:30am and 9Pm on weekdays and 30 minutes at other times. Previously the 301 stopped travelling to the city and a bus charge was required.

906 – City to Warrandyte. This bus travels from Lonsdale Street, Victoria Parade, Hoddle Street, Eastern Freeway, Blackburn Road, The Pines, Andersons Creek Road, Heidelberg Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte. The bus runs seven days a week every 7-10 minutes during peak times, every 15 minutes during weekdays and every 30 minutes at other times.

907 – City to Mitcham. This bus travels from Lonsdale Street, Victoria Parade, Hoddle Street, Eastern Freeway, Doncaster Road, Mitcham Road, Mitcham Station. The bus runs seven days a week every 7-10 minutes during peak times, every 15 minutes during weekdays and every 30 minutes at other times.

908 – City to The Pines. This bus travels from Lonsdale Street, Victoria Parade, Hoddle Street, Eastern Freeway, High Street, King Street, Blackburn Road, The Pines. The bus runs seven days a week every 7-10 minutes during peak times, every 15 minutes during weekdays and every 30 minutes at other times.

To me the really interesting route is the 901. Because this always stays in zone 2, it means only a zone 2 ticket is required and that can be more cost effective.

I still feel there are two aspects missing. A bus going from The Pines to Heidelberg station via Foote Street and Templestowe Road would help reduce one bus for locals travelling to La Trobe University and those taking the train from Heidelberg station. A second aspect is the cost of public transport discourages very short trips. It costs me the same to go from Frankston to the Airport as it does to go from my local bus stop to Templestowe Village shops or up to the local swimming pool. I noticed the same problem in the UK. Short trips aren’t encouraged and I think that is short-sighted. This encourages people to use their cars. The fuller buses are the better for the environment. When buses run around empty and via quite indirect paths, a fuel efficient car may be a better environmental choice and that shouldn’t be the case. A gold coin option for short trips on buses I feel should be part of our public transport options.

The update to the bus network in the Templestowe area is a welcome change. Will it encourage more people to use public transport. Only time will tell.

Kelvin Eldridge

 

 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Reduce the need for printed catalogues like Target's

I often think there is no need for printed catalogues from most of the major department stores and have a no junk mail sign on my letterbox. Unfortunately that doesn’t stop the department stores as they simply move their catalogues into the local papers and local papers ignore the no junk mail signs. If I want to check out a department store’s catalogue I just go to their site such as Target’s (http://target.dynamiccatalogue.com.au/portal?lsm) and select the area. Catalogues will keep coming because department stores make money from the catalogues as advertisers have to pay for product placement. If catalogues were a cost they’d probably stop tomorrow and that would save a lot of trees. Check out the online catalogues. You can often find out the information before your local paper arrives. When I’m looking to buy a commonly advertised item I’ve often checked for and found products using the online catalogues saving some money.

Kelvin Eldridge

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Free passes to local gyms

I found this link (http://www.gymlink.com.au/Gym-Bulleen/VIC) and couldn’t help feel a free pass is a good way to test out each gym if you are thinking of joining a gym.

Kelvin Eldridge

Monday, October 4, 2010

Mobile speed camera locations (Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham, Lower Plenty, Montmorency, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Warrandyte)

Published mobile speed camera locations for October 2010.

Bulleen
Bulleen Road, between Thompsons Road and Manningham Road

Doncaster
King Street, between Williamsons Road and Veda Court
George Street, between Victoria Street and Williamsons Road
High Street, between Manningham Road and Doncaster Road
Wetherby Road, between Doncaster Road and Koonung Creek
Doncaster Road, between Rose Street and High Street

Doncaster East
Doncaster Road, between Blackburn Road and Wetherby Road
King Street, between Nedlands Court and Ashcroft Avenue
Blackburn Road, between Raintree Road and Johns Grove
Blackburn Road, between Beverley Street and Turnstone Street
Blackburn Road, between Reynolds Road and King Street

Eltham
Main Road, between Leane Drive and Kalbar Road

Montmorency
Sherbourne Road, between Porter Street and Karingal Drive

Templestowe
High Street, between Rosemary Street and Linton Avenue
Serpells Road, between Church Road and Killibury Court
Reynolds Road, between Hawtin Street and Smiths Road

Templestowe Lower
Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street

North Warrandyte
Research-Warrandyte Road, between Camelot Close and San Angelo Road


Kelvin Eldridge

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mobile speed camera locations - September 2010 (Bulleen, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham)

Mobile speed camera locations for September 2010.

High Street, between Rosemary Street and Linton Avenue, Templestowe
Serpells Road, between Church Road and Killibury Court , Templestowe
Reynolds Road, between Hawtin Street and Smiths Road, Templestowe
Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street, Templestowe Lower
King Street, between Williamsons Road and Veda Court, Doncaster
George Street, between Victoria Street and Williamsons Road, Doncaster
High Street, between Manningham Road and Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Wetherby Road, between Doncaster Road and Koonung Creek, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Rose Street and High Street, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Blackburn Road and Wetherby Road, Doncaster East
King Street, between Nedlands Court and Ashcroft Avenue, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Raintree Road and Johns Grove, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Beverley Street and Turnstone Street, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Reynolds Road and King Street, Doncaster East
Bulleen Road, between Thompsons Road and Manningham Road, Bulleen

Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster burglary squad team leader Det Sgt Doug Beare said the results were pleasing

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Eastern freeway traffic cameras show up-to-date traffic conditions (Bulleen Road, Yarra Bend)

Frequently when I get to around Bulleen Road on the Eastern Freeway of a night, the bank up of traffic ahead is shocking. I’ve often wondered if there was a way I could check out the traffic beforehand. As it turns out VicRoads provides a live feed from their cameras which are updated frequently. Below are the links to the cameras that interest me and may be of interest to others in the local area.

 

Bulleen Road looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23010?expanddiv=group3

 

Eastern Freeway at Yarra Bend looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23002?expanddiv=group3

 

Happy motoring.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

 

Sunday, September 12, 2010

MELBOURNE'S 10 most violent railway stations aren't Eltham, Heidelbery or Box Hill

The analysis showed 45 per cent of all reported assaults occurred at Flinders Street, Dandenong, Broadmeadows, Footscray, St Albans, Ringwood, Bayswater, Frankston, Southern Cross and Thomastown stations.
I was pleased to read in this article in The Age, the local railway stations which are typically used by people from my local area weren’t in the top ten list of stations. Of course Southern Cross is a concern as it is one of the common destinations in the city.
I also liked reading that by being sensible and covering just 10 stations where 45% of the violence occurs, targeted use of enforcement resources may be able to make a difference for a lot of commuters. One of the concerns with public transport is always safety and poor safety can easily dissuade people from using public transport.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Mobile speed camera location in Templestowe Lower for August 2010

Courtesy of the Victorian government the following is the location of a mobile speed camera in Templestowe Lower for August 2010. As stated on the government site "Mobile cameras are installed in unmarked vehicles parked on the side of a road."

Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street


Kelvin Eldridge

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Property update: Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Bulleen, Eltham and Eltham North

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Office web apps from Microsoft now live

I’ve been checking my Microsoft Live account to see if the Office web apps are live yet in Australia and to my surprise they’ve now been enabled.

The online Office applications from Microsoft look very good and should be sufficient for many people with fairly basic word processing and spreadsheeting requirements. I’ve found over the years many people often need little more than the basics to do what they need and the Office web apps will do that and more.

The first thing you may wish to do is to set your spellchecker language to Australian English in the Word app.

As I explore Microsoft Office web apps I’ll share information via the JustLocal blog and solutions to problems using MyAnswers.

 

Enjoy,

 

Kelvin Eldridge

 

 

 

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Remote Desktop

My aim with JustLocal is to help people to purchase products and services locally. Sadly, over the last 10-15 years I don’t recall any local business asking me what I did and thus using my IT services. From those I ask in the local area they’ve had a similar experience.

It never ceases to amaze me how we have created a world where our customers come into our business, buy from us, and then we go and buy from someone else who most likely will never use our business. That by the way isn't how I work. Whenever possible I try to look for ways to purchase products and services from my customers first and then from others.

I know encouraging people and businesses to buy local is a long term goal for me. I believe in it which is why I invest my time an energy. I believe once people start to realise the benefits of supporting each other locally, that will have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives including the cost of travelling to and from work. The government puts so much emphasis on public transport. Buses are the only form of public transport in my area and given buses really aren't that much better in fuel efficiency than small cars, imagine how we could reduce our need for public transport if we did more locally. How huge a saving that could be on the public purse, our taxes, our own wallets and the environment.

Ideally I'd like to have a good group of local clients. However my business like everyone's has developed over time and my IT clients are scattered around Melbourne.

Lately I've been setting up Windows Remote Desktop on my client's machines. It is actually very technical, but once set up it enables me to connect to their network and provide remote support. The added advantage is clients can then connect to their own network from home and do some after hours work if required.

Having local clients is a great way to save fuel, time and thus money. However, technology also provides us with other ways where our physical location is not an issue. With Remote Desktop which I've tested across Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, I can now effectively assist my clients from a location which may be anywhere in the world where I can get internet access.

If Remote Desktop interests you and you'd like to have it set up in your business, please feel free to contact me.

Kelvin Eldridge

Tags: remote desktop, desktop remote, remote access, remote connection, windows remote desktop, xp remote desktop, remote desktop server, remote desktop port