AusBonsai

Well its been and gone again . With a busy schedule at the moment this was a hit and miss episode and a very delayed effort on my behalf . After 10 weeks of digging , trimming , re-potting and a bit of hacking here and there I had just about had enough of bonsai . Motivated by members of the Albury -Wodonga Bonsai Club and plenty of local people , the little effort was very rewarding .

Another fantastic comp' with Shibui as the main opposition made for a good challenge again , most of my material was prepared the day before the show which is not ideal . The area required for the tree's has more than doubled over the last couple of years so it was a worthy show .

The display was slightly smaller this year , however there were 4 members involved and had their "works in progress" on show which created plenty of interest in the community . The fused Trident Triple Trunk from Shibui , the Root over Rock JBP from Craig and the Cascade Cypress from Steve stirred up a lot of interest followed by lots of questions . I did manage to trim the foliage on the Phoenix grafted juniper on the work bench over the course of the day , however i think i did more talking and explaining than actually working which is what the day was all about .

All in all it was a very good turn out with an ever increasing interest putting paid to the old thinking that bonsai only belong to an Ellette group of individuals and are not for public display . Many thanks to The Myrtleford Show and all their volunteers and members and to the Guys/Gals at the Albury-Wodonga Bonsai Society for their past , present and future support in promoting Bonsai to the public in general .

Cheers and many thanks to all involved . Alpineart

There was a different judge this year and this one did not have a guide dog so prizes were shared a little more equally. I'll have to lift the standard again next year to try to catch up but may just have to play the long game. Alpine can't keep lugging in those huge rock plantings for too many more years

Alpine kept the passing throngs entertained with advice, stories and information about bonsai while he trimmed and shaped the juniper you can see sitting on the single table at the front (last 2 pics). Thanks mate for the effort you put in again.

Now we do it all again next weekend at Albury

Alpine telling stories ? Can't imagine that Looks like a great show glad you guys are making the effort

Hi Shibui , mate it was a top day out . The judge , "God Bless her little cotton socks"definately wasn't switched on or plugged in when it comes to bonsai , mine were bloody ordinary even in the presentation . I had a thought this morning , I could carve the mountain scenes out of those big pots with a diamond wheel and drill recently purchased , then half fill with polystyrene that would reduce the weight immensely and I could keep on carrying them around myself for years , no need for an offsider to carry the weight .

With the Ishitsuki , a cut and shut taking 200mm out of the middle would reduce them to within the height restrictions for the Albury show Never say die unless I hack it up completely Those Shohin Tridents of yours would look the "Ducks Nuts"on a hand carved mountain rock . Looking forward to the Albury show.

It seems a bit odd having the sizes as they have as categories , compression or extension is on the cards by the look of it . I just might find some spare time to trim a few this afternoon if i get out of here .

Cheers Alpine

Hmmm...
130. Small Bonsai (20cm-38cm high)
131. Large bonsai (56cm-92cm high)
Wonder where they got those size limits from? And what about any mid sized ones or smaller ones? Perhaps that's why they haven't had any entries for the last 10 years.

However I should still be able to find some that fit into those classes and anything that makes it more difficult for Alpine is OK with me

Hi Mr Bougy , I can entertain many an interested person with a few home grown truths about my idea's of bonsai . Might not sit comfortable with some but to the norm out there is is very reasonable . Yes i was a good exhibition with many styles and varieties from all who participated .

Hi Shibui , those sizes are peculiar to say the least and is that from the top of the pot or from the bench , not too much info in the guide .

Another interest of mine old machinery and yes Z9 This is a home made steam engine that has the die hard guru's bluffed as to how the release valve works . Made by a young chippy with no engineering experience , a man after my own heart .

Cheers Alpine

alpineart wrote:
Another interest of mine old machinery

That puts my old MF35 to shame!

I'll have to give her a new coat of paint someday!

Hi JaseH , mate paint her up and enter it into a local show or enjoy the old in new clothing . I learned to drive on an old TEA 20 some 50 years ago , well I learned to steer one . I like the old Fordson petrol /kero job , one day i might just buy one .Dads old Fordson was my favorite toy as a nipper .

Cheers Alpine

Alpine, I've had new paint and decals sitting there for about 3 yrs! I'll eventually get around to cleaning her up, but there is something about a well earned rustic patina! Still works hard at my place, raking hay, spraying and slashing paddocks. I've got a newer Ford(New Holland) with a cab and aircon, that does the heavy lifting these days but I still enjoy jumping on the old Ferguson!

I have a mate up the road currently restoring his Dad's old Fordson - he plans to put it back to work to help with the hay but I think it will be be too pretty to use once its finished!

Hi Jase , mate whats holding you back . My 1916 Triumph Trusty 500 A full nut and bolt reconstruction/restoration ground up rebuild , it took 41/2 years and plenty of $$$ but worth every dollar and minute , unfortunately it now resides in a private collection .

I rally bashed it through the pines up here on plenty of occasions at a top speed of 22 MPH , it was the talk of the town the only time it was seen here in public in a local street parade .

Cheers . Alpine

Alpineart - it looks like the only braking on the "Trusty" beast is a friction device onto the rim of the belt drive. Is this true, and was their another way of stopping it that didn't involve running into a tree? Magnificent beast indeed.

Gavin

Hi GavinG, friction blocks were the order of the day . This Trusty500 had a rubber block at the rear into the v belt drive pulley and 2 compression block up onto the front rim extremely dangerous and "missing". The rubber blocks had a tendency to over ride/roll and jamb with too much use so i used a carved piece of yellow box hardwood which alleviate the shudder of the rubber and the jamming issue . This was the civilian model of the Trusty500, most were Army issue and being so reliable the nick name Trusty 500 stayed with the model .

I had 3 Flat tankers 1914 Trusty 500 , a 1924 SD restored and an unmolested original 1927 TT .

Cheers Alpine