ISS - The Royal Diploma

 Another day, another award for the ISS images:

I haven't been receiving InSpacE's emails for some reason, so I only knew I received this one when I went back and checked. 

It's been a long week without my 3D printer running - that levelling kit cannot get here quick enough. I could work around it if I needed to, but that involves changing firmware and what not. I can wait.

On the subject, I did design a protective box for my Fluke 59 Mini IR thermometer. No idea if it will translate well into a print, but it's my first design. The second is a hook to use to help mount an old LED aquarium light in the print enclosure. 

I've been using TinkerCAD to attempt to produce things. A little frustrating, but I suspect once I get a couple of good results.. and get a printer that behaves predictably again, I might be more comfortable trying more of my own designs. 

Otherwise, this week has so far been incredibly busy. Despite the kids being away, I haven't had a lot of time. Work has been full on despite feeling much like I've achieved little, and my body not allowing me sleep past 4am. 

I did order a carpet cleaner over the weekend. I couldn't afford it, but alas.. I'm not sure I could afford not to buy it. Our dog has anxiety issues. He's also too spoilt and believes venturing outside in unpleasant weather is not something required of him, and instead relieves himself on the carpet (locking him outside results in carry on all night keeping us and the neighbours awake). 

We've had a handheld spot cleaner that permanently stinks of stale urine, but it's not really doing the job taking the edge off some of the puddles. 

The new cleaner arrived yesterday, and I've been doing one area a day. I could spend all day in one area and still never get it clean enough, but it's certainly an improvement. If nothing else, it's 30 odd minutes of exercise during my lunch break.  The new unit is a VAX. Like every VAX product we have, the brush bar implementation is woeful and there are clog points that make absolutely no design sense beyond making me wish I could afford Dyson. 

We do also have a VAX Blade stick vac - a woeful, but light unit that couldn't pick up anything without the brushbar being active (and the manual warns about this only being intended for hard surfaces).. especially on the carpet. The battery is woeful and the inlet to the collection container constantly clogs - for a device marketed towards pet owners.. it doesn't handle pet hair that well!

Amusingly, I brought it a little over 12 months ago from Dick Smith (now a Kogan front end). I made a warranty claim as the brushbar was cutting out. The unit has a 2 year warranty, and I sent it in as instructed. I was promptly told that the repair was rejected. I politely asked the support contact to provide me in writing an explanation of why this was the case and to advise what part of the manufacturers warranty this exclusion came under as I intended to exercise my legal rights on the matter. 

In my former life, I was a floor manager of a large retailer. I had the local consumer affairs branch manager on speed dial - and I was on his. I learned quickly in the job what the rights of the customer were as well as what our rights and responsibilities as a retailer were. I very quickly learned not to fold at threats of consumer affairs or the ACCC because I knew everyone's rights and I ensured our actions were always legal.  If I wasn't sure, I could make a phone call.  I'd also had plenty of people making complaints telling stories missing key facts to the point that the same branch manager knew when people were making stories up because he knew how I'd handle a situation. Yes, we spoke a lot, and I was rarely wrong. 

Needless to say, my "rejected" warranty claim was somehow magically no longer rejected and the replacement unit on its way.. and is now in my possession. Still in its unopened box. I'm in two minds if I even open it. 

The old VAX Air I brought when my wife was pregnant 5 and half years ago still works. One battery is a bit sus and a hose on it has split in about a dozen spots. I was using it in the interim, and I've realised just how good it was compared to this Blade junk. It still leaves a lot to be desired, but it's better. I probably should just pull it apart and replace that hose. 

Final note: That VAX Air was a present for my wife. It was well balanced with the weight down low and is easy to move. She loved it. She's probably used it 3 times. I've worn it out, stripped it to pieces, fixed it, used it until it died again, then fixed it and so on numerous times. I think I brought the Blade after the mother in law had gone on about how great "stick" vacuums are, and I needed to fix the Air again but couldn't be bothered. The only thing that stick vac is good for is vacuuming the couch. Even then, I've had bad vacs that suck better.