seriph

God I love Minis - and that pic is insane! It looks like you 'posterised' the shot but I think it is just all the reflection

Exactly. A new A4 turbo Quattro might be $90k here. An 05 with basically the same spec but in convertible form might be 30k for a well looked after one. Sure they aren't the exact same thing but neither are they the same outlay. The build quality is the same. The prestige the same. In the case of the Porsches I owned, I made money on every one. All were customized or modified in some way. Two were full replicas of turbos. One was a rep of the amazing 996 twin turbo 3.6 as done by RUF. In australia that car cost around $300K and I built the rep up from a 74 model in great condition. Would NEVER do it today but the 90's were a different time. All up it cost 51500 and took 6 months. Finished in jet black and with Japanese made 18 inch three piece wheels the thing was stunning. Folks would know the interiors of these earlier models really let the cars down so of course I customized it with additional Hifi and consoles etc. all in black and quite understated. Elec seats of course and black on black boot stitched trim. It was set up so nicely that the first time I took it to Hamiltons (the Australian Porsche distributors) the sales manager asked me why I 'grey marketed' the car instead of going through them. He thought itcwascthecresl thing. That was a good day ...BTW I sold it to a guy who followed me home to ask me about it! In the end and accounting for tax deductions for all the work I did (is this a great country or what!!!???) I made more than $20K

Phoband .... the desk will be a while coming, I reckon mate - although I do have a very bad replica here that I could modify ... was gonna break it up but maybe I'll completely mod it Been thinking about the iphone dock/alarm/DAB+ radio etc. idea ... and think I'll make a replica coffin/casket radio like this - might look good sitting on top of the cabinet

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8859974

That's a lovely set of pens there... great work. ... and thanks to everyone for the kind remarks - thinking I might do a desk next. Have a look at wooton patent secretary.

BTW apologies if I already mentioned it but my all-time favourite car is known as a BORGWARD ISABELLA COUPE From memory, these were produced between 1957 and 1962 and cost more than the 190 Benz of the day - and are MUCH more beautiful to me anyway ... this was an era when no one mistook one make of car for another. So, if I had the money this is what I would drive - not that they're expensive at all, they're not. But what I'd do to one would be classed as sacrilege but the fanatical restorers .... modern running gear and suspension and insane retro interior with every modern appointment plus things crazy little like model ship's propellers in the air vents etc. and serious in-car system that is concealed behind the old radio etc.

Thanks mate. Hope to enjoy it for life...

Thanks upland. We can't get birch here unfortunately but I love it too. One thing I learned in the UK really opened my eyes ... what mattersmost is not what somethings made out of but what its made into

... and a few more on their way, over time. But only Montblanc Limited Editions from now on.

Thanks mate - it is slightly lighter but that's because it'll darken over time and end up about right .... of course, starting with the RIGHT timber in the first place helped a LOT. So many people in Australia at least, think that because Pine has oak stain on it, it's oak! I used two stains on this one ... the first to darken the second to make a little more gold/brown. As you'd know, cameras are unforgiving on such things, so this match is pretty close. BTW I decided not to 'age' it. Pretty much ran out of time (back at work today) but really thought that it was nice enough and didn't really need to 'match' to look nice. It takes me about as 50% of the making time to detail-age a piece! Cheers

Oh yeah .... just wish I had the money to go with the skills! Thanks mate - it was a wild ride. In all seriousness, it is a great feeling to take what looks like crap to the untrained eye and transform it. I guess that's what all people do or can do when we allow ourselves the time and freedom to have a go until we get it right

Just installed this baby last night and filled it... it is destined for a walk in rode I hope to build, but until then it goes into the corner of the bedroom .... BTW I only built the top section .... the bottom four drawer chest is an original Victorian item I restored years ago. Both are made from Australian Cedar from Queensland. What I used was milled in 1960 and warehoused until I bought it in 1991 with the intention to make 'special' things out of it. I am happy with it and at least I have a place for my bits and pieces now. Definitely needs a few more watches and pens to round things off though... and before you ask, yes the tie drawers are full ... not just stuck 'up front' for effect.

Actually here in Australia, a well-worn briefcase is quite highly regarded.... I guess it alludes to someone working for a living

I will speculate further by saying it is possible that some scum sucking bottom-dweller stole it thinking it was real and flogged it to his/her fellow-crims at the pawn shop. The fence.... oops sorry - 'broker' saw it wasn't authentic so didn't bother trying to sell it for big bucks

even some women have those jobs!

BTW I will be finishing and installing a new chest of drawers/cabinet today. It will sit on an originasl Victorian chest of drawers and is designed to be a near-perfect match. Hopefully it'll work out. The reason I mention this is because the cabinet is designed to take my collection of silk ties, cufflinks, pens and of course, watches. The upper section has power into it so I can include winders and iphone dock etc. it is also illuminated with LED strip lighting. I have been researching docks over the last couple of weeks .... the selection is huge but I haven't seen anything completely suitable yet. The PURE SENSIA is a funky retro looking thing and has some great features, but it's 400+ so I may buy a cheapie and re-purpose an antique radio case (if I can find one) turning it into a dock, [censored] digital radio [censored] mini-hifi etc. We'll see .... my wife really doesn't want me to take that project on because we have so many other things that need doing but a man needs his space to be 'just-so' If anyone is interested, I'll post pics

heh utterly unfair comments about being a girl, but I am still laffin' - I use a choice of three briefcases, depending what I am wearing or doing on any given day. Actually none of them are briefcases - onre messenger bag by HUGO BOSS. It is a stunner in tan leather. Another is a light khaki woven nylon (like seatbelt webbing) satchel. Finally if I am trying to look uber-coroporate but with a designer-edge (if yiu saw me, you'd know I am wasting my time but it pleases me to try) I have a black 'vertical' briefcase i.e. books or file folders etc. go in vertically so the bag is taller than it is wide. My watch choices and pens and ties/clothes etc. get selected the night before, but that's because I may be the world's least organised bloke and I only consult on Mondays so all this is only done once a week on Sunday night. OK enough from me .... I think I will now strip down to my undies and dance in the daisies for an hour or so

Not that anyone would or should care what I think but: I can't see a Rolex without thinking it is a fake - I recognise it is the most successfully branded watch on the planet, like Rolls Royce but they have been copied for so long that for me, the allure is lost. That said, I love beat up rollies. For some reason they look more like 'money' than a perfectly clean one. I love the look of this one.

I wish there were some things I could UNsee my eyes my eyes! 2000 stones, no problem Pink metal, no problem orange dial, no problem magnetite strap, no problem remotely accurate rep ... problem. Dude, there are some great Breitling reps and even some basically acceptable ones (to me anyway) for +- $50 on your budget ... and you don't need to get mugged by a New York Russki :D

I can make the box - time is the enemy! here is one I made for friend's 50th. http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/203305-the-story-of-a-pen-and-pen-box/page__p__2087929__fromsearch__1#entry2087929

Said in the voice of the loser, from the pub scene in EXTRAS The rose gold - the stainless steel screws - the Hornback - BRILLIANT! Definitely the hornback for the Rosie - the white for the traditional

I WANT THAT BOX!!!!!!!!!!! SUCH a clever design, the way the have made it to reflect the decks of the vintage (and ultra-pricey) boats used in the Hamptons etc. I have to find one - it is a MUST!

so choice! Such a nice strap mate ... wear it with joy I am really looking forward to getting mine - my turquoise cuff links arrived today (different from then ones I posted about above) ... they should compliment the Monty nicely ... and bloody cheap by the way - I think they were under $10 ... just saw almost exactly the same ones in a store in Melbourne Central (Australia) for $90.

And this wonderful. lovely lad from Kilmore - my sleepy-hollow town. If you'd like to donate to the Moira Kelly Foundation, you will know where your money is going. Us folk around here call her "Saint Moira" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCHS6geSs-k

great effort but that's not it .... the guy is doing parcor or whatever it's called to get the old lady's purse back to her. I really appreciate you're efforts though .... I LOVE seeing people perform their bloody hearts out for a sheer joy of doing so .... ... and these still NEVER fail to get me - what spirit - what talent - what heart - what am I doing to make the world happier? But then, I see this young fella and can't help wondering how many people die without ever being given a chance to shine - and after all, we don't shine to give ourselves light .... when opportunity is denied or lives are oppressed through our own fears or selfishness, how much light are we denying ourselves? How much smaller are our lives made? How much poorer our world? Guess who said "Only a life lived for others is worth living" ... ? Living a large percentage of one's life 'rough' ... without love ... without education... with little human warmth ... and the constant threat of exploitation, quite literally, the threat to one's life a constant possibility - to be able to stand before thousands and put yourself out there like that is heroic ... his RAW talent - his UNTRAINED voice - and his UTTER lack of self-pity moves me each time I see him. Again - what am I doing to make the world a better place?