Regent Park Tasmania - lifestyle of artist in country Tasmania: April 2023

update on dropping my phone in the creek #pixel2

I wrote a post about dropping my phone in the creek here

I go down to the creek daily many times a day to spend time with a platypus and the birds.

Anyway I dropped my phone in the creek a Pixel … its a Pixel 2XL (I know I know, its old) but I love the phone for its camera and reliability - I don't use it for email or fb or anything other than phone, camera, sound recorder, a chat program, the weather bureau, maps/gps to get me somewhere and very occasional checking of fb posts. I was looking to get another phone this past six months and have settled on the Pixel7pro but let me tell you the story ….

I dropped the pixel2 in the creek while standing on the bridge; it has a black rubber backing and fell face down and sank to the bottom - the creek is very clear but where it went in is dark so I couldn’t see it at all. I went down to the creek often at different times of day for a couple of days and saw it exactly where it had fallen - straight down - I could just see a hard edge of black. So my partner and I - like 2 older persons helped each other down a 3 metre high bank to a concrete plinth under the bridge - with a rake, a long pole and a long handled spade. One hanging onto the other spread eagled across the divide to poke the phone - the creek is running and as the pole pushed the phone it flipped over and moved a little further away … BUT IT LIT UP !!! Fully underwater.

We felt like the dear thing was calling out (so to speak) … so we were newly determined to get it out. Ok, so we did - 1.5 hours it took with both of us having one or other sore part of a body - knee, shoulder - you get the point.

When retrieved it was ON and had 15% left in battery … NOW HERE IS THE DEAL - it had been submerged for FORTY-FIVE hours (it went in 4pm on a Friday and we retrieved it 1pm on the Sunday.

Now not only that … I took its rubber back off and there was some water (not a lot) between the rubber and the back of the phone. I held it up and some (not a lot) of water came out of the charging port - I hung it up and left it for a night and a day … I then tried to charge it as it was now down to 5% … it would not charge ! It just didnt connect. So we left it to air dry inside some more for a day and night. The charge still would not grab - we vacuumed the charge port and used a hair dryer a distance from it.

The charge would still not work - and the phone now would not come on at all being in need of a charge. My partner said just leave it for a few more days and let’s see - but leave it with the charge in the port. Next morning I got up and it was at 100% !!!! The sound the charge makes does not happen when I put it in the phone … but it charged overnight. This is how it is at present, the charge doesnt chime that it is connected but when its wiggled a message shows its charging.

I am so pleased … so happy …and we are both amazed. Looks like it will still be a while before I get a Pixel Pro upgrade.

Musing at the spot I dropped my phone and talking about how we managed to retrieve it.

ANZAC DAY - reflections on my herstory

I have this photo and frame hanging in my bedroom -as is, sitting slightly crooked within the gilt brass frame it originally came in.

My Mum and Dad on their wedding day, 1955 at age 18 and 19. It was 18months later they escaped Hungary, their home and family having experienced terrible times during the '56 Revolution and the loss of their baby boy, our elder brother.

Having endured the Soviet invasion of Budapest (and all the horrors that brings) for months, they opted to escape, with other young people, in the middle of the night, moving between guard points to find the right moment to get on a raft to cross the Danube into Austria.

30 years ago, living in Western Australia, I spent every Thursday night for 2 years taping my mother's stories of this experience and learned about my grandparents on both sides and what happened to them, my mother's older sisters and brother during the invasion. I have typed out what we talked about and it sits in a large pile of single sheets in a box waiting.

Today, Anzac Day, as the radio fills with stories and remembrance, I came to this remembrance of my own. My parents, so young, left their homeland, under horror circumstances, to find a better future for my sister and I.

I am filled with gratitude as I sit here in country Tasmania as I look to going to visit my Mum in the near future.

I dropped my phone in the creek !

yesterday, last thing as I left the studio, as I usually do, I went to the creek to see if I could see the platypus. I didnt see her/him although I did film the turbo chooks as they swam across the creek ! first time I have seen that and as I was watching to see what they may do, having reached the bank on the other side, I dropped my phone in the water. aaaargh ... (a momentary lapse in concentration).

I cannot even retrieve it because that part of the creek is about 4m down from the top of a steep bank. I went to look this morning but I cant see it in the water as there is very little light on the water at that particular point. And now, no video of the turbo chooks swimming!

It is midday right now and I must admit I am feeling a little 'all at sea' - I used my phone to stay in touch with V who is out and about with car rentals and he only does old fashioned kinda phone thing and no fb or messenger, etc.

I do have my iPad so took a few photos this morning using that (as far from the edge of the creek as I could be) !

Tis true I have been occasionally 'mentioning' in my videos that I am in need of an Iphone as my phone was a Pixel2. Considering we are now up to Pixel7 that tells you how old it was - however it had a great camera on it and worked fine !

So, for now, back into sorting through my reject pile to gesso before an afternoon of painting.

My Pixel2 worked fine after this for another 2 years - 2025 I now have a Pixel8!