Australia is a huge place. Bill has other deliveries apart from fathom from factory straight to it's destination. The new owner is happy with that arrangement so it will get there when it gets there.

I too am waiting on Bill to bring me a fathom (an original) but I'm just happy to wait until it arrives...I'm another 1200km up the road from where the new fathom in question is being delivered.

Its not a dick swinging contest.....

Wow - so people aren't allowed to sell machines amongst themselves???? I wasn't aware it was compulsory to take out a full page advert in a national newspaper to sell a pinball. Whats wrong with selling a machine to a mate or person with a common interest?

I really don't get your comments about cliques. I've been in pinball circles for the last 15 -20 years. People in all those cities have welcomed me into their homes, pinball get togethers, competitions and other events. Sometimes i've met people through forums, facebook, mutual friends simply saying you should meet this guy or girl - they are great.

I have seen a few rules in Australia, but would have thought they would be universal:
1. Don't be a tool or talk yourself up (looking at d0n)
2. Respect other people's opinions and property

I host events at my place and help out with other events in Townsville - some competitive, some social. All are open to anyone. We have kicked a couple of people out. One was for using foul language with kids around and pushing and shoving machines, the other was for drunken behaviour and not respecting the owners machines.

Other than that, 99% of people i've met are great and we are all there to enjoy pinball. One thing i've found - if you make the effort to be nice and get to know people, its reciprocated in the vast majority of cases.

My comments stemmed from yours that said "cliques in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne who do not even advertise their machines but trade amongst themselves in a incestfull way."

To me that reads as you think it is not cool to not advertise machines and likened it to incest - which is not a typical socially accepted thing. So i simply questioned why you see it as not socially accpetable to sell a machine amongst mates without advertising.

Yep - i extrapolated suggesting a full page advert is required - apologies.

The comments about basic rules were simply my take on why some people (not suggesting you) think there might be cliques - maybe they aren't willing to fit in with a local culture. They always want things thier way. For example, we have one regular spot locally where its typically a Fri night get together and typcially no kids, so things are OK to get a bit rowdier. At my place, i typically hold daytime events, and have my young kids and other young kids so there are things (langauge etc) that are not as socially acceptable at my events as others. Not that i'm special, its just reading the room and the vibe.

I'd love to join one of your events if i'm down your way (1800km south of me), i typically look out for local events when i'm travelling and have met some great people that way.

Maybe all these machines ready to ship were hiding in the dunny that Bill the transport guy wasn't allowed to go to.....(and i have it first hand that it wasn't even Bill anyway - but trolls never let facts get in the way of a good rumour)

Not sure about 5x the yield. Read that the yield potential for sugar beet is 24T sugar per Ha. since 2am this morning i have been harvesting a trial with sugar cane (North Qld) and we were producing 170T cane/Ha at 15% sugar which is 25.5T/Ha of sugar. I've worked with cane farmers who have achieved 32T sugar/ha.

From what i understand, cane is grown where its hot (and good rainfall or irrigation), beet where its cold. Lots of expereicen with cane, no experience with beet.