The Pool Room

The Pool Room: where all the good stuff ends up

  • CityDesk 2.0.1 Beta Released

    As promised, Fog Creek announced the availability of CityDesk 2.0.1 Beta today. This really is a great step forward, with dozens of small time-saving enhancements and several big features that make previously-impossible things doable. You can read my first impressions here.

  • How Software Should Be

    This is how software development should be: Fog Creek Software announced that the beta version of CityDesk 2.0 will be released next week. It will be an open beta, meaning anyone who wants to can join. When the final version of CityDesk 2.0 is released, it will be a free upgrade for registered CityDesk 1.0…

  • Older Cameras

    All the photographers I know seem to be planning their switch from film to digital (if they haven’t already made the jump!). “When will I change?” “At what price point?” “Digital compact or digital SLR?” “How many megapixels?” Am I the only one switching the other way? My 2.1 Mp Olympus C-2040Z is great for…

  • How To Give Parents A Pre-Natal Diagnosis

    Warning: this article is intended to make a serious point in an interesting way. It is not meant to offend anyone, except possibly doctors. I’m very sorry, I have the results of the genetic tests and they have confirmed our suspicions that your foetus is what we call… Normal. Some people prefer the terms “Ordinarily…

  • 18 Week Ultrasound

    We had Megan’s 18-week ultrasound this afternoon. The result was a completely Normal Diagnosis. Also, there was an interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald recently about Down syndrome in art: Nativity scene paints different picture of Down syndrome.

  • Renovation Update

    The brickwork out the back of the house is now finished, and looks pretty good. Work is now starting on the stuff inside the back room.

  • Disability Benefits

    This page will mainly be of value to Australian residents, but people in other countries may also get some ideas for finding out about local disability benefits. Theme parks (e.g. Wet’n’Wild, Movie World, etc) often offer a discount for a disabled child and their carer. As an example, general adult admission to Wet’n’Wild is $35.00…

  • New Down Syndrome Association Web Site

    Jill O’Connor (from the Down Syndrome Association of NSW) visited us today with her husband Brendan and son Declan. I’m working with Jill to set up the new web site for the DSA.

  • Grace’s First Birthday Party

    Grace had her first birthday party today. She slept through most of the celebrations, but at least she was the last kid to bed! Games featured included pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey, balloon races, two treasure hunts, and an impromptu winner-take-all balloon battle. Check out [the photos](http://pool-room.com/dacollins/lazy-index.php?file=grace%20first%20birthday/) in the gallery.

  • Christmas 2002

    We spent Christmas Day down at Huskisson with Robyn, Ian, Todd and Joyce this year. Grace had a great time, and of course was spoilt rotten.