Return to Racing

I took my bike out racing yesterday. The race was at Dalton about 80km for Canberra. Dalton is a town of about 100 people and it is 15km from Gunning. It doesn't have too many buildings but they ones they do have are old and interesting. It of course has a pub and outside the Dalton pub they have these lovely metal horses!

I didn't race much last year, so it has probably been about 6 months since I have raced, I always dread getting back into racing as it is painful, nothing prepares you for racing, except racing- it take racing to get your racing fitness up. There had been a race three weeks before, but it ended up being shortened due to roadworks, and then there was a break over Easter so yesterday was my first full length race. It was 38 km and quite undulating, no long steep hills but a few longish steady climbs. There were about 16 riders in our group, my goal was to stay with the main bunch as long as I could and hopefully to the finish. At about the 15km mark there was a long steady up hill and one of the riders was pushing up the hill to try and drop some of us. I was starting to lose contact and had probably dropped off about 10 metres and hoping I could get back on. With the help of another rider I did, but then felt sick for the next 3 or 4 km. Fortunately it was then down hill for about 4km so I just sat on the back and managed to recover. I stayed with the main group, by then about 6 of us to the finish and managed to come third, so I was very happy. Not only had I finished with the bunch, but managed a place, and also it was First, Second and Third to the girls! We averaged 31.2 km over the 38 km course- so no wonder I am feeling a bit tired today.

Dog Sitting Over Easter

Amy has looked after Jube and Wrinks a few times now, and again this Easter they came to stay for 4 nights, so we had a crowded house over Easter. It takes about 10 minutes for the dogs to all settle in together each time and then they all get on well. Jube and Wrinks settle in very well and make themselves at home as you can see from the photos here! Bill is in trouble here as not only does he allow the dogs to get on the bed next to him, he is also reading my book! Every time I went to read it, he usually had his nose in it, I had to take to hiding it so I could finish it before him.

Easter Bunny Strikes Again

I asked my 19 year old and 17 year old if they still believed in Easter Bunny- they both said they did and so Easter Bunny turned up again this year. It really is amazing that they still believe! (I am sure it has nothing to do with me telling them once they stopped believing that Easter Bunny would not turn up any more). Amy also insists that the Easter Bunny has to leave clues for her to find her Easter Basket. Lachlan just wants them delivered straight to his room and it seems to happen just the way they want.

Back to the Start

Then we headed across Reconciliation Place, had a look at the Peace Memorial outside the National Library, up to Magna Carta Place, under Adelaide Avenue, past the Albert Hall and back to Lennox Gardens where we enjoyed some morning tea. It was a very pleasant morning and great to discover all sorts of Canberra hidden treasures!

Fern Garden and Scultpure Gardens

Next we walked around the back of the Gallery and had a look at a delightful fern garden and then came out at the sculpture garden between the gallery and the lake. They have some great sculptures in the garden, including some by Rodin. Mum and I had been to the Rodin Gardens in Paris, so she will need to come up to Canberra again so I can show her these ones!

National Art Gallery

Next we walked down to the National Art Gallery- I love those pears out the front! They have recently opened a new section in the Art Gallery and have put in new gardens out the front. They also have a skyscape exhibit where you walk into this dome shaped building and look up into the sky through the whole. You are supposed to go at sunrise and sunset, will definitely need to check it out at these times.

Next Stop Old Parliament House

Then we wandered down to the gardens next to Old Parliament House. They had a fountain and time line that showed the role of women in politics, the rose gardens were a bit worn out with autumn well and truly here, I must come back and see them in spring. We walked passed various monuments and stones for various things relating to Canberra's history - all very interesting.

Good Friday at Lennox Gardens

For the past 7 years we have had a Good Friday Easter Picnic at Lennox Gardens. This year however, we broke that tradition (just for one year) as both our kids were working and all the families with young children who used to come along had moved away. Instead Bill and I met with some of our cycling friends and did a two hour walk around the Parliamentary Triangle. It was led by Mary who does the walk once a year with the ACT Walking for Pleasure Group, so under her guidance we all discovered some places we hadn't seen before and got a closer look at some other places we had either driven or ridden past.

First we headed to Parliament House. We wandered through the House of Representatives Garden and then around to the Senate Gardens which were lovely and looked like a good place for contemplation, then headed around the front of Parliament House. It was a lovely day for it and lovely and quiet.

Pre Easter Madness at Work!

I don't think I have posted about my workplace on my blog before, but it really is a great place to work. On the Thursday before Easter there seemed to be a bit of pre Easter madness occuring. One of the physios suggested it would be a good neck strengthening exercise to balance chocolate Easter eggs on our heads, next thing we had to have a bean bag on our head as well! Mind you it was only the admin staff that had to do this, so I decided to use a bit of initiative, though some called it cheating, and sticky taped my egg to my bean bag and then secured it all with some Theraband, that way I could still get some work done even if I did look like a fool, but I was in good company!

A Quick Trip to the Art Gallery

On Wednesday Jim wasn't leaving till 6pm so we decided to go into the Art Gallery to have a look around. I haven't been to the Art Gallery for a while so it was good to go and see the new extensions and have a look around. First we looked at the Sydney Nolan paintings of Ned Kelly which are now all together in a specially built gallery for them. Then we went and had a look at the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander section. They had some great statues and pieces of art. I am not sure if I was allowed to take photos, but I did look around for a sign first before I took a couple.

Then it was time to head home for some lunch, Jim packed up, spent some time looking at some of our photos, Lachlan also took him out to the garage to see what he had done with the tools he had given to Lachlan, then it was time for Bill to take him out to the airport and for all of us to say goodbye. It was lovely having him here.

Afternoon Tea in Goulbourn

Tuesday afternoon Jim and I drove back to Canberra from Sydney. We stopped of at Goulbourn for afternoon tea. I had heard about Roses Cafe opposite the park in the main street so decided to try and find it and try it out. We were successful and it was well worth the visit! It was very cold when we got out the car, but inside was warm and it had a cabinet full of sweet stuff and a cabinet full of savoury stuff, will definitely need to make a return visit. It was right next to the Courthouse which was a lovely old building built back in the 1870's I think.A bit of trivia I read was that they used to have hangings in the grounds but would screen them off as they didn't want to damage the minds of the young.

Quick Trip to Sydney

Bill's dad Jim was over from Adelaide. He stayed with us for one night, then Bill drove him up to Sydney to stay with his sister Thela. Bill stayed Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, then I drove up on Monday afternoon and stayed in Sydney overnight and brought Jim home on Tuesday afternoon. I enjoyed catching up with Bill's cousin Jocelyn and her family up in Sydney, we all had dinner together Monday night. Jim and Thela had a wonderful time catching up, they stayed up one night till 1am reminiscing! Jim turns 88 this year and Thela 89!

Special Visitor This Week

We have had a special visitor at our house this week- Bill's dad, who is 87! Jim arrived on Thursday, he flew over from Adelaide- they wheel chaired him on and off the plane so that all went smoothly and made the journey easily. Bill picked him up from the airport and brought him to our place. Jim has been able to meet our dogs - Benji was under strict instructions to behave himself, as we were worried he could knock Jim over and he has behaved himself! Jim has also got to see the extension to our house, our garden and to see the new residence of some of the tools he gave to Lachlan earlier in the year.

Over the past 3 or 4 months, Bill has been doing research into Jim's father, Bill's grandfather and the kid's great grandfather's service in World War 1. Eric Swanson Frost was a signaller and spent 1918 around nothern France. Eric never talked about his war time service and Bill has been able to piece together a lot of what his life would have been like during this time and the towns that he visited. He has shared this with Jim and Jim's sister Thela and it has been something they have really valued.

Bill has taken Jim up to visit his big sister in Sydney- Thela is 88! So they are an amazing pair. I am heading up to Sydney to bring him back. It has been a great time for us all.

A Beautiful Autumn Day

Have had a busy week, various appointments, dinner out, early morning starts, cooking a meal for another family, organising the garage, shopping, nothing too exciting to take pictures of though, so when Saturday morning came around, everyone was gone and the house was quiet, I decided to go for a gentle ride into Lake Burley Griffin. It was a beautiful morning, crisp and sunny, lots of kids and families out riding their bikes, walking their dogs. I just took my time, listened to some podcasts as I rode along and just relaxed and enjoyed the moment. You could see the first signs of autumn with the changing colour of the tree leaves, it was just lovely. I decided to ride into Lake Burley Griffin and just ride through my favourite part of the lake. It is just past Government House and before the Yarralumla nursery. There are tall pine trees and I just love this section. It is part of the Sri Chimmnoy Peace Mile, whatever that is, but it really is a peaceful place and I thought it would be a good photo for my blog.