Return to Racing

I had my first bike race yesterday in about 9 months. I had finally run out of excuses of why I couldn't go- no painters, no tradesman, no netball etc. It wasn't that I didn't really not want to go, I was just putting off the pain. Returning to racing after a break is always hard, even though you train, nothing gets you race fit apart from racing, and often the first few races back are very difficult, often you get dropped within the first few minutes, you know you are going to suffer, so you put it off.

My excuses ran out this week, I had one last home that the landscaper would ring and say he would be coming around to finish of the edging and of course I would need to be there to give directions. By early Saturday morning he had not called, so that excuse had gone, then it did look like it might rain, but that cleared up, and Bill had loaded the bikes into the hi lux so I knew he was keen for me to come, so off I went.

I got a good warm up and made my way to the start line and before I knew it F Grade was away. My first goal was to stay with them up to the first turn about 4km away. If I made that I knew I could stay with them at least some of the way - a few dropped off but I was still there, making sure I didn't get stuck in any gaps. The next bit was down hill, so I knew I would be okay. I made the next turn and the next - that was one lap down and one to go. If I made it back up to the next turn I knew I had a good chance of staying with them the whole way - I did, so I was happy. There were now 5 of us in the front bunch after starting with about 12, so I was happy. The last leg back was where I should have tried to have a go off the front as I was riding with big guys who would easily outsprint me, someone else was thinking the same thing, they went, the others followed and so did I but it made me realise that just to finish with them was all I was capable of- I did and finished 4th! Tired and weary but pleased.

When I got home the landscaper was there, he managed to work out what he needed to finish off with out my help - maybe he did call during the week and Bill just conveniently forgot to tell me! Now I better start thinking of my excuses for next week!

Uber Pink Haired Teenage Daughter!!!!!!!!!!

Bad timing- guess what we have to have done next week - have passport photos taken. Can you imagine what is going to happen when we go through passport control on our Europe Adventure in a couple of months- I will get stopped and searched everywhere with this scary teenager accompanying me! Well on a positive it may keep the punks and goths away from me, or at least they may treat me nicely!

I warned her people would treat her differently and judge her - so we will see! She reckons a lady at the gym looked very scared when she walked in and was shocked when Amy smiled at her! I said she should hire herself out as a Club Pink Mascot - that is the gym we go to and it's colours are pink and black!

2009 - The Year of the Extension

Dreams can come true! Plans can happen - sometimes it just takes time and patience - in this case many years. We have been talking about an extension for years, but now it has happened. We began looking around last year for builders and working out what we actually wanted and how much it would actually cost - always more than you want to spend! That part took 6 months, then it was 6 months of planning, approvals, etc and then 3 months of building and 3 months of getting the house organised but now we have our new house and it is wonderful. Will probably take the total of that combined to get the gardening done!

We were so lucky (fate, divine intervention, call it what you may) to get the original builder of our house- a woman -I think that is why the process was relatively trauma free! So now here are a few photos of the completed project. Will post more in the coming weeks or when I can get the teenagers rooms tidy enough to photograph

This is a view from the outside, we have put in some retaining walls and some paths, we have to get some mulch to put down then in spring we can start planting!

My favourite room - the kitchen/family room. We knocked down the wall to Lachlan's old bedroom and incorprated his old room into a bigger family kitchen area. We now have a table to eat at that is not covered in computers!

The rumpus room where we can lock the teenagers away in and bring them out only when needed!

WOULD YOU RATHER A NEEDLE OR SIT AN OBOE EXAM

When asked this question on the way to her oboe exam on Friday to try and help her with her nerves she actually said she would prefer a needle - this from a girl who hates needles! After her exam she did say that you actually felt better after an exam than a needle!

Amy had her first oboe exam on Friday- she did Grade 4 and passed with a credit and got some excellent comments. She did really well and is playing some lovely music. We went over for a practice with an accompanist during the week and it was lovely to hear the piano and oboe together and she sounded good!

AMY'S BEST FRIEND

Amy loves her dog Benji and any other animal around - always has. Benji manages to sleep in some weird positions!

Amy has had a busy couple of weeks and enjoyed them. A week ago she did a week of work experience at the local vet and had a wonderful time. She didn't mind the cleaning and lifting stuff she had to do, but she came home excited each time she had been in to watch surgery! She saw legs being operated on, dogs being desexed etc. She just loved it. It was wonderful to see her excited, motivated and happy. She even coped with seeing a dog being euthanised. It had gone into kidney failure and the owners decided it was time to say goodbye. Amy said it was very peaceful and she was glad she had been able to see the process. It was something when she was younger that she said she would not be able to do so could never be a vet. But guess what she wants to do now - be a vet!

Lachlan Turns 18!

The Yummy Portal Birthday Cake
Lachlan's 18th Birthday Dinner - He would not let us take him out to dinner so we brought it to him.

Cutting the birthday cake

The little boy is no longer a child- he is now a fully irresponsible adult! He turned 18 this week. We were going to totally ignore his birthday, because every time we tried to find out what he wanted to do he was very unhelpful. In the end we rang Lucy (the part time girlfriend) got her to talk to him and found out he would be happy to have Vietnamese Takeaway for dinner. He is in the middle of Year 12 assesment and exams so we put up with his clam like conversation and put on a birthday dinner for him. Lucy came over and made a magnificent "Portal" cake which Amy and Lachlan understood but Bill and I had no idea but certainly enjoyed. Evidently a "Portal Cake " is something from a computer game!

Mothers Day - A Month Late

Amy and I went down to Melbourne for Mother's Day. One night we stayed at my brother Gary , his wife Arlene's and got to catch up with them and Matthew who is now 18 months and has a wonderful play room.
Amy and I took mum out to the Australian Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne. We had a picnic lunch out in the Stringybark Gardens. While we were just sitting there we got to see two bandicoots wandering through.

Amy and Pam at the picnic table

Mum in her wheel chair!
It has taken so long for me to put this one up, she probably thinks she has gotten away with it! With mum's knee being sore she cannot walk long distances, but she was keen to see the Australian Gardens, so we hired a wheelchair, and that way she could could pushed around and just walk around the bits she wanted to see more closely. She was feeling a bit self concious about the whole thing, but she should no there is no mercy in our family! We had a great time, she enjoyed being pushed around in the wheelchair, and every time she got up to look at something, quick as a flash Amy was in the wheelchair- I am not sure who had more fun in the wheel chair - Pam or Amy!