Motor Bike Rescue

Just when I thought I had nothing of interest to post on my blog I get a phone call from Lachlan- the sort of phone call a mother who has a son with a motor bike dreads- I have come of my bike! At least it was him talking to me and not someone else! He had been coming home from work and a guy changed lanes with out indicating and without seeing Lachlan- Lachlan braked, locked up and came down and off his bike. The driver was oblivious or just didn't stop and the cars following didn't stop. Fortunately someone did stop to make sure he was okay and had someone to ring. So off goes mum to the rescue- they still need their mums! He was all in one piece, the safety gear worked, his right arm is a bit stiff and he has a nasty graze on his stomach, but he is walking and talking and is okay! The bike was unrideable but not too badly damaged, with any luck it might take a while to fix. He had just got it registered and on the road and out of the garage in my car parking spot, but come to think of it, I don't mind how long it stays in the garage this time if it means he is not on it. Unfortunately though it doesn't seem to have shaken his resolve to keep riding!

Late Birthday Celebration

On Friday afternoon- after a long week- but that is another story, I went out to Gooromon Ponds, near Hall, just out of Canberra for high tea with a couple of my cycling friends to celebrate my birthday. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and a wonderful way to end my week!

The Homestead Cafe overlooks some of the northern suburbs of Canberra and also the Brindabellas. With all the rain we have had recently the view was so green and beautiful. The chef/owner had trained at the Hyatt in Canberra and then worked overseas in Dubai, Seoul and Istanbul.

We sat at a table with beautiful plates, cups and saucers, the others had a glass of champagne to start and I had sparkling pink grapefruit juice. We then had some savouries- mini cream cheese and smoked salmon croissants, toast with avocado and tomato salsa and mini chicken tandoori wraps. This was followed by a selection of hot finger food- curry puffs, spinach and rice balls.

Next on the menu was a hot chocolate with scones and a selection of home made jams, followed by a plate of mini deserts- a chocolate pot, a mini lemon tart, a chocolate brownie and a piece of chocolate caramel slice. Mainly just bite size- enough to get a good taste. Everything was delicious. Needless to say I did not need dinner!

Bike Basket

It is a 10 to 15 minute car trip into work depending on the traffic and about 20 minutes by bike. I did try riding to work on my road bike but it was a pain to ride and then change after riding only a short distance. After returning from Europe and seeing all the bike commuters in their work clothes I decided I could do the same. So I purchased a basket for one of my old bikes that I used to ride when I went riding with the kids when they were younger and got the bike serviced and ready to go. So now I can put my lunch in the basket with whatever else I need for work and ride to work dressed in my work clothes, park the bike and go straight into work. I have done this each day I worked this week and felt very pleased with myself!

Bill laughed when he saw my bike with the basket- he said he was not sure if he could tell any of his cycling mates that his wife had a bike with a basket- I just laughed at him! I also told him he was not allowed to take this bike out riding with the dogs, which he has a tendency to do and because he goes off road it wrecks the bikes!

Last Saturday- he had to go into Tuggeranong for an appointment with the optometrist- what did he do- stole my bike with the basket- ran into two people he knew- serves him right!

Picked with love or a cheapskate?????

I had a birthday this week. My kids cooked me a lovely meal and gave me a book and some chocolates. It was a quiet birthday, simple but enjoyable. I got to lie on my bed, read my book and eat chocolates - so I was happy.

I am not convinced that the flowers my husband got me for my birthday were worth the $70 he reportedly spent on Roses-On-Line- he said he wouldn't use them again. To me they looked very suspiciously like the brussel sprout plants that had gone to flower in our garden!!!!!

Childhood Flash Back

This year we grew peas in our garden- we were rather successful and not many peas actually made it into the house- we tended to go out and just pick and eat them straight of the bush-they were so sweet! Towards the end of the life of the bush we picked all the peas and then had to pod them. I remembered we used to do it when we were kids- mum would buy peas from the grocer and we would have to sit around and shell the peas. It tended to be a few for the pot and then a few for the mouth! I got my kids to help so they would understand that peas came from pods, not from the frozen section of the supermarket shelf!

The Weekend in Sydney

After a busy week at the zoo Amy got to enjoy Sydney on the weekend. On the Saturday we caught the ferry from Mosman to Circular Quay and enjoyed the market at the Rocks, the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place, China Town and Darling Habour. On the Sunday morning before heading home we enjoyed the views of the harbour from Georges Heights- it really is a magnificent harbour!

More Zoo Photos

Amy Hard at Work

While I was enjoying the sights of Sydney - Amy was hard at work doing work experience at Taronga Zoo. She worked from 7:45am to 3:15pm from Monday to Friday. She was working in the Primate and Ungulate - hoofed animal- area. She spent a lot of time cleaning cages and preparing food- chopping up 30kg of carrots one day for the chimpanzees. She worked with the gorillas, chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, white face gibbons, tapirs, pygmy hippos. She was exhausted by the end of the week but had wonderful experience. She was not very impressed with the chimpanzees- they were very messy and very filthy- their cage took 5 hours to clean!

She did get to sponge down a pygmy hippo, feed the giraffe and also got to see the new born baby elephant.

One Sunny Day in Sydney!

Sydney has been overcast and cool all week, Wednesday was the only day predicted to be sunny so I headed into Sydney. I walked through the Botanic Gardens and around to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. It was a beautiful day and Sydney Habour was at is finest. The Botanic Gardens were lovely and I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours before catching the ferry back to Mosman and picking up a weary daughter who had to clean out messy chimpanzee cages= evidently they are even messier than Amy!

Exploring Sydney

Amy has a week's work experience at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. She and I are staying in an apartment in Mosman about a 5 minute drive from the zoo. While Amy is at the zoo- working with the gorillas, chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, pygmy hippos I have to amuse myself!

I have had a wonderful time. It is a 10 minute walk down to the ferry and then a short ferry ride across to Circular Quay. So the first day I caught the ferry across and wandered around the Rocks and the Habour Bridge. Found a little French Patisserie that sold macaroons- the chocolate coconut one was pretty yummy!

On the Tuesday I drove down to Bondi Beach and walked from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach and looked at the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition. The coastline and the views along the coast is just beautiful. Amy has the camera so couldn't take any photos, did take some on my phone so will need to see if I can upload them onto my computer when I get home.