The Corin Chicks

Did my first ride in about 2 weeks today and noticed the break, but had a very enjoyable ride out to Harrietville and return, just on 46km. The girls all decided to try out out secret weapon- our flashing glasses! It certainly created a bit of interest! I am supposed to be riding up Towango Gap to Mt Beauty and back to Bright then up Mt Buffalo- 140km, however not having ridden for two weeks, I am not sure my body is quite ready to take on that task, so I will just take it easy and see how I go and the different check points. Having done it a number of times before I have nothing to prove. It is nice just to be away, feeling so much better and enjoying the lovely town of Bright!

Holbrook Submarine

I have been out of action for nearly 10 days with a virus that has left me totally wiped out, with no energy and feeling really awful. As a result I have just existed for the last 10 days and barely done a thing! Finally on Thursday I started to feel like I was actually on the mend and on Friday I felt a lot better. On Friday Bill and I left to go down to Bright in Victoria to do the Alpine Classic a bike ride up the hills around Bright.

We have been going down to Bright for about 12 years now, I think, around Australia Day. The kids used to come with us but now they like to stay home by themselves and do their own thing. We have had some great times down in Bright as a family over the years.

We always drive past the submarine at Holbrook, many a time we would stop off and the kids would wander all over it. It always was quite a sight seeing this large submarine in the middle of inland NSW!

Lachlan's Work Room cont...

Well Lachlan has developed the Hardware Shop Bug- or the Bunning Bug! Went to Bunnings to buy some degreaser for his motor bike and it cost him $44.95- $4.95 for the degreaser and $39.95 for a tool- a dremel! He is spending quite a bit of time out in his developing workshop these days.

Unfortunatley he also seems to have his motor bike ready to go again. He has been buying up the parts on the internet and fitting them himself. Developing quite a few mechanical skills, which I suppose is good, just wish it wasn't on a motor bike!

Lachlan's Work Bench

We are going to get a carport so one side of the garage can be used to store bikes and now Lachlan's tools. We went out and brought a cheap workbench for Lachlan yesterday, so we had to start work on tidying the garage. I am sure it is all the lego building as a youngster, he loves putting things together and following the instructions, he is also very neat and organised. So maybe our garage will be the better for his influence! I am starting to think I should make Amy sit in his room for 15 minutes each day and absorb the atmosphere and maybe some of the neat bug will rub off on her!

Bill's Leaf Blower!

Bill brought himself a leaf blower at Bunning's yesterday. I had to laugh- we would often sit and complain with others at a bakery in Manuka around 6:30am on our Friday morning rides when the workmen would be out sweeping with the loud, noisy, leaf blowers. Why couldn't they just use a broom! However, when he was in Adelaide last week, he used his parent's leaf blower to clean out the gutters and found it very effective. So he now has his own and has cleaned out the garage this morning getting rid of all those leaves and dust. Actually I cannot complain, as it is something I have always had to do, if Bill or Lachlan try to sweep out the garage it triggers off hay fever and asthma. So long live the leaf blower!

A Piece of History Chopped Down

Every year when the kids were younger we would always take a photo of them out the front of the house in front of the snow gum tree. It grew each year along with them. Sadly it had to be chopped down yesterday as it was been propped up by a rope and in great danger of falling on Lachlan's car. I didn't know Bill was going to do it otherwise I would have taken a final photo. Bill hates to chop down anything but I guess he realised the inevitable had to happen. He is hoping that now it has been chopped off at the base it may re sprout as some of our other trees have done and we can just keep it as a small tree!

Here is our bare circle and a photo of Amy and Lachlan a few years back!

A Car Load of Stuff!

Bill and Lachlan drove to Adelaide during the Christmas/New Year Break. The went to visit Bill's mum and dad and to collect some tools for Lachlan. They had a great trip, worked hard doing lots of jobs for Bill's mum and dad around the house. Enjoyed good food, Marian commented on how much a 19 year old male can eat! Lachlan became Marian's crossword companion each morning so they had a great time. Anyhow they arrived home with a car load of stuff! Which now has to find a home in our garage, not an easy task considering it is already filled with our bikes, Lachlan's motor bike etc. The cars are already competing for space! One of my holidays jobs is to get quotes on a carport for the cars to go under so we can use the garage for other stuff!

Holiday Break

Bill and Lachlan headed off to Adelaide between the Christmas and New Year Break and Amy and I stayed at home. I decided I needed to have a holiday at home so apart from riding my bike and going for walks I have not done much else and have enjoyed the break. One day I went for a bush walk with one of my friend's- Mary. We drove up to Corin Forest and did a 10km return walk out to Square Rock. It was a lovely day and the views were terrific, the vegetation quite dense. It has recovered greatly since the fires but you could still see some of the trees that will never recover. It is hard to believe we were a 30 minute drive from home but you felt you were way out in the wilds of Australia!