Weekend Wind-up

Saturday started with a long dog walk with beanie and a hoodie to keep warm.  An easy hour on the roady trying to figure out how to get to work from my new location.  I got lost, and still haven't figured it out, so I'll just have to wing it tomorrow on my commute to work and hopefully I won't be too late if I get lost.  I guess it would be a different excuse for being late than my usual 'I had a head wind'.

I then had inspiration from the beautiful and completely mad Hel Parkes - turn a negative into a positive, so I placed a lovely spring flower through the bullet hole in my front window...how pretty !!!

 A MTB ride at Christmas Hills with Dave and Neil on Sunday was just awesome.  Flowing trails that still make you think about what you're doing, and work hard.  Some great laughs, usually at Dave's expense, and it was a great day out.  Thanks for a great ride, guys.  Will certainly head back there again.

A Chick's Weekend...what to do?....

My list of choices:

• A long doggie walk on Saturday and Sunday
• A long ride on Saturday and Sunday
• A movie or dinner with friends
• A good book from one of my favourite authors
• A sleep-in
• Prepare my awesome Scalpel for next weekend's You Yangs Yowie
• Relax with the dogs
• Start my final assignment for the year
• Contemplate if another bullet is going to come through my front window again

Well, all of these might happen, I reckon.  Starting with a long dog walk early Saturday morning; a mountain bike ride at the You Yangs; dinner or movie with Dave and Kylie.  Sunday will be a long-awaited sleep-in, long walk with the dogs, a ride, a read, a relax, and probably not even looking at my assignment.  Report will be at the end of the weekend, hopefully with some photos.

Buxton Liv/Giant Chicks MTB Ride

A ride at Buxton MTB Park on Sunday 16th September was something to look forward to and a welcome distraction from my own thoughts.  After arriving at Buxton 30 minutes early, I was thinking that this new me is an improvement....I'm NEVER early.  

There were 12 all up, and we split into 2 groups.  Pictured above is the group of 8 - all evenly balanced in skill and fitness, the ride was pretty much flowing for 1.5hrs.  Lots of laughs, some new challenges ridden by a few, and many great cheers of encouragement made for a day of feel-good friendship.

Thanks girls, and I look forward to the next one.

Study, Work, Dogs, Ride

I've written this year off for too many reasons, but mostly due to study.  I've completed my final subject for the year, giving me the Post Graduate Certificate in Bushfire Management - half way to my goal of Post Grad Diploma in Bushfire Management.  Will I go on to finish my Masters of Forest Ecosystem Science?...that depends on whether I want to lose another 2 years of my life, so that will be considered in November 2013. I've met some great friends during this year's study - some good laughs, much 'Excel' formula frustrations, and great support.  Thank you to all my uni friends, and I (kind of) look forward to next year's study.

So where to from here?  I've started back training 5 weeks ago, though life has thrown its hurdles not just in front of me, but directly at me.  I've come out the other side knowing that I have great, supportive and caring friends, and I would like to thank them all.  Special thanks to Mickarse, Poopsie and Jim Bob for your genuine care, and always being able to make me laugh; Hel for her great empathy and care; Em for being a quiet source of motivation; Owen and Dave, my caring and ever laughable co-workers in the (CFA) Vegie Patch; Megs for her always honest, caring and supportive friendship; Travis for his voice of reason and good friendship; and of course Buzz and Beep for their undying love and ability to make me laugh.

I may be a month behind in my training, but I'm on track for my first race back - the You Yangs Yowie in October 2012.  The first of many in my journey to the 2013 Solo 24 Hour World Championships in October 2013.