My Leading Man

Hi Trav!

For the man who has everything the only option was to push the boundaries.

So I created a special 30th Anniversary Issue of Leading Man magazine 

and asked our friends and family to honour you within its pages.

It's been so much fun putting this together and everyone has been really excited about it. 

I hope you find it full of great memories and reminders of how much you mean to all of us.

Happy 30th Birthday Babe!

Love Christie xxx

On the bandwagon...

My darling husband has also caught the green bug. Maybe it's been my obsessive recycling and avoidance of plastic bags. Perhaps it was my relentless search for the most local of each product on the shopping list? Nah - he was pretty green to begin with.

Together we've watched An Inconvenient Truth (though I think it's time for a refresher) and the Story of Stuff. Last week he suprised me with a copy of Food Inc. This was one I'd been busting to see but none of the libraries had it and I didn't know where else to look. It just blew me away - and needless to say I'll have to watch it again before providing any comments as I was cursing alot so I missed half of it. All I can say is - why don't they show a double feature of this and An Inconvenient Truth in every school in Australia? Stay tuned for my thoughts on Food Inc.

And another suprise - while I was investigating the Green Power through our electricity supplier TRUenergy, Travis was taking a bigger step by speaking to one of his colleagues about the suitability of our house for solar panels. And it's looking good folks! We're planning to rent our place out when we expand in a few years time so it's important to understand that not only will we benefit from the switch now - but from next year not only will all properties for sale require a minimum energy rating, but so will the rentals.

Spring Challenge Day 6 (22 days to go)

Departure: 7:50am
Arrival: 8:34am
Conditions: 11, wet roads and drizzle but not cold
Attire: fishtail skirt, stockings, black heels and riding tops

It was drizzling for about the first half of my trip, I took extra care as all the roads were wet and by the second half of the trip the breeze was drying me off. There were so many courteous people around today, an older gent (pedestrian) stopped and allowed me to pass through a narrow spot at Yarra's Edge, then the council workers paused their whipper-snippering as I rode past on Lorimer, and finally the bus driver waited for me to turn into a street before pulling out. Definitely made up for the weather. I'm pleased to report that by the time I got to work there was not a speck of dirt or mud on any of my clothes, and my stockings were nearly dry. It says a lot for the skirt guard, enclosed chain and mudguards - so may cyclists passed me with a strip of mud up their back and inside their legs. I'm so glad I can ride in my work clothes!

Also, I'd attached one of my eBay bargain mirrors but it'll need some adjustment - all I can see is my arm at this stage.

On the way home I was rewarded with a beautiful big sunshine, making everything golden and mysterious. It was a still evening and it felt so peaceful. That's my favourite time of day (when the sun's out).

When I arrived home I received the news that a close member of our family had passed away, and couldn't help thinking she'd had something to do with it. We'll miss you Maureen. xxx

Gratitude

I spent some time with a good friend last night, she is having a hard time dealing with the anniversary of her father's death. She reminds me to love our parents for who they are, regardless of their faults, because you just don't know how long they'll be around. Perfectly said.

When is a bicycle lane like a parking space?

I raced the storm home last night. It was going to be a close call and I admit I did send an SOS out to my husband when I checked BOM at 4:50pm, but after closer inspection, I thought it gave me about 40 minutes so I jumped straight on the bike.

Have you seen the new residential development going up at the city end of Lorimer street? They've put parking spaces along the street and called them a bike lane too! I took a crappy picture so you'll have to wait to see what I mean - but I ask you this... When is a bicycle lane like a parking space? So... when a car is parked there the bicycle ends up on the road? Is this just how councils can brag about so many km's of bicycle lanes?

Well that's my rant for now. I got home with rain stinging my face but overall in a much better mood than the rest of the week, I was really much more positive and had way more energy for the evening of ironing!

Doesn't life work in strange ways? When we were visiting Dad I noticed that my Uncle's (born bachelor) health seems to be worse than ever, thanks to a diet of late nights, sleep ins, daytime TV, drinks and packet soup. He hardly ate anything at meal times and had a serious limp - he was complaining that he'd been walking too much. Of course the rest of us know that the more you walk, the more energy you use the more your appetite increases and the more fuel you'll put into your body. Nah - he just had sore feet.

Anyway I was wondering how I can help him a bit more, considering he lives on the other side of town it's not always easy to visit - and we just heard that his friend bought him a computer while we were away - and asked Trav to set it up and help him out with it. I wish I was there when he walked in and saw it!

So now there's a great reason to visit - and I could even bring over some homemade freezer meals for him too!

Operation Adasch - Success!

Our secret mission to surprise Dad in person on his 60th birthday went off without much of a hitch! The friend he was staying with got him out of the apartment while Trav, Uncle Les and I shuffled in and made ourselves at home - then when Dad returned we were all sprawled across the apartment with our cold beers!

Other Les did spoil the party a bit when he asked when my sister was arriving - that was going to be suprise number 2 - it just happened a bit earlier than we'd planned. Soon we were all relaxing in this beautiful beachfront apartment and I realised that this is what Saturdays are all about - what have I been missing?

The weather was low 20's and sunny and on Sunday - Dad's birthday we took him out for lunch to the Surf Club - where another old friend Rod was waiting to greet us! Dad isn't the sort to show a lot of feelings-  but I think he was pretty moved that we'd all made the effort to spend the day with him. He even scribbled down his details on a coaster for Rod so they could keep in touch in the future!

Soon our 3 day getaway was coming to an end, Monday was a beautiful warm day - without the wind from the weekend so we enjoyed a very long walk along the beach before heading to the airport and home. There were so many cyclists - and why not - with those beautiful wide paths along the ocean? Mountain bikes were popular but there were heaps of colourful cruisers too! Wish I had my camera! To my amazement there are no ice cream shops in Kirra - as one lady put it the closest is the 7-11! You're kidding! I think making ice cream would be an excellent hobby for Dad, he didn't seem to pick up on the idea as quickly. Oh well - our second QLD winter escape has come to a close, but it's a nice feeling to escape the chill of Melbourne's winter for a few days, I think it should be an annual thing.

I live for weekends as sweet as this...

Ever have one of those days when you're feeling anxious for no reason? In fact, you've got a hundred reasons to be happy and excited? Well that was Friday. And the only was is up from there.

Ever had one of those days that is truly magnificent from start to finish - and it's not even your birthday? A day when you've had to change your schedule and you think it's a pain but it's actually created a much better day than you'd originally thought? That was Saturday.

We started our day 2 hours earlier than we'd planned - my hairdresser needed to change our appointment. Kimberley from Karma sorted both Trav and I out and I presented little India Rose with a pink Fairy Wand - the one I bought in SA to help support a family who's little girl Ivy is suffering from EB(Epidermolysis Bullosa). She couldn't believe her luck because she'd just broken her last one.

After a grey, gloomy week, we had brilliant blue sky and time to kill so we drove to Macedon and enjoyed a light lunch at Sitka in Victoria street. Mmmm lemon and Basil arancini and Dutch Beef Croquettes with fries. The little foodstore is a perfect blend of what I'd like to run one day. Not too big, cosy with mismatched tables and chairs, window seats to take advantage of the winter sun and a lovely range of gourmet products and books. We'll definitely be coming back to Sitka.

At the supermarket we bumped into the mother of friends I grew up with and I mentioned we might drive past my old house. She had just been visiting there and encouraged us to knock on the door - she was sure they'd welcome us in and show us around. !!!

Driving down the driveway was strange. I felt like I'd just been there again - recently in a dream maybe? Soon the familiar sight of our log cabin tucked behind the hedge and garage. There's now a basketball hoop out the front. Stepping out of the car, I looked around and saw Babcia's tree still stretching for sun in the front garden, the rose garden now holds conifers - including the one Michelle was given as a Christmas present one year. I stepped onto the verandah and tried to plan what I would say. The garden below was now 2 tiers of gravel - much more suited to a young family with 2 boys and a dog.

I knocked. Narelle answered and I made the introductions - she invited us straight in! We got to meet her husband and 2 boys (names have escaped me) and Digger the dog (how come I remembered his name?) and they showed us through the house. Well, it was barely recognisable - walls and doors had moved, all the pine was painted white and there were lots of skylights which  had made an amazing difference. Narelle explained to the boys that I was Christie from the measuring pole - we went outside and sure enough - they have continued the tradition and are now marking their own heights on the pole - haven't caught me yet. There is a flying fox from the hill over the creek to the lawn and the boys love running around the bush as much as my sister and I did.

I felt so fortunate to have had this opportunity and it was an amazing set of coincidences that made it possible. On the way back we visited Emma and I noticed some of the writing wearing off her headstone, it will be 23 years old in December.

Travis dropped me off at my Bridal Shower - a truly magical afternoon - and came back after he finished work that evening, even though everyone was leaving and all he did was help clean up and sleep on the couch. Why am I marrying this guy again?

Ever had one of those days that feels so nice and long - but you didn't rush at all? Well, that was Sunday. We met up with 2 pugs at Pugville in the morning and were lucky enough to find Alice in Wonderland was showing at the Sun Theatre in the afternoon. I just loved the costumes - especially how Alice's changed throughout the film. After that I rode to highpoint to pick out Mum's birthday present and made a delicious pumpkin and dill sauce with pasta for dinner. Ahhhh I love Autumn days.

Spring in SA

Port Douglas: Light Rain Early. Mostly Sunny. Mild. Humid. 27.

It's been 2 weeks since my last post - because things were nuts at work with the AGM and then it was holiday time! I picked Trav up from Sunbury after his boys gold trip and from then on, I felt totally removed from work and everything else. We had such a great time with Aunty Maureen, we went shopping in Hyde Park, visited McLaren Vale and the Barossa, caught up with Bob & Trish, Angela and spent the last night with Joan and Wayne before heading through Coonawarra to Portland for a night.

We both really enjoyed spending time with Maureen, besides a cough, she really didn';t appear to be sick although she did say that she was experiencing a lot of discomfort. She was thrilled to receive our wedding invitation and seeing us trying on our wedding rings. Felt so weird, I think I'll get a big shock when she finally passes away because I don't think I believe it yet. She took us through her house and we took home some beautiful wooden book shelves, terracotta pots, a metal watering can, some vases and a tea strainer.

I really enjoyed the weekend with the girls in Lorne, fell in love with the solid coffee table which I was told I might find at Erskine River Trading Co or Asian Tide. The living area was also just beautiful, I think I miss the sunlight in our home, the living area was 9 metres long.

Going back to the wedding - here are my hair muses, Naomi Watts and Jackie-O.