Lollies!

One of the highlights of my Day Date was of course the trip to the lollyshop, a shopped tucked away from the main street which contains all of the different types of lollies - giving you wonderful memories of the years that you were a child, excitedly going off to the lollyshop to get your 50 cents worth of lollies. L and I loved looking at each of the lollies and pointing out which lollies we loved the most as children. We think the shop is far more appealing to adults that reminisce about the old times than the kids that come on in.

Rows and Rows of Lollies!!!!

Double Dips and Pop Rocks - two lollies which brought back wonderful memories as a child.

Delicious!

The Blue Mountains - Echo Point

On our Day Date, L and I went to Echo Point, which is probably one of the more touristy sides to the Blue Mountains, where the "famous" Three Sisters live.

(below: the Three Sisters, because of the three rocks sticking out from the cliff - I personally think there is a fourth small sister but UNESCO doesnt agree).

In short, the Blue Mountains are named as such because of the bluey haze that is seen around the moutains, created by the amount of eucalyptus oil that is in the air (the primary tree that is found in the Blue Mountains area is the Blue Gum Eucalyptus tree)).


There - a little bit of trivia for you and a bit of sight seeing around Sydney for my overseas readers.

MS Sydney to Gong

Well, event season is definitely under way for me and after the Trishave Womens Festival, next up was the MS Sydney to Wollongong, a 90km (or 56 miles) ride, all in the name of raising funds for Multiple Sclerosis last weekend.

I throughly enjoyed it and was overwhelmingly faster than I imagined I would be, coming past the finish banner at about 4 hours 20 mins (or a little more). Either way, it was a not only a great physical achievement for me but a mental achievement. While riding 9okms isn't SUCH a great feat, some of the hill climbs were tough and I couldn't believe how easy it was for me mentally to push through the pain and the burn of the legs. I am starting to realise that I am much stronger mentally, because I know in the run leg of the triathlon the other week, there were (just like on the hill climbs this weekend) plenty of opportunity for me to stop and take a rest. I chose not to, instead, powering on through using the training that I've been doing over the course of the last couple of months.



Next up for me is this weekend's "Fun Run" which is a 5km run around the University. It will be interesting because I've never done just a "run" as an activity so it sure will be interesting to see whether I can mentally push through some of the evil thoughts about running (its not my favourite leg of the triathlon).

All of this is to get me ready for the Big Event, being the 2010 Huskison Triathlon Festival, which happens on 20th - 21st November.

Oh, and then i've just signed up for another triathlon for the weekend of the 5th December... I couldnt help myself!

KotB

A Beautiful Surprise

If I could write a book on how men can best impress their girlfriends, I'd take a page out of L's book, who has started to make a habit of doing little things to surprise me when I least expect them (flowers, balloons, little cards, all the cute things us women absolutely love).

We went on a "day date" late last week and we had a wonderful day walking around Leura, a tourist town up in the Blue Moutains. It had been many many years since I'd been to Leura so it really felt as though I was having a wonderful holiday break. It was a perfect day out.

On the way back to the car, I noticed a gorgeous bag sitting on the console of the car. I raced to the car, knowing that it was a little surprise but little did I know that it would be two things that I had spotted in a gorgeous stationary shop that is up in Leura, called 'Elizabeth Rosa Fine Stationary". If you are ever up in Leura, visit this shop - it is simply beautiful. You can also visit them online at www.elizabethrosa.com and are located also in the city of Sydney for all you Sydneyites that read my blog.

He picked out a beautiful journal with my first letter embossed on it and on each page within.

And then he picked out this gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, (how many other words can I use) French Crystal Paperweight with "K" embossed at the bottom of it.

Ladies, if your man isnt out there treating you to beautiful wonderful surprises, then trade them in for one that cares for you, looks after you, wants to make you happy because they love the look on your face when you open the wrapping.

Thank you, L, if you are reading this. I want the world to know that you are amazing and my world has changed because you have come into it.

Back Into Triathlons

I was in my first triathlon since the accident back in June 2009.

I came 9th out of 62 people, which is such a great personal achievement, because I was going in with expectations to better my initial time of last year.

I managed to do that, coming 9th this time as opposed to 18th. I swam slower than last year by a minute (which is obvious given I have been unable to swim long distances for the past 12 months because of my back injury) but I improved my bike leg by 9 seconds, and improved by run leg by a MASSIVE 1 min 20 secs. I am happy about improving the run leg, because I was so terrible at running before the injury. It shows that I am a far better runner now after the accident, despite carrying extra weight and an injury.

So the last time I did the race in February 2009, which was prior to the accident, I was at my fittest physically. I wouldnt say I am even close to being as fit as I was back then and I am carrying extra weight, but I think I did better this time around bceause I am far fitter mentally. I was able to push through the run leg even though I felt at times that I wanted to stop. While I was frustrated by not coming in strong on the swim leg, I know that I can improve on this with practice and patience.

So, not bad for the first triathlon!

(below: waiting at the start pontoon - i'm hidden in the crowd with a red cap, being the 30-40 age group)

(below: I am the person on the right, looking really focused! The "yellow caps" (the Under 30s) had started their race 5 mins earlier so their pack was already on their way up. In the end, we compete against everyone's times, in other words, I was racing against people as young as 13 and as old as 50).

(below: I am in the purple goggles. You can see I was quite late off the start, but that s because I don't like battling it out at the front, and I have confidence knowing that I can finish strong compared to others because I am more of a long distance swimmer than a sprinter. 10 metres into the swim and I was about 15th in the pack)

(below: here I am, second from the right. By now, I'd settled into a rhythm and was slowly carving up the rest of the red caps, who had sprinted and burnt out early).

(below: By the end of the 150 metres, I and three others had caught up with the back of the Yellow Cap pack.)

(below: me on the right, lumbering out of the water, catching my breath)

(below: 3rd out of the water in the red caps, heading into the transition area. I held back and let 2 red caps go ahead of me, because I knew that it didnt matter who was in front at this early stage in the race, so I am recorded as having come out of the water 3rd in my age group and 7th fastest swim leg overall out of 62 people - including the young ones under 30!)

(below: My favourite leg, of course, being the bike leg. I improved my bike leg by only 9 seconds from the year prior, but the reason is that I deliberately held back on the bike leg and rode it properly in a higher gear like proper triathletes do (using the leg muscles) instead of racing hard (using my cardio capacity) like I did last year. While it didnt benefit my bike leg time, the strategy came in handy for the run leg later on).

(below: coming into the transition area, ready to jump off the bike and into the run leg)

(below: coming into transition, feeling quite happy with myself so far)

(below: transitioning from the bike leg to the run leg is the hardest of all. If you havent kept your legs riding at an even cadence throughout the bike leg, there is a possibility that you can jump off the bike and try and run and find that your legs can turn to jelly. This is what happened the year prior, because I didnt know how to properly ride the bike leg. This time around, I knew I'd done the bike leg properly, so I didnt fear the changeover as much as I had feared it first time around).

(below: screeeeech. You can't ride into the transition area. You have to dismount at the line, and run with your bike back to your allocated spot).

(below: Run, Forrest!)

(below: In the transition area, taking the bike gear off and getting ready to do the run leg. I had come in 3rd on the bike leg, and still 7th overall).

(below: Heading out to run 1.2kms - a short run technically, but a heck of a long way when you're (1) unfit; (2) untrained; (3) tired from a swim and bike leg.)

(below: Here is a picture I love - me running out of the transition area with my mum cheering me on in the background. Great shot!)

(below: I hate running at the best of times, but this time around, I kept an even pace and felt okay).

(below: I finished my run leg 1 minute and 20 secs faster than last year, but I did get overtaken so I came in 13th overall on the run. But with my good times on the swim leg and the bike leg, I officially placed 9th overall, beating 50-something other people).

Very pleased with my result.

Thank you to my wonderful boyfriend, who was there on the day and who takes such great photos. <3

Thanks to Mum and Aunty J, for coming along and supporting me, as always.

Brisbane - Plain Metropolis

Australia has a number of major cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth, Hobart.

This website has been to all of these cities (from memory).

This is the first time I've posted photos of Brisbane because I havent been to Brisbane for quite a long time (I think it was around 2008 when I was here last).

Brisbane is...well... its a plain metropolis. In no way do I wish to offend any of my wonderful readers who live here, but Brisbane doesn't give me the same feelings that Sydney or Melbourne give me. Brisbane seems to be too orderly and plain. There doesnt seem to be enough "chaos" to be classed as a major city. I know that sounds quite weird, that in some way, in order to be classed as a city, I think it needs to be chaotic, rowdy, messy and dangerous. But...well, chaos can give character. And I think Brisbane lacks the kind of character that a city needs in order to be considered "exciting" in my books.

I also think that because I was so tired after the charity ride organising, I spent most of my time sleeping or just chilling out in a cafe or at the Hospital with the kids, rather than walking around to capture any kind of "vibe" from the city.

It didnt help that on the day that I took photos, it was quite overcast.

I did like this part. It seemed a little like a plastic metropolis here.

And a church... each city needs a church....

This, however, caught my eye, and it was only that I was so exhausted that I didnt go and see it - the Retrospective Valentino Collection. I remember seeing the Christian Lacroix exhibition in Singapore, and so I would have really liked to have gone in and seen this. I will see whether its coming to Sydney (or if, sadly, its already been).

Coolangatta - East Coast of Queensland

I was able to catch a few photos of Coolangatta on the way up to Brisbane. These beaches are world famous but I dont think they are as beautiful as my local beaches of Wollongong (many will disagree!).

.

Out of Action

Hi Everyone

I've been out of action for quite sometime because I have been on tour with 1200kmsforkids, a charity bike ride which raises funds for the Sydney Childrens Foundation and Royal Childrens Foundation.

I am now up in Brisbane spending a few extra days here. I had initially planned to hang out and relax and take photos but I have instead spent time at the RCH with a little boy called Jake, who has captured my heart. He is a very sick little boy and does not have that much support by way of family, so I am spending a bit of time with him, building a friendship with him so that when I head back to Sydney, we can remain "pen pals".

Jake is teaching me a lot about myself, about why I am in this cold, harsh world and the direction I may wish for my life to take.

Photos of the countryside on my way up to Brisbane shall follows. Other photographs of the charity ride can be found on their website and on their facebook page. I'm leaving this blog to write about my own personal experiences and not about the charity. They've had enough press from me for the last 3 or so months!!!

K

Wide Open Spaces

I think that my experience in Asia taught me to appreciate the wide open spaces of Australia a whole lot more. We basically paid $9 per person to have an entire field to ourselves amognst glorious wildlife and nature. We were able to wake up, walk out of our tent and have kangaroos right near our tent, with tiny little joeys in their pouches. L took Zee and S for a walk and got to see strange mountain goats, eagles, snakes (eek) and boxing kangaroos too.

With my newfound appreciation for life, peace and nature, I really enjoyed taking the camera out with L (who is also a keen photographer) to take photos of the spectacular surroundings.

This is L either (1) playing Army Commando, (b) trying to camouflage himself in case the kangaroos spotted him, or (c) channelling his inner Liam Gallagher from Oasis, during their "Be Here Now"- military era.

(its most likely (c)...)

Dora the Explorer - Australian Style

Off I went, bright and early at 5am, in my little car to meet up with L who was already at the campsite with Zee and S.

I crossed this lovely bridge on the way so I hopped out and took a few snaps (couldnt resist!)

The Tent Mansion had already been set up. A humble abode but its apparently a 10 person tent, which we all agreed was a little optimistic, espectially if one would be Loz, who is 6"3 (or more).

Loz cooking a lamb roast, singlehandedly in a pot on a fire with coal. Very impressive stuff! (he was very proud of himself)

Jamie Oliver...except from South London...(and not with such an annoying accent)....

A dinner fit for a queen... or Dora the Explorer (as I became affectionately known).

More pics to come!

Its Camping Time!

I'm just packing my bags to go CAMPING!

Yes, I said "camping".

Quite the contrast to luxury hotel we stayed at last weekend, but hey, its still sounds like fun to me (the truth is, I haven't camped in years).

Do the Dior Sunglasses need to be packed? Or is that a bit....un-camping-like?

Stay tuned for photos.

MS Sydney to Gong

Okay everyone, after all the organising I've done, media releases, tin rattling for 1200kms for Kids, I am now trying to get just AU$250 raised so that I can do the 90km MS Sydney to Gong ride on the 7th November 2010. I've joined quite late so I need to somehow get AU$250 in the space of 30 days.

For all of my international readers, the exchange rate from US to AU is pretty much at parity, so all you need to do is give over approx USD25 to help out. Otherwise, any donation of $5, $10, $20 will do. Credit cards are accepted.

Please click on the link below to help me out.

KateOnTheBike Doing MS Ride


Thank you so much for helping!

Repost - May 2010

I remember, back in April when I'd met Loz and we'd known each other for a month, he gave me this card that he thought wasn't all that special at the time... what he didnt realise is that I kept it and put it in my journal because it meant the world to me.... its interesting to go back and read it again... and see that after going through the personal journey that I've gone through, it would lead me to a brighter day.....

Its so great that these brighter days are now here, and I'm sharing them with him.

________________________________

"I'm truly sorry to know how tough this time must be for you. It wouldn't be easy for anyone to experience what you're going through, but it must be especially hard for someone with a heart as big and as beautiful as yours.

Maybe the silver lining in this cloud is that the heart makes you feel things so deeply...is the same strong and wonderful caring heart that will lead you in your journey to a brighter day. And if there's one thing I am sure of... its that you will see your way through and the love of others will always walk beside you.

As you begin that journey, know that you go with every wish that could possibly be wished...traveling by your side. Know that, in the grand scheme of things, we live in a world where rainy days eventually give way to sunnier skies, and where simply believing in tomorrow takes you halfway up the mountain to getting beyond any sorrow you may have. I wish you the companionship of comfort on every path that you take, and I wish you the gentleness of peace.

I wish you the serenity and strength and every single thing....that will put your heart at ease."

__________________________

I have serenity and strength that I never thought I was capable of having...its great to feel this way - for the first time in a long long time.