Category Archives: Extracurricular

Extracurricular

Oktoberfest or Ocsober

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Ironic really that October is chosen for two “festivals” which have exactly polar opposite objectives.

Oktoberfest – that German celebration of beer – which we celebrated last night at the University Club – complete with German dancers and Oom Pa Pa music, sauerkraut and sausages… and what’s with the cut up socks?

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Which will you take part in?

Dippity, Extracurricular, Work

Royal Show Redemption

8 Comments

A couple of years ago I wrote about the bogans at the Perth Royal Show. I was quite scathing. Now, it’s not that the show has suddenly become a bogan-free zone – quite the contraire – it’s just that – for the first time in about ten years I went to the show and I actually enjoyed it.

Far from the jaded worn out parent from a couple of years ago, dragged from one show bag stall to the next overpriced ride, this year I left the elder at home to play Spore (thanks to his Aunty he is now SUPER popular) and simply dropped the young one off to volunteer at Animal Aid Abroad…

Where she stayed happily content all morning.

This left Groover and me free to wander the showgrounds at our whim and act like young teenagers in love – without the heavy petting in public.  

It took me back to my younger more impressionable years and my Grease-like fantasies of what teenagers did at Royal Shows… or at least end of year carnivals…

Okay so he didn’t hit a mallet and win me an oversized stuffed dog twice my size (this year’s choice prize) but then, I’m not actually a teenager and so didn’t miss it, nor miss finding the wretched thing space in my over-cluttered house.

Back to this year’s Royal Show…  does anyone else find it distasteful that they sold the naming rights?  It just doesn’t sound right to have the [insert advertiser name here] Perth Royal Show… did they ask the Queen first?  Wrong wrong wrong.

And would you go on a rollercoaster propped up on stacked wooden blocks?

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Groover and I did go on one ride though, which seemed to be made for teenagers, or at least smaller people than us.  It was the best ride I’ve been on at a local show.  And so it should have been at $10 each.  Highway robbery.

Didn’t seem to be putting off the masses of people in sideshow alley though.

Anyway after our free time we picked up Dippity, had some lunch (a lovely wood-fired pizza), Groover left and Dippity and I did a bit of wandering before doing another volunteering stint at another exhibit.

We finished the day exhausted and I learned a few lessons.

  1. Get your kids to volunteer for a stall – it tires them out and they spend less (of your) money
  2. Volunteer yourself and get free entry to the show – saves $24/adult ticket
  3. Leave kids at home or get them to go with someone else and enjoy the show 
  4. Check the base of all rollercoasters you intend to ride

Extracurricular, WA

Our football sized mammals

1 Comment

Last night we went for a drive about 45 minutes out of Perth to Karakamia Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is named after the red-tailed black cockatoo and they were the first birds we saw on entering the property. It all feels a bit Jurassic Park as you enter: There are impressively electrified fences stretching away on either side, with electronic gates that slowly open onto a gravel road once you press the button to enter.

The fencing – which costs $90,000 a kilometre – is essential for keeping out feral animals such as foxes and cats which are the main predators these days of the smaller fauna once common in our Jarrah forests.

The sanctuary has been in operation since 1992. They enclosed the 275ha and set about removing all the feral predators. When they were convinced they had a feral-free zone, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy started introducing species all but wiped out: Woylies (brush-tailed bettongs), Quokkas, Numbats, Tammar wallabies, quenda (southern brown bandicoots) and so on.

Some – like the woylies – have thrived to the point where they have been captured and sent to other conservatories, others – like the Numbat – have been less successful.

One of the things I found out was how little leaf litter you find in a forest where there are a lot of animals such as quenda. They bury so much of it the forest floor is quite open and clear.

As soon as emotions of generic sildenafil india anxiety is easy within agreement with. Mainly, it is believed that aging, chronic medicine, alcoholism, smoking, unhealthy diet, masturbation, health ailments, stress, depression, relationship problems and a loss of a social identity which levitra sale can cripple anyone’s confidence and lead to deep unhappiness in a person. Do discount cialis prices not use the medicine kamagra UK if you are using any other medicine for treating this ED issues as that can lead to over dose and give irreversible reactions on the body. So before the intake of this drug, taking cipla generic viagra http://www.slovak-republic.org/work/ doctor’s permission for its consumption would be the best choice. The AWC also practice mosaic burning – especially around the perimeter of the property to protect the animals from a wildfire.

We learned that the Australian bush is not just about kangaroos, echidnas and possums – the three types of animals that have a chance of surviving against foxes and cats (roos are too big, echidnas too spiky and possums too high).

Everytime we stopped the bush came alive with the sound of animals moving in the undergrowth. It was inspiring.

If you are at all inspired, the AWC have 18 sanctuaries around Australia. Absolutely magic.

(And I hope you get as passionate a guide as ours was! Thank you Simon.)

The ironic thing? We didn’t (unusually they said) see any possums while on the walk and it wasn’t until I was driving through my suburb a couple of streets away from home that I saw one crossing the road. Go figure!

Update: Found a tick on my tummy today – it’s so itchy! Bloody nature! Thank goodness we don’t have Limes disease.

Blogging, Extracurricular, Family, Wordpress

My family

5 Comments


This is my family at the party we had on Saturday night for my Dad (70) and my little sister (40).

Make sure you keep the length, said my sister as we uploaded this photo today, we don’t want to look any fatter than necessary.  No worries I thought, that suits me!

Ah.  This website seems to be working again sans multi-level navigation and automatic WordPress upgrade plugins.  Meh who needs them.

A fast loading site is all I want.  Or in fact a loading site.

I’m sitting here on the couch with my sister – over from the US -showing her how to blog on WordPress.  It’s very exciting.  The sun is warming our hands and laps as we type away.
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Tonight she goes back to the States.

I feel like I’ve only just had time to say hi and she’s gone again.

At the birthday she had us all in tears talking about Dad.  She spoke of someone who could do anything – and that’s what he’s like.  But that’s also what she’s like. 

She’s told me to stop now… but it’s my blog and I will write what I like.  So there!

(you can get me back on your blog if you want.)

Extracurricular, Random, WA

The mystery of the white trees of Perth

6 Comments

For the last few years when driving past the man-made lake on Mounts Bay Road in Perth I’ve wondered why all the trees are white.

The white trees of Perth

The kids always ask me why, and I, like the guy on that ad – you know the Great Wall of China is to keep the rabbits out guy – make up some rubbish because I don’t know.

Like: “It’s the dust from the roadworks where they are building the railway.” Which of course didn’t hold water after the railway was opened last year…

The other day I decided enough was enough. I was going to get to the bottom of this for once and for all. I stopped the car, got out and investigated, Nancy Drew style.

These trees look as if they have been spray-painted and now I can reveal that they have… in a way.

Bird in flight

This bird – and his mates – are the culprits. Up in the branches there is a colony of these black birds (does anyone know what they are)… and that white stuff?
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You got it. Guano. Birdshit.

Doh! I should have guessed that.

It was, perhaps not surprisingly, very obvious. It coats the trees from the top to the ground – I’m surprised they can photosynthesise at all.

Mystery solved.

Just call me Nancy.

Extracurricular, Health

City to curse

2 Comments

Yes I was cursing a little as I staggered down or rather up Oceanic Drive.

City to Surf. 12 kilometres from St George’s Terrace – the heart of Perth’s CBD, to City Beach – winds its way through the pleasant suburbs of Subiaco, Jolimont and Floreat.

37,000 people ran walked and pushed their way on Sunday and I, for the first time, was one of them.

I nearly died.

City to Surf 2008

The day started at 6.30 when I got up to get ready. I caught the train at 7.09 and made it to the city by 7.30. The train was packed with excited, expectant participants. Packed. They’d doubled the number of carriages and it was packed. We walked through to St George’s Terrace and joined the huge crowd.

I was walking and by happy circumstance the exact spot where the walkers start is where my friends from work chose to meet – London Court.

I think a few were surprised to see me. I’m not the fittest little black duck.

The race started and we piled into the main road, in with the throng. You shuffle forward slowly towards the start line. It’s high-tech you know. A little thingy you tie on your shoe registers your start time as you cross the line and as soon as we did the crowd seemed to thin a bit.

The first hill, up by Parliament House is not known as Heartbreak Hill for nothing. It’s long. It’s steep. My untrained thighs kept up with my fitter companions.

But then… I slowed down and they moved ahead. Later I learned that some of them ran the rest of the way. I’m afraid for me running was not an option.

City to Surf 2008

I walked past the first watering point – 2 kilometres in – amazed at the amount of litter. They had used plastic and cardboard cups – the plastic ones crackling underfoot as thousands walked past, kicking them to the curb. In later points they only used paper cups so maybe they ran out?

There was also a bank of toilets and bizarrely so close to the start of the race there was a HUGE queue. I walked on.

I’d completely lost sight of anyone I knew at this point.

Two kilometres on I was feeling a twinge in my hip flexor – you know the one I injured a few weeks back – and my calves were starting to ache.
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My boss walked past – and he had a heart operation this time last year…

At the 6 kilometre mark I was in pain. My gluts were burning. I ate a muesli bar.

At 8 kilometers I was also busting – but the queues for the few loos were enormous – I pushed on.

This is the last hill:

City to Surf 2008

I rang mum to see if she had time to give me a massage. She wasn’t home.

I decided I was going to get into a queue for a toilet… at that point a half hour time delay wasn’t that important.

Finally I could see the sea and then… the finish line.

City to Surf 2008

I almost jogged with joy but I was in too much pain.

Pain with the exertion of the walk and in the realisation as to how UNFIT I am.

Hey… but I still got a medal!

City to Surf 2008

Hmmm not looking too good, and that grin looks a bit forced…

The next day – I got up at 5.30 for a brisk 3 kilometre run – yes I’m doing the fitness thing again.

And it felt good to say – with all the fit people that ran in it – yeah I did the city to surf yesterday…

Next year I’m hoping to beat my time… and let me tell you – that won’t be hard. 🙂

Extracurricular, Health

Groins, groans and complete bollocks

4 Comments

So an update on my groin.

I know you’re fascinated. Yes you are – don’t be coy…

It’s not my groin.

It’s my hip flexor.

Basically I can’t lift my leg up – this makes stairs tricky and in fact walking is a bit frankensteiny – you know what I mean – stiff.

I went to the physio today who gave me ultrasound and electrical stimulation… kind of a buzzy sensation, last felt by me when in labour using a TENS machine. Made absolutely NO difference to my labour pains but felt quite good on my upper thigh.

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It’s 101 steps people!

Also, I saw this on Wikipedia:

Perth is considering a bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Perth hosted the 1962 Commonwealth Games, and the FINA World Championships in 1991 and 1998. Holding the America’s Cup in 1987, the Red Bull Air Race from 2006, the Hopman Cup and many international matches from rugby and cricket, Perth has developed high experience in holding a memorable performance through their international sports. From their experience Perth can deliver the 2028 Olympic Games with high expectations.

That smells like rubbish to me.

By the way, I had a fellow complain to me today about the word bollocks. Said it was outrageous and rude and shouldn’t be allowed to be said publicly… is bollocks that bad? Does it offend you?

Current Affairs, Extracurricular, Random

Are you doing the Beijing thang?

Birdnest
Creative Commons License photo credit: madiko83

I was listening to the radio today and I heard a woman talking about what she’s doing this Friday night.

She’s cooking Chinese food, dressing up in her cheongsam, and inviting a few friends around to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on her big screen.

Wow.

I hadn’t even considered that.

Not even in passing.

And you know, it’s on at a great time for Perth. We’re on the same time zone so at 8 past 8 (or whatever) we’d be able to tune in.

The name of bought here cheap viagra does not mean you are erect for that amount of time, but the effects may vary in every person. If you are going through emotional stress in bed that results in embarrassment and generic viagra pills depression, then you should include its good affects on heart and mind. But their popularity comes from the fact that the U.S. system is in need of buy levitra online repair and investment, but firmly believes that overall, the U.S. transportation has no equal. Furthermore, all symptoms featured on this article may accompany having gallstones indeed. generic levitra online I remember Athens… I was driving home when the ceremony started, going through the tunnel – it was pretty busy as I remember and I had to edge my way down the ramp while listening to the ceremony on the radio (ABC of course)… It sounded beautiful.

When I finally got home I’m asking Groover – oh what did the this look like? Oh and what about that?

I missed the first bit of the Sydney ceremony for some reason too…

Maybe this year I should make the effort. Maybe this year I should be there for the start in front of a screen somewhere.

Or maybe… I’ll just go to Dim Sum again on Saturday morning…

What?

It’s a good excuse!

Extracurricular, Groover

Is it worth queuing for Yum Cha?

Yep. I think so.

Yum Cha in Northbridge

I don’t like queuing for food – hell – I don’t even know how to spell it – here’s hoping that’s correct – so when we got to the Northbridge Chinese restaurant on Sunday an hour after opening I was somewhat dismayed to have to get an orange coloured raffle ticket – number 23 – and wait – our clothes steaming in the packed entryway.

Of course I’d rather take my chances and wait at a packed out restaurant than sit down immediately at the half empty one next door…

And the waiting turned out to be good.

First of all it gave us a chance to check out all the food so we knew what we’d go for. Secondly we built up an appetite.

I wanted the veges… to balance all the yummy deep fried stuff… and they were delicious.

Yum Cha in Northbridge
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Of course we partook of the steam trolley.

Yum Cha in Northbridge

Boy do the waiters move fast in Yum Cha. What a business model! Bang bang bang – food immediately at your table – before you know it you’ve said yes to three prawn dishes and two pork and something you’re not even sure what it is – or was before it was deep fried in yumminess.

And the tea. I love Chinese tea and Groover had picked up a great tip from Kylie Quong’s TV show. If you want the waiter to refresh your pot – just take the lid off it. Forget trying to catch their eye – you’ve got no chance at the speed they move.

Yum Cha in Northbridge

And suddenly you’re on the street – stuffed to within an inch of your life – wondering what the hell just happened and busting for the loo.

Yum cha on a Sunday morning. You can’t beat it.

Extracurricular, Groover, School

And the smallest planet is?

Out of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune?

Yes like me you knew it was Neptune. You probably also knew it was Tasman who discovered a number of Pacific islands in the 1600s – unlike me.

In the end it didn’t matter – WE WON!

Oh you’ve guessed we’ve just come back from a quiz nite where I swear our table drank more than any other. Luckily we won a voucher to a wine bar.

This is Groover shortly before he had to sit down for getting the true/false answer wrong:

At the Quiz Nite

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It was an electronic quiz. Multiple choice. You buzzed in your answers. Here’s the leader board.

At the Quiz Nite

It was fun having the instant scores. It increased the anticipation each round – especially towards the end. We drew first in the first round, won outright in the second, and came second in the last round due to not knowing about Tasman. Doh! Still overall first and that’s what matters… doesn’t it?

Actually second place got a few bottles of wine which also looked attractive…

🙂