Category Archives: Introspection

Moonlighting

A moody moony Monday evening on the water with my pair partner Orla. Photo: Steve Yanev

So yeah I’ve been writing for someone else. About rowing. And not even my employer (although I did get permission).

My sister-in-law Lara, she of The Junk Map fame, has started a new website to help us navigate life after kids. It’s called You After Kids.
It is basically EXACTLY what it says on the tin and she asked me to write about my experience taking up rowing as a (nearly) empty nester and how it has led to firm friendships and fabulous FOMO induced fun.

Here’s the article: Could Rowing be Your Path to Fitness, Friends (and Dolphins!)

I would like to share some of the lovely comments I’ve received on Facebook since it was published from rowers all over the world and here in Perth.

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And this lovely DM:
Hi Sarah, i row at FRC and having read your article felt compelled to send you a message. Something I wouldn’t normally do. But what you wrote is exactly how I feel about rowing and to know that others feel the same too was really quite lovely. I’ve had a smile on my face since.

I’m so chuffed that my little article was so well received. I hope you check out Lara’s website. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write something too in which case post a link below so I can check it out! Here’s some guidelines.

Or… you could come rowing?

morning light on a perfectly still river, the clouds reflecting in the water.
You cannot get the smile off my face when I show up and the water is like this. November 2021

The All Consuming Life

Sunrise at UWA Boatclub

This my friends was the day that the world found out that little Cleo Smith had been found alive. Some good news after a week reeling from some of the worst.

It was such a beautiful sunrise, full of hope and promise.

I thought after my last post that I would be back every day… well at least once a week… but it is harder than I thought to get back into the habit and well, life has been distracting consuming every second of brainspace.

Remember Brain Space with Tim and Debbie? I used to do a fair impersonation of Debbie when I was 14. I digress…

I have been educated in Jewish funerals since we last met. And I’m impressed. I like the fact that the coffins are basic and everyone gets the same. Fancy shiny coffins that cost thousands of dollars make me feel slightly ill. What a waste. I like the fact that people are given mandated space to grieve. I like the thought of carrying a square of cloth for a week so that you are carrying your beloved with you. I appreciated the beautiful singing of the rabbi and the message that we carry the legacy of the passed by acting as he would have acted. There were eulogies but no flowers, no photos, no video montages, no sometimes dodgy music selections.

I don’t want to be buried but I liked the way the congregation was invited to help fill in the grave. Three shovelfuls. Put the spade back in the earth between people. Standing in the dirt, it felt real.

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Vale Russell. You will be missed.

Selfie corner

So this could become a regular segment. Last time I added a selfie with Elizabeth, today I bring you Jen who I caught up with for the first time since school back in 1983. Yes we had what I call school back in those days before the internet.

Me and Jen

My memory of Jen was that she was one of the cool and a bit naughty day girls. Way more cool than me. She remembers me as brainy. Not sure where she got that from. Oh wait. She must have heard my Debbie impersonation.

I’m afraid she couldn’t tell any of my work colleagues any incriminating stories. I mean my nickname was Doris Day and you can’t get straighter than that. Very boring for them, and me.

But it was lovely catching up and finding out about nearly 40 years of each other’s lives and how they intersected.

The death of blogging?

My hair has grown, I have new glasses.  Yep it really has been a while since we chatted.

this is me

Back in 2007/8 I was a daily blogger. No detail of my life too boring or mundane to inflict upon the world… and you dear reader.

My opinion on who should go in Big Brother.  Things seen on walks around the burb.  Book reviews.   Random comments.

Sometimes there were photos, sometimes there were not.

But there ALWAYS was something.

Then Facebook happened.

Yes of course I blame Facebook.  Is that lame?

All those little things that caught my eye are now on my FB profile.

The photos so easy to upload.

I can share the bits I want to with the people I want to and they don’t have to come searching for it.

All the comments.  All the likes!

It’s… seductive.

So my blog has been neglected.
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Reserved for the important things.  Things that are worthy of more than a sentence, a photo.  Which means… nothing gets posted at all.

And yet.

And yet I see others still blog.  Where’s My Glow?  Karen Cheng.  The Food Pornographer.

What’s their secret?  Are their lives so much more interesting than mine?  Is it having a theme?

My life is all eat, sleep, row, repeat.

Well that and work.

I feel like I’m boring you when I write about it.

And now here comes the epiphany:  In 2007/8 when had enough material to blog everyday, I was doing practically the same as I am today.  (just replace rowing with bridge)

I didn’t go on particularly interesting trips.  I didn’t have so many more fascinating encounters.  I wasn’t any more interesting than I am now.

So… it must be Facebook.

Has social media killed the blogging star?

 

(obviously I’m not referring to myself as a star… simply referencing that old Buggles tune)

Obsessed

I fear I have become boring.

Really boring.

Apart from Groover who is not backward in coming forward with jokes about how long it’s taken me to bring up the ‘R’ word, most people humour me and to them especially I apologise.

It’s just that… I think I might be in love… with rowing.

That’s a bit sad no?

Well of course it’s not just rowing.

I love being part of a sporting club, wearing the ugly uniform, hanging out with people who don’t think I’m weird for getting up at 5am in the middle of winter to get wet on the river.

I love the kit… the cute light for the bow, the special waterproof socks (hopefully to arrive any day now), the thermals, the custom made zootie I wear at training, the polo fleece headband, the videos on good technique…

I like the feeling of getting fit – of not needed to reach for a puffer at the end of a race.  Of feeling the oar grip the full length of the stroke (doesn’t happen that often).

I love the coaching tips – really the first time I’ve been coached since I did ballet in my pre-teen days.

Sure.  It might wane.

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The honeymoon will soon be over.

Until then, I apologise.

I will try not to bore you with rowing tales.

And family – thank you for your patience.

In the meantime – funzies with imovie trailers:

And this is one of my races… turn your volume down!

*Exhibit A

Rice salad and not drinking

Rice Salad

First of all, can I just say that by following this recipe you will enjoy the best rice salad you’ve ever tasted.

Behold!

Justine’s Rice Salad

  • 1 cup brown rice (that’s one cup uncooked but obviously you cook it, then let cool)
  • 6 spring onions
  • 1 capsicum, chopped
  • 1/2 cup of cashews (I am generous with my half a cup)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of currents (I usually go the half cup)
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup celery
  • big bunch of flat leaf parsley

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DRESSING

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup olive oil (or less)
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic crushed

We had this salad with The Best Beef Casserole last night and they work well as a combination.

Both taste great as leftovers.

So what news?

Well the boy is in Seattle to go to a gaming championship.

The girl is back in school, play a success, studying hard.

Groover is doing manly things like working.

And I am still obsessed by rowing – getting on the water as much as I can.

I fear I have become very dull indeed.

And the not drinking is probably not helping.

I’m doing Dry July this month.

I thought it would be harder.  There were a few moments when I thought I really wanted a glass of cold sav blanc, but water in my wine glass seemed to stave that off.

And you never know, a month off alcohol could be just what I need to cut back long term.

I have been waking up much earlier and much easier.

Although that could also be my rowing obsession.

You can take it with you

So I’m driving back from rowing this morning behind a bus which has an ad for Just Cremations

Just cremations.

“No fuss” is the tag line and I thought THAT might be the best ever funeral ad I’ve ever seen.

I can imagine it appealing to a lot of people… especially tight-arses like me who can’t bear the thought of paying a stupid amount for a party I’m not going to see.

Or a coffin that’s going to be worn once and then destroyed – or maybe buried until it rots.

To me that is a ridiculous WASTE OF MONEY.

Family – please spend the money on something else.  Booze for the wake.  A holiday somewhere warm.  A new fridge.  Whatever, don’t spend money on a coffin.

(actually if you are buying a new fridge – just use the box)

Because coffins are STUPIDLY EXPENSIVE.

The cheapest coffin at Just Cremations is a Peel Basic at $1190 – does that include GST?

That will do for me – unless you can get something cheaper.

The most expensive over $11 grand.  That’s one way to take your money with you.

*boggling eyes*

Here’s a tip.  A cheap coffin does NOT mean you didn’t love the person you are putting in it.

Measure your love in other ways – not a frigging wooden (or chipboard) box.

(a small aqua box with a white ribbon – while I’m still alive – is a nice way for instance)

In my research for this post today I did come across another kind of funeral which sounds interesting – a natural burial.

Not that I want to be buried mind you, that film The Vanishing cured me of that.

I like the idea of a biodegradable burial though I wonder what they do if you have fake boobs (not that I have) – do you remove them?

Otherwise or that will be left is a bunch of bones and two silicone fillets…

I digress.

The point is – just get me the cheapest funeral on the menu.

 

In other news… and in an effort to stave off the impending funeral… my exercise this week has been “fair”.

  • Sunday – social row
  • Monday – ergs with the lovely Evelyn
  • Tuesday – training
  • Wednesday – day off
  • Thursday – more ergs with Evelyn
  • Friday – training
  • Saturday – social row

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Next week I head to Karratha and Broome.  I hope they have a rowing machine at the Karratha International!

Okay now this is getting weird

Last night (or rather early this morning) I dreamed my thumb was cut off.

Then there was a lot of faffing about to get to a hospital eventually ending up in Charlie Gardiners with a very reluctant plastic surgeon who tried to be unavailable to sew my thumb back on.

Meantime I’d stuck my thumb onto the stump and it had kind of stuck.

When we got to the hospital the surgeon went into this room with an enormous screen and looked up a diagram of the human body – presumably to make a plan on reattaching veins etc.

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Everything I have read today about the meaning of thumbs in dreams freaks. me. out. eg: scroll down to thumbs

Why can’t I dream of something nice?

Like puppies.

Stress dreams

Do you ever have stress dreams?

Apparently a common one is not being able to find your locker/classroom at school which relates to feeling uncertain about your career… apparently.

I’ve worked in radio for a long time and usually my stress dream goes like this…

I get into the studio and I have to present a program and I have nothing to say.

No interview to go to.

There are no CDs in the system.

Our electronic playout system doesn’t work.

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Well I had a new stress dream Saturday night. The night before our race.

I dreamed I couldn’t find my white singlet.

All I could find was a frilly white shirt. Clearly not very sporty.

Frilly white top

It was very stressful in the dream but in the cold light of day… a little tragic.

But I wonder what it means…

Making room for something new

Taken on the iPhone

2012 wasn’t too bad for me. I had some great opportunities at work and in my personal life discovered rowing – which I love.

But I don’t want to repeat it.

Sure it would be lovely to watch season 3 of Downton Abbey again as if for the first time but hey – maybe there’ll be season 4.

But how do you change your life when you’re so busy with work and family and the hobbies you do have and the obligations you make?

See the thing is I’m not really sure how I want my life to change.

But I know I have to make space in my life for it to happen.

Last year I played less bridge and took up rowing – no regrets there although my bridge is slipping a bit.

I think my family life is pretty much in balance.

And work is going well – bloody hell – 25th anniversary coming up in October!

So really – I don’t want to change much.

Things I have on my activity wish list for 2013 include:

  • Learning how to screenprint
  • Training for masters rowing – maybe going to Turin (maybe not)
  • Getting a team together for the Lord Mayor’s Cup
  • Maybe some ukulele lessons
  • Get my medal for 25 years at the ABC – corny I know but now I’m so close!
  • Do the 3 second video thing everyday!
  • Hang out more on our decking with family and friends.
  • Host more parties (as we only held one this year… not a stretch target)
  • Go down south more often.
  • Visit Ennuin

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Gawd – what will I drop to fit all that in?

The drop list:

  • solitaire on my ipad  (better delete now while I’m feeling strong)
  • 50% less TV
  • 30% less bridge
  • less live storytelling?  Not that I did much this year…

Not a very long list…

The other thing you can do is say no to stuff.

I feel I can say no if I’ve tried/done something 3 times.

So this is my last year of doing the bridge club posters for a while.  Just saying.

What will you change in 2013?

The secret signs of cleaners

So I am in Brisbane at the moment.

My last night in fact and tonight, when I got back to my room and headed straight for the bathroom I sighed with contentment when I noticed the message from the cleaner:

The sign of attention to detail

Whenever I see the little folded triangles it’s like the cleaner has left a little sign for me.

See, they are saying, I have cleaned your room.

And I, as the temporary occupant think, yes. My room is clean.

Indeed, the dirty dishes I left soaking on the sink have been cleaned thoroughly and put away.

Perhaps I would feel that my room was clean even if the only thing touched was the toilet paper… it’s possible.

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It made me feel better although I am not sure the other occupants of my domicile noticed.

However.

I don’t think the secret sign necessarily means attention to detail.

Witness:

That is a pillow

Just sayin’