April 2005

Hello All – I thought it was about time for another catch up!

Christmas was fabulous! It was so neat to be home, and to be reassured that nothing has changed. There’s something comforting about walking down Oriental Parade and catching up with half your circle of friends without even trying!

Unfortunately, for a second year running, our travel plans turned to custard. We had hoped to do the Tongariro Crossing between Christmas and NY, then see in 2005 in the Coromandel, but that was not to be. The photo to the right illustrates the view, or lack thereof, on our way from the northern end of the crossing. We bailed out soon after the shot was taken! Rain is a dirty four letter word…the same word was the reason our Lake Waikaremoana expedition was cancelled last year. We happened to time it just right for the Manawatu Flooding in February.

All was not lost however. We enjoyed a few days doing what we do best – road tripping north – and in the good company of Nick and Larissa…and Phil. Ironically, the weather started behaving itself by the time we made it back home, but that’s life. We were greeted by some unseasonally warm and settled weather in Wellington, and enjoyed some extra time in Masterton also.

My good friend Kylie came to visit us our first weekend back, which was fantastic – I felt like the good times were still rolling despite having to be back in the office. Kylie had been spending some time in the wine country in Adelaide and came laden with wine. Like any good host, I obliged, and helped her lighten her load for the plane! A highlight that weekend, apart from the good wine and good company, was our visit to Taronga Park Zoo. The view from the amphitheatre where the bird show takes place is stunning. The show was spectacular, with all sorts of graceful birds swooping down over our heads and providing great entertainment.

There have been many firsts for me as a newbie here. My first Australia Day – 26 January 2005. Never have I seen so many people in little old Hyde Park! It was crammed with food tents! Classic cars lined MacQuarie St. It was stinking hot and over-flowing with people and familiar looking blue and red flags, just too many stars for me! I enjoyed looking around a pioneer home/museum at the rocks, but that was about it. Free entry to Historic Places is not enough to keep me in the city next time around…I think I had my first panic attack that day!

I am also no longer a Mardi Gras virgin. Mardi Gras 2005 was pretty spectacular! We live just around the corner from where the parade starts, so took a stroll that night and beheld some rather colourful sights! I think I liked the serpent with John Howard’s head, and the little dancing apple people (adams and evans I think). The gay population, from my skewed observations as a neighbour of the most popular gym in the homosexual suburb of Sydney, are on the whole very well worked out, but there still were some saggy little numbers up there in leather with whips and chains! Anything goes, and that was what made it a great atmosphere.

Easter

Easter!!!!! Chocolate!!!!! Hot Cross Buns!!!!!! It was magnificent this year. Mum and Dad came over for their second visit. We talked, walked, shopped, ate…walked, talked, shopped, ate…you get the idea! We surprised them by hiring a car and had a day wine-tasting in the Hunter Valley. Gareth loved getting behind a wheel and out on the open road again. And he sure did his fair share of driving that day! Great to see some greenery…and drink it too! I went into this sampling business rather aggressively and heeded dad’s words of caution and measure after about vineyard #3. It’s hard work tasting great wine. For all the wine sipping, chocolate gobbling and cheese tasting, we only came home with 2 bottles. A yummy Late Picked Riesling from Hungerford Estate…the cellar is in the shape of a wine barrel!



We did some more Greek cuisine-ing too…and visited our friends at the Santorini restaurant, who in fact recognised my folks. Mum’s doggie bag and Dad’s conviction that he was Greek must have really stuck in their minds.

I was so sorry to see them go! But it looks like we have a wee line up of guests over the next few months to give me something to look forward to! JP in June, and Viv and Mike in May 

Philosophy

All’s well at the Philosophy school! I joined a group at Mahratta the other week which is studying ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’ by Boethius. It’s a great piece of literature, and I think we’ll be giving a presentation on the material later in the year. I saw the drama group’s performance of William Shakespeare’s Richard III last week – it was superb! Extremely well done, and professional. I nearly auditioned, but was overcommitted at the time. Maybe next year?!!

Running

The running is going so-so. I really miss my running compadres back home, but just have to face facts. I was running with a squad last time I wrote, but have decided to give this away. The regimented training schedule left little room for life outside of running, and started to detract from the pleasure of doing it.

Since then I’ve been getting out with various people from work, and the Sydney Striders. I have joined up with their Bush group, as off road and bush running was what I wanted to start doing more of when I left NZ. I have absolutely loved the runs we’ve done so far (bar the pitch black tunnel we had to go through on our last run…at 6.30am…with the boys in the group pointing out the bats in the darkness with pleasure to us more squeamish members!).

I’m doing the famous Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in May, and have no idea what to expect from myself. Perhaps I should expect nothing - that always works best for me! It’s been over a year since I’ve done one of these. I’ll have to seriously train now, as Viv and Mike are going to be over!! Gotta look good for the support crew!!

Maybe next time I’ll have someone to run against – Gareth’s running is on the up and up. I’m so happy to have a new running buddy!

The Marathon Training Group (MTG): a Striders sub-group that train on Wednesday nights (me on my knees in the front)

Yoga

I’ve recently taken up yoga again and I’m really loving it! I attend an Iyengar yoga school – this style concentrates on movements with precision, correct posture and body alignment. It’s challenging and really eye-opening. I gulped the other day when we had to go into a handstand! Always nice to have something to keep you on your toes…or fingers for that matter!

I have also started doing a bit of Bikram Yoga – a series of 26 postures done in a sauna. The room is heated to 38ºC! I’ve never sweated so much in my life, not even running! It’s a great cardio workout – and you don’t even leave your mat!

Ahhhh…there’s just no place like home!