The 9 km Bridge Run

Well today was the big day - Alex and I had been training for the past 6 weeks since we completed the Bay run (7km) for our next big challenge, the Bridge run. An iconic Sydney event where runners start in North Sydney, run across the harbour bridge, across the Cahill expressway, down Macquarie st, out through the Botanical gradens to Mrs Macquarie's chair and back to the Opera House. We didn't think that another 2 kms was such a big thing, and we ran close to 9kms in our last few training runs.

However I hadn't factored in 30degree heat, a half hour wait to get started - standing in the blazing sunshine and not enough water stops enroute. That combined with hundreds of walkers and people pushing prams, meant that a nice steady jog was out of the question.

We first saw our support gang around the 4km mark and I honestly felt that soon after that I was ready to give up. Luckily I had Alex gently coaxing me along, but by the time we eventually crossed the finish line, I was totally 'over' running in all shapes and forms! It was gruelling and not at all enjoyable!

All the kids could do was ask where my medal was and if it came with a goody bag and then proceeded to argue over who was getting which. In the meantime I was swooning on the side of the road under the Opera House steps trying to get my breath and stop myself from vomiting!

Don't suspect I'll be trying that again in a hurry - although the best bit about it all was that I managed to raise $1500 for The Red Cross, my charity of choice. Thanks go to all my family and friends who supported me both financially and mentally.

A first excursion

Today Tom went on a rather grand excursion. He and 20 classmates from Gumnut Cottage took the train(!) into the city to visit the Dinosaur exhibition at the Australian Museum. Although there were 14 parent helpers, so a ratio of 1 adult to 2 children, I was extremely nervous about my baby going off like that. Drawn between wanting to protect him and wanting him to experience the adventure!
Anyhow pleased to say he returned in one piece and was full of excited tales of what he saw and what he did. Needless to say the minute we got in the car to go home he fell fast asleep and it took him a few days to recover from the exhaustion!

A trip to the park

Who would have guessed that a trip to the local park could turn into so much fun. Ela's schoolfriend Gabby who lives next to the park, arrived on her motorbike/buggy and gave the kids rides round and round the park.

Tom has been begging us for a motorbike of his own for longer than i can remember and so was in 7th heaven when he got on.

Father's Day Chess Challenge

Today Ela took part in a Sydney Academy of Chess - Primary School Challenge. We turned up to the sports centre at Sydney Olympic Park and found that the chess competition was part of the Education Expo that was on. 255 kids from grade k-6 were taking part. It was a 'Swiss' competition which (apparently) consists of 7 rounds, with all players playing 7 games, no one being 'knocked out'. Each game is timed (15 minutes) and they used timer clocks - that was a first for Ela but she soon picked it up.

We left her there at 9.30am and went back for lunch at 12.30. That was when our kids gave their fathers day gifts (as Mark had been out riding/training when they woke this morning), lovingly crafted and chosen and written, whilst we picnicked on sushi outside in the park. Then she returned to the competition and we picked her up at the end of the day (4pm). She came 149th overall which was an outstanding effort considering she had never been in a competition before, and that she knew no one there and that she played against grade 6 kids too. We are so very proud of her for having a go!

Tom's 4th Birthday

Today was Tom's party, and what a big day it was. He refused to go to Phizz kids in the morning because he was too busy playing with all his new toys. His main present was a skateboard and he's had us with our hearts in our mouth watching him try to get to grips with it.

All day he kept asking when people would be arriving. Luckily the jumping castle came early so that kept him quiet for a while! And also gave me a reprieve while I battled with icing his cake. I need to take lessons as i failed to get the consistency right for the yellow icing which i was trying to write his name on the blue with, and it ended up running off the cake like a snotty nose!

Finally the guest arrived at 2pm and we had a great party, with pass the parcel (though Ela was disgruntled at being the only one not to get something), musical statues (again Ela was miffed that she only came second), limbo, tattoos, fishing game, yes/no game and duck duck goose (Tom's favourite). I also made a marvelous Train shaped jelly (using one of those silicone moulds) and forgot to get it out of the fridge!

He scored some awesome presents including a cricket set, a soccer net and flippers to name a few, and the best was he got two identical Ben Ten on a motorbike figures which he has been thrilled with. Ours was bought as a last minute addition to add to the cake but then his friend also turned up with one much to Tom's delight.