Video Tits

In Australia, there is this TV show on every Saturday morning called VideoHits. Today, for some unearthly reason, they broadcasted "You are not alone" by Michael Jackson. Ewwwww. I'm going to scrub my eyes out now.

The Rollercoaster

All my work projects at the moment are things that are quite difficult. I should keep reminding myself this whenever I run into walls, which I frequently do. I'm used to being energetic and solving problems quickly, but when the problems are complex I just run into the walls faster.

I had a bit of a shocker this week, starting with Monday, getting so much worse on Tuesday. Wednesday I didn’t think I could go in, but knew I would feel guilty and like I was wasting my time if I didn’t. Anyway, Friday was a long was away from Monday, and by the time it came around I felt a bit on the depleted side so I decided to spend the weekend, at least Saturday, at home regenerating my energy levels instead of going away for the entire weekend and trashing myself climbing. I’ll let you know if I make it to Monday without climbing… or if I go even madder.

W/kend Report

Headed up to the mountains again this weekend and although it was meant to be cold, Saturday turned out gorgeous blue sky and sunshine. All the T-shirts came off at Shipley and the sky was black with climbers falling off their project. Alas, the cooler, more frictional weather was but another day away.

I was super happy to see Shaz and Eva out at the crag and quickly abandoned Mikl and Boer to play with the Chikkas. I scrambled my way up several 19’s before retiring to a reminiscing swear-athon with Shaz at the crag for old times sake. Before all the daylight was gone we headed to Hartley Vale School House to help jean with her painting chores. More like sanding gone mad – removing layer upon layer of toxic paint from the old walls with a variety of sanding devices, before I cracked the shits and ripped out the scraper and heat gun. But all was well again after a quick shower, visit to Coke’s place in Katoomba for a quick drink to celebrate her birthday, before getting back to the School House where we retrieved the beef stew bubbling away in the oven.

After a cold (!!) night spent in the Tuck Shop with Mikl (the old tuck shop has been converted into a much ventilated sleeping /storage area and is a separate dwelling from the main School House), Jeanie headed back to Sydney and Boer, Mikl, and I went to Cosmic County to try some classics. I proclaimed early that it was too cold to climb and would only pull on if the sky went blue. This had nothing to do with the poor sleep/amount of red wine consumed, although it might have had a bit, but more to do with the amount of climbing I did on Saturday, particularly on the crimpy Shipley numbers.

So Mikl sicked Boer onto every classic at the crag, while I knitted. By 3pm the sun miraculously came out (until then I was knitting in a down jacket and the sleeves kept catching on the needle ends). Boer started to complain it was hot and took most of his clothes off, so I decided it was just toasty enough for me to run up a few easy things. I must get back out there when I am climbing harder again.

Alas, the weekend is over and I came in to work where I discovered my synthesis of this brand new material did not work as I had planned. The scratching post is getting VERY thin.

Birthday celebration

I threw a dinner party for Mikl's birthday. 19 people in our little lounge room, and I didn't even take a photo! I so need to get my shit together. In related news, despite the due date of our friends baby (she was at the party), she failed to give birth on our $5000 antique handmade Afghan rug.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Not that he reads my blog, but a big happy birthday to Mikl, who today turns something or other thats not 50.

Our nations capital

Went to an Australian Academy of Science symposium in Canberra on Friday, and dragged Mikl and our latest American visitor, Boer, down there too see the sights.

We stayed with Les at her new house in Narrabundah. Friday night she flew back from Tassie and met up with us at a friends place for dinner. After a late night we headed out to go climbing at Baroomba on Saturday, when the weather was nice. Baorrmba features a 150m granite dome with routes all over it. Most are naturally protected, although the route that Les and I climbed was a slab, with 2 bolts in 40 m. Nice climbing, although we were all absolutely bushed that night and went to bed early.

Sunday Les and I nicked off to visit some crafty nearby towns, which were really cool and Les bought a Wollemi pine (These tress are living dinosoaurs - they were thought extinct until a climber found some alive and well in a small section of the Blue Mountains, now you can buy them to put in your garden). The boys decided to stick it outin what was obviously going to be crap weather, which it was, and when Les and I got back to the house at 4pm, they were both tucked up on the couch with tea after a lunch of sausages and crumpets (this is what happens when you leave boys to cook).

I also made friends with Oscar, Lesley's cat, whio is extremely shy so this was a huge achievement. We also stole Les's guide book (how sneaky are we?).

I'd also like ot report that I am dizzy, and can't work out why. Hmmm.

I miss her!

Happy Birthday to Miss Kelley.....