Aquatic Centre

Greetings to you all !

I suppose you want the answers to last week's questions - very well.

Question 1.
It was me. I faced and overcame my fears, still have all my fingers and am now saving up for my very own chainsaw. How do you like the pitch, by the way?

Question 2.
Steven Bradbury is someone who despite achieving success in an unusual, flukey or accidental way has a lot of respect in Australia. He is an
ex-speedskater who won Australia's first Winter Olympic Gold Medal at Salt Lake City in 2002. His victory came about after three unlikely events. Firstly, he only progressed to the semifinals after a disqualification to a higher placed skater. Secondly, in the semi finals he was coming last but 3 skaters crashed ahead of him leaving him to claim second place which qualified him for the finals where this happened - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQMJtilOGg . While you can't help but have a good laugh, he claimed that his Gold Medal was just reward for years of hard graft ( not to mention two serious accidents ). He knew his limitations and the unpredictability of his sport. To " do a Bradbury " has entered into the Australian vernacular and while it generally implies unlikely success it is also reserved for those who have shown passion and persistence. Not surprisingly, Steven Bradbury is now a Motivational Speaker.
As far as Nathan Hauritz is concerned, the other players are Beau Casson, Bryce McGain, Cameron White and Jason Krezja but let's not talk about cricket this week.
For the Aussie readers, Kgalema Motlanthe is South Africa's President.

Our Aquatic Centre ( pictured ) has a big indoor area which has a fun area and an 8 laned training pool ( spot the warning signs - this is Australia after all ) as well as an outdoor area with an Olympic sized pool. It also houses a well equipped gym - not that I've dared to go inside it. Jen had her Birthday Party there yesterday. Her birthday is actually today and the two of us have done movies, Maccas and DVD's. Bron and Matt left for Sydney this morning. Matt is due to play in the Combined Independent Schools Tennis Tournament / Trials at Pymble Ladies' College tomorrow. He will be representing the Hunter Region and we have absolutely no expectations as we don't know what he will be up against. Whilst the students of Pymble Ladies' College shouldn't prove to be too much of a distraction tomorrow, things will soon be different.

I often look at Bron and wonder why she always seems to be so busy. Hanging washing, doing washing, folding washing, feeding dogs etc today has reminded me why - and that's just a fraction of what she generally does. Doing all of this ourselves ( not sure that I am entitled to include myself here ) has not been a big problem and as Bron says " you just have to get on with it ".

The washing machine is beeping at me and the dogs are looking hungry so.............goodbye from Australia where people seem to be rewarded as much for what they put in as what they achieve and specifically from Murrumbong-Gillitts where our baby is now nine years old.

Dylan and Jennifer and Bronwyn and Matthew in their absence.