Catching up - life, home and running!

I'm sooooo not enjoying winter at the moment.  The icy cold rain, the arctic wind, okay so that might be over-dramatising but it feels that way.  Yes we get the odd nice days, but 90% of the time it's horrid.  Which has made it hard to plan my days running, the weather man seems to get it wrong every time.  Oh well, grabbing moments when I can.

Mike also is grabbing moments and he's been out in the studio.  An old workmate of mine has been up the red centre and was posting his lovely photos on FB.  This one caught Mike's eye and I wrote to my friend to see if it would be okay for Mike to paint it, he was delighted.

I wish I had taken more progress shots though.  Half the time he never finishes a painting, he gets the painter's hissy fit and it ends up in the fire.  Not this one, he's actually finished it!

This was from when I started taking pics.   I love that big dust cloud coming from behind the truck as it barrels along the dusty road.

I was a bit worried about all that pink, but the man had a vision, getting there.

Oh oh, he's about to do trees, that's usually his downfall, dead trees yes, but trees with leaves is where the hissy fit usually comes in.  But by joves he's done it.

All done bar the signing of it, I told him to steady as it goes and don't let the signature be the thing that stuffs it all up.  Pretty darn proud of him, I love it!

So last Saturday night we were invited to a friend's 50th birthday, a James Bond theme birthday party.  I will say I did check out the gold lame body suits until hubby sees what I'm looking at and "helpfully" lets me know "err I don't think you could pull that off honey".  Yes dear darling husband of mine, I *KNOW* I wouldn't pull it off, I wasn't asking for an opinion, I was just looking.  Grrrr.

So we decided to go as Bond and his Bond Girl.  So much fun getting dressed up to the nines for a birthday party.  Oh and it was at the ritzy chi chi pooh pooh Club Warrnambool too.  Oh and notice the goatee and mo as disappeared, he gave me the heck of a fright when he came out of the bathroom like that - apparently no self-respecting James Bond would have a goatee and mo!

There were lots of Bonds and Bond girls, a couple of Pussy Galores, some villains, it was fantastic. And at 9.30 my friend was all excited as her daughters were doing a Battle of the Sexes quiz, boys versus girls, how much do we know about her with the last question being what year do you think Di and Steve will get married - no trouble there everyone was yelling out "never".  She quite frankly said to everyone "well you're all wrong, we're getting married tonight!"

Well talk about catching flies, mouths dropped open everywhere, all of a sudden the celebrant came in, flowers were quickly affixed to lapels and corsages for the girls and a wedding happened!  Oh boy oh boy, how fantastic.  I've heard of surprise weddings but never been at one before, it was terrific.  I'm so sooooooo happy I was able to be part of it.    Best quote of the night from one guest though was: "And I came to a wedding dressed up with a cat's tail!!!!" hahahahaha

And back to the weather as I hear the rain outside pelting on the roof, I'm really not kidding...

And lastly running.  I got out between downpours today to take Lucky for a wee joffle, then dropped him home just as the rain started again and waited for the next downpour to pass and then got out myself.  Check out our new club shirts, although I ended up wearing a long sleeve under it today.  We couldn't get cow print anywhere for shirts, but found a site that we could get black/white patterned and it's worked out fine.  It's been fun seeing the pics pop up on our FB group, there have been cows running all over the country today!

Yep, windy AND cold !

Birthday Boy Boot Camp !!

So someone had a birthday yesterday and bonus that it was the weekend, so instead of going out for dinner, we decided to do lunch at a place we have wanted to go for an age, the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery.   I have heard great reviews and love that they use all local produce.   But we thought to make the day a bit of fun, we would walk the rail trail to the heritage listed Curdies Bridge.

Now admittedly I should have done my homework.  The link on the Distillery website on talking about the rail trail said "The first section which is an easy flat 3km walk begins at the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and ends at the National Trust listed Curdie's River Trestle Bridge".  Perfect.  Our lunch booking was for 12.30, so we got there a little later than we had hoped to start out but surely at 11am we would be fine.

So we set off.  The weather was warm but there were lots of shady sections and it was really beautiful.

Took some photos along the way, but soon enough we had hit 3km and the bridge was nowhere in sight.  I told him no problems, we'll just keep walking a bit and I'll ring the restaurant and change the booking to 1pm.  Mike was getting a bit antsy at that stage working out how long we'd been walking and doubling it to get back.  Okay we had some breathing space.  And on we went.

Saw some people at the 4km mark (see, I had my Runkeeper on so we knew how far we'd come, clever girl !!) and they said we still had 1km to go!!!  HUH?  Well we'd come this far, so we started hoofing it.  Soon enough we were rewarded and made it to the bridge.  We took some photos, we were pretty hot by this stage but pleased we made it.

Well on looking at the watch we realised we were going to have to hoof it back at double pace to make it back by 1pm, we didn't think it was good form to change the booking yet again!  So off we went.  And as when I run, I started doing the count down - probably more so to make Mike feel better.  I was feeling fine (there comes a certain comfort in being fit).  Mike on the other hand, although he wouldn't admit it, started struggling.  He was getting redder and redder in the face.  At one stage he could smell hay being cut and had to cover his nose so he didn't get an asthma attack.  By this stage I was feeling really bad that we pushed on like we did.  Especially when we got to Curdies Bridge and realised we could have driven there!!!!!  Shhhhh, we won't go there okay.

At about 5 past 1pm we got back to the Distillery, ever so glad because I was starving and I was a little worried Mike was going to self-combust at that stage.  His eyes had swollen up, his face was like a tomato, he had sweat pouring down his face, poor love.  We walked into the cool of the restaurant and the lovely lady there, who we came to know as Maggie took one look at him and asked him if he was alright.  I said we had just walked 10km and she said "goodness man, you need water".  Mike squeaked out "Alcohol" and I think she felt so bad for him she gave him a whiskey on the house.

You can see here as he was in recovery mode with a cider how red his face was.  I urged him to go to the bathroom to splash water on his face.  He did and came back even redder!!!  Oh dear, there was no paper towel in the men's and so after splashing water he put his head under one of those hot hand blowers to dry his face!!!  You can't help but laugh.

All was not lost, we soon satisfied our hunger with a beautiful assortment of tasting plates.  Pulled pork on soft tacos was absolutely delicious.  Pork belly on a coleslaw.  Spring rolls with peanut and lime sauce.  And a pear, walnut and parmesan side salad.   Absolutely delicious.  And we left with a scoop of the famous Timboon icecream (they popped an extra scoop on Mike's raspberry and white chocolate icecream, just because it was his birthday).  Totally wonderful place to eat and the service was amazing.  Five stars from us.

After falling in a heap when we got home and having a major nanna nap for both of us, we went to a BBQ Christmas party at friends last night, such a beautiful balmy evening.  It was just lovely.


No Sunday sleep in for me, I was up early and out the door at 6.30 this morning whilst sleeping beauty still slept, so I could run my 10km virtual fun run for the Indigenous Marathon Project fund raiser.  The sunrise was beautiful.  I needed to get it in before it got too hot.   My run was slow, but I did it.

Birthday pav for the man tonight, which he graciously shared with our neighbours across the road, mind you he only took them a little sliver each!  What can I say, the man loves his pav!   And day off for me tomorrow, love a three day weekend.   Countdown to Christmas is really gaining pace, might do some baking tomorrow.

Birthday Weekend Part 2

I said I was coming back to give you Part 2, the day of my actual birthday, better late than never, let's just blame 50 year old nanna brain! ha.

Something I've wanted to do for a long time but never been is to go to the Halls Gap Zoo.    I said to Mike that was how I wanted to spend my birthday.  The weather forecast was looking dicey but as luck would happen the rain came days earlier and Sunday was PERFECT.

There are lots of native animals at the zoo, but a few exotics too, a couple of giraffes, some cheetahs, water buffalo, American bison, etc.  Here are some of the photos I took, mind you there were stacks of photos, but here are some of my faves.

Just call Mike the 'deer whisperer'.  I liked that you could buy a little bag of food for the animals, well to feed some of the animals, by hand.  First gate we walked through the deers just knew!  Cheeky things, they lost quick interest once they thought your bag was empty and someone else walked in with a full bag of kibble for them!

The white lyrebird (peacock?) was amazing.  

There were a couple of cockatoos nearby which I think was why it had it's plumes out, 

trying to scare the cockys away.

The blue peacocks just roamed around, and goodness they had a sqwark on them.  They reminded me of the peacock that tried to peck my travelling companion Kathie when she was trying to photograph it when I went to the US last year.  I don't think I'll ever look at one of these birds without thinking of that.

The red panda just lay in the tree and posed, so beautiful.  

Mike had also planned a surprise (which I kind of found out about accidentally) that he had arranged for me to go in with the meerkats and feed them.  I was beside myself with excitement, such funny little creatures they are.  

     

There are three meerkats at the zoo, all brothers.  The zoo keeper met me and let me know what she would be doing.  She said they don't like to be held or touched/patted, and it would be on "their terms".  If they wanted to come to you they would.  That I was to sit on the log with my legs out in front of me and together so they could climb up.    Oh dear, the minute she put food into my hands they came to me alright, climbing all over me.  It was amazing, their little chattering trying to get to my hands to have a nibble.   

Hands up high to get the nibblies for them, 

otherwise they would have knocked it out of my hands.

Hang on fellas give me a chance here.  

That's better, I'll put my hands in my lap so you can get the food.

 

More food?  Oh dear this was the moment I realised I had live worms in my hands!

The zoo keeper laughed as she had given me live worms the first time too but I hadn't noticed.

Live worms, kibbly cat food and corn.

 Will cherish this moment forever.

What a fantastic birthday gift.

The other display I really liked was the kangaroos and wallabies.  I have never seen a white kangaroo before, it was amazing.

Skippy doing a bit of a pose.

Can you see the foot, it had a baby in its pouch.

And this one took a moment to nurse.

So my birthday weekend was amazing.  We finished off the day in Halls Gap going to a lovely cafe which we have been to a number of times.  The lady there is one of the organisers of Run the Gap.  It was nice to have a chat with her, she actually remembered me from other times we've been up there.   Came home and had a naughty pizza for dinner but that was all good.  Back on the straight and narrow on the Monday.

Birthday weekend part 1

Yay, it was my birthday weekend.  A golden birthday.  50!  Yep that's right, I turned 50 on Sunday.  Except why just have a birthday DAY when you can have a whole weekend right? 

Saturday Mike had planned to have a family get together.  I had gone past the thought of having a party, but was happy to just have a lovely meal with family.   So he did all the arranging, I just picked the restaurant.

But first things first, I was up early and out the door for a quick 5km run.  I needed to get my last run in for the week on my training plan and I knew there was no way I'd fit it in on Sunday.  What a great way to start the day.  And yep, the cow whisperer still has it.  These cows ran with me the whole way down the paddock until they could run no more.  

Pottered a bit during the morning and then we got our glad rags on and headed into Warrnambool.  Mike's family was coming down from Geelong and although I dared hope, my mum and my brother came also.  My brother and I have a slightly strained relationship, it has been for the last 4 years.  This was only the second time I would see him in all that time.   This is the only nice pic I got of Mike and I for the whole day, I was busy taking pics of everyone else and forgot about the two of us!

Mum and my brother Trevor

My father-in-law and his partner Connie.

My sister-in-law, Ann-Marie.

My beautiful step-daughter Tabby and partner Aaron 

And the littlest little party-goer.

Ann-Marie trying to squish my stepson Tristan, whilst the others were deep in conversation.

Brother-in-law, Callum.

Niece and nephew, J and S.

My mum was delighted to get some baby cuddle time in.

Treated to a rare flex by my stepson Tristan.  

And yep, the muscles are real, he's worked hard for those guns!

Cheers!

Treated to a delicious black forrest cake, oh my, it was gooooooood!!!!

Showing my age, there were only five candles on it and it took me three blows to get them out!

Yep, only had one good pic of Mike and I during the day.

This is the only other one.

Nanna got important baby cuddles for her birthday!

And my friend Lyn came along also, I worked with Lyn for many years,

she may as well be part of my family.  :-)

A beautiful meal, my favourite restaurant (Reunion) and all my family there just for me, mind you the majority travelled 2+ hours to get there.  I felt well and truly spoilt.

Part 2 tomorrow, where you'll see how I spent Sunday.