Summer Sun

Hiya;

A ball breaker work week made a Friday arvo beer taste that much better. I was sharing it with Shane on the fast ferry to Manly for his missus 30th birthday celebrations. Spent a little time unwinding in the insular peninsular but didn't stay too long. Headed back home at a very responsible time.

I did the honourable thing on Saturday and chauffeured my Nonna around Sydney visiting some of her old friends she hadn't see in years. She'd been hassling me for months to take her and i'd put it off too long. Big brownie points in the bag, think i'm back in the will.

Sunday was another glorious day, one of several over the last few weekends. It was also the last nippers for the year and Bodhi's come a long way since starting. We're super proud of the little pink cap. He swims, he runs, he boards. He's not the fastest, strongest or most buoyant but he gets in a gives it a crack which is all it takes to paint a big grin on my face and see the value of persevering with it. 
We hung around the beach till after midday enjoying the blissful weather. Santa even popped by on a rubber ducky handing out ice blocks.

Gotta love summer,
Minas.

Tri Callala

Hiya;


Bodhi and I enjoyed early marks on Friday. The Lovely Samantha picked us up and we all headed 3hrs South to Callala Beach on Jervis bay where we’d hired a house for the triathlon weekend.

Saturday was one of those cracking beach days that will linger for the summer. Bodhi and I wandered down to the white sandy bay and were greeted by a dolphin and her calf just off the glassy calm shore. We did a bit of nippers training, sun baking, chillaxing, sand castling and swimming, all the time being sun drenched in lovely summer sun. Sam missed all this in favour of a 3 hour round trip to a market which turned out was cancelled. By the time she returned in the arvo, the wind had kicked up, the weather turned grim and the sea a right mess.

Sunday – triathlon. The weather wasn’t great, the wind horrible, the sea grey and incredibly angry. The dolphins replcaed by sharks (in my mind atleast). I acquitted myself admirably, but the main question on everyone’s lips was just how much time does a new bike buy? About ten and a half minutes as it turns out, or looking at it another way - about $300 per minute of time saved.

Sam also did us proud completing the enticer triathlon in a very handy 32 minutes (on her crappy old bike no less).
Long tired drive home to pizzas and a welcome bed.
See ya,
Minas.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hey;

Either my work related insomnia is catching up with me, or the conversation was boring. Either way on Friday night at an end of year Kindergarten parents drinks session, I was yawning by 9pm and asleep at home on the couch by 9:30. The lovely Samantha hung around and made the most of the social event, in fact bringing home company…a not so friendly hangover.

Saturday was a real scorcher - 36 degrees and humid as hell. We did our best to stay indoors. Being the 1^st of December, we put up our bloody big Christmas tree. Each year I make the same joke about Martin Place wondering where its giant tree is. The furniture needs to be re-arranged to accommodate it and all I can say is thank God for 10 foot ceilings. Bodhi was giddy with delight, quite beside himself really, insisting on wearing fake antlers to harness the yuletide decorator within. Paper chains are big this year.

Sunday was thankfully cooler and suffering from Saturday’s cabin fever, we went for a day trip to Manly Dam. What an awesome place! Picnic, BBQ areas, swimming, and several kilometres of nature trails – bloody brilliant! Such is the terrain that you’d be forgiven for thinking you were stuck somewhere in the Aussie scrub rather than surrounded by urban sprawl.

Home to much procrastination about training (triathlon coming up this weekend). Pro triathletes supposedly don’t train in the final week before an event…at least I think I heard that somewhere.

Wish me luck,

Minas.

Up the Wahzoo

Hey;

Left work early on Friday to remind me what my son's face looks like awake. It's uncanny that since writing (gloating) about contractors not being as susceptible to stresses at work that seems to be the only thing on my mind. Work is an absolute hell hole at the moment - stressed all the way up the Wahzoo. I need to catch myself every now and then and give thanks for the good things. I could be homeless...or worse...not have a gorgeous new bike to ride.

We potted about the place on Saturday. I'd planned to do something, anything, remotely resembling exercise, but instead curled up in a doona of lethargy and spent the best part of a beautiful day indoors veging out on recorded TV. Bodhi and I made a short trip to Bunnings (always a highlight) while The Lovely Samantha did her usual thing of potting about the place, sprinkling fairy dust and making everything sparkle.

In the evening we went out to a surprise birthday party in Darlinghurst which went a little longer than my Cinderella spell allows for these days but i think i acquitted myself suitably.

The Sunday morning nippers alarm rang out not 5 minutes after my head had hit the pillow from the previous night. Sam was comatose (and snoring) so it was left to me to ready the fire breathing dragon that passes for my son when he's been woken prematurely from his slumber. It still takes a lot of coercion and bribery to get him into his cute little Bronte speedos and pink cap on a Sunday morning, but he's come a long way since starting. No more tears, no more "i don't want to do it" he just gets on a gets it done. Ata boy Bodhi.

In the evening i did a bricking session (bike-run) and felt surprisingly OK. Only time will tell as to whether my haphazard training will be enough to retain the mantle of overall line honours at the Calla Beach Triathlon in two weeks. Stuey is still fat and out of shape, but Shane has been training every day and has fire in his eyes.  He's the dark horse.

see ya,
Minas.

 

Burgers and Cream

Hey;

Caught the last of the Friday sun down at the Opera bar with a few beers and some work colleagues to hold them. The Lovely Samantha and Bodhi came by and picked me up on the way through to Darlinghurst for burgers and ice cream.

On Sat we visited the latest addition to the Trickett family, then passed by a bike shop in the city to pick up a baby of my own. I'd been eyeing off a number of svelte frames but in the end couldn't look away from a beautiful piece of Italian design and so decided to just be done with it and buy one - A Willier Gran Turismo. Even if my training for the next triathlon (Callala Beach 9th December) is struggling, at least I'll look the part.

We rose early on Sunday for the third installment of the "I don't want to go to Nippers" weekly saga. I'm just about out of incentives to convince Bodhi to go. He doesn't like the physical exercise, is petrified of the cold dark sea baths and flat out refused to try the boards. Still after much coercion, he begrudgingly dons the pink cap and soldiers on, but something inside tells me he's doing it more for me than himself.

see ya,
Minas.

Wrap Up

Hiya;

Missed a couple of weekends due to the increasingly poor excuse of too much work to do.

We were in Forster the other weekend for the triathlon i'd been training for. It all went pretty well in the end with me claiming overall line honours amongst my mates that entered. I liken it somewhat to childbirth - untold pain which was forgotten in the euphoria of finishing. And, after all has been said and done, I've gone and got myself knocked up again - Callala Beach on the 9th December.
Despite building a decent 4 minute lead in the swim, i was mowed down in the cycle leg on account of me being on a mountain bike while my mates were on fancy-shmancy carbon fibre road bikes. I felt like an L-Plater on a freeway. Women were overtaking me such was the inefficiency of my setup. Needless to say, that didn't do wonders for my psyche so I'm throwing some money at the problem and getting carbonated for the next one.

This Saturday was a super day. We hit the pool by 10am, i hit the acupuncturist by midday (slept on my neck wrong), then the cycle shop in Moore Park shortly after. They didn't have the particular model i was looking for but let me take one out for a burn around Centennial park to get a feel for how a road bike handles. A chaperone escorted me on account of the $9,000 price tag of the "loaner".

OH...MY....GOD.....The wind literally parted before my very eyes. I felt like Moses on a sea of Red SRAM componentry. Better than sex...no...well....pretty damn close (BTW - think I've solved one of those niggling mysteries of modern society - why so many overweight, middle aged men ride hot bikes). Now I just need to find something a quarter the price.

Sunday started super early. A 7:30 Drive to Bronte for Bodhi's first ever nipper's session. Some trepidation, a moment of absolute horror (cold, dark water), some tears (some mine), but i think we'll be back next week...with a wetsuit.

Super Dad

Bodhi’s school fete was on Saturday. We wandered up and meandered through the surprisingly well organised festivities. Stalls, rides, music, food, competitions and fantastic organisation all round. While Bodhi was wriggling his way through the obstacle laden bowels of a large inflatable caterpillar, I spied that most leveling of manly pursuits – The sideshow alley Strongman Hammer challenge (bang the mallet down, hit the bell). Several stout, stocky fathers had failed in their attempts to ding the bell atop the pole, which had made a small crowd gather round. It wasn’t so much their failure but the look of utter defeat in their child’s eyes immediately afterward that stayed with me.

How hard could it be I thought, as Bodhi and I wandered hand-in-hand over to the growing crowd? Deceptive no doubt, but It looked simple enough. Still, those strongarm dads before me had been found severely wanting. Their hits barely registered a “Modest” rating (between the “Passable” and “Tell him he’s dreaming” marks). Parting the crowd, I handed over my entry fee.

With the long handled mallet in hand, I looked down at Bodhi, smugly winked, rocked back, swung and gave it an almighty whack. The lead tracer shot up, passed “Passable” on its way to “Thunder God” but fell breathtakingly short of the ultimate mark before hurtling back to the ground carrying the hopes of my adoring son with it. Shit, I thought. I gave that one hell of a crack and still fell short. I looked down to my side. Bodhi, concern writ large on his innocent features, burned through my soul.

I resolved there and then that I wasn’t going to be just another fundraising statistic. The ring master quieted the surging crowd, pleaded with them, move back…give space. I gripped the handle for the second of my two swings. My sinuous forearms, honed through countless weekends of seemingly endless hammering, digging, painting, wax-on-wax-off laborious toil, steeled themselves for effect. As I raised the mighty mallet, just moments ago much lighter but now carrying the overbearing weight of expectation, the crowd hushed…. I swung. Momentum lifting me clean off the ground…Impact…A thunder clap…All eyes tracked upward following the tracer as it raced along its track, skyward, like a firecracker through the night.

The rest is history they say. But as I looked down at my little boy and winked, there was no smugness, just two little eyes, looking up in pure adoration. Cometh the hour, Cometh the Dad.

Minas.

Summer Sun

Finals footy has started. On Friday it conveniently coincided with $5 buffalo wings at The Toxteth in Glebe. A couple of mates joined in and after several platters, pints and pulsating plays, we pontificated the potential playoffs then headed our various ways.

I did a few odds and ends around the house on Saturday - painting, turfing, sanding, shelving. Since tackling most of the harder stuff though we’ve scaled back the efforts somewhat. When we were in the thick of it I used to look forward to Mondays - just so I could get away from the house work, but now it’s back to a more leisurely pace. There’s a lot to be said for getting someone in and knocking it over quickly…versus our approach spending several months of consecutive weekends toiling away.

Mum looked after Bodhi on Sat night while The Lovely Samantha and I enjoyed some adult conversation at friend’s dinner party. Lots of yummy goodness with Neil Perry’s macaroni & cheese stealing the show. It was superb! Easily the best thing to come out of Masterchef in recent memory.

Started Sunday with a café breakfast in Drummoyne followed by a bit more preening around the house, before heading out to visit the grandparents. Their hearing has deteriorated to the point where we’re required to shout at them. It’s not very conducive to conversations and is particularly ironic given we’re trying to teach Bodhi to speak more softly.

In the afternoon I did some more brick-laying (triathlon speak) by combining my swim & cycle training. Aside from an initial bout of light-headedness immediately following the swim/bike transition, and a momentary swerve into oncoming traffic, I actually felt quite good. Home to a warm shower and a good bed.

I’ve been keen to get Bodhi into an organised sport for a while and was annoyed with myself recently for missing our local little athletics registration cut-off. So, when I stumbled upon the upcoming Nipper’s season at Bronte SLSC, I jumped at the chance and signed him up on the spot. Over breakfast this morning, I embellished the fun aspects with Bodhi – summer sun, sandy beaches, frolicking in the waves. He’s already decided, with no negotiation entered into, that it’s not for him. Oh the joys.

Think I’ll buy him a cute little cap…just in-case. 

see ya,

Minas.

Father's Day

Hey;

I parked myself on the couch and watched Friday night footy through sleepy eyes. By half time, the remote had been swindled from my unsuspecting palm and the channel changed to some chick flick. After about 30 minutes, I finally noticed. Feigned insult for all of five seconds, then tucked myself off to beddy byes.

We got to spend Saturday on our neighbour’s boat again. It wasn’t ideal weather to be out on the harbour, but passing on the offer would be akin to saying no to a Ferrari ride because the road is slippery. This thing is amazing. Just incredible. I soooo want one. It’s bigger than our house, currently for sale for more than our house and, here’s the kicker – doesn’t need any DIY! Too cold to swim, but sublime none the less (Meg – we moored for lunch outside your old flat in double bay).

Father’s day kicked off with a smashing breakfast of French toast, mixed berries and a side of bacon. Not in a fancy café mind you - prepared at home by none other than The Lovely Samantha. Bodhi also made me feel special with some handmade cards bursting with TLC and a mug with “#1 Dad” emblazoned on the side...awwww... talk about feeling special.

The warm fuzzy feeling was short lived though. Sunday turned out to be stunning, ideal weather for boating. Instead, we spent it in the front yard edging, planting, cementing and painting. Nearly there. Not long now.

See ya,

Minas.

Y, oh Y, oh Y?

Three little letters – D.I.Y.
Emphasis on the last letter. Why, oh why, oh why? Like house hunting, DIY is a weekend vortex.
Granted, there are upsides to it as I’ve discovered of late. To my surprise, The Lovely Samantha is much more smitten with “handy” men than those who simply provide for their family through a (equally important) desk job. It’s no coincidence that my recent awakening from DIY hibernation has been accompanied by equal measures of love and affection. My scraped, callous hands have come in for particular adoration and the bruised thumb I got on the weekend (the hammer mistook it for a nailhead) received some very heartfelt sympathy.
To be honest though, I actually enjoy it - DIY that is (although the amorous advances are also appreciated). The house is starting to look a treat and the patience is beginning to reap rewards. A new porch light, doorbell, nicely cemented footpath, garden edging, gas meter cover and all the rest have given the façade a new lease on life. I will share photos at some stage, although stupidly forgot to take a “before” shot.
On Friday night I didn’t have the energy to go out, so Sam and I just got a cheap bottle of plonk, some take away and a DVD. Saturday was no healthier – Bodhi and I had pizza while Sam went to the opera.
Sunday was glorious. We took Bodhi to a kids party at the Marrickville Croquet club and sat outside catching the rays, dreaming about the summer time fun in store. I had planned to do some triathlon training, but kept on putting it off. I finally admitting defeat when the neighbours came round for an evening BBQ. They don’t eat pork so I ate all the sausages myself. Couldn’t have planned it any better if I’d tried.
Happy birthday Simon,
Minas.

Brick'n It

Hey;


Bodhi stayed at Mum’s on Friday night which meant The Lovely Samantha and I could enjoy cocktails at a young hipster bar in the city followed by a bottle of red and slow cooked lamb at The Athenian. Back home to one of those rare guilty pleasures of parenthood – a childless house.

Both days were basically taken up painting the front fence. Little by little, weekend by weekend we’re getting there. Brazil opening ceremony, look out.

During the week we’d received a nice white wine as thankyou from a friend in return for a child seat. Anything over $10/bottle signifies a special event in our household so whipped up a scallop risotto to accompany. My double helping was more a testament to hunger pains than any culinary prowess and I fell asleep before the end of our Saturday night DVD – The Iron Lady.

An early start on Sunday meant the fence looked shmick by early afternoon, after which I attempted some fitness training. In the triathlon world it’s called bricking – training two legs back-to-back. After a 16km cycle, bricks are exactly what my running legs felt like for 5kms afterwards. One small step for a fit man, one giant leap for Minas. Got back, showered, hooked up the catheter and didn’t leave the couch for the remainder of the evening.

Love to you and yours,
Minas.

Cycle Manly

Hey;

Work stress levels have been creeping up with some of the beautiful petals in my team beginning to wilt, so I told them to leave it all behind and take time out to recharge over the weekend which is exactly what I did. My theory is that stress has more impact on permanent employees than contractors. IMHO Permanents allow their work to define them whereas contractors look at it as a means to a buck. Don’t like the project? Move on. Perms don’t entertain that same luxury. Famous last words perhaps for this humble contractor, but let’s wait and see.

We entertained the neighbours on Friday night. The Lovely Samantha laid out a tip top spread which disappeared in a matter of minutes. A few relaxing ales, some good conversation and a fantastically satisfied hunger severely depleted any resistance to the hypnotic callings of the couch. Asleep before my hand reached for the TV remote.

Saturday was a slow start. I’d volunteered to photograph a Haemochromatosis charity’s AGM at Parramatta. Not the most photogenic of assignments and the pictures attest to a combination of that and, more tellingly, that I hadn’t picked up the camera for several months prior. Not entirely proud of that effort, but hopefully they’ll get some use of the freebies.

The highlight of Sunday was a windy ride across town. I’ve signed up for a mini-triathlon in October. 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run. While others City2Surf'd I practiced the bike leg by riding to Manly (23km) in very blustery conditions, thankfully blowing my way. I’m comfortable with each of the individual components, but my post ride jelly legs attest that doing them back to back will be decidedly harder. Surprised myself with a decent first time cycle and woofed down a massive burger & chips at the skiff club as a reward. Caught up with fat Shaz and co for a beer then back home to knock up a new front gate ready for install next weekend.

Asleep before channel 9 even bothered mentioning the closing ceremony.

See ya,

Minas.

Boys Weekend

I spent Friday at home nursing a pain in the neck. Not the 5yr old blonde haired variety, but the hunched over a computer 5 days a week for the past 14yrs kind. I assume my bad posture is the cause as there’s nothing in recent memory that would suggest any other source of the undeserved incapacitation.

We also said farewell to The Lovely Samantha. After fifteen years of unwavering servitude (five as a mother), she’d decided enough was enough, packed her bags and left us for some well-earned R&R in Bowral with a bunch of her fellow First Wives Club members.

Over the course of the weekend I walked a mile in her shoes: cleaning the house, preparing meals, entertaining Bodhi as well as painting the front of the house, sealing the kitchen benches, cleaning mouldy walls and summiting a mountain of dirty washing that would have made Sherpa Tenzing reach for the oxygen tank.

Rather than spread the work out evenly across the weekend, Bodhi and I decided the most appropriate way to tackle the herculean task would be by building up our energy reserves through prolonged periods of pizza, beer (me) and sleep interspersed with copious amounts of Olympics viewing for inspiration. Through this meticulous preparation, we reasoned, we'd store enough potential energy to unleash on a focused blitz. 

And what focus it was. In the ninety minutes prior to her arrival, Bodhi managed to wash his teeth (no simple tasks given his recalcitrance) while i managed the other items on the list. Talk about team work!  

Upon her Sunday afternoon return Sam was admirably impressed. Bodhi was all smiles and I was well and truly rooted.

Appreciation is nothing if not conveyed.

Minas.