Volleyball

So we played our first game of volleyball last night. I finally managed to pull together a mixed team consisting of myself, Tony, Adam, Jane, Renee and Leila.

We got our asses kicked as expected, but I had a lot of fun. The fun part is a lot more important to me than winning, so I'm happy with that.

We still don't have a team name, but somebody made the comment that 'we're more of a comedy act than a volleyball team' prehaps we've found our team name after all?

Rottnest

So we all went to Rottnest this weekend. As it was very last minute we only got accommodation at the Barracks. I was expecting to literally stay in the barracks in the accommodation they use for school camps. As it turned out we had one of the houses in governors circle. The surprising part to that is that we were the only people there and it is still within the school holidays!

So the weekend started with a trip on the ferry with Aaron, Dione and her friend Janine (I think, so bad I forget names!). The trip was a little up and down, but I was only feeling a little bit ill by the time we got off the boat. We then made our way to the bike hire, and most importantly after that we went to have a few pints at the Quokka arms!

At pint 2 the other guys turned up and the drinking continued. We got to about 2 at which time our accommodation was ready to be moved into. Adam, Nayan Tony and I went to check it out, and then we all had a bit of a nap. I was soo tired from the last 2 nights of not enough sleep. I think I dozed for about an hour or two, at which time we then went back to the Thompson bay settlement to buy some pasta and other yummy stuff for dinner.

We all went back to the house and started to get settled. Maggie started to get really hungry, so we started dinner. Of course she was the first to be served as I was worried she might start eating her own arm. So we all has spag bolongese, some of us even had 4 serves! It's always nice to see something you make being so enjoyed by your friends. Although Tony did the hard work, he actually cooked it, I just told him what to put into it.

So our night was spent talking, drinking and being silly. It was a nice night for me in the I actually got to spend a bit of individual time with each person. I was really enjoying being outside that night. I air was fresh, but not too cold. Plus we had the whole place to ourselves. It was extremely peaceful I felt.

There was a lovely little beach back behinds one of the houses. I firstly went back there with Tony, and had a quick dip. The water was so nice that I decided to get a few more people to have a skinny dip. Turns out they were all skinny dipping virgins except for Dione and myself. So I think in the end Matt, Mark, Tony, Aaron and Dione went for a swim with me.

At a very late hour not long before the sun was about to rise we all were tired enough to sleep. The sign they had up at the house said we needed to vacate by 9. We pretty much ignored this and were out by around 12. We made our way back to Thompson bay to have a bite to eat. We gathered our supplies and then made our way to the beach to sunbath and eat. However the sun didn't last too long, and was replaced by a rolling thunderstorm which quick turned into pelting heavy rain and HAIL!!

Poor Dione and Janine had to brave the rain for the the 2.30 ferry. We waited under the shelter till about 3 when the rain stopped and made our way back to the warmth of the pub. Another couple of drinks, then it was time to get on the ferry. It was at about this point that we worked out we had all put the wrong tags on our baggage, and we'd all have to get off at Rouse head. This wasn't too much of a problem for Tony and I, but I did feel sorry for the guys who meant to go to South Perth.

Thanks to Dad picking us up Tony and I finally got home and made ourselves cosy on my fabulous day bed! 3 episodes of house later and we went to bed to have a beautiful restful sleep.

The Score

Bike pants: 1 Bike seat: 0!!

Fat and Happy

What is the deal when you meet someone and fall in love? Why do people always get fatter? In the case of many of my friends this is a good thing. Rhyll has put on weight since she met Justin, she no longer looks like a starving third world albino. Ben has chubbed up since meeting Faye, and we all know how skinny he is. Faye has put on some healthy weight, as has Renee.

But then you get to me who has now put on 5KG! At first it was that fluctuation weight. You know you can weight 2kg different one end of the day to the other so I wasn't too worried, but now its slowly creeping up and permanent! Argh!

So it's time to get the running cranking again. Also I hope my 'ride my bike to work every Thur' plan will work.

Today is my birthday and I have been given a wicked heart rate monitor thanks to my gorgeous Tony Polony. However I firstly have to work out how to use it! It has more bells and whistles than I can poke a stick at! The wicked thing though is that it has a footpod which is like a pedometer and helps you work out how far you have run each time. Sweet!

With any luck this will get my motivation in running going again.

Pants

Tony and I went and bought me some bike pants today. I now have a the padded crotch thing going on! Or chamois as Tony's cycling enthusiast friend Anna tells me. I think it will make all the difference comfort wise riding to and from work on Thursday. I just hope it doesn't rain. But if it does they are made out of that dry-wicking material stuff.

Everything hurts

I rode my bike to and from work today. Now I can't feel my legs! I think I need to take baby steps. Tony and I also rode about 40km on Monday.

I'm sure I'll do it again next week anyway

I have some advice

Don't go rock climbing the day after you give blood, you'll be crap!

Giving blood

Well I finally did it. Today I gave blood. The lady had a hard time finding a vein, but we eventually got on with it. Tony held my hand through the whole ordeal, but really it wasn't that bad at all. So I'm now 470mls of blood less than I was about an hour ago. My poor bones will have to go into over drive to make me some new stuff tonight.

The thing I am excited about is finding out what blood type I am. I have absolutely no idea! The blood bank nurse was telling me that O- is the good stuff as it can be given to anyone. Also blood from people who have never left Australia is very sought after (like Tony's). I'll get my blood donor card in the mail in a few days then I will know. I plan on making regular donations every 3 months now that I know how easy it is. I encourage everyone else to give it a go too.

Jane's wedding

Yesterday my sister Jane got married to her long time beau Michael. We started our day yesterday with getting our nails done at Garden city. Jane, Kelly and I all had pedicures and then french manicures.

After that we went back to my place and spent some time relaxing. We drank champers and had an early lunch at which point Rhyll arrived to help. Then it was time for us to get our hair done. Kel had the classic up-do, I just got mine straightened and Jane had hers put in gentle curls.

Back to my house, and I did Jane's and my makeup. Then we all poured ourselves into our dresses. All of us had pretty tight dresses that had all sorts of boning in them.

The ceremony itself was held at the Cottesloe Civic Centre which was a beautiful place. It was a little over cast, but it meant that no one was over heated. I was the first to walk up the isle which was a little nerve wracking as everyone was watching me. Camera's were going off everywhere, it made me start to get some kind of idea what it must be like to be chased by paparazzi.

Then it was time for Rhyll to do the professional wedding photos thing. I can tell ya, my face was killing me from smiling so much by the end of the photography session. I think she got some lovely shots though. She used the gorgeous pillared stairs in the garden as a back drop.

Eventually it was all done with and we piled back into the wedding cars (old Black London taxis). The reception was held back at Jane and Mike's place in Yangebup. The beer and wine flowed, and all kinds of yummy nibbles were passed around.

We then danced the rest of the night away. It was one of those great nights where everyone got up and had a dance. My mum, my Dad, my Nana, all my Aunties and cousins, not to mention all of Jane's friends.

The night finished up at around 12, and a few people came and stayed at my place. It's weird to think that my sister is now a married woman. I saw her and Mike this morning and she looks really happy as does Mike. He love my family, and said as much today. It's really nice to have him as part of the family officially now.

Today I was a pirate...

And little Miss Saskia Lily was my first mate. We sailed the seven seas of North Fremantle in her stroller. Then we rampaged a couple of sand castles decimating as we went.

After that we uncovered buried treasure in the form of sea shells, interesting bits of sea weed and small coloured stones.

We bravely played a game of 'where did Sas's feet go?' in the sand. It was touch and go there for a while but we managed to find them eventually.

At the end of a hard day we went home to a feast of Vegemite sandwiches and crunchy salad vegies. And a nice glass of moonshine apple juice.

Can you believe it?

It's been 3 months that Tony and I have been together!