I have fallen and I can't get up. Oh no wait, I didn't fall I was pushed and I can't get up cause you won't let me. Fuck it. there's a set of stairs right there, I'll climb back up.

Woke up to crazy red skies caused by a dust storm... Check it out! http://ping.fm/OjI3q

A sad day http://ping.fm/ITBwa

Chuck Liddell on Dancing with the Stars.... WTF?

Took my new Davida helmet for a ride today - we had a great time ;)

5 back to back G.S.P. fights make me want to put people that piss me off into a choke hold. Is that wrong?

Wish I was in Vancouver today.

Wow, my heart is officially broken. I love life when it's there but hate it when it's done. I love The Bubba, you know I do and I will miss her soo much. I wonder was it the aneurysm or was it the loss of the Bunny. I miss you my furballs, soo much, too much.

Listening to some unknown track that oddly sounds like Bananarama at the chorus.

I knew it was coming but I guess I wasn't quite prepared. The Bunny aka Nardless Nardlesson aka Miss Sugar Whiz Funny had his last breath. He was old and he lived a good long 12 years so I can be nothing but happy about the time I got with him. I will be forever sad that I didn't get to say bye (thanks for handling it Jay) but I will remember oh so fondly the endless nights of Bunny races on the bed, sleeping behind my neck keeping me warm, pushing people around at the parties and of course pushing The Bubba out of her own food! Jerk! He was a rabbit that snorted like a pig and thought he was a dog. So much animal in one little furball!

an ode to Nardless Nardlesson http://ping.fm/SK2QG - the rabbit that thought he was a dog.

I AM CANADIAN http://ping.fm/d9r9w

Happy Canada Day (Even though it's not quite that day in Canada yet!) Bring on the Beer and Rye (aka Canadian Whiskey)! Is 8am too early?

looking for movers that aren't going to rip me off... anyone?

I am Canadian! Caught myself standing at the Foxtel Kiosk at the Mall watching the 2nd last game of the NHL Playoffs!

Back at it!

Sock it to me... Saketini!

First weekend complete after my trip to Auckland/Hamilton Island and it was great. Saturday night, I had an urge to make Saketinis, so Steve came over for a couple (and they were yummy and went down just o so right) and then we headed out to Fish Face for dinner. I think Fish Face may be my new replacement for Rodney's, not so unruly as Rodney's got but the food is great and it's a really good atmosphere. After dinner we decided to head over to The Sticky Bar (above Table for 20) and the drink of choice for moi was Cucumber Martini. Unfortunately not muddled but still very good. I turned around from the bar and lo and behold who rocks up to us. OLIVIA... Livers, I haven't seen her since our party and it was so good to see her. Unfortunately, shortly after arriving, Sticky closed down. Early bars confuse me... or was it so early? Olivia got word from the doorman at one of the other bars that there was an opening happening just down the road in an alley (?), so off we went to find it. Alas, we wondered up and down the said alley but were unable to find it. Off to another bar for drinks till Liv could track down the party (calling the doorman at the bar - hahaha). Of course he came and got us to take us there. Way to go Livers! So we downed our drinks (red bull and vodka - not the best for throwing back). When we hit the other bar it was all worth it. Free drinks. Of course we hung out at the bar chatting up the bartender as he continued to refill our glasses. Somewhere along the line they closed too and I think it was clear to me that I was in fact drunk and should head home sooner than later. Little trouble getting a cab, a first since its near impossible at that time of night in that hood. Clothes on the floor, a bit of water and panadol and I can say it was a success of a night.

Hamilton Island Sky

Back from Auckland and Hamilton Island. Wow, what a great time. The weather was not the best but the company was outstanding. This is the first of many photos and a quick blog... I got a ton of laundry to do and emails to catch up on! Check out the sky in Hamilton Island. Amazing!
 

Back to reality!

Mojo's and Mojitos

Picasa has a limitation on photo uploads... drives me crazy. here are the shots it didn't upload.
 
 
 

Azac, Two Up and Mojitos

Haven't posted anything for a few days. Been busy hanging out with Alisha and getting ready for our trip to Auckland and Hamilton Island. Wahoo! Spent Anzac weekend doing a pub tour with Deidre, Alisha, Avril, David, Greg and Steve and seeing the world of two up. Essentially it's just legal to gamble for the day. Have to get some shots of that from Alisha since I forgot my camera. Sunday we went for brunch at Bondi, walked the beach and did our regular mojito and tapas at Mojo's. Here are a few shots.
 
 
 
 

BEST SHOT OF THE TRIP

 

I LOVE THIS SHOT. BEST FRIENDS!!!

DIRTY MOTEL GONE WRONG

 
 

DIRTY MOTEL

 
 
 

Easter Ride - Pretty fan-ducking-tastic if I may say so myself. A few hitches... like overfilling my oil and ending up on the highway smoking everyone behind me out. I didn't even notice... Greg and Gavin had to pull over and were freaking - they thought I was going to blow up... so cute. Then the oil started to pour and pour out... what to do? Well you can do two things that I have figured out. Run the engine for 2 plus hours to slowly drain the oil or empty the oil from the spout over a drain by tipping the bike over. Like cow tipping only gentle and with a bike! I would strongly suggest the latter as it took minutes to do after running the bike for hours. Lesson learned!

Day 1 - Singleton taking Putty Rd/HWY 69 which runs up the west side of the Hunter Valley. Super tight turns and some great sweeping ones too. Really really fun! Stopped at the Halfway Roadhouse for a break and a shake (btw milkshakes in Oz come as milk with flavour and bubbles - if you want a true Milkshake you need to ask for a Thickshake and it costs extra). When we got to Singleton we headed to the pub via a park filled with hundreds of Flying Foxes (very cool) for a drink and some dinner and ended up doing several JaegerBombs. Not suggested if you actually need to get sleep that night. We also experienced the Good Friday way in NSW. No shots after 7pm; however feel free to do as many as you want before 7!!!

Day 2 - Walcha pronounced "Wa-ka" by the locals. Tiny town with nothing in it but a couple of pubs. One which we were staying at. What a DIVE. I fear what we were stepping and sleeping on. Actually, let's not think about it. Feel free to form your own opinion from the pictures. We ate dinner at the oddly associated Chinese Restaurant attached to the Pub (was that really a good idea?) and with a food coma Gavin passed out waking up at 2am looking for a party. Surprisingly there was a party going on at the Pub which was missed during the food coma and when he tried to get in they shut the doors on him. Poor Gav.

Day 3 - Wingham. Once again we rode what were some truly amazing roads. Beautiful 45k turns, the 25 were a bit much for me personally but Greg loved them. We stayed that night at The Bank and Tellers Guest House http://www.thebankandtellers.com.au/ which was just beautiful. An old bank renovated into a guest house with 5 rooms and two guest houses in the back. Bev, the owner was lovely and made us right at home, fed us dinner and breakfast (perfect pancakes with real maple syrup and bacon! Hello Canadian!) and it was truly the best meals I have had since I have been in Oz.

Day 4 took us to Nabiac to The National Motorcycle Museum of Australia http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.com.au/ the museum was outstanding with 800 plus vintage motorcycles, parts and gear and some really cool swag. It was even more amazing to find out that the museum had on loan only 241 of the bikes and owned the rest. Phenomenal. We spend a few hours there and unfortunately, the day persisted with tons of rain, detouring us from Gloucester, where I had mapped out the ride on Thunderbolt Way. I was sooo disappointed since it was meant to be the best road we were going to ride and based on what I had seen so far, I wasn't sure how it could get better. Guess I am going to have to go back and see.

To all our dismay, we hopped on the Pacific Hwy and struggled through the horrendous traffic (Glad we were on the bikes and able to cut up the shoulder to avoid what was looking to be a few hour traffic jam) and to Hunter Valley for our last night away. We went to the Blue Tongue Brewery where I got to have the Paddle sampling 6 of their brews and of course we had a few Jaegers to celebrate our last night. In the morning Gavin was dying to get home, and took off down the #1 straight for Sydney. Greg and I lucked out and got one last day of great riding. We doubled back to Putty Rd to give it one more ride and then headed to Wiseman's Ferry for the last stretch before jumping on the Freeway and heading for home.

The cracked seal and a shitty cold aside, this was an outstanding ride and weekend! Check out the ride map if you want to see the route! I'll post some photos tomorrow!!!

Can't wait for the next trip even though this one will be sans the duke but how could I complain when I get to go to Auckland and Hamilton Island!



View Larger Map

Scotch and Chocolate

Got the bike. Brakes are in tack. Phew. My new TAIL looks gorgeous! Hot in fact. I love it. Heading out first thing in the morning. I probably shouldn't be up writing this but just finished packing the bike, road over to the station to put some air in her tyres and am now relaxing with a scotch before bed. Taste great with chocolate. Heading north for a few days, enough not to think about work... oh wait a minute. I don't have a job. ha ha ha! So I guess this is just relaxation on a little relaxation with some good friends who do need a break from work.

I am watching this great commercial for Hahn Beer. Table of uptight people, the daughters boyfriends phone goes off and the song is "I'm a tits and ass man. A tits and ass man" Hilarious!

Ok I'm out gotta get some sleep before the long journey! Have a great long weekend all!

Getting ready to go on the ride up north. A couple of small issues haunting me. 1) Head cold - head is fuzzy and body achy. hoping this will go away by tomorrow. 2) This is the bigger issue: my bike is still in the shop, the brake pedal was left out of the order that my mechanic placed. I believe it is there now but am waiting to find out if the bike is going to be fixed by the end of the day today. If not that is going to put the BIG KIBOSH on me going on this trip, since we are scheduled to leave tomorrow morning - early. So praying to the Bike Gods that he can get it done today for me.... Please Bike Gods Please!

On a brighter note the Kriega bags are way bigger than I thought - Packed everything in them and still have the extra 20 litter to fill. Well done Kriega!

Please Bike Gods Please!!!

I took the duke in today to get a new carbon fiber tail piece fitted and on my way back in the train station I saw an elderly couple. He was holding her with one arm and carrying her very colourful purse over the other arm. I love seeing things like that, reminds of the good things in life! 'sap'

30 Second Bunny Movies http://ping.fm/1kW6U

Monday brunch with a friend... then off to the beach. Pretty good day!

I can only say: WOW! http://ping.fm/xodh1

what happens to your body when you drink coke
http://ping.fm/CL6k5

It seems like it's going to rain. I think summer may officially be over. The wind kicks up around 3pm and the temperature drops. Hopefully it will clear the traffic with a loss of all the tourists, not that I have to rush off to anywhere. Rush out of bed for a little stretch, coffee and a quick call to someone from home. Traffic doesn't really phase me anymore.

go from red to black and suddenly every where I look, black. what's with that?

is thinking swimming might be on the agenda today.

is going for a little cheeky wine!

So last week after I became a Lady of Leisure, Aliki gave me shit for not keeping up the blog. I'm off to a good start. Took me a week to update. HAHAHA. Well I guess that is what happens when you have nothing but time on your hands and you realize that you do, in fact, have more to do now then you did before. All these things that you let slide because "you were too busy with work" no excuse now. So I say hello again to yoga, blogging, sightseeing, taxes for two countries (blech!), sorting out my British citzenship once and for all, phone calls and eating at more regular intervals and more reasonable hours. goodbye dinner at 10pm. Planning trips for the Easter vacation and the week after, looking for a new place to live in case they sell our place and the move is unavoidable. Phew I'm tired just writing it all. Maybe I should take a siesta? Oooo lucky me. I guess I can pass out here on the lounger on the patio since I am well sunscreened up. Stay young wear sunscreen, really, wear sunscreen here. The sun is crazy strong.

I have to go to Physio at 5:30 but when I get back I will have a cheeky glass of wine (my stylist taught me that) on the patio before I make dinner. A little BBQ chicken with salad and peut-être un peu plus de vin! Double cheeky!

My heart is broken and mended in the same day,
I cry, I yell, I smile and I die,
Three to one,
It's hard to survive when the odds are against you,
I still win.