tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4126703810724474212024-03-05T03:06:44.350-08:00My 40 before 40 ChallengeNic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-25494018786536526452015-06-22T08:58:00.000-07:002015-06-22T08:58:04.215-07:00Juggling...Learning how to Juggle... I'm not quite sure how this one got on the list but it may have something to do with at every Christmas dinner we have every year, our family friend Guy has a new and improved skill to treat the kids with... this last year it was a magic show, and even my Gran was impressed... Ha.<br />
So to learn how to juggle was the trick as he has not done this before. Did you know that juggling can be perfomed with just 2 balls? That is officially juggling? Well it is. I bought a set of juggling balls (made up of 3 balls) - I have practiced on and off for the last 6 months (to be honest it was more on than off) but in the Margaret River I seem to have found my groove... most potentially never to be repeated again... but I do have a non-biased witness and adjudicator and the task has been passed!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhc-gjGKjgysVIBP1kL-OWnaV5pGB9ea49xxtM88glseWt_8EQR5rJig3TTk_YKWXwmFpDnbFRUg135YxhSU-wOARy6mCbA6ey2r-i9zxmil3v2OUzdfMmIOwD5aBe4Wp04tXAJubaws/s1600/juggling.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhc-gjGKjgysVIBP1kL-OWnaV5pGB9ea49xxtM88glseWt_8EQR5rJig3TTk_YKWXwmFpDnbFRUg135YxhSU-wOARy6mCbA6ey2r-i9zxmil3v2OUzdfMmIOwD5aBe4Wp04tXAJubaws/s400/juggling.png" width="331" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-88641821942194193502015-06-22T08:43:00.001-07:002015-06-22T08:43:25.366-07:00TessMy Granddad "Da" gave me a book in 1986, Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles', and it has sat on my bookshelf since then un-read. I think I tried to read it once but the language was a little to old-worldy for me and I just didn't get it. <br />
<br />
Having read it now, I probably wasn't ready for it as an 11 year old. I actually just read it in around 5 days... I must say it is an amazing book although I was right in saying it is oldy-worldy... a lot of words ran past me and I think I need to read it again to pick up on a lot of other things in the story that I probably missed reading it so quickly. It is a tragedy and I can understand why it is a classic. <br />
<br />
Definitely a great read for any girl / woman and guy (in fact the guy I sit next to at work read it twice in high schoold for English) and don't let the old words put you off... this book started as a series of newspaper submissions from the author that he peiced together for the book... a mish mash of quite a few chapters that he designed - it did all flow together nicely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVQtw51QYDe0cH5HIg56sRaOM-2VpiX_1G_1EN4jgZRNSutG8jw6qR9bTW0xkk2pD6V_FZ2VG_jnzIp8FASXkEQj3__ZTknX_1qCauqGo7VOxsFDZNyFnVkPSGOnDi2Yq_Fc29hhab44/s1600/Tess.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVQtw51QYDe0cH5HIg56sRaOM-2VpiX_1G_1EN4jgZRNSutG8jw6qR9bTW0xkk2pD6V_FZ2VG_jnzIp8FASXkEQj3__ZTknX_1qCauqGo7VOxsFDZNyFnVkPSGOnDi2Yq_Fc29hhab44/s400/Tess.png" width="363" /></a></div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-32794107695434982472015-06-17T05:51:00.001-07:002015-06-17T05:51:45.599-07:00The Overhaul<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My bedroom has been a shambles for a very long time... since I was a child really and into my teens and now my adult life as well. I often don't let my friends into my room as it is quite messy. Not dirty or dusty (I have a cleaner who does all that), but cluttery - lots of old paperwork around, clothes that I don't wear, the usual suspects.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the task was to tidy, clean and organise the bedroom. It has taken a few sessions to do so, but I am now very happy with the result!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before and after shots:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcffHUjdof5f6tc-v7nHB6lRA2T4LSpNSwYMJ-IsrWqRmEEPXS94q3G0zw1W5vhjqLlD5Qn4q4WP8Is8Q8ZplnlfNgqGjw9HQlBtn6EM45CyirMdWkhphh-W76k_OlzzieGHA8y6wU9E/s1600/room.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcffHUjdof5f6tc-v7nHB6lRA2T4LSpNSwYMJ-IsrWqRmEEPXS94q3G0zw1W5vhjqLlD5Qn4q4WP8Is8Q8ZplnlfNgqGjw9HQlBtn6EM45CyirMdWkhphh-W76k_OlzzieGHA8y6wU9E/s400/room.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-54168072330862918132015-06-17T05:36:00.002-07:002015-06-22T08:20:18.230-07:00Tap-tap-tapping<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought this was the task that I had failed and had originally posted this to be so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought a ticket to the Sydney Dance Company which you can use at any time within 6 months. And of course I have left this task right until the last minute and the last possible night I had available to go to a lesson I missed getting into it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I still have the ticket and it is still valid so I will make it to a class in July instead... just not before I turn 40.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However I have just been spending my last couple of days in my 30's in Margaret River in Western Australia and I completed an online Tap For Beginners course during this time! So in fact I have completed this task now....</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bIiKvn0F6veAQQcI657tNgLrbSzqE5qXyzY2M9pGSewZs7VlCz1jUJYsMcpyTldjcqK1OohzTWxSp28hHa0ZdIruBg7BVH4ySSaZVhgTPL58pv1LExFMA9KO-V-3bQSvYtVOwxVKEuQ/s1600/tap+dance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bIiKvn0F6veAQQcI657tNgLrbSzqE5qXyzY2M9pGSewZs7VlCz1jUJYsMcpyTldjcqK1OohzTWxSp28hHa0ZdIruBg7BVH4ySSaZVhgTPL58pv1LExFMA9KO-V-3bQSvYtVOwxVKEuQ/s400/tap+dance.png" width="322" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-9858194546147167832015-06-17T04:14:00.006-07:002015-06-17T04:14:40.860-07:00Paying it all off<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this task I had to pay off the below big ticket items which have all been successful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Car Loan</span></i></b> - I sold my car! So the loan got paid off :) and now I am on a new plan where I lease my new car and save money doing so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Credit Card</span></i></b> - luckily for me I got a bonus at my new job this year which means a portion of it went straight onto the credit card to pay it off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Flights to Hawaii</span> </i></b>- the same bonus gave me enough money to pay for my a large proportion of the Hawaii trip I am taking later this year in September (including airfare, hotel accommodation, car rental and race fees). The only thing it doesn't cover is shopping!! Although I haven't purchased the tickets as yet, the money is set aside in the Hawaii fund.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Task complete!</span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-42034007298134488232015-06-17T04:00:00.001-07:002015-06-17T04:00:05.534-07:00Moving canoes<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This task has been a long time coming. I have been President of my paddling club now for 3 seasons and at the start of that term we lost the spot where we had been storing and launching our canoes from for around 10 years! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many members of the club and myself set to work with the City of Sydney to get a storage spot at the new site once built. They had been proposing a foreshore walkway for a number of years and finally it was coming to fruition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos below are of the opening day at the foreshore where the club was invited and well represented at the racks, handing out flyers etc. And we got to meet the Mayor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am pleased to write that I received last week confirmation and a contract advising we had been successful in obtaining storage for our canoes back over at the site! Move day hopefully at the end of the month cross fingers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A really big thank you has to go out to everyone at the club, both past and present, who helped at some stage to make this happen...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiTNLr2gEw4RAOpVZmgJ-iihJEa4s8HwD7Uaba126aiAKOuttoH3PkR7i0CYy-EWLsL4rLAvI3oHXYzYTRqCWS9nu-CRStnjJD3fkwBch4c2bf8xFeG5au9SAf70VgpWPPZQLxDlngqo/s1600/glebe+foreshore+opening.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiTNLr2gEw4RAOpVZmgJ-iihJEa4s8HwD7Uaba126aiAKOuttoH3PkR7i0CYy-EWLsL4rLAvI3oHXYzYTRqCWS9nu-CRStnjJD3fkwBch4c2bf8xFeG5au9SAf70VgpWPPZQLxDlngqo/s640/glebe+foreshore+opening.png" width="488" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-90043900817996774312015-06-16T04:43:00.002-07:002015-06-16T04:44:26.129-07:00Being a Vego<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My sister Jacqui suggested this one... to be Vegetarian (including no seafood) for a month. So for the last 31 days I have done so. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I left this one to the last minute as we had a lot of racing to do from February to April so I decided to do it after that. Being Vego is hard! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I do so much exercise I had to really think about what I was eating to make sure I got enough of all the food groups to help aid in my recovery, particularly iron and protein. I did make some yummy food at home to keep my going and Cath and I discovered an awesome Vego restaurant just next to her house. We went to a cool Indian place in Perth and found one in Sydney as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, I have decided that I will go back to eating meat and seafood... I missed it all too much and had a lot of food envy moments. I still love eggplant which is good because I ate a lot of it, and eggs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bacon is very high up on my agenda to be eaten very soon..... Fakin' Bacon unfortunately tastes nothing like the real thing..... One thing I have noticed is that when you eat out and are vego, more often than not you are offered white pasta or lentils, so I have spent much of this month bloated! Ha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pics are of a couple of yummy meals I ate as a Vego who is looking forward to being a meat eater!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvVsZoOz5PgsTkS_Fa_m__r9I1BGUukllg3z-cViFtd5XrWqF-iAWRxwkEckrRoLvTmpQ_17Y8-TL4iJXqFM-hWS9VA4fVAwmzCI36-zE61WNJcaTwKa_ZFfA6W6O47NyZkc4NbclDMk/s1600/vego.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvVsZoOz5PgsTkS_Fa_m__r9I1BGUukllg3z-cViFtd5XrWqF-iAWRxwkEckrRoLvTmpQ_17Y8-TL4iJXqFM-hWS9VA4fVAwmzCI36-zE61WNJcaTwKa_ZFfA6W6O47NyZkc4NbclDMk/s400/vego.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-29359223864191833132015-06-16T04:29:00.002-07:002015-06-16T04:29:30.675-07:00Ringing Gran<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Gran lives in New Zealand and she just turned 93. I decided that I don't call her enough so this task was to call (or Skype) her every month. My Uncle's Skype unfortunately is not working so calling it was. I did miss out on one Month (February) but did call twice the following month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will definitely be keeping up doing this one...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraiLmq-89tJQHYS9WmR6xtTOESgN4Sgewj-oayIEaK0mixYvBinlMQMDxcxOF-Fd9PY6afN9mldvQfhE6Xq9-RGrSXvadrNyPyPF-bl6K_-AuRXNaODs2d_CS4rXgD9GNKDm5lLIzcYg/s1600/gran.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraiLmq-89tJQHYS9WmR6xtTOESgN4Sgewj-oayIEaK0mixYvBinlMQMDxcxOF-Fd9PY6afN9mldvQfhE6Xq9-RGrSXvadrNyPyPF-bl6K_-AuRXNaODs2d_CS4rXgD9GNKDm5lLIzcYg/s320/gran.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-27953509521325246502015-06-16T04:09:00.002-07:002015-06-16T04:09:33.456-07:00Roar & Snore<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taronga Zoo is a fantastic zoo - it not only is on prime real estate and has the most amazing views of Sydney city, the zoo itself is a great organisation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I experienced this first hand with Cath and Caitlin at our recent Roar & Snore adventure... we arrived at the zoo having taken the ferry after work at around 6:15pm. Met with the group and our leaders for the night and the we went for a walk (it was dark!) around the zoo to the camping area which turns has fantastic views. The official part of the evening starts with cheese and wine, a look at some animals, a great dinner and a night safari. Then you sleepover at the zoo (woken in the middle of the night by some monkey like animal noises) glamping style.. luckily for me my camp bed had an electric blanket. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We woke to an awesome sunrise over the harbour and then breakfast and then onto our close encounters where we fed the giraffes breakfast, had a local native animal petting encounter and watched the new seal show training. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to go to work after that but everyone has the option of staying at the zoo all day - and you get 30 minutes of the zoo all to yourself before the masses enter. What a great experience and well worth the money that goes straight back into the zoo!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ODHFKq2e9Ip5ZjrZ7RKvsCVZSahRvnRg_81ggWzjD3Sw_u_alskfc2UWoSo_CtV9gvPyk6039XzQPG38ZZjkam61jPqIxEHgtd_phjydnW3b0TbfEu0zMN3gRlD2lLVXsA43XnnWE2E/s1600/roar+and+snore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ODHFKq2e9Ip5ZjrZ7RKvsCVZSahRvnRg_81ggWzjD3Sw_u_alskfc2UWoSo_CtV9gvPyk6039XzQPG38ZZjkam61jPqIxEHgtd_phjydnW3b0TbfEu0zMN3gRlD2lLVXsA43XnnWE2E/s640/roar+and+snore.png" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-12311764046704510402015-06-16T02:58:00.001-07:002015-06-16T02:58:14.902-07:00the Big Issue...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is another one of my charity tasks. I had to by a copy of the Big Issue every month. It gets published every month and is sold by people who do not have a job and they get the profits of selling the magazines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What ended up being my main challenge was being out on the streets when the magazine was being sold! Recently I have been going into work quite early (before the guys are out selling) and rushing home after work to get to training on a route that doesn't have anyone selling them! But I have now found a couple of guys that I like to buy from and will continue to buy the magazine when I can. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is actually quite a comprehensive magazine full of good articles and well worth buying. A great initiative and a great publication.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXB-YPDdFkjtOu8su-ns8yHk2QpUk1dZLCzlqxhvnlr0-GL_e-fGVCQdTrq_RJq8RtG19zZ7aQDoqM0hgpDLOaUamevAhbgz-jdNqhO3MoaEBlGadcHRBdXGRfq-v4yFYRkjpJEAYUEM/s1600/big+issue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXB-YPDdFkjtOu8su-ns8yHk2QpUk1dZLCzlqxhvnlr0-GL_e-fGVCQdTrq_RJq8RtG19zZ7aQDoqM0hgpDLOaUamevAhbgz-jdNqhO3MoaEBlGadcHRBdXGRfq-v4yFYRkjpJEAYUEM/s640/big+issue.png" width="560" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-44713297980028191172015-06-16T02:49:00.002-07:002015-06-18T06:57:50.623-07:0010 Chin Ups??<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chin ups are quite hard for girls, especially taller and bigger girls - there is a lot of weight to lift up! </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 years ago I did my first unassisted chin up but never really got very far with the development of them. Even though I loved being able to say I can do chin ups, the most I could ever do was 2 or 3 in a row, then I would have to stop and regroup and then do 1 or 2 more, and never really more than around 5. So I set this challenge to do 10 unassisted chin ups. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually didn't start training for this properly until mid-April when most of our racing season was out of the way and I was able to fit a 2nd and 3rd gym session in (before then I had been running as well as doing both DB and OC and I was finding it hard to do more than 1 gym session a week). So with the additional sessions under my belt, my improvement curve went up fairly quickly. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With adjudication of my awesome PT Alani, who helped me get there, I have successfully completed this task!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sb59xoEp-M&feature=youtu">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sb59xoEp-M&feature=youtu</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKGb4cY9cZUo6rXO-O84O5xc-OIEzThUaGnQ11hFjOK1yP3l5AYu6zsjEQTWO_5QR_jaQotBg3quWAGZTQagFYGzc0TEIfsENQHkmmvcu-cOhY1LCh29B-P7CI5C73587Q4BQCj5aC60/s1600/chin+ups.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKGb4cY9cZUo6rXO-O84O5xc-OIEzThUaGnQ11hFjOK1yP3l5AYu6zsjEQTWO_5QR_jaQotBg3quWAGZTQagFYGzc0TEIfsENQHkmmvcu-cOhY1LCh29B-P7CI5C73587Q4BQCj5aC60/s640/chin+ups.png" width="514" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-24894795415672664992015-06-15T04:43:00.002-07:002015-06-15T04:43:32.540-07:00Learning impossible new skills<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never been able to click my fingers or whistle, not properly. Sure I can do it, but not with any solid or audible sound, every time, consistently. I have discovered however since revealing this lack of skillset that there actually are quite a few people who cannot do this. And there are people who cannot wink. So I don't feel so alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However much I tried to improve my skills in this area over the last few months, all were to no avail - I still can't do it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We worked out what I do wrong with my clicking (it's all in the technique), but I can't change it - I cannot change my hand, my fingers, or my thumb so clicking is just a skill I will continue to live with limited abilities. Whistling is the same - if I concentrate hard and be patient, I can whistle. But I cannot carry a tune and no matter how much I tried I still could not improve (I would say it would take years, not just a couple of months).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the co-creators of '<a href="http://nics40before40.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/the-list.html">The List</a>' came up with a replacement challenge of their liking (my friend Cath is currently in protest about this)... To perform a short skipping routine in front of a small audience. We did an OC1 session on Saturday morning out around the Sydney headlands which was great and afterwards a small group of friends stood around and watched my do a short skipping routine. Some of it was captured on video and some photos as well... it was pretty funny.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Warning: video contains coarse language, parental guidance is recommended): <a href="https://vimeo.com/130607786">https://vimeo.com/130607786</a></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQfgvgxRLdIHG-voGEbL45QqCkvLUUefzDp3MC6WyBLCWza6xm9xzHmdZCO458uSoxyS7_VzCWYGUS8YsoaVkBcOXQtRGawx6DrS1wXNNnrvdad9Av1YMQJHZrfcZn9qKXaaa-eJmLpI/s1600/skipping.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQfgvgxRLdIHG-voGEbL45QqCkvLUUefzDp3MC6WyBLCWza6xm9xzHmdZCO458uSoxyS7_VzCWYGUS8YsoaVkBcOXQtRGawx6DrS1wXNNnrvdad9Av1YMQJHZrfcZn9qKXaaa-eJmLpI/s640/skipping.png" width="522" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-7813381481038101762015-06-15T04:25:00.002-07:002015-06-15T04:25:25.803-07:00Tennis anyone??<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I played tennis a lot when I was growing up - mainly in Hong Kong at the Ladies Recreation Club (LRC) where I spent many a Saturday morning playing with my friends. I was good at it, not great but good enough to play a couple of games, have long rallies and win shots. I could serve, volley, and I always hit straight shots (never spinning the ball at all). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I discovered that a couple of my friends here play tennis semi-regularly! So I asked them for a game. Adrian set up the court and on a lovely winter's morning we played a game. Hit the ball around for a bit of a warm up, chose our teams and then played a set and a bit. It was great fun! It all came back to me after a while too. I think we all produced some winning shots, we all hit a ball over the fence by accident and we all had fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Followed by a recovery breakfast, what a great way to spend the morning, I think I might do that again!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-nbrrGchpuIQbkQuOSSn57lGZAugI9bjd78EjndFpDbb6bf5V1585tmZ2pSSItWQC7t7CEW_WbeEACA31RPhMTyiOrkgxXSNu4mO4UDRD9_sYsSYhmzW27Snnde5Y4WD5p2Mk7x8WE0/s1600/tennis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-nbrrGchpuIQbkQuOSSn57lGZAugI9bjd78EjndFpDbb6bf5V1585tmZ2pSSItWQC7t7CEW_WbeEACA31RPhMTyiOrkgxXSNu4mO4UDRD9_sYsSYhmzW27Snnde5Y4WD5p2Mk7x8WE0/s640/tennis.png" width="440" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-48297641582206968632015-06-15T04:11:00.002-07:002015-06-15T04:11:33.077-07:00Giving Blood<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been around 14 years since I have given blood - for around 3-4 years I was a regular donor and then stopped for some reason (can't remember why). There is a Red Cross near my office and so I decided to start donations back up again. Compared to before, I don't smoke and I do a lot of exercise so I figured my recovery would be a little different but wasn't sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first attempt to donate again unfortunately did not go ahead... I had an upset tummy the day before so they told me I could not donate :( </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I went to India and unfortunately India is on the list of countries that needs a buffer before you are allowed to donate... 4 months!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So May it was - however it was the height of my race season so I decided to wait until after our final race of the season to donate so the recovery didn't affect my paddling. I just must remember not to do a heavy weights session the morning after as it is not good!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was exactly as I remember it, and I do highly recommend it. It takes a long time the first time if you haven't donated before, but subsequent times are a lot quicker. It really is a great thing to do and I received an email to say that my blood had gone to Westmead Hospital and had helped to save someone's life. How cool is that?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6FHx_EZkMKJgwCulfD0PK8qF-wKzpXRBEscgCYO3EGNqGuqpBWFfacKwMEW_hmiqLTQeZqKUcczfC4R41kZtDx9NVZfpIJRGciL7e3mKeSuLiQU2coOWlnHo6eaP86ODotqv66Fv4F4/s1600/blood+donation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6FHx_EZkMKJgwCulfD0PK8qF-wKzpXRBEscgCYO3EGNqGuqpBWFfacKwMEW_hmiqLTQeZqKUcczfC4R41kZtDx9NVZfpIJRGciL7e3mKeSuLiQU2coOWlnHo6eaP86ODotqv66Fv4F4/s400/blood+donation.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-73068136039756764032015-06-15T03:52:00.001-07:002015-06-15T03:52:11.500-07:00Mothers Day<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This challenge is a running challenge. I have done a couple of runs over the last couple of years but my sister Jacqui had just started running. So we thought we could do the Mothers Day Classic together (originally Mum was going to walk it but she decided to go to Mexico instead!!). I don't think I have run in a race with my sister before so I was quite excited. And she had been training well and getting her speed and distance up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I attended my friend Steve & Jenny's wedding on a Saturday in Sydney, took the last flight out of town and landed in Melbourne with a ride to Mum's and a quick sleep to wake up in rainy Melbourne on Mothers Day! It was cold!! But we did a good warm up walk to the start line, did some stretching and hydrating and then before we knew it we were off! The race was 8kms and we had set a goal of 55 mins to do it in (with me fairly confident we would do it quicker) and we smashed it! Woohoo - go us :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was great racing with you Jacqui - hopefully one day we can do it again - we should make this an annual race and it is for a good cause.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFZabtoDh-Dwq5Ic1MeXLl9o3Yf4xtP5rXZ7tyMz8jDK5TLw1ge9AJveyZoZhJ40-C2Yc1sUqYYVi6f_uiuT0vTQJ3D6ecua8051v2aqZ6ya15kXdBzyoLFpDyPonBi5Os7kXgSUN1s/s1600/mothers+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFZabtoDh-Dwq5Ic1MeXLl9o3Yf4xtP5rXZ7tyMz8jDK5TLw1ge9AJveyZoZhJ40-C2Yc1sUqYYVi6f_uiuT0vTQJ3D6ecua8051v2aqZ6ya15kXdBzyoLFpDyPonBi5Os7kXgSUN1s/s640/mothers+day.png" width="472" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-8330677355448203252015-06-15T03:14:00.002-07:002015-06-15T04:46:15.522-07:00Aloha Hawaii!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Hawaii. It is a fantastic place to go for a holiday - you can make the trip as relaxed or as adventurous as you want... there is so much or so little to do! The shopping is amazing, as is the food and they paddle... there are outrigger canoes on every beach available. It's a cool place where everything is on island time and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My paddling club is lucky enough to have Hawaii on the agenda again this year for some fantastic racing in September and what a trip we have now planned...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">4-7 September:</span></i></b> <b><span style="color: #38761d;">Queen Liliokalani</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 days of flat water racing OC6, OC1, V12 races on the Big Island - the main race is 29kms</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>8-11 September:</i></b> </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">OC1 Camp</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 days of technique and ocean skills playing in the beautiful Hawaiian waters on the island of Oahu</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>13 September:</i></b> </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">E Lau Hoe</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A 50km one way race from Maunalua Bay to Nanakuli Beach Park on the island of Oahu</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">14-18 September: </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Free Time!</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Likely to spend this time on Kauai, an island I have not spent any time on yet, maybe cruising the Na Pali coastline... </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">19 September: </span></i><span style="color: #38761d;">Pailolo</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A 42km one way big ocean race from the island of Maui to the island of Molokai </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I can't wait! We are going with a great group of people and some special friends of mine who I have travelled and raced with for a few years now... I am very excited!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aloha :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC_E5dBHkz6vF02hIuDE2mNfup6OC8s0iW_W01zk2V36Mp31x-nz0HiAF4zlmksajjkoWxY0jv5MkELDPgZCoeAA_6po2sE30PCPopwqeIXEW83rd9VtBXecGbyc2STq1AC766fozoXY/s1600/hawaii.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC_E5dBHkz6vF02hIuDE2mNfup6OC8s0iW_W01zk2V36Mp31x-nz0HiAF4zlmksajjkoWxY0jv5MkELDPgZCoeAA_6po2sE30PCPopwqeIXEW83rd9VtBXecGbyc2STq1AC766fozoXY/s400/hawaii.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-2453610222727317532015-04-26T01:34:00.002-07:002015-04-26T01:34:41.987-07:00The Song<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this task on the list I was looking forward to the least... Sing a Song, Video it, and Post it on YouTube. My sister Jacqui's suggestion of course :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, there was the option of it being a family affair with my beautiful niece and nephew joining in and my brother in law Adam playing some kind of instrument.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My nephew Jasper chose the song, his favourite of the time and off I went to learn the words (not very well mind you). I was in Melbourne for a weekend and it was all over in a flash, 2 takes which are the 2 different views...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see the finished version below and judge for yourself... Jasper and Lily basically save me!! Ha. Thanks to Kate for cutting the video and making me not look quite as pained as I was and Jacqui who somehow managed to not be in it at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quite the experience really and a good test of character.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TT185EU5RVs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TT185EU5RVs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-45741418874595456602015-04-26T01:21:00.003-07:002015-04-26T01:21:40.891-07:00Taming the dragon<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have wanted to learn how to steer a Dragon Boat for a couple of years by the timing is never right... But a couple of weeks ago (thanks to Darren and Julia) I was able to get on the back and have a go!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't take a photo unfortunately (but I am sure it looked something like the below!). It was an interesting experience! Obviously a lot bigger than an OC and I didn't feel like I had as much control, but I am sure after a few more sessions it would start to come more naturally and I'd get the hang of it!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaMLR6r5D3_qbdfOm27hGwBEeZNsneUU6BAFePu9KLwFW5-PSq7tGCQd_vkE5cpAXfdhVL0vkdwyL7x2WNawnwSDWkqdjvnBmyzZ-W8SiMqX4vEEfvIGJwVJHpKe4dKPfFO3eVsUUIyo/s1600/DBSTEER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaMLR6r5D3_qbdfOm27hGwBEeZNsneUU6BAFePu9KLwFW5-PSq7tGCQd_vkE5cpAXfdhVL0vkdwyL7x2WNawnwSDWkqdjvnBmyzZ-W8SiMqX4vEEfvIGJwVJHpKe4dKPfFO3eVsUUIyo/s1600/DBSTEER.png" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-45106310334197096092015-04-26T01:04:00.001-07:002015-06-15T04:28:32.276-07:00Learning to fly on water<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks to my sister Jacqui for this Christmas voucher! I have wanted to do a jetpack session ever since I saw a cool video of these guys gracefully flying over water and dolphin diving in and above the water... so cool! The real thing is not quite the same :) </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was an adventure alright... it starts with the attractive wetsuit, and then the instructions and practice on how to face plant the water as when you land you are going to land on your face because you have a 40kg jet pack on your back!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then you go out and learn to fly... 2 bars to move your hands up and down with, up for up and down for down, this one for right and this one for left... sound easy enough until you put it into action! You are attached to the jetski and they control the force of the water coming out the pack, so you wont go flying high into the air before you are ready. I was thrown around like a rag doll however with the pack shooting me off left and then right, up and down, I face planted the water a lot! It actually was easier with no hands as you could control it with the body movement. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was all good fun and video to be added soon to show you how ridiculous I looked! A chiro appointment the following week to realign my broken body and all is well :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And there is also video evidence: <a href="http://youtu.be/qLfit4dpbMk">http://youtu.be/qLfit4dpbMk</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRyrl9sTQ8JZq9dpn6b5cSFMb_WPgBErvyL0PbJIkUweWnlu8mm4vFZXqy2ruDCpUv6PdzyFYVFZHqnlIU7MZp2GWrJsRxDqhW096Bz-oFG3BcST8vnV-Cwd57gyN9K55jql6S26Td74/s1600/jet+pack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRyrl9sTQ8JZq9dpn6b5cSFMb_WPgBErvyL0PbJIkUweWnlu8mm4vFZXqy2ruDCpUv6PdzyFYVFZHqnlIU7MZp2GWrJsRxDqhW096Bz-oFG3BcST8vnV-Cwd57gyN9K55jql6S26Td74/s1600/jet+pack.png" width="550" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-15606802385172165772015-04-26T00:46:00.003-07:002015-04-26T00:46:22.679-07:00The food delivery<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend Karen has recently finished up a chemo stint, has had an operation and is about to start radiation treatment. She is amazing, so strong and an inspiration to see her come out of this with such a great outlook.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My aim was to cook and deliver 2 meals to her, but today she ended up coming over and collecting them instead! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made fennel, leek and potato soup with chicken (it is really cold in Sydney now so this will be great for lunches), and sugar free chocolate mouse icy poles for dessert. Hopefully she likes them!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_CsvIEiJ9iiKMwKvCpwzWZfbShCacAldtyk9nt9WjyiAEu0AVRt7RwO-S1DlR8O3LB_fOL0lgf8kY3X02-dg5t8-6uhqGHk0gLurqdgA_mh3sc0_sXF7ZiLYEi0AYWXYCUJvP-yqBVY/s1600/cooking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_CsvIEiJ9iiKMwKvCpwzWZfbShCacAldtyk9nt9WjyiAEu0AVRt7RwO-S1DlR8O3LB_fOL0lgf8kY3X02-dg5t8-6uhqGHk0gLurqdgA_mh3sc0_sXF7ZiLYEi0AYWXYCUJvP-yqBVY/s1600/cooking.png" height="640" width="490" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-12405250710393539732015-04-25T04:00:00.002-07:002015-04-25T04:00:27.607-07:00Stretching canvas<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the World Club Crew Champs in Penang back in 2008, my friends Julia, Todd, Gavin, Dave and I went to Vietnam. It was an awesome trip that we all loved and has the famous 'Avocado' story linked to it. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Hanoi I picked up 2 canvas paintings that I loved... however when I got back to Sydney I discovered how much it cost to get them stretched and it was around triple that of what I paid for the actual artworks! So they stayed rolled up in a corner until now.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very pleased that I have finally done it as I still love them and they look great hanging up in my room!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIrAEibcOU6tQUQWE9Qr8HdztBEhJK4xT-ZM8WLtdBb7J7n6LAhnPw599Q8u1_dxGxq0sWOdfnpiQlK3WojR3jzUfwotkDhrCvlT-IpSWW0AKULAXpn6hJwJwwlNxB-UR7TTgSS3wXi8/s1600/canvas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIrAEibcOU6tQUQWE9Qr8HdztBEhJK4xT-ZM8WLtdBb7J7n6LAhnPw599Q8u1_dxGxq0sWOdfnpiQlK3WojR3jzUfwotkDhrCvlT-IpSWW0AKULAXpn6hJwJwwlNxB-UR7TTgSS3wXi8/s1600/canvas.png" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-59403606614911580822015-04-25T03:51:00.002-07:002015-04-25T03:51:50.324-07:00Food from the farm<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One restaurant I have been meaning to eat at since it opened in Sydney is Chiswick. It is Matt Moran's restaurant and the meat comes from his family farm and the veggies are all grown on site in a cool veggie patch they have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So a group of us headed there one rainy night - it was the perfect weather to have a hearty home cooked meal and reasonably priced as well! Highly recommended.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyGIv1h8YB1H7JQ7wNu5yIQqG9OItwYTUyGc2muYB_QSwDslVvrcAkflKHrmOhdCfd1EtiAKeFJS4DfLAlCe2CPBWCTXvAA_y0A_T1BZljf-8-mG3Uere9mm-G70Gi4Fbv2qn-t55KWs/s1600/Chiswick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyGIv1h8YB1H7JQ7wNu5yIQqG9OItwYTUyGc2muYB_QSwDslVvrcAkflKHrmOhdCfd1EtiAKeFJS4DfLAlCe2CPBWCTXvAA_y0A_T1BZljf-8-mG3Uere9mm-G70Gi4Fbv2qn-t55KWs/s1600/Chiswick.png" height="640" width="576" /></a></div>
<br />Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-65630569492737688752015-04-25T03:39:00.002-07:002015-04-25T03:39:37.982-07:00The crackling<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only roast that I have never attempted to make is a roast pork, I can make a mean roast lamb, beef and chicken. I love pork but I love crackling even more and I had no idea how to do it and didn't want to stuff it up as I have such high expectations of it being right!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the task was set. We have a good butcher at the shopping centre here so I went and chatted to the guys, they were fantastic. They scored the skin/fat for me, I looked up Jamie Oliver's slow roast pork leg with bone in and off I went.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do love a good dinner party and this one was no exception! 8 people in total, and on the menu for the evening was: grilled haloumi with pear for appetiser; grilled prawns with butter sauce for entree; and then the roast pork with veggies for mains. Eugene and Cath bought over dessert (apple pie and cheese platter). I did matching wines for entree and main, then proceeded to empty the wine stocks! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, were we full at the end, the night went on until 3am so it must have been a success... and I absolutely nailed the crackling :) mission accomplished!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkdO9NFYi8WT2jJSWK3Hhl-RvzYc30YF3OUczlB0qt7Cl-RiCAGRYjThzC5vlWFHjZPW1VqbC9-oSK9iGnwzmgozZb57aHTQfB8AnkgwUDgKcErrzmXEmG0RQIf8leWxhyphenhyphenoOqAs5CELY/s1600/roast+pork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkdO9NFYi8WT2jJSWK3Hhl-RvzYc30YF3OUczlB0qt7Cl-RiCAGRYjThzC5vlWFHjZPW1VqbC9-oSK9iGnwzmgozZb57aHTQfB8AnkgwUDgKcErrzmXEmG0RQIf8leWxhyphenhyphenoOqAs5CELY/s1600/roast+pork.png" height="640" width="514" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-72435193744628095942015-04-25T03:23:00.003-07:002015-06-15T03:19:42.188-07:00Long time friendsOne of the countries I grew up in was Hong Kong and my sister and I went to an English school there called Island School. I had a good group of friends and a couple I still keep in contact with happen to live a long way away... Angie (who lives in the Caribbean on the beautiful island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands!) and Emma (who now lives in Perth).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Luckily for me, our Dragon Boat National Championships were held in Perth this year! This meant I got to catch up with Em which was great... we haven't seen each other for around 5 years, and have been friends for 29 years... but one thing I do really appreciate about having been friends with someone for so long is that whenever we see each other it's just like I just saw her the other day. So good to see you Emma xx</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the catch up with Angie, this one is a little harder. In September I will be in Hawaii and that turns out to be the location that is around half way between us. So, Angie now knows the dates and timings that I will be there and she is going to try to come and visit with her family... I am crossing my fingers that she is able to make it as that would be awesome to see her - it has been around 12 years since I have seen her!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissvyYGBawkHrJEGN-FNgnYd5dhd4NdAJi3ljIi1PSfxJlxcYiv8ZyZyDcluu_1wHy4XnP-iA5nTV5szUQZBT-3JafGyLj47JEv-MJ6JKIsDOd3uqG1IgyIdNH_9demR-aBmIpfTGK9NY/s1600/Emma.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissvyYGBawkHrJEGN-FNgnYd5dhd4NdAJi3ljIi1PSfxJlxcYiv8ZyZyDcluu_1wHy4XnP-iA5nTV5szUQZBT-3JafGyLj47JEv-MJ6JKIsDOd3uqG1IgyIdNH_9demR-aBmIpfTGK9NY/s1600/Emma.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412670381072447421.post-32441074896797522922015-04-25T03:13:00.000-07:002015-04-25T03:13:01.307-07:00View of the world<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the things on the list I was most looking forward to was to eat at a top 10 restaurant in Australia. My sister Jacqui and I thought we should do Vue de Monde at the Rialto in Melbourne as I already had a restaurant task in Sydney on the list. We had to book 3 months out so it was a long wait but boy was it worth it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />We had a fantastic table near the kitchen which was fully open for all to see the smooth running of the evening. Everything was extravagant and it really is an 'experience' you are going for as well as amazing food... fine dining at it's best. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had to make one of our own dishes by crushing leaves once dry ice had been poured over them. The wine decanter was a spectacular, the cheese selection was out of this world. We chose 7 dishes (from memory it was a choice of a minimum of 5 and maximum of 9 or 10). Jacqui and Adam are vego and their dishes were amazing, as were my meat counterparts. And yes I ate the chocolate souffle and loved every bit of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you go, make sure you have around $350 per head ready... so worth every cent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y_UuA5h_KvhkZ3bbCFNiGZVMA97IQZz9MuSQ6wTM-q-cgKh4VVKyJBhtTTg1xU7d1-nysHBYtzV7BWo1h9KaSnqxJMRJdwf92QoWYRq0GFLLd0dFUBHr923-cO8bNt0FFOcAitoOtNg/s1600/vuedemonde.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y_UuA5h_KvhkZ3bbCFNiGZVMA97IQZz9MuSQ6wTM-q-cgKh4VVKyJBhtTTg1xU7d1-nysHBYtzV7BWo1h9KaSnqxJMRJdwf92QoWYRq0GFLLd0dFUBHr923-cO8bNt0FFOcAitoOtNg/s1600/vuedemonde.png" height="640" width="510" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nic Frowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781000355325503846noreply@blogger.com0