No 6 Kiama Show - perfect for little kids

This one falls squarely into the category of things I've been meaning to do for years category. It definately counts as no 6 as I had to push to make it happen.

Whilst I have many fond memories of the Sydney Easter Show, the thought of schlepping 3 small children out to Homebush, the crowds, the meltdowns, the cost, not so appealing so far. I thought the perfect substitute would be one of the south coast shows on each Jan-Feb. so I googled it upon arriving at Mum and Johns and found the show was on that very day, but not the next day. I faced strong resistance to the idea, was told I could go myself but eventually loaded them all into the car.

The Pros:
1. We parked 50m from the entrance
2. Fairly easy to get a seat in the Grandstand to see the shows. We saw horse jumping, mini trots, camel racing, motorcross free styling (Toby's favourite - motorbikes jumping ridiculous distances into air and down ramp, including with backflips. Actually my favourite part too. Speaking of motorbikes, last week, Jake asked me if he could buy a motorbike when he is 33. I said ok. He ran screaming the good news outside to Toby. Whilst I hope he never buys one, I'm glad he is being sensible and waiting till he's a bit older....). The kids were pretty amazing at watching the events actually which is lucky as it was really the main attraction.
3. Craft section full of achievable cakes, scones and pikelets. Possibly because they were in the 16 and under section. Toby was sad the yummy stuff was fenced in....
4. Extensive side show alley, small show bag section ( luckily the kids don't yet realise what a show bag is). Most of them $5 a ride and not busy. Tough way to make a living.
5. Petting zoo: good for our age group but no other animals hanging around for viewing. Though they weren't that interested in it today.
6. Lions club sausage sizzle. Bargain.
7. $35 entrance fee instead of $115 for Sydney show. I did wonder why we had to pay at all to start with but we ended up spending 2 hours watching events in main arena so guess it was money for the entertainment.
8. Spectacular fireworks finale, that we watched from the comfort of the living room at John and Mums.
9. Not far for run aways to go, so easier to find them when they get a bit over excited and rush off.
10. Amazing dahlias- see behind Bianca.

The cons:
1.Not much to see other than main arena.
2. Not many farmer type people wandering around probably due to no animals on display. Although if we had stayed another hour, we could have watched the hay stacking contest. And the Beaut Ute contest.

All in all it was perfect for a young family as so small and easy to get around. Though getting there at 3.45pm just before the events on the oval started at 4 was perfect timing. Not much to see otherwise.

How to define new things - numbers 3-5?

Last Friday was a cracking hot day in Sydney that I unexpectedly had off work. Happy birthday me. Connah and I headed to Little Bay for a swim. I had been thinking ocean swimming might be the next thing on my to do list post marathon but I haven't quite had the motivation to train for the 1km event I had my eye on at Malabar in a couple of weeks.

With an unexpected day off though, I thought I could do my first ocean swim  (new thing no3) and googled Sydney Ocean pools and somehow came upon Little Bay (It's about 10 beaches south of Bondi). It was just like an ocean pool in that there are rocks at the entrance of the bay and flat as.

And so it was that I went for my first ocean swim. It did freak me out a little, being able to see fish under where I was swimming but I braved it and it was fun (and luckily there weren't too many fish and no octopus). It was amazing to find a beach that I'd never been to in Syndey before too (thereby becoming new thing no 4), especially as it is only about 20 mins from our house, one further south of Malabar where we go every other week. We'll be back!!

Next up I did a yoga class at Rockdale Fitness First. I'd never done a yoga class at Fitness first and the reason I did was to try to do another new thing but I'm kind of undecided on whether that counts since I do yoga at Fitness First gyms in the city all the time.

I was thinking the definition may depend on whether I'd do it but for the challenge. In this case I'd been thinking for a few years that I should do a yoga class at Rockdale but never got around to it in the same way I've thought I should do yoga at some new studios but never got around to it.

On the other hand during the week I went to a new cafe for a coffee at work which is just under our building so I would have definately gone there anyway regardless of this challenge.

So maybe Yoga at Fitness first is new thing number 5 which is good because I haven't really done much new this week. I have been trying to do mini new things as much as possible. New combination of wearing clothes for instance.

Thanks for all the suggestions re new things. I particularly like visiting a new State although the only one left is NT. Anyone want a trip to Ayres Rock or Kakadu? Can we go mountain bike riding there? Possibly that may turn in to visit a new country as I have my eye on Malaysia since I learnt there is a new legoland there and Toby will be 5 later this year so time for him to do a short solo trip with his Mum. This covers off my travel obsession with Asia and Connah's lack of desire to travel with large family.

Connah is going to Europe with his Dad in April for 3 weeks though, so everyone gets to travel. whoo hooo.

So what do you think, if I wouldn't do it but for the challenge, can I count it as new?

I did it

42.2km finishing with a lap of the MCG. I did it, I finished, way back in October. Finishing on the MCG was rather cool especially as Kylie was playing over the loudspeakers as I came through the tunnel. Way cool.

I did not think I would make it about halfway after going out way way too hard. Three weeks of tapering had left me feeling v good. First 10km in around 53 min. Last in around 72. Ouch. I totally loved the Melbourne course, very FLAT and v leafy. I particularly liked going through the Botanic gardens in the last few kilometers. Possibly related to that is when I started passing people for the first time.....from 10 km to 38km, I only. Had people overtaking me. It was a long long way. The ambulances picking people up off the side of the road looked rather appealing from the 25km to 37km marks.

So I am super proud of myself but I felt strangely lacking in direction for the last couple of months of the year. Seeing as I had been vaguely planning on running a marathon for years. What now? Still not sure what to do next on the running front. Other than apply for New York. Though that looks like it will be very full next year.

Dad happened to arrive in the country the week before so it was good to have a supporter to help scrape me of the ground at the end....or as it was to walk me blocks and blocks around Melbourne. Probably the best cool down possible. Thanks Dad.

40 new things

Now I've been thinking a little about what, if anything, I might like to do to celebrate turning 40 next year. I'd love to go hiking in the Canadian Rockies or Himalayas but the kids to seem a little young for that (unless anyone else wants to come with me??).

Seeing as Kerrie was staying with us over new years, we were talking about what our word of the year should be (we copied the idea from somewhere) and the conclusion seems to be "new". It started on 1 January when we both tried paddle boarding for the first time (seeing as Connah has a board).

This week I tried a body balance class at the gym for the first time, and was surprised to actually like it. Which got me thinking, I'm going to try to do 40 new things before my 40th. I'm going to be fairly generous in my interpretation. Making a new recipe will count. Running in a new location will count.......possibly even if I haven't run there in the last couple of years.......2013, it's all about doing new things.

Here is a loaf of bread that I baked from a new recipe, courtesy of Sarah. I think I did this before Christmas though, so it doesn't count in my challenge though. :)

Ideas welcomed.