End of Winter...beginning of Spring

Second last day of August and we managed to coax a sick Kaylene onto her bike. She was complaining she wanted to go home the minute we got to the Park, but although she grumbled, groaned and coughed, she eventually picked up her spirits and even managed to ride through the Olympic Cauldron, when they turned the water off - wasn't quick enough with the camera though. Evan and Mare played on the train tracks and we all enjoyed a very nice day out.

Quarantined

Two very sick girls: thank goodness it wasn't swine flu.

Library Technology Services Staff Photo

From left: Katherine, Iveta, Megan, Jenny, Helen, Pat, Ronald

On Tuesday 18 August, we had to come ready for a staff photo to be posted onto the Intranet website.

These are the people I am currently working with. Iveta is the Manager, Helen is in charge of Systems, Katherine looks after the TAFECat and web issues, Pat and Jenny job share, with Pat looking after training in Circ, Cat and ILL and Jenny does Acq, with SIS/TAFE Card issues. Ronald looks after hardware, like barcode scanners and label printers and software installation.

I am currently being training up to answer help desk calls and be Ronald's buddy.

Snowy Mountains Scheme Education Centre

Sunday 16th August

On our drive back to Sydney from Jindy, we stopped at the Snowy Mountains Scheme Education Centre, which showcases the amazing history of the Snowy Mountains Scheme; from the early days of construction through to how its operated by Snowy Hydro today.

The Centre houses a comprehensive exhibition hall including an extensive photographic collection, models, hands-on exhibits and interactive displays.

I took a turn on the "power bike" to see if I could peddle hard enough to power a TV, make toast or boil a kettle.

There are two theatres in the Centre which show a variety of short films about the Scheme, and Evan was found in one, with all his friends.

Where: Cooma, Monaro Highway
2 kms north of Cooma CBD
Centre Open: 7 days, 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday
9am - 2pm Saturday, Sunday and public hols.
Closed: Christmas Day, New Years Day and Anzac Day
Cost: Entry is free of charge.

Ski 2009 Perisher

Fri 14th August.

I went to work for half day, with Acquisition Training in the morning. Got home around 1pm and had lunch before doing some last minute packing. Evan came over around 2.30pm after shopping at Aldi for food supplies. We started cooking the pasta sauce and making the meatballs for our Sat night dinner. Ken finished work around 4pm and by the time we left home it was 5pm and we had to drop Kaylene off to tutoring, before heading down to Jindy. No KFC on the way down, and I had a craving for wicked wings. Evan took a detour through Queanbeyan where we saw Red Rooster, so stopped there for dinner around 8pm. Had a chicken roll with chips. On the road again, we spied KFC around the corner from Red Rooster as Evan went to fill up petrol...bugger. Seems Evan really wanted Red Rooster. Got to Jindy around 11.30pm where we dropped off our gear, before heading to Rebels to get our ski/snowboard equipment. Had to fill in a form, scan the barcode into a PC, and then do the same for next 2 people..we all went onto Evan's booking form. Ski's, boots and poles for 1 day -$46. Snowboard for 1 day - $46. By the time we got back, it was time for bed 12.30am for an early morning start.

Saturday 15th July
Evan set the alarm for 6.30am, as Casey want to head out at 7.30am. Had breakfast: porridge, scrambled eggs and toast, and we made it out the door around 8am and up to Perisher by 9.30am. The National Park 1 day pass was $27. The one day Lift Pass was $102. Everyone went their own way, with Casey skiing with his friend Sean, Jana and Silvia. Quan went with Mark and Tim, Matt and Roy went to have their respective ski and snowboard lessons, whilst Ken, Evan and I did our own thing.
We started off with 2 runs down Front Valley before heading up to Mid Station for a nice hot chocolate break $2 each. Then we started our traverse to Blue Cow. Went down the Pretty Valley Run where we bumped into Matt who was still doing his lessons. Then we headed to the Interceptor Quad chair that took us up to the Pleasant Valley/Easy Rider run. We picked Matt up here when we did the run again, and then took the Brumby T-bar up to the Blue Cow terminal in time for lunch.

Evan got us wedges with sour cream, schnitzel with chips and gravy to share. Slowly everyone turned up to the lunch table. Poor Roy looked buggered from walking half the way to Blue Cow, having no luck on the snowboard. Even Jana and Quan looked knackered and ready for a power nap.

After lunch Matt, Roy, Ken, Evan and I started our traverse back to Blue Cow. Did one run down the Pleasant Valley/Easy Rider, then took the chair up to head to the Copperhead Road which we thought would take us onto the Pretty Valley Run, it did, but only at the end. Have I ever said not to follow Evan??? Well he did it again and almost led us down a steep run, lucky we could cut across and back onto the green run, so it was through the trees and to the Pretty Valley double chair. Then down to Mid Station, where unfortunately Ken and I took the left and the not the right, so missed the station and had to continue going down to Front Valley. Left Evan behind, so gave him a call and he made his way to Front Valley too. On the way down I got wiped out by 2 snowboarders who had stacked it. Legs were like jelly, and when asked should we do another run...No way!!! we were all buggered. Got to the car, and found out that everyone else was already at their cars and ready to go. As we had to return the ski gear by 6pm, and it was like 5pm when we left, got to Rebels by 5.30pm and then to lodge by 6pm.

Time for shower and Evan prepared our dinner of pasta and meatballs whilst I made the salad. So tired, and my legs were sore. The rest of the ACCA friends went out to dinner, whilst Ken, Evan and I ate in. I was in bed by 9.30pm

Sunday 16th August

Up early again, we had left over pasta for breakfast, before packing the car and heading to Nuggets Crossing for a Jindy meat pie and some last minute shopping. The weather had turned nasty and was windy and rainy. Thank goodness we had only planned the one day of skiing and that the weather was great the day before.

Evan drove us until we got to Marulan for KFC...yay...finally wicked wings. Then I drove until we got home.

The Chan clan was over, so instead of meeting up with Marion for dinner we had dinner at home.

PS. Casey's emails

G’day all,

The trip to snow is only 2 weekend’s away.

There’s a 50/50 mix of people from AAPT and my dragon boat team (ACCA) so you’ll all get along just fine.Just a reminder of what to bring.

• Bedding. E.g. Sleeping bag or sheets & pillow slip.
• Toiletries. E.g. Tooth brush, tooth paste, soap.
• Food for breakfast’s.
• Cash
• Snow gear.
• Other clothes.

Travel-wise get in touch with the people on this email to organise plans to get down and up to Jindabyne.

Address:

Vaski Lodge
38 Townsend St.

When entering Jindy, hang right onto Banjo Paterson Drive (road opposite Banjo Paterson Pub), then left onto Townsend St.

If you hit old Jindy shops, you’ve gone too far – do a U-turn and turn left after the RSL club.

I’ll be leaving work at about 2pm-ish on Friday 14^th Aug to head down, I’ll be taking Micky Cole and Mr Rinas, I can comfortably take 1 more.

Cheers
Casey

Hey all,

2 people have fallen ill, so if you know of anybody who wants to take their place, then invite them.

We just rang the Jindy rebel store they open until 2am on the Friday night, so plenty of time to pick up hire stuff on Friday night.

Anyway here are the room allocations:

DB = Double Bed.

Room 1 (Friday to Sunday nights – Leave Monday)

• Canadian, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Sean!
• Tommy
• Schlick Mick
• Dave Simone (DB) – arriving Saturday
• Mrs Jo Simone (DB) – arriving Saturday

Room 2 (Thursday night – move to unit B on Friday)

• Jana
• Silvia

Room 2 (Friday and Saturday nights – Your usual Room J)

• Toy Boy Roy
• Matty Wong

Room 3 (Friday and Saturday nights – Leave Sunday)

• Quan-ita (DB) -moved to Room 4
• Wendy (DB) - moved to Room 4
• Megs
• Ev
• Mr Ken

Room 4 (Friday and Saturday nights – Leave Sunday)

• Boomba – Steve (DB) - Pulled out
• Moomba - Marisa (DB) - Pulled out - pneumonia
• Timmy-boy
• Mark – No funny comment, he’s bigger than me.

Room 5 (Friday to Sunday nights – Leave Monday)

• Wayne (DB)
• Olivia (DB)
• Mr France – Eric
• JP
• JD

Unit A (Thursday to Saturday night – Leaving Sunday)

• Ron Raf
• Kimbo
• Kimbo’s Sister
• Spare

Unit B (Friday to Sunday nights – Leave Monday)

• Janananananananana (DB)
• Sil (DB)
• Casey – Third wheel (I’ll bring ear muffs and a blind fold!!)
• Spare

Jacq & Rich have a Baby

Oliver Cheong arrived into this world at 1:30am this morning (Saturday 15th August), weighing 6 pounds 11 oz (3.045kg).

Mum and bub doing well and hope to see you all soon.

Richard and Jacqueline

Marion's 29th Birthday

Monday 10th August

Marion invited us over for icecream cake made by Linda. So after our Monday night tennis. Evan, Janet, Kaylene and I headed on over.

We gave Mare her long awaited bike helmet (Anaconda) and bike gloves (NZ) and a woollen beanie (NZ).

The Sun-Herald City 2 Surf

Sunday 9th August

Start time was 9am, so I set out at 7.30am to catch the train out to St James Station and made my way to the Back of the Pack meeting point, which was in College Street north, adjacent to Cook and Phillip Park.

When I got there, the competitors were beginning to form at the front of the line. I didn't want to put myself smack bang in the middle of them all, so I stood to the side, waiting until our official start time. Had to wait for the white and red bibs, which were the seriously serious competitors. Then the red and white bibs, followed by the green bibs then the blue bibs. By the time we started at around 9.30am, the race was nearly over for the front runners.

Following the runners and walkers, I had my headphones on with my favourite music and I set a steady walking pace. Passed the water and gatorade stands with their masses of plastic cups, the first 5kms went pretty quickly. I didn't even realise I was going up "heartbreak hill" until I had got to the top and saw a sign that said "You have conquered the Hill" that was just past the 7km mark. Saw lots of people dressed up in different costumes, mushrooms, brides, silly hats, but lots more just dressed normally.

By the time I got to the 10km mark, the distances seemed to be further apart, and it seemed longer to get to each marker, but as soon as I saw the 13km marker and Bondi Beach in the distant I knew the finish line was close. Crossing the line was a bit of anti-climax...no thrills or smiles, just relief that I had made it. I collected my medal, headed for the drinks stand for a much needed glass of water and then down to the beach to find someone to take a photo of me with my medal.

I gave Jenly a call to make sure she was finished, as she and her family started before me, but found out that she was just crossing the finish line. Decided not to stick around, so headed to the bus stop to catch the designated bus...started at the beginning and followed it down Campbell Parade...down...down...down...gee it was a long line up. Took me over an hour and a half to wait and inch my way to the bus.

Finally got on the bus around 2pm and got back to Town, where I walked to Town Hall station to get the train directly back to Strathfield.

Got back around 3.30pm. Stopped at the corner shop and bought a kebab and hot chips.

On Tuesday they posted the official times in the paper. I did the walk in 2 hours, 36 mins and 59 secs. Placing 51608 out of 62626 finishers.

Jenly's Floor Warming

Saturday 8 August

Jenly invited us over for lunch and to see her refurnished apartment.

She served up viet rice paper rolls, a laksa soup and a fish curry with rice. Linda made noodles and we made chicken corn puff pastries. I also baked chocolate mini muffins and Janet made her swiss roll.

Lots of food and we ate so much that we had takeaway.

Found out that Jenly is doing City 2 Surf with her family so may arrange to meet up with her either during or after the race.

Factory Fire

Our aim today was to 'chase the fire'. This morning there was a massive factory in the next suburb, Silverwater. So Mare and I set out to find the best vantage spot to watch the black smoke billowing. This is the view from Bicentennial Park. Since I forgot my camera, these photos are courtesy of Marion.