iPhone, iPad, iSponsor?

Time is counting down until they release the iPhone 4th Gen in Australia and I can't wait to get mine so I can start playing with it. My big hope is that I'll be able to blog with it when I am away without having to lug around a laptop instead. If it's not winning me over to do that I'm going to look at getting an iPad - if I can afford it (even on the student rates it's expensive but it'd be good for uni as well).

It got me thinking too about the degustation night. I wanted to have something that people could fill in to donate to Cure Cancer and eventually decided I'd have my laptop. I mentioned it to my colleagues and one of them suggested getting hold of Apple and seeing if they would donate an iPad for my trip to blog on but as I sat through one of two of the most time wasting meetings I've ever had today (2 in one day...rediculous!) and I watched a client with his work iPad it hit me - why not ask if I can borrow enough to have one on each table at the Degustation for people to be able to donate online while having a play with an iPad and also having a look at my website? Fingers crossed that in weeks to come I will hear back from Apple in Sydney and that they will say they will loan me several iPads.

Fingers crossed team!

Dear Diary...

Yesterday I confessed that I've never been any good at keeping a diary - although the times that I tried make for much entertainment and embarrassment now (and that's without even letting anyone read them!). So in an effort to step it up a little here, I am going to try and blog every day for a week, then try taking it out to two and by then I hope to be in the habit of keeping you up to date and keeping myself organised.

It's now nearly 3 weeks since I moved into my new HQ/home and I still haven't unpacked because it's also nearly 3 weeks since I got this damn cold. As I mentioned yesterday I got an appointment pointment with the doctor today and while I had planned to go to work this morning then to the GP then back to work, I am soooooo glad I stayed in bed and got some extra shut eye. My throat has lost most of it's fire today, but I'm chilled and achy all over (would rather be like that because I trained in the cold!). I'm now armed with anti-biotics and super strength Vitamin C. I then toddled off to get some blood work done to see where my iron, vitamin D and thyroid function is at - ever since I had that first tumor out this has been a regular exercise just because none of the three behave themselves.

Good things that came out of the visit - I was a good girl and finally asked about my heart issues from when I was having trouble walking up Mt Ainslie. My GP, Richard (who was also one of my doctors when I was in the military and had the tumor and hurt my back), gave me the good news that it's most likely because my iron is low. He said we can't ignor the weak valve in my heart and that I'm probably due to go back to the caridolgist for a check up but he doubts that it's the problem. My resting HR was up to 76 today which really shows how much fitness I've lost - when I had a decent fitness it was around 50. SO.....when I kick this cold it's back to lots of cardio training.

Speaking of cardio training - two things: one I got the certificate from Richard so I can use the work gym; and two, I met with a client a few weeks ago and when we were introduced she asked me if I Zumba....RANDOM!! Having said that and also being possibly a little over cooked on the infomercials today, I was wondering if I should give it a go. Heck knows I have no solo dance moves anyway! What do you think? Actually, not sure if anyone is actually reading this yet, but if you are what do you think about Zumba? Fun? Fad? Gimmick? Worth a go? Any thoughts?

5 weeks down

So, 5 weeks into my training and where am I at? Well I still haven't got on a bike - so not looking forward to breaking in my butt bones again! My walking/jogging/running has been progressing well but slowly. Unfortunately I am still fighting colds/tonsilitis. Thanks to some prodding from my boss and my pal DJ, I'm off to the doc in the morning.

Meanwhile I found myself today trying to explain to our director why it is that people blog. For me, I'd like to know people are supporting me in my quest to take on cancer in my own way - I'm not a doctor/researcher, I'm not part of a support agency - so I decided I can raise money to help those who can do something. I then I started relaying the story of a movie I watched about a girl who did a similar thing in that she set herself a challenge (12 months compared to my 5) and blogged about it - she was much more diligent than I (I've tried about 20 times or more to keep a diary...I suck) though and did actually blog every day and ended up with loads and loads of followers. That then led to an article being written and then of course the movie that I am watching again as I blog tonight.

So because I am sick and sooky I am also going to indulge on your reading patience and share that I miss my Mum. There are so many times that I miss her - cherishable moments with my friends that I just can't tell her about (things like Steve and Dee rocking up on Saturday morning, getting me out of bed and taking me to the Pancake Parlour for breakfast). I miss her of course when I'm not feeling well and I just want her to hold me and sing to me. I miss her when I fancy a new boy and want her approval or when I do something awesome (which of course is all the time! Ha ha). The hardest ones are when I see/experience something I know she would've loved or that is just so her. I wish I had some scanned pictures of her - she was such a lunatic and compassionate and organised and giving of all that she could. My Mum was amazing.

Dego Date Done!

I met Pam's lovely husband Max today and we set a preliminary date for Saturday 14 August for the Degustation night. Unfortunately it coincides with the Aus Dragon Boat Federation Australian Team Selections which I'd been keen to be involved with to help with my uni work...I am sure I can figure something out there.

Cost will be somewhere around $100, so keep the date free, venue is The Green Herring at Gold Creek Village. We have 70 seats to fill so spread the word!

Fi

So tired....

This morning I had the plan to run the Canadian Fun Run for Cancer sticking to the same plan I had for the Jogalong 2 weeks ago - 2 mins on, 3 mins off and I predicted it'd take about 45 mins but was hoping to do less. I smashed it in 38:53. I deviated slightly from my plan, jogging 7.5mins and walking 2.5 mins recovery. My shoulder was a bit uncomfortable and my lungs were chock a block with snot, but it felt good (even better when I had the pancakes with maple syrup and cup of tea at the end with Steve and Dee - who were also near the end of the course cheering me on which felt awesome, oh and let's not forget that Steve made an awesome faux butter chicken and chai tea for my pre-race dinner).

Tonight I am knackered. My feet kill, my butt muscles ache, oddly my shoulder blades/lats are achey too. My lungs are still goey (I have the sexiest wheeze going on when I breathe deep) but I feel satisfied. Imagine how I am going to feel once I get on this adventure? Today was 5km run and 6 hours working (another reason my feet hurt) and I feel warm and fuzzy for having done something directly, on my own to help people with Cancer. I know every day at the moment I am doing something by getting ready for this trip and coordinating the fundraising - oh wait till I tell you what my new fundraising idea is! Oh wow! Now I remember why my shoulder blades might be aching....Oh it all makes sense too because the right one is more sore than the left!

Yes Steve, I accept your verdict that I am a tool sometimes! After dinner last night we played 100 pin ten pin bowling and golf on their Wii.....lemme think about why my right shoulder blade is achey....Der me! Which leads me to my new idea - I was at the Australian Open a couple of years ago with my gorgeous girlfriend Di. Amongst all the activities in the gardens outside centre court, they had a contest for Wii tennis. It was pretty funny and it was hard not to want to help the people playing. I'm not sure if I know enough people who have a Wii and I don't know how I would get enough projectors or a venue big enough, but I am thinking of holding a Wii extravaganza - 5 challenges $20 entry fee, prizes to the top 3. I'm so excited already!

First thing is first though - need to get through Casino Royale, get the degustation underway (meeting tomorrow) and then start work on the 100 Club raffle. Soooo much to be done!

Nighty night all!

Another week down

Most of my week was lost to a cold as far as training goes, but I did manage to find the pedometer Marty gave me late last year and I notched up 7503 steps today (not counting several laps up and down the stairs this morning!). I know it's supposed to be a goal of 10,000 steps per day, but I will so out do that on Sunday when I run the 5km Canada Fun Run for Cancer and then back up to work a 6 hour shift at Jacqui-E, so I'm not worried about missing that target today.

Tomorrow I pick up the last couple of things from my old place but not until I've had a nice sleep in. After that it's back to hit the trails, the plan being to walk the equivalent of the City to Surf. Yes I do note that the following day I'm planning to do another 5km and that I have been sick all week, but City to Surf is now only 7 weeks away. So the plan is to jog/walk the 6km trail (still doing the 2min on 3 min off regime), then walk up the walking track to the top lookout and jog back down (4km and meant to simulate Heart Break Hill), then back onto the trail for the 4km jog/walk. I'd planned to do it over the long weekend last weekend, but the cold got the better of me by Sunday afternoon as I was finishing up for the day at J-E.

Anyone wanna come?

What a week!

Before I get onto this week, GUESS WHAT?? Max and Pam from the Green Herring Restaurant in Gold Creek here in the ACT are going to host the Degustation Night Fundraiser. I am completely thrilled! BRING IT ON!! Pam and I used to work together late last year (we're both still with the same firm, just different contracts). I'm really pleased I can get the name of their restaurant out there at the same time as raising money for Cure Cancer.

So last saturday was huge! I moved from my bedroom into Mary's house (Mary is overseas for a couple of years). Mary's cat Ming, aka skitty kitty named so because she has no want to know humans, is here to keep me company...as much as a skitty kitty can! Actually, it's now Thursday night and she meowed to me for the first time ever.

The move went well and I am in progress of unpacking - this is going to take some time partly because I have a lot of crap which is also still being cleared out but also partly because on Sunday I started coming down with a cold which has wiped me out all week. In one of the awesome changes my body has undergone over the last few years, I seem to be unable to absorb iron, so even little colds wipe me out energy wise. This one is a little one though, but my glands and tonsils are up which is somewhat uncomfortable.

Great things though have been Steve and Dee brought me over dinner on Saturday night to save me from trying to cook something and we played games late into the night. Sunday I bought a new cook set and cutlery set (first non-supermarket ones bought from proper kitchen store). Monday I got to watch the end of season one of Glee thanks to a friend bringing it over in exchange for dinner (which I couldn't taste but had left overs tonight and it really was good!).

Sunday is a big day coming up - the Canadian Embassy is hosting the Canada Fun Run for Cancer. Of course I'll be there with bells on and a few of my friends are running too. The best part of that event though is the free pancakes with proper maple syrup - really makes the physical challenge more enjoyable. Although I wanted to do the 10km, I think I'm going to have to stick to the 5km.

Come out and join us if you are in town and haven't made plans for Sunday morning - You can walk the course!

One more sleep

Tomorrow I move into what is to become HQ for my challenge. What an awesome end to a challenging week! Soon my bike will be set up on a windtrainer so I can belt out the kms without freezing myself to death or risking the icy roads with the crazy drivers.

Unless my girlfriend Deciana decides to move early (she may not actually move into the spare room but I live in hope because she'd be an awesome flate mate and her company would be comforting and inspiring - I have some amazing friends I'm sure you'll get to hear about the next few months), I'll even have an office to get myself sorted and strategise maximum fundraising planning and execution.

Just now Casino Royale is bubbling along with almost all the spots filled. The next big body of work is getting all the prizes for the 100 club. What is the 100 club I hear you ask? 100 tickets at $50 each. You have a better than 1 in 5 chance of winning the equivalent of your ticket back with 21 prizes on offer from $50 vouchers to the biggest of a $500 prize pack.

So, as I sign off tonight, I hope you've had a good week; for those in Aus I hope you have a lovely Long Weekend.

Storm before the calm

The saying goes "Calm before the storm" so can there also be a storm before the calm? Thankfully there is 5 months before I head off on the Asia Challenge because this last 2 weeks have been so topsy turvy it'd make anyone's head spin!

Status of everything as of today:
Home: I am moving house in less than 48 hours. I've just dumped some things off at my new place so that I have more space to pack up my room/dismantle my bed etc. - training benefits: I've been lifting heavy things, running them out to my car in the cold and running back in.
Work: My contract has been extended 3 months which gives me a bit of breathing space to find something more permanent - training benefit: I'm less stressed/more upbeat so more active.
Training: I have a session in the pool later tonight which will help me sleep better tonight.
Emotions: Running high!

The media release has stirred up how strongly I miss my Mum. Today Bruce came back and asked a couple of simple questions - when did my mum die and what was her full name. Not a hard pair of questions, but it reduced me to tears. At that point today I knew that work was offering me a 3 month extension, but I didn't know how much I was going to be paid (moving from a contractor to a non-ongoing public servant). Either way it was going to be a pay drop, but I had no gague for how much. They were kind enough to offer me the highest pay point in the bracket so while it's a significant drop, it's $12k more than I could've been dropped to, so I am breathing a huge sigh of relief (the drop makes it a bit harder for me to cover my travel expenses on my own, but with a bit of creative budgeting at home I hope I can still have some spending money at the end for a few days R&R.

Starting to move house is very satisfying. I'm looking forward to not having to coordinate bathroom times in the morning and not running out of hot water too; walking around the house in my jammies and let's face it walking around the house in general rather than just renting a bedroom! The whole clearing things out/recycling/cleaning etc of course is all satisfyingly theraputic.

So, off to the pool to coach DJ and give my shoulder a little work out too :)

Hope you've had a constructive day too!

Short and sweet tonight - given my training was likewise. Actually it was non-existant. Today was a sleety day in Canberra and with a hold up in my gym access (need a doctor to clear my shoulder before I can train in there) there was no way I was going to frolick around in the bitter cold and have my back seize up. Instead I kicked over some admin for the trip, so I didn't completely waste my time.

At lunchtime today, the temp was a bitter 6.2degrees celcius. There was also a cool breeze just tipping it to be colder. By 3pm it was down to 5.5 and just now (11:20pm) it's a lovely 4.2 (we have cloud cover tonight so thankfully it's not dropping too fast).

A quick check of the snow cams showed Thredbo is finally getting some coverage which is good given the ski season starts this weekend!

Ok, fingers are getting cold outside the doona, so that's all for tonight folks!

A big day - the word is going out in a huge way

Today I was contacted by Bruce Heilbuth who is working on a press release about the Asia Challenge. He asked if he could write the piece using my story as a centre piece to the article.

This whole thing, my challenge, my want to do a tribute to my mum, my hope that no one has to hear the words "You have cancer and there is nothing we can do", my hope that I can inspire others to do something to contribute to the Cure Cancer Australia Research Foundation cause - the whole thing is so important to me I am willing to do anything needed. This afternoon Mr Heilbuth and I talked over the phone and I gave him a little more info about me.

Before I go on, I need to talk a bit about my Mum. My Mum was Janet Lyle McWhinnie (nee Warnock) aka Mrs Mc, OoraPoora (aboriginal for Magpie - a name bestowed on her by the local Girl Guide community as she had "ash blonde" hair), Jan, China (my godmother called her that as Aussie rhyming slang for best mate is China plate), Janny Mc (our friend Dixie and his son Michael called her that), there are many names she was known by and all very affectionate. At her funeral, there wasn't enough space in the church for everyone who came to mourn her passing. You see, although my family didn't have much (like many we were doing it tough but ok) but there are always people doing it harder. Mum worked full-time from when I was about 8, but in her down time when she wasn't running around after her own family, Mum was doing stuff for everyone else.

There was very little Mum didn't get involved in - School and Church fete's, car washes and golf days for our Marching Band, the Door Knock Appeal, Cash-a-can (showing my age there!). You name it, Mum would help as much as she could. One of the funniest/most embarrassing fundraisers was one she did with our Primary School P&C. All the male school teachers were dressed as women, the Mum's from the P&C were dressed as men and they acted out a Dolly Parton classic with a spin on the name of "The best little whorehouse in Beresfield". I was in 2nd grade at the time, my sister was in grade 5. Mum being the ringleader of the play and also being well endowed naturally played the part that Dolly played in the original. I know we had a video for a while, but I was never old enough to watch it and now that I am it's no where to be found. Kids were involved in the event by doing the art work (a whole pile of painted blue tarpaulines). The theatre was the school quadrangle - I've no doubt nothing like that had ever happened before and never will.

Mum also made time for us. When we were younger, if it was a good week, Mum will have snuck kingston biscuits and hot water and milk into the car and after church we'd go to the Bolwarra lookout and have tea and kingston biscuits (I still love them). The lookout has a view over the flood plains/farming fields near where we lived. Another thing she did from time to time was to read the Readers Digest short stories to us. Aside from the magazines they produce, they also had hard backs and Mum would read us the stories. She really could make them come to life and it is something I hope to impart one day.

Around the time Mum read us these stories, I had started getting interested in Journalism and I did my work experience with the local rag. Mum was proud of me and I told her "Who knows, maybe one day I'll replace Mr Helibuth as editor of Readers Digest and you can put together a hard back of your favourites." Mum suggested I should get the current editors name right first and we had a giggle about what a heli-buth would be, settling on a cross between a bus and a helicopter with a lisp.

Of course, the editors real name was Bruce Heilbuth - the same man that contacted me today about the press release he's writing for Cure Cancer Australia. Let me ask you - are you thinking what I'm thinking? Freaky. Part of me wonders if Mum is looking down on me and pulling the strings, another part of me laughs and wonders which one of my friends can work out the stats on that connection?

The rest of my day can only be described as busy and intense - Steve belted my shoulder about this morning (he's not a meanie - my back is improving as is my shoulder), I got to work and had one job opportunity sent through that would be great if I'm selected even though it's still contract work. Later my Director confirmed that they can't extend my current contract but they can offer me 3 months non-ongoing work as a public servant which has potential to be made ongoing but no guarantee and would mean I'd be turning my back on the firm who got me the contract in the first place - I have no idea what to do just now. It would be ace if just now I actually had people following this blog who could post a pile of thoughts on what they would do work wise if they were in my shoes.

Since my chat with Mr Heilbuth, I've been wound up and teary. After work I went out to DFO, picked up my hiking boots and rode home. Once I was home I realised I had a voicemail message on my phone and when I listened to it there was a lovely message from Lorainne at Cure Cancer Foundation asking me if I would be ok with being involved in a press release about the Asia Challenge. I wish I'd checked my phone earlier so I could call back and let her know Mr Heilbuth and I had already talked but then as I thought that, panic started setting in. What if the piece leaves people thinking I'm more than I am? I'm just a daughter who aches because she misses her Mum horribly every single day and who just wanted to turn the hurt into something positive.

There are things in my story that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy - toture, torment, bastardisation at the hands of others who could at the time that I lost my Mum. Selfish public servants who at different times in my career who have taken advantage of my naieve want to believe everyone is fundamentally a good person and when I wound up suffering for their selfishness I had no Mum to turn to and never will be held safe in her arms again. In amongst the bad has been some amazing things that I've been fortunate enough to experience (including most recently my old boss taking me for a hot air balloon ride with compliments of his new firm). The highs have been very high and the lows equally low, but I know there are so many others who have had a worse deal of cards in life than I have and so I feel responsible to stand up and do something because I still can. It doesn't make me special. I'm just trying to help.

Today 300 Australians were told they have cancer, tomorrow there will be 300 more and yesterday another 300 were heart broken with the same news. We owe it to all of them and all that are yet to be hit by this pig of an illness to help the researchers find a cure.

Catch up

So I've been lazy with my blog, but I do have some good reasons:
1. I've been training most days
2. I started a new job
3. I am moving house this weekend
4. I've been coaching & covering shifts in my old line of work

So, my apologies for not keeping you up to date, but let me catch you up on everything.

Since I last blogged, I've done several walks up Mt Ainslie with varied success. I've also been on a few runs and swims (which I finally confessed to my physio today but he is pleased with the progress of my shoulder).

Summary of my Ainslie walks - I've was joined by my friend Derek on one walk which I made it all the way to the top without stopping which was pleasing given my first attempt I had to stop twice and was pretty shattered that I had appeared to have lost so much fitness. Next time I headed out, poor DJ joined me. It was raining and we got soaked which was fun and we hit the AIS pool and spa to warm up which was great. The downside was that I had to stop three times which was really flattening. I'd found my ventolin and used it in hope that it would save the day but it seemed to make no difference.

The whole lack of fitness thing was getting embarrassing - I am after all a triathlon and swimming coach, how can I be so unfit? I decided to head out on my own after work last wednesday and I think I know what's going on but I don't know why - each time I needed to stop, I took my heartrate (I was timing the walk so I counted the beats pulsing through the caroted artery while watching for 6s by my stop watch and then timesed the result by 10 to get my BPM). My counts when I was stopping because it was getting hard to breathe were all over 22, meaning my BPM was between 220 and 250. This is really not good. I waited until I felt like I could breathe again then took my heartrate again - I could breathe when it was under 200. Why haven't I been to the doctor yet - I don't want to be told I can't go.

So, onto the next Yay moments - I've been on a couple of runs and it isn't hurting my shoulder anymore which is awesome. I am taking it easy and building it up - first run I did 1 min run, 4 mins walk recovery over 5km. Second run was in the rain and so I stepped it up and ran 90s then walked 3.5min recovery over the same course. Last sunday I ran in the Jogalong (womens only 6km cross country) Derek threatened an intervention because I'm not supposed to be running yet but I promised to stick to a run plan of 2 mins on 3 mins off. I predicted 50mins for the course and did it in 50.09, so I'm pretty damn ok with that!

DJ and Will have taken on swimming as part of their off season Dragon Boat training for the might Ice Dragons (only the best Dragon Boat club EVER!). Slight hiccup was that neither of them had really done any swim technique work since they did kids lessons many moons ago. Step in Super Fiona the Swim Coach! The boys weren't as bad as they thought and I was ecstatic to get back into the water - so much I had a little swim. DJ and I went for another swim a few days later and I stepped up the length a little more in the stroke part (was doing mostly kick so to not aggrevate my shoulder given swimming over load was how I injured it - Yes, I know, I'm a swim coach how did I over load it? Showing off a little perhaps? Nope, raising money for MS). DJ, Lachy and I swam on Sunday night just gone and wahoo, stepped it up again and it still felt ok. Physio was so unimpressed but he'd tested my shoulder before I told him and was really impressed with my progress so he wasn't cross. Steve the physio is not a guy to get cross - at 6ft10in and 127kg, he's frame is intimidating enough, but he also happens to be a boxer so I'm not going to be too silly.

On a fundraising front, some invites have gone out for Casino Royale with a great response from those who've looked at the invite. It's amazing the job Steve the host has done. I will try and get some screen shots to put up on here soon.

So now you are caught up. I do have an incredible story to tell from today, but that needs a whole separate post!