Jam packed month

We have had another busy month. Once again Mark has worked and worked, with three trips to other Australian states (Canberra, Perth, and Brisbane)   in the last month. December is no different. He is off to Hobart on Sunday for a conference and then the following week he is off to Perth for meetings. 

So what have we been up to in October and November? Well following our trip to the Flinders rangers at the beginning of the month we had a few quiet weeks. Before attending Ben’s Christening on 28^th October and my first professional conference attendance to the Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society Conference (28^th-30^th October 2012). 

 

 

 My first conference experiences was great fun and very educational. It was also good to experience the other sides of conferences, instead of being the wife that is left at home. 

At the end of October we had to say fair-well to Fi from my Guide unit, who has been offered a job in the army in Canberra.Good Luck Fi. xxx

Emma, Me, Judy, Sandy, Izzy and Fi

November has been a busy month for me in Guides. On the 4^th November 2012, I went Kayaking in the Port Adelaide River with my unit. I was observed during the session and acted as another adult pair of hands. I have been told that I now just have to show I can capsize and rescue someone and I can gain my Girl Guide kayaking qualification (This will allow me to take girls out in kayaks).

I so wish I had a camera with me during this trip because when we were kayaking 6 dolphins came right up to us and 3 passed right next to my boat. It was fantastic. The girls we made up. I have to say it was an awesome first dolphin experience for me.

 On the 11^th November 2012 I took the girl guides Horse riding. 

On the 24^th November I took part in the Norwood Christmas Paget (Australian version of the UK May parades). It was a good day and I even had my friend Georgia and my godson in

the crowd of people that came out to see me. 

On Sunday 25^th November 2012 I took part in the 35km bike ride to t West Beach for Gear up Girl arranged by SA Bike Company and encouraged by the Girl Guides. It was a great ride. We had a police escorted through the city and the atmosphere was electric. I was made up with my achievement as it was the longest ride I have ever done without Mark. I left from my house on the bike so in total I did around 45kms.

We spent one of November’s weekends in Mount Gambier as Mark had to collect soil for work. We camped in Sand dunes on a beach ( a child dream of mine). We visited Mount Schanck (a volcano), the blue lake, Margaret’s caves and the caves at Narracorte. It was a great trip and one of the best geography field trips I have ever been on.    

 

 

The view we woke up to on Saturday morning :-) 

Mount Schanck

 

The Blue Lake

Cave at Margaret 

Caves at Narracote 

During November I have also started my exercise program again. I have taken to riding to and from work each day (13.4km) and I have started a Palates class, which I love.

Spring 2012 down under begins

So when I last wrote I had just completed a day camp with Guides and Mark was ill. I am glad to say that Mark is now much better and is back to paper writing in style. He spat out his last paper in a week and a half. 

September for me was accompanied with a visit to the dentist almost every Saturday, I am glad to state that my teeth no longer hurt and I have a pearl white smile again. J.  In between all the dentist visits we visited friends; I was kept busy with girl guides and preparing for our camping trip during the public weekend to the Flinders Rangers. 

At the beginning of September we had dinner with Georgia, Jason and their young family. Ben showed us how much he had grown and Juliet and Rhys were kept busy with the largest strawberries I have ever seen, whilst Mark provided the entertainment. 

 

During the dinner Georgia and Jason asked me to be Ben’s godmother. I am very privileged and over the moon that we will always be a part of this lovely families life. 

 At Guides we have introduced our new leader Izzy, we have given one of our girls her 10 year star and this weekend we held a big indoor camp with all girls from the Knightsbridge hall.  During which Fi shows the girls how to tackle Challenge Hill (obstacle course). 

Izzy 

Grace and Judy

Fi shows the girls how its done. 

During the Guide camp this weekend we had a extra camper, who would share our meals. Kookaburr sits on the wheely bin (thanks mum for that one).

Last weekend for us was a public holiday weekend, so we decided to take the tent up to the Flinders Rangers and walk St Mary’s Peak which is 1’171 meters high.  It was a 9 hour walk and 21 kilometres in length. I have to say it was mainly climbing and was the hardest mountain I have ever climbed, but the view was out of this world. 

 

 

 

Claire at the top of St Mary's Peak. 

 

Monday morning was difficult as neither of us could move much, so we packed up camp and went for a drive around the region. We found a lovely café in Binman for lunch and then continued onto Parachina. 

Photo's below are Marks from our Camping trip. 

The Great Wall of China 

Old House

Wilpena pound

View from the top of St Mary's peak

 

Rock Wallaby

Bunyeroo Gorge

Porter Lagoon

Last week I help run my first Guide Dog Kids camp, we went shopping, taught the kids about money handling, we introduced them to a number of hi tech devices to help them complete activities of daily living, with development their food preparation skills. We even took them tandem biking and I piloted one with a 10 year old girl and they learnt how to play goal ball. We had a great time. 

The clocks have gone forward here this weekend, so we are now 10.5 hours in front of the UK at the moment. 

Third Spring down under

After having a fantastic 5 week holiday at home, the scales told me that I needed to get fit, so with my daffodils flowering in the front lawn and providing the first sign of spring. (I know Daffodils in August is odd, something I still have not got use too.) I decide it’s time to take control of my fitness again.

 

I decided to take up running again and with the new job at Guide Dogs SA.NT I have increased my cycle ride to work to 12 km per day. With the local drive to run the city to bay annual run I take up the training program and have decided to get back to running. With the hope I may run the city to bay next year. I have taken up running 3 days a week and cycling into work at least twice a week. 

Between my new fitness drive Mark and I have been increasing our camping experience. For Marks birthday we headed to Beach Point, which is near to Robe, for some camping and 4x4 with Lynne and Michael. 

 

 

 

My first try at 4x4

 

The birthday boy is having fun.

Birthday boy tries out his new sleeping bag. 

Last weekend following two work trips to Peterborough, Armidale and Byron Bay unfortunately Mark was in bed sick with flu and I helped at a Girl Guide day camp, where I used my knowledge of knots to help make an obstacle course. What a fantastic day. 

Peterborough

 

Guide Camp

 

 

After two days off Mark is feeling much better, by the way.