Sri Chinmoy Triple Triathlon

As I landed in Canberra on Saturday evening a text from Henry
"R U swimming, running, cycling or photos and media management".

Earlier in the week when I was organising my trip to Canberra, he had invited me to participate in a triathlon.  IHe said  they had purchased a family entry.

When Henry's text arrived I envisaged something on the lines of little athletics in the form of families running swimming and cycling.  All that was missing was an egg and spoon race.  I sent him back a quick text indicating I was not really into swimming.  Just as well as it turned out swimming took place in lakes - canberra lakes - not known for flowing water.

Henry and I arose while it was still dark.  The darkness made me suspicious that this might not be little athletics.  A bike was strapped to the roof  and a spare shoehorned into the back of the car. Henry morphed into a MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra), This was definitely not little athletics.  We proceeded to the lake where the first swim leg was already underway.  After a few moments we saw movement in the water and a few minutes later a wet suit man exited the water.  ( I was very glad I has indicated that I was not into swimming).  The water teamed the way it does when a school of fish are over enthusiastic and more men and women exited.  Then cousin Michael (who had flown in from Sydney- This was serious)  and Carolyn's husband David arrived on foot.  It appears they had waved cousin Peter off.

BTW, there is an out of date family tree here
http://users.tpg.com.au/syndetic/familytree.html
 This may help understand the relationships.

We observed some fellow exit the water in his speedos.  This confirmed that there were some very strange people involved.  Later on there were some girls too who were just in togs with no wet suit.  I would have wanted a hazmat suit myself.

Hmm we wondered as the lake cleared.  But then whats that - movement on the horizon.  It's it's a person doing backstroke.  Cameras are warmed up.  It's Peter.  Henry dons his helmet and is at the ready.  Peter powers out the final meters and up the  beach and tags Henry and Henry is off.

Michael and David, Peter and I walk back to the almost empty car park.  We decided that we were probably about 5th last.  We drive in convoy 100m from the top of Black Mountain.  We watch cyclists struggle past as their exhausted legs push them toward the summit.  Ten minutes later we see then screaming down the hill past us and into the car park only to disappear down an incredibly steep dirt track.

I am somewhat concerned that Henry may not be up to the task.  Then along he comes.  He makes the up hill look like its flat.  As he disappears over the cliff those of us in cars drive off to Dickson so Michael can prepare for his 20km run with a take away coffee.

We continued to the top of Anthill street where we joined a large crowd.  A few people came through then then blow me over here is Henry coming in at 2hrs and 8 minutes for 36km including it turns out spending 5 minutes helping some guy who fell off and broke is knee and also at one stage Henry apparently took a wrong turn.

Then Mike ditched his coffee and jogs off into the distance.  Henry and I would be hard pressed to jog back to the car yet Michael is running up Mt Majura then down to the saddle and then up Mt Ainslie.  You know the place that we struggle up the stairs to look at the view.  The support crew wandered back to Kellaway St so Henry could have a shower and the rest of us could have yet another coffee.  meanwhile Michael is slogging away up and down Mountains.  We hop in the cars and drive up Mt Ainslie.  As we wait at the top for Michael, we clap politely and offer words of encouragement to the people running by.  I am informed that one lady is 65 or something.

Eventually Michael comes into view and we grab him for a family photo.  Hey what else do you do half way through a leg.  He continues on his run and Henry and I said good by to Peter & David. 




Henry and I went and had breakfast (11:15) at cafe "two for ten" departing at noon.  Then we went shopping for some shirts and then met Andrew Metcalfe at the Belgium beer cafe where I had some unpronoucible beer.  Then we went into the city for a steak and then onto cousin Ian's place.  As we entered I noted his daughter Lizzie had the triathlon team's number in niko on the back of her hand.  She had apparently done the last swim leg.  Ann marie did the second leg but we did meet her.

After chatting with cousin Ian, his partner Justine and daughter Lizzie and some of their neighbors we  departed for the finish line.

The sun had set and the cerimonial presentations were underway.
We discovered that the winners did it in abut 8 hours 9 minutes - a new course record.
One team with all 9 members over 50 did it in 9 and a bit hours.
 And as more runners arrived those on the balcony would clap enthusiastically.  Some of those were individuals who had done all 9 legs.  One person.  All day. Insanity.

Then Peter arrived.  I am amazed. 
We went home to bed.
Such a long day.

Halloween

Things were a little fishy at dinner.

I got suspicious

 Turns out it's Halloween.  That quaint American custom where groups of parents spend inordinate amount of money on costumes and kids pester neighbours for lollies.

 I (Frank) was delegated the role of watch man.  I wandered the streets while my 4 or was it 5 urchins knocked on doors.

 I have decided though that Halloween is a good thing.  We got to meet neighbours we never knew.  And the kids got sugar based rewards.

I was disappointed that no one threw a bucket of water over them while yelling trick ha ha ah ha yeow.

Actually I am not sure I even know the rules.  Kids knock on door and announce "Trick or Treat" to which the home owner responds "O'h you all look so cute" Then they give kids lollies and kids wander away with a distorted view of their own cuteness.

What I want to know has to do with the trick option.  Do the kids throw rocks on the recalcitrant home owners home or does the home owner throw a bucket of water over the kids or offer them celery and cottage cheese.

BGS Music

Chris plays a big sax in a band.  Hmm I think it's a Tenor Sax.

Flashpoint - 28-OCT-2012

Our monthly children's church - Flashpoint - is on this sunday.
This page is my notes / planning.

But what do the bible readings say?
Job 42:1-6, 10-17 - The end of Job's suffering.  Restoration.  Interestingly Job now has Children and the girls are named in the text and recorded as having received some inheritance.  Both of these go against the norms of the time and may imply that restitution byu God has resulted in a new world view.
Jeremiah 31:7-9 - I think we need to get some context wrt to this reading.  I think it is an exultation to sick or diabled or poor people to give thanks to God.
Hebrews 7:23-28 - Jesus is the great high priest exists forever, no sacrifices required.
Mark 10:46-52 - Blind Bartimeaus recveives his sight.
 Need:Blind -> Ask God (& ignore the naysayers)-> Response:Faith has made you well
 Believing without seeing? or is this God answers need ?
The blind theme could imply that the Jews lack faith in Jesus — and that lack of faith is what prevents them from understanding who Jesus really is and what he has come to do.
To me it seems consistent with the idea that God loves us BUT we must take steps toward him.  We must recognise God and ask God...
(This is different to the Flashpoint theme of 3 years ago)


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LAST TIME 3 years ago Order Of Service

FLASHPOINT              25 October 2009

Mark 10:46 - 52  Believing without seeing

Welcome

Songs – The One and Only God                                                        Megan

PRAY – thanks and confession

Songs – Jesus is Greater

            OFFERING &

-          The Blind Man

Science – Coloured writing and cellophane …                                  Frank

      (Write on white paper with colured pen and obscure with lighting gel or cellophane or even perhaps coloured light?)

Story -                                                                                                 Unkle Paulie

Bible Reading – Bartimaeus believed without seeing like we do.  You can be happy about that!                 Megan

New memory verse – John 20:29                                                      Megan

Songs  - Jesus is Greater / The Blind Man                                        Megan

-          Jesus is a Cool Dude

Wrap up and Sending Out Prayer  - intercession

(Father Bless Us As We Go)                                                              Megan

Last month’s memory verses … Psalm 15:1,2         

Stuff – Musical instruments, music, song words, piano

            New Memory verses and prizes

Science exp – writing behind coloured cellophane

Bible

Story book

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MUSIC IDEAS
C2. The Blind Man                                                   (All Together 23)
P1. I Walk By Faith                                                     ( photocopy)
D9. I’ve Got Something                                           (AT149)
  

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SCIENCE EXPERIMENT IDEAS (brain storm)

Cellophane (GEL) white paper and texta.

Coloued light (from video projector?)  obscures text in same way as the gel.

Big Paper obscures something -> set fire to the paper to reveal something.

Those mottley pictures with a hidden animal / word that you have to go cross eyed to see. (in 3D)

Opening a curtain.

Invisible ink / lemon juice & toaster.

Chis Gets His Cast OFF

In the dieing minutes of the BGS vs Nudgee Under 13 Rugby Match one week before the end of last school term, Chris was tackeled and broke his arm as he hit the ground.  Since then it has been in a Cast.  5 weeks had past so yesterday I phoned Royal Childrens Hospital at Herston Brisbane to find out the procedure to remove it.  Took me a few minutes to find the phone number and I rang the first one that popped up on google which turned out to be the car park.  When I finally made it through to Children's Othopedics, the kind lady informed me that they [the hospital] would call us.  She then kindly asked for the patients details and fed the ever hungy computer which in turn kindly informed her that Chris was expected at 12:30 that day.  (I think it was about 9am when I called).  She looked further and said that she could see on the computer that they [the hospital] had not attempted to call us.

So I texted Chris and phoned him and he did not answer.  I discovered later that he was complying with school rules to have the phone off.  I rang the BGS middle school office who sent a person to alert Chris and he responded to my text.  The middle school office said that I had to come in and sign him out.  I asked if he could just walk down by himself but that would necessitate letters and interviews with more senior staff.  So I stuck with their method and drove in.

Having enjoyed the comfort of the middle school office and signed my life away we drove to Royal Childrens Hospital (RCH) just a few minutes down the road and parked in the large parking station behind the hospital.

Our attempts to enter the hospital were twarted by automatic doors that stayed closed.  A power failure we were informed.  We entered via the coffee shop.  I later mused to myself that in a big public building open 24/7 with security etc etc, one would think that it might be safer for the main doors to move to the open position upon loss of power.  For example if the power failure was the result of a fire.  Anyway maybe closed is better to keep the oxygen out.  Ok back on topic.  We walked in and through to the Childrens Orthopedics.  Luckilly queensland health can continue to operate without the computers and there were still some lights on.  Although I guess the computer will not count the workers as being present during its period of unconsciousness and they [the staff] will not get paid.  (get back on topic).  We took a number and waited.  Knowing that we could be in for a wait, Chris had a book and I brought some work.  Somewhere along the way the power came back on but the computers stayed off.  bet they have a UPS. Eventually our number came up and a kind fellow with what looks like an angle grinder attacked Chris's cast.

Then sent him off for an X-ray.

while we were waiting for the X-ray, the staff apologised that due to the power failure, the X-ray would not work and they were getting an old one up and running. Feeling the threat of competition, the new one conceeded to boot and we were off and running.

 No photographic plates anymore.  Some kind of plate sensor that feeds directly into the computer. 

here is the X-ray on the doctors computer.

He extolled us that for the next 6 weeks not to participate in activities such as horse riding, football, motor bike rising, skate boards, roller skates or rip sticks.  Low impact sport such as Rowing is probably OK.

Hmmm should have asked about dish washing and lawn mowing.

Breakfast

A beautiful sunny day.  Our car is at the Konings.  Aiden and Maddie slept over last night.  They and Jemma wanted to cook Bacon Scrambled eggs and pancakes.

Jemma was keen to do pancakes.  Maddie helped to pour the pancake mix onto the hot plate.

Aiden told me that at home he stirs the scrambled eggs.  So I broke (well didn't break as you can see) 4 eggs into the pan and tossed in a little milk.

Then Aiden stirred it up.

Incidentilly these eggs came from John Ness's chooks.  He gave them to me when I took his trailer back after the boys weekend.

When the eggs were cooked to perfection Aiden advised that he did not eat eggs.  So I did.  And they were beautiful.

Highland Ball

The geriatric party night of the year!

Preparation starts well in advance for the girls anyway.  I did try on my shirt in the morning and established that the collar was a bit tight.  Drove off in search of a replacement.  Dreading the idea of going to Indooroopilly shopping town, I decided to try DFO at Jindalee.  Closer and easier parking.

I entered the building with great trepidation.  No wife or even woman to advise on selection of a shirt.  As luck would have it, the first shop I entered had suitable looking shirts and a range of sizes and a bloke with a tape measure who wrapped it round my neck and announced I was 42.  Knowing my existing too small shirt was 42, I upsized to 43.

Pre party preparation preening.  Megan tinkers with Leigh's hair.

My vice was to drop into the Hilton with David Semple and have a coffee to keep me awake past midnight.

Our group had two tables.

I am hopeful I can get some photos from someone else as my camera is pretty ordinary

I didn't take my glasses but luckily I have a 'business' card magnifying glass in my wallet.  Sean appeared to need to too to read the menu.




The highland ball finished at midnight.  I was hoping we would all go as a group down to the Valley to check out the night clubs.  Never my scene but we did it a couple of years ago and it was interesting.  No traction.  So all the pumpkins were loaded into the Vito and  Fil drove up home.  He dropped us at Calston Street and continued to the Konings where I believe he stayed the night and where I believe the Vito currently is.  I think I will ride my bike over and pick it up.