Life had been very full since I last posted an update. I started writing about my adventures w Lisa when she came for an action packed week in Alberta, and how I seem to go on all these fabulous dates w friends from all over the world (rough existence, I know!) – turns out that was about 2 months ago! Things haven’t changed much, I continue to have a wonderful time, sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous, with old and new friends every day. There has been a large amount of travel in between for me, all centred around the wonderous and mysterious Peru (even more mysterious when you don’t speak…
Mountains and Milestones
I’m a special kind of friend. The kind who takes joy in seeing those close to her somewhat uncomfortable, a little on edge and, at times, down right mad. This is only for certain and very specific occasions. Like a Stagette (Hens) weekend planned for a special person in my life. Enter Ms Terri Chaffey. Terri is probably my polar opposite in many ways. This was brought to light one day when we were making a birthday card for a mutual friend. I filled it with so many colourful, swirly stamps that it made Terri physically anxious. The idea of straight lines and empty spaces makes her excited. Terri is…
Following Time
Now that we have all had a slight existential thought process for the day, what will you do with it!? In line with the revelation that I have some of the funnest people in my life (world wide, not continent defined which makes things even more exciting) I have been reflecting on the things that are most valuable to my time allocation. It’s not surprising that time spent with people make the top of my list for things I find personally fulfilling. Beyond that I’ve realised that the people who let me hang out with them are up to incredibly fun things. How great that I get to be…
Timing & Structure
I have had a lot of time on my hands the past two weeks….Kinda. Turns out I can make being a social butterfly a full time position. Who would have guessed?! I was sitting on the couch and realised that I was weeks away from doing yoga practice for multiple hours per day and for a 3 week period. It seemed logical that I should get back into doing some yoga between meeting up with people. Enter my new love – Iyengar yoga. Iyengar yoga focuses on the alignment and breath within the asana. This is interesting as it’s the completely different focus of the yoga course happening in Peru…
The Unexpected Tri
After spending a week cruising around in a van through British Colombia in ‘recovery’ mode, I spent a majority of the following week sitting around cuddling Jacob – my international cat friend. When staying with Meredith and Adam (Jacob’s faithful humans), one must always be ready to be outside in any weather condition. Rusty, the large fluffy pup who also resides with Jacob, requires two walks per day. This is fabulous motivation when it’s sunny and fun outside. Even if it’s snowing and clear, walking Rusty provides opportunity to let the mind wander, inhale some outside air and check out what’s occurring in the neighbourhood. This was not 100% the…
VanLyfe BC
I think the last thing you would really want to do when you’ve ran 42.2km is sit in a van for a week. You would think, right? Not for this little duck! Around the time that I was kicking my ass into gear for the marathon in May, my friend Tim proposed a road trip in his van from Vancouver to Calgary. That’s about 1200km or a good days drive if you’re into sitting for 12-15 hours. I’ve previously toured from Calgary to Lunenburg via vehicle (in separate chunks), this leg would be the completion of a cross continent exploration (aside from Vancouver Island, that will be adventured to another…
‘The Wall’ Love Tap
Day two post marathon and I can almost walk like a normal person once more. Based on the effort required to get out of bed yesterday, this is a massive achievement. Speaking of massive achievements…. I FINISHED A FRICKEN MARATHON!!! Let me set the scene – I have never considered myself a runner. In 2010 3km was a massive effort and 5km seemed like an unrealistic distance. Enter Terri and her idea to run the Las Vegas half. Shit. Now I have to train. 21.1km is far. Done! Enter Meredith in 2012 and the Edmonton half – done. Head back to Oz and Carrie and I rock out the…
The Inevitable Hangover
In the past two weeks, the three of us have been pushing the boundaries of food and wine consumption. The space I’d made for cheese and bread in Brisbane has been suitably filled in France. I can officially declare a love affair with French bread and butter. And cheese. And all forms of cured meats that go with all of the above. Did I mention the wine? Yes, that too. I am in a polyamorous relationship with French cuisine. Happily, we are all okay with it. My last night in France finds us staying the the Champagne region and we have a full day to fill with whatever we…
Fun Run?
Post ANZAC day, our little crew had the fortunate situation of having a late check out from Lille before our onward journey of Trélou-sur-Marne. I, ever the morning person, used this time to go for a run. The weather was still overcast and drizzly, I had had the foresight to pack some of the winter based running gear I haven’t used in three years. No one likes cold ears. Out I set, with a plan to run towards Lille’s ‘Menagerie” about 3km away, thinking that I’d add some kms in on the way back once I roughly knew where I was going. My phone is limited to wifi for any…
The Western Front
Tonight I finalised and posted the tale of Paris and all the riches it entailed. I had a discontented feeling about posting that today due to today's date: 25th April. This day should not slide past without mention or reverie in the space of this blog. It would go against all I have seen and felt over the past three days. Fitting that I should finalise and review a post about how life had occurred to me in a dream like manner, floating through the opulence of Versailles and stumbling into world-renowned restaurants by chance, on the day where history has allowed me to do just that. 100 years ago…