More Water...

When I left last Thursday, it was sunny. When I jumped off the plane on Wednesday, it was sunny and really hot. It's hard to believe any of the rain ever happened. All the water is dried up, all that's left are damaged homes. Here's more pics...

A drowned car.
Soccer Fields. The tin tops that you can see are the tops of the shelter sheds where you sit to watch soccer.
A shipping container that was washed away from somewhere. It's lodged up against a footbridge which is around the gooseponds - under there somewhere is a road with the traffic lights out of order, and a walking track. The scary thing is, the gooseponds is home to lots of turtles, ducks and even the occassional crocodile...
There was a story in the paper of a lady outside her house attempting to salvage some belongings which were floating away and she came across the bubbles of a croc... Just when you think things can't get any worse.

DEVASTATION...

Here's some pics of the floods that swept the region on Friday. I was away in Brisbane at the time, on an intense course which was held in the mountains with no phone reception or any contact with the outside world. Kek - that's why you couldn't get me on mobile!! (more about the course in another post). I had absolutely no idea of what was happening in Mackay, which was probably for the best or I would have been stressing, but what could I do from down there, especially when flights in and out were cancelled? My family's and OH's houses were not affected, as they are in a higher-set suburb. Relatives houses in more up-market estates are just ruined, along with all the contents and cars. It's so so sad. Everyone has a tale to tell, and I could go on forever, but I'll just post some of the many pics which are being emailed from various sources. And thanks to all the well-wishes from you guys :)

This business is just 50m from my business. I was soo soo lucky mine wasn't affected.

Another pic of the street my business intersects. I am just across from the red brick building up the road a bit.
A two-storey house gone under.
Harvey Norman along with AMart Furniture and Sports and many other huge stores all have damaged stock, some having to close for up to 6 weeks.

One of the bridges that went under. Yes, there is a bridge under there somewhere. This bridge has gone under before in bad weather with high tides, but this in just unbelievable. The 40km sign is almost under. The post with the thingys hanging off it is the marker to notify larger trucks of the maximum clearance, so you can imagine how far below that the actual bridge is.

I'm Outtie!!

Off to Brisbane tomorrow for a course! Can't wait!
But I can't wait even more till my boy joins me on Monday and we have our little holiday. I'm calling it our belated Valentine's Day!
Which reminds me...
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!!!

Wet Wet Wet!!

It has been raining heaps here. Heaps and heaps. There's lots of flooding road closures.
We had an amazing storm at 3am this morning. The thunder was so so loud it woke me from my comatose sleep. Plus there was a disco outside my window with all the lightning! Today is supposed to be very windy.

I hope things settle down by Thursday. I've got a flight to catch to Brisbane!

To Flip or Not to Flip

That is the question!
I just found out that the triathlon I'm entering, does allow the use of flippers. It is a "come and tri"so they're encouraging people of all abilities to give it a go.
I'm a hopeless swimmer but I've been training pretty hard to just survive the swim and for bonus points - I'm actually starting to enjoy swimming (shhh don't tell anyone!).
Knowing I can comfortably swim the distance in flippers is very tempting.... think how much further up in the field I'd exit the pool...
BUT on the other hand, I'd feel like I cheated somehow, although they're legal. I'd rather come bottom field having given my best with no aids, than do a better time and come higher in the field having used something to assist me.
Considering the struggles I have with swimming, doing it all of my own self will be a much bigger accomplishment me thinks!!
I think I've just answered my own question! :)

I have the bestest boy in the world!!

My poor boy had to travel out west for work on Thursday night, after he finished his day in the office. He had to cover for a superviser out there - he usually works in town. The job was only supposed to be for Friday, but 4.30pm Friday afternoon he called me with the bad news, because of the rain, the job was held up and he had to work Saturday as well. He was able to stay out there, at their expense overnight, but he said he missed me too much and would drive home to see me. As much as I wanted him too, I knew he would be exhausted from the long day. But he did it anyway :) 14 hours after starting work, he was home.

Poor boy was up at 5am with me - which is normally unheard of! - this morning and had to drive all the way back there. Fingers crossed the job should be finished and he'll be home safe and sound again tonight.

I can guarantee we're gonna be party poopers tonight! He'll be exhausted, and I'm failing slowly! LoL. I did a 11km run this morning, had breakfast and was straight to the pool when it opened at 8am to swim a kilometre. This triathlon training will be the death of me! However, I think it was the 4 hours of browsing through the shops that has really worn me out... ;)

Stuff...

Pics from my brother-in-laws 30th Birthday 2 weeks ago. In case you couldn't tell, it was Hawaiian theme. ;)
My sister, mwa, my bestie with her daughter and my god-daughter, Jade-Lyn.

Us + JL's little sister. That's my boy on the couch, beer in hand. Of course.

OK , Let me Rephrase That...

Man did my last post come out wrong. And thanks Kek for your comment... you know how to make a girl feel like a doofus! ;)


I'm trying to get my BF% down is what I meant. I'm not a scales nut, I jump when I remember... hence jumping on yesterday - I mean, who checks in on a Thursday?! HA! As I have a lil muffin top, along with a little jiggly belly, my goal is to reduce body fat and get everything tightened again. And weighing what I did, that's more than likely going to knock me down into the 40s... :) That's what I was trying to say :) This pic is from when I did my first 12 week program, this was weighing in at 46kgs. Yes I had been on a depletion week, but was holding steady around 48kgs for a few weeks prior.

So that's where I plucked the 40s from. But what I really want is to get rid of the wobblies whilst continuing to build strong musckles, whether the scales see it or not! ;)

Right, I'm glad I cleared that up! ;)

Operation 49...

Since just mid December I weighed in at 50.6kgs. This has held ever since, except for a slight fluctuation over Christmas, which then dropped back to 50.6.
Today I was 50.6. Maybe my scales are broken and don't budge from that?? :) I'm not complaining, it's my lowest I've been in a while.
However, I want to crack the 40s again!! It's been TWO whole years since I've seen the 40s on the scales. I know I can do it, it's just so close!!
Exercise has been more than enough, but along with that comes more hunger!! Time to keep an extra eye on portion sizes to see if I can budge a little fat!
GOAL - To be there by my birthday in a month! Watch me go!! ;)

Good Joke I got via Email and had to share! No offence to my blonde friends out there!! ;)

BLONDES AND SHOES

A blonde was on holiday and driving through Darwin. She desperately wanted to take home a pair of genuine crocodile shoes but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking.

After becoming very frustrated with the "no haggle on prices" attitude of one of the shopkeepers, the blonde shouted, "Well then, maybe I'll just go out and catch my own crocodile, so I can get a pair of shoes for free."

The shopkeeper said with a sly, knowing smile, "Little lady, just go and give it a try!" The blonde headed out toward the river, determined to catch a crocodile!

Later in the day, as the shopkeeper is driving home, he pulls over to the side of the bank where he spots the same young woman standing waist deep in the murky water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he spots a huge 3 metre croc swimming rapidly toward her. With lightning speed, she takes aim, kills the creature and hauls it onto the slimy banks of the river. Lying nearby were 7 more of the dead creatures, all lying on their backs.

The shopkeeper stood on the bank, watching in silent amazement. The blonde struggled and flipped the Croc onto its back. Rolling her eyes heavenward and screaming in great frustration, she shouts out....... " SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, THIS ONE'S BAREFOOT, TOO"!

I Survived Sunday's Session!

4km run, 1km swim, 4 km run.
It was really hot so the first 4kms was a bit uncomfortable. It was a welcome relief to jump in the pool though!! We (well me) only had time for a 500m swim, as the pool was closing, but some people did fit in the 1km. The second 4km run was a bit wobbly to start, but then I felt great and motored on to finish in the same time as the first 4km! Very happy with that :)

I've been so busy at work this week, I'm heaps tired and it's only Wednesday!! The fact that I've been up watching The Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance hasn't helped my sleeping patterns.. :)

My boy has to go away this weekend to play footy :( I plan to make the most of my alone time and get some stuff done. I have to pack for my week away in Brisbane on the weekend. I fly out Thursday - no Valentine's Day for me! - and won't get a chance before then...

For Lyndsay :)

Wish I could say that's me in the pic, but it ain't :)

My sis and her hubby in Tahiti for their honeymoon.

Hope it brings back memories for you too!!!

Yipee for the weekend!!

One of my fave pics from my sis' wedding :)

I can catch up and take some breathing time :) For that reason there's not alot planned, but that's how I like it! I woke at 5am this morning to meet a friend for an easy 1hour run. The days are getting shorter already, it wasn't light till about 5.30am, usually the sun is beaming at 5am.
:( Anywho, it was all done and dusted by 6.30am. I showered and crawled back into bed for half hour or so :)

I'm at work now playing catch-up. I never seem to win this game though ;)

The only other highlight for this weekend is group training tomorrow afternoon. 4km run, 1km swim, 4km run. I hope there's other road runners joining in tomorrow that can swim as bad as me!!! LOL!