Seconds for Christmas

Hope all lurkers and commenters had a great Christmas. Here, we hosted the family and Mrs BB did an excellent catering job, with assistance from attendees. Plenty of cheer, fine food (with the traditional ham, turkey and pork supplemented by chickpea burgers and tofu kebabs, the latter mainly for me), good company and moderate weather. YD had the sort of Christmas one expects littlies to have, with Santa arriving on time and supplying much of the requested list. Both he and the reindeer enjoyed our cookie/carrot/milk/water repast we put on; YD didn't disturb us until after 7:30am - thoughtfully reading in bed until then.

No annual leave just yet, that comes later in January, so it's back to a workplace doubling as a mausoleum. That's okay, I can do twice as much work in half the time...

Since last post, a solid 68k in 6 days, with no real bursitis problems and speed going okay.
I've managed 1 x 8k, 1 x 9k, 1 x 11k, 2 x 12k, 1 x 13k. Pretty solid stuff, and I'll add to that the 3k time trial last Wednesday at Roxborough Park, where the Hills Athletics Club put on a fine run, sausage sizzle, and Bakers' Delight delight. Not bad value for the $2 entry fee.
This year, I've managed four of these runs: Jan 14:25, Feb 13:37, Sep 13:37

and this month: 13:33!! four seconds!!!

So, a good way to finish off the year with a PB and the feeling that the injury is definitely on the train with a one way ticket, personal escort and a warning at all border points to refuse re-entry. Weights continues well, and I plan to modify my exercise regime next year: weekly sprints (4 x 1k), and no cycling - both bikes are soon to find loving new homes. We have ridden ours an average of twice a year for 10 years, so realism has set in and alternative - perhaps more difficult - exercise will occur. Still plenty of running for me, and walking for Mrs BB. I'd like to do the West Met series next year; it will depend on Son's soccer timetable.

Given this may well be the final post of 2007, based on a quick statistical analysis of frequency of posting, may I wish all a safe NYE and a wonderful 2008. May your hopes be fulfilled in a positive way.

Felix Sit Annus Novus

"Exit, stage left"

Face it, the 5k is busted

The obscure post title amuses me. Stick with it.

Did the SMC Sunday. Went for the 5k option as I felt the bursitis needed TLC and 5k wasn't a stretch (get it?). Joe M of course stuck to the 5k but had problems of his own - hamstring. Still, he managed 20:20 which was excellent, and I finished in 24 flat gun time. I'm claiming 23:47 net as I had to stop for a TWay bus - something I never really thought happened to anyone, but now there are two of us who can claim this dubious distinction.
A pleasant morning out, with mild humidity and little sun, followed by a great BBQ and chat. And home by 9am, with the day ahead!
Managed 71k in 8 runs since last post, with a solid 15k Quakers Hill workout Saturday before the SMC. Plenty of weights to create the illusion of balanced training.
The dental saga grows, with more problems, although now symetrically opposed. Turns out that I have muscle problems RHS of dental set, top. The dentist is amused, and suggests it is due to compensating for the tooth problems on the LHS: you know, eating only on the right. Seems the best treatment is not talking, eating soft food, and not laughing. Strike Three...

After prompting from Tesso, signed up to Facebook, and now wonder at all the trivial things you can do on the site. Movie quizzes, scrabulous, writing on walls, poking... what happened to talking?

Looking forward to the last Roxborough Park 3k time trial tomorrow night, followed by the end of year BBQ. Well done again Steve!


Readers in sych will know of my penchant for correct and simple language. Imagine my surprise listening to a Real Estate spokesperson yesterday on the ABC. He spoke of the need to create more dwellings to offset demand for accommodation. I shiver when people say "moving forward" (is there an option involving time travel?). I challenge writers' birth legitimacy when they convert nouns to verbs (I will not be "tasked" with any challenge).
What I find particularly infuriating is when someone uses a buzz word or phrase and, combined with the wrong context, ends up with a meaningless piece of drivel that would be seen as clever if intentional.
In this case, he said: " we need, moving forward, to task our policy team with the challenge of creating more stand-alone dwellings on the ground (my italics)".
Great, so no Jetsons in the near future. Here endeth the linguistic rant.

It's nearing Christmas, so I'm listening to The Pogues "Fairytale In New York City". A wonderful mix of schmalz, realism and Irish humour.

BTW, I still feel good when I read/hear "Prime Minister Rudd". And I think we deserve an extra celebratory drink NYE for this don't we?

absentem laedit cum ebrio qui litigat

"Exit, stage left"

Tom Lehrer is right

Tom Lehrer once said that political satire was obsolete, after Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
Without doubt, this has been reinforced by Brendan Nelson's Shadow Cabinet announcement.
I mean, Tony Abbott as Shadow Indigenous Affairs spokesperson!
And Bronwyn Bishop for Veterans Affairs!
For me, this puts BN in a new light. I thought he was merely trying to emulate the winning presentation style of P Ruddock, but with his zany appointments, there is a Groucho Marx attempting to gain ascendancy.
Still, Labor supporters everywhere have reason to feel confident of 2010 victory even now, with the opposition being led by the team of The Locum and Dr Farnsworth.
It is as though eleven years of bad karma have caught up, and we are treated to this, as well as the political journos each writing their own backstory. For me, the funniest is the QLD Libs' leadership battles, and the threat to have a lucky dip leader. Maybe Rusty will do a Nelson and opt for the Libs. He'd be a better leader, although Queenslanders still feel Mickey Mouse is better qualified.

In my own seat of Greenway, we are soooo lucky to have Louise Markus (Lib) returned, with a substantially reduced majority. Oh well, see you out and about in another 2.5 years Louise. Remember us. Remember where we are, too.

Running has been steadily improving, with the bursitis being self-managed. Plenty of stretching, decent runs but nothing over 15k. Even some sprint training at Rouse Hill park: 2 x 1k efforts of 4:45 and 4:33. Pretty happy I can even do sprints, so I guess I am running within my constraints.

I've decided I'll do the SMH run next weekend, but dropping down to the 5k, so supporting Joe for the first 100m. I'm sure he'll do under 20 min again. I'm aiming for a sub 25 and hope my leg holds up.

On the dental front, it's fair to say Bella Dental has dedicated a Blues Buffett wing, in recognition of the sterling business sent their way over the past month. However, in the washup, no crown, no root canal, no major activity. Night split, filling, different diagnoses. The current one in favour is that the cracked tooth is manageable, and the referred pain was from muscular injury to the jaw and surrounds. Anyway, it seems to have disappeared, so no more daily Nurofen and plenty of sleeping.

All of this is no doubt fascinating to loyal blog readers, and I apologise for not providing updates over the past four weeks. As with other CR bloggers, it appears that life has got in the way of cyber life.

On the reading front: I can heartily recommend Philip Kerr's fourth novel in the Bernie Gunther series "The One From The Other". I don't lightly describe novels as Page Turners, but this is. If you haven't read the Berlin Noir trilogy (now obsolete with this fourth installment, and a fifth due in 2008), do so. Think Phillip Marlow in Germany pre- and post- WW2.

Musically, I've managed to pick up the first two Whitlam's CD's on eBay, so plan to catch up on a few old favourites as well as explore - to me - early unknowns.

Musica delenit bestiam feram

"Exit, stage left"