Hockey Stops

I have been going ice skating more and more often over the last few weeks. I went on Tuesday evening and last Sunday morning. With the my new hockey skates, I have put my figure skates away and started spending more time attempting hockey stops.

What is a "hockey stop" you ask?

^^^ That is. And with a failed one on Tuesday night, I landed square on my butt and my right elbow. I overbalanced backwards and up went the legs, and down I came. I lay on the ice for a moment to settle myself until I started feeling the cold again. At this time, Joker and Mirkz had seen my lying there and came to help me up.

This morning (at 4am), my neck is still sore and the graze on my elbow has started to scab up nicely. I'm still keen for skating around, I think I might just have to get used to falling over, or being more game to try things out. For now, I'm just going to practice and keep checking out YouTube for tips :)

Working on Assignments

Its the business end of the trimester and Ive been working on two assignments, one for my Financial Management (FM550) class, and one for Economic Analysis and Asian Economics (EAAE551). As usual, I had good intentions of getting them started early, only to have life get in the way and cause me to do a fairly last minute rush to complete them.

The good news is that I got 16.5 out of 20 for my FM550 assignment, with the results of EAAE551 yet to come in. Also banking for over 70% but I guess we'll have to see!

Big thanks to Robin for the motivation and to Harry for proofing my work and pointing me in the right direction with the dreaded balance sheet! *hugs*

Part Two of the National Fencing Circuit, 2009

And welcome to RADelaide!

So it was time for AFF #2 for 2009, this time in Adelaide. The forecast was for showers, storms, wind and cold weather, but the fencing was heating up for the season with more top names in the mens events.

Robin winning his poule bout (nice lunge!)

That being said, both Robin and I did pretty average, both of us coming second-last. I managed to win my direct elimination and then face Min Du who went on to grab second place in the tournament.

As the taste for fencing went sour, Robin and I decided to spend the day checking out the Barossa Valley and having lunch at Jacob's Restaurant at the famous Jacob's Creek winery.


We cruised around in the hire car and took some snaps. FACT: You can fit 3 jumbo Uhlmann fencing bags, 3 pieces of luggage and 4 people into a 2008 Toyota Corolla hatch!


Also note, that Adelaide drivers don't drive like Perth drivers. No-one speeds. Seriously, if it was a 60km/hr zone, everyone would do 60. Not 57, not 65, but 60. Every artery was a triple carriage way (much like Canberra). *cough* Excuse me Mr Department for Planning and Infrastructure, do we see a trend happening here?

However, nobody indicates. It's not all a bad thing because realistically, you don't have to. Drivers leave enough room for each other on the road to accomodate such lazy driving. An interesting but refreshing change. In all, Adelaide isn't rad. But its still about 10 years ahead of Perth.

Nike Bauer Vapor XXXX

Mirkz and I went out the other day to Cockburn Ice Arena to check out the latest range of ice hockey skates and try a few pairs on. We basically just went there to get sizing as I knew the prices would be substantially more than buying online.

I tried on a pair of Nike Bauer XXII's for $449 and some Eastons for $249 (which felt pretty cheap and nasty). I found out that my sizing was around the 4,5 mark which was also a bonus as I am a junior boot.

That evening I jumped on eBay and started checking out the higher spec boots in the hope that I could get a better pair for less. And I did.

I bought a pair of Nike Bauer Vapor XXXX (called X 40's) off eBay and received them within 10 days at AUD 305 landed. Mirkz struck up a similar deal and scored the Nike Bauer Supreme One15's.

Now to head out and get them moulded and have a go at them!

Burnie Burger Barn

This is the second time I have spent time in Burnie, Tasmania. Both times with work, and with workmates. It was Chris' turn.

Heading to the office, this is the view from the main strip, the ocean is behind me. We managed to get 3 full days of sunshine too!

The view from the hotel room

The first night in Burnie (Monday) was after a whole day's travel from Perth, so all we wanted to do was eat and sleep. We headed to the restaurant over the road from the hotel and got the full silver service. Nowhere in Perth could you eat the food we did (including the freshest seafood) with the service we got, and still not crack the $100 mark.

The second night (Tuesday) started well, with dinner at the hotel and a bottle of wine. Followed by more bottles of wine on the hotel balcony, chip packets, iPod cranked and Foxtel's Music MAX playing a "guys that wear makeup" special. I managed to pick about 5 of the top 10, so Chris was pretty impressed. Not sure what happened during that fourth bottle of wine, but I'm pretty sure I kicked Chris out and barked up in the bin. At least I didn't feel as bad as he did on Wednesday morning. *blerrrrgh*

A stroke of luck came about on Wednesday when the Product Manager for the east coast (for my company) asked us if we wanted to join the festivities of the Yolla bonfire night, to raise money for the Rock Eisteddford. We couldn't help ourselves and it turned to be a fantastic night with the most massive bonfire, fireworks, hot food (50c donuts) and the school band cranking out some great tunes.

Luckily for us, we had grabbed a hire car and took it for a spin up to Cradle Mountain after spending three days in the office. And yes, it was freezing up there. It was 12 degrees in the sun all day and when the sun set in the National Park, it was about 5 degrees.

No snow there this time, but I'm hoping to make it back to Burnie for round 3 with Robin one day, and check the park out with its real winter coat.