One of my favourite races is Ironman Australia.  Unfortunately, due to my aforementioned Salmonella poisoning, I was written off for this years one.  Instead, as we'd already paid for airfares and accomodation, I went up to sit back and relax on the beach at Port Macquarie, and maybe take a few photos.

All up, an awesome week away, although it bucketed down with rain for the first four nights.  The days were nice, warm and humid, but the beach wasn't really fit for swimming in.  Nevertheless, the hotel had a great pool and spa to make use of instead.

And I got to indulge my new found obsession with sports photography.

It's been one hell of a tough start to 2009.  First, a complete clean of our house was needed to remove some mould.  This means emptying the house, and then the chemical warfare guys come in and scrub the place down with vinegar, and vacuum the bejeezus out of the carpets.

Following that I cracked a rib at a mates go-karting bucks night (but I won).  Then, a week layup due to a chest infection as a result. 

Next, I came down with salmonella poisoning, which necessitated a week in hospital, a 10kg weight loss, and then another week recovery (loss of three weeks work - and pay - OUCH).  By the way - I blame Nic for this - first, I wanted fish and chips - she insisted on roast chicken.  I suggested she get it from the charcoal chicken shop across the road, she went to the Belgrave Safeway.  Finally, when we sat down to eat it - she said she wasn't hungry - so I ate the whole thing!  (If she's not hungry - LET ME HAVE MY FISH AND CHIPS!)  So - no matter what happened - I was destined to get food poisoning.

And if that's not enough, I've got to deal with issues at work, a temporary house move to Elwood, and renovations.  Good grief.

Last of all, some idiot lit a fire a few days after Black Saturday at the end of our street - quite literally, nine houses away.

I still have to retrospectively post our New Zealand trip too.

Things have finally settled down, and we've almost completely finished unpacking.  Ridiculous when you think about it - we've been home for nearly three weeks!

Anyway, this entry is really just a request for my Spanish friend whom we met at Plateaux de Beille to send me an email.  You sent me one earlier, but I received it when I was in Dubai and tried answering it in a really jetlagged state.  Needless to say, my deleted items was emptied and for some reason, your email was in it.  So, if you read this, please - get back in contact with me!

[EDIT: 18 September, 2007] Woohoo!  Great work.  He found my blog!  Now need to talk him and his wife into coming to Australia so I've got another riding buddy.  Except he does cyclocross.  Basically, mountain biking on a road bike.  Cripes.  Hard core!

The tin, sitting innocently in the centre of the room. Gleaming metal seal with the sunlight coming through the window glinting. Last nights satin sheen coating the side, roughened by the pouring of last nights paint into pots. The white satin coat on the walls reflect placidly against the paint tins subtle hue with the bright red carpet adding a slight pink sheen to it's lower region.

Inside, the paint sits quietly, patiently awaiting the onslaught as it is prepared for application. It's visualising it's application, the sudden lurching feel as it's lifted of the ground, the disorientation as it's swung towards the sink, and then the best bet - the violent gyrations as the pigment is reintegrated into the whole.

Then, the discovery of the world outside as the seal is lifted, the world revealed. The sensuous pouring into the paint pots, and finally, and most of all, the firm but loving massage. Will it be the tender, tickling brush strokes onto the walls with delight. Or perhaps the firm smooth massage of the roller with long relaxing strokes. And then finally, the relaxing, basking in the sun, adding its white hue to the colour of life.

Inside the tin, unknown to the world around, the paint gives a small quiver of anticipation, over before it began.... before anybody could see.