So as most of you know.. I am not a runner. Before March I could barely run 1K without needing a break...despite that I signed up for City to Surf and committed to a 14k run from Sydney CBD (Central Business District or "Downtown") to Bondi Beach. For me, this race is about completion not time - I figure that I can work on time eventually but for my first major run I want to make sure I complete it without stopping/walking.
So I put together a plan with my run date in mind and have been chipping away at it slowly! Its not been an easy as the weather gets cooler & rainier in sydney and that initial motivation just isn't there but I can honestly say it's getting easier.
So 2 months later... I am up to my half way mark! Today I ran just over 7k and I couldn't be more thrilled! And to be completely honest.. everything after 4k just feel good so I guess I am on the right track!
Any who.. with 8 weeks to go and a mega trip to canada planned in July for my sister's wedding -- I hope that I can stay committed and keep up the training so that I can reach my goal!
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Vivid - Festival of Lights
Earlier this month Vivid was on in Sydney. Vivid is a series of light projections all around the city. Seemed like everyone with a camera and tripod was out enjoying the visuals. Check out their site for more info and loads of fantastic pics.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
went exploring on the bike today, found some apple pie + ice cream along the way
It truly is hard to explain how beautiful Australia is from a landscape perspective. To date it is one of the best countries I've had the fortune to travel to and explore. Fortunately living here has allowed me to go a bit further off the beaten path without having to do extensive research or read online reviews, as you would when you go on holiday. It's also a blessing to be able to wake up on the weekend and do something you've never ever done before. And I think i'm just scratching the surface in terms of whats out there.
Today's adventure stems from this....Ever look out the window of an airplane and think "hey that looks like a cool spot to go explore one day". Well today I went on a ~150km round trip in a northerly direction in the hopes of finding a series of bridges and water hidden amongst some serious greenery. We saw this from the window on our flight out to Gold Coast a few weeks back. I didn't realize I'd end up eating apple pie and ice cream at a biker hangout called "Pie in the Sky" after finding the exact bridges we saw from the the airplane. Check out their site for more pics of the local scenery.
Unfortunately, one of the most frustrating things I've found about moving to another country is that every so often you come across something or a place that you wish your friends back home could be with you to enjoy. The roads I experienced today was another fine example. The biker crew would love these roads. In a nut shell... long twisties cutting through various elevations, low to no traffic and no cops for miles. Doesn't get better than that. Oh yeah... some good eats at the end of the run.
Today's adventure stems from this....Ever look out the window of an airplane and think "hey that looks like a cool spot to go explore one day". Well today I went on a ~150km round trip in a northerly direction in the hopes of finding a series of bridges and water hidden amongst some serious greenery. We saw this from the window on our flight out to Gold Coast a few weeks back. I didn't realize I'd end up eating apple pie and ice cream at a biker hangout called "Pie in the Sky" after finding the exact bridges we saw from the the airplane. Check out their site for more pics of the local scenery.
Unfortunately, one of the most frustrating things I've found about moving to another country is that every so often you come across something or a place that you wish your friends back home could be with you to enjoy. The roads I experienced today was another fine example. The biker crew would love these roads. In a nut shell... long twisties cutting through various elevations, low to no traffic and no cops for miles. Doesn't get better than that. Oh yeah... some good eats at the end of the run.
What happens when the wife is 15000 km away?
... you get bored and make cookies with sweet poppy/suwar dana mixed in it. Interesting. Would I make them again...hmm likely not, in my defence it was a good idea at the time
I also made a big pot of chilli on saturday, which turned out pretty good, definitely will not need to do much more cooking over the next 2 days.
Sunday, 19 May 2013
trip back for Hiran's Wedding
There is no two ways about it: Flying from Australia to Canada is a long ass way to go for a friggin wedding.... but I'm still glad I went! Despite the journey which takes over 29-30 hours when you add all the time before, during, between and after the flight. Also, don't forget the added bonus of having to go through US customs when you land in LAX. Anywhoo I digress.
Was great catching up with the family and the boys. As always the pre-wedding events are just as much fun as the wedding day itself. Managed to squeeze in a hike plus lunch at Tucker's Market Place with Dad/Rin and on another occasion Rin and I made dinner for Mom on one of the evenings. One of the highlights of the trip was Mom making me my favourite... fresh mandwo with pappa nu lot + sugar...mmm
The wedding itself was good. Reception was great, was fun doing the Harlem Shake mid speech with the boys while almost burning the place down. Still wondering if I should have eaten Lamb Chops before sitting on the mandap during the wedding... ahh well sure Rimi and Hiran aren't too fussed.
Was great catching up with the family and the boys. As always the pre-wedding events are just as much fun as the wedding day itself. Managed to squeeze in a hike plus lunch at Tucker's Market Place with Dad/Rin and on another occasion Rin and I made dinner for Mom on one of the evenings. One of the highlights of the trip was Mom making me my favourite... fresh mandwo with pappa nu lot + sugar...mmm
Sunday, 12 May 2013
soul cleansing
Today I volunteered at a local mandir with a friend. Was nice to do a bit of gardening and be behind some powertools again for a change. City living has been quite a change from my domesticated surburban life back in Waterloo. Also on the 45min highway drive down it was nice to get the bike out of the usual first second gear driving that is usually all you end up doing around the city.
Link to Mandir
Pri
Link to Mandir
Pri
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
London Calling... For Part 1 of my Sister's Wedding!
Last Week Pri and I got back to Sydney after a WONDERFUL 10 days spent with friends & family celebrating my beautiful sister's Civil Wedding!!
First of all.. she is officially ROWENA VERSHA DUFF! How crazy is that... I think this is going to take a bit of getting use to but it does have a nice ring to it!
This trip was one of those trip that really made Pri and I reconsider what we are doing living so far away from family... in any case we are in Sydney now for who knows how long so best thing is to think positive and not dwell on the negative too much!
The weekend started with Bacon sandwiches made by my sis... really how much better can it get.
We got home & showered up/ate our sandwhiches and dropped Pri off at the stations (so he could head up north to visit his relo's) before heading back to the airport to pick up sis's best friend Shalini.. aka shellyben... aka shellymasi... aka any other name starting with S that my family can think of!
First weekend was spent living in an apartment in Covent Garden (sourced by Shellyben) and meeting up with +20 of Sis's friends for my sister's hen weekend. Safe to say.. it was a great weekend... lots of fun activities (which I really shouldnt discuss) and great food with great people! :)
I think headed north on Sunday to meet up with Pri's family which was great. It was awesome to connect with all of them. Then LOTS of retail on Monday at the Bull Ring in Bham where my husband managed to OUT-shop me followed by a train over to Jai-Masi's in Coventry.
Tuesday AM we headed back to London where Sis bought me Tea @ the Ritz for my bday pressie! Nothing can beat those scones, cream and jam!! Shell and I ate our scone hamburgers like champs!! We left feeling stupidly full - thinking there would be no need to eat dinner. But instead.. we got an indian take away and ate some more!
Wednesday PM we picked up sis's dress and then headed to Bharat Mama's in Loughborough - where we ate lovely meat saak made by my BA & Pri was initiated into the family by Mama taking him to his favourite pub in Loughborough.
Thursday AM we meet Michael Jija's family at the Mandir for their indian saagai.. then headed to Simla Pinks in Leicester for some eats. :) Pri and I then with to Melton Road (I think thats the name) to find him something to wear for the indian wedding in July.. safe to say.. we bought his kufni, hit 2 indian sweet shops and a paan shop in less than an hour before heading back to Mama's. We then left L'Boro and headed to Sheffield to spend some quality time at Madhu Foi's! It was so lovely to spend a night in sheffield and catch up with Foi, Jay, Binz & Raj!
Friday AM - we left sheffield and headed to Tynemouth to meet the Duff's for lunch! :) On route we checked out a castle in newcastle.. and checked out the sea side in Tynemouth! We then headed further North to the cottages rented by my the masi's & Foi's for the wedding weekend.
We spent Saturday night at pub with the family for some pre-wedding drinks before the big day!
Sunday AM - after a very restful sleep until 9am we started the day with porridge and fruit while we got our make up done. The whole morning was a blur of excitement and before we knew it we were enjoying the ceremony and reception with our loved ones! The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the speeches were fab! I definitely love the british tradition where only the father of the bride, groom & best man speech ... it just adds class to a part of a wedding which is usually overcome by boring speeches that no body really understands! The food was fab and the drinks were WONDERFUL!! I cant remember much of the night .. which in my books means I had a great time! I just remember thinking the next morning... it went by so quickly!!
Anywhoo... wedding 1 done.. now it's on to wedding round 2 where my real jobs begin!!
Link to Official Photographer:
http://reidphotography.co.uk/index.php/2013/05/newton-hall-wedding-photographers-rowena-michael/
First of all.. she is officially ROWENA VERSHA DUFF! How crazy is that... I think this is going to take a bit of getting use to but it does have a nice ring to it!
This trip was one of those trip that really made Pri and I reconsider what we are doing living so far away from family... in any case we are in Sydney now for who knows how long so best thing is to think positive and not dwell on the negative too much!
The weekend started with Bacon sandwiches made by my sis... really how much better can it get.
We got home & showered up/ate our sandwhiches and dropped Pri off at the stations (so he could head up north to visit his relo's) before heading back to the airport to pick up sis's best friend Shalini.. aka shellyben... aka shellymasi... aka any other name starting with S that my family can think of!
First weekend was spent living in an apartment in Covent Garden (sourced by Shellyben) and meeting up with +20 of Sis's friends for my sister's hen weekend. Safe to say.. it was a great weekend... lots of fun activities (which I really shouldnt discuss) and great food with great people! :)
I think headed north on Sunday to meet up with Pri's family which was great. It was awesome to connect with all of them. Then LOTS of retail on Monday at the Bull Ring in Bham where my husband managed to OUT-shop me followed by a train over to Jai-Masi's in Coventry.
Tuesday AM we headed back to London where Sis bought me Tea @ the Ritz for my bday pressie! Nothing can beat those scones, cream and jam!! Shell and I ate our scone hamburgers like champs!! We left feeling stupidly full - thinking there would be no need to eat dinner. But instead.. we got an indian take away and ate some more!
Wednesday PM we picked up sis's dress and then headed to Bharat Mama's in Loughborough - where we ate lovely meat saak made by my BA & Pri was initiated into the family by Mama taking him to his favourite pub in Loughborough.
Thursday AM we meet Michael Jija's family at the Mandir for their indian saagai.. then headed to Simla Pinks in Leicester for some eats. :) Pri and I then with to Melton Road (I think thats the name) to find him something to wear for the indian wedding in July.. safe to say.. we bought his kufni, hit 2 indian sweet shops and a paan shop in less than an hour before heading back to Mama's. We then left L'Boro and headed to Sheffield to spend some quality time at Madhu Foi's! It was so lovely to spend a night in sheffield and catch up with Foi, Jay, Binz & Raj!
Friday AM - we left sheffield and headed to Tynemouth to meet the Duff's for lunch! :) On route we checked out a castle in newcastle.. and checked out the sea side in Tynemouth! We then headed further North to the cottages rented by my the masi's & Foi's for the wedding weekend.
We spent Saturday night at pub with the family for some pre-wedding drinks before the big day!
Sunday AM - after a very restful sleep until 9am we started the day with porridge and fruit while we got our make up done. The whole morning was a blur of excitement and before we knew it we were enjoying the ceremony and reception with our loved ones! The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the speeches were fab! I definitely love the british tradition where only the father of the bride, groom & best man speech ... it just adds class to a part of a wedding which is usually overcome by boring speeches that no body really understands! The food was fab and the drinks were WONDERFUL!! I cant remember much of the night .. which in my books means I had a great time! I just remember thinking the next morning... it went by so quickly!!
Anywhoo... wedding 1 done.. now it's on to wedding round 2 where my real jobs begin!!
Link to Official Photographer:
http://reidphotography.co.uk/index.php/2013/05/newton-hall-wedding-photographers-rowena-michael/
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