Selling my trusty VW Kombi
Yesterday was the end of an era. I finally sold my 1977 2 litre VW Kombi. Kombis have been a feature of our family since my dad bought our brand new light blue 1500 Microbus in 1970. At the time no one drove around in a big van. We could always find our car in the car park, and you could always see over all the traffic. How times have changed! We average around 45,000km per year, mostly going from the farm to the city and the Kombi went without a hitch until he rolled it near Hartley in 1976 with around 300,000 km on the clock. We replaced the...
read moreWhat does it take to be a City2Surf Legend?
My father and I went in the first (15km) Sydney City2Surf back in 1971 and we completed 26 consecutive runs together before his death in 1996. I’ve continued to do the run every year since (It has now been shortened to 14km). There are 39 ‘City2Surf Legends’ who have now completed 40 consecutive City2Surf fun runs. I hold the dubious honour of being the youngest of this group, having done the first event at the age of 10. Some of the guys are getting a little ancient now and there is always a lot of talk of death and injury...
read moreBlame Excuses and Denial
Have you ever met someone who blames others, saying things like ‘it is my husband’s fault that I am not rich’, and makes excuses such as ‘we would have a better house if you hadn’t done…’ and denies any involvement in having had a marriage break up despite the fact that it takes two to tango? I was reading yesterday that blame; excuses and denial are the opposite of ownership, responsibility and accountability. So if you have a colleague, a child or a spouse who is always blaming others, making excuses...
read moreTurning 80, is a Milestone, but it is what you do that counts
Most mornings Janine and I get up at 5:20am to take the dogs for a walk. Our usual route is across the horse paddocks and up a track that leads to the top of Mt Taylor, which is right behind our house. As we walk up the hill, we meet the regulars who say g’day as each walks up or down the track in their own meditative state. It is a great way to start the day, stretch the legs and gather your thoughts for the day. Some days there are bitterly cold winds on top of the mountain and we turn and head back down as quickly as possible. On...
read moreBirthday Morning Musing
Today is my birthday. I started the day like any other. Got up at 5:30am and took the dogs for their morning walk with my darling Janine. The sun was just coming up over the mountains and the air was crisp from the rain the night before. As we walk through the empty horse paddock, we let the dogs off to run around in the lo dewy grass. I wish I’d brought my camera with me. It was a fantastic scene watching our two black Labradors bounding around and kicking up the dew from the grass. There is nothing like starting the day with a walk...
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