I Love a Sunburnt Country

it's Australia Day, and although we have our faults i am proud to be Australian. Sure we have some shitheads, the small percentage of them get most of the press, but on days like this where good people like Trooper Mark Donaldson get honoured i'm glad to live under the Southern cross. This is his story

Mark Donaldson enlisted in the Australian Army in 2002 and displayed an early aptitude for soldiering, winning a number of prizes for his skills. As part of the Special Service Regiment he was deployed on operations to East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. An incident in Afghanistan led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest military honour for acts of bravery in wartime. When Mark’s unit was hit by an ambush, nine Australians were wounded.

As the battle raged around him, he deliberately drew enemy fire to himself on several occasions so that wounded soldiers could be moved to safety. Then when he saw a coalition force interpreter lying wounded, he ran 80 metres across exposed ground to rescue him and carry him to safety. This complete disregard for his own safety displayed exceptional courage. Since being awarded the Victoria Cross, Mark has conducted himself in a way that is impressive and makes him a role model for young and old. His bravery in the face of great danger saved lives and won him the highest respect.

I also love that Maggie Beer is senior australian of the year, we love a good cook.

hot

happy new year, it's hot, i should be here

to hot to think

i'll be back when it cools down.

Summertime Blues!

It's being a while.

Most people get excited about the arrival of summer. Not me folks long hot days just aren't my cup of tea. I had being finding it hard to be motivated about training, climbing or anything for the last couple of weeks. Day after day of days in the high twenties and thirties had given me a case of the summertime blues.

Fortunately in the last 2 weeks temps have dropped to mid twenty highs and some evenings where its got down to about 11. This has led me to get out for morning and evening boulders in quite pleasant conditions, as well as training sessions that are productive not soul destroyingly bad. Managed to repeat some problems and will have to try some new stuff soon.

On a non climbing note for the past couple of years i have been buying most of the music i listen to online, so easy to find most things and cheap. Well i am writing this whilst listening to "popular songs" by Yo La Tengo on vinyl (hang on just got to change sides) and it sounds amazing. Technicaly i cant say what the difference is, its just richer in its sound. I guess what i am saying is listen to cds and records they sound better, listen to full albums to, take some time to enjoy music. Digital music has its place but maybe not as much as i have given it.

Bought a new camera the other day, so i have a 18 month old canon 40d for sale, no reasonable offers refused.

Doing the possible is great but embracing the impossible thats when the fun really starts!

Photo of me by Lee.

Lazy Sundays.

Had a 3 day weekend this week,always good. Went to powerplant on Friday morning in arctic conditions managed various bits and pieces before heading up to Mt York. Tried traverse line on the big boulder, just got to work out a way to do the match on the crimp and i think i can do this problem, which is pleasing.

On Saturday i rapped down Jone's old route "Hari Kari" at Sunset rock, something i had been meaning to do for a long time. Did all but 1 move on the gri-gri, would like to go back to try on top rope to figure out the crux move. Followed by an afternoon session back at powerplant with Jules. Was useless but good to be out and about.

As for Sunday i did nothing besides go for a walk and ate. Nice to have full days of nothing, still don't think i could do it every week.

Old font photo's, good times.

Feeling healthy and rested and looking forward to a full weeks training for the first time in i don't know how long. No more wasted time.

Heres to getting back in the game.

FROTHING!!

sickness is gone, 3 days off, chomping at the bit. So excited i don't know what to do, i really shouldn't look at guide books gives me itchy feet for holidays .

BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Just feeling good and stuff, feels like the world is mine for the taking.

Failure isn't falling down it's staying down.

Questionable Strength?

Well it's done the final stone at Haviland Ave has been lofted skyward. Late Saturday morning Scoots arrived at home and been the great man of stone he is wanted to play with the collection of stones in the back yard. Never one's to be shy of a bit of a session with the stone Phil and i headed out and we got stuck in.

After feeling sick for longer than i care to remember i wasn't expecting to much but the first three stones went up easy, and it was time to move on to bigger objectives, the Haviland and the final hurdle the Clarkstone. A double pump on the Haviland and it was up all that was left was the Clark. Feeling no pressure i grasped the beastie and pressed it out! Rad! small goal achieved.

We then moved on to some pinch gripping Where both Scoots and Phil got the 30kg lift, awesome. I stilll can't make these move but their time will come.

Scoots and i then headed off with Amanda to the Powerplant for a spot of bouldering. What can i say besides that Amanda dominated the session, and pulled off a gutsy send of the stout Ace of Spades. Bleeding fingers and bruised tips couldn't hold her back, i have seen many strong fingered folk fail on this one it was awesome to see.

Returning home we then played around with some dumbell cleans. Managed 30kgs and worked out the style needed to go heavy. Thought this was alright till we looked in Milo later to see some light weights cleaning 60kg. Still not to bad for a first try at this lift.

As for questionable strength, well both on rock and plastic this weekend i struggled yet still managed to perform well in other power pursuits without even training them for quite some time. Very confusing, technique with stone and steel i think is easier than climbing, soon balance will come.

There are no secrets to hard training, other than hard training.

good times.

This weekend was a blast! The main event was Lee and Amanda's Wedding a great time was had by all. Always a great way to spend an evening eating, drinking and dancing.

Secondly was Brec finally sending his project at the Letdown. I don't think i have ever seen or heard of anyone being so driven to send for so long. Years of injury and bad luck got in his way but now Bloodline has been opened, inspiring.

Some older photos from around the traps.

Still battling some illness, Katherine says i created some sort of superbug by not finishing my antibiotics, i reckon i need to harden the fuck up.

Get Down