Yesterday I did the Melbourne Summer Cycle (30km) bike race!

I did it in 1:19min *grin* with NO TRAINING!!!!! I feel GREAT!!! Next year I am definitely doing the 45km one. And hopefully lots more bike rides.

My bike was on its best behaviour and went like a dream.

I would have completed the ride in a lot less time if

a) I didn’t have to stop at almost every single red light that I came to…

b) Didn’t have to stop for trains and fight with trucks…

c) Trained…

BUT I am happy with my time and performance. I had fun!

Can you spot me in all the pics?

I haven’t blogged for a while. I have been so busy at work and when I get home I just can’t be bothered to sit in front of the computer again.

I have also been keeping myself VERY busy!

Last week Saturday I went with my cousin to my very first apartment Auction. It is a very foreign concept for me to auction a house. In South Africa we just advertise our properties at a certain price and interested people put in offers and that’s that…

The best part is that my cousin won!!!! She just bought her very first house! It was so exciting to be part of it! My nerves got a good workout too ;)

Then on Saturday night was the lovely Linda’s birthday party. She is such a stunning person and all us bloggers had a ball! My liver wasn’t too happy with me the next day but hey, it was all worth it! That girl really knows how to throw a GREAT party!

I finally got to meet Beckie who is just as stunning as I thought she would be.

Pity I couldn’t stay late but I had to get some sleep before the Grape Grazing festival the following day.

This unfortunately was NOT as fun as I had anticipated. I think that the fact that it was 38 degrees and there wasn’t a drop of shade to be found can explain why I didn’t have such a good time. That and the fact that I was surrounded by hundreds of very drunk people and I just wasn’t into drinking hot wine on a hot day in the hot sun! (I’m sure that the night before had nothing to do with how I felt…) hehe

This last week felt like one of the longest weeks ever! I haven’t felt this tired for a long time!

I nearly didn’t do the cycle race. I am SO glad I did though. I mustn’t let my lazy brain get the better of me. I am so used to talking myself out of these things by convincing myself that I am tired, unfit, sick etc. If only I could bottle the feeling that you get after a decent workout. It so outweighs the negatives. I also know that the more I exercise, the more I will be able to cope with the long hours that I have to work. I just have to seriously get off my lazy ass and get out there!!!  This week I am going to take full advantage of the free gym in my apartment block and visit it at least 3 mornings. I would say that I’d go every day but I am trying to be realistic and get into a routine.

Baby steps…

I’ve been exploring up a storm on my new bike. Quite literally! I went for a nice bike ride along the Yarra yesterday evening, but about 7km into the ride the heavens decided to open up and I got nice and soaked J Its definitely the easiest way I’ve ever build up a sweat!  Hehe

If I didn’t wear glasses it wouldn’t be so bad, I am going to have to invent some kind of windscreen wiper for them. Aside from that, cycling in the rain is quite nice. Although, you won’t find me doing that too often. It really isn’t good for my hair!

My new bike is very different to my old one. The old one was a road bike, my new one is a Hybrid with road tyres. I didn’t think they would be that different but I guess I was wrong. I am still having loads of fun on it though, just not going nearly as fast as I used to. I went on an 18km cycle on Monday and a 15km cycle yesterday. I’m going to try go on at least 4 – 5 bike rides per week while I still have daylight till late.

I am also trying to get used to cycling in the city. It is a very new and scary experience and I’ve already had a few close calls. Nothing too hectic but those trams and me have a war on our hands!!! Watch out trams!!

I feel like I’ve lost some of the extra kg’s I put on over the last few months. I don’t have a scale handy but I feel good and that’s what counts J At least I’m active again. It’s about time! I just have to seer clear of those Gelato shops. At least during the week ;)

And now for something completely different…

Last night I had just settled into bed and was happily falling into a sleepy haze when I heard a bang, then another one, followed by a whole series of them. I looked out the window to see the most impressive fireworks display, almost right outside my window! I have no idea what it was all about but it was great! I got a few (not so great) snaps but you can get the picture ;)

A bit blurry but you can see how big some of the fireworks were...

This is the view outside my window....

I am having such an awesome time here in Melbourne! I love this city! There is so much to do and see and I don’t think I could ever be bored!!! Broke yes, bored no!

The Melbourne blogger’s make it an even better place. You guys really are a great bunch!

I met up with Amanda, Ash, Brooke, Linda and Phil on Saturday night. We enjoyed a rather delicious (and not very calorie friendly) dinner at the awesome Stoke House in St Kilda.  I even got to hold little Molly (who is seriously one of the sweetest little babies I have ever seen and so good!). After dinner we strolled along to the famous 7 Apples Gelato shop on Ackland Street and then on to the Vineyard for a few (too many on my part) drinks. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my camera with but I will hopefully get to borrow some photos off Phil and Ash J

To my surprise I woke up bright and early this morning (not even slightly hung-over), did some much needed laundry and then headed off to Prahran to FINALLY get my bike!!!

Isn’t she beautiful!!!! *happy sigh*

I managed to fall off twice already! I fell first, just as I was leaving the shop. They hadn’t adjusted my gears correctly and the chain slipped right off and my foot got very stuck in the cleat. And then again just as I was turning into my cousin’s street, while trying to avoid a tram, my foot got stuck AGAIN!!! Fortunately I fell in the opposite direction to the tram J I was rather perturbed as to why my foot kept getting stuck until I noticed that the cleat on my shoe was very loose and about to fall off. Lucky for me, it was just a matter of tightening some screws and I ended up cycling all the way home without falling again J

The cycling tracks in Melbourne are amazing! I got all the way from my cousins house to my apartment in the city and hardly had to go on any roads. I went along the yarra. It really is beautiful! It is exactly 10km from their house to my apartment! I think I might try cycle there and back every evening.. Or maybe I will just explore what other trails Melbourne has to offer.

I have signed up to do the Melbourne Summer Cycle at the end of this month. I am doing the 30km route. I know I should have chosen to do the 40km one but hey, I haven’t exactly been training for a LONG time and I want to enjoy myself J So I will take it fairly slow and do some sight seeing along the way. If anyone is in Melbourne and would like to join me on the ride, please let me know J

http://www.msaustralia.org.au/nswvic/events/oe/summer-cycle/

There is only one little thing bothering me about my bike. I had to wait a whole week to get it because they didn’t have the correct size and had to order it in for me. The bike I initially tried in the shop was an XS and they were going to order me a S. But halfway on my ride today I noticed that the bike they have given me is an XS L It feels okay so I don’t know if I should bother calling them up and complaining… hmmm maybe tomorrow I’ll decide what to do.

Oh and as you can see I have come up with a solution to my blogging hiatus. The reason I haven’t been blogging much is because a) I don’t have internet at my apartment and b) I am still very new at work and I don’t want to get into trouble. HOWEVER I have a lap top and a memory card and why on earth didn’t I think to type up my post at home and just upload it at work in the morning? Doh! At least I thought of it now J better late then never huh.

Work is going really well. I did my first Saturday shift yesterday which wasn’t that nice but it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Luckily I was very busy so the day flew by. You won’t believe how dead the city is on a Saturday. You can barely even find somewhere to have lunch! The other graphic designer that I was working with was fired on Friday (long story) so now I’m on my own. I did have a very positive meeting with my bosses and feel good about what’s to come in the future. I also spent a lot of yesterday afternoon cleaning my office with my boss and I feel much more comfortable there now. It was quite gross before.

And on one last and very exciting note… It’s nearly pay day!!! Yayyyyy All this socializing has left me rather broke, but happy.

I hope you all have a great week!

Oh and better late then never, here is a photo from our blogger breakfast last week.

Yes! I am still here! I am finding it very frustrating that I can't update my blog regularly however seeing that I am still pretty much in the first week of my new job, I don't think regular blogging is on the cards ;) I'm sure you can all understand.

I am having a tougher time then I thought with the house hunting thing. It's not that there aren't any places available, its that I just don't have the time to go see any places.
Another thing is that real estate agents or letting agents over here seem to treat potential customers like criminals! Since when did wanting to rent an apartment become a crime? It has surprised me over and over again how rude and impatient these people are when I call them up to ask about flats. I can't help it if I work full time! Surely they should make SOME exceptions?

I will just have to keep trying. Hopefully on my next Saturday off I will be able to sort something out.

I have actually found the apartment that I want. The only problem is that I have to wait between 60 - 90 day before I can get it. It belongs to a cousin of mine and she currently has tenants in it. I really love the place though. We went to check it out on Monday after work (pretended to be doing an inspection). It is a bit further out of the city then I had initially wanted to live, but as soon as I walked in I felt that this is where I want to live. It's the perfect space for me and has everything I need. It is also about ten minutes from a train station and there are trams running right outside. I am going to try find a short let for the next 3 months and then I will take my cousins place :)

This weekend is my first weekend that I will be working. *sigh* I know I will get used to it but it still sucks ;) Especially when I have so much to sort out still. BUT it's all part of the job and the job got me back to Australia so I shall stop complaining right now!

I am going to fetch my bicycle on Sunday!!!! I can't wait to try it out. I think I might go for a nice long bike ride along the yarra (if thats how you spell it) or along the beach or something :) Just because I can!

I have been going out almost every night since I arrived in Melbourne. This really is a great city and there seems to be an endless supply of things to do, places to go and food to eat! Speaking of which. I have been so good with my eating. I made a pact with myself that I will only buy lunch on Fridays.(sushi day) The rest of the time I have been making sandwiches. Firstly this is much kinder on the purse and secondly, there are way too many tempting things out there to eat and I know that if I am going to be strict with myself, I have to be in control.

Ooooh!!! I discovered a gym in my building! I was in the lift the other day when a man and his little boy got in (dressed in swimming gear). I found this a bit odd seeing as I am pretty much in the middle of the city so I had to ask why they were dressed this way... It turns out that there is a free gym on the 7th floor for residends of the building! So guess what I did this morning at 6am!!! *grin* I love running!!!!!!!!!!! I just couldn't figure out how to adjust the seat on the bicycle, or how any of the other machines work.. so i'll stick to running or swimming and go for real bike rides after work. Yay!!! Endorphins rock!!

So thats about all for now. I will try and update again as soon as I can.

I'm here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After an exhausting flight, I arrived in Australia last Saturday afternoon. My first stop was Sydney where I spent two glorious days with my sister, her hubby and my beautiful nephew. We really spent some quality time together and I am so glad I decided to go there first.

On Monday morning I lugged my heavy bags all the way back to Sydney airport and boarded my plane to Melbourne. I managed to talk the lady into putting me on an earlier flight (no idea how I managed that) it was a blessing in disguise because it took two hours to clear my excess baggage from customs! If I had been on the later flight they would have closed before I could get my stuff.

My cousin was there to meet me at Melbourne airport and she drove me into the city where I met up with the HR lady from my new job. She gave me the keys to the apartment where I am staying, however we got our wires crossed and I ended up going to the wrong apartment. I couldn't understand why the keys wouldn't work and when I tried to call the HR lady, she had already gone home for the day. So I ended up staying over at my cousins place that night. The next morning I managed to sort everything out and found the right apartment :) It is stunning!!! You should see the view I have! And it has absolutely everything I could ever need. What a pity I don't get to keep it and am only there for a month. The best part of all is that it is less than a block away from work.

Last night I FINALLY got to meet two of the most amazing women! Brooke and Phil, You guys rock! It was quite a bizarre experience though. As if the photo's that I have been seeing for so long on their blogs, came alive! It was such a fun evening and I can't wait until Sunday when I will be meeting with more of the lovely Melbourne bloggers. I just want to say thanks for making me feel so welcome!

So now I need to find myself a home and stuff to put in it.

Sorry for not updating for so long. My blog posts will probably be few and far between until I can organise an internet connection. But keep popping by.