These are a few of my favourite things...

My city by night.

The State Arts Centre.

Eureka Tower and Southbank.

Random people on the river cruise. Haha... JOKING! Yeesh.

I have many photos of J2 taking photos.

Port Melbourne.

J2, HMAS Lonsdale Complex and Port Melbourne.

Learning how to use the macro function on my camera.

*le sigh*

J2 and the folks have since been and gone to Melbourne.

I'm going to give you an executive summary of their visit as I don't know how detailed J2 will be with her account of her trip. I'm also not going to put my photos up because a) I haven't downloaded them yet; b) J2's will be muchos better. On that note, J2 did teach me how to use my camera. I think I've had it for nearly 2 years now... so long blurry pictures, hello macros!

On Thursday night, we walked along the Southbank Promenade and headed in Chinatown for dinner. After the long(ish) walk and dinner, the folks were tired so they headed back to the apartment while J2 and I hunted down some photo ops.

On Friday, while the parents seemed content with hanging out in C-Town and the Packer Playground, we ventured out on a sightseeing tour and took in a river cruise and a bus tour out to Mount Dandenong on Friday. Unfortunately it was an overcast day and we didn't see panoramic views of Melbourne as promised but the drive through Ferntree Gully was magnificent. We also stopped at a bird sanctuary J2 even let a bird land on her! Ok, 'let' might not be the right word.

Saturday morning, J2 and I ventured out looking for street art. The morning fog was pretty thick and not very conducive to taking photographs. Then we met up with the folks for lunch and walked out to Fitzroy and Collingwood for something different. J2 met a fellow Magic Pony-ette at the Robio Store on Gertrude street (www.robio.com.au). That evening, we stayed in and had a Thai food and movie night.

We jumped on the 109 and headed out to Port Melbourne, one of my most favourite places in all of Melbourne. I haven't been there in ages and not much changes but it is wonderful all the same. We walked along the beach (ok, on the footpath) and took many, many photos and then up to South Melbourne Beach and then caught the tram back into town for some lunch and more shopping. That night we descended upon Crown Casino for some surf and turf and a small flutter.

And that about wraps it up... The next morning we were up at dawn's crack and said our goodbyes. >:0(

So after 7 years of living in Melbourne, it was finally nice having the folks visit... a planned visit, at that, and not just a 'Surprise! We're here!' visit.

And last but not least, it was great seeing J2 and spending some time with her... I can't believe it's been nearly 6 years since we last saw each other and 10 years since we had time to hang out! Cor blimey!

My aim now is to get over to North America late next year and join her and AM in Vegas or couch surf at their place or BOTH!

YAY!

J2 - I miss you already!

Victorian Roller Derby League Photoshoot 14 July 2007

The ladies gathered on Saturday, 14th July 2007 for the first official league photo shoot.

Here are the photos:

http://www.ashotaway.com/VRDL/

Big thank you goes out to Nicole Reed for her time, patience and beautiful photography!

They're coming...

Not long now until J2 and the folks arrive in Melbourne!

Woohoo!!!

Oh where, oh where has J2 gone...

SHE'S HERE!

T-minus 10 days and a handful of hours, minutes and seconds until I see J2 and the folks.

More important news

In other news, in February, I am embarking on a charity fundraiser cycling trip in aid of the Future Cambodia Fund. There will be a group of 10-15 riders cycling across Cambodia on a 14 day trip.

If you'd like to know more or send a donation my way, please let me know.

Now... Time to book me in for some vaccinations!

My doctor is going to think I'm the biggest hypochondriac as this will be my 4th visit in as few as 5 months, especially seeing as it's my 4th visit to a doctor in 6 or so years.

Victorian Roller Derby League (aka Melbourne Grind Girls)

We had a visiting photographer from Virginia at training on Sunday.

Here are his photos.

At the moment, I spend approx. 4 out of 7 of my free days/nights with these women in various suburbs and rinks around Melbourne.

We have exciting, sexy (a la Borat, *shudder*), tumultuous, tired, drunken and, everyone's least favourite, push up times.

But at the end of the day we're all happy little skatermites.

The Sunday Age, 20 May 2007

Caption Correction: That is Cherry Rockette in the photo, not Betty BamALam.

Belinda Emmett 'So I Am' featuring VRDL Inc.

Mother's Day Classic 2007

To celebrate Mother's Day and to raise money for breast cancer research, members of the Victorian Roller Derby League participated in the 10th Annual Mother's Day Classic in the Botanical Gardens, Melbourne.

We gathered at 8:45am, were pinned, sashed, posed and filmed, walked 4km, called 'emos and goths', herded through a bizarre charity walker hussling pen, collected showbags, collapsed on the grass and departed... All before 12pm.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Did I mention I *heart* the Victorian Roller Derby League Inc.?

Housewives knees.

The news from the orthopaedic surgeon is that I have chondromalacia patellae.

Chondromalacia Patellae (also known as CMP, Patello-femoral Pain Syndrome, or Runner's Knee) is a degenerative condition of the cartilage surface of the back of the knee cap, or patella. It produces discomfort or dull pain around or behind the patella. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner's_knee)

Next Monday I'm having an MRI on my left knee to see if I've torn my lateral meniscus.

There's a lot of literature on this condition as it is fairly common. There also seems to be a lot of discussion as to whether or not it is treatable. The orthopaedic surgeon said that it was inoperable and he didn't seem all that confident that it could be fixed. He also said, 'There's so much damn clicking, I can't tell where it's coming from.'

For the time being, I'm going to wait and see what the MRI says but the good news is that I'm back on skates. While I'm not likely to become a roller derby queen, as my knees can't handle the squatting and knee slides, I'm going to try and coach instead. And if there is no tear, I'm going to try and manage the pain and go from there.

I'm glad I have roller derby...

Because the Richmond Tigers are woeful this year.

*shakeshead*

Skater down.

It's been about two and a half weeks since my last post.

Many things have happened and the majority of them have to do with roller derby, work and sleep, as that seems to be all that I've been doing for the past few months. I'll try to give a brief run-down on what I have, and haven't, been doing.

First of all, I have been off skates for the past couple of weeks. All those years of volleyball have been hard on my knees and since I started skating, the grinding/clicking/locking is becoming very audible and painful. Sensible me has decided to finally get this checked out before some permanent damage is done. I have been rather grouchy during this down time because it is no fun watching and supervising training. What really upsets me the most is that I can't do the falling drills that I have grown to love over the past three months. I can't really gauge if I'm being a wuss or if I've done serious damage because I've been living with it for many years now. The fact that I now feel pain when I'm laying down or sitting still makes me think I've done some serious damage.

We had our first league meeting in April and doubled our database of girls. Every week, we get newbies (aka fresh meat) turning up at our training sessions. Every week we wonder when girls have been sneaking in private sessions when they astound us with their agility/endurance/crossovers/falls.

Sunday sessions are really starting to take shape. My favourite task was marking out the track. For 17 years, I've been holding on to Dad's imperial tape measure and finally, there was a reason for it. As roller derby is huge in the States, most of the info that we've been finding, including track measurements, have been in feet and inches. Rather than converting to 1/100th of a metre, keeping things in feet has made it so much easier.

As winter is approaching, we've moved Tuesday sessions indoors and are working on fitness, strength and getting used to contact.

Thursday sessions have always been about a general skate and more social but it's also turned into a media almost-frenzy during the past couple of weeks.

Two weeks ago, The Age came to a session for a photo shoot. They've now written the accompanying article and we're hoping it's going to be in the papers this weekend.

Last Thursday, the girls were filmed for the video clip of Belinda Emmett's song, 'So I Am'. Belinda Emmett passed away last year after a long battle with breast cancer and her album has been released posthumously to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. I believe the video is due for release on Mother's Day.

On Saturday, Betty BamaLam and Hidden Magenta were interviewed on Triple R 102.7FM. Most of us slept through it. Sorry, ladies.

This Sunday, we are participating in the Mother's Day Classic, which is also a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research. We're doing the 4km walk. We don't run for fun.

And that's the update.

Oh yeah, we're in Incorporated Association.

*double derby rock hands*

Now... to get my driver's licence.

Skate update.

Last Sunday (the 15th), we had our first official indoor training session at a private rink. We started off with warm-up laps and then followed with slaloms, figure eights, forward and backward scissors.

Then we were taken through some leg and abdominal exercises, with our skates on, to strengthen our core, followed by upper body work, ie. push-ups. I've always stuck with the one standard push-up. We did the standard, then the wide arm, and finally the narrow arm. I don't know if you've ever done a narrow arm push-up but it hurts. Lots.

After getting back on our feet (not as easy as it sounds after that workout), we did a few more laps then started a snake drill. I stuck with it for a couple of rounds but had to pull out once the speed really picked up. I really need to work on my stamina and breathing.

Our final drill was sprints and falling. This has to be my favourite drill. From one end of the rink, we'd sprint and either double knee slide/single knee slide/180-degree knee slide/baseball slide, scramble back up and sprint back and do it all over again. After about 10 of these, gravity is not your friend. What I also like about this drill is that it is one of the only drills where I forget that I have skates on.

Finally, we cast our sweaty, disgusting pads and skates aside and warmed down with some stretches and balance exercises. We were stuffed.

Monday was difficult. My hip flexors wanted nothing to do with me. I drank lots of water (sorry about the drought) so that I would be forced to get up every 45 minutes and stretch my legs.

I can't wait to do it all again this Sunday.

'Hell on Wheels' movie trailer (warning: coarse language)

Who would have thought...

Before I moved to Melbourne, I took a part time contract job as an Event Producer's Production Assistant (Prod. Ass. to some).

After I moved to Melbourne, I continued to work in Events and worked in various roles including Production Assistant, Volunteer Supervisor, Publicity Manager, Design Director's Assistant, Show Director's Assistant, Scissor lift operator and Bump Out Crew, to name a few.

When I finally realised that contract work, and more specifically, event management, wasn't for me, I walked away thinking, 'What a waste of 15 months.'

Five years later, all those 'skills' that I picked up in that 15 months have become very useful and there are times when I wish I had paid a little more attention.

Fortunately, being a hoarder, I think still have my notes from my first job. I just have to find the time to dig them out.

I'm just babbling because I've been reading over Sponsorship Packages and By-Laws for the past two hours and it's all becoming discombobulated.

All's quiet on the Melbourne front.

Not.

It's actually frantically busy here.

I'm involved in a very special project.

No, J1 and J2, it doesn't involve anything to do with India. Not yet, at least.

Apart from working, I have been skating, training, researching, documenting, reading and editing... it seems like I'm only ever home to eat and sleep. Sometimes I forego the eating because I need to sleep.

It's as exhausting as it is exhilirating.

But soon, hopefully, I will have some good news to tell and all these long days and trips to suburbs I've never even heard of will bear some results.

But get used to the following names because you're going to be hearing a lot about them in the very near future: Betty Bamalam, Cherry Rockette, Hidden Magenta, Denim Destructor and Baby James.

Peace, love and toestops...

Another reason to love derby.

Sez's new healthy obsession: her fisheye camera.

(photo courtesy of Sarah Keogh, taken 02-Mar-07, Kent Street, Collingwood)

Wednesday, 21 March 2007.

After a simply magical night with AB at the ballet, I had the worst cab ride home EVER.

Now I know I should never fight my instinct to catch a tram.

This is how it went down:

AB and I leave the ballet and walk down to Flinders Street Station where I hop into the next available cab. The following conversation ensued (this might make more sense if you live in Melbourne and know it well):

Me: Hi, how are you? Can you take me to Abbotsford please?
Cab driver: Abbotsford?
M: Yes, near Collingwood, off Hoddle.
CD: Hoddle?
M: Hoddle.
CD: You show me which way you prefer to go?
M: Ok. Drive down there and turn right.
CD: Right?
M: Yes.

We get to Flinders Street and he turns right. At every intersection, he asks if I want him to turn. Finally, I tell him to turn left at Spring Street.
CD: Left?
M: YES.
We near Victoria Street and I tell him to turn right.
CD: Ah yes, right onto Hoddle.
M: That's Victoria Parade. Do you even know where Hoddle Street is?
CD: To be honest, I just arrived. This is my first time driving.
M: *rolls eyes*
CD: You come from home or work?
M: The ballet.
CD: Ballarat?
M: No, the ballet... at The Arts Centre.
CD: What's ballet?
M: It's a type of dance.
CD: What kind?
M: Classical.
CD: You teach or student?
M: It was a performance.

Somehow, we eventually make it to my house. I say somehow because there were a few near death experiences and also, he thought it was fun to drive alongside a fellow cab driver and have a conversation. I ask him to stop, he drives another 10 metres. I give him a $20 and he tells me he has no change. This was the final straw.
M: How can you have no change?
CD: I just filled up with gas.
M: And you have no change... you're driving a cab!
CD: Do you have a credit card?
M: I'm not paying by credit card and getting charged EXTRA because you didn't bring any change with you.
CD: We don't charge you extra, the credit card company does.
M: I'm paying by cash... Why would I pay with credit when I have cash? How did you expect your customers to pay tonight?
CD: But I don't have any change?
M: And whose fault is that?
CD: What are we going to do?
M: What are YOU going to do? You drive a cab, you should have some change!

Some police drive by and tell the driver to move because he's blocking the road. The cop says, 'It's no standing, mate... you can't stop here.' So the cab driver starts to drive away.
M: You're taking me away from my house.
CD: Calm down, I'll just drive around the block.
M: Give me my money and I'll go inside and get you some change.
He continues to drive me AWAY from my house.
CD: They said 'No standing' so I can't stop.
M: We wouldn't be 'standing' if you had some change.

Eventually, he got me back to my house and I went and got him the fare. In retrospect, I should have given him my jar of 20 cents. He would have made a tip then.
As I shoved the money in his hand, I said, 'You might want to THINK before you drive a cab next time, you idiot.'

There was a lot more swearing but I thought I'd keep it nice. Normally I'm quite patient with cab drivers but this guy just took the cake. I should have taken down his number. One day I will officially make a complaint. Thank goodness I had my BP checked last week.