Good things come in threes

Sometime ago I was apparently contacted by a representative from “The Fresh Air Fund”, who wanted me to promote their fund raising event for this year's New York City Half-Marathon on August 16th 2009 to help Fresh Air Fund children.

I say apparently because I don’t remember getting it in the first place. It was either that or not knowing them from a bar of soap, I hit the old delete button thinking it was most probably suspect. Heaven knows where they got my email address from!

Then a few days ago, I was contacted again! So I looked into the site and low and behold, I found it to be fair dinkum!

”The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides free summer vacations to New York City children from low-income communities.

More than 1.7 million children have been helped since 1877 and nearly 10,000 New York City children now enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada; 3,000 children attended five summer camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York; and the fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.”

So, if you’re from New York or just visiting for a couple of days, I’d say you’d better pull your finger out and help them out on Aug 16 by joining the Fresh Air Fund Racers team. If your not inclined to run their half-marathon check out their site to give a continuing helping hand for kids in need.

Another surprise lay waiting for me in another welcomed email. A new Australian nursing site called “NURSE UNCUT” has just been put up that is endorsed and supported by New South Wales Nurses' Association.

It has been created to provide a platform for nurses to share their stories of challenge and strength, experience and opinion on topics that are close to their hearts. Already a great many nurses have joined the site, including me. Doesn’t surprise you, does it?

Another great benefit is that the wider community can also share their experiences working with the nurses in order to give them an opportunity to show their support for nurses who work tirelessly to look after them and their family.

Last but not least, is an interesting Australian Blog that has come to my attention. Titled the “PM’s Blog”, it is written by none other than our own Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

His first post, “Focus on Climate Change”, having been put up the other day, has already attracted 734 replies. Just goes to show that us Aussies are not afraid to speak out minds.

Taking a leaf out of President Barack Obama’s book, who has a plethora of social networking sites, Kevin Rudd is following suit by having not one but several sites of his own where he opens the doorway for us Aussies and the like to have our say and be heard!

If you’re interested or should I say game enough, Mr Kevin Rudd PM can be found by clicking on the links below:

1. PM’s Blog
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. MySpace
5. Flickr
6. YouTube
7. KEVINPM
8. Australian Labor Party Website

Well, that’s all folks!

To be continued…

Read more...

Happy Birthday Robert

If ever there were a bank of babies waiting to be deployed from above by way of the stork exactly thirty years ago today, we were lucky enough to receive the best of the bunch when Robert turned up on our front door step.

Today, 7th July, marks another birthday milestone in the life of our eldest son Robert, who was born to us at a time when we were only spring chickens ourselves.

With his thirtieth birthday, Robert remains steadfastly free-spirited and as laid back as anyone could ever hope to be. Our firstborn has surmounted a number of heart breaking obstacles that have been laid in his path with dogged determination and has come through with only love in his heart for the ones he holds dear, especially his mother!

Although his work life balance swings to one side because of his solitary nomadic work commitments that take him all over Australia, he still finds the time to party hard with just about anyone that comes his way and who can blame him.

An entertaining and thought provoking conversationalist with a passion for restoring his 1979 ZH Ford Fairlane P6 LTD and 1981 WB Holden Kingswood Ute and armed with a big heart, gift of the gab, laid back approach and quick wit, he wins  many over, including those that we may find awkward to approach, with his unique, God love him, sense of humour.

When all is said and done, Robert is an inspiration to us all and a good man with a big appetite for all things that light up his life, including what’s put in front of him on the dinner plate.

Robert, we love you dearly and we wish you a very happy 30th birthday. May happiness follow you to the end of time!

Your loving parents,
Mum and Dad

To be continued...

Read more...

David and Goliath

Standing shoulder to shoulder, wide eyed warriors prepare to do battle with the Goliath that lies dormant not far from where they stand to attention in front of their two Generals.

With the war briefing not yet over and heads unturned, the combatant’s curious eyes suddenly snap right as devilish high pitched screams from nearby caverns draw their attention away from their masters and drain the colour from their faces in the process.

Barked orders quickly bring all eyes back to the battleground; a narrow, deep and steep sided ravine. Snaking down from high ground to low, it stretches as far as the eye can see and quickly fills with a deadly torrent.

Oh yes! The beast has been unleashed and awaits them all; ready and able to devour one by one or the entire battalion in one foul swoop.

Moving in single file, the warriors shuffle forward until they reach the point of no return. There they await the signal to march headlong into whitewater to test their metal against the foe that’s vanquished others like them.

Armed only with recent knowledge, helmets, lifelines from ashore, vests and stealthy bodies they’re optimistically prepared to take on David’s swiftwater Goliath.

The signals given, the race is on to stay alive! With state of mind all important, no military board will save them now. With limbs working furiously to stay atop of this giant, breaths taken whenever possible, any thought of staying on course shot to ribbons, eyes are constantly searching for any kind Eddy to rescue them from the abyss that awaits them.

The battle rages! First objective just ahead! Most make it, but a few are lost, as lifelines miss their targets! Picked up downstream they rejoin the others.

With the battle almost over, one last objective awaits them all. The final push will surpass all others as all and sundry will be needed to slay this widow maker.

This time around, jaw dropping chasms overflowing with ravenous spawn from this near beaten Goliath await the intrepid warriors to overpower, crush and send them all to Hades.

Knocked from pillar to post, bollard to bollard they make their way down to still bloody waters. Arriving battered and bruised but alive, they meet up with their Generals who stand firm upon dry land. Finally, thankfully, the beast is defeated! Victory is theirs!

As the slain Goliath lays motionless and bleeding on the ground, the last warrior to make it through gives thanks to his guardian angel and to his God for letting him and his comrades live to savour another day Downunder.

This story is based on a course I just (survived) completed.
Can you put a name to the course?

To be continued…

Read more...