So much to look forward to...and the downside of getting older...

     I'm having a ball right at the moment. There's this big international cycling event in my own home town. The streets have taken on a carnival atmosphere, and the presence of kilometre upon kilometre of fencing and barricading reminds us that our very own streets are the course for very EXPENSIVE young people in very EXPENSIVE clothing with EXPENSIVE bikes to race on, entertaining as well as slightly inconveniencing us all.
This is not a rant about the exclusiveness of cycling as a sport. Its obvious it is- but certainly no more so than any motor sport racing, nor any more than say, polo, or even golf.
     No, I am certainly a proponent of cycling, and love to watch the Tour de France every winter, propped up under the doona dreaming of the possibility of seeing it person one day. I actually am really enjoying the novelty of the gated community to the point where I am relishing the contact with my neighbours, and the opportunity to be an observer and a passive one at that. Oh, I yell out "go go go!" and the rider's name, and "Go USA!" "Go Kazakhstan!", "Go Switzerland!" (Go Fabian you big hunk!) and "Go Australia!" etc etc. But we eat our dried fruit and drink our thermos-cup Earl Grey and sit back down on our folding chairs and think this is really sweet. (I say 'we' as Johnny is there too. He unfortunately has injured his back, as he seems wont to do every time he takes holidays these days, and so he is not riding around the course seeing the sights and avoiding time with his wife, sadly for him.) (Oh, Johnny is my husband, in case you don't know.)
    What occurs to me, is that this is a taste of life in a Retirement village. Gated, secure, and we don't have any obvious responsibilities. Lovely, really. I could do this, every day if I had to, quite easily.
     And then, tonight, there was this piece on Current Affair (which I DON"T usually watch, honest!) and it was about couple's retreats for people whose kids have left home. That's us. well the people in it were about our age (late 40's and a bit more). Except we got our acts together and DID those marriage saver weekends as often as we could when our kids were young. So now we do a bit less of that stuff, 'cos we know who WE are. Anyway, the thing was, during that little story, (which we duly canned, 'cos we were so much better than the people in it, and it was Current Affair), we noticed that they were playing "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin, and I had a horrible thought: "what if they don't play Led Zeppelin music in old age care facilities once WE get there???" How awful! How unthinkable!
 Waaahhhh- I don't wanna get old!!!!!

Whining and Dining in August...

         One may wonder what makes someone like me get all excited about my life , a suburban mother and why I have to write about it? Well that's completely for you, the reader to judge, meanwhile, I'm going to dig, delve, explore and share...

Writing is a great cathartic exercise for me, and having finished my last essay for Uni for the semester, (I've done approximately 50-60 of these now, have about 10 more and never feel over-confident of them) I need to write for me, and help myself unwind and reflect on recent events...

        During that frantic time of writing the last 2 essays, I went to 2 funerals, lost 3 other peers (of my own age group) to heart problems/alcoholism and moved my daughter out of home, (which required frequent trips up and down the Melbourne Rd). I also caught up with dear interstate friends on 3 separate occasions, including visits to Heide and NGV galleries, went to NZ for a quick trip, and all the while, managed to fritter away some of my precious hours just chattering, playing scrabble, and engaging in general procrastination. I also submitted two essays; and Lord knows how well I did, I was totally distracted the entire time.

         I've also enjoyed forays into Melbourne, where I've caught up with 2 school friends I hadn't seen in decades in Victoria street's Tho Tho, swooned over luscious croissant and cheesecake in funky Green on Sydney Rd, feasted on garlicky Turkish food and honey-soaked baklava from Alaysia, (also Sydney Rd) guiltily indulged in Stick and Grace's amazing forest mushroom Bread and Butter pud, and cooked like I haven't cooked in years- stews, soups, lasagnas, moussaka and a delicious apple dessert torte. (Many of these meals were portioned up and frozen to take up to the kids in Melbourne). In Wellington, my partner and I ate a delicious Turkish meal that left us groaning with the pangs of surfeit, and enjoyed a home killed mutton and pork feast after the funeral. We tried to walk as much of these meals off as we could, but then were feasted and pampered in our business class seats coming home, (we earned by being willing to be bumped off our flight the day before), and waddled off the plane slightly worse for wear, albeit very satisfied customers!

         Needless to say, especially in the light of the recent premature demise of people I will always think of with very fond memories, I need to embark on a heart health fitness regime, lose a bit of weight, and just say NO to too much indulgence. Notice I said too much and not all indulgence? 
        I do make sure I eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day, but this studying life-style, a rolled ankle, and my love of food have really gotten on-top of me lately, and I know I can do a lot better. I need to feel a lot more healthy than I do. To look after myself, to be a little bit disciplined, but to enjoy my life also, I feel is the best tribute I can express for my friends, who did not get to know how it will feel to head into the middle years, feeling vital and healthy. 
I sure hope I get to.