Lucky blue button

It must be a good sign. 

Found on La Trobe Street

34 weeks

A breakfast date this morning, where my whole team surprised me. The farewells have begun.

34 weeks and wet tents in the backyard

Busy times. The parenting & breastfeeding class last week (three-and-a-half hours!), hospital tour tomorrow night, Mama Shanti workshop this Sunday and of course the excitement of assembling the stroller. And returning the crib when they sent the wrong one.

Pinterest as my note keeper for all the things we're doing and wishing around the place. My Dad, brother and dear friends assisting and offering and generally making themselves useful and life sweet. It's a strange and lovely time.

Name preference: Scout or ...
Best activity: Autumn sunshine walks
Adventure dreaming: One day we'll go to the west coast
Random worry: Sometimes, none, sometimes, all the worries of the world. Is it too late to get stretch marks? Do I ask too much?
Reading: Pulitzer Prize winner from 1960.

High Country Family Adventure

Snowgum by Picture Point

The high country welcomed us back with rain and brilliant colours on the snowgums. A weekend of camping and touring around with some precious cargo: newbie camping family in the form of Charlie's uncle, aunt, and their two lovely kids. We camped Friday at Sheepyard Flat, Saturday by Lovick Hut and in between we toured around and tried to show them a good time. Damper in the hut by a roaring fire on Saturday was a treat.  

33 and whale

Just this past few days I've started to feel quite massive. My email update confirmed this is a tipping point time for many women. Well. Technically I haven't gained weight since Easter, maybe 1 kg in the past month, but there has definitely been a redistribution.

Important to note the climbing wall in backyard!

This week I have finally bought the crib and the stroller. Both were selected a while back but getting across the line seemed difficult for me, I think when they arrive it will seem like s**t has gotten real.

Next Cosmos appointment this arvo, and first childbirth class tomorrow night at the Women's.

Anniversaries

I love marking anniversaries. Marking, more like, another excuse to remember. This time of year there's a lot of memories of people past, another reason to be tearful.

This Saturday past, the first weekend of May, is the 'anniversary' of buying this forever home. That Saturday was planned out as being really our first concerted effort toward 'house-hunting'. Somewhat belated, yes, after a 18 months of so-called house-hunting.

Sensibly, Charlie asked me to refine my long list into a short list so we concentrated our efforts in ONE neighbourhood (instead of the three I had listed: Yarraville/Newport, Moonee Ponds, Thornbury). We picked four in the west, and resolved to take our bikes to move around between the addresses.

It was a bright cool day and we were chipper as leaving Werribee, where we'd been housesitting for the Good Doctor. First house was tidy and under a flight path, ended up selling for more than $100k over the top of the range. Not for us. We rode on.

Next, to Newport. Along the waterfront which is now so familiar, by the power station, under the big bridge, by the refinery. Smelling a distinct 'industry' fume, Charlie commented that Newport wasn't going to be for us. Ha. And he loved the first house we looked at there, despite the fact it was almost uninhabitable. It has big wet holes in the wall, the floor was crazy, cats sat around throughout the inspection, the dining room with exposed bluestone was amazing. A project house. Charismatic.

Back on bikes to Yarraville where we met up with Mum and queued to get in the next house, feeling like we were at an awkward party. I liked it but it was hard to think with all the people crowded around. We went to lunch. Frying Pan joined us, no idea why she was local in the west that day. The sun was bright and delicious. We decided not to go to the Footscray listing due to Mum's intel on the railway expansion. Good call.

At Lady Moustache for a sustenance stop. 

Back on the bikes with Mum leading the way in her car. This final listing was my favourite. We still had energy for inspecting. Up the driveway. Greeted the agent, stood inside, walked through. Everything was good. Yard, floorboards, kitchen/lounge area, high ceilings, character. Um...

32 and panting

Generally feeling quite lovely and happy, with occasional pangs of sadness about missing the high country and camping this winter. Also tearful when watching 'Call the Midwife'! Picture me in my pjs on bed, legs up the wall, iPad resting on my belly, tears rolling down my face when Charlie comes to bed.

My weekly email updates provide a long list of 'physical changes' and discomforts to be felt at this stage and I feel lucky that it's really only shortness of breath that is in evidence. As she might gain anywhere between 1-2 kilos in the final couple of months, things could get interesting though. I went for a run yesterday, the same 2kms down to water, along and back, and felt no pains, just shallow breath.  

32 weeks and the climbing wall under construction

Rainy warm day and the scan

32 week scan

Feeling quite happy and excited. The scan showed us all good news, she has her head down, the placenta has travelled and given clearance and her size is bang on 'average'. Of course it was just lovely to see her little peaceful face, that nose! and her brain and heart and stomach all working away. Love. Nothing more to say.

Back to work

Back to work after ten days off. Now five weeks of work to go. Scan tomorrow to see if my placenta (her placenta?) is blocking her exit or not. Excited to see her on the scan again.

Shed update, as of Friday tools down. Hopefully finished this week.

Charlie trims the apricot tree to accommodate the new shed frame.

Name preference: Elkie
Best activity: Riding to the city on Anzac Day, nearly 11kms in 40 minutes
Adventure dreaming: Snuggles in winter tent
Random worry: Nope, no worries.
Reading: Work emails and mothering blogs

XXXI and the Backyard

Heading off to yoga while the workers toil. 

Day two of the second session of backyard work. Early rain cleared by 9am to glorious sunshine. Shed, guttering, paving, planting, digging, tree removal, neighbour consulting, marble retrieval, and much mud tramped through the house.

Yoga was great though my arms and shoulders felt weak and tired. We did partner work - a massage called 'rub the love in'. Yep, pretty delicious. Then I found a blog post in my inbox about motherhood and yoga. Perfect.

Name preference: Scout?
Best activity: Planting grass
Adventure dreaming: High country cool air
Random worry: Having no muscles
Reading: The local paper at our bench

Cape Conran at Easter

Christmas at Cape Conran has become a tradition of sorts. This past summer we missed out on the ballot and it felt strange to stay home all through Christmas, without the usual packing, cooking and heading off on the long drive.

Easter is a different matter, no ballot, we just reserved a spot. Mum, Jack and us+1. We weren't sure what to expect, without the beach plans, with the possibility of rain... Arrived Good Friday and left Easter Monday. Quite a relaxing few days with reading, snoozing, beach walks, good campfire food and laughter.

Saturday was the Marlo Primary School Fete, our key activity, which yielded jams, baby knits, a few plates and jars of homemade sweets and much entertainment. A hot chocolate as we sheltered in the park and discussed plans for the shed at home.

Marlo Jetty

Sunday we walked along the boardwalk, gazing into rockpools and out to the big breaking waves. Weather was bright, or windy, or grey, and great for walking with no time or purpose. Mum arranged some rocks, Charlie found a beautiful driftwood stick and on the way back there was a kids' sand sculpting competition being judged by a huge rapturous audience.

Conran view

Packing up in the gorgeous morning sunlight, my plan was to visit Salmon Rocks before we left. Mum and Jack had reported wild winds from their visit after the Fete, but it was clear and as I remembered. Charlie explored for bouldering possibilities and we recalled the pleasant visit when Jack fished and we met a cheerful family travelling around the country. We took some profile shots. Ahem.

30 weeks and full of love

30 is a big round number

Ran this fine morning and it felt good. Same pace as a few weeks back.

Still canvassing mothers for their headline advice. Latest: Be flexible, don't invest physically or mentally in things going a particular way.

This is our theme of the week, as we've tried to make some configuration decisions around the house. We settled on building a shed for the camping gear and our archives, which will free up the gear room.

My thinking is to have a nursery corner set up (still not sure if this is in ballroom or gear room) that has the double futon, change table, baby clothes, nappies etc. This would be for day sleeps. Our room would have the crib (attached to our bed) and be the night sleep place.

Thirty weeks tomorrow. And an Easter-Anzac break of ten days starts. Lovely.

Cosmos and Adelaide

Dad asked me who gets to choose his grandfather moniker.

I'm up eating vegemite toast at 5:20, taxi is coming in 20 minutes to convey me to the airport. Perhaps my last plane trip before I become a parent?

Yesterday was our second Cosmos appointment. As we waited to be called, we both weren't sure what the appointment was for. Then I remembered that when you're pregnant, you simply have 'routine' appointments. It went really well. We got called in by a lovely French accent and met another of the 'team' of four midwives who look after me. She was warm and earnest, very intently telling us that babies eat every two hours in their first ten days at home and that it would be impossible to keep usual sleeping pattern and that there's nothing you can do about it as "there is only one master - the baby".

She took my measurements and listened to the heartbeat. Charlie saw the little one punch out, first time.

I asked about supplements and was told I could cease taking any (!). She said it's just a business and that if I eat well I can stop. So I'll just take iron as that's low and low is normal for third trimester.

Overall it was a strangely reassuring visit. Weird when I was already calm. Glad Charlie met one of the midwives.

29 weeks and some advice

Interesting to take solicited advice. 

Speaking with some other newish mums and the top tips were: don't gain too much weight and ask for help. The giraffes really are everywhere. 

Been feeling my most tired yet, but this could be busy days at work too.

29 weeks and 10 kgs gained. Grass growing slowly. 

Will stay home this weekend and try to execute some domestic tasks. Attack the gear/junk/baby room. Order the crib. Write a list of clothes needed and check against those we already have. See if we can take backyard project to next phase. Buy a front door handle.  

28 weeks and feeling chipper

Back from a run. There is more darkness around and it feels like I'm only home when it's night time. Very pleased to wake up on time this morning and lace up my shoes to head off. My runs are down to 2km, really just up to the waterfront and back. A feeling of stretch or ache down my side, and feeling like going to the toilet are the main reasons I'm not going further. My breathing is ok.

Stretch mark aversion is one reason to keep running. They are yet to appear on my rounded belly, but I think my teenage marks from hips and thighs may have increased. Following my Cosmos blood tests, I'm now taking iron and vitamin D supplements in addition to my pregnancy multi. My iron had fallen to low and my D is normal, but apparently I should stay on D anyhow as I'm pregnant. Curious.

Today I'll start interviews for my replacement, just one year after I was interviewed myself for the role. It's a strange process, and one I'm grateful my boss has let me take the lead on. More navel gazing as I figure out what makes someone effective in my role.

Grampians three months out

Back to Grampians again for rock climbing. Well, I'm watching and just enjoying being out of town. Kangaroos at breakfast. The great starscape. Seeing Charlie in his rock element. 

Pocketed Wall

27 and a seat on the train

It started last week. I got offered a seat on the train. Now it's been five times or more. The shock of 'showing' is easing. All the seat offers have been from young women. Around my age or younger. Why is that?

Name preference: Delilah (Ma's) and Cassie (Charlie's)

Best activity: Scheduling in yoga sessions 

Adventure dreaming: Swimming at Cape Conran 

Random worry: Missing Charlie snuggle mornings 

Reading: Applications for my replacement at work  

XXVI end of second trimester

Beautiful light in the morning. 

Twenty-six weeks marks the end of my second trimester. I can see why it is called the honeymoon trimester. Heaps of energy has been the most marked characteristic of the past months. Good sleep too. We've been thinking a lot about what kind of sleeping arrangement for the little one, and finding out we have some differences of opinion... 

Wednesday I had my first Cosmos appointment with the midwife who'll be with us from here through the birth. Had my diabetes and tests for iron etc, which I'm very interested to get the results for.

Thursday was my long-awaited Mama Shanti experience. In exploring hypnobirthing, I read about active birthing and then found Mama Shanti, whose classes include partner workshops, retreats and yoga classes. After getting my photo taken, I left the house late and had a stressful trip, turning up late in a taxi to Kundalini House for the class. 

The class was amazing and inspiring and so worthwhile. All movements and poses were perfectly relevant to my body and state of mind and I felt totally energised and relaxed. 

26 weeks and a visit

Charlie held a baby for the second time. Eight weeks old and a darling, she came to visit with her parents, Mr & Mrs C. It was such a delight to get an insight into their new life and we dredged for information.

Our major line of inquiry is regarding sleeping arrangements: what do we need and where. I've been researching many options, including the low-bed approach of Montessori. We have bassinets offered and also like the idea of a Snuggle Bed.  

Today is my first appointment with the Cosmos team at the Royal Women's, and I'll have my diabetes test.

XXV or thereabouts

A classic New Zealand landscape and brilliant weather.  Lake Pukaki. 

Seven days in the South island, four camping nights and two nights at AirBnB accommodation. Sleeping on a Thermarest was not as comfortable as a month ago, but I still had great nights' rest and wouldn't have done it any other way.

Our first tent night we camped near Arthur's Pass after Charlie bouldered at Castle Hill, selecting an out-of-the-way spot with lots of sandflies. The next two nights were at 12 Mile Delta just north of Queenstown, on the shore of Lake Dunstan. It was being at a music festival, minus the entertainment. Witnessed (but failed to photograph) the best sunset ever. Our final camping night we arrived late into Moke Lake and only got a short time with any light left. It was a priceless few hours though: the campground manager chipper and warm, the mountain silhouette beautiful and shooting/falling stars on show.

Moke Lake campground. 

Walking in my hood

XXV Maybe Baby(moon)

I feel like posting a photo reel from the past week and lots of happiness moments. But some things need their own post. Like Lyttleton.

Happy happy near Arthur's Pass after dinner on Day 1

This holiday was booked long ago, as a return to the ice for Charlie, with an ice-climbing course booked in. Then he broke his shoulder. So the flights were moved to some random date in the future. Which came about and we still had no real replacement holiday in mind. And I'm pregnant so a big hike was not an option.

As Charlie is pursuing bouldering, we found the week nicely alternated between climbing days and touring/walking days. Perfect weather helps.

Christchurch > Cass Bay > Castle Hill > Arthur's Pass > Mayfield > Queenstown > Glenorchy > Kinloch > Moke Lake > Queenstown > Geraldine > Governor's Bay > Lyttleton > Christchurch

XX4 South Island

Week 24 and day 1 of a long-awaited holiday in New Zealand.

Stretched out in a simple cottage high above Cass Bay on the Banks Peninsula. Below us a fascinating bay with muddy winding street, kayaks racked up and amazing rocks above. Big rain this week and earthquakes prior have blocked roads, gouged retaining walls and left gaping holes in the eateries of nearby Lyttleton. We love it here.

Something lovely in the post

Special delivery. Love and thanks. 

XX3 Cosmos

Name preference: Willow
Best activity: Running for the train and making it.
Adventure dreaming: Singapore
Random worry: Ingesting black mould
Reading: Consolations of the Forest

After the hospital appointment last week I did a lot of googling of 'cosmos' which was mentioned by the midwife (super chipper, Melissa or Michelle, perhaps). I found out it was a study completed by La Trobe Uni into models of midwifery care that reduce Caesarean rates. Though there was nothing online about the adoption of the model of care at the Royal Women's, it sounded good! A small team of four midwives gets assigned to you; you meet all of them; one will be your lead; you will likely have them at your birth; you get a special number to call that goes direct to this team; call them day or night, they are dedicated to you and will know who you are so you don't need to re-present yourself. Your partner can stay with you at the hospital, but you must leave after 24 hours. 

Bustling to a massage, I got the call to say I was in the cosmos program; I was surprised just how delighted I was. It means for sure I'm low-risk as that's a condition of entry. It makes me feel better about going to the hospital. I'm excited to meet them. 

Following the massage, for which the set-up was quite hilarious: a mountain of pillows on the table, to cradle my tummy, I was taking the seven flights downstairs and bumped into a nun I see around occasionally. She is a beatific creature, dispensing warm greetings as though I'm a treasured friend. This time she says "How are you - oh! How are BOTH of you?"

Can't do anything right

ADHD linked to use of paracetamol during pregnancy http://ab.co/1hkXZa3 #abcnews

XXII first hospital appointment

Yes, same outfit as Monday.. 

Exactly 22 weeks and all my dates correct and confirmed. We spent four hours yesterday afternoon at the Royal Women's, having a 50 minute appointment with a chipper and young midwife and about 15 minutes with a doctor. In between we watched all the other pregnant women and their families, and the screens which showed breastfeeding instructional videos. 

Big rain yesterday and we watched with frustration as our new gutters failed in multiple places. We realise they are purely ornamental. 

Went for another 3km run, that makes seven runs in the past month, all about 19 minutes. It feels hard and good, which is usually how running feels to me!

Name preference: Indi

Best activity: Watching grass grow in the backyard (see left side of pic above)

Adventure dreaming: Tomorrow to Grampians. 

Random worry: I want my child to be perfect (not so random)

Reading: A list of great reads from JCW for my year ahead

XXI rocking

Saw Eddie Vedder last night. Was all about the ukulele. Set list. I wonder what the little one made of it all. There was some very pregnant ladies in the foyer after so that made me feel relieved. 

A dear friend, EJW, is getting married next month and I was thinking of love lyrics for her ceremony and came up with the following.

"Longing To Belong"

I'm falling harder than I've
ever fell before
I'm falling fast while hoping
I'll land in your arms
'cause all my time is spent here
longing to belong
to you

I dream of circles perfect
eyes within your face
my heart's an open wound that
only you'd replace
and though the moon is rising
can't put your picture down
love can be frightening when you fall 

And when the time is right, I
hope that you'll respond
like when the wind gets tired
the ocean becomes calm
I may be dreaming but I'm
longing to belong
to you

Matching white t-shirts and black shorts/pants at the Junction Hotel for pre-gig dinner. 

XXI maternity fashion

Best activity: taking my shoes off at work
Adventure dreaming: holiday shacks on NZ south island east coast
Random worry: going to loud concerts will harm my baby
Reading: forum threads about four wheel driving while pregnant or with babies

 

The daily fashion crises and the weekly weight gain (250gms!) got to me. The recommendation from trusted sources was Topshop Maternity. Charlie refused to join me on the mission to Knifepoint, but he missed out. As well as some larger undies, I got sorted with some 'skinny leg' black pants that I can imagine wearing every day.

 

The Topshop experience took place 20 minutes to closing on a sunny Sunday afternoon and rather quickly after entering the shop, I was somehow assigned a personal stylist. She trailed me around and set me up in a huge special change room. She said I had the glow.

 

I bought a dress and top as well and may begin a fashion diary as getting out of the house and feeling presentable feel like something worth celebrating. 

 

Featuring: famous Topshop maternity pant + non-maternity blue top + Christmas gift necklace + visible bump

XXI from the mountain top

Listening to soft rain on the tent. Late morning and crows calling. I'm so cosy and the air is fresh and grass-sweet. I can just see the single summit tree through the fog. I'm lying on my left, feeling my heart beat. This place always welcomes us home.

 

Three cars have crawled past. I greeted the first but didn't bother after. Just now I heard a thud. Series of thuds. The little tent, my resting body, are right by the track. Six horses were stepping past. I greeted the riders in their driz-a-bones and broad hats.

 

Mt Stirling

XXI Valentine's Dream

In my dream there was a small baby in grey pants with white dots and press studs. It was telling me it needed new pants. I wasn't organised. It was a mundane moment, soft and normal.

XXI alive and kicking

I'm both sentimental and forgetful. This week a year ago things were very different and I'm reflecting on a very big year behind - setting aside the year ahead! A decade ago we were in Daukšos Gatvė and hosted a fabulous party with all manner of unknown new friends and warm wine, Outkast blaring and new lovers around. 

Feeling rounded though well. Yoga is harder. Sleeping still good. I think the weight I've added is about right though I feel weaker which is frustrating.

XX and Westside Times

Sunrise run and I had to stop to capture the vista. Every time I go down to the waterfront I love it again and more. 

Saturday night we jumped out of the heat haze and got a train cityward, but got off at Yarraville to look at movie times. We'd just missed a block starting so wandered to a lil Japanese place for dinner. It had a sushi train that had novelty boats. Japanese seems like a good option for me as they have lots of vege friendly options and small dishes so I can eat the right amount. If only alcohol free Asahi existed.

We had 30+ minutes to wait for next train so decided to walk. It was a long hot and sometimes weird walk as we tramped through Yarraville and Spotswood along roads where the only pedestrians were rats. 

We resolved to watch Con Air if we ever made it home. 

 

XX

19 weeks and feeling it

Lovely busy times with beach, river, visits, breezes and goodness. Friday we used our patio for BBQ and relaxed together before hosting. Early start for a kayaking lesson and accidental swim... Then to the coast where I should have taken photos of the beach/house to share how beautiful and relaxing it was.

Some anxieties with bodily conditions. I booked into the Doc after being told by another soon-to-be-mother that I had somehow missed getting lots of the checkups and info she already had. Silly.

Name preference: Della
Best activity: Legs up wall or sunset stroll
Adventure dreaming: Mt Speculation
Random worry: Varicose veins
Reading: Job applications, the 52 project, blogs about varicose veins.

At home, ready for work. Last time I can fit into blue suit (until...). 

19 weeks and the scan

Cool change gently flowed through last night, it's short-lived but still welcome. Had my first visit to Williamstown beach just before the heat broke. After work, home to change, then to beach and in water in ten minutes. Just the right amount of time to cool off and paddle and after we got out, the breeze shifted and clouds pulled around the sun.

Williamstown beach as the cool change approached. 

Today is scan day and maybe sex reveal day. I'm very glad that we're not hung up on boy/girl, one thing not to worry about. The first scan, some seven weeks ago, took place when I was very sick and I'd just got back from Indonesia. It was so wonderful to see the little one move around and actually confirm I was pregnant.

18 weeks and a run around Princes Park

Eighteen weeks is nearly half-way. There's certainly evidence of a new shape in my mid-section. Not time yet for a complete wardrobe change.

I'm feeling very optimistic and well and grateful for all my blessings. Weather is lovely and I'm back to the gym. Last night I headed up Swanston to meet AJM for a run around Princes Park, something we used to do years ago together. The sun was hot, the track flat and boring, the company great and the pace slow. Perfect.

17 weeks and Warburton

Seventeen weeks pregnant and a lovely summer weekend full of activities, friends and eucalyptus smells.

After a week of back to work and 40+ heat, Friday night was greeted with joy as the temperature plummeted from 4:30pm. The forecast winds kept us at home Friday night so we packed the car early Saturday and headed to meet our fellow cycling buddies for an eggy breakfast at APTE (which appears to have changed hands...).

Our weekend plan included a ride up Mt Donna Buang, camping at Warburton Caravan Park, then rock climbing at Ben Cairn. Three different groups of friends and three activities around the Yarra River up in the ranges.

Thanks Roxanne Silk for the photo of me winding up to (halfway-point of) Donna Buang. A great day-trip destination for a walk, ride or just fresh air.

Little India

Indo 2011

My 9-5 job is to advocate for Asian language and culture literacy in the school system. Makes sense then, to learn an Asian language, right? I have a patchy track record of languages (shh, don't tell my boss), studying French through high school, hating it, learning Portuguese when I was with Rui, then Arabic and Lithuanian in Vilnius. Oh, and an afternoon learning Korean in Seoul.
So I'm fluent in nothing but Strayn. Charlie studied a year of Indonesian at high school and seems to remember a great deal. So we studied a short course and enjoyed it immensely. Totally inspired. And very much supported by my colleague, the Indonesian Advisor. This week I'm due to start Indonesian Elementary II and in four weeks I'm gonna head to Sulawesi and get some immersion as I cycle around.
I started my cycling training with a lap of Studley Park this morning, hands frozen, eyes squinted in the bright 7am sunshine. Felt like a slug on a tractor but the tour has me riding 60kms every morning so I'll need to keep it up. Four weeks.

This weekend, to the summits

Tonight I'll knock of work as soon as I can, race home in the sunshine, change and get camera and toothbrushes and drive north. We usually stop at Yea for petrol and iced coffees, then on to Mansfield. Camp will be at Lovick or Bluff hut. Big day is planned for Saturday, driving to the start of walk which follows the Australian Apline Walking Track (AAWT) over to Mt Magdala, which I've never been to. Then we'll head to Mt Howitt, where Charlie and I did one of our first big walks together, back in 2007... or was it June 2008? We'll walk along one of the most beautiful ridge lines, the cross-cut saw, along to Mt Buggery where we'll camp on Saturday night. Sunday we hope to leave most of a our gear at Mt Buggery so we can walk to Mt Speculation, a summit that we have attempted a couple of times before and been thwarted. In the past it has been too slow, too hard, too hot. This time we hope to make it! Conditions look good. Sunday arvo back along the cross-cut saw to camp at Vallejo Ganther Hut where we cooked dinner on a snowy night a few years back when we camped by Devil's Staircase and had mouse run over our tent. Monday we've got off from work and then plan is to come back over Howitt and Magdala down to the car and home.

To Do List

Somehow the first half of this year seems gone already. I have so many things I want to do and so many things I should be doing and so many things I am doing. I'm overwhelmed. So here I list things so I'm not forgetful.

• Learn to type so I don't get a sore shoulder
• Learn to swim so I can...
• Learn to row
• Get into crisis management, do the Red Cross course
• Operate my LoMo camera
• Fix my Zenit
• Learn Indonesian
• Learn to use statistics and data

Brought My Blog

Sitting at Gate 12 looking out at the blue Melbourne skies. Feeling a bit fuzzy. Boarding in one hour, new friend by my side. It's a year since I was on the long flights to-from Kuala Lumpur and many years since I flew to Korea, not knowing what would greet me. Already I'm doing a stocktake of the things I forgot to bring.


Pub last night with pear cider and my dear friend Snaxalot who encouraged me to snap photos of quirky stuff to help her with the love-hate feelings she has for China.

Birthday Diversion

Been quite caught up in myself and the birthday business. Splendid party Sunday and China departure Friday. Three sleeps. Must turn my brain back to Chinese matters. Like hutongs and hotels, urban fictions and art, a shopping list and wifi.

Virtuous or Vicious

Investigating the virtuous cycles of growth and innovation and thinking about the higher education systems in China (and comparing with India and Australia). Hoping one day (soon) I can draw a diagram as enlightening and informative as this.

The United States of China

“China is a threat, China is a customer, and China is an opportunity.” – Kenichi Ohmae.

Upon the recommendation of the academic tour leader, I'm reading 'The World is Flat' in preparation for my trip. I started it three weeks ago and have only made my way to page 140. The quote above is followed by advice to not compete with China, but consider which part of your business you want to do in China, which part to sell to China and which part to buy from China.

Of course I consider this in terms of education, more so following a chat with my old boss who advised me to write on what Chinese universities seek from their internationalisation strategies. I guess this is where I should start.

What about Korea?

There are a number of wicked problems from last century that are unsolved this century that appear to be placed in the basket case: Korea and reunification is one. Another is the Roma of Europe.
Whenever I read something about North Korea treating it citizens poorly, I get angry at the Republic for not being generous enough to help the North. Whenever I read about North Korean refugees having a hard time, I get angry at China, where they usually go in the first instance, for not being generous enough to work on a solution.
Stil thinking of topics for investigation.

Got My Visa

Picked up my visa today, shiny visa in shiny passport. All ready to go. $78.50 and two visits to the very efficient visa processing office.
Started thinking about topics for my research projects, hoping I can write on cultural capital, soft diplomacy, international education, maybe something about standards. Started poking around for topics.

Tanjil Bren

Mini-adventure this weekend. Left after a sleep-in on Saturday and headed to Warburton where we bought sausages in bread with sauce and onion for $2.50. Bought up big on country produce like soap, jam and wine.

A long day driving was ahead, not knowing exactly where camp would be. Drove through lots of snow and winding roads. Lots of glorious wattle in flower. Checked out the Thomson Reservoir to see how much water was in it.


Our journey took us along and through many creeks and rivers and as the evening wore on we started to wonder if there were any nice campsites or huts that hadn't been trashed by bogans or inhabited by groups of guys playing music.

We found a spot at the base of Morning Star track and ate a ham, rice, chili and green bean concoction with lots of local wine, then snuggled into the tent and forgot about everything.

The following morning we drove around in circles for a bit, lots in a muddy maze of tracks before crossing the ford near our campsite and heading up the particularly steep Morning Star track. So steep I decided to get out of the car...

Headed north and checked our Mt Useful. Felt a bit frustrated as this was my first trip with the new Leica and I couldn't get the colour I wanted for some pics. Useful was a white-out, freezing and no view. A huge comms tower is up there, and a shelter that I assume is for fire watch comms, but could be an emergency option should we ever need it.

Along McEvoy's Track, which was signed as 'Spring', we stopped at two interesting places, Edwards Reef Cemetery and Crooks Historic Site. Both were mysterious and a little spooky. Crooks had nothing but a dot on the map and a pole with the word Crooks... Why?

We headed towards Walhalla along Binn's Road and were surprised at how damn cute that town is - even more than I remembered. We followed the train line south out of town, noting that the Australian Alpine Walking Track starts in the town and winds all the way to Canberra. One day.

Through Rawson, not so pretty, we headed west along South Face Road which sports some very fancy new bridges. We swung past Mt Baw Baw and then lunched in the charmingly named Tanjil Bren, population 9.

The Blue Dragon

The Melbourne Festival is in town and my token selection was 'The Blue Dragon', which was amazing. Money and time well spent as it was a luscious performance. Set in Shanghai with three actors, the dialogue was in French Canadian and Chinese. The set and lighting design threatened to steal the show, but I was soaking the 'Shanghai' story, sights and characters. It definitely made me want to see some galleries and ride a bike while I'm in China.

Marathon

This morning I'm running in the Melbourne Marathon, doing a 5.7km run, not the whole enchilada. It means I'll be late to the next session of the Business Globalization course, which I'm hoping won't get me in trouble. The schedule starts with each participant giving a 3 minute presentation on what they hope to see and experience on the tour.
What I hope to get out of it is a greater understanding of 'China', a more nuanced appreciation of the culture and the way of doing business. I hope to eat great food, learn history I had no idea about, and try to uncover some diversity of opinions.
If I'm able to follow my line of interest then I might write about soft diplomacy and China's recent foray into this way of gathering and expending cultural capital.

Charter 08

Dinner in Northcote last night at a Japanese place. We ate and ate and it was wonderful. Home to bed and MSG fever set in. Charlie heard a loud tinkle in the night that sounded like breaking glass and in the street this morning was a smashed porcelain toilet.
Back at Building 108 in Bourke Street for more of the Business Globalisation 'academic content'. I read this morning that a Chinese man called Liu Xiaobo has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He's considered an enemy of the state in China and a reformist outside. Reading up now on his Charter 08. Meanwhile ordered this book on ebay.

New Passport

My first passport got me to Bali when I was thirteen. The photo was taken at a studio in Eltham and in my memory of it I have a long bob and am smiling.
My next passport I got when working at La Trobe University and shows a stern looking young woman with spiky black hair and a tight mouth. This was the passport that took me to the USA in June 2002 to experience all sort of adventures, shopping and trauma. It also took me to London on a work visa, Lithuania on a student visa, Russia on a dodgy visa, Korea on an alien visa and Vietnam on a Socialist visa.
My latest passport is in the mail and will take me first to Shanghai. I'm dreaming of a trip to New Zealand and Samoa next year.

Businesslike

One of the obstacles I'm facing with this class... Need to see it as a challenge instead... Is that the subject is about 'business globalisation'. So yesterday we spent the afternoon watching a video (!!) about Wal-Mart, their innovative business practices and also their move to Chinese suppliers.
The whole time my brain is working to find the humanities perspective, rather than the business. The other students are mostly second year undergrads doing logistics, marketing, international business, economics and accounting. They don't know my stuff but I don't know their stuff neither.

Chinese Family Altar

After years selling the idea of a study tour, I'm heading on one myself. I wonder if it will be as illuminating as my exchange to Vilnius? In 48 days I'll fly non-stop to Shanghai for two weeks of study on 'Business Globalisation'. The decision to go was easy, but I've had doubts ever since. Today was the first session of academic content and included some pre-departure cross cultural stuff. Some of the assessment is a reflective piece, and the guiding question needs to be 'what am I hoping to get out of this?'.
I tend to not be very reflective, more brutal. So the process of actually giving consideration to the whys and wherefores might be more challenging than it seems. The main motivation that occurs to me to to increase my professional competence when it comes to things Chinese. I think it might be too much to expect resolution of the contradictions and tensions that exist for me around China The Idea.
Maybe, like when I went to Estonia after being in Vilnius for months, being in China will give fresh insights into Korea, which I know better.

Korean Malaysian Lunch

Today at work I'm wearing my Korean brooch that Luke gave me wayyyy back when I was farewelling Korea. It's beautiful and today is being worn to impress an academic coming to lunch. Part of my job is to support the teaching of Korean language in Victoria. There are only a couple of schools that teach the language and Korean culture has a really low profile in Victoria. I'm not sure we'll identify a silver bullet as we dine at 'Little Malaysia' today, but it would be nice to chat with someone who knows about and cares about Korean.

I feel bad that I have had no contact with my Korean friends, especially Luke, since I left Korea. It's a strange feeling. I have emailed him but never got a response. I think a call would be better, but it's three years and counting since I left.

Self-reliance

Heading north tomorrow to see the Asia Pacific Triennial in Brisbane. Particularly looking forward to the Korean work. Interested, curious, inspired about Korea after having read 'Nothing to Envy' about North Korea. It was a truly harrowing tale. I knew nothing about North Korea when I lived in Cheolsan. Nothing. A DMZ trip made no difference. I think Korean of my age do not think about the North as their brother or anything worth considering. Reading through wikipedia and news report, there is little urgency or gravitas about the famine and human rights abuses. It is bemusing. I wonder if some of this arting will be illuminating.

Mount Victoria Trail

On Sunday we walked up to the summit of Mount Donna Buang along the Mount Victoria Trail. The walk starts in Warburton township, right at the start, off Martyrs Road. Anyone can drive up to the summit of Donna Buang and experience the awesome views from the top of the lookout. There's picnic tables, toilets, BBQs, etc., so on a fine summer's day, it's popular.

The road to the top is called the Donna Buang Road (called Acheron Way at Warburton end) and there are as many cyclists as cars in the warmer months. It's a steep climb in a car, challenging on the bitumen road and an absolute slog along the narrow walking trail that we took on Sunday.

The forecast was for 32 and a cool change in the afternoon. The walk was signed as being 12kms return, a 7-hour walk. We had packed lunch and lots of water and started off at 10:10am, disappearing into the ferns and bush. After skirting around some private paddocks and blackberries, we started the hike proper. Uphill.

Lots of birds and bugs and huge tree ferns... The canopy blocked the sun and heat and it was difficult to know how high we were. A sharp noise rang out and puzzled us; it was like a shot but hoarse. We saw the first of two other walkers and asked his thoughts on the noise. He had thought of foghorn but realised that was absurd. We three concluded it was a deer, having seen lots of tracks and also 'no shooting' signs.

After nearly two hours of constant uphill trekking, feeling slow, we heard an occasional car overhead. We were nearing Donna Buang Road, well past our halfway point. A sudden increase in blackberries confirmed we must be near civilisation. Hot and elated, my feet and legs felt strange hitting the road. The next section was much less steep, and starts with a vehicle track that leads up to a whirring communications tower. This section I would recommend for someone wanting a good challenging walk (driving up and parking on the summit road), maybe a picnic, but not training for Kokoda...

At the summit, in the bright sunshine, we ate our lunch and bandaged my heels which had developed blisters. Ouch. In no time we were descending quickly, keeping our eyes on the sky for a forecast storm. It had taken us 2 hours and 20 minutes to walk up to the summit - it ended up taking us 1 hour and 55 minutes to get back down, including stopping for photos and me taking a massive fall near the very end. Not an easy walk but a very accessible and beautiful trip for Melbournians.

Sunday Walk

This Sunday we've got a walk planned. It may be a killer, since all the links I've found for it are about training for Kilimanjaro or Kokoda. It's from Warburton, up to the Mount Donna Buang summit, apparently quite a climb, and quite lush and beautiful.
After attempting a big 3 day trek last month and completely exhausting ourselves, we decided some small, less risky but quite intense walks were needed. The failed Mount Speculation attempt was a high-stakes game. If we had have pushed on we would have been not only physically ruined but without water or enough food, and of course in the middle of nowhere.

Bonnie Valley

Saturday morning it was hard to get up. We both had 8.30 appointments - Charlie had a driving lesson and I had a 'smash' session, aka personal training. It was a tough start.
Getting back later in the morning, the best thing to do seemed to to be to go camping - just for the night. Consulting the myriad maps we decided to head to Warburton, about 75kms away, then on to Big River area where some campsites lined the river. Charlie called his parents and invited them and then we got busy packing the car with the tent, camp chairs, warm clothes, etc. At 10.45am we were on the road.

The drive to Warburton was uneventful, though I noticed my favourite roadside stall was open. Last time we went past I bought onions, plums and an apple cucumber. They have a selection of the largest zucchini ever. Anyways. At Warburton we had lunch at the same place we always do. I was hoping for the best Caesar salad ever, but it was just ok. We splashed out on fresh squeezed juices with lots of ginger which were delicious. As we sat, we were entertained/distracted by a tarot reading happening at the table next to us.

After buying up some local produce (carrot cake, handmade soaps) and op-shop goodies ($1 scarf), and hailing down Charlie's parents, at 2.30pm we headed north-east in convoy. Along Warburton Woods Point Road, through McMahon's Creek and pretty Reefton for about 40kms to the Cumberland junction. Another 11kms east and then our left turn was signposted as Morris Road which soon branched off into Little Creek Track. Very slow going for 4kms, heading down down down into the valley of Big River. Little trees were springing up in the middle of the road, everything was lush and smelt great. A lot of moisture in the air and it wasn't cold at all.

There were a few campsites to choose from, and it was a bit unclear when we got to the river which was which. We saw another car and tent setup so continued on a bit, along Snowy Road, after crossing the river. Large bogholes greeted us at the entry to another little camp area, and after some cautious investigation, we both headed through without incident.
The campsite was right on the river, with a few tracks leading straight down to the banks. To our dismay there was rubbish strewn all around and as soon as we got out of the cars we each picked our way around the site, collecting the beer bottles, cans, forks and junk and then could enjoy a much prettier site. It was only 4.30pm, so we had hours of daylight and set about establishing our camp in an unusually unhurried manner.

We had hoped to have dinner at Woods Point Hotel, about 50kms further east, but the roads were such slow going on arriving, we decided it would be too hard/tiring/risky to do it all again, twice, at night. Instead we scratched out a dinner with the few things we'd all thrown in the cars as contingencies. Luckily this included a nice bottle of white wine which was cooled in the river and accompanied our packet soup and tinned spaghetti beautifully.

The usual wildlife such as wallabies and other marsupials were nowhere to be seen. Instead there were loud swarms of march flies, a tree full of bees, a dead car in the river and maybe a bat. Dusk came late and with a deepening pink and a barely perceptible drop in temperature.

We slept late - 7.30 - and had strong coffee and Warburton carrot cake for breakfast. Mercifully there were no flies and the temperature was perfect. We needed to hit the road early to be back in Melbourne for a working bee/arvo tea. The day seemed unremarkable but when we got in the cars, waded through the bog and headed up out of the valley, it was clearly a glorious morning. The light played with the mist, tall trees silhouetted against a bright white sky, and all around the rich spell of eucalypt. It was very peaceful and the moisture in the air seemed to have deadened all sound.

Instead of heading back the way we came (along Little Creek Track), we headed along Snowy Road due south for about 14kms to Warburton Woods Point Road. Our map has no contours, and we soon realised we were trekking along a ridge with wide breaks and glimpses of the valleys to our left and right. It was slow going and there was plenty of time to breathe deep, observe damp spider webs and take photos.
We reached Warburton Woods Point Road and farewelled Charlie's parents who headed towards Woods Point. There were a few oncoming cars, which we waved to, and a lyrebird scrambling gracelessly out of sight. We reached the Cumberland Junction at 9.50am, and increased tyre pressure before heading down to Warburton. We passed many cyclists headed up the gruelling hill, baring various game face grimaces.

Eggs Benedict with curly bacon at the first cafe in Warburton, and then we headed back to Melbourne, stopping at the roadside stall where a handful of sugar plums we thrown in free of charge. The Gladysdale bakery received some of our custom too, when we stopped to select a royal sampler of neenish tarts and velvet cakes. We were sticky and happy when we arrived in Brunswick to wash windows and dismantle furniture for friends moving interstate.

Time to revive

Dinner at Christmas Street, with mango salad and a tour of the caravan and the garden. Perfect cooling night for a ride home. Perhaps the lament can be anew with the various trip tales. That's handy.