Saturday, March 26, 2022

Hard Life Lesson

After school and work, we drove up to Sydney on Friday evening for the weekend as Ella had qualified to compete at the Australian Track and Field Championships for hammer! It was an extended family affair with Mia also qualifying for hammer and Luca for the 400m. So most of the Hogg clan were there - our whole family; Susie, Patrick and Mia; Cathy and Luca and also Nana.

Our (Andy, Susie, Patrick and myself) morning started with a run exploration of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct including the Badu mangroves, Wentworth Common and the Brickpit Ring walk! We ran past not one but two park runs located within a kilometre of each other! The boys climbed several look out type towers and we ran in circles up Bay Marker - a 20m high mound that apparently was made for the Olympics (there are 4 other geometric forms that are arranged to resemble the Southern Cross). We didn't find any others.

We did come across at the Brickpit Ring walkway though. Once the site for a state brickworks, the area is now an urban nature park that serves as water storage and a frog habitat. Anyway we stumbled across and then around the elevated circular walkway overlooking the pond below.

After a quick shower, the gang headed out for brunch at a local cafe - Abottoir Blues. A great spot with delicious food and good coffee. From there we wandered over to the track so Ella could pick up her bib number and meet with team managers. With over 5 hours til her event we went back to the hotel to hang out.

We arrived back at the track with plenty of time so we can follow the rules and there are lots of them associated with athletics competitions.  

Ella and Mia headed off to warm up in time for their check in. Athletes have to check in 45 mins before their event starts when their uniform, shoes and numbers are all formally checked. They walk out in a single file with an offical in the lead and one bringing up the rear! Actually officials who are associated with offical duties also walk out in a line to their event!

We leave the stadium to circumnavigate the track and position ourselves adjacent to the hammer circle. The girls have a couple of warm up throws and then the competition begins. There are 15 competitors, 3 from the ACT,  in the U16 girls 3kg hammer throw. 

Ella's first throw looks a solid distance for her but lands just outside the sector line while Mia has a good first throw. For the next throw Ella hits the cage for her second foul while Mia goes further to record 39m.

Meanwhile the U15 girls 400m heats have begun. Luca is in the first of three heats and runs 66sec finishing 7th.

The third throw Mia has another solid effort. We all hold our breath as Ella throws and unfortunately her third throw hits the cage. Ella sadly finishes with three fouls. 

Bitterly disappointed with her performance, Ella spills a few tears while waiting for everyone to have their last throw. She is not alone in not recording a throw - there is a QLDer who is in the same boat and is also in tears. Several girls provide comfort - in particular the other ACT thrower lets Ella know how she knows how she feels as she did the same thing last year.

The group is gathered together to announce the top 8 places who then qualify for another throw. Ella and the other girls who didn't make it are lead off the track. Mia places 8th and qualifies for another throw but is unable to improve her distance or her place.

We are disappointed for Ella and today's performance however we are so proud in how she handled herself. She demonstrated great maturity in processing her feelings and being able to continue to watch and support her fellow team mates.

We also reminded Ella of her fantastic improvement in such a short period of time. Having only learnt how to throw the hammer in October last year, she has managed to improve her PB by over 10m and attain a national qualifying standard. Her current technique has her completing one turn while some of her competitors are doing 3-4 turns. We are happy that she is happy and having fun at training and aiming for higher things.


We enjoyed dinner at a Japanese restaurant with ice cream to finish off. 

The next morning after a run and breakfast out, we returned to the track to support Mia Z in her hammer throwing competition. She finished her season with a PB! Then for us it was back in the car for the return trip home.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Happy 2nd Birthday to Indi

She celebrated in style - morning run, visit to the coffee shop and homemade dog biscuits made kindly by Katy! What more could a dog want hey? As for maturing, well she still has a looong way to go.



Futsal Dinner

As the gang were not all together for the final round of games, a dinner was organised for the girls to celebrate and catch up again. A good time was had! Some of the girls will play netball while others have chosen soccer as their winter sport.



Friday, March 18, 2022

Homemade Passata

With all the tomatoes ripening in our veggie patch, we are having trouble consuming them at the same rate. One solution was to give away excess tomatoes to family / friends and the second solution was to make a jar of passata. Stored in the fridge, the passata was used in various pasta dishes over the next few weeks. Yum!




Thursday, March 17, 2022

Waiting, waiting

Monday and Thursday nights involve dropping Katy's to gym (for a 2 hour session) then heading off for a run with Indi around the streets and creeks of Mitchell / Franklin. Returning to the car, we hang out together until Katy is finished. Now that daylight saving has gone, the evenings are much darker.



Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Life Up North

Daryl, Michelle, Tobee and Jesse are enjoying settling in at their new residence in Tom Price and have recently celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary up there! Good to see them happy and the boys looking cheeky as ever!



Monday, March 14, 2022

Late Nights and Early Mornings

After returning in the darkness, Ella exclaimed that she would like to go to the watch the balloons in the morning. The Canberra Balloon Festival runs for just over a week in March with around 25 balloons launching each morning (weather permitting). Inflation starts at about 6.15am from the Patrick White Lawns adjacent to the National Library with balloon taking flight around 7am. 

We woke early before the sun had risen and made the short journey to the National Library parking close by. As we arrived in the area, balloons were already inflating and the sun was beginning to rise. It was perfect conditions - cloudless, clear skies with little wind! 


Wandering amongst the balloons, we soaked up the atmosphere and admired as numerous balloons took to the sky. 



After the launch area thinned, we walked over to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in the same directions the balloons were drifting. As I was running home, I left Andy and Ella to it.



From the bridge, the view was spectacular - the soft colours of the sky over the Brindabellas, the still waters of the lake peppered with kayakers, SUP's and canoes and of course the main attractions the balloons at various levels. A common trend is for the balloons to touchdown on the lake surface. It was very impressive.




After crossing over Commonwealth Avenue bridge, my route home followed the lake's edge westward. Soon I realised that as the balloons drifted up and down, I was keeping pace with a few. Tico, Qatar and the RAF helmet were a few that stood out. 



As I was coming past the Aranda snow gums several balloons conveniently touched down in the paddock on the corner.


A gorgeous morning spent with balloons definitely made the solo run a very memorable one. I love Canberra in autumn!


Sunday, March 13, 2022

Enlighten

Back again after a year hiatus. We arrived at dusk for the main event deciding to skip dinner at the noodle markets. We walked along the edge of Lake Burley Griffin between the rows of flags naming the countries while the sky got darker as we made our way towards the National Gallery of Australia arriving just as the lights illuminated the side wall of the National Gallery. The light show here was excellent and especially like the Escher sections.




From there we made our way through the crowds towards the Portrait Gallery to a very average light show.


Venturing into the noodle markets, we wandered around looking at the vendors all with very long lines. Eventually donuts were bought and we move on towards Questacon. The light show here was better.


Finally the last spot on the walking route is the National Gallery. Again not a favourite.


By this stage, we had all had enough of the crowds and walking and decided to call it a night. Overall it was a little disappointing this year. Our group thought the light shows were a little under done and there was a distinct lack of individual smaller light displays which had created lots of interest in the years before. Perhaps another thing impacted by Covid. There is always next year.


Saturday, March 5, 2022

New Training Partner

Indi thought it was great that she has a new training partner in Leo. After the excitement of seeing Leo arrive, they both settled down during the run. Indi though is still very much on alert for any signs of anything that looking interesting with kangaroos and rabbit on top of the list!