Saturday, April 26, 2014

My 12 year safety record has come to an end...

So after 12 years of cycling (sometimes in pretty hairy circumstances) I have finally had my first real accident. Coming home from work on Tuesday a car cut a corner and knocked my off my bike! Although the damage is reasonably superficial to both me and the bike it is still very scary and it made me realise how badly things can go!

My commute is 3/4 very safe shared cycle/walk path and 1/4 quite dangerous road shared with buses, trucks, cars and complicated by jaywalking pedestrians.

Due to this extra dangerous stretch I am always on guard, riding very conservatively, obeying the road rules to the letter and just aiming to get through the section safely. Tuesday was no different. I was halfway through my dangerous stretch and waiting at a set of lights.... the three cyclists ahead of me jumped the lights while I waited for the green. As I cycled over the horseshoe bridge (named that for its shape) a car cut the second corner and basically drove straight into me. I thought I had maintained enough control to stay on my bike... but unfortunately as momentum carried me through I hit the wing mirror of the car and then it was all over... I went careering over the car bonnet, still attached to my bike, I slid across the road and ended up in the middle of the lane in front of the offending car!

Having said a few choice words to the driver I soon went into a bit of shock and was struggling to think straight. Luckily other cyclists stopped to help out. The driver decided that it was my fault and I cycled into him (interesting concept - not sure I know any cyclist that would choose to take on a car and then he proceeded to tell me that as a respected medical professional (acupuncturist) he would never hurt anyone!). 

So by no way was this a serious accident but it was significant enough to really shake me.

Here are some of my visible injuries - Elbow:
 Knuckles and knee:
 Ethan wasn't very happy with the "naughty man who knocked mummy off her bike" he told Jason that he was going to "throw the naughty man into the fence".... 

So all in all, it was a count our blessing moment... one to remind us of the fragility of life and, no matter how vigilant and law abiding you are, how easily accidents can happen.

A couple of days later Ethan showed me that he too had a sore elbow like his Mama!

Easter Bonnet Hat Parade 2014

Just before Easter Ethan's daycare had its annual Easter Bonnet Hat Parade, with a Humpty Dumpty Easter Egg prize up for grabs!

We made Ethan's hat the weekend before, and unfortunately Ethan didn't want to wear it or even take it to Daycare. However once he got there it was a different story!

I am pleased to report that Ethan won this years Easter Bonnet Hat Parade!!!

Here is the creation (at the end of the school day as well... so it wasn't looking as good as it did when we sent Ethan to daycare in the morning!)...

Thursday, April 10, 2014

2014 Water Polo Grand Final Champions!

 For the second year running Jason's water polo team won its grand final! It  was a hard fought game, and the scores were tight throughout!
Ethan enjoyed the game, and the cupcakes, and the sausage sizzle, and all the other kids he got to play with!

 Here is the 2014 Championship team! Well done Melville F-Troop!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Sculptures by the sea 2014

Each year Perth has the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition with many a weird and wonderful creation. This year was no different!

We decided to visit the exhibition on the Saturday evening after arriving home from our holiday. I mistakenly thought it wouldn't be too crowded! After battling the thousands of visitors for a car park we then had to battle thousands to be able to view each sculpture.

Here are some shots of the exhibits.
Looking out to the sunset.
The same piece but from the other side!
This sculpture was thousands of flags fluttering in the wind.
I managed to get this shot with no-one in the immediate vicinity! Very lucky!
Moving in the wind!
Glass feet with the sun going down!
This was was supposed to represent jelly fish!
This sculpture was one of my favourites - thousands of milk bottle caps help together with cable ties.
This sculpture was known as the eternal sunset.... I was running out of good light for these photos!