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Over the past 2 days we have finally managed to get our landscaping done.  It has been really exciting to watch and a relief to have it finished – Sarah says she is overwhelmed!

The main thing that has been done is all the turf has been laid, and it has made the back garden look enormous, all the pavers have been laid and flower beds created and filled with soil.  It is now up to us to tidy up the back area and start planting.

We have also been painting the cubby house we bought a few weeks ago and should install it at the back of the garden next week, in time for Jack’s birthday.

Last weekend, Sarah and I had the luxury of a weekend away without the children.  carol and Bob came to stay in our house and we flew up to the Gold Coast for some rest and relaxation.

We arrived up in Queensland late afternoon, picked up a rental car then had a drive up the coast to Surfers Paradise.  by this time it was getting dark and we stopped to walk around some crafty markets.  Before going to the hotel we picked up some cheese and a bottle of champagne.  This was duely polished off before we went out for a lovely dinner.

On Saturday, we’d planned to go for a long drive through the Gold Coast Hinterland.  As the forecast was for good weather we’d hired a convertable, so top down, we set off into the mountains.  There were some incredible views over the coast and inland and we also we for a few walks around the rainforest.  Plenty of fun driving around twisty turny roads and the last walk was to a waterfall through a cave roof.  Impressive.

Once back at the hotel, we freshened up (with another bottle of champagne) and went out for dinner.  Unfortunetly this was a bit dissapointing, but then we continued on to the Casino fo a bit of night life.

Sunday was also lovely weather and we were able to spend some time on the beach and a relaxing lunch before flying back to Newcastle.  Jack, Grace and their grandparents were waiting to meet us saying they’d had a good weekend without us!

Now, 4 days later they are having torrential rain and flooding on the Gold Coast, so we were very lucky we hadn’t planned to go this weekend.

We have all had time off over Easter and it has actually been nice spending some time at home instead of going away.  We have had a few days out and the kids have been playing with lots of friends.  Meanwhile Sarah and I have been hard at work around the house.  The biggest item has been a brick letterbox which I knocked up in a day (and a bit).  First attempt at brick laying so its probably good we plan to render over the top.

We are now on the final stretch of getting the landscaping done.  Council has given us approval to continue with the wall, concretors have been to core-fill the wall (though left again due to rain) and a landscaper is booked to come to finish the work off.  The only thing remaining thing then will be some rendering, some steps up the wall, and plants to be planted.

We had our first go on Ebay last weekend and this weekend we go down to Sydney to pick up a cubby house for the back of the garden.  Probably needs a coat of paint but it looks good apart from this.

This time last week we were in Port Macquarie relaxing after finishing the Australian Ironman.  We drove up to Port in the pouring rain on the Thursday to find a very wet campsite.  This was actually quite good as we were able to find a spot for our tent out of the water, when people arrived the next day it was not so obvious the best places to pitch.  We went up a few days before the race so I could have a train on the race course and to soak up the atmosphere.  There was some sun over those days but also a lot of rain so the transition area of the race got extremely muddy.  At least the tent stood up to the downpours.

After registering, checking the kit in and the carbo loading I was ready to go for Sunday morning.  it rained heavily overnight and I was up at 4am so not much sleep.  But I felt reasonably good as I walked to the race start.  The day started to get light when the professionals started at 5:55 and it was not long before I got into the water ready for our start.  All the age-group competitors started together at 6:30 and we were postioned at the start by expected swim time.  I was in the last group due to a slow time, which meant there were less people around to battle with.

The cannon went off at 6:30 and we were off, it seemed to be a few minutes of swimming before I even crossed the start line as there were so many people (1400ish).  The river was extremely murky due to the rain and you could not see your hands through the water, but there was not too much current which was good.  It was 2 laps around bouys in the river and actually went pretty well.  A lot of bashing around with the others and I had my goggles ripped off twice, but nothing different to normal, then I came out of the water almost at my estimated time of 1 hr 15 mins.

A very squelchy run (walk) to the change tent and then onto the bike.  The rain stayed off to start with and it was actually good fun as there were so many spectators cheering us on.  I knew most of the course having competed in the Half Ironman there in November, but the extra added on was not very nice, hills and rough roads.  There were 3 laps of 60kms and the middle one was in the heavy rain, which at least kept us cool.  I passed Sarah and the kids at one point and got a big cheer even though they looked a little wet.  I made sure I took in plenty to eat on the bike as I wasn’t planning on taking in solids while running.  there were aid stations every 10kms which had bananas, biscuits as well as water and gatorade.  So a ate lots of these and also had a vegemite sandwich I’d prepared and powerbars.

When I got off the bike after 6 hrs 30mins I was ready to walk the beginning of the marathon, but I felt good so went straight into a slow run.  This was what I had trained for and I was able to keep this up all the way round the 3 laps of the run.  I stopped at all the aid stations for drinks and energy gels and just kept a slow plod going.  It was an amazing experience running past so many spectators.  My name was on the front of my number so I was being cheered on by name, a bit disconcerting at first as I didn’t know my name was there!  It got dark when I had about 7 kms to go and then it was a different experience as everyone was running with glow sticks.

As I ran into the flood lights in the finishing line I was Jack and Grace at the side so I stopped to give them a hug before crossing the line after 12 hrs 23 mins and 59 secs.  Exhausted but still standing.  Much to my relief I was led past the medical tent and straight to a massage.  Then after some hot food I was out to find Sarah, Jack and Grace.

We went back to the tent, and after the kids were in bed, Sarah and I were sitting outside the tent and could see runners still in the race till about 11 o’clock.  I was very impressed with my time as I thought I’d take about an hour longer, but it shows what you can do if you put your mind to something and prepare properly.

Tomorrow we go up to Port Macquarie ready for my race on Sunday. Unfortunately there has been torrential rain, and this is due to continue for the next few days. And where are we staying…. in a tent!. Let’s hope we get a good spot in the campsite and don’t get flooded out.
It will be good to be there a few days before the race to soak up the atmosphere and get ready in a relaxed fashion.
Then we will return on Tuesday so the kids can go back to school for a couple of days before the term finishes for Easter.

Last Wednesday David and Rachel had another baby boy.  Ethan William Crane was born in the evening and Sarah, jack and Grace went to the hospital to meet him the next day.  He seems very healthy and is now at home with the rest of the family.

Today has been my birthday and a very busy one at that.  I got up very early for a Newcastle Tri Club race.  Only 2 weeks to the Ironman so I am in peak fitness at the moment, and this paid off as I came 3rd in the race.  Then after a barbeque breakfast, back home to see the others.

We’ve spent most of the day at Norah Heads lighthouse.  We had a picnic with some of Sarah’s family who live nearby and then walked from the lighthouse down some steps to the rocks and sand.  We all had a good time playing here and the kids went for a swim in the rock pools.

Once we got home, Carol and Bob, David, Rachel, Blake and Ethan all came round for tea.

Then a couple of phone calls from the Uk and I’m very ready for bed.  Photos to go on the website tomorrow.

We’ve now been in the house 3 months so we’ve just completed our list of remediation for the builders.  So far theres’s 104 items for them to rectify, most of them only little.

The back yard has almost slowed to a stop as we’re in discussions with the council.  Still doing little bits ourselves,  but we’re getting quotes to finish the full job off.  We’ve got lots of ideas about what to do, including a native forest with a path leading to a cubby house for the kids, lots of lawn, and hopefully space for a veggie patch.

This week has been the peak of my training for the ironman.  So I thought I’d write up what I’ve had to do this week.  Monday evening I had 90 mins swimming in the pool, then Tuesday morning I had a short run before breakfast then another swim straight after work followed by 90 mins on the bike.  Wednesday I was due a 75 min run but I set the alarm clock wrong so didn’t wake up, then it was pouring with rain later so I fitted the kitchen sink instead of running.  Thursday I went for a 2 hour ride before work, then Friday was an hours swim before work.  After work on friday was a 3 hour run (28 km), then finally a day off on Saturday.  This morning I was up early for a 6 hour bike ride (172 km) followed by a slow 20 mins run.

Next week is a recovery week, so lots of short sessions, then I start 3 weeks taper into the race.  This is when I slowly reduce the intensity of training to ensure that My body is ready for the race and I am not too tired.

All this training paid off a few weeks ago when I competed in the Newcastle Foreshore triathlon.  I never stay around for the presentations as it’s just time hanging around, but this time i should have, as I came 3rd in my age group and ended up with a medal!

On Thursday last week Grace joined Jack at Merewether Heights Public School.  It was a big day for her and she was very excited.  We were amazed at how well she went, up till now she has always struggled to leave Sarah or I and go off by herself, but this time it was a kiss goodbye and off she went.

When she finished the day she was buzzing with excitement about her day and her new ‘buddy’.  All the Kinder kids have someone from the senior class in the school to help them settle in.  Grace has the school captain and she loves her.

This week Grace has been class leader and she is always looking forward to the next day at school.  She was very disappointed over the weekend when she had to stay at home.  Lets see how long that lasts!

Jack is also back at school, now in year 1.  His 3 kinder classes are now 2 year 1 classes, so he has a few different people in his class.  He still seems to enjoy it, though he would much prefer to play at concreting in the sand and dirt around our house.

I have now put my money where my mouth is and entered the Australian Ironman on April 5th.  After 2 months of training the rest of the training plan does not look too intimidating, and if I can do all the training I must be able to complete the race (surely?).

Because it is such a challenge for me I have decided to try and raise money for the Cancer Council in NSW.  This is a charity that is both funding research into cancer and also supporting those with cancer.  I have set up a website to help raise money and the link is here.

Please help me raise as much money for this cause as possible.  And if you can support me on the day, it will also help me get to the finishing line.