Traffic, Games, and the magic of surprise

So the Commonwealth Games opened last night here in Melbourne...My kids were totally fascinated with it all.
I was very impressed to see the EAD (elite athletes with disabilities) competitors as part of many contingents, this is a new era for the Games ;as these competitors are not only representatives of their countries; but the sports they are in are trail sports for future Games.

I thought it apt that Leunig's poem The Duck was used in the manner it was and that it was a person not normally seen by many in the community as a mainstream writer. Plus he's from Melbourne.

I wonder ,though, with all the traffic from the Games Village, and normal Melbourne traffic, how many people will be booked for driving in the now BLUE
LANES designated as GL (Games Lanes). We will see, call me a skeptic but looks like a bit of a revenue opportunity to me, what wrong with a "Hey mate, that lane's reserved for Games athletes travel only" "Oh sorry, I didn't know..There are no clear and concise signs telling me that"

Well, I am waiting for the hockey to happen, I am a hockey fiend. See the secrets out now. I love men's and women's hockey but not ice or skate hockey. Yes, I played for many years at regional and state levels, I wasn't very fast but I'm very strong and very deft, being ambidextrous helped too as I could play to either side by swapping hands. ( Why that pissed opposition teams off I will NEVER know LOL). Miss 8 was rapt to see her idol, Cathy Freeman carry the Queens Baton, and is very sad she has retired from athletics. Mr 6 was just enthralled by all the fireworks and peoples(sic). I did have to laugh that they had Ron Barrassi "walk on water" from the pontoons to the stairs....For those who are uninitiated to the religion known as football here...Barassi is thought to be the ultimate in footballs living legends as a player and a premiership coach. But I dislike football so would not know.

Don't forget to fix the leaking tap!!!

Miss 5 needs this type in the kids bathroom...LOL 

This is the type of toilet needed in my house!!!!! 

School Holidays, Commonwealth Games and ????

School holidays have been bought forward this year in Victoria( not sure about the other states) due to the Commonwealth Games being held here . So Term 1 was for a whole SIX weeks after a six week Christmas/New Year break, Term 2 will be 12 weeks with Easter off. I love how the Governments; State and Federal; just switch about the holidays to suit the multi media, mass production known as the Commonwealth Games. Now don't get me wrong, I don't work away from home, so it hardly effects me but if you have just split your leave between yourself and your partner to look after the kids during the summer holidays...What person would have accrued enough leave to have a further two weeks leave six weeks later???? And what employer ( apart from some PS departments) would allow you another lot of leave ,six weeks later????
Despite the Government paying lip service to "family friendly " policies...They counteract with the introduction of industrial relations laws which will strip away the right to even have the leave during school holidays let alone have all the entitled leave. Then they bring in this whammy...Yes, I know there are school holiday programs, which cost money and in some cases defeat the reason for going to work at all. The Government wants more women in the workplace, why? So we can be taxed more? So we spend more?Until the workplace becomes truly and equitably family friendly for ALL this will always be the downfall of any government.

Inso far as the Commonwealth Games goes, well, its great to see the countries of the Commonwealth get together for a who's the fastest/strongest/best/whatever competition, if that is your thing. It's nice to see the creme' de la creme' of their sports represent their country all trained to the nth degree of their fitness levels, what has been pushed to the background as oft it does is that the both the Special Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for 2006 also.

I don't recall any advertising given to the SO or PO, those who attend are families and carers and others involved in the world of disability and special needs, I have yet to met a member of the general public who has ever attended a SO or PO just for the sporting aspect. As someone who has attended/seen both, let me let you in on a little secret..................
Wonderful though it was to see Cathy Freeman win the 400m in Sydney and the women's swim team win relays and the "Thorpedo" help bring back the glory days for Aussies in the pool....But for my sense of achievement and national pride, you will never, ever get over seeing Louise Sauvage win a wheel chair distance race or the joy on the faces of a relay team on the podium, or the utter disbelief of the winner of a 100m freestyle. For my money, these are the true sports people, they have no high octane sports institutes to attend, no high profile coaches and training teams, no real big name international sponsors, they do it because they love it, because they can and because they are grateful for what they have in life. So instead of buying that 10th ticket to see some sport you may not even like just so you can say you did, maybe look at attending the SO or PO this year, or make a donation to getting the PO team to Sorino.