And So This Is Christmas

God, it seems, has his foot on the accelerator! Or, at the very least, he has deputised a Time Lord with a very keen desire to keep things moving ever onwards at an alarming rate. I mean, how in hell has it ended up being Christmas..... *already*???!!!

I don't know about you dear bloggers, but I've found the seconds have just whizzed by this year, quicker than I can keep up with. It hardly seems like we've got over the fruit cake induced, Christmas Pudding hangover's of 2009 and yet, here it is, Christmas *2010*! No wonder they talk about our mortal coil - it seems the older we all get, the tighter and faster time coils and loops out of our very lives.

Bah! At least the Christmas shopping has been done. The credit card has been punished, duly, for yet another festive season. Our fake tree has been adorned with all manner of tinsel. And the obligatory catch up with in laws has all but been arranged.

If you are like us, you really look forward to the joy of Christmas, but simultaneously get drained by the commercialisation and insanity of it all. I'm sure there must be an easier way, but the hype and expectation always seems to intrude on reality.

I guess one very worthwhile thing will make this Christmas different for us. If you've got kids, at least the occasion gets back some of its old shine, some of the real meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. We've now got our new baby joining us for her first Christmas ever and together with her big brother, we can really celebrate the joy of new life and new hope.

Whatever your plans, I do hope that this silly season provides you with some peace, happiness and a way to reflect on the more meaningful things in life. While the clock hands seem to just spin around the dial with complete abandon, finding just one brief moment to appreciate whatever it is that has been good in your life must surely be the most precious thing that you could receive. Being grateful for what we have, not what we have lost is probably one of the best therapies around at this time of year.

Anyway dear bloggers, I think I hear the reindeer bells approaching on the southerly breeze. Be good, make sure you leave out some carrots for Rudolph... and a glass of whiskey for the old fat boy in the big red suit =)

See you next year!
Hodgie

Endless Summer

Ah, summertime!

The sound of cicadas. Christmas beetles banging on the window pane trying to get into the light. Droning mosquitoes, dive bombing your precious helix rim while you try to sleep. And who could forget to mention snakes, spiders, ants, blowflies.... and torrential flooding rain!

Day Five of our southern hemisphere summer and the weather officially SUCKS. Out in the Central West and tablelands where we live, it just hasn't stopped bucketing down for what seems weeks now. It was great to begin with - it greened up pastures for stock, made the summer harvests look like being premium and filled up plenty of empty country dams. But, enough is enough.... we now have major flooding throughout country NSW and to be blunt about it, its all getting a little boring.

And, to be completely self absorbed about all this perplexing precipitation, I've been on holidays for the last four weeks and its been wet just about every steenking day! Yeah, yeah, I've got my hands full of baby nappies and toddler training issues at the moment, but I've also got a farm to keep going! While it keeps flogging down like cats 'n dogs, it makes it pretty hard to get out there and run things over with the tractor or break things that I'm supposed to be fixing (like I usually do).

Like most people out in this part of the country, while the rain really is quiet a blessing and it hasn't caused any threat to our livelihood, it just gets to a point where seasonally, you expect to see SUNSHINE. Talk about seasonal depression and cabin fever, I can now understand why the Poms go feral during long grey months of winter! I just wanna go outdoors and go climbing, or bushwalking and not have to dress up like its still winter time!

Okay, okay, I know what some people might be saying. Yes, we should be grateful for the rain (we are). Ah, yeah it causes more debate on global warming (it's needed). But what about my motorbike??? The poor ol' Ducati hasn't been started in weeks and weeks because of the mushy wet clay road to get off our farm!

In my act of rebellious defiance against the Deity of Bad Weather, I decided enough was enough the other day. I purposely wore a light spray jacket, waterproof trail shoes rather than boots and headed off into the wild.

Man, did I get wet =8^(

Bardens Lookout and climbing area at Mt York looked like a giant wave had just splashed over the entire cliff line. Deserted, miserable and clouded in fog, I still made a determined slog along a very wet cliff line to admire the steep lines and overhanging roofs that comprise the fab climbing routes, particularly along Jean Genie and Little Triggers Wall.  If only it dries out, I'll drag Rope Carrying Second (otherwise known as Al) and some gear back here to do some sport routes =)

Unfazed by the weather's valiant attempt to leave me soaked like a sandy beach at high tide, I then ventured out to the mighty Victoria Falls, at Mt Victoria. Wateralls, especially in heavy rain, seem to get rarely photographed, so I made it my grand mission to record the Cascades in flood. No one told me though that the 2.5 hour return steep walkdown to the falls would end up being like a kayak slalom course, complete with rivers of water all the way down the single track!

I didn't start this walk til after 5pm. I made it out just before dark... and with no phone reception, no shelter and no torch, it could have ended up a very wet, lonely and miserable night if something HAD gone wrong. Still, that was the challenge and I've gotta say in all seriousness, it really was just what I needed. The scents from the wet forest, the thundering sound of the falls, the lonely bird calls and majestic glimpses of towering cliff lines through the mist were just glorious =)

Its taken four days now to dry out my trail shoes. The few photo's that I did manage to take were all pretty lacklustre as its soooo hard keeping the rain off your lens. But you know what, its been fun splashing around outside in a weird kinda way, a bit like being a kid jumping about in rain gutters >;^)

If we don't get washed away or slide away in a landslide, I'll  be back with another post at the end of the week. In the meantime, keep your brolly up the right way.

Hodgie

Got this feeling inside of me....

Three weeks down the track since baby Sophie arrived and life has moved into another phase. Hang on, did I say "another phase"??? Well, maybe that should be another *universe*!!

Fast paced, at times extremely demanding, yet completely and utterly satisfying, life with two kids under 2 is certainly now far more energetic. I've got this feeling inside me that what used to be the remnants of our past selves will quickly be splintered into a thousand separate memories. Life with a new baby and toddler most definitely revolves around their sleep, feeds and nappy cycle!

Still, we've proved that we *can* be organised and get out and about to lead "normal" lives. We've already introduced Sophie to 2 hour car trips and weekends away from home and she has coped outstandingly well. She's been subjected to post birth visitor hugging sessions and endured hours of octopus-like embraces from doting extended family. Sophie even had her first Italian restaurant outing on her 9th day... and despite the din of spaghetti munching patrons and the aroma of garlic fried calamari, she made it through the night without hiccup.

Her big brother Ryan also recently got to enjoy pulling the community health nurses' office apart when we visited for Sophie's postnatal checkup. While lil' Sophes was being poked, prodded, measured and weighed, Ryan gabbled about pulling apart whatever he could manage to find. Sophie passed all her health and hearing checks, while Ryan obviously satisfied his desire to leave EVERYTHING looking like Cyclone Tracey had just been through - just what a toddler needs to express his inner self >;^)

Both munchkins even got to sit on Santa's lap last Friday. Well, when I say lap, I do mean "sit on dadda's lap, kinda close to the weird fat guy in the big red suit", but not directly in contact with Santa. It was part of the Christmas party for the mum's 'n bubs group that Helen belongs to and despite a dozen or more wailing babes who weren't quite sure how to interpret Santa's motives, it was a fun day out for all at Jumbo's Jungle Playground at Bathurst.

We've even pulled off a nice cafe outing with both our rug rats, culminating in a fun stroll through a playground and park at Blackheath. Who'd of thought that simple things like feeding ducks and watching your genetic reproductions of oneself could be so entertaining?! Ah, life as parents IS good! =)

Enjoy the time while ya here folks!! And check the beta on this if you wanna get the feeling inside of you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLaNf6qVUCo&feature=channel (Groove Me - Maximum Balloon feat. Theophilus London music vid. 5/5 Hodgie Stars =)

Hodgie

Pretty. In Pink!

 Watch the clip Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs (1986)


Strapped to a skyrocket, we prepare to be shot into the sky at an alarming pace. Its not the going up that worries me, nor the speed at which we will ascend, but it's that potential BANG!! at the end.... that's the scary part. But, we have gone past the point of turning back, its onwards and upwards now - and we've got a brand new baby girl home from hospital, just four days after she was born!!! =8^O

Oh man, isn't she pretty in pink! Isn't she?

Its funny how surreal this all seems. The better half has a baby by caesarian one day, has a few short days of sumptuous nursing care and attention, then its "off you go, you're on your own now". As we strapped our brand new baby girl into the child restraint in our car, I thought to myself, 'how many people get the same sense of awesome responsibility just about now? No.... check that.... I think its more like a very LARGE brick falls out of the sky onto your head which reads: 'REALITY - IT'S YOURS'!!!!

It doesn't seem to matter how prepared you are, or how many times you've done this all before - there's still this amazing blend of wonder, doubt, confidence and blessing that washes over you like a summer storm.

Sophie was lucky though. We brought her home to a loving household, with doting grandparents on standby ready to receive their long awaited little gift from the heavens. Both Nana's are tickled PINK , and glad to see a bit of gender balance being injected into our small family. My parents especially were digging the new grand daughter gig and they stayed for the first few days after Sophie came home to lend an experienced set of hands. It was much appreciated.

Anyway, a week has gone by now and Sophie, it seems, has been here before. She has already settled into good routines with 4 hourly no fuss breastfeeds and she sleeps like a quiet little lamb. When she is awake, she is calm and serene and takes things in without distress, with a hint of knowing that you might expect from old souls.

Despite the odd worry, tears and fears that our lil' fella Ryan might feel outta sorts with all the new changes, he's done impeccably well. He's shown a real interest in Sophie Belle and been prepared to share his toys and mother's love without jealousy. Mum can't pick him up though (he's now 13kgs!!) as she needs to wait another 5 weeks or so for her caesar op scar to heal.

Daddy Day Care has already been doing his bit with the heavy loads - hanging the washing, lifting Ryan all day long and moving anything that the ol' chook can't lift. What was the line in that old Madonna song.... "everything I give comes back to me"??? Yep, it has, already... things couldn't get any better than this =)

Kids grow up so fast. One day they are in nappies and everything you do seems to be just for them. The next, they are teenagers stepping out into the big bad world. There's only a few precious moments in the vast scale of time where our kids actually WANT US to be around, to be part of their life.

Take the time to be there. It doesn't ever last long enough.

Be good blogmunchkins, talk to you again soon!!

Hodgie

Fast Forward!

Now I know what a DVD feels like, especially after someone with the remote has skipped through loads of scenes at high speed!

Well, to say that things have moved along since the last post just a few days ago would be to mildly understate reality. Put it this way, if we were at Cape Canaveral, we would definitely be hearing "Houston, we have a lift off!"! After waiting and waiting for nine whole months....well, 39.5 weeks actually... to meet our newest addition to the gene pool, she made an Express Post delivery last Friday, 12 November.

Bugger this waiting for mum to get her body into gear! Stuff the waiting around for the cervix to ripen and dilate! Our girl decided that while mum might be a great brooder, she sure doesn't seem like much of a hatcher. Doctors... and babies, it seems, don't like waiting.

In reality, mother hen just wasn't showing all the signs of a healthy and normal late pregnancy. For medical reasons the decision was made to to take the safer journey of a c-section delivery. And Friday was the chosen day!!

Do you know just how weird it is to walk into hospital with your better half in the morning, only to be confronted only hours later with this cute little wriggling gift from the womb? Its like going from 0 to 100 in 2 seconds flat! No easing into things, no build up of expectation and no endless hours of hearing mum groan like a chook with an egg stuck half in and half out. Nup, in fact, after what seems like 20 or so minutes after the caesarian is commenced, there you are trying to grip the side of your chair so you can get rid of the sense of disbelief that its all over. Not that I mean that in any negative way - but its just all over so damn quickly!

Never mind me, I think I'm just in mourning. I'm gonna miss that giant pregnant rice bubble that has slipped into bed beside me for the last 9 months. Now the baby is here, there is a little sadness in me (soppy as it is), that this beautiful little stage of glowing motherhood is over once again for my little chook =8^(

But, on the bright side, we now have a BABY GIRL!!!!!!!

World, meet Sophie. Sophie, this is the world!

If anyone does actually read this dribble of mine, you might be happy to know that everything did really go just like textbook. Both mum and bub are healthy and doing fine. Sophie weighed in at a small, but worry free 2.96kg, or 6lb 8.5oz in the old scale. She's a good stretch of a girl just like her mother and measured 51 cm from crown to heel.

She's already met her big brother (Ryan, 20 months) and had her first hospital bath to wash away that greasy coat of vernix and dried blood. Mum has been able to get the environmentally sustainable breast milk supply flowing freely and the pair of them have already imprinted and bonded without any drama. Even Ryan seems to be okay about having a little sister... although she *did* bribe him with a small Lego gift that she managed to buy on the way out from the womb >;^)

With luck, mum and bub will be home early this week, then our family life can settle into the routine that millions have experienced before. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for us its the small things that count. The joy of experiencing life again through kids eyes is something every hardcore punter out there should do!

From little things, big things grow =)

Be good Bloggers, I'm off to visit my two amazing women in hospital.

Hodgie

SPASM!

"Oh my God! I'm having a spasm!!!" shrieks the old girl.

Well, it really was more of a quite murmur, but spasm was definitely the keyword at play here. "Spasm, as in baby contractions?" I ask. "Spasms, yep.... as in the little bugger is trying to bore its way out of me RIGHT NOW =8^O " was the reply. The mind races, checklists start blinking through the cranial space that doubles as a peanut gallery and the adrenaline really starts to flow.

So this is it, we look like we are off and running!

Well, er...... no, as it turns out.

Last night, Helen's little "baby version of her" must have thought it was time to rehearse the parachute manoeuvre, getting ready to JUMP when the light shone through the escape hatch. Rehearsal it was, sadly, as things seem like they have gone quite again today. Oh well, for a few hours there, it seemed like we were ready for lights and sirens and a quick Ducati paced hop into our country town hospital.

Man, this waiting gig over the last few days has been exciting! I almost want to leave the car running (despite the enviro vandal badge I'd earn if I actually *did* leave the car running) just so we can do the 15km bolt to town without any delays. I mean, if things DO get left to the last minute, there'll be nothing else for it - I'll *definitely* have to fire up the Ducati then and strap the old girl to the back.... just so we can cut around 10 minutes off the trip to the hospital >;^)

Anyway, I'm only typing this little post because I'm anxiously whiling away the time while mother-to-be catches a few zed's. We're off to the quacks again this arvo to see what progress has been made. No doubt he'll ask pertinent questions like "has your cervix ripened?" ("what... like an apple???" I ask), or "have your water's broken?" ("um, well the bore pump actually broke the other day, if that's what you mean" I reply). If he needs to look and feel how dilated things are, I might just turn my head and whistle, just in case the baby has a chance to peer out and say "Huwwo Dadda!!".

Whatever the case, we're about 24 to 48 hrs away from meeting our new addition to the gene pool. Welcome to earth lil' mate =)

Hodgie

Hel with her number one son on board the old Ducati - it might be the quickest way to get her to hospital this second time around >;^)

On the Up

Heya Bloggerites!

Its been a busy week or so since my last post. Me and the better half are in countdown mode for baby number TWO, due at the end of this week (one way or another!), so the throttle has been screwed wide open trying to get all those last minute things done - you know, the things that *should* have been done about six months ago!

We've opened up Pandora's box with this one. A new bub in the house means major reshuffles for us, with the guest room being converted into a nursery, new furniture being knocked together (cots, change tables, chests of drawers, bookcases), more decorating and new light fittings to boot! All the crap that was being stored nice and conveniently in the spare room now has to find a new home... and there's just no space here for boxes and boxes of photos, art and craft materials,old uni notes, baby number ONE's toys and other paraphernalia. Its amazing seeing just how much stuff most of us accumulate over a short period of time - stuff that invariably we could really do without, especially when its just gathering dust and rarely gets a second lookover.

Oh well (sigh). Time for Hodgie to don his Viking helmet and swing the old battle axe into anything that resembles junk..... or maybe we'll just schedule a garage sale after the new bubba arrives and we've settled into parenthood, part two!! >;^)

More importantly, the better half is still... well, better...... and this 2nd pregnancy gig has done nothing to diminsh her non stop disco work ethic. Man, while most other ladies would be be-Othcing and com-Plaining as they struggle towards D Day ("D", for De baby is here!), my little sweet muffs is shining like a true champion. Here she is, 3 days out from her due date, jumping paddock fences, moving her horses around, gardening, weeding and chasing the chickens! If the baby comes out running, there won't be any surprises at all! =)

Anyway, amidst the chaos and busy demands of the last few weeks, I'm happy to report that there's a definite atmosphere of serenity, contentment and bliss right here right now. We've done about as much as we can to prepare baby number ONE for the arrival of his new little sibling and to make the nest as snug as any new duckling could desire, so its just down to waiting time now.

And best part of all, I've got a few weeks off to share with the old girl as she confronts motherhood head on again, so that's gotta be sweet! Things are definitely on the up!

Er...... but I *did* manage to sneak in an afternoon of climbing at the Dam Cliffs yesterday.... lets just call it "stress management"! >;^)

My ever smiling, rope carrying second on his way up Jug City, Dam Cliffs

Hel being pregger-licious with baby #2

The first post on yet another blog page

It may seem like yet another leap into the vortex, one more stumble into the void of black holes, a repeat of all those innumerable lost hours of yesteryear...... but yet here I sit, tapping away at the keyboard again.

This will hopefully be the first post I make to blogger dot com. The first of many, if not regular, contributions to the zapping world of electrons that are beaming across the planet right now.

I've previously done blogging to death in another life on what became a doomed and decidedly defunct bloggers page of paradise: Yahoo360! It had its moments of glory and I ended up writing on that site for a few years while enjoying pretty good readership. While I haven't quite worked out the theme for writing here on this blog spot, I must say I did enjoy providing my travel reviews and armchair critiques on Yahoo360!

Anyway, lets just keep it short, simple and sweet here tonight. This is really just a test piece to see how the new blog works. Hopefully, if its anything like the few climbs I've been getting into lately, it will be on the up and up! >;^)

Be good til the next post folks!
Hodgie

Me (right) and and my ever trusting belayer on top of a 25 metre pitch at Mt York, Blue Mountains recently.