My year in reflection

As the year closes to an end and I look forward to the start of a new one I thought I would take the time to reflect on the year that has been. So this post is not humorous as some of my past posts have been and takes a more serious tone. This post is more for me than the readers! This year has been huge for me, so many changes, challenges and new friends. The year started off tough but as I sit here today I realise that I have had one of my best years ever. This time last year I broke up with my long term boyfriend, the person that I always thought I would spend the rest of my life with, so the first few months of the year were quite a challenge finding somewhere new to live and coming to terms with the realisation that I was now single again and not that far off being 30. At first this was a scary and daunting thought but throughout this year I have become a stronger person and I am really happy with my life (very clichéd I know, but also very true). I moved back across to the right side of the river and found a new support network through some amazing girls that I train with, the tri-bal girls are some of the most amazing girls that I have ever met and I am so glad to have been able to form stronger friendships with them this year. I started racing triathlon’s again, after having not raced for a number of years due to living overseas and injury I decided that this year it was now or never and that I would race my first ironman event. However as everyone knows I do not do things in halves so not only did I race Busselton Ironman I also raced a Long Course race at Falls Creek, Half Ironman in Torquay and 70.3 in both Hawaii and Vegas. So yes it has been a big year for me triathlon wise and I have loved almost every minute of it (did get to a low point about 6 weeks out from Busselton with training becoming a little too much, but a night out with Shoney and a number of espresso martini’s fixed everything pretty quickly!). I got a promotion at work (which was probably a good thing given that I decided to invest in a new bike and race wheels – so thanks Schweppes!) I am loving my new role and the challenges that it is providing me with. Professionally I couldn’t be happier with where I am at with my career right now. Other highlights of the year have been:

• Seeing my brother Ben get married and welcoming a new sister in law Kerry
• Becoming an aunty again to the adorable baby Zayne
• Spending time with my family and really appreciating the great relationships that I have with them and how supportive they have been to me throughout the year
• Having my dad come to Busselton with me to share in my Ironman achievement, the race was all that more special knowing that Dad was there supporting me throughout the whole day
• Competing in the world 70.3 championships in Las Vegas

So as the year comes to an end I would like to thank all of my amazing family and friends for their friendship, support and encouragement that they have provided me with throughout the year. I am really loving this festive season as I get to enjoy it with you all. I am looking forward to the new year and journey to Ironman number 2, I am looking forward to turning 30 (after all 30 is the new 20), and I am looking forward to continuing to blog about Bikes, Boys and Baking. So Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to anyone who is reading this.

Some people I know think that I'm crazy

Actually all people (including me) think that I'm crazy. Afterall who decides on the Thursday night before Christmas to cook a Christmas Pudding that will take 6 hours. Having soaked the fruit already in the brandy overnight I arrived home from work and made my pudding only to discover that I did not own a pot large enough to steam the pudding in so had to go out in search of a huge saucepan! So now not only has the ingredients alone in this pudding cost more than it would have to buy a pudding from the store I have also had to buy a new saucepan worth $50! (that's in addition to the $15 pudding basin already purchased). All I can say is that this better be one awesome pudding and my family better appreciate the effort that has gone into making it. Given that I had a lot of time to kill whilst waiting for my pudding to cook I could have put my feet up and relaxed in front of the TV with a glass of wine but no I decided to make a cheesecake, a batch of Gingerbread Men, some shortbread (although they were a little bit of a failure!) and rum balls. After standing on my feet so long baking in the heat I now have swollen feet and ankles (swollen enough that I can call them cankles) so I think it is now well and truly time to put my feet up with that glass of wine as I wait for another 3 hours for my pudding to cook.

Beers + Baking - Biking = Bulge!!!

So whilst I am enjoying a well deserved break from training perhaps Christmas is not the best time to be taking a break afterall, especially in Australia where Christmas is in the heat of summer and skimpy clothes are standard in the heat! In the past 3 weeks I have consumed more alcohol and "sometimes foods" than I have for the whole year. Yesterday alone I consumed about half a kilo of chocolate freckles and for the past week I don't think there is a day that has gone by where alcohol has not been consumed. One would say who cares it's time to have some fun after the year that I have just had, however it is all fun and games until I go to wear my jeans and realise that perhaps they are just a little more snug than usual. So perhaps I should ease off the food and not go too crazy over Christmas given that for New Years I am going to a beach party where there will be bikini's galore. Perhaps a few rides are called for in the next week or so to burn off some of these "sometimes foods" that seem to have turned into "always foods", at least then I may be able to test out my theory of beach rd being the new pick up place and I might be able to get my body back to being bikini ready in time for New Years. If all else fails then maybe a spray tan is in order. Everyone looks at least 10% thinner when tanned!

10 Key Criteria

Some may say that I am fussy when it comes to guys and that is the reason that I am still single or as a very good friend puts it "Soz you set yourself high standards in everything you do, you're only 29 so do not lower your standards now, continue to aim high, perhaps if you're 39 and still single then you may need to lower them". Well said I say! So the 10 key criteria still stands though an adjustment has been made today after realising that there was something missing from the top 10 so I had to remove one of my original's for the new addition! When looking for my potential husband there is a critical assessment based on the following 10 criteria with some criteria having a more heavy weighting than others:

1. Must be taller than me - non negotiable and really not that hard considering I am only 163cm

2. Must not be a smoker - there is nothing worse than kissing someone that tastes like an ash tray (also a non negotiable)

3. Great arms get a very high score - but not really into gym junkies.

4. Fit and Active - doesn't need to be a triathlete just like keeping fit

5. No tacky man jewellery! - this is the new addition to the list, never really considered this one until recently going on a date with someone that had an earing and was wearing a thick gold chain.

6. Preferably good in the kitchen - doesn't need to be a Jamie Oliver but would be great if there is more than toast on the menu

7. Must be employed

8. No hairy backs

9. Should not drive a girly car (includes but not limited to: Ford Festiva, Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2. European cars are preferable)

10. Must want to have kids one day

Is that really asking too much? Perhaps it is! Maybe for each year over 30 if I am still single I will remove one thing from my list!

Beach road, the new pick up place!

Very enlightening conversation at my triathlon club Christmas party last night. It would appear that I am completely out of the loop when it comes to the dating game. I always thought that I needed to be going out to bars if I wanted to meet a guy but it would seem that this is no longer the case anymore, that is so 5 years ago. Apparently the new meeting place is not out at a bar or over the internet but in fact beach road on a Saturday morning. So it is no wonder I am still single, I am clearly not out on beach road often enough, well not the correct part of beach road. Between St Kilda and Mordiallic is apparently the most popular pick up strip (according to the guys anyway). So how exactly does one manage to meet an eligible bachelor whilst out cycling on a Saturday morning when one is red faced, covered in sweat and wearing lycra? Do you just cycle up next to someone and say "hey, how you doing, nice wheels" or do you speed past a guy and then make them chase after you, because no guy wants to be beaten by a girl. I am somewhat dubious about this theory of meeting a guy whilst out cycling but I am assured by the guys that I train with that this is most definitely the new meeting place. So looks like all of that money I spend on fancy bikes and lycra may not be wasted afterall. Time to get back on the bike, into my best lycra that I own and start cruising beach road.

Back on the Bike

With Melbourne displaying some of it's finest weather today I decided it would be a good idea to get back on the bike and go for a spin (having not ridden since Busselton, in fact having really not done much of anything since Busselton!) Legs felt great, fitness not so awesome! Felt very unfit for someone who has just done an ironman so clearly the body needs more rest (or perhaps just some more food and alcohol, it is the festive season after all) but it was great to get back out there and turn the legs over and now I won't feel so guilty for all of the drinking and eating I am about to do for the rest of the weekend! True to the blogs title I came home after biking and did some baking! Baked some cute little gingerbread for my niece and nephew that are visiting today and if there are some left over my colleagues might be lucky on Monday.

The figures are in and the budget is blown!

My detailed budget is often the joke of the office place with it showing me to be a true accountant (or perhaps just an absolute nerd). Recently a colleague asked just how much money had I spent this year on my super expensive triathlon hobby so today I tallied up the final figures and it is not pretty! Afterall I did do 2 races in the US, an interstate race, bought a new bike and race wheels and that's on top of all of the training fees, nutrition, massages, physio appointments and all the other things that come with an expensive hobby. Still to spend 42% of one's annual income on a hobby does seem slightly excessive! But hey I have had a fun year!

So it is no wonder I am still single, not only do I spend all of my time training. I also spend all of my money on triathlon leaving no money for nice clothes, personal grooming or anything else that may make me more appealing to the opposite sex.

So perhaps next year a little less money on triathlon, a little more money on clothes and shoes and an increase in the entertainment budget to go out and drink a few more expresso martini's and perhaps meet some cute boys.