Save the Planet Days – the big commute

I have started commuting to work on my bike, well, what a rigmarole.

Between getting the bike ready, the bag packed with the bare essentials needed for the day ie. underwear and showering at the other end I can see why people do not bike – it is so time consuming.

So that people do not ‘burst my bubble’ I am wearing a bright fluorescent yellow jacket and my bike is all blinged up with flashing lights for night. Yes, I am the plonker looking one on the road you may pass – but you would have to ‘where is wally?’ me from all the other plonkers all dolled up too.

Anyway, off for another ’save the planet’ day!

Wellington Food Show Munch

Have you ever been to the Wellington Food Show? You have to try it one year for a giggle or not as the case may be.

We staggered out of there on Sunday with bellies full of endless savoury, sweet, savoury, sweet combo’s. Then mixed it all up with a variety of liquids from juice, tea and alcohol – burp!

If you want to try the latest foods out on the market from dips, cheeses, wines, juices and kitchen utensils then this is the place for you. Every May in the ‘cake tin’.

Thankfully I was still capable of running after a little rest.

Thanks Gary for the tickets!

Rotorua 12hr MTB Cateye Moonride 2008

Yes, the forecast was for wet southerlies – just what every hardened mountain biker needs to show they have what it takes.

Kingsgate hotel here I come! I am not silly enough to stay in a tent in that weather.

Turned up Friday night in Rotorua to pouring down rain to put up a couple of tents – three jacket layers later I was still soaked through – thankfully I have a hotel room.

The thought of a BBQ for dinner was quickly vetoed by the crew for a more sophisticated (and drier) Italian dinner in town. Which was closely followed by grocery shopping in anticipation of a wet days riding tomorrow.

We were back in time for the start of the 24hr solo and team event. Go Lee go! Imagine doing 24hrs solo on a single speed? Well Lee did 39 laps of a 7km course and came fourth, the only one on a single speed. He is a legend.

Time to head off to the hotel for a bath and a dry nights sleep – I might add I wasn’t the only one heading that way. I hardly slept hearing the rain pounding on the roof all night long – those poor riders out there, they are nuts. Gulp, what are tomorrow’s conditions going to be like?

8AM Race day – back at camp for bacon and eggs on the BBQ and guess what? The rain has stopped!

The mud was like nothing I had ever seen before. Crazy stuff! I learnt new skills and honed others for sure. I experienced my rear trying to pass my front as well – huh what are you doing up here, pedal pedal, get back there. I am sure if I hadn’t laughed at times I would have cried, the mud was seriously hard work.

I laughed my first lap around it was so much fun, then thought I will do another one, so away I went again. I rode in one hour lots in the end, easier on the body and getting dry afterwards.

Our solo 12hr male did very well, 20 laps in total.

Highlights I suppose were the four naked female riders and the one naked male rider that went past, with mud up his butt. Note the girls got a prize that was better than the second place achievers – must be ranked on entertainment value.

Check out the Cateye Moonride site for results and photos.

Thankfully I did not crash all weekend and I am physiced for the 12hr solo in Taupo in September… bring it on!

Wellington Regional Gold Awards 2008

A last minute call from Plan HQ with a spare ticket to the Gold Awards being held at the TSB Arena in Wellington was a nice way to end the day.

Craig had ironically been planning to go to this event with the Porirua Mayor, Jenny Brash, for a couple of weeks including hiring a monkey suit. I arrive home Thursday night to get some glad rags on as well and he is wondering what I am doing? – He was nicely surprised.

First award of the night was the Emerging Exporter category of which Plan HQ won! Congratulations team!

Another client that won that night was 4RF, who won the Cyber Gold Award – I think they may have forgotten it was on as no one turned up to collect it… hmm.

Check the Gold Awards site for full results.

The theme for the evening was a 10th birthday party, and our table definitely felt like it was at one – we had party poppers and streamers all over the table and our helium filled balloons were all ‘consumed’.

Then to cap of the evening the crew tried, and I might add succeeded, to get a gift bag to float with numerous balloons taken off neighbouring tables.

Another great networking event that was nice to share with Craig in his new role at Kiwi Income Property Trust.

MTB weekend Rotorua

Back from a long weekend of mountain biking in Rotovegas (Rotorua) Redwood Forest MTB park.  I am not as sore as I thought I would be but a few of the boys seem to be wary or with ‘light’ injuries – scratches from offs!

It was fabulous weather, everywhere else was having snow and rain while we sweated in sunshine.  We couldn’t have asked for better conditions.  The traction was great under foot.

We rode the new tracks Billy T and Split Endz which were fun.  The boys caught the shuttle in the afternoon but I didn’t, I enjoy the uphill grinds.  There were some great downhill sections but also some scary pieces where you sucked it in and closed your eyes waiting for the tumble through the bushes – nah it never happened - I got off and walked down those bits

Something can be said for professional sports people, no matter what they put their hand to they can normally pull it off – Aaron Slight was a rocket up and down the hills and Hendi still had it in him.  The other pro-elite riders were guns as well, then there was ‘us’ the Sunday riders

Hendi and Southward flew in by chopper for the days riding - wanker comes to mind but only with jealousy – landing in the car park.

A few of us headed to Kerosene Creek for a hot swim after the days riding.  A great spot that I will only disclose to those that ask, otherwise everyone will be there.  It is busier these days as it has turned up in the Lonely Planet Guide book. 

We stayed at the Redwood Holiday Park which was a bit of a flea pit but very close to the park and had a bakery/cafe and bike shop across the road.

ANdREA MOORE Fashion Show

We had Craig’s eldest daughter, Ashleigh, down for a few days over the university holidays… hmm… what to do with her?

I had planned on going to a fashion show on Wednesday night at Gazley’s car yard, I wonder if Ash would like to come?

Yes, she’d never been to one before and was giving great commentary on the clothes and models all night long – just like a pro – must be all those hours working in Amazon.

Her favourite for the night was Frankie Stevens the MC and the auction for Plunket. Someone paid twice the price for a night at Ohtel, which amused Ashleigh to no end. For a young student it was incomprehendible that someone would want to pay $700 for a $450 item

The line up of designers for the night was brilliant, Workshop for men showed a fabulous casual and suit range, I liked the casual range the best. Estella’s Wardrobe had beautiful garments, heading over that way in the next few weeks for a spot of shopping. Ashleigh Fogel was also another fabulous range. There was a new kids range too NZNYKids for tiny tots which had the audience oohing and aahing over the sprogs as they strolled down the runway.

Last but not least was ANdREA MOORE with her Autumn range, nice high collared coats worth viewing closer.

But the real highlight of the night was the ‘Goodie’ bags that were on the seats. Ash (actually we all did) had a ball going through the bags and finding the Elizabeth Arden lipsticks, Estee Lauder Mascara, body washes, coffee packets, chocolates, jandles etc – it was like Christmas!

Afterwards it was off to Espressoholic for a late dinner with Craig.

Easily amused … Phew!