Bondi Vet & Bondi Rescue in Rottnest Swim

Dean Gladstone Bondi Rescue

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Footnote: Okay for those who asked...

The team of Bondi Vet (Chris Brown) and Bondi Rescue (Ryan Clarke, Dean Gladstone and Bruce Hopkins) came in second in their category.

Dean, the first swimmer for the team, was amongst the lineup at Cottesloe Beach. After a very quick interview he darted to the front of the pack, no doubt so he could get away from the cameras and concentrate on what was ahead of him.

 

They made the 19.7km trip from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island in 5 hours and 12 minutes, that's not counting the flight over from Sydney.

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Rottnest Swim Hidden Obstacles e.g. Premier Colin Barnett's horn

Sitting in oppressive, misty darkness, at the start of the 2011 Rottnest Swim I was surprised by the number of hidden obstacles I witnessed. While some hindrances are very well publicized, others seem to have remained part of the secret society, especially for a first time entrant. So in the name of fair play I thought I’d share them with you incase you were thinking about entering next year.  

'Zombie', Bondi Rescues 'Deano',

Premier Colin Barnett & horn  

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There are 5 well known obstacles that you need to cross before going any further. First having to swim 19.7 kms in open water is a big one, but you’ve probably got over that one already. Then there's all that healthy eating, training, the lack of alcohol (if you're serious) and getting up at 3.45am on the day.



With these covered off we can move onto the 6 hidden obstacles, those discussed in whispers at the after party.

© The Ponder Room

 

©The Ponder Room



First is asking your best mate to smear thick cream on your back, and rub Vaseline into your armpits. I’m pretty sure this breaks some ‘man rules’ somewhere, definitely at the Coffin Cheaters clubhouse, or the Rottnest Quokka Arms Hotel on any other weekend. Then factor in the added stress when, half way through the race, you wonder what your mate has drawn on your back. On top of the cream there’s the strategically places taping.



©The Ponder Room



Then there are the other competitors you’re going to ‘share’ this potentially life changing experience with. For me I’d stay away from the guy with SOS on his back, that can’t be a good sign. Same with the guy banking on Red Cross protection, especially since he’s chosen the little spoken of ‘pink division’, who try to revive you with vanilla essence instead of smelling salts (see below). And then there’s the woman with ‘Mad Kate’ across her bathers, enough said there I think. 

Oh and I forgot the celebrity entrant, like Bondi Rescue lifeguard ‘Deano’ (see first photo - he's in black bike shorts) who comes complete with a salivating media pack who don’t care that you’re trying to secure a good position on the line.



Final Wave

©The Ponder Room



Still keen? Okay then.  

With one minute to go, after a final wave to your loved ones, you realise that, having been moved aside by the media pack, you are now positioned right next a zombie (see top photo).

I didn’t think zombies liked water? Mind you I guess their stiff legs could prove a bonus given the 5 hours of 2 beat kicking ahead of them.

When you enter the water there's a very life like floating camera man guaranteed to move into your path just as you’re about to dive in. Oh and this year, just for the fun of it, if you’re in the first wave off the beach you’ll have to come to a complete stop two hours into your rhythm, while container ships crisscross your path, on their way back to Ikea to stock up on over priced rubber ducks.



'Pink Cross' & floating camera

©The Ponder Room



But that’s not the worst of it.

  

As you entered the water WA Premier Colin Barnett extended his horn into the air and blew it…. right near your ear. Deafened you realise; oh that’s why the other competitors are wearing ear plugs.

So now you know…good luck for next year.

©The Ponder Room

Life Paused

5.30pm Monday night.
While on my way to the premier of 'More4Me' in Perth city, I was stopped at the train station by 4 police officers.



thanks to freefotouk

“You can’t go in there. The city’s been closed off” glared the young cop, his eyes showing he meant business.

“But I’ve got a ticket?” I pleaded in a surprisingly small voice.



The faces around me mirrored back my own shock, as we all simply stood in place, like kids in the middle of a game of statues. Eventually someone broke the silence explaining that there’d been a bomb threat and the city was in lock down. Surely not this is Perth!

“You’re welcome to stay around and see what changes, but we can’t let you in there,” the police acquiesced.



Avon River Christchurch
thanks to martinluff



For the next fifteen minutes I stood pondering. My eyes drifted between the oversize clock and the strangers milling around me. A sea of nationalities and socioeconomic groups, all experiencing the same uncertainty - what to do? Being a fairly creative type it was easy for my mind to conjure up potential scenarios, a task made even easier after September 11.

5.45pm

“You must be kidding”, I laughed to myself as the absurdity of my thoughts hit me. I’d actually been contemplating choosing a movie premier over injury or possible death, how ridiculous. And what if I had been allowed into Piccadilly Theatre? Could I really sit watching the movie knowing that at any moment the building could come down around me? I turned, retrieved my car and joined the rest of the exiting mass.

7.30pm

News came that the city had been reopened and the detonated package was simply a hoax.

5.30pm Tuesday

Turning on the television I was confronted with the images of Christchurch, the city I grew up in. The images instantly triggered thoughts from the previous 24 hours. Memories of confusion, disbelief and utter helplessness swirled around in my head. I, however, had been able to simply turn and walk away from the situation. I was left with two thoughts:

1. Watching the images, my mind simply cannot comprehend what the people of Christchurch are going through. Nor the emergency workers asked to enter a crumbling building, truly inspirational. 
2. Why is it that when our world is tipped off its axis, be it a large or small shift, we can easily speak to strangers and pull together to help each other, and yet without this catalyst we simply go about doing our very best to totally ignore each other?

Do you want a hug from our ex-Prime Minister with that burger?

Told you the Gimme Shelter gig was a loving space. Even the Snack Vans' harsh florescent lighting couldn't destroy the mood.

© The Ponder Room

You've got to love a country where a veggie spring roll is $2, a curry puff $3, a steak burger $8, and you get a hug from our ex-Prime Minister thrown in for free.

Wonder if this happens at every event that hires this Van?

If so do you think Kevin Rudd gets paid in cash or kind....satay stick anyone????

Danielle Caruana and her husband John (Butler's) Sweet Treat for the Homeless

How would you go performing on stage with your award winning, famous husband? Nervous? Hell yeah!!


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Danielle Caruana & John Butler

That's what Danielle Caruana (Mama Kin) told the revved up Fremantle crowd at Saturday nights Gimme Shelter, annual fundraiser for the homeless.

With  a ticket price of only $25/$35 a head, and ALL moneys going to the great cause, the crowd was diverse to say the least.



Young families let their kids off the leash to explore and play with other kids; moody teenagers roamed in packs and even allowed themselves to be seen having a good time, I know unheard of; clipboard welding organisers made last minute notes; a smattering of security staff hung back enjoying the music; and a bodyguard free ex-Prime Minister mingled with the crowd getting hugged and blinded by copious photo opportunities. Perhaps Kevin Rudd felt some empathy with the cause having recently been turfed out of his own lodgings.




© The Ponder Room

 

With the sky darkened and the heat of the day finally evaporated, Last Kinection, the NSW based indigenous hip-hop crew kicked on showing why they have been featured on JJJ. Dom Mariani, the absolute legend behind the Fremantle Indie Rock scene delighted the audience as usual...remember The Stems?

But it was the casual half hour set from Brave and the Bird that revealed the surprise of the night - the Caruana/Butler combination. Danielle needn't have worried as their music and onstage bantering blended effortlessly, showing the partnership works brilliantly beyond the picket fence.

"Hey this is fun", Danielle explaimed half way through, reveling in the dancing audience, before adding "ah but it's the neck that turns the head", when it was suggested that John was "the head".



© The Ponder Room

Kevin Rudd

One of the most laidback, friendly, safe, outdoor events in ages, even a trip to the front row was hassle free. The atmosphere was reminiscent of more carefree times, when front doors could be left open, and kids walked to school collecting their mates along the way.

All that while also 'paying it forward' supporting the great works of the St Patrick's Community Support Centre.

For more information about the Centre go to http://www.stpats.com/ or contact Victor on vcrevatin@stpats.com

Back home, and trying to calm down, I was left to ponder .....

a) Whether other outdoor events could ever be as laidback, or was it simply a Freo thing?

b) The amazingly effortless display of organisation welded by Phoebe Corke, Dave Johnson and Victor.

c) How to make sure I keep my diary free for next years event, and spread the word.

d) What the talented Brave and the Bird gene pool means for the future of their own little tribe.



Childhood delight relived

Remember when you were a child and you saw something for the first time. Don't you wish you could feel that way again sometimes?

The duel

The closest I've come to this as an adult, was seeing Cirque du Soleil for the first time, many years ago.

I'm happy to report that this week I regressed back to being a spellbound two year old while watching Donka: A Letter To Chekov, at the Festival of Perth.
We've all seen juggling, but juggling balls of ice before ceremoniously smashing them on the floor, showed amazing skill. There was a duel where both parties met a slow death. Each death was played out by squirking water high into the air from hundreds of plastic round tomatoe sauce bottles. There were impossible acrobatics feats performed on the floor while being projected onto a large screen. Have you ever seen anyone walk along a persons outstretched forearm? These were just some of the images my mind had to grapple with, while my ears were flooded with a combination of whimsical or haunting musical pieces. His Majesty's stage has never been so mistreated as the troupe of 9 performers smashed ice and threw water all over it. Like me, at the end the audience was stunned into five minutes silence before we all remembered how to clap.
One things for sure, I'll never be able to look at a bald man again without considering the myriad of things he could balance on his head.
If you are in Perth try and catch it before it goes, otherwise if Donka comes to town make sure you grab a ticket before it gets sold out.

Surf Surprise



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Sometimes life doesn't give you much to ponder about....other times it gives you so much your head hurts.

Usually though if you make the effort to get out amongst it, you can find something to ponder on.

10 Tips for Chinese New Year



2011 is the year of the rabbit, so people born in 1939, 51, 63, 75, 87, 99 and 2011 need to make the most of any opportunities that come their way. This is the year to really have a go at those things you always wanted to try.



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Half way through Chinese New Year here are some tips that have been passed on to me to get the most out of the celebrations for this year, and the future.

1. Clean your house just before Chinese New Year to sweep away the 'old' and allow space for the 'new'.
2. Don't clean on the day of Chinese New Year as sweeping then is thought to sweep away 'the wealth'
3. Decorate the house with red paper-cut outs depicting 'happiness', 'wealth' and 'longevity'.
4. It used to be thought that breaking tools or equipment during this time lead to a loss of wealth for the coming year. Thankfully this is no so widely accepted now, however if you need an excuse not to fix that broken toilet, there you go.
5. Similarly it used to be taboo for a married daughter to visit her parent's house as it would bring bad luck to the family. Feel free to accept or reject this taboo as you see fit.

   

   Waiting to Pounce 
   copyright The Ponder Room

   
6. If you're going out to a Chinese New Year function, forget basic black wear red or bright colours to ward off evil spirits.

7. Try to book a table near the front of the restaurant as it will almost certainly guarantee you will end the night covered in cabbage. If so don't panic, this is very lucky and means you will have a great year with money coming your way.

8. Take along small red envelopes containing Lucky Money to feed the ravenous lions. It's best if the money is in even numbers, as money given in odd numbers is associated with funerals. So a $2 is better than $1. the numbers 8 and 6 are lucky as they sound like 'wealth' and 'smooth'. So if you want a smooth year think about these numbers for your lotto picks.
9. When tossing the Raw Fish Prosperity Salad in the air toss it really high, don't worry about the mess, the higher it goes the more luck you will have. Mind you if you keep tossing the rest of your dishes in the air I can predict not only a bad year ahead, but a bad end to the evening, especially if the lions are watching. And no, no amount of pointing out that the other dishes contained cabbage too will appease the spirits.
10. Forget all grudges and wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese New Year)

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Waitangi Day, what's in a name?

Waitangi Day commemorates the Treaty of Waitangi signed on Feb 6th 1840, when New Zealand became part of the British Empire. In 1972 a bill was passed to change the name to New Zealand Day, a decision which was quickly reversed in 1975.

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Now living on a distant shore, my lack of current kiwi knowledge means I wouldn't attempt to enter into this debate. Besides The Ponder Room is a political free zone. So there remains only one thing to ponder....pavlova!!

Actually now that I think about it the Waitangi Day issue may be quicker to resolve.

Valentines Day Dilemmas

Valentines Day always creates a few questions.

Sweet On Cupcakes

When you're at school you wonder whether the letterbox will still be standing when you get home, or will it be lying on the ground under an avalance of love drenched cards. In your teens while you publicly declare the day 'lame', you secretly hanker for at least one small red envelope, even one from the boy down the road would do.

By your late twenties you wonder if anyone at work recognises the handwriting on the flowers you sent to yourself. In your thirties you tell your kids 'nothings wrong honey, I've just been cutting onions', as your husband declares the day 'commercial claptrap'. In your forties you ponder how many years you'd get if you stuffed the four boxes of red, pink, white and apricot roses down the freakishly thin throat of the giggling 'what another box for me?' receptionist. Would your defense of 'I just wanted to add some roughage to her diet' be enough to get you off? In your fifties you ponder whether to call your fourth cat 'daisy' or 'catnip', as you try not to mix up her cat food with your own tinny tin of fat free tuna.

So this year for anyone undecided about whether to send their lover flowers or something sweet, can I suggest that if she works in reception, a bouquet of cupcakes serves a dual purpose. They'll stand apart from all the other flowers she receives, and help with any future defence....'they're mostly sugar, your Honor, and surely the lack of thorns show I meant no malice'.

Meditation Challenge: Part 3

Attempt 6: Drove to the beach, turned off the car, locked the doors and closed my eyes.

thanks to Steve Tolcher

Fail: Got distracted by a half naked twenty something washing his surfboard in the outdoor shower infront of my car. Was left pondering....is meditation really necessary when life seems too interesting to close your eyes, even for a minute.

Attempt 7: Drove to a local park where no one was carrying a surfboard or wearing boardshorts. Turned off the engine, locked the doors and closed my eyes.

Success: All was calm and tranquil for 8 minutes, until my mind started pondering: what will Miss Pole Dance Australia be like; will she be kind to a bunch of middle aged women on a hens night, especially considering the closest thing we'd got to having a pole in our lives was going to the local primary school on polling days; had I locked the back door; did Lara Bingle give back the ring; and do I have enough petrol to get home.

Attempt 8: Discovered a free meditation session by a local GP.
Success: Excellent, lasted the whole tape. 16 mintues of sitting still, focusing on my breath going in and out, in and out, and just 'letting go'. There may be something to this meditation thing after all!  I hope to post a link to that session later on. In the mean time I believe the Meditation Society of Australia has free podcast lessons. I haven't tried them yet. Here's the link (hopefully) Meditation Society of Australia

Meditation Challenge: Part 2

thanks to clearlyambiguous on flickr

Attempt 4: Sitting in the kitchen with an ambient crashing waves CD playing.

Fail: The gurgling water sounds just had me crossing my legs for the first 5 minutes, and then bolting to the toilet

Attempt 5: Lying in bed at night playing a guided meditation tape.
Fail: I heard the man telling me to get comfortable. Heard him tell me to relax my shoulders, relax my arms, relax my back, relax my belly, relax my legs, relax my face. Heard him saying 'tonight we're going to ' and then I fell asleep.