Alice Springs Holds Masters Games 2008

The excitement of the Masters Games 2008 hit Alice Springs just over a week ago and the town has had a temporary increase of around 4-5,000 people depending on whose report you believe.

The Masters Games is held here biennially and is open to competitors who are over 35 years of age. Some of the competitors are in their eighties, still cycling, running, swimming or doing something else in the numerous sports covered. While there are a few serious people who want gold, most come for the fun of it; to meet others, have a challenge in their lives and get out there and do their thing.

This games one of Australia's Olympic swimming legends, Dawn Fraser, now in her seventies, competed in swimming and golf and won medals in both. Not that she needs any medals having picked up dozens during her Olympic swimming days. She was here for the fun ... the medals were just part of the outcome. Who in their right mind would compete against Dawn Fraser? Well, I guess, you could boast that you had "swum against Dawn Fraser" and not mention that it was in 2008, decades after her peak swimming period.

Christina and I are two of hundreds of volunteers that worked during the games. Yesterday (Friday) and the last Friday and Saturday we worked in the Games Centre at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, next to the famous Lassiter's Casino. We handed out programs to participants or staffed the reception desk. It was great to meet many of the competitors and to feel we were doing our bit to help. As a bonus we received a back pack, silly bucket hat, and a free polo shirt each, the latter of which is evident in our photo below.

What makes the Masters so great is that none of the competitors is too serious about winning ... it's more a matter of participating, meeting like-minded people and having fun.

And fun they have.

According to the news media reports, sales of condoms and alcohol (a dangerous mix?) sky rocket during the Games.

Tonight is the closing ceremony and it's all over until 2010.

Having seen so many people much older than me participate, I've decided I will compete in the next Masters Games, perhaps in one or two of the walking events eg, the 5 kilometre cross country walk.

I guess if I start preparing now, I should just about be ready by October, 2010. Or maybe by then I will have perfected the art of golf, or FLOG as one competitor called it.

Robin

PS: This "refocusing" is a great life.

Some of Our Vistors Have Tails!

Not all of our visitors have shoes - some have long tails.

Today this young parenti (also perenti) lizard visited us, strolling casually across our front porch while we sat and watched ... and photographed.

The species is Australia's largest, correctly known as the "varanus giganteus" which grows to around two metres long.

Like all reptiles in Australia, they are protected by law, but Aborigines, for whom they were a food source before Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hungry Jacks etc, are still allowed to kill them for food (and nothing else).

This fellow is immature, about half grown and would have been hibernating during the recent winter, thus the clear coat and good condition.

If it keeps off the roadways, it should have a lot more growing to do. We are hoping it takes up residence in our garden and keeps it free from the variety of insect life that also lives here.


Robin

PS: We get small kangaroos visiting our front yard early morning and late evening too, but unfortunately they eat green stuff like ground cover and small shrubs, which doesn't impress us at all.

The Gods' Nectar and Keeping Fit

I've always believed in the benefits of a balanced life or, as the Buddha put it, following the "middle path". Thus, I look after my need for sustenance and my need for fitness. 

Some would argue that there is evidence that the balance between sustenance and fitness in my life is weighted (pun intended) in favour of the former. I'll let

 you, dear reader, be the judge of that.

What I want to tell you about first today is the Nectar of the Gods'. 

When I attended the recent Alice Springs Wine Festival I tasted (as would be expected) a few diffe

rent vintages and stumbled upon this bee's nectar with the most unlikely title, "Island Sting".

It's produced on Kangaroo Island, a piddling little island off the coast of South Australia. For those of you not aware of Australian geography etc, South Australia is home of many of our most prestigious vineyards. 

As the name suggests, you'll find the State towards the bottom centre of the Australian land mass.

When I tasted Island Sting at the Festival, I knew that we had to become better acquainted, so I ordered a few bottles. It arrived yesterday. Last night I gave it a follow-up taste test just to make sure I hadn't erred and I can tell you it was absolute heaven. Not only that, it seemed to work like a cough elixir for me soothing my throat and additionally, sending an instant glow straight to the brain.

I've pledged to try it soon as an ice cream topping, but at 20% strength, it's not the sort of thing you'd spurt on like maple syrup or chocolate.

If you'd like to read up about the vineyards operated by the Chain of Ponds, of which I was previously unaware, click the title and follow the link therein. If you can find a bottle (700ml) where you live, get one.

Now the balancing act.

Yes, what you're looking at is an exercise device. It's called a MyGym and I do a session with it most days.

It was advertised at Kmart for $160 but when I took it to the checkout it was $50. I asked the checkout chick whether it was a mistake and she needed to check, but she insisted that if it was in the computer at $50, then that's all I had to pay. I quickly desisted, paid the $50 and took it home.

Although at first skeptical about anything using "rubber bands", I've now learned that 20 minutes activity on this piece of plastic can create a good deal of perspiration and a good workout. And I'm only on the lowest tensioned rubber bands. It has over 60 exercises you can do.

As I'm at home beavering away on my computer most days, it provides a good diversion from the sedentary life. There are no gym fees, no opening and closing times and I don't risk neck strain or increased blood pressure from looking at other gym goers bend and stretch (If you know what I mean).

All I have to do is balance the amount of exercise I do daily with the kilojoules I consume and hopefully I'll lose some weight. How many kjs do you think there are in a nip of Island Sting? Maybe I don't want to know.

Stay well.

Robin

"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible"