At least I wasnt stabbed

This is not our day... I thought trying to arrange the team to regroup at my relative's house in Bayswater, after our ride out from Burwood. It had all happened already, had lost the support car, people were sick, weather crappy, aware of the imposition of unexpectedness to my relatives, a limping rider home after severe cramps from the Burwood Hills and finally the incident that saw me spat on. But hey I wasnt stabbed...

Yes spat on. After a few ago we received a severely angry email saying how we were clowns, would do no good whatsoever to Timor and basically threw in a few kicks O'Alphin style, we were physically abused. Granted some of us are clowns, but the other blows stirred some nasty feelings of why do we are trying? Limited interest was shown from a lot of people after so much effort in fact more interest in the words we used in our website, during exams, and now physically training we were being spat on. It was a random attack and possibly because I was riding the old Speedwell (girls bike by the way) but still felt a bit despondent and agitated.

But after recomposing, I came to realise this is all part of it; that you will cop a lot of flak no matter what the scale of how different to the norm it is and this is pretty small scale. Greater people have received worse everyday in their lives and they do not go back into their shells and let things happen, they go out and continue to strive to change things. Some manage that great change, others affected a little and others nothing really tangible at all. But despite results, every little bit from the person who appeared to do nothing helped the one who affected a little change. Likewise, the one who managed great change was able to do that through the little change already managed.

So what we do will hopefully launch something bigger and bigger... With this thought in mind we continue to press on.

Anyway off from my tangent, we set off up mountain highway to nothing but hill. With the road fairly narrow we would feel the wind of the cars as they charge past us, but over to the left we see the ferny undergrowth of the pillars of trees standing sentry and superb views of the surrounding suburbs. After turning enough corners behold we saw the matchsticks of those towering scrapers with the weather ominous where we were but seemingly lighter over the city. This was the stage of cramps and fatigue for all riders, which took its toll in seeing Tas at a stop where he would have to go ahead otherwise succumb to it, but for Vic to stop and walk to give them leniancy. My old girl did well in the hills, they are not impossible to ride at all after I complain at how much I want a carbon fibre bike.

We managed to arrive at the cuckoo restraurant however not further and enjoyed the sense of achievement and relief, well for me anyway, there was no blood shed. After some amusing antics we flew down the hill which is such a thoroughly enjoyable feeling and once completely down the realisation of the hope of no one dying was also a pleasant feeling. We were only faced with another hero who wound down his window and blew an airhorn in our face on our way to Bayswater station. Bring on the country hospitality...

Country roads take me home

Wangaratta... or as Melbournians often refer to it as the Wang. This weekend saw a group meet up in our intended destination on the July 3rd in order to approach businesses seek support and so forth. After arriving back in Wangaratta after an epic to get from uni home via red light jumping on my bike in order to make Wang shops early, was met to an empty cartridge at home. Also greeted to some very discerning emails... Reading over them adjudging from myself and comments on our team we were very embarrassed and disheartened to learned that our words had been taken out of context by several East Timorian aid workers and claimed we were offensive and of no help to the East Timorese themsleves. When you receive such things in the manner it may be little but such words and words of others are hard to swallow. However next day a crew braved the horrors of the early Saturday morn to come up to Wang and approach businesses. After a slow start, we went around and pitched our event to 20 to 30 businesses, so we hope to get responses from those within a few weeks. With our Stephen Spiel, Ling Ang, enjoying the what could be described as 'quaint' smallish town character or quirkiness in some regards. After a walk up in the Warbys it was time for our meeting with the WLBC (the royal Wangaratta Lawn Bowls Club). What we hoped to do was to organise a social bowls for one day, our meeting went well and further board meetings to be had. If you thinks it would a great day having a couple of drinks and going for a roll in the name of raising funds for charity, give me a shout out and we shall see what we will tee up. My day ended up with the sun setting rolling down some balls before being thoroughly entertained by the blokes (older blokes) in the club rooms including the Leprechaun in Jack Dillon working his magic! Enthusiasm is restored...

All systems transmitting after exam blockage

Alas... finally come out from my pig sty in Mehico to report the latest news from the horse pig's mouth itself. If thats not confusing, then I feel for you. Three Sundays ago (from when this post was written) we embarked upon our first training run which saw us take in the salty air and sights of the bay (namely the three consecutive mansion blocks which I have plans to bulldoze and develop into a castle). The twos Saturdays saw a good turnout take to the city tagging, while the crew embarked on the capital city trail which ended up being 35+km by the time we scrambled to buy Victor a helmet and after I had finished going to the Docklands James Squire instead of the city one. I thoroughly reccommend hoping on the bike and taking the train into the city with the Capital City Trail taking in all the sights of melburne, the southbank pandemonium, dockland scerenity, industrial land charm (what else was I supposed to say), bohemianness of Brunswick/Collingwood, the aromas of the elephant enclosure of the zoo, the wackiness of farmlife out at Collingwood farm followed by the tranquility and steps of the yarra river(you'll have to ride it yourself). In lighter news we have apporached multiple sponsors, while with limited success we are hopeful that the beaming light will be shone down and provided with. Logistics are being wrestled with by our people on the scene, going gangbusters with massive reports to lodge to the authorities. N.Porter signing out

Gratitude for Bogong & co

Hurray for Bogong... not the moths but for Bogong Equipment, on little Bourke st. Alas we have broken through, the first significant business donation to the amount of $200 from the adventure equipment seller. We thank you very much for that amount that will provide over 6 months of training for a Timorese youth in business and life skills. I also must give shoutout to Paul ($50) for first one to use our online giving page and that was dating back some time. That is a fantastic amount and is greatly appreciated. Just follow get involved on www.timorian.com or better still the link is here http://www.onlinegiving.com.au/pages/timorian.aspx. From there it will take a few minutes to set up an account. Remember that you can receive tax deductions, and we will work hard to ensure you will receive it in time for this tax year. If that's too confusing please email or ring me, it is irrelevant the amount whether one dollar or two, that is equivelant to one day of support over the two years of our project