TRAINING!

After a pathetic total of 42 km. of walking in February I had to 'up the ante'.
The last 4 weeks I've managed (besides work, gardening, possum proofing the garage etc.);

Walk. 82 km.
Run. 18 km.
Bike. 58 km. (only had the bike a short time)

Next 4 weeks - 100 km. walking. Double the running and at least 150 km. on the bike!

ONLY 3 MONTHS TO K2.

I did get myself a new backpack - a Mountain Designs 'Edge 60'

27th March. Paula's Birthday.

To the 'Hog's Breath Cafe' to celebrate another year.
Joined by Jake, Madeleine & Nicola. Also Jane & Rodney Litzow.

Hair Today. Gone Tomorrow.

Second haircut in 6 years! - last was only 5 months ago.

Striving for the 'Well'ard' look with a '3 blade' all over.

Also the start of beard growing - an anti-glacial-sunburn-plus-warmth effort

Une cafe s'il vous plait?

A little ditty from France about the dangers of more than one coffee a day!

le Café - Oldelaf (english subtitles)
Uploaded by Boebis

NEW TOY! - Bicycle this time.

All part of the training scheme - only 3 and a half months to K2!

It's a Giant Strata.
• ALUXX FluidFormed frame w/low standover
• SR XCM-HLO fork w/100mm travel & hydraulic lock-out
• Shimano 24 speed Altus/Alivio drivetrain
• Shimano crankset & cassette
• Hutchinson Scorpion tyres

Never thought I'd have a bike with disc brakes!

All I have to do now is get on it and get moving.
We have over 400 km. of bike tracks in Brisbane so there's no excuse for not getting on and making the quadriceps swell.

Fri. 13th March. Madeleine's 19th Birthday

Madeleine's 19th. We went off to 'Wagamama' at Chermside for a little japanesey.


Paula, Nicola, Madeleine.

Bradey, Me, Jake.

Wed. 12th March. DIDI comes to town.

Naomi, who was nicknamed 'Didi' on our Tibet trip as 'Naomi' was unpronouncable to the Tibetan tongue, was passing through Brisbane and came to stay for 1 night.

We went off to 'Belle Epoche' in the Valley. Snails, Beef Tartare, Barramundi & Creme Brulee Flambe - all washed down with Champagne and a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc.
It was very good to see her and look forward to her next visit.

Wed. 11th Mar. STRANGLERS Concert.

To the Tivoli theatre to see The Stranglers - Amazing!!

Jean-Jaques Burnel (bass) & Dave Greenling (keyboards) from the original line-up.


Baz Warne (lead guitar)
Jean-Jaques on guitar, the drummer is Ian Barnard, the drum tech. Jet Black, the original drummer still plays but is out of action with atrial fibrillation!

Naturally I had to get a little merchandise.

And so the training begins....

4 months to the K2 trip.
I did a 3km run this morning and it was soooooo.. HOT!
Luckily our summer is coming to an end so the early morning run will become a thing of masochistic beauty.

Plan is to gradually increase the distance and speed. Still do the walking with weights and - NEW plan - a weekly bike ride.

The motivation is knowing that I'll be able to breathe at 19,000 ft in early July.

In the words of Tom Baker - "Bring it on!"