Lebanon , NJ , USA April 28th 2016

Long time with no post . 11 years .
Now have two kids . Moved to the US 5&1/2 years ago . Kids going to the small local school which is only 300 m away . We went back to live in Sydney for 6 months last year . Great experience for the kids . My daughter Elka loved going swimming @ Clovelly . Kieran still remembered some of his friends from Kindergarten . It was tougher transition for Elka . As they put her in to a higher grade & she had to swap classes after a month & it was like she had to start from scratch . We just left & she made great friends with Poppy . Kieran made a good friend in Alessio . They both loved Soccer & like most boys playing electronic devices .
The trip was great for me . As I was able to catch up with friends & family . Swimming every morning down @ Clovelly . We have decided to renovate our house . As it is only a two bedroom semi . Amy & I enjoyed not having to clean such a big house . But if we are ever going to move back we will need a bigger house . We have council approval & eventually have a four bedroom place . It will be a long time coming & costly .
I have not been running that much . In fact I had 15 months without running a step . I thought I had chronic Plantar Facitis . After spending a four tune on physio bills . We finally discovered that I had Parkinson's Disease . For the last three years . I have had claw toes . It is a cramping of toes . I tried running again with Amy one beautiful day in Sydney & my left arm was not swinging . A cardiologist twigged that I may have PD . So I booked to see a Neurologist @ St Vincent's . This all happened a few days before the family was due to fly back to the States . So I stayed back in Sydney for two months awaiting diagnosis . It gave me more time with Mum . Exercise is very important for the treatment of Parkinson's . So I try to run & walk 6k every few days . My claw toes still give me difficulty but struggle along . I go to the gym five days a week . Kieran actually took a class with me today which was a blast . I get on the exercise bike for an hour . I take various classes there . I have met some nice people there . One of whom went to Uni in Wollongong & we talked about Cricket a lot . We have the town 5k coming up in two weeks & the whole family have entered . So it will be good to run with the kids .
I get especially homesick in Winter . As I will never get used to the cold . The US health care system is frustrating . I saw a Doctor who was not empathetic . It is difficult to get my medication . As you have to call back a few times before they send the medication to the Pharmacy & despite asking still only one bottle is sent . I have since changed Doctor who is difficult to get into see . Hopefully he is a better Doctor . I have also had issues with Skin Cancers . Too much Aussie sun . So I have 25 stitches on the left side of my face that will leave permanent scaring . Also had a Skin Cancer removed from my leg .
Amy & I have booked tickets for the last two days of the USA Olympic Track & Field Trials .
So really looking forward to that . As always wanted to get there . Amy is off to Raleigh for a few days & the family has just come back from Wadshington DC . We had our first visitor from Oz . My brother spent his Birthday with me in town on his business trip .That was great .
I still miss Australia heaps but @ least with TV & internet I am able to still follow Aussie sport .
US election hotting up . They wouldn't elect Trump would they ?
Better go . Hopefully not eleven years between my next post .

Lebanon May 6 2011

Help I have a weeping daughrer to contend with. Mum has gone to puick up grandmother & daughter has a cold so not a happy camper. Spent 3 hours doing the lawn today. Have a massive backyard & mower kept gbreaking down. Good to have the job down. The grass is growing at a great rate with all the recent rain & warmer weather coming.
Had a great weekend last one. Had a barmitzer & a pool party a giant watrslide place in the Poconos in Pensylvania. Kids loved it.
Got work @ YMCA for 90 mins a week coaching kids xcountry. One of the kids is quite quick . The others are there to get away from there electronic devices for a while. Kieran is coming along next week . He will be trired after going to Karate just before. Had a job offer to take Swimming lessons unsure whether to take up job offer. Amy is frustrated as she had a job to go to but the NJ Vet board has lost her application & will probaly have to wait another month before the application is processed. She is spitting chips. The work she had lined up was emergency work which will mean working all night. So some life changes coming up.
I'm still able to watch Aussie Rules as paid $85 for a season. Mising the NRL as don't havve access here & it is not shown on ESPN 3. Was able to watch a disappointing ashes series.
Doing plenty of running & had a couple of 5k road races as there are plenty of them to do which I think is a good thing. I think there should be more of the type of races in Australia as it is a good way to start out running. My cat is an alarm clock as he waking me up each morning @ 5 am so an incentive to get up & run as I can't get back to sleep.
Caught up with my middle brother in NY in the pouring rain. He was here on a busineess trip . He was tired from all the ytavelling. We went down to ground zero. The day before Obama was there. Still buildings going up. I had only been down there once before 12 months after 9/11 & it was still dusty. Seems to me evertime I go to NY it is either snowing or raining. I was hoping to go to NY to see a grand prix track meet but think I will give it a miss as it is on right near three of our family's birthday. Hope to watch first Diamond League meet tonight. If the kids don't monopolise the TV .
Better go.

Going to start blogging again . Relocated to Lebanon, NJ, USA.

I'm back

Just thought I'd try the occasional blog to look back on things.
This year running has been a disaster . I have a lot of injuries mostly calf related. I think I have finally got on top of things as the last 4 months have been injury free. Running about 35 - 40 miles per week. I run on week days as Amy works weekends so I have the kids & it is all too difficult to run. I started following the Corporate Cup runners around & have improved from 24.25 to 22.58. So hope I can remain injury free & improve a bit more. I have not raced as injury & lack of time have prevented it. I have going down to Scarborough Park with my 5yo Kieran & doing 2k with him which I quite enjoy. We are trying to get a team going at work for Corporate but unfortunately no dropouts so we will have to wait till about April next year to see if we can get a team in.
Elka is now 14 months old & just starting to walk. She has been an absolute delight so is always babbling away & laughing & smiling. She loves the water & grtting us to read in the Night Garden. Luckily she has got into daycare around the corner for next year. Kieran starts school at Clovelly Public next year so he is growing up. He does Little A's,swimming lessons, judo & xcountry with me. There is talk of nippers & soccer next year so I don't know where it is going to fit in. He has a few orientation day & after resistance is excited about the prospect of big school . The only downside is some of his friends from preschool will be going to different schools.
We lashed out a digital desktop box & boy what an improvement to TV reception. Only downside is we have not worked out how to connect the video. I'd like to tape some NFL but alas can't wotk it out. Amy is very happy the Obama won the election being a staunch Democrat & disliking George W with a passion. Work has been very quiet.
I better go have to walk the dogs before the news starts.

February 28th , 2007

Running

Well finally back blogging and running again. The good news is that I have been back running againg for 10 weeks after another setback this time it was sciaticia. I have been happy with my progress. Sciatica is an injury that I have had to overcome on and off since 1983. Due to poor posture and bad running form. I went to the chiropractor and had 2 weeks off running. I have been a lot more dilligent with my stretching of back and hamstrings. My training has been a lot more conserative this time around as after I got back from USA . I got fit very quickly but was overdoing it so hence another setback. This time I jogged for 6 weeks before doing any speedwork. I haven't attempted any shorter reps. I do long reps by myself on Tuesday's and do tempo run on the grass with Sean Williams group on Saturday's. This the only run I do with anyone. Due to the fact that I did not want to get too competitive when doing reps and run at my pace as my first rep is usually a bit slower. I have focused on trying to get the session in one piece. Also I have to get back early sometimes to look after Kieran before Amy goes to work . So it can be difficult to fit in with people. I have built up to 75k a week. I have got back down to 21.25 for 6k xcountry which is a lot tougher than 4k . My 4th week involves a reduction in mileage and just a session of strides. I have enjoyed summer as I have been swimming 5 days a week at Clovelly . Thankfully the water temp has improved because it was freezing. It is a worry when the cold shower after the swim is warmer than the ocean temp. I was shivering for about 20 mins after the swim but had the resolve to keep going. I am not much of a swimmer but enjoy doing 1k in around 21 mins. I think it has helped with injuries and gone someway to replacing the weights that I no longer do. We had intended to go to Orange for the fun run next week but we mixed our dates up. Pity because I had not been back there for 17 years. So I will start racing again in April which will mean it would nearly be 2 years since my last race with the exception of the race I had in the US in August.

Life
I can't deny that life has been a little tough. To my embarrasement I am still unemployed. I just don't sell myself well in interviews. I have had 3 interviews in 7 days but can't get a job. This is really getting Amy riled. I did have a months work around Christmas time but haven't been able to land a Records Management job since. Kieran has been with me a lot as you could imagine. He is a very active and at times rough kid. We have plenty of wrestles. He loves Baseball still and he has very good endurance as he loves playing chasings and hide an seek . He has started to develop some recognition of letters . He loves playing on the computer and some of the games have enhanced his knowledge of letters. He has been taking swimming lessons on Monday's has really improved . I am hoping I can find another activity for him to do during the week.Looking forward to the footy season again so I can take him along to Henson Park. Going to take Kieran to see mum this arvo and will break the news about Amy being pregnant which will surprise her as Amy turns 45 in June. Caught up with Tiff 2 weeks back and her and John have a cute daughter Andie. Better go I hope by the next time I blog I'll be working again.

September 30,2006 Weston,Connecticut

Running

Missed out doing that 5k race at Danbury in August. My right achillies flared up again 2 days before the race. I made a couple of mistakes that were instrumental in having injury problems again. Doing 3 track session in 6 days on a tartan track. It was too tempting having this track 1.5miles within where we were staying. Also continuing to train in an old pair of racing flats that offered little cushioning. Over enthusiasm and not having enouhg rest days. I have not had a run on grass or trails with the exception of our stay in Vermont. I had 5 days off running and with plenty of icing started back again in Cape Cod and after 1 speed sessions sore achillies. I tried to run 5 days in a row and my achillies got sore again. So I had 7 days off and did heaps of icing. This time when I started back I ran very conservatively and ran with Amy at a 5m45s k pace. I have had about 10 days of running by myself and have built up to 5.75mls in about 41mins. I must have been back running for 2.5 weeks but have not done any speedwork. I have not been game. My plan is to start skipping again and take a visit to the physio when I get back and not try a speed session till I've seen the phsio. I'm looking forward to running again softer surface again in the confines of Centennial Park.
The most pleasing aspect about the trip from a running point of view has been that Amy has been running at least 5 days a week. Her improvement has been astonishing she started runing a 3.3k course in 23.20 and now is doing 5k course in 26.50 and has lost 10 lbs. It has been great running with her again as we used to do in our pre Kieran days. I think it was a great thing for our relationship. I used to run with Amy in the mornings and then do my run in the afternoon. It would be great when we could do this again.

Life
Well our holiday is coming to a close with only 2 days to go before our trip home .We are now back in Weston Connecticut. We have been to Cape Cod camping with some of Amy's friends who had 3 kids and were very nice people. Camping wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be as Amy was so orgainised. Kieran struggled a bit though . He was talking about going home to Australia and seeing the animals. The big plus was that Amy caught a fish on his new fishing line and he claimed the catch. He was very excted. We then spent 3 weeks in Orlando with Amy's eldest sister Susan and her family. It was hot and humid in Orlando. Nearly every afternoon it rained. It was a very quiet household and neighbourhood compared to what we have come across on our travels. The 2 kids are very scholastically minded and would hit the books or play on the computer. They never exercize and the parents take naps in the middle of the day. Our hosts could not have been more accomodating though . John the husband took us Disneyworld twice and to Gatorland and took Amy and myself to Sanibel for an evening away from Kieran for our first night away from Kieran. Susan looked after the little man while we had the night away. Kieran adored Tom their 14yo boy he really looked up to him. I caught up with a friend Steve who lives in Ponte Vedra near Jacksonville. I had not seen him in 10 years . He is a bit of a sportsnut fan like myself and a keen Red Sox fan. His wife Sheila is lovely and was doing a triathlon in Orlando while I was there. There son Henry was hard work a bit of a whiner. Steve was very kind to drive me back to Orlando . I was unsure whether to go as it was my first night away from Kieran. I met Steve in the early 90's when lives in Sydney for 3 years. I spotted my first alligator in captivity. He doesn't run much anymore due to injury . He know is becoming fantical about golf. Kieran has ben tricky at times but he has enjoyed having other kids around and his verbal skills are picking. He certainly is an energetic kid who loves his sport. We had a trip into NY and went into Central Park Zoo. We caught the trip in by train from Westport and had a good day. We went to this great toy store and spoke to to 2 Aussie guys working in a RM Williams store. It was the first Aussies we have spoke to on our trip and it sounded wierd. I look forward to getting home as a little sick of living with other people and living out of a suitcase. I would really like to start working again. I don't think I can say the same about Amy as she is straight back into a 8 day straight working block and will miss her family.
I'm very excited about Newtown playing in the Premier League grandfinal it is a pity I will miss it but at least a mate is taping it for me. I heard the AFL grandfinal was a ripper. I'm looking forward to seeing some cricket on my return. A lot has happened since we left with the untimely deaths of Steve Irwin and Peter Brock. The falling petrol prices will be a big relief.
A few observations on American . Such a high road toll 43,000 a year. The amount commercials on TV . People in suburban New Jersey were very nice as opposed to Orlando. Car drivers give you plenty of room when on the road when you are out running.
Till next time.

August 22,2006 - Weston , Connecticut

Running -
Arrived in Weston Connecticut about 5 days ago via Reading Vermont. Running has been vastly improved sice my arrival nearly 3 weeks ago. Although my achilles is a little tender as probably over doing the training a tad. Also the temptation to use a new tartan running track which is only 1.5miles from where we are staying has proved to great. It is school holidays still so I have the track to myself. I did 2 x3k with 5min recovery in 10.40 ave on Saturday and 8x400 1min reovery this morning in 74.9 which I was happy with . I have been using Rapigel but will ice my achilles tonight as a precaution. I ran for 1hr 40 mins on Sunday morning and found a bush trail called Devil's Den it was quite rocky and was getting bitten by quite a few insects so came out and started runing on the road. The irony of running on all this hard surface is that we had spent the previous 5 days in Reading Vermont where all the running was done on dirt roads s. It was very very hilly there you started your run heading straight up with a 5m30s climb and another couple of hills culminating with a 9 minute climb on the way back. It was enjoyable though. I hope to run in a 5k this weekend in Danbury, Connecticut and hope to run around 17.30. Hoping to stay in one piece.

Life
As previuosly mentioned we are staying in Weson Connecticut with Amy's sister Nancy and husband Peter and their 3 daughters. We got here via Reading,Vermont staying on a farm with Amy's best friend Ann and her 3 kids. I must say that Kieran's behaviour has improved since the New Jersey leg of the trip . I think it has helped having other kids around. Nick age 10 Ann's boy was very good with him giving him an ice hockey stick and Kieran was right at thome there playing all sorts of games. His confidence level has really improved when he goes in the water as Nancy has a pool which has been put to great use. We will have a lot of travelling to do as we intend to go up to Baldwinsville near Syracuse in up state New York on Saturday and then to Cape Cod in Mass . (not going to attempt the spelling). Amy has been running 5 -6 days a week and did her first speed session today. A bit of a downer is that we have just learnt that Kieran has a fever as one of the girls here has been sick . He still is in a good mood so I hope he can shake it off. The alarm bells started ring when he had a game of soccer with me in a park next to the beach and shortly afterwards fell asleep on my leg that never ever happens. Must have been a sign. One of our dogs had to be relocated due to howling outside it must be missing his family. Spoke to mum last night she has gone back to work 10 hours a week and feeling a little tired Age 75 not surprising. She also has brought a computer although not on the net as yet. All my sporting teams have not been performing that well. We saw quite a bit of the Red Sox v Yankees. and unfortunately it was a whitewash to the Yankees. i educated Kieran that the Ankess as he calls them were the bad guys. St.kilda are gonski for anther year. At least Newtown are holding the fort.
Oh well better get going. I will continue to enjoy the holiday and hopefully Kieran will be ok with his health.