Three Things Thursday - Olympic Edition

When I first started thinking about this post I was going to go with 'the good, the bad and the ugly'. I quickly quashed that idea because it meant that there would be two negative thoughts to only one positive and that's not really where I want these posts going. Not that there hasn't been quite a bit of 'ugly' to choose from (temper tanties at the women's 100m hurdle qualifiers, Aussie swimmers chasing married men, the constant bagging of our elite athletes just because they don't get gold ...?), it's just that I would prefer to focus on the positive aspects of the games. So, in no particular order I give you three of my favourite things about this year's Olympic games:

1 - speaking of the women's 100m hurdles, I think a huge shout out needs to go the the two American ladies who came in behind our Sally Pearson in the final. Kellie Wells in particular could (possibly) have been forgiven for being less than gracious in defeat, after all she was 0.02 seconds away from being the Olympic record holder. Instead both she and Dawn Harper openly congratulated Sally and appeared to be completely satisfied with their PBs.

(source)

2 - I love it when I stumble across stories like this one as I wend my way through the internet ... the enthusiasm of the three athletes from Curacao is contagious and the stand that the bloke from South Sudan made just about brought tears to my eyes ... and I'm not the teary type.

3 - Finally, as I sit here I can't for the life of me remember what the third moment was ... I know I had one in mind but it's gone ... instead, I will leave you with this clip from the BBC's coverage of the opening ceremony. Let the games commence indeed!

Travelday - Florence in Photos

Some places simply speak for themselves so I'm going to let Florence do just that.

More Manifestos

Okay, so I'm the first to admit that I haven't got off to a good start insofar as writing about these manifestos goes, given that it is already two weeks since my last post and there was perhaps some inference that it would be a weekly thing ...

That said, I'm feeling a little pleased with myself about how I've gone with actually doing the things I said I would do. In review:

1 - I walked to the train station three times the first week and four the second. Not quite every day but Melbourne turned on the water works a couple of times (and one day in particular I had a really good reason for not wanting to spend the day in mud splashed pants). If I can keep up an average of three times a week I'll be very happy;

2 - honestly, I actually forgot about the stairs a lot at first but now I'm using them on at least half of the times that I go downstairs, again if that's an average I can keep up long term then I'll be happy;

3 - the before work thing has actually been a lot harder to get back into than I thought it would. I have done a lot more exercise on the weekends and in the evenings but I do really need to get the morning thing happening again;

4 - which brings us to the alarm situation, yes I have as declared been setting the alarm for 5:30 ... I haven't yet been able to get myself out of bed then though. I'll keep working on that one;

5 - done and done!! Not actually lodged yet but sitting there ready to go ... so, so happy to get that off the list.

it is slowly becoming light in the morning while I wait for the train

So, that's the past two weeks done and dusted. The next two weeks will actually be divided into three sections, Monday to Friday pre-holiday, Saturday to Friday holiday and Friday afternoon to Sunday post-holiday. Given that there's a good chance that the best I'll be able to manage while I'm away will be to upload a few scenic photos, and at the risk of putting you all to sleep before the end of the page, I'm going to put them all out there now.

Pre-Holiday I will ...

1 - make our work lunches the night before;

2 - go for a walk in my lunch break;

3 - breathe deep ... not metaphorically but actually, physically breathe deep and strong. I'm told it's good for you;

4 - clean the house ready for the cat-sitter to stay; and

5 - plan and pack (guarantee you this won't happen until Friday!).

During Holiday I will ...

1 - rest;

2 - relax;

3 - read;

4 - write; and

5 - walk.

(Okay, I admit that's cheating a little but it does all go towards helping me to be healthier I promise!)

Post-Holiday I will ...

1 - create an exercise plan;

2 - create an eating plan;

3 - empty the ironing basket;

4 & 5 - cross two more major, but at the moment unexplainable, items off my long term to do list.

my way of apologising for inundating you with too many words ...

Pick Me Up Quotes ... and you apparently too

So, I started this last week without any formal introduction ... in fact looking back it appears I said nothing at all! The basic idea being that I condense all of the weird and wonderful things that cross my screen and my mind into three thoughts to present to you on a Thursday. As evidenced here, things can get a bit out of control if I just lay out everything that's on my mind in one hit. So, hopefully narrowing it to three things will help to avoid random rants about children's toys that I not-so-secretly covet while confining the posts to Thursdays only will mean that sometimes you'll be able to come here and actually find a new Travelday post, or if you're really lucky, some new manifestos ...

Based on the response to last weeks quotes, and given where my own head is still at at the moment, two of today's three things are simply pick me up quotes found here and there -

The third wanders way off into random territory again, but I'm so excited I just have to share. Those of you who kindly read every word I type will be aware that The Sparky is mere months away from finishing his four year apprenticeship which means that right now he is doing refresher courses and sitting his three A-grade exams (an A-grade electrician being a fully qualified one). His first refresher course was on a Monday a couple of weeks ago and he came home that night a little concerned, not because it's a difficult exam but because it is known to be the easiest to fail as there are a few steps that if missed mean an instant fail. So, he rigged up a simulation at home and for three nights I sat there and mock-tested him over and over (and over and over) again. On the Thursday morning he ran through it a couple more times then headed off to to the test. His results came in earlier this week and ... he got 100%!!!! Not a single mistake or forgotten step! I'm so proud I could just about burst.

Phew, that ended up long winded. Here's another dog photo to get you back on track ...