The Hazards of Cycling to Work

We had a bit of excitement on Monday. Kevin got home from work thirty minutes late. I wasn't unduly worried, as he has taken to weeding his bike track of box thorns, but as I opened the front door I heard the meaty throb of a V8 in the driveway, and gradually became aware of Kevin telling me to get the camera, as he was involved in an accident and 'the guy' who hit him was taking him up to make a Police report, but not to worry, because he (Kevin) was in the right.

I glanced over him, but didn't see any blood trails, but saw the bike's rear wheel was a little out of whack. I took a photo of the bike, then went over to the car, where 'the guy', who we shall call Bob, was bending over checking out the bonnet of his GT Falcon.

I took a few photos of the bonnet, noting that the numberplate had a large dent as well as a dent in the bonnet, and a few scratches. Kevin said something about Bob's insurance paying for a new bonnet, and Bob replied, "No, they don't hand out new bonnets just like that." I instantly wondered how many cyclists he has knocked on to the bonnet of his lovely GT.

They were in a hurry to get to the local Police Station, so after a couple of assurances that he was ok, apart from being a little shaken and having a bit of soreness in his back, I had to wait for the full story to be told.

It seems that nearing an intersection on the main road, a bus overtook Kevin.  Bob was behind the bus, and not noticing Kevin on his bike, went to turn left at the lights.  He hit Kevin on the real wheel, and Kevin jerked backwards onto his bonnet, before falling onto the road.  Bob braked heavily, luckily stopping the car before running Kevin over.

He offered Kevin a lift home then to the Police Station, so they took the front wheel off the bike, and put it in the GT's boot.

When Kevin got back from giving a report, he was a bit bemused by the fact that coming out of our road, and onto the main road to the Police Station, Bob gave the GT a bit of stick, and just changed into second gear doing over 70ks.  Kevin mentioned to Bob that there was a cop car on the side road, probably with a radar, and Bob slowed down, but it was too late and he was pulled over, and booked for doing 72ks in a 60 zone.  Kevin didn't want to add that less than 30 minutes prior Bob had knocked him off his bike ;-)

It doesn't seem much, but what you see is a visit to the crash shop to the value of $9,000.  Kevin's bike has been written off, so there is claim for a new one for him.

Kevin did have Tuesday off, and went and had his back checked out.  Apparently he is fine, and cycled off  to work this morning.  Incase you are wondering, he has at least five bikes these days.

Happy 2011

Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope it brings health wealth and happiness to all .. including me.  Already things are looking up.  It's three days in to 2011, and almost back to normal for me.  The new cook starts a week from today, so what is left of this week will be orientation for her. I'm sooooo happy because I can go back to my normal shifts, with lots more time for photography, and perhaps cleaning the house. Maybe.




This is Shu, our first cook. He was magic!

 



Merry Xmas to all my family and friends!

Once again it seems that time has run away from me, and there will be no Christmas Cards from my house to yours this year.  At the last minute I am endeavouring to at least let  you know what is happening in our lives.

It has been a hectic year for me in particular. We have lost two cooks, a housekeeper and a laundress at work this year, and the new cook starts in January. I am now having dreams about cooking for fourty something people ... or is that nightmares!!! I think I can whip up a fairly decent braised steak and an icky sticky date pudding without thinking about it now.

I have been working pretty much full time for the last couple of months in the kitchen, and up until the time the new cook starts. Kevin has been marvelous and has been happy with a bit of wood for dinner, the nights I have been too tired ... or repulsed by food in general when I get home.  He has been doing the shopping for Xmas for me too, braving the hordes of wild last minute shoppers ripping the bargains from his hands! ... well .... sort of!

We will have a quiet Xmas Day. Hopefully! With a predicted 35 degrees on the day, and after I get home from work, Andrea, Peter, Blake and Xavier are coming for tea. Then after work on Boxing Day we are going to Andrea and Peter's, along with Kevin's sister Lorraine and her brood for our family Xmas get together, where we have a traditional KK which usually turns rather violent.  But fun ;-)




Blake

 Anyhoo .... here are a couple of photos of Blake and Xavier. Blake was 11 in October, and Xavier will be 9 in February.




Xavier

 

I'm new at this Blogging thing, but I think I'm having fun. I should tell you that all the photos so far have been mine. Infact, you can take it as gospel that all the photos on the blog will be mine, unless I tell you otherwise.  The Father Xmas one, was a montage I did, using a photo of the sandhills at Perry Sands near Mildura Victoria, and the tin cutouts of FC driving the team of emu's were on the edge of the town of Tarlee, on the way to Clare in South Australia.

Kevin and I did get away for a holiday this year in September.  We won a travel auction bid to Mildura, then we decided to go on to Wagga Wagga to visit Kevin's brother Max and wife Jenni, then we all went on to Canberra to go to the Floriade Flower Festival, and the Tulip Gardens. It was a quick but nice adventure, and of course I took lots of photos. Including this one of the inquisitive possum on the Canberra Golf Course.

Cute isn't it ... but trust me ... you don't want one in your garden, because before you can say 'What cute little furballs they are', they have found their way into your ceilings and will run rampant all throughout the night.

Kevin suffers from selective hearing these days.  He gets scared when I start saying how I need a new lens, or something new for my growing camera gear, and I'm sure it effects his hearing.  He usually does give in eventually after I howl and howl for something new, on the proviso that this 'whatever it is I desperately need this time', is absolutely the last camera thing I buy!

.... uh huh ... yep, sure it is the very last thing i need .... ;-)  ..... so ... the last lens and flash I got allows me to take photos of very little beasties.  And I'm so very chuffed with it!

Front on view of a Cicada

When I get a bit more better with the Blog I will attempt to post a slideshow of the trip to Floriade.

I really do feel slightly bad for not making more of an effort to send Xmas cards to everyone, but hopefully this will do for this year and I will be motivated ... or not working so much next pre Christmas.

I hope that when the gifts have all been opened

and when the tree is gone

When the carols no longer ring in our ears

May the joy of Christmas live on.

And then the Angel of Shopping said, go forth and buy gifts at the post Xmas sales, and maybe a little something for yourself.

Best wishes, much love and Merry Christmas to all. Heather