ARCTIC TEMPERATURES IN CANBERRA

16th to 22nd June 2012

With overnight temperatures well below zero and a record cold overnight temperature of minus six point eight degrees this week, we have woken to sparkling, white lawns, frozen bird baths and slippery driveways.  The dreadful arctic temperatures make you want to stay in a nice warm bed and cause pain to become a little worse.  The day time temperatures have not been too pleasant either and we have had overcast skies, chilly winds that feel like you might just be in a snow drift and we have even had rain this week. 

On Saturday, it was the Athletics ACT Cross Country Championships, it had rained prior to the event and the temperatures were extremely cold.  Nalani and Jarrett were both running in the 6km Championship event, Nalani in the U20 women and Jarrett in the U18 men.  I had wanted to cheer them on, and was fortunate enough to watch from a sheltered area.  There were even athletes from Interstate in the race so the competition was fierce, from the moment the gun went off it was obvious that the men's event would be a tightly fought one.  Jarrett ran a strong race despite having some asthma difficulties, which always happen when the outside air is unusually cold and he ran ever so strongly to finish 3rd, getting his second best time ever in a 6km race.  Nalani was incredible also, she had just recovered from a sinus infection and got a blood nose part way through the race, she kept running and finished the race in 4th place which was a fantastic achievement, she ran a personal best for the distance.  There was a presentation ceremony and Jarrett got a bronze medal, he was really pleased with his effort and so were all of us.  I thought both Nalani and Jarrett were both splendiferous and it was so special for me to be able to cheer them on. 

I was so lucky also to have another visit from my best friend, Emily, she was visiting Canberra again and came to see me for a little while.  It was fun to catch up on her latest news and share some of what I have been doing. 

At School this week in English we have been watching the Baz Luhman version of Romeo and Juliet, it is quite different from the original one,  it has been recontextualised, the language remains the original Shakespearean but there are many modern aspects thrown in.  In Maths we are working on Trigonometry, I am really enjoying it, it is a change from the complexities of probability and measurement.  In Sports Science, we are doing an online beginners Coaching Course, I am definitely enjoying doing this and when we complete it, we get a certificate. 

There is only one week left at school now until the end of Term and then we get a welcomed three week break, I am really looking forward to it.  The cold weather, pressure of exams and illness has all taken its toll on me and been able to sleep in and rest when I need to will be so beneficial.

On Sunday there is a High Noon meeting, the events are shot put and javelin, however the forecast is for showers and it it only going to be ten degrees, so I am not sure whether I will be able to compete, even though I would love to, I know that the cold and wet really affect my pain and make it worse and then I would not be able to throw properly.  Hopefully the forecast is wrong and the day will actually be a clear blue beautiful Winter day. 

In Footy Tipping, I still remain two ahead of Nana and Pop is just behind her.  I was so saddened when I was watching the Tigers match to hear that Robbie Farah's mother had passed away from Cancer, then at the beginning of the match to see Benji Marshall reduced to tears, it was so emotional, it must have been so difficult for them to play that game.

In my next Blog I will have some splendiferous news to share with you about my latest fund raising effort for the Brain Tumour Fund.  As there is little to no Government Funding for paediatric brain tumours,  to fund research to try to find a cure to this devastating disease relies on the generosity of the general public.  So I am hoping that my new, wonderful fundraising project will be able to assist in some way.