City2Surf Photo

I'm almost tempted to buy this one.

Fun Run Times - City2Surf 2010

Well here are my times for the 2010 City2Surf. I wonder how long before the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in?
Is it really possible for me to crack the 80 minutes mark in 2011 -- stay tuned!

Leyland Brothers Damper

Growing up in the 70's and 80's I was inspired by a pair of 'modern day' adventurers known as "The Leyland Brothers" or "Mike and Mal" for short. Watching them on their adventures was the primary inspiration for my own decision to buy a 4WD.

While viewing an old episodes earlier in the year there was a segment that gave a recipe and instructions for making damper. We tried it on a recent camping trip and it was a great success, so I thought it worth sharing.

Leyland Brothers Damper
1 kg of flour sifted into bowl
4 heaped dessert spoons of powdered milk (they used 'Sunshine')
2 heaped dessert spoons of baking powder (even if you use self-raising flour)
1 teaspoon of salt
Mix dry ingredients thoroughly

Add water, but only enough to achieve a tacky mixture
Knead it like bread dough
Put into pan or dutch oven dusted with flour

We used a large dutch oven (i.e. cast iron camp oven) in hot coals to cook the damper. I dug a small hole in the coals andput the oven in, then carefully put hot coals around it and on the lid.

We also used a trivet to stop the base from burning.

The Leyland's suggested that the damper would take 20-25 mins to cook, but they had used an aluminium cake tin, whereas our cast iron oven takes longer to heat through. In the end I took it out after about an hour and it was cooked perfectly (except the top was a little browner that I had intended).

It was a huge hit with everyone on our camping trip. It tasted much like a traditional scone you might enjoy with a Devonshire tea.

Damper is traditionally enjoyed in Australia with Golden Syrup, but we also had many people putting butter, jam, honey etc. or combinations thereof.

"The Island" by my daughter Bethany

There I was, on a plane! A real plane! This was just so exciting I
don't know what to do with myself. I am a boy from the country and I
had never been on a big plane like this before. I was so grateful of
my parents for letting me go. My mum and my younger brother Morgan
were next to me, both excited too.

Suddenly I heard the sound of my worst nightmare, the danger alarm. I
glanced over at mum and she looked extremely worried. The air
hostesses got up the front and quickly explained that we were
crashing. Everyone was putting on their lifejackets when 'BANG' the
plane nose dived into the sandy beach and I heard some screams and
that was all I remembered. Hours later I think, I woke up and realised
that everyone that I saw around me was dead!

In horror I sat there for a while and realised my situation. After
that I grabbed my jacket and took the last if my aeroplane food. I
pushed the emergency button that opened the door and climbed out of
the ruined plane. I looked slowly around at my surroundings;

Huge trees like skyscrapers

Sand as soft a silk

And the sound of birds screeching like long fingernails on a blackboard.

I then wondered what I should do next. So I decided to take a look
around. It turned out that this was a volcanic island. As I was a boy
from the country I knew how to catch dinner. So I attached some vine
to a stick and went fishing.

In no time I caught a fish. I decided to make myself a fire when I
found matches on a plane. As I fed the fire and sat down I thought I
heard a yell but I told myself that I didn't. But constantly I heard a
yell so I went back into the plane and found a girl about my age maybe
older struggling to get out of her crushed seat.

"It's all right, I'm coming just stay calm". As we struggled to get
her out for a while I found her very anxious. Finally I managed to
pull her out. She breathed heavily for a second and then thanked me
kindly, " My name is Kate Riley what's your name?" "Ben, um I mean Ben
Adams that is." I offered her my hand and helped her climb out of the
wrecked plane. We sat in front of the fire in silence for what feels
like forever.

Finally, she spoke up. "So where are you from Ben?" I answered "I am
from the country." So we sat there chatting away, eating and planned
what they would do tomorrow. Then they headed to bed in shelter (the
plane) and said goodnight. That was the end of the worst day of their
lives.

The next morning we awoke, with no idea of what was to come. I
searched around for some food and managed to find some biscuits and
water. I then woke Kate up and she was exhausted and not very happy
about having to help but she did anyway. This was our same routine
until we ran out of plane food. Then we had to either hunt for our
food or we had to fish for it.

Months passed by and no one ever came so by then we were used to life
on the island. Kate and became good friends with occasional little
fights. Until one day...

I awoke early and heard a strange rumbling sound. Then I heard a
'BOOM.' I felt a sudden start of rumbling and shaking. I stood up and
looked out the plane window. I saw bright and fluorescent orange and
red lava that looked like goo streaming rapidly down the mountain. I
yelled "KATE" and attempted to make my way to the back of the plane. I
tripped and landed flat on the ground. Kate stood up and tried to help
me but everything was shaking.

I said "It's OK, leave me here, my foot is stuck! Save yourself." She
waited for a while thinking, then she did what I told her to do and
left. Quietly she whispered "Thanks Ben." I just smiled and watched
her walk off the plane.

He is dead! I can't believe it. The volcano erupted and smothered a
huge portion of the unknown island. I am now here all by myself,
having to hunt for food just like Ben taught me. We built a hut
together about 2 months ago because the plane was getting smelly. I
have to eat, drink and sleep alone with no hope of getting found.

One day though I heard a loud honk like a big shop's horn. I ran
outside onto the shore and saw a cruise ship. I lit a fire with plenty
of smoke and was jumping up and down screaming, "HELP ME!" Then I saw
it turn slightly and head over to the island. After what felt like
years the cruise ship landed at the shore where I was.

The captain got out and asked me what on earth I was doing. I
explained EVERYTHING and knew he would help me. Then he said" Well
okay then, lets get you to an airport and try and get you home!" This
was the best thing I think I had ever heard. I happily skipped over to
the enormous cruise ship and boarded it.

I station silence for the trip home. Reflecting on what I had been
through over the months. I went from alone on an island, cold and
lonely to a big luxurious, warm and plenty of food cruise ship. I
couldn't wait to get home and give mum a huge hug!

Coming to America

In the words of the classic 1988 Eddie Murphy movie we are 'Coming to America'.

I have booked flights for us to depart on December 9 and return on
January 14. It will be cold, but I am looking forward to our first
white Christmas.

We haven't mapped out a full itinerary, but we plan to visit our
friends the Simth's in Raleigh NC, and will likely spend the majority
of out time in the warmer southern states on the East and West coasts.
We will also see New York City and Washington DC.

The children are very excited.

Anatole France

I don't agree with all of this fellow's conclusions, but there are a few gems of wisdom among some of his quotes:

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another."

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe."

Cockroaches Offer Inspiration For Running Robots

This is amazing!!!

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Cockroaches_Offer_Inspiration_For_Running_Robots_999.html

So much incredible design in such a 'simple' lifeform!