A photo

Vérité

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" - Anais Nin

Up up and away

Tomorrow morning before the sun comes up I will be winging my way to Melbourne for the Track World Championships. 

It's going to be fucking awesome. 

Hibiscus rosa-senensis et Plumeria

I got a little bit more drawn on me last week. Hibiscus and Plumeria (Frangipani) - mine and my sisters favourite flowers. 

I mentioned it to Maman and Dad on the phone tonight. Dad was totally fine "Hey Dad I got some more drawing on my shoulder" "Oh did you? Ok, cool. What did you get?"... before he continued on to talk about the temperature gauge in my car.  

Mum was more entertaining "So Maman don't get angry but I got some flowers done on my arm".....cue long silence where I can almost hear her lip pursing .... cue giggling starting from me...."huff, puff,.....really?" ....."why did you do that"......"I don't care that it's flowers you know I don't like them.... "Yes Maman that's why it's probably better it's on me not you"...  "hmmmm". 

I thought I would send her a picture message while talking to her to cheer her up "wait hang on I'm getting a message.......oh....it's on your shoulder"..."It's not too bad. It is pretty I guess...."But you aren't getting any more are you? I hope you aren't doing your whole arm......" 

"Maybe just one more, I was thinking a big dragon with the word Maman blowing from it's nose, what do you think?"...

"You'll get a bloody real dragon coming around soon if you aren't careful"

Ah Maman. You're funny. 

A chill in the air

Photo credit - Amy Taylor

"Every mile is two in winter" - George Herbert

The seasons are starting to change here in Auckland. The days are becoming less thick and muggy, the rainforest-like misty drizzles are turning into icy downpours and the winds feel like they are coming from a freezer rather than a hand-dryer in a public bathroom.

It's getting harder to extract oneself from under the warm duvet to put on cold lycra in the morning, but strangely I now have more motivation to do so. Another (probably far too ambitious) goal has been set in the distance, and I'm going to need all the training I can get!

Time to don the armwarmers, beanies, leg warmers, shoe covers and gloves!

Changes

Il faut aller plus loin que la réalité apparent pour trouver la réalité vrai -Eric Fottorino

I interrupted my training ride around One Tree Hill to grab this shot. I'm glad I did. 

Bonjour tristesse