Spring again...

So MEP came and went: 2 months work in the space of a month, not much sleep and little socialising. The week after I was particularly zombie like but did avoid falling in a complete heap which was nice. Unfortunately some bug caught me in the middle of last week so instead of enjoying the 4 day weekend we have just had I spent far too many hours in my apartment watching B-grade American TV series and movies, but that was about all I could mentally handle. Like all blokes, I'm not very good at doing anything except feeling sorry for myself when sick - probably a good thing we can't fall pregnant, a week of one of us whinging with a cold is bad enough, imagine 9 months! Speaking of pregnant, a number of close friends have recently shared the big news that they are going to be proud parents in late summer early autumn, and 2 from Beverly Hills High this spring (teachers, not students - they're far to posh to let that happen...).

With spring upon us in the northern reaches it means longer days, sunshine with some warmth in it, and every man, woman, child and dog rushing to all the little parks and cafés in the area I live in as soon as the weekend arrives... most upsetting for this inner-city snob when he can't get a seat at one of his favourite little spots because all the weekenders are crowding. I do wonder where they have all been hiding for the past 9 months. Still, did manage to find a new place that is a bit "off" the main centres of attraction, the next big thing (!) until the hordes find it - gotta stay ahead of the curve. Or whatever marketing/sales say.

Spring also has an amazing affect on the kids at school: "can't we have this lesson outside? Promise we'll work." "Sorry, bit hard to show that film clip. Nice try though." It also means that the final year students are close to graduating which is displayed in different ways according to student. They do have a strange habit of having graduation parties before they graduate - silly season started near the beginning of April. So some of them seem to spend much of April and May somewhere between drunk and hungover, with a few sober moments for the maths test. Wednesday (before the 4-day weekend!) was time for them to officially put on the graduation caps - usually about a month before they graduate, all part of the process! A very civilised singing of the national anthem and the school song whilst drinking non-alcoholic cider is only the beginning. After then leaving school, rumour has it they all congregate on what is very kindly called a beach (aussie bias!) and have a champagne party with dj 'n all! Brats do it in style!

Spring also means that the swimming season is nearing summer (the serious end of business), and this being a leap year (you didn't miss the 29th of Feb?!) is extra special... Beijing, y'know! Our club (I help out as assistant coach to the elite group... and am managing to do progressively less swimming myself) has 5 on the swimming team for Beijing. 3 from the group I work with, 1 at college in the home of gambling (!), and 1 who has a personal coach. So we're pretty stoked that of our group of 7-10 swimmers (there's a few part-timers on their way in/out - sometimes we're not sure which!) we have 3 on the team. This weekend was supposed to be spent at the pool watching the last major meet of the season before nationals, but the afore mentioned bug kept me in bed instead- not going to risk infecting them.

Am going to try to post some photos soon - bought a new digital camera with some birthday money from last year... first digital camera! Finally catching up.

Smiling,
rich.