ANZAC Day 2013

Statue of "Simmo" Simpson & wounded soldier

Another year is flying past really quickly and I've finally found a way to remember my password. Another ANZAC day has come up where I always have mixed feelings for the day and how much it does impact people. Not just the servicemen and women yet all their family and friends even today in this present age. Of how acts of war, terrorism and political unrest still touches the lives of nearly everybody in the world today. Each year I'm always interested in watching all the documentaries of war related events and stories to try to understand what it was like for people living through it. I also like watching the march and the services on TV as well just to see and hear the stories and the people.

For the love of Australia

I've had family members who have went to war and one never came back. My Grandfather 'Max' was a ambulance aid  person or helper in WWII before he got captured and became a POW in Germany for many years. He didn't talk much about the war yet whenever he heard fireworks it used to scare him which wasn't good. I don't have a photo of him yet I miss him a lot. he also loved photography. I have also known and met other people who have served in wars as well. With each one person I've met they have been affected by was and what it does to a person. 

Victoria Award people 

Pictures of service men, chaplain and women

I feel no war is fair and I don't understand it. It brings out the best and worst in human nature in everyone. Expect things never to be the same again after a war because it changes the fabric of time and man's minds. There is left a massive hole where young men once stood looking at the battlefield where-ever it was. It could been with Alexander The Great, Masada, Waterloo, The American Civil War, The War of The Roses, The Crimean war, The Boer War, The Falklands war, The French Revolution, The English Civil war, The Battle of Hastings, The Battle of Culloden  or one of the many battles and wars over all of history to name a few. I could've gone on to name more yet it would've been a very long list indeed. Yet the idea is basically the same where there is some type of conflict between two or more parties. Also where war seems to be the only option at the time.

People are funny things.... Like me with having Asperger's there is a whole lot that I don't understand about the goings on of this world. Yet I know one thing is that I still feel things and sometimes the feelings get so strong that I can't even put them into words or write about it. Yet I know that I am one of the lucky ones who has published a book and has had it released and also read. I have put my voice out there to be heard by people and the general public.  Yet for also those untold soldiers who lost their lives and didn't even get a chance to have his or her stories told.... Then ANZAC day is the perfect way to remember them all who have lost their lives. May they alway rest in peace not only in the ground where they fell yet always in out hearts and memories.... God bless them all....

A moving statue

A moving wall. With each single poppy representing a name.

A few names... surrounded by red

Passer-by looking at the wall

Red poppies

Australia Day Weekend

The Australia Day Long Weekend was one hell of a verrrrrryyyyyyy long and tiring weekend which started catching up with two different set of friends both on the Friday night. I didn't get home until about 1:40am and then was getting distracted with computer and internet for the rest of the night. I also uploaded heaps of pictures from my camera to my computer which I really needed to do.

Photo thanks to Darren.

Early Saturday morning at about 9am I had to meet people down at Berry Reserve down in Narrabeen for 'The Big Breakfast' down there. As it turns out I wasn't the only one running late and other people were also say that was interesting to see what happened there... Luckily we all had mobile phones to contact one another not like ten years ago when they weren't really around.... Of course I brought my camera down and was taking heaps of photos just to capture the day around about us which I like doing. A few plans fell apart where a couple or few of us could take surfing lessons yet something happened to the instructor. So it was decided we go to a pub in Collaroy overlooking the beach which we did.... I only had one beer because I was driving and I was meeting a friend of mine in the city for Symphony in the Domain later on. Sitting outside was quite windy even with the umbrella mainly still covering us. Something strange happened because a guy turned up who I hadn't seen in about 6 months came up and we recognised each other so he joined the group. It was also getting to around about the time when I had to leave to start getting ready for that night. The group decided to go next door to the Collaroy Beach Club for a bit so I texted my friend and told them what was happening and  unexpected things were happening. A text came back saying that plans had changed on their end and they were at some party called the Cruise Bar or something.

With my Asperger's I was really feeling the tiredness came on and notice I got quite a bit sunburnt even being in the shade most of the time.  This group wanted me to keep hanging yet I had to be strong and say I had to leave because I still had my mind set on the symphony yet first meeting my new friend at Circular Quay. On the way back to my house I worked out that there was no time to bus or ferry it in which wasn't good because that meant parking was going to be expensive which I didn't need. As soon as I got I home I got changed quickly, had a small something to eat then left really quickly. Drove into the city and just near Wynyard I got a huge big branch stuck under my car which was bad because there were cars behind me. I put on my hazard lights got out and carefully dragged the big branch out, got in and then drove to the parking centre. It was so laughable because I had to drive about 8 levels underground to get a cat spot with it also being about $20 flat rate.

I took this a couple of years ago.

I legged it down near the Four Seasons Hotel and gave my friend a call to meet me because I had no idea where this silly place was. I had visions of my friend just standing at this bar waiting for me alone.  Also with my Asperger's I was really anxious because there were heaps of people around and I was really outside my comfort zone being there plus I didn't know this new person that well. So it was a situation which I didn't like that much. Anyway I was waiting so nervously for about 10 to 15 minutes and when I saw my friend I felt so relieved and gave a quick hug. So to confirm that we were still going to the symphony in the domain I asked that were were still going. The answer came back saying no didn't really feel like sitting down for a few hours listening to music from Stanley Kubrick's films. My heart fell and I felt so stupid for all the effort I had put into getting there the city. Then My friend said how about we go to the dance party thing instead. I asked how much it was found out it was about $40 to $45 for only a few hours which was very expensive for me. Anyway I agreed drew some money out then we walked up to where it was. It was so strange because the Cruise Bar was at the International Terminal where I was going to pick my parents up from early the next morning from their cruise. I started to have a really uncomfortable feeling because I was so tired after being around people all day and wanted a relaxing night listening to music. When I was paying to get in my friend didn't wait and said she was going in anyway. I was left there feeling confused because I had no idea where to find her in such a big place. After a few minutes I found that she was talking to another friend of hers who she obviously came or met up with. At this point I was way overtired and was completely peopled out, as well as feeling quite teary.  To put it quickly and simply I stayed nearly until it finished. I safely walked alone to my car even when I was freaking out because my friend didn't want to walk to the car with me for safety yet decided to do something with her other friend instead. My this time my whole back, neck, shoulders and legs were in so much pain because of  the tension I was feeling after the day.

Next morning I got a phone call from my Mum at about 6:30am saying that they were back home and I could pick them up. Going out to the car it was raining a lot which was so different from the day before where it was so hot and sunny. There wasn't that many cars driving into the city at the time in the morning and it felt like de ja vu as well with being there the night before. When I picked my parents up it was so good to see them because they were away for about 2 weeks. It was really good catching up with them on the way back home... They dropped me off at home and I had quite a quiet day and had a really sore throat. As it turned out I did get a coldy flu type of thing which took me about 3 or 4 weeks to get totally over it. Then my brother a few weeks after Australia Day was playing with my camera or looking at it. I asked him not to touch anything yet he did and he deleted about 250 to 300 images from that weekend and afterwards a few weeks. So I was not a happy camper yet it was a huge weekend with so many things happening... Sometimes we all have things happen in life that are interesting... Sorry the blog was so long yet so much happened. Sorry about no pictures also yet I'm looking into trying to get them fixed or something.... Until next time.....Hope you have fun....

Boxing Day, New Years & Rocks Away!

The engineer looking at the place

Hello again... As I said in my last post Christmas went off without a hitch yet Boxing Day was different. About 6:25am in the morning Dad heard a sound which was like a very loud thunderclap. I think I heard something also yet fell back asleep again. Around 9:30am I heard the phone ring upstairs yet dozed through it. A few minutes later my Mum came down and told me the big news which was a huge boulder which was 10 metres high, long and wide came down near a neighbour's house just down the road. Mum invited me along to have a look also. I hopped out of bed got some shoes on and grabbed my camera to take a few pictures.

My Dad looking on.

Down the side of the neighbour's house

Sure enough about 500 metres down the road from my parents house there stood a huge boulder blocking the whole road. They had already put some sort of barricades up so you weren't allowed to get close. Yet Dad, Mum and I just went around them to have a look what it was like. There was a structural engineer scampering around looking at the rock and the place to see what damage there was. My thoughts were that because of all the rain the day before on Christmas it loosened up the ground around it then it decided to go for a bit of a fall. I was partly right because the engineer saw that there was a tree root underneath it which destabilised it also. My parents friend had to evacuate the house because it was deemed unsafe and her poor cat went missing for the day also poor lady... So what a bad thing to happen on a public holiday hey! I am going to put up a video and photo's of what it looked like so you can see for yourself... On the short walk back my poor Mum had a fall of her own. I just managed to grab her shirt yet it slipped out of my fingers which wasn't good. She found out later that she broke her nose and it's a hairline fracture. Also her shoulder is still painful and playing up a lot which hasn't been nice. All this was less than 2 weeks before their cruise of all things to happen before then.

My New Years was very quiet and quite good. I spent it with it a couple of friends and also had a really nice dinner. With having Asperger's it was nice having a small one yet I would have liked to catch up with a couple of other people yet that didn't happen. So there was a bit of confusion yet I think stuff like that happens on New Years... I hope that everyone else had an excellent and very Happy New Years... May it be the best one yet!!

Where the rock fell from & it's path.

Showing how close it got to the house.

The huge rock itself....

Looking back at the barriers.

The branches are actually touching the house....

Another view of how close it got...

Nice pic amongst the rubble.

How big is it?!

What we first saw....

Belated Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Oh my crumbs..... Wow at last I can write my blog.... I'm using a different computer at the moment because my other computer has practically run out of memory and I'm in the middle of trying to put a lot of the things on a back-up drive device. I'd also forgotten my password and other stuff. I've still got photo's on my camera from the beginning of December 2012 and lost my spare set of batteries. So in short I've been having computer troubles where I'm still learning to sort it out. I'm not a real tech head and just got my very first computer which is connected to the Internet just about two or three years ago.... I'm sorry i can't have any photo's on this blog post yet I can't because I've got no access to them....
Soooooooooo I'm wishing you you all a very belated and very Merry Christmas wherever you are!!! How was for everyone out there? With mine I went up to my parents place where my brother and his girlfriend came up on Christmas day. On Christmas Eve I decorated the modern Christmas tree with my Mum and that brought back memories of my childhood. It also rained and poured while I wrapped my presents on Christmas eve as well watching channel 9's 'Carol's By Candlelight'. Christmas day was no ordinary summer day but it rained, rained, poured and rained some more with a few brief windy patches. Instead of nice shorts, sandals an a shirt I wore a jacket, jeans, some waistcoat vest thing and sand-shoes. With our family we still endured the cold weather and ate outside with a few very soggy birds as visitors throughout the day. In the afternoon we all went to my Uncle and Aunts place and caught up with some other family members which was great. My Dad was showing of this extremely new strong torch that he got for Christmas with some special bulb or lighting device to his brother. My brother and his girlfriend were there also seeing people for the first time in quite a while which was good.
So amongst all the food that Mum made and I helped out quite a bit... as well as the presents which this year I went overboard for buying for everyone... It was a very nice special family Christmas with Rachel my brothers girlfriends first Christmas with us.... Because last year they were both in the town of Bethlehem, the one in America and not Israel which is really appropriate for Christmas...My Mum even got a belated present from them both last year which was 'The Star Of Bethlehem'. Which was really nice of them both to give to her.
Christmas day went of without a hitch yet boxing day was a way different story where something happened..... I'll tell you about it in my next blog post coming soon.....
Until then I hope everyone had a very happy and safe Christmas....

My Birthday

My mum, myself & 2 aunties.

Wow... My birthday on the 8th of September... What an amazing also special day that it was!!! The night before went out with a couple of friends for a couple of drinks which was good. As soon as it reached midnight they sang me "Happy Birthday" which meant a lot to me. Yes I was 40 years old at last after all these years... I was saying to my friends that I didn't even expect to make it to 25 years old. There was even a stage where I didn't think i would make it to 19 years old. So I am so blessed and lucky to be alive in a lot of different ways. They were really surprised to hear that yet were accepting of it. When I drove home at about 1:30am in the morning I was pondering for I knew I had to vote and have a really busy day. I got to bed and fell asleep which I needed to.

Next thing I knew the phone was ringing at about 7:45am in the morning and I answered it with a tired greeting saying 'Hello'. On the other end of the phone was my ex sounding very chirpy and nervous. This was not what I was expecting because my ex the year before broke it off with me for no apparent reason and then wanted to have no friendship with me which left me devastated. Then my ex sounded very happy and we were almost talking like nothing had happened... Next thing I knew my ex said "Have to go quick ajax!"

The 3 brothers and I

The phone went dead and I was hung up on all of a sudden. I was bewildered and stunned because of such an early morning wake up call. Before I could comprehend what was happening I got another 2 or 3 quick phone calls which didn't seem to make much sense because I realized that something could be wrong. Then that left me feeling sad and confused indeed. That one is a bit of a long story which I'll go into later. I had a busy day ahead so I packed my things up went and voted which I had to do then went up to my parents.

The corn fritters and salad my Mum made.

 When I got up to my Mum and Dad they gave me a couple of small presents which I liked. One was a small box which looked like a book that had the Eiffel Tower on it. My parents had to go to vote as well and we managed to find a park right outside the polling booth. Getting out of the car I was waiting for my Mum to get out I looked on the ground to find something... There was a $20 note just sitting there and I picked it up and showed a very surprised Mum. So that was a birthday present that I was not expecting to find that!
As soon as they voted we left to go to Ikea in Rhodes where my parents had to get something yet we were chasing time because my Dad had also planned to meet up with his brothers and their wives later on in the afternoon. When we got there I warned my Mum that it was a huge place with a one way 'traffic' where you had to walk around the whole place without turning around to get back out. With my Asperger's I am too blunt and honest sometimes and I didn't think to tell my Dad that in the car on the way over. So in short my Dad did not like setting of Ikea because he was in such a rush to get in and out. Finally we got to my Uncle's house in Pennant Hills which was a huge relief especially to my Dad. Walking into to the house I got a rendition of the song "Happy Birthday" from my uncles and aunts which I found was beautiful also such a greeting that I wasn't expecting.

The burnt fig ice cream & blood orange juice to die for.

We then had all of our greetings and then could relax, sit down to catch up. Being with the older generation was very special because I got to hear what it is like for them. It was so good to see Uncle John and Auntie Sue again after quite a while which meant a lot to me. Also for me to be the eldest grandchild reaching the grand old age of 40 was a huge experience also. I know that for my parents it was a big thing to catch up with them all again as well because they all lead busy lives. Yet I just felt very privileged for being able to be there and share in the experience as well. Uncle John brought up the fact that he met a young woman that day who was in the middle of reading or had read my book "My Life With Asperger's". She and he felt proud to know me or someone that knows me or related to me. My Uncle Brian called me aside and gave me a birthday card with a present inside which I wasn't expecting. I thanked both him and Auntie Dot very much for remembering my birthday. As my parents were about to leave I mad sure I got pictures of the 3 brothers as well as their wives separately. They all had to vote also before it got to late. We said our fond farewells as the sun was getting lower in the sky. On the way back to my parents in the car I felt a warm feeling of love in my body which was good.

The cute little bear I got from Ikea that day.

Also on the way home we dropped in at the shops where I helped Mum with the shopping and Dad had a short rest in the car. The rest of the night was a quiet night at my parents where my Mum mad a special treat of corn patties or fritters and an assorted salad. Also a desert treat of burnt fig ice cream with strawberries and the juice of blood oranges which was to die for. No my Mum didn't make the ice cream yet she bought it. Looking at my Facebook I found a lot of birthday wishes we I felt really humble about. It meant so much that all these people remembered my birthday as well and I felt so touched. I started replying to them all which took quite a while and would leave me busy for on and off for the next day or so. Midnight came and went as it does every night yet on this day it was the end of a very special birthday for me. But it was not quite over for me because the next night on the Sunday night was the family dinner with my brother and his girlfriend.

On the Sunday I went to church for the first time in ages and saw quite a few people I knew which was good. Then  a bit later in the afternoon I went home to get ready for the birthday dinner. It reminded me of a Chinese celebration with it being spread over a couple of days with all the birthday stuff. My parents picked me up where we met my brother and his girlfriend at Izumi Japanese Restaurant which I found on the Internet. It took Mum and I quite a while to find a place which was open on a Sunday night yet I was the one that found it.  It was excellent to see Cameron and Rachel again because I don't get to see them very much. Also with my brother I think he was very good for going to a Japanese restaurant because he doesn't like seafood. Cam and I have very different tastes because he likes everything chili Mexican hot and I don't like curries or hot food. When it's comes to his times I go to Mexican places for him yet that's because I love my brother.

A cute light shade with Cranes on it.

What I was hanging out for was my grilled eel which I love and rarely ever have. I hadn't had it for many many years and I could almost taste it. So when the waitress came we ordered some entree food to share and our main courses. It finally came to me and I excitedly ordered my eel. Only to discover that they had run out. My heart sank like nothing else and looked at my Mum's reaction which was her head down on her hands. She knew how much I was looking forward to this and really felt it with me. Meanwhile the order passed to Rachel and Cameron who ordered theirs then I found some Tempura and a plum wine to drink which looked really nice. My Dad also ordered the plum wine and the evening resumed to catching up with everyone. The food came out and it was so yummy then after that Cam, Rachel and I had green tea ice cream. Also Rachel got a couple of early birthday presents because her birthday is only a few days after mine which is nice.  The wonderful night eventually finished up with a photo that I have to get at the end of every family function. Yet before I could get another photo my camera memory was full but it didn't matter to me. I don't know about the rest of the family yet I had a very full little belly yet was just comfortable. All in all my birthday weekend was quiet and it meant a whole heap to me sharing it with people that I love and care for. Until next time...

Our shared entree's

My Tempura

Cam, Rachel and I

Remembering David 'Davey' Woodcock

 P.S. Sorry about using the same photo over in the blog yet I don't have any others on my computer.
Over the past two weeks or so it has been hard for both family and friends across Australia. In all of our lives so much has happened really quickly and it has been hard to comprehend a lot of it as well. On Facebook I have been making references like "My cousin's son...." just to let people know what was going on yet trying to keep private at the same time. I also do appreciate all the care and concern that my family and I have had on Facebook as well over the past couple of weeks as well.  In fact he had a very strong English sounding name which was David 'Davey' Woodcock. With his first name it had a lot of meaning because he was named after my very much loved Uncle David. The family just call him Uncle Dave and he is such an amazing guy. The name Woodcock is a good unique name as well which I like. I must admit I don't know the origin of it yet must find out.

At this moment my mobile phone has died and run out of battery charge so I unable to check the dates exactly. I also don't have my charger with me here yet that's okay. Okay I will try to do a reverse chronologically  of the past two weeks so please bear with me.... Last Friday was Davey's funeral/cremation/remembrance service. A week before on the Wednesday he lost his valiant and strong battle. On the Saturday morning a few days before I found out from my parents he was gravely ill and they only found out before on the Friday night. Also Davey got married on the Thursday or Friday of that week. When I get my phone charged I will add the proper dates in okay... Yet to put it simply it has taken less than two weeks for it to all unfold.

For me I have had a real big variety and mix of reactions to the news of Davey dying with one varying to a real extreme reaction to it. The person who I told basically didn't want to hear anything at of of the bad news I had just received went off and bought herself a beer and spoke to the bar staff for about five minutes just leaving me there. She then came back and wanted to talk about other less important things. I was devastated nearly in tears and she started talking to other people there so I just left quietly. With that was a loss of a friendship and also serious threats for my safety, car and unit which hasn't been nice at all. I've also had amazing impressive reactions from other family and friends as well as from people that don't know me that well. On Facebook and other friends around me they have all been totally supportive which has been fantastic. I do thank everyone for their concern for the whole family and I. With my Asperger's and ADD it has been up as well as very down at this time for me being so far away from Western Australia and the rest of my family. We all so much wanted to be over there yet couldn't go because of the expenses and it being a long way over to get there. Yet we were all over there in spirit and love.

I remember one of the last times I saw David was in Western Australia when I was there on my last holiday at one of the kids birthday parties. It was a spring day yet it decided to be very cold for me that time. I wasn't feeling very well yet I did take quite a few different photo's of the day and met quite a few few different people as well. It was still good to be around my family that day with my cousin Sue a very proud Grandmother doing things in the kitchen. It was good to talk to David and everyone else as well which I liked. One of the only regrets of that day was I wish I was feeling a whole lot better yet I can't change the past. Yet what I remember of David throughout my life was that he had an adventurous cheeky soul who liked a good laugh. I also remember when he gave me a lift to a bus station to go up to see my uncle Dave that we had a good catch up talk then as well. For whatever reason I wasn't feeling well that morning either yet it can't be helped. Anyway we were in the car for about one hour to an hour and a half talking and catching up which was excellent. I remember thinking that he had the most beautiful soft eyes and his gentle caring nature.  He still loved his cars and mechanical things like his father as well. Yet also very intelligent as well. Words aren't coming easily for me at the moment because I would have like to have seen him and my Western Australian family more. It feels like that all My life I have left my heart in WA although my body has been living in NSW and the "Eastern States" for years.  I've still got the Kalgoorlie red dirt in my veins and the winds of Esperance running through my hair... A true West Aussie even though I was born over here.

In Davey's last days none of the family over here including me couldn't go because of the reasons that I said above. Yet during those hardest day's I went up to my parents to be around them and share with them what was happening. I couldn't physically be there to say goodbye to Davey yet he did get all our wishes and love which was great. I was as close as I could be in spirit. Davey told my uncle Dave that when he died he wanted to come back as a Wedgetailed Eagle. For those of you that don't know that eagle is a typical Australian, West Aussie outback bird. It is also a very strong, powerful and amazing animal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge-tailed_Eagle

Last Friday when the final service was on my family over here and I found it hard. I've also been remembering at this time that it's just not me yet everyone else in the family going through this as well. That week I kept on wanting to jump on a plane to get over there in time for the funeral yet had not way of doing it. Acceptance has been hard for me on that respect yet that's life. One day I do plan to go back to WA visit my family and give them all very huge bear-hugs including his sister and say my own farewells  to this amazing young man called David 'Davey' Woodcock. May you rest in peace with your spirit living and flying on like a Wedge-tailed Eagle over the Australian landscape. You will always be loved and remembered.....

Olympic Fan

Oh my crumbs!! Wow!!! Just turned on then to see Australia win a gold medal in some kayak 4 team or K4 team at the Olympics over in London. Yay!!!!!!!...... We've got two gold medals in sailing events and Anna Meares won a gold medal in cycling which I watched the other night as well. I think I also saw Sally Pearson get gold as well yet didn't see the medal ceremony because I'd gone to sleep by this stage. Although I'm only just watching the channel 9 coverage of the Olympics it's still coming out of my ears. My brother has Foxtel and I think that has about 8 or 9 channels of it going all the time with the Olympics. He must have great self control because if I was there I would be hooked onto it big time. Even more so then I am now with  the Olympics. This time I find that with Channel 9's coverage it switches and chops from one event to another really quickly which can be quite confusing for me.

Yes I must say that I am a huge Olympics fan and I do love watching anything and everything involved with it. I've seen all sports like men's volleyball, women's volleyball, women's beach volleyball, men's and women's basketball, handball, sailing, kayaks, rowing, equestrian, heptathlon, cycling events, swimming events, diving events, synchronised swimming, running events, athletics, cycling road race, judo, Taekwondo, shot put, javelin, archery, trap shooting, women's half marathon?, hockey, soccer, weight lifting, high jump, white water events, BMX events,  gymnastic events, boxing, tennis, water polo, trampolining or trampoline and wrestling. There could be a few events I've seen yet can't remember but that's okay. Yet with this comprehensive list I've given it still is a lot I have seen. Well I figure that it only happens once in every four years and to get the feel of it and get into the spirit of the Olympics then you have to watch it. You have to support the athletes who worked so hard for so many years to actually get there. So sure it only happens for two weeks yet during those two weeks I am absolutely hooked to it. I find it so inspirational to see what these people can do in their fields. Secretly in the back of my head I which I was visiting London and England again because I haven't been there since I was a teenager. For me I get caught up each year watching the 'Tour De France' on SBS for about 3 or 4 weeks. I find it fascinating and also wishing that I was in France again seeing all the countryside that they are riding through. Also all the beautiful French food and it being summer over there as well. Yet it is one of my dreams to travel to those countries again one day and some day when I can afford it or win some money.

Here's a London Olympics link.... http://www.london2012.com/sports/

Sure it's fun staying up most of the night watching the Olympics is really good yet there are quite a few drawbacks as well I find. I find that with my Asperger's that I have to watch to the end of an event then when another event which is interesting comes on then I have to watch that as well. I have to know what happens and who wins what. Also if Australia wins anything as well with whatever they are doing. It's almost like a compulsion and I find myself going around in circles. Like I say to myself "Okay after this event I'm going to turn my TV off and go to sleep."
About 20 minutes later something comes on where an Australian is competing and I find myself saying something like "Oh my crumbs!!... I hope they win!!... I better watch it to see if they win or lose with this..."

Yes I know it's not much self control and I do have to do something about it. Because the next morning and day I'm not worth for much at all. Then with my ADD  it's hard because I find it so hard to get motivated or have any type of energy. I've let a few things slip and that has made me feel so bad because it's not normally like me. I've missed a couple of things which I would have liked to have done. Also I've been finding that my sleeping patterns are way out of whack also. I'm probably not the only one having these issues yet there is probably thousands and millions in the same position of me supporting friends or family members over the other side of the world with the games. I know that there are whole communities in Australia that have been up watching people from their town competing like the guys who won the sailing gold medal the other night. There they all are cheering them on like nothing else and then I saw it on the news last night. Well one thing is for sure that the Olympics DOES make the world stand still collectively and we are all united as one.... sitting there looking at our TV screens watching history literally get mad before our eyes in a lot of different ways.

May we remember how times have definitely changed since 40 years ago at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich with the tragedy of the Israel Olympic team that shook the whole world at the time that is happened. I wasn't even born at that time yet for some reason I've felt like that I've always had some type of affinity with those events. I've always felt drawn, close, interested in what happened and also seeing that documentary film called "One Day In September". I've also got the book that I'm still trying to read. What I'm trying to say is something like.... May we remember all those that were affected like the family members, friends, colleagues, fellow athletes, team, country and anyone involved in their lives. They did not die in vain yet because of them the Olympic security systems have changed. Also to remember these people on the 40 year anniversary that they are still loved by others out there and their achievements have not been forgotten. They were and still be forever Olympians and nobody can take away that glory or honour come what may!!
Munich Olympics link.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre

May the Olympic spirit always be remembered even 500 years in the future!! Adieu until my next blog...