I’m a big lover of pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup!) just tried a new place real close to home… Wasn’t too bad! Was funny watching mum try to eat it though:) I guess it is a bit tricky to master…. Mmmm
I was hanging out in Freo again this weekend for the festival. Awesome work by some artists – Reboot is pretty well known around Fremantle. I love this work as well. The other artists were awesome as well. Such a nice day for it.
There was also a “wishing well” for people to add their thoughts on the city’s special south terrace! Here’s on suggestion:
It was this girls first time using spray paint. She did the most amazing drawing. I snapped this one for the paper…
Figure I may as well show off my friend cutie-pie pug, James. World, meet James:
Last night was the launch of the Fremantle festival. It was absolutely amazing!
After speaking with Freo artist Ian de Souza about the event a few weeks ago I had a good idea of what it would be like but this was even bigger than I imagined.
Seeing everyone from kids to adults drawing the various things (and there was a lot) happening was so nice!
One councillor told me it was like being back in te Fremantle he fell in love with in the 80s and I can see why!
Hopefully more fun tomorrow as I’m taking my favorite niece and nephew to the kite festival!!!
Was looking through some old work of mine (from Canada) and I found this… man I loved rock climbing! Must go again soon.
NOW, FOR MY NEXT ACT
AMY WILSON-CHAPMAN
June 18, 2009
As the sun beat down on my pale white skin, somewhat unusual for an Aussie, I could feel a large bead of sweat as it slowly made it’s way from underneath my orange peel coloured helmet to the side of my sunglasses and slowly trickle down my face.
My eyes, hidden from a spectator’s view, glanced at the big shiny silver bolt that was nailed (hopefully well) into the rockface in front of me. Trust the mechanics, I told myself.
Unrelenting that day, the sun belted down on my shoulders as they were pulled forward – my hands gripping as tight as they’ve ever gripped before onto the rope in front of them. Again, my eyes led themselves from my hands right up to that shiny bolt. Just hold on, I thought.
My feet, now either side of the rope, were precariously close to the edge for my personal comfort level. “Just take your time Amy,” said Matt Reynolds, mountain climber extraordinaire (in my mind at least) and guide for the day.
I slowly stepped backwards, one little baby step at a time, watching my hands as they worked their way down the rope and away from the trusty bolt.
My mind, on continuous cycle, kept telling me it would be fine.
Looking down, I could see my blue pants starting to flap a little in the wind, as they began to hang over the edge, my feet almost at the end. Slowly, I thought, just take your time.
“Okay, now you’re at the edge. Lean back into the rope,” said Reynolds. I took another look at the knot that kept me and that big, glossy bolt as one – just to make sure the experts got it right.
Cautiously, I began to lean back. It felt like I was leaning into a wall that just wasn’t there – my body curiously wondering when it could release some of the pressure.
I couldn’t do it. My hands quickly worked their way back up the rope, only a few inches, my legs bent at the knees and I stood there, flat footed and, thankfully, still alive.
Mind over matter, trust the mechanics, take your time – these are the thoughts running through my mind, faster than a sprinting runner at the Olympics.
Standing there, I flashed back to early in the winter of 2006 when I sat on my first real chairlift with some buddies. The height, of which I’m petrified, scared me into a panic attack – my eyes welled up and I had no idea how I was ever going to get off the chairlift. My friends, who all think it’s hilarious (which it is, now) always joke about how one friend lost her mitten that day trying to help me.
And, with that thought, I realized: mind over matter – if I can be up in the sky on a chairlift, I can get down this rockface. Simple.
I leaned back, trusted the mechanics and then I felt the rope pull tight as my body sank backwards into the harness. With that one small motion the adrenalin was pumping. What a rush.
Now what do I do, I thought. “There you go, now you can walk down,” said Reynolds, coupled with a few cheers from the spectators. It felt like I’d be standing on the rock face forever, but I suppose it was just a few minutes.
Just like I did with my hands, I took baby steps down the face of Morro Slabs – just east of Jasper – and slowly rappelled my way to the bottom. Amazing, I thought. Honestly, I never thought I’d do anything quite like that, but sometimes, it’s great to prove yourself wrong.
I realized later on, as I hiked along the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson, that young Jasperites were challenging themselves with this mental and physical challenge at such a young age. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget – my four-hour rock climbing (and rappelling) adventure with the kids from BLAST (Building Leadership and Action in Schools Today) and JACK (Jasper Adventure Club for Kids).
I’m quite envious of those who grew up here in Jasper and got to experience all the challenges that I’m putting before myself nowadays.
So as my summer slowly rolls along, I’m quite excited to build a new favourite pass time (maybe it’s better than snowboarding!) and keep on challenging myself – mentally and physically. Would anyone like to take a newbie rock climbing?
Taken from The Fitzhugh‘s website
