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The two women in my family - Maria and my mighty Mum!

Mike's Pith & Wind - Tedium
I’m back walking again – or rather should I say we’re* back walking again. So, you might say, what’s new? perhaps assuming that when I quite publicly announce I’m taking up walking on a regular basis that I actually mean what I say.
As I did - at the time. But, as I’m embarrassed to recall, we, (I’m sharing the responsibility here), abandoned our first well-intentioned healthy-living plan almost as soon as it was announced. Mind you, its premature demise was never discussed. The corpse was simply slipped into the rubbish bin with all the other well-intentioned carcasses. (They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions – well, so is the walking track).
We’re now in our third born-again week of huffing and puffing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death Reserve every two or three or four days and confident enough in our stickability to allow ourselves to feel modestly virtuous.
That’s until we compare ourselves to almost anybody else of similar vintage in our orbit. For instance, my brother often speaks of riding a ‘lap’ (in his form-fitting lycra) from Warrandyte to the St Andrews pub and back before lunch despite being constantly challenged for road space by determined-looking mothers in four-wheel drives and deranged truck drivers.
And the Drs Sellers are prone to post cheerful pictures on FB of their good selves astride their pushbikes wearing the regulation silly helmets over.. read more

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Dick's Toolbox - The women in our family
It is a year for significant birthdays for the women in my life. My wife has celebrated a significant milestone to the financial detriment of the household, my mother is ninety this month and my daughter turns thirty in July. The females on both sides of the family seem to be genetically blessed with both longevity and the ability to keep their intelligence intact into their later years. The males generally depart earlier
My maternal grandmother who had been a lithe and graceful bride ended up as the design model for the Country Women’s Association with her maternal bosom moored like a zeppelin across her chest, her stockings rolled half way down her chubby legs and her hair eternally grey. She was severely disappointed that the queen had not sent her a telegram in honour of her 100th birthday; although she was constantly reminded that.. read more