When CH first approached me about the possibility of moving overseas he did so with his tail between his legs.

Moving overseas has been something I have been passionate about doing for a long time. I had tried to feed this idea to CH over the years in some subtle (daydreaming out loud about my favourite international destinations) and some not so subtle ways (Opening a savings account called ‘Moving Overseas’ – there weren’t many pennies that found their way into this account!) No matter how I tried to persuade CH to move overseas, he would always respond with some dismal excuse about it not being the right time, we can’t afford it etc etc.

So I can’t imagine what went through his mind when the team he was riding for offered him the opportunity to ride overseas, which in turn meant a move overseas. After years of rejecting the idea, he now had to come and sell it to me, but in the context of cycling!

As he broached the subject a wicked grin flashed across my face, as I saw the potential in this situation – Do I make him suffer? How much should I make him beg? Luckily for him, I was feeling generous that day (and very excited about the prospect of exploring a new country) that I let it slide………………for now anyway.

Some marriage advice........

As CH and I sorted through all of our belongings in preparation for our big move to Germany I came across a stash of cards from our wedding. Among them I found this little gem and just had to share it.

If only we had taken this advice......................

Wandering Eyes

CH tagged along to a gym class the other night, which I attend with a few friends. As we were chatting outside the gym afterwards, my friend notices that CH’s attention is wavering and his gaze keeps wandering to something behind him. Assuming there must be an attractive sort walking by, my friend continues the conversation, whilst he subtly turns to check her out, only there are no people behind him at all. He turns back to our conversation, looks at Chris and say ‘It’s the bikes  isn’t it? Usually if a guy is distracted from a conversation and is watching something behind, I assume there is a gorgeous woman to look at, but I turned around, and there were just bikes, rows and rows of them. That’s what you are looking at isn’t it?'

CH had to confess that, in fact he wasn't checking out a good looking bird walking past, but the bikes. I guess I have nothing to worry about then?

A Family Affair

A combination of the Festive Season and Chris and I leaving the country for a year, has meant we have been fortunate enough to spend loads of time with our wonderful families.

As we travelled from house to house, I began to notice that the cycling fever was beginning to spread to the outskirts of our family.

Christmas time saw gifts of bikes given to our nieces and nephews, which we complimented with a helmet for each of them. Of course I was over the moon about this, because it meant that CH was finally eager to become involved in the sometimes difficult task of gift shopping. As soon as he saw helmets on the 'to buy' list he was onto it.

CH has managed to convince his Father to also try his luck on a bike, which he is loving, apart form his uncomfortable helmet - so another helmet was jotted down on the Christmas wish list, which CH promptly took care of.
It was then on to Sydney for me, where I was greeted by my brother in law in a full Lycra kit after his commute home form work!! I couldn't help but have a glance to see if the legs were shaved (they weren't - no doubt next time they will be hairless though - he has begun the slippery slope into the depths of cycling culture).
Last but not least, after running alongside my nephew while he zipped about on his balance bike, he then joined us for dinner wearing only the essentials - knickers and a helmet.

Oh how proud CH would be!

A little bit of Friendly Competition

There once was a time when I only had to compete with the bikes, for time with CH. That was, until the iphone was invented. This small piece of technology has practically been grafted onto CH's hand, only to be ripped away when it needs to be charged, or, when he is riding - at which point the iphone takes a back seat, in the pocket of his jersey. CH is NEVER without his iphone. It has been fascinating to see him develop a whole new addiction whilst still maintaining his cycling addiction.

So curious was I, as to what CH found all encompassing about the iphone, that I decided to have a peek at it. And as I scrolled through cycling app, after cycling app, after cycling app, I began to see why there was such a strong connection to his beloved iphone. It was bursting at the seam with cycling apps, It was his tool for organising rides via text messages and he could access any cycling website whenever and wherever he wanted to. The iphone was the hub of his cycling life. It is the glue that holds it all together.

So, as I peeled back the layers I realised that the bike and the iphone weren't competing for CH's time, they were working harmoniously together to create some sort of super power that I will now need to try and conquer if I am to see CH at all anymore.

The Perfect Gift

Recently some gorgeous friends of ours celebrated their anniversary. On the eve of their anniversary weekend, S had just discovered that T had organised a surprise for their weekend and was elated by the fact that her hubby had taken the time to organise something special for them on their anniversary.

As I shared this story with CH over dinner that night, we began to speculate about what romantic gesture T must have planned for them. CH thought for a moment before exclaiming - 'I know! I bet he is taking them to do the Brisbane to Gold Coast ride!' CH was deadly serious about this being the ultimate thing you could possibly do for someone you love.

Ahhhh, CH - such a romantic.

Local Newspaper Famous

CH has escaped the mundaneness of everyday existence and fled south for the 'Tour of the Murray River' for the past week. Our daily phone contact, which is squeezed in between stages, bicycle maintenance, eating and sleeping (not much time left over once you fit all of this into a day) allows me to hear CH whinge about how sore he is and how exhausted he is, but underneath it all he is truly happy.

Today the phone call was to share exciting news, with CH ringing to tell me his photo had made it into the local paper. I assumed it was for cycling and asked what stage it was from? CH responds, with enthusiasm .........'No, it wasn't for cycling. It was a photo of me smashing down a Vanilla Slice at the Great Australian Vanilla Slice competition!!!!'
Of course, if he doesn't get in the paper for cycling, eating is his next favourite hobby

This clever little town of Ouyen has organised the event to coincide with a flood of cyclists hitting town, as bakers from all across Australia battle for the title of Best Vanilla Slice in the country. I am sure CH was only too happy to oblige in doing some taste testing.