The swimming is still going well.   As of today I am at 7,064 lengths with 9 weeks to go until completion.  It’s 12:39am Tuesday, and I’m still up.  My son has just woken saying he’s hungry, so is eating some fruit salad in bed.  Hopefully he’ll nod off soon so I can follow suit and get some shuteye  before my swim at 8:00am.

I know I haven’t kept up with the blog, and I apologise for that, but I have found that between swimming, being a mum, and babysitting my nephew during the week, I am left with little time to myself to write on here. (My son has pretty much claimed the computer as his own and attempts to watch his children’s DVDs on it during many of his waking hours!

But I am pleased.  I’m now at 353.2km, and am, as ever, determined to reach my goal by 14 July.  I am pleased to say I have raised over $3,500 so far, and hope that this will increase before the end of my swim.  9 more weeks. Wow, how quickly it has gone, and I’m sure these last ones will fly by!

My husband is on annual leave, and has been for over a week.  It’s been a busy time with swimming, babysitting my nephew, and entertaining my three and a half year old son, not to mention battling stomach bugs, which kept me away from the pool for three days.

Feeling much better, yesterday I managed a 42 length (2.1km) swim, after which we took the kids (my son, and nephew) to Chipmunks for a play.  Watching my husband holding my going down the bouncy, air-filled slide head first, holding my son, in a seated position, on his chest as he went, I found it hard to decipher who was the bigger kid.

But, bigger kid, is exactly what my son is becoming.  We received confirmation just yesterday, that he has got into the kindy which is walking distance from my home.  He starts in 2 weeks.  Three afternoons a week…I won’t know what to do with myself!  Swim, perhaps.

Three more days of annual leave, gives me three more chances to get my husband to swim with me before he goes back to work.  At the beginning of my challenge, he vowed to come swimming with me.  Eight months in, and I’m still waiting!

I sobbed.  Yesterday, like many days over the last week, I sobbed.  Yesterday, the youngest victim, was buried.  He was 5 months old.  He shared his birthday with my son, 17 September.  That little boy, Baxtor Gowland, I will always remember.  I will remember him each time I hold my son, and hold him that little bit closer, and tighter.

New Zealand is in a state of shock.  Everywhere you go, people are talking about the quake, everyone touched in some way.  For me, my brother-in-law was down there at the time the quake hit.  We are one of the fortunate ones, he is okay.  

Out at the mall the other day, my son was having a ride on one of those coin operated cars.  When he asked if he could have another turn, we asked him “could you give this money to help another little boy in Christchurch, so he can play too?”  Zac happily dropped two 50 cent pieces in the donation jar, not questioning further, and not asking again for a ride.  He is 3 and a half, going on 10.  I was so proud.

I have been asking myself, “What can I do to help?”, and the answer is “almost anything”.  Anything and everything is needed. Money, clothing, accommodation, food, water, prayers, and love.  I have donated what I can, and will continue to do so.

I was stunned.  Stunned by the generousity of others.  Not only for those affected by the quake, but also, for the generousity shown towards me. 
On Facebook the other night, I was offered the most incredible gift.  I have been gifted with a year’s membership at the pool and gym to commence as soon as my current membership expires.  My immediate reaction was to thank and show my appreciation, but to ask that the money spent be gifted to those of Christchurch.  When told that she was also supporting Christchurch, and wanted to do this for me “out of love from a friend”, I greatfully accepted, assuring her that Iwill use the membership to do something to help others.  I will do it for Christchurch.

This week has been devastating for New Zealand.  But, in time, we will rebuild, and people will heal, with the help, love, and generousity of others.  That is all that matters.  “Love from a friend”.

Swim 10,000′s current total: 5.604 lengths

The weather’s still stunning, albeit a bit too hot at times.  It’s been a lovely relaxing break.  Yesterday, after a good look around the New Year’s sales, we took Zac to Willow Park Primary School’s pool where we met my sister and her 2 children.  It was Zac’s first time in a pool.  Donned in water wings, he sat in his lilo car (a Christmas gift from nana), and zoomed around the pool, courtesy of daddy giving the car a gentle push, grinning ear to ear, looking much like Woody, from Toy Story, in daddy’s summer straw hat.

Today, he was back at the pool, as was I.  He and his dad at Willow Park Primary, and me, at Millennium Institute of Sport and Health, my first swim for 2011.

I managed 46 lengths before the pool got rather busy with swim training booked in the lanes.  I’m now at 4,384 lengths, and will be back there tomorrow for another day’s effort. 

Here’s to 2011 and all the good things she has to offer us all.

Check in  again soon,

Cheers,

Lia

It’s Thursday the 30th of December, one and a half days left in 2010, and what a year it’s been.  I reached 4,338 lengths towards my 10,000 goal, and will be back at the pool on January the 3rd, with all guns blazing (figuratively speaking, of course).

Christmas was lovely.  We woke to our excited Master three, “drumming” on his bookshelf, opened his bedroom door, to be greeted with, “is Santa here”.  He ran into the lounge, making a beeline for the fireplace, and the presents in his Christmas stocking, and again, under the tree.  He was fascinated to see that Santa had drunk the milk, eaten the cookies (Santa is a messy eater by the way, you should have seen the crumbs) and that his reindeer had eaten the carrot that he left.  Santa had left him some Thomas the Tank Engine Bubble bath, and a red chocolate car, but the thing which gave him the biggest smile was a letter Santa had left him, with a picture drawn by the jolly  man himself, of a red car with teeth.  Just what he wanted.

After opening presents, and listening to Christmas music and watching a Christmas DVD, we headed to my parents’ for lunch, then off to my inlaws’ for dinner.  Our day concluded at aroun 8:30pm, when we said our goodbyes and master three got to stay with his nana and grandad for two nights.

So the year has nearly finished, with me having an enforced break from swimming (due to statutory holidays closing the pool), it has been, and will be, a nice break – time to focus on, and spend with family, and get things in order for the new year.  As for resolutions, I gave up making them years ago.  Now, they are goals.  Goals, I achieve.  Swim 10,000 has proven to me that any I set, and plan for, I will achieve.

Happy holidays all, here’s to a safe and prosperous 2011

I’ll check in again on Thursday.

Happy Christmas shopping!

Lia

So, with the free time I have, I can spend it in the pool, and quite happily so.  This summer is typical of Auckland weather.  Very humid.  With days of 95% humidity, I have been only to happy to go for my swim, only wishing I could spend a little longer in the nice cool water of Millennium’s pool.

I am now at 3,900 lengths – that’s 195km.  Nearly at the 200km mark, and stoked!  I am hoping for a big weekend at the pools and will either reach 4,000 tomorrow, or pass that mark on Sunday.

I am still very much enjoying this challenge, and am meeting some lovely people along the way – literally.  Today, I met a lady in the pool who asked “are you the girl who’s swimming that big distance?”  I told her, yes, that I am swimming 10,000 lengths, and she wished me well.  She told me how she had learnt to swim at Millennium 4 years ago, and goes there twice a week to swim.  She really enjoys her swimming, and told me she likes it most when she can swim the 50m lengths (as it was set up today).
Hopefully I will see her again soon.  It’s nice to chat to others and to hear their stories.

Well, I’d better go.  My rather hyperactive 3-year-old has been pushing the pushchair around the house for the past half hour or so, and my nephew is getting restless. (I just realised how that sounds, no, don’t worry, he’s not in the pushchair!, he’s safely in his playpen.)

I’ll check in again soon,

Cheers,
Lia

This week saw me enter Swim 10,000 into a competition through AMI.  See www.ami.co.nz   Fingers crossed for a little Christmas bonus this year, and, in turn, a little boost for my fundraising efforts. 

Well, I’d better dash, much to do before my swim.  I’ve promised my son a visit and photo with Santa this morning.  The Christmas tree is  up, now to decorate the house with all the Christmas trimmings.

See you in another 80 lengths.

Lia

The weather is so hot now that I find myself much more inspired to go for my swim.  It’s so refreshing.   So I expect the summer months will see my numbers climb much more quickly.  Watch this space!

No swim today.  I have been home babysitting my nephew and son.  Hoping to fit in a longer 2 hour swim tomorrow before fitting in 4 hours on the weekend to get my total past the 3,000 lengths mark.  I’ll keep you posted!