Well my corners were tight and my stops on target so I can officially, legally, ride motorbikes on Victoria's roads. Complete madness. Fortunately for Melbourne drivers I don't have a vehicle to embark on such a venture. Watch out Kisumu.

I spent today learning to ride a motorbike. Number of crashes =1, number of crashes with engine turned on =0. The instructors were skeptical about my abilities. Every time I didn't completely cock the task up they over zealously congratulated me and themselves. But my skinned knee and palm (because of course my gloves were in my pocket) make me feel a little bit tougher than perhaps I should.

Tomorrow I attempt to get my learner's permit. I suspect if I can just remember which lane it is that I am meant to be driving in, I should do fine. My typical driving mantra "I am in the middle of the road" doesn't work so well on a bike.

The whole family is about to convene in Melbourne. Dad is currently here and thinks learning to ride a motor bike is much more reasonable than moving to Kenya. Mum is firmly holding onto 'riding a motorbike is only okay because I will be doing so in Kenya' and Thomas doesn't give a shit about any of the above. As Jamie says.. there are many different ways of showing love...

Oooh. reading "Fear of Flying" and while is was written well before I was born I am enjoying it immensely. More later.

I got my flight itinerary today. My first reaction was to burst into tears. Is that bad? I am resisting the urge to leave the office and sob.

Dude. Fun christmas party.. (my Kenya fundraiser) Saturday night. The photos are few and ridiculous.. why is it, no one thinks to take photos until the night has pretty much degenerated? I am going to attempt to upload a little video footage!

No.. i lack the technological talent.

I'll upload my pics on flicker instead.. though who ever took them was clearly smitten with only Sam, Dave and John.

For those of you kind enough to make donations.. my VSO cards arrived just in the nick of time for thank you notes. And they are rather lovely.

I was looking through Cam and Ian's photos this afternoon and found this picture. I suspect this to be representative of my future ride. Well isn't my diamante studded jacket going to look out of place?

Okay. It was time for a picture change. I took me out of my bikini. Although I hope to spend as much time as possible in a bikini on the east coast.. aaahh Indian ocean.. it had to go. Having met Julie Powell and having found her as wonderful as her book.. I am a little sad that the copy of Julie and Julia isn't in the new image.. maybe in a future one? I am sure I am giving this far too much thought.

So.. I logged on to say.. check out http://melinza.blogspot.com - very fun girl.. also with VSO.. who may also ride a motor bike.. but in Zambia. Speaking of which my lessons are scheduled. Christmas eve.. I will be learning to ride. And allow me a small anecdote. A small trip down memory lane. One Christmas eve when we lived in Vermont South, I chose to ride my bicycle down a hill near our house as fast as I possibly could. I think this is something we did often, but on this particular night it ended with a face slide down the footpath and I basically took off one cheek. This makes me apprehensive .. a coincedence? or a warning? I will keep my face guard down. Mum kindly booked my lessons early enough so I can retake them if I fail. Ahh the confidence in my riding abilities.

6 weeks to go. Still no ticket. I saw the Iowa girls for the last time in a long time. The number of clothes in my closet is dwindling (They have been disributed far and wide). But recent reads:
- Serious Concerns by Wendy Cope (thanks Liz)
- Late Wife by Claudia Emerson (also poetry but much more sombre..)and,
- now.. well I can't really say because it's someone's Christmas gift. Ha! I bought it.. and then there were train delays. I am just sampling it. I'll let you know if it's any good.