MS Walk - mission accomplished

Sunday morning promised a nice day, but few minutes before the Walk started it changed mind, there was some drizzle. But nobody bothered, people walked cheerfully..

A short slideshow is HERE.

The main purpose of the walk - raising money for MS Society - was a great success, I collected $728!
Great THANK YOU to all sponsors. See you nest year!

MS Walk - breaking the first barrier

My first target was set by default on $200. Thanks to generosity of my friends and supporters, we broke it! Thanks.
The next barrier is $334, which is equal to the speed of the sound.
Will you help me to break it?
We are very close. I will walk soundless then.

Preparing for MS Walk

Almost a year ago, I participated for the first time in MS Walk. This year, the event will take place on Sunday, June 3rd.

My encounter with MS happened a year ago, thanks to a blog managed by a very brave Polish blogger - annablack (in Polish). From there, I learned about this extremely abject condition, which usually attacks young females. I learned also about brave fight they undertake to fight the illness and very serious shortcomings in Polish health system.

My last years' walk was quite successful, I collected almost $650. I hope to achieve similar result this year. At the same time, I feel some frustrations, that my efforts here do not bring any help to Anna and other MS sufferers in Poland, who are in much worse position than people in Australia. I will try to make a personal donation to Anna as some proportion to money collected for Australian MS Society. Now, time for ACTION!

I invite my readers to:

- walk with me in Albert Park on 3rd of June - entry cost $25. You can also run, unfortunately I will not catch up with you.

- make donation on my webpage,

- make donation personally to me, I will give you an official receipt - contact me by email - pharlap@gazeta.pl

- just give me an approving nod in your thoughts on this day.

Thank You.

Note: all donations above $2 are tax deductible.

YMCA - no country for old men

From time to time I visit Ashburton swimming pool, which is managed by YMCA - Young Men's Christian Association). This year they raised the entry fee - $4.40 for concession ticket. It looks as 25% increase. For a pensioner it is not cheap. For $22 I can visit Melbourne Recital Centre - first class concert venue - and enjoy Mostly Mozart concert performed by world class orchestra. This is only 5 times more expensive than entry to a very average swimming pool. I visit the pool in low peak hours. Very often I am the only swimmer in the outdoor pool and, I suppose, the lifeguard must be very bored watching my slow progress in the water.

Previously, when the price was $3.60, I could buy a card for 10 entries for $33. I think that was a fair deal - company was paid upfront at least for a month and got a faithful client. Now, cards for 10 swims are still available, but with no discount at all. I do not see any sense in it.

I see my world shrinking. As a member of charity organisation, I visit frequently people pushed out on the margins of the society. Less and less space for less efficient people.

Fortunately we live in a prosperous country with solid safety nets, with network of charity organisations, with generous sponsors. So people receive help and support they need. Sometimes I think - maybe they would have not needed so much help if there was some space for them in the mainstream of the society.

Anyway, I do not need so much swimming, I can extend my bike rides beyond Ashburton swimming pool. Bike paths are still for free.

Paving the way to Rome with muffins

Our parish priest - Fr David and Aunty Marjorie - Aboriginal elder, are planning to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Our parish organised a cake stall to help to soften a bit costs of this adventure. The sudden thought stroke me - it is the first time in my life, that I can sell a product of my hands.

But what can I bake?
 MUFFINS!
 I mentioned my idea to my wife, who is Iron-Chef and Master-Cook in one person. She nodded approvingly and placed in front of me an appropriate cook book opened on the right page.
I read - YES - even I can make it!

I decided on apricot muffins, it goes like that:

- 1 cup of grated dried muffins - Iron-Chef suggested just to cut them into thin slices.

Cover them with boiling water and put aside for 20 minutes.

- 125 g of butter, chopped

- 3 cups self-raising flour,

- half cup of castor sugar,

- half cup milk,

- 3 eggs.

Now the hard part started. Instruction said: mix four and sugar in a large bowl, rub in butter, beat lightly eggs, combine eggs them with milk, mix everything with fork - do not over-mix. Well, my brain was already mixed up. The Super-Cook said nothing but armoured the kitchen robot. Vroom!

I greased the muffin bake form and sprinkled it with breadcrumbs. 20 minutes in moderately hot oven (180 C) - voila..

Iron-Chef tried one and nodded with approval. 

On Sunday I brought my achievement to the church and asked ladies at the cake stall for pricing. $2 each. 

It sounded fantastic. I got so excited, that I added from my pocket $1 for each muffin sold. After a bit of arms twisting I sold them all. 

Total income $35. 

Well, it will drive you guys only half way to the airport, but first step is most difficult. Bon voyage!

SuperTuesday

First Tuesday on March means counting bikers. Today was my fourth year on duty..

This time I selected a crossing of busy road with a bike path. At 7 am, it looked like this..

It was not the best place as someone must be crazy to ride a bike on busy road in thick petrol fumes. At the end of 2 hours count my control card showed 62 riders, only 6 females among them..

Next year I will try to count at better location. I mean less cars, more bikers... and more women please!

Clean Up Australia

On Sunday we have Clean Up Australia day. I noticed the news only last Friday, but luckily I managed to find a team in my suburb. After registration, I received my own web-page to promote the event. Our team started activity one day earlier. The day was rainy, but when I arrived my location, I found that I was part of a very tough bunch of people - girl-scouts..

Kids started work a bit earlier...

Our site was nicely marked - safety first ...

I received two bags, yellow for recyclables, white for other rubbish..

And here is my first success..

Later on, I was not so successful. It was pretty clean area, I collected only few empty cans (after lemonade) and some candy wraps. The only interesting finding was a dead rat. I finished my task in some 45 minutes and received a formal certificate..

Well, I feel it was not fully deserved. Next year I will try to find some dirtier place.