Uni, Bike accidents, Esperance and WOMADelaide

One of the 'bright' ideas i had for this year was to return to Uni to study physics. I never did it at school and felt it would help me working in the energy industry. I'm not sure I was all together ready for returning to Uni, but I jumped in to this idea as i usually do... with great gusto.

Early February ish (16th Feb) had me stating lectures, tutorials and labs. The following week had me panicking as to what I had dived into! What the hell is a Vector Diagram, who cares what the 3 Newtons laws are, and my god, I can't even work out how to turn on the new graphic calculator...

Fate decided it needed to make me slow down in a thump, quickly and with huge amount of pain. I had been burning the midnight oil a bit trying to undertake work, start uni, maintain my Climate Change work, cycling, swimming and kayaking...Then I decided to apply for a Churchill Fellowship...Then on the day I lodged my application and as I cycling home down a down hill ramp under Canning Hwy, the front experimental suspension forks on my long wheel base recumbent decided at this precise moment to snap.

My left shoulder was the first part of me to hit the concrete ground first. I was later to discover what my speed of deceleration was on account i was now studying physics. This knowledge didn't help with the pain. I was helped out of the bike path by passing cyclist and called my friends Am & John. At the time I thought I just had bad bruising... within 1/2hour I thought I had broken my collarbone. Upon arriving at Swan Districts Hospitable and a few painful hours later I found I had a Lab-lactation of the AC joint. All i knew was it hurt like hell and I'm so glad I have an automatic car.

Drugged for the next few days, I think I managed to attend a uni lab with the help of my friend Am, who not only drove me, but sat through the two hour lab with me. By Saturday of that week I had worked out how to redress myself with only a few tears. Though combing the hair was a challenge, one I sometimes can't even manage with two good arms.

A few months before this prang, I had been asked to present on Climate Change Solutions to householders in Esperance. I decided that 6 days after the accident I could still fly to Esperance and deliver a Climate Change presentation. So on The Tuesday I managed to get my travel bag, laptop and self, with left arm in sling to the domestic airport. I need to say here that Skywest were very helpful and understanding and helped me with my bags. I even had help on the plane with the passengers lifting my laptop in to the overhead locker.

Photos are on the way folks - Esperence is a must see location. My presentation went very well. It was a great night. The next day I drove along the coast, pining for my bike, the sun was out, the day was cool and no wind. The wild Southern Ocean bluer that ever before against the white sands.... What a way to visit the Horizon Power depot before my flight back to Perth.

I arrived in Perth with 3 hours before y flight to Adelaide. Yep this is where my brain says I can still do everything I want to do, even with an arm out of action. I had booked and paid for a trip to WOMADelaide. I was sure it would be fine... So again with arm in sling I headed off with bag and laptop to the QANTAS checking. They too were rather helpful with checking me in...

Once through the security checkin, i sat the airport pub, drinking water! And doing an online physics test of about 30 questions based on motion. Ugh!!! I don't get on well with multi-choice... and it also would have been better if I had actually remembered my calculator...somethings you just can't do on the Blackberry... Oh well there will be other tests, time to catch my flight.

There are times when I'm just 'blown away' as my Mum would say, but peoples kindness. At the airport several people helped me with my luggage and the airport shuttle bus got me to ring my friends to collect me and let them get on the bus to help take my stuff off. As it was rather dark when I arrived, Chris, John and Sandra had set up a overnight bed for me. We set up my tent the next day. And yep its rather painful sleeping in a tent with a lactated shoulder. At this stage in my healing process i couldn't lift any item, nothing! Let alone support my own weight.

WOMADElaide
Its such a great event folks you should try to attend at least once. Too much to expain, so I suggest you just go to the Womadelaide website and attend for 2010.