OCTOBER 2012

Hi Everyone

Well, I’ve been VERY busy again this month.

I zoomed up to Noosa to present uniforms to the Down Under Swim Team who were heading off to their world champs in Italy and to say hello to everyone who was there. It was great to catch up with everyone up there and my fingers are crossed for some amazing swims while you are all away.

I went to the Riverfire and hooked up with Triple M over at Southbank. We had an awesome time. It’s always great to get into the city and watch the fireworks each year.

My next big commitment was the Leukemia Foundation Light the Night fund raiser up at Caboolture/Morayfield. Jane who was in charge of setting things up along with her very able helpers did a fantastic job. Thank you on behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation for shining a light of hope for a future without blood cancer. The Leukaemia Foundation would like to thank everyone who took part in Light the Night 2012. Whether you attended an event, participated in a lantern drive or just made a donation to support blood cancer research – you have made a difference. Light the Night is the Leukaemia Foundation’s inspiring twilight walk to help cure blood cancer by raising funds for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma research. At the location I went to, we all carried lanterns and went on a leisurely walk through the Centenary Lakes Park. Each coloured lantern contained a tiny light and each colour has a special meaning: White for blood cancer patients and survivors, Blue for supporters and Gold for those remembering a loved one lost. It was a lovely way to raise awareness for this particular foundation and a special way to remember those who have been affected in some way.

Later this month I went to the Caboolture Shire branch of the Leukaemia Foundation for its Annual Dinner. This year we had a Hollywood theme and guests came dressed as their favourite star or movie character. It was an evening of terrific entertainment, food and prizes with all proceeds to the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland and the local patients in its care.

The MND and ME Foundation “Million Metres for MND” swim is coming up at the beginning of November. The aim is to raise funds to assist to provide a quality of life for people living with MND which is not compromised by their diagnosis – a life with dignity and independence.  I can’t wait for this annual event. I am looking forward to seeing all the swimmers and taking part some way in all the fun. This month I also announced the impending arrival of Brett and my little bubby. Yep – swimming is on hold for now until I decide what I want to do with my future after our little baby arrives at the end of April 2013.

Well, I’ll write again next month

Bye for now                        

Hello Again

Well wow!!! My last few weeks have been outta control. I have been here, there and everywhere. Hopefully it will start to quiet down soon – fingers crossed.

So anyway I got back to Brisbane from London half way through August but was only home for one day and the next day I was back on the plane again. It was so good to see my puppies when I got home though. They were very excited but also knew something was going on because we were going away again. We flew up to North Queensland to visit Brett’s family and to pop in and see some friends. I missed the Suncorp Stadium game for the Broncos because I wasn’t at home but I made sure I was somewhere to watch it up in Innisfail.

The weather up in Innisfail was amazing – love the warm J I went to the Good Council Primary School while I was there and spoke to the kids. They were great – I had a good time there. I went out to dinner a few times – to the local RSL and also to the Brothers Leagues Club in Innisfail – home of the great Billy Slater – one of my Queensland boys J

Did a bit of sight seeing too while we were there. Saw a massive croc aaggghhhh Thank goodness it was on the other side of the river to where we were.

I spoke with the local media up there as well. They are always really interested in what’s happening, so it was great to have a chat with them.

And then it was time to come home again…. Ahhhh home – back with my puppies again. That night straight out to dinner at my favourite local dinner place Hogs Breath at Carindale – yum.

The next day I went to visit a very good friend’s daughter’s school Grade 1 class as a surprise while she was doing her Poster Presentation – she was very surprised – so glad I was able to help her out like that. Yeah Abbey J

Then the next day, believe it or not I was back on the plane AGAIN!! This time heading down to Sydney with my sister and three brothers. Maybe you heard the Virgin Mobile promotion – Fair Go Bro involving Doug Pitt (brother of Brad Pitt). My sister entered a competition to be part of Doug Pitts entourage and SHE WON. So all 5 of us flew to Sydney to spend time with Doug Pitt and help promote Virgin Mobile. It was pretty cool. The flight down was great – not many people on Wednesday lunch time flight. When we got there we were picked up in our own chauffeured car. We were taken to our accommodation and quickly checked in then were driven to the Harbour for a Sydney Harbour Cruise where we met Doug and his wife. That night we went to a dinner with the “Doug Pitt group”. Then finally back to our hotel where I – still suffering from jet lag – passed out. Next day we were up early again and headed off to Bondi where we did some more promos and then went to the most awesome restaurant for lunch. The food was amazing and the view was awesome. We left there and our chauffeur Michael took us on a sight seeing tour of inner Sydney and around the harbor – it was all very interesting.

That night we went to dinner again and then zoomed around our local area on the monorail. The next day we were treated to some pampering and then left to our own devices. We headed back to Brisbane the next day. That was an awesome 4 days and it was great to bond with my brothers and sister again J  haha

Since I have been home I have been to a few schools visiting the students at Fernvale State School, St Marks at Inala and Bald Hills State School I have popped into a couple of swimming clubs at Carina and my old swimming club Lawnton where they were having a swim meet.

I cheered my Broncos as hard as I could and watched their last game for this season. It was a great effort by the boys and then watched the farewell to Petero – a true gentleman who I hope to see around the broncos for many years to come!!! It was great to actually meet him and have a chat. My Broncos will bounce back in 2013 – GO BOYS !!!!!

Our very good friend Scott got his “brave” on and did a 14,000ft skydive with Brett up on the Sunny Coast. Woohoo. Then we took Brett’s apprentice Connor up the next weekend to do it all over again.

I have had my good friend Joey from Blackall visiting for a week and we have been zooming around the place shopping, eating and getting out. It’s all been fun.

The fund raiser for the MND and me is happening again on 25^th November. PLEASE help out a great cause @MNDFoundation

Well fingers crossed all gets back to normal now and my October isn’t quite as busy as the last few weeks

Until next time………See ya        

Hi to Everyone

Well I am finally home from my third Olympic Games. I had an okay time in London and although I know I could have done better under different circumstances I have to say I am happy with my results considering the health hurdles that were thrown at me 9 weeks before the competition started. Talking about London though – I had a great time over there. The athlete’s village was awesome and I got to meet so many athletes from other countries while roaming around in the village.

In the second week of the Olympics because we are finished our competition we are allowed to go out and go and watch the other athletes competing, which is pretty cool. I went to watch the Opals play off for their BRONZE medals – yay girls great job J The basketball arena was actually in the same Olympic Park as the Aquatic Centre but a little further to walk. The Olympic Park in London was HUGE. I also went to watch my longtime friend Mel Gorman swim the 10km marathon which was held in the Serpentine, a man-made lake in Hyde Park in the center of London. It was lovely watching all the swimmers and sitting in the sun. I enjoyed it so much I came back the next day to watch the Men swim their 10km swim as well.

I also got to do a bit of sightseeing while I was over there too. I went out to Stonehenge with one of the (swimming) girls from Switzerland who I am really good friends with. We were amazed to actually see one of the most famous sites in the world. No one seems to know what it is there for although there are heaps of theories but I was in awe standing looking at something that has been there for up to 5000 years. WOW. I also went to Windsor Castle and to the city of Bath.

I managed an overnight trip to Paris with my husband in the second week as well. It is hard to believe Paris is just a quick 2 hour train trip from London or a 1 hour flight. Anyway, while I was there I saw the iconic Eiffel Tower. I climbed the 765 stairs to the second platform then caught the lift to the top. The view was amazing. I also climbed the 284 steps to be on top of the Arc de Triomphe. HAH – they were no challenge compared to the Eiffel Tower stair climb but were also worth the climb. The view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe was just as impressive. If you turned one way you could see the Louvre – where the famous Mona Lisa is housed through another arch called the Arc de Triomphe du Caroussel built by Napolean in the early 1800s which is smaller than the larger Arc de Triomphe and if you turn the opposite direction you can see the Grande Arche la Defense – it is only 23 years old and is in the modern business district of Paris. I also cruised up the River Seine and saw more a bit of Paris but definitely not enough – maybe I will go back there one day.

Back in London I saw Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, Harrods, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and so much more.

I went to the closing ceremony and it was amazing. It seemed to be over very quickly compared to the opening ceremony. I packed up on the last weekend with mixed emotions…sad it was over, but looking forward to coming back home to Australia. We really are the lucky country and we are very spoilt with our beautiful clean air and warm sunshine. The welcome home in Sydney was great but I couldn’t wait to get home to Brisbane to see my family and my puppies and to actually be back ‘home’.

I was busy, busy, busy once I got back to Brisbane but I will fill you in on that next month. I have some thinking to do now about what is next for me but until then, I’m sure I’ll have heaps of things to keep me out of trouble J

I’ll write again later………See ya                           

Hi to you all

Phew!!! Another busy month this month. I just don’t know where the time is going!! Next week will be July and we will be heading off to Spain to our pre – Olympic camp – aaggghhhh – the Olympics will be here before we all know it.

Well I had the absolute BEST time ever in Hawaii. I will definitely make it back over there for a holiday one day – without the training part – haha.  It was so warm and relaxed and casual and just so beautiful. Our accommodation was great – right on the beach so we used to pop over to the beach in our spare time. The only bad thing about our accommodation was no cooking facilities so we had to eat out most of the time – which was great to start with but towards the end of our stay I was definitely craving a home cooked meal

The 2 weeks in Hawaii flew by then it was off to California – San Jose to be exact where the Santa Clara Invitational Meet was on for four days.

Before the competition started though – we managed to drive around San Francisco briefly. We crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge – got out on the north side and took photos of Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay AND of course the bridge.

I could not believe how cold it was there though. In summer!!! We made sure we were all rugged up – PFT – what is that cold all about??? Then we drove down to San Jose.

I decided not to compete at the Santa Clara Meet because of my recent operation seeing as I am still in the recuperation phase. It was good to see a lot of the people I will be competing at in London though and catch up with their ‘goss’ (and have a sneaky peek to see how they are swimming too)

Then we came home straight back into the freezing you were all experiencing while we were away. BBRRR. Not impressed with that.

I’ve been to the doctor to get the all clear with my recovery. I’ve also been seeing the physio for some TLC ??? – ouchy….and I am back in full training again so it’s all looking good.

I missed the first State of Origin while I was away but QUEENSLAND did well in Melbourne and won the first game. YAY!!!

I got back just in time to watch the second game in Sydney – WOW – that was a really rough game guys – ease up a bit with those tackles.

I also was stoked with the QANTAS Wallabies win – Great game boys J

I have also been lucky enough to go to a few of the Brisbane Broncos games lately, my FAVOURITE team and to be able to spend some time with the guys after the game SO COOL!!!!  I also got the chance to meet Australia Icon John Williamson who sang True Blue for everyone!!!!

Last week we were supposed to go down to the AIS in Canberra for a team meeting and the Grand Prix but sadly (not) the trip got cancelled so instead of going down to cold Canberra we got to stay up here and experience wet Brisbane instead J

I won’t be able to write again now until after the Olympics. We leave in 10 days.

Thanks to everyone for your support, get well wishes and best wishes over the last couple of months. I love knowing I have people cheering me on back here at home – thanks heaps

Bye for now      

Hello to you all

I can’t believe it is one month since I wrote to you all last. The time is flying by.

I have been super mega busy this month and it is only half way through May.

I told you last month I was heading down to Canberra for a relay camp. Well it was freezing down there. Seriously – 0 degrees – and we all, in the dark,  went off to the dawn service for Anzac Day. Haha – I must have had about 4 layers of clothes on. I could hardly walk – but I was warm

We came home on the Friday and I really wasn’t feeling that great. I was supposed to head off to Suncorp Stadium to watch the Broncos play that night but yeh – I didn’t feel very well at all. By Sunday night I had severe abdominal pain and so I went off to a local medical centre.

They weren’t much help at all and by Monday morning I was in agony so went to see my doctor and he rang the hospital straight away and I was admitted to hospital within an hour of that doctor visit. Phew – so quick. They did heaps of tests and said it looked like my appendix was infected and I had emergency surgery that afternoon.

I had to have 2 weeks out of the pool but I am fine and fighting fit again now – so it’s all good. The doctors and nurses at Holy Spirit Chermside were amazing and looked after me so well – thanks to all … and … I got a gorgeous bunch of flowers and balloons from my sister, a beautiful bunch of flowers from Australia Post one of my sponsors and another beautiful bunch from my Management team – thank you all – I really appreciated them – they cheered me up… THANKS J

AND thanks SO MUCH to the guys from the Broncos who sent me a signed game jersey – AWESOME – I LOVE IT!!!!

Meanwhile……after one week in bed doing not much at all – I got up and started to do a few things that had already been organized. I flew down to Melbourne to do a Swisse Vitamins promo at Kingswood College Box Hill. I had a great day down there and met heaps of school kids. We had a blast.

I watched the lighting of the Olympic Torch in Athens on television. It is now off on its long journey to London – I will meet it over there

I was a guest at the Weetbix Triathlon in Moreton Bay Region. There were so many athletes competing there – well done to you all. After we left there I had a lovely visit with my Mum and my Nan and Brett’s Mum for Mother’s day.

I started back at training on Monday this week and it all felt ok YAY and this afternoon I will be going to the airport to catch a flight to Hawaii for a training camp over there and then we will be heading to Santa Clara in USA for a swim meet.

I am so looking forward to the warm weather over there – as you know I am not a big fan of winter – so summer here I come J

I will write and tell you all about my adventure overseas when I get back

Until then I hope you can all try to stay warm

Bye for now

Jess