The speedometer on my scooter is broken. So I can't ride her until I get it fixed, but I can't get it fixed without riding her somewhere. It's a conundrum, and anyway I haven't got around to calling this guy I need to call about it yet.

In other, much more exciting news: I'm seeing Spamalot tomorrow night with Andrew! Yay! More on that afterwards.

Recent musings: Half the people I consider good friends are people I've never met. Most of them are probably reading this now. You oughta know who you are. I've never been too good at socialising, making small talk, all that guff. I'm getting a bit better, but sometimes I wonder if I want to. It stands to reason that the more people I know, the more disagreeable people I'll know. I don't feel that I'm really missing out on anything. I think that I've made up for quantity with quality. My friends are the best I could imagine having, even though there's not too many of them. I'm including both bloggers and normal people (?!) in this summation. I've been very lucky in coming to know some wonderful people. I think I can safely say that if you're reading this, you're likely to be one of them - unless, of course, you've just wandered in and I've never heard of you before! So if you're one of them, and you certainly should know if you are, thank you for being who you are.

I'm really tired and need to get to bed. I would have continued the above theme, but my mind just crashed- it was like an error message saying "No more thinking permitted until after sleep". Night night.

Well folks, I've just done my longest scooter-ride yet. From home to Aidan's parents' place and back again, 70km each way. I was a tad nervous before both trips, but once on the scooter I felt pretty relaxed and cool about the whole thing. It was pretty windy and gusty, and it rained a little on the way home, but I think I handled it quite well, it felt good. I now know that my Bella goes up to 90km/hr quite comfortably, although I probably wouldn't want to push her much more than that. Aidan, of course, rode his bushbike and probably averaged 60km/hr, so he should be home soon. Now I'm knackered, I think it's time for a nap!

I just went for my first scoot! Round and round in circles for most of it - we have a big loop near my house, like a very large square roundabout, so I rode round that a few times, then out by the industrial estate and stuff and then home. Just a short ride, nothing taxing, a little traffic to deal with of course... Actually I was surprised how easy and comfortable it was. It felt a lot better than the scooters I rode during my training. Here I am, coming round the corner, look!!


Photo courtesy of Aidan, thanks honey! In my dorky but oh-so-safe helmet, and my father-in-law's old motorbike jacket! It's a good thing I don't ride for vanity. Actually the helmet's pretty cool. Here it is on the couch. I know it belongs on my head, but I find it hard to photograph my own head, it was easier on the couch.


So anyway, I had fun and now I know I can ride my scooter! (I mean, I can scoot!) I was a little nervous - since it's been a good few weeks since I've ridden at all, and that was in a supervised training environment, and I've never ridden this scooter at all. I was kind of supervised this time - Aidan got on his pushbike and came along with me! We'll have fun fun fun till my baby takes my Bella away! (Sorry, Beach Boys!)

Me and my scooooter!!! It got delivered this afternoon! Yay!!!

This is about to be my scooter! My father-in-law procured it and got an extremely good price for me, through his numerous (seemingly never-ending) contacts! Is there anything this man can't do? I'm so excited! I'm going to be a scooterer! Now I just need a helmet and gloves and some practice, yay!

I was looking at finance options last night, and I couldn't believe it: my credit card has a better interest rate than any loan I could get from anybody. To get a decent interest rate on a personal loan, you've got to borrow about $30,000. No good, I only wanted to borrow about $3000, and nobody gives a good rate on low loans! Who'd have thought that a credit card would turn out cheaper?!

Anyways, I'm really hungry. I just got back from my jog - I didn't do so well this morning, I had to stop to tie a shoelace near the end and I just couldn't start jogging again after that. So I walked about 200m further than usual. I've got to find something to eat.

I passed on my second try! I am now officially able to ride a scooter. Pictured is the V Moto Montego 125, which is probably my first preference to buy. Would anybody care to donate to the Stace Needs A Scooter Fund?! Never mind, my father in law reckons we can get it cheap through his contacts, so we'll see what eventuates!

Not much time right now, I have to get to work. More later!

I survived my first motorbike lesson! Actually I got to ride a scooter instead of a geared bike, because I told the guy I was looking at buying a scooter. I didn't know I'd be able to choose, so it's great that I'm able to learn and practice on a machine so similar to what I will eventually own. Anyway, the lesson went really well, I was scared and nervous about a few things, but managed to complete all manoeuvres successfully! I fell once - and this is embarrassing - I wasn't even moving at the time! I was straddling the scooter, both feet on the ground, then I tried to kick the stand up... I couldn't find the kickstand, lost my balance, and fell! Not to worry, Scooter and I are both fine apart from a small graze on my knee! So tonight I have my theory class and test, and then next Sunday is the practical skills test, back on the scooter. I'm now confident that I'll pass just fine!

It has been a very busy few days, I feel quite the little socialite! Went to a Rotary dinner in Rye on Wednesday, then just the two of us went out for dinner on Thursday, then Andrew and Chantell came round last night which was lots of fun, then Russian class this morning, and later this evening I've got my first motorbike lesson!

Speaking of socialites, I see Paris Hilton has claimed to be a changed woman since her time in jail. I sincerely hope so. For her own sake, and for the sake of all those who want to emulate her, I hope she will settle down. But I confess I harbour my doubts. I will wait and see if she gets up to more shenanigans, and if she does you can all tell me I was right! For once, I don't want to be right.

I have nothing more to say. I'm a bit tired! Brain working isn't properly! I might have some caffiene before motorbiking...

Yes, yes, thank you everybody, my leg is healing up very nicely! There's still a bit of a scab, but honestly the allergic reaction to the band-aid was worse! Even that's almost gone now.

I made a funky decision and acted on it in the last couple of days - I've signed up for motorbike lessons, yay! I can't even drive a car (well, I can, but not very well and not without somebody in the car with me), but I want to ride a motorbike instead! For some reason, even knowing all the inherent dangers, a motorbike seems less daunting than a car to me. So I start this Saturday, and will have 3 four-hour lessons covering theory and practice and the acquisition of a learners permit. Now I just need enough dosh to buy a motorbike - anyone got a second hand one for sale?!

As you all no doubt know by now from reading his blog, Aidan passed his physical test, so we're getting all excited and happy - things are finally happening, after almost 18 months of going through this application process!!! We're now seriously considering the implications, such as having to move to another city at some point - I suppose it could be worse, for instance, we don't have to move to the Western suburbs of Melbourne! (Sorry Cazzie, just kidding!)

What else have I been doing? I don't really know! Time runs away sometimes, particularly when life is especially enjoyable like it is just now. I'm still loving my job, and I've been reading some really good books lately (sadly I finish them all too quickly) - George R R Martin and Tad Williams and Neil Gaiman. Yeah, I'm a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy fanatic. I know, I know, I could replace the word "broadsword" with the words "throbbing member" and I'd have a tacky escapist romance novel. But it's different, I promise!!! (If you believe that to be true of all sci-fi, read Tad Williams' "Otherland" series and become enlightened!)

What else... oh yes, the Transformers movie is coming out this week, and fortunately I think Aidan is planning on seeing it by himself so I won't have to pretend I want to see it, or pretend I liked it afterwards, or even pretend I really remember the original cartoons or whatever it was! (He's gonna grumble at me for that, apparently being unaware of certain 1980's television programs or movies is a near-divorceable offence!!)

I have used a LOT of exclamation marks in this post. Sorry about that!!!!!! I'm just happy and stuff.

Now, to embark on that task I have left too long undone - reading and commenting on all my friends' blogs... This could take a while!