MarkMaddensMeanderings

2007-02-19T08:05:00.000+11:00

SCENES FROM VANCOUVER

A city where the mountains meet the sea.

a city of condominium lifestyle

A city where the water is a main thoroughfare both commercial

and leisure

even air traffic

At night, the lights of the nearby ski fields are visible

Like every city I have been to, there are the oddities around the place that adds to it character

call it art?

Vancouver, the 2010 Winter Olympics awaits your welcome

2007-02-09T04:32:00.000+11:00

WILDERNESS FIRST AID

Vancouver, Canada. One of the main reasons I am so far away from Maria is to do a Wilderness First Aid Course. The main, of which, is to install the confidence, ability and the qualification to guide, especially back-country.
So, first we need a place to stay

Two beds, a fridge and a TV. This is going to be a military style campaign assault for learning.
Now an instructor

Doc (these are not the droids you are looking for) Crawford

Our Tutor, Instructor and Mentor for the next 10 days at 10 hours a day, straight.

Now a venue. To suit both tutorials
and practicals. Oops, that looks like your author with a spinal injury. Oh well, just have to live with it.

We did many simulations covering all major injures and illnesses
including a traumatised perforated abdomen. The green tape represents intestine lying out. We now have to put it all back
and bandage up ready for evac'. There, a perfect abdominal bandage. Thanks Doc (and Joan)

However, this IS a Wilderness First Aid course. a classroom is not wilderness. Time to change venue. The wilderness now our location.
Sometimes, things happen that are not supposed to happen
Accident Report:- 28Th Feb 2007
Patients Name - Ray
Rescuers - Mark and Joan
Injury - twisted ankle with associated vasogenic shock
Mechanism of injury - the 'Call of Nature'/relieving oneself
Thanks Ray for a real life situation (although I knew how much pain you were in) and Joan for your assistance. Good experience and great for the confidence.

10 days now over. Course complete, exams and scenarios complete. Status - passed yeah!
Talk to all again soon

2007-01-19T09:21:00.000+11:00

OK, I AM BACK

Happy New year to you all

Sorry for being away for so long. There has been much going on including the Christmas period and I much to tell u all.
Subjects coming up:
*life
*love
*travel
*mountains
*catch up stories
*and more snow
and not really in that order

Firstly, where am i now?

Whistler village, British Columbia, Canada

Want to know more...............................?

Stay tuned as I will be blogging furiously

2006-11-10T02:14:00.000+11:00

NEW SNOW - LETS SKI
Above the clouds

Ok here comes the cloud

In the clouds and a mountain of powder to carve your name into.

Tracks, lots of fresh tracks

Now the clouds have gone and looks at all our tracks

Cut the mountain & enjoy the view

Above the tree line

Now that was a good day, adios

2006-11-09T05:06:00.000+11:00

YOUR AUTHOR (M=MADDO)

Maddo, please!

Check it out, not me, the view.

So you want to be on my web page! Smile for my camera!

And who could resist that smile. Maddo & Teresa @ El Retorno

The artist

In trouble again

Oh, there you are!

Hope you all are enjoying my web pages, more to come, adios

2006-10-13T06:17:00.001+10:30

AND THEN IT SNOWED

and snowed

and snowed

and snowed

and the result was breathtaking

then it started again and it snowed

A metre and a half in 3 days!!!!!!!

This is waist deep powder skiing!!!!!

Damn, this is good. You could loose someone in this, JOSH, WHERE ARE YOU?

So which way do we go?

All hail the great snow goddess, muchus gracias mi dios

2006-10-13T06:16:00.000+10:30

ONE WEEK IN ESQUEL - Part 4

Random photos for your enjoyment
All hail the great snow God

Suspended

Asado

There is inspiration for a song somewhere in this photo

Phenomenon

Caution

Wildlife Hmmm

Museo

Ivan's car + flat tyre

Tranquility base

Absolutely NO comment

2006-10-13T05:26:00.000+10:30

ONE WEEK IN ESQUEL - Part 3

Scenes from La Hoya.

Heading up the mountain

Notice the ski tracks between the rocks.

Up the slopes we go.

On top of the world

My favorite photo

Coming off a rail.

Back down the slope.

The road home for Apres ski

2006-10-12T01:19:00.000+10:30

ONE WEEK IN ESQUEL - Part 2

The Clinic begins……

The mountain and it's runs. One big basin, perfect for speed. Bring it on........

First it is the Racing Clinic.Here we are taught the basics of racing, starting with slalom races, one pitted against the other, no holds barred

First it’s Katie against Maddo. It’s on but unknown to me, Katie misses a flag. Maddo gets in. Whew!

Now Josh challenges me, Maddo accepts. It’s on and is it on. Maddo wins. Ahrrr victory is sweet. Josh challenges again, Maddo accepts. It's on again. Sh#t, went to wide on the last flag. Josh wins. Maddo want's to go the best of three. Josh declines, ah! one each.
Now, for the freestyle. What we need is a terrain park....

Ok, this is it. A terrain park packed with jumps, rails and bumps. I am not so sure about this....!

There is something not quite right with this jump, the kick angle, height?????

That's it, perfecto, esta es bueno. Now it is AIR TIME...........

The only thing wrong with the terrain park was the amazingly slow pommer that pulls you to the top of the run. Most of your "air time' is "pommer time"

At the end of each day it is the 'run home'.

The warm down and the streaches

LISTO

2006-09-20T09:31:00.000+10:30

ONE WEEK IN ESQUEL -part 1

Welcome to Esquel. Please hope aboard for the ride...

A very modest town some 300 kilometers south of Bariloche

Located on the valley floor at the start of the Rio Negro, this village is going to be our home for the next week. This is the location for our Freestyle and racing clinics.

This view of Esquel is taken from the mountain upon which we will ski.

It has all the nick nacks of a small town, a main street, or two with shops and this is where the money is.

The further you go from the main street the less the income but with these mountains around you, who cares. This is God's country.

So, now the sun is going down, it's off to dinner then bed. We hit the slopes tomorrow for the first part of our racing clinic. Night all.

2006-09-12T12:01:00.000+10:30

CERRO CATEDRAL - The Mountain
Part 2

Please allow me to introduce myself, I am CERRO CATEDRAL. I am mountain and all who ski me are my subjects, those who maintain me, my servants.
Embrace my morning

I am not alone in this place, I am surrounded by my brothers, sisters and cousins

Up close and personnel we are not to be taken lightly. Respect us or die

However, we are not as dark as that. In the right light we are beautiful, smooth and gentle

Oh so smooth, reach out and touch me, stroke me with your ski for on my silken skin I can carry you down to my feet where the people, who groom me and keep me looking this good, live.

There are many sides to me. My left and right but.........................

But the best part is my middle

I am mountain, I am CERRO CATEDRAL

2006-09-06T01:02:00.000+10:30

HOSTERIA EL RETORNO (part 3)
The Jetty

Mentioned in previous posts, the jetty features heavily in our daily lives. Not for the beauty or a nice place for a walk but for the Entertainment and Therapeutic values it has added to our stay.

Oh the peace and tranquillity of it all. The scenery, the snow covered mountains embracing the lake. Where wood meets water. All to calm...............
Then the kaos that is Peak leaders apres ski.

This activity has made us onto national radio with a radio jock staying here at the hotel and seeing us perform this, somewhat, bizzare ritual. The water sits somewhere between 2 and 3 degrees but for us it is therapy that is most important.

Did someone say therapy, more like phyico-therapy, S##t it is cold.......!!!!!!!!!

But we can make light of it and have some fun with the lake that is our friend

We all have done this. Apparently the cold makes the blood from the rest of the body races down to the cold bits to help those parts warm up, the consequence of this is fresh blood to those tired muscles to aid in building new muscle tissue. S##t it's cold

Do you think I can still father children?????????????? S##t it's cold.

2006-09-06T00:45:00.000+10:30

CERRO CATEDRAL - The Mountain

This is it folks, over the top we go...........

This the top, turn around and look behind.........

It's Stu & Joe, not just them, the view. So lets get on with it, lets ski.

A quick lunch at Venti Cero ( which is to become our lunch stop each day )

Bec, Katie and Emily striking a pose, go girls. Then it's back into the action
Ant and Neil plotting the next route down, I'm right behind.....
This is all abit much, legs are not used to it, so lets sit here and admire the view.

So, that's a big day. It's back to the hotel for warm down and aprie ski.

2006-09-05T23:56:00.000+10:30

WELCOME TO HOSTERIA EL RETORNO
- Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina.
Part 2

The hotel has a main building housing rooms, admin, dinning and a couple of lounges.
And there is the ever present views, you could never tire of this
This is the main lounge. TeTe, Max ("see that's me there") , Will ("here's a photo of one of my girlfriends") and Stu comparing notes
Very comfy lounges adorne the walls, just ask Louis. Eh Louis how is it? Louis! Oh well
Lucky it has WIFI, where would we be without it (here I guess). Maddo and Ed preparing the next day's activities.

James checking to see if the beds work.That's always a good thing.
My little mate, on the welcome mat with snack.

2006-09-05T23:22:00.000+10:30

WELCOME TO HOSTERIA EL RETORNO
- Bariloche, Patigonia, Argentina.

Finally, after yet another delayed flight we are here and as we arrived at night, what a sight to wake up to.
This photo is not from a file but from my camera. It is that beautiful. The jetty in the middle of the picture will feature quite heavily in our daily lives.
The hotel, not only well postioned next to a lake, Lago Gutierrez, but well postioned from the main centre of Bariloche, some 15k's away. It has a number of buildings for rooms with most of us set into twin share style accomadation.
Another new day and the start of our first day od skiing.

2006-09-05T05:01:00.000+10:30

BUENOS AIRES Part 3

Cementerio de la Recoleta
This city of the dead holds the remains of some of Argentina's most influential
people, past presidents, military heroes and is also the resting place for Evita Peron, where daily, flowers are still placed.
Enough said, enjoys my version:-

And finally, "Don't cry for me Argentina"

2006-09-03T02:47:00.000+10:30

BUENOS AIRES Part 2

This place is to huge to let one page go by, so here's some more for you. This place is like a diamond, many faces, oh so many faces.

I kick my self for not taking more pictures as I am sure I will not do it justice.

It not just the place, it's people, the children, Argentina's new future.

It's the night life, which does not get into full swing till about 1pm, whew!

Yes, that hazy period of the day where it all goes 'pear shaped', did I say anything about "free pour" spirits, beers good to.

One picture to say it all and farewell........

Tomorrow we repack, hope on the bus to airport and it's off to Bariloche.

2006-08-20T05:14:00.000+10:30

THE ROAD TO BARILOCHI.....Well this is it. This is the road to the main event. We are now one. One group with one soul mission. This is the time to bond, rest and prepare. We are PEAK LEADERS '06, Instructors in Training. We are the ones for whom the snow falls. We are the ones for whom the mountain beckons.

A few days in Buenos Aries (BA)to take in the sites and get to know each other, we will be living and training with each other for the next 9 weeks. BA is an interesting place with one of the best (if you can say it this way) cemeteries I have ever seen. I will devote one posting just to that shortly.

Bags did not arrive to BA when we did, fortunately they arrive the next day. I would have hated being seen in the same clothes on more than two days.

La Boca is a great district and the soul of Argentine soccer. Throw in some flamingo and food and Â´whallaÂ´ this is BA.

2006-08-09T03:04:00.000+10:30

VIV............THIS ONE IS FOR YOU

Thanks for bridging a 11 year gap......

The time to catch up and chill...........

and plan to never loose contact again.........

Thanks and much love to your mum. Your little mate, cute as buttons...........

So finally..............

to have a friend like you .

(PS: All we need to do now is find Stewart)

2006-08-09T02:04:00.000+10:30

ONE WEEK IN ENGLAND

Yeah... Ha Ha!Finally someone let me out of my cage. Now, time for me is nothing cos I'm counting no age, Nah, I couldn't be there, Nah, you shouldn't be scared.

I'm good at repairs and I'm under a snare. Intangible. Bet you didn't think so. I command you to, Panoramic view,

Look I'll make it all manageable. Pick and choose. Sit and lose. All you different crews, Chicks and dudes.

Who you think is really kickin' tunes? Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube, Like you lit the fuse. You think it's fictional, Mystical? Maybe Spiritual, Hearable.

What appears in you is a clearer view, cos you're too crazy, Lifeless, To know the definition for what life is.

Priceless. For you because I put you on the hype shit. You like it? Gunsmokin' righteous, with one token, Psychic among those, Possess you with one go. Now it's all in your head.
England...............................................

(words copyrighted by Gorillaz )

2006-08-08T01:14:00.000+10:30

Farewell to Canada (for now) eh!

It is with heart felt thanks, to The Jewell family, for allowing me the opportunity to and giving me the security to; Redevelop myself, Explore new territories and Introducing me to some of the nicest people I have met.
Thom, Mary you embellish the true nature of what a family should be, you are a great example to all who know you.
Ashley, your friendship is limitless and true. Now I am a World of Warcraft (WOW) junkie. I might need to seek treatment in another realm. LOL.
Dick & Marilyn Jewell thanks or all the smiles, look out Australia, these guys are growing olives in NZ.
Bond, who said there are boundaries in life, you just keep breaking them. Shine on.
Craig & Cathy, thanks for the weights. Enjoy the sailing whilst the lake isn't frozen.
Miss Joclyn & Stu, I don't think the Bragg Creek pub will ever be the same.
Now, my Lone Wolf Constructions connections: Don H, thanks for your friendship, go the internet! Oh and try and stay on the horse. Samantha (without you there would be no pay), baby Jess and husband Mike. Abe, your ever smiling disposition and fellow WOW pal . My Drayton Valley girls, or is that "Valley of the Dolls"; Robyn, hope you find what you're looking for. Destiny, have fun in Kelowna and the Blues cruise, Thursday nights, only $25 eh! Sarah, good luck living below Don. The Chepet, ever so faithful, the Four-plexs, ever so endless.
All my other WOW pals, Jeremy, Shannon and Rob. See you in Khaz Modan
JC & Tina, you made me want to go and get my boat captaincy. Mix that in with The Big White, ah, that would be heaven. Great cruise. Check them out whenever you are in Kelowna or at:- www.executivehouseboatcharters.com
Vicki L, thanks for opening your home and Edmonton to me. I will stay in touch.
And finally,
A very special thanks to Kim Keating, my hairstylist extraordinaire. The best John Paul Mitchell Task Force, Platform Stylist in Canada. My hair never looked so good. Thanks for questioning me and who I was/am. Thanks for your friendship. That's a "Venti Americano Mocha Decaff", (only at Starbucks). Damn, can I just get that on a double word score? XOXO

ADIOS CANADA (for now!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

2006-08-08T00:24:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #15b
Calgary, Alberta, CA

Stampede

This is the largest rodeo in the world and a damn great excuse to wear a hat, not any hat but a cowboy hat.

Stampede goes over two weeks, filled with parades, bull riding and chuck wagon races

but it's mainly what happens around the stampede fairgrounds that counts. It's one big carnival of fun.

and no fairgrounds would be a fairgrounds without the "Rides" and there are heaps of them

So it is with fond farewell I say goodbye to Stampede and to Calgary as I head off to London in two days time.

Cheers Calgary, it was fun (big hangover!!!)

2006-08-07T23:37:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #15a
Calgary, Alberta, CA

This is a great city, it's all about the 'oil & gas''. It is also home to Stampede, the largest rodeo in the world (and the greatest excuse to wear a cowboy hat).
I am going to do Calgary in two parts, (1) the city and (2) Stampede.

The City, downtown. Check out this link.
http://www.viewcalgary.com/downtown/4way.jspId=2,-9,2.

Here's my walk around downtown;

and then I head around this corner;

along this street;

turn right here;

and somewhere around here;

it's my apartment.

Now it's Stampede time..................

2006-08-02T07:15:00.000+10:30

URGENT UPDATE !!!
I have now organised my blogg so as anyone can leave comments. You do not have to be a Blogger member to post your comment. So please comment to me, would love all your feedback, expressions of interest, requests to visit other places/sites on your behalf or just to say hello. All comments will be answered. Thank you all for being special.
Much love, Maddo

2006-08-02T04:34:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #14
Edmonton, Alberta, CA

Edmonton, The capital of Alberta and home to the "Oilers" Hockey team (you remember, the Canadian team that made it to the Stanley Cup finals but couldn't quite clinch the cup - refer to previous posts).
It is also home to the largest shopping mall in the world, West Edmonton Mall. It's all about the mall.

This mall has everything;-

..Pink Flamingos. Yes real live Pink Flamingos. There's about 10 of them that live in this enclosure and exist on a rich brine flow fed to them daily.

...A Pirate boat floating in a large mass of water upon which rowing boats can be hired to row your loved one around in romantic bliss.

...An indoor swimming pool that has a wave generator, which can produce waves up to 5 feet in height, enough to get your surfboard out and get into the 'green room'.

...The largest indoor water slide in the Northern Hemishpere. Just leave the names of your children for my next visit so I can indulge in this piece of great entertainment and not look like some adult geek.

...A Ice arena, full size for a game of hockey. The best thing about this is that it has it's own Zamboni!!!! Damn I love those things (refer to previous postings)

...Did I mention that there are shops there. No, really, there ARE shops there and there is still room for the shops amongst all the 'other' attractions. Hundreds of them, over many acres.

So, that's Edmonton and it's mall. It's all about the mall.

A special thanks to Vicki L. You, me and a Couger bar.

2006-08-02T03:56:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #13C
Kelowna, British Columbia, CA

A light lunch before the next curise at one of the many cafes that adorne the streets of this lovely village. We now head off and get the crowds on board.

All are aboard so it's off for another motor around this lake, The Okanargan. The views never short of beautiful, like some people I have had the pleasure to meet.

So, that's Kelowna. A potential place for me to plant my feet and set some roots.
And now it's time for the Official Crew Photo.......

Thanks JC, Tina & Kim
Thanks Kelowna

2006-07-26T20:51:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #13B
Kelowna, British Columbia, CA

On board Executivehouse Boats, we can offer either self catering or let us take the hard work out of your function and we will do it for you with our extensive onboard kitchen and dining facilities in the lower deck.

On the upper deck, bring your own band or we can provide one for you, just name your style of music.

It's not all hard work for the crew, there is always time for........

Starbucks and popcorn????????????

I will your doorman tonight. General waiting, drinks and crowd control as a specialty. Tickets please.

Now that all the work is done it's time to enjoy the view

and party
Part #13C to come

2006-07-26T20:04:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #13A
Kelowna, British Columbia, CA

What a beautiful part of the world. This is my second venture into British Columbia (BC), after Fairmont. This is only an hour flight from Calgary, 20 min's of which is spent taxiing around the runway at both ends. The interesting part of getting to Kelowna is the fligh goes straight over the Rocky Mountains.
Kelown is to be found in to lower part of BC, close to the American boarder,

This is Okanagan country. Lake Okanagan is huge and I am fortunate that I will be working on a 'Party'boat' on this great Lake.

For your enjoyment we run a 'Blue's curise'every thursday evening, only $25 which includes live entertainment in the form of a blue's band (funny that) and we are available for hire at any time.
To make your curise enjoyable we have an outstanding crew.

Your hosts for this evening's curise is;
Kim, myself, Captin JC and Captin
Tina
We have additional crew to draw from if it's a large gathering,

The lovely Kim, myself, the lovely Kim and the lovely Captain Tina
Stay tuned for part #13B

2006-07-24T03:34:00.000+10:30

URGENT UPDATE 23rd July 2006

To all my avid readers. I do apologies for the lack of new publications.
This has been due to some major setbacks, both spiritually ( now under repair) and the 'lack of internet access' (now out of the deep recess of the Canadian Tundra).
Please stay tuned for more of what you have enjoyed, an outlook, with new quips about all facets of life that may rekindle or excite.
Love
Mark 'The Mads' Madden

2006-06-22T13:24:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA PART #12
The Big Yellow School Bus

Now we have all seen the episodes of 'The Simpson' and 'Southpark',

where all the school children go to school in BIG YELLOW BUSES. Well they all do!!!!!!!!!!

Ever week day morning, THE BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS drives around all the streets and picks up the school children, from local and remote locations and takes them to

and from school. These children do not mix with the general public, as we are used to on our transport systems. The only person then that enforces any control over these children is the Bus Driver;

And no child wants to take on the 'early morning, I have not woken up well' bus driver, do they.
But like all things that we make, THE BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS has a life expectancy and with the continuing assault by these unruly children the life of THE BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS is short. So where do all the dead BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES go when their time is up ................................................

2006-06-11T10:45:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA Part #11
The DON
Every sports has a Commentator that makes for notoriety in some respects. In Australia, with the AFL they have Sammy Newman.
In Canada, with the hockey, they have The Don.
Don Cheery.
I need say no more. He's the one on the right. Enjoy.........

2006-06-11T10:00:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA - Part #10
What's wrong here!
Ok, so I've been here 7 weeks now and had to make some adjustments. They have been easy but subtle. Here are some of thoses adjustments;
(1) What's wrong with this photo?

(2) And with this picture?

(3) And finally this photo?

Here are the answers:-
(1) The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. No, it's on the other side of the car, I'm in Canada
(2) They are all driving on the wrong side of the road. No, it's the other side of the road, I'm in Canada.
(3) Nothing, it's just a funny photo I took at a rodeo.
But I am the one with the accent, I'm in Canada and I am an Aussie.

2006-06-11T09:49:00.000+10:30

SEE BELOW FOR "MY CANADA PART 9"

2006-05-29T13:02:00.001+10:30

MY CANADA #8
The Unexplained
Some things can not or shall never not, be explained. They are the Unknowns.

They land and maneuver around, gathering in their numbers, filling the lands, till when all is in place, they await that........ 'command'..

Without warning they rear their heads in a fit of rage and march on the Earth. This is 'The War Of The Worlds.

Humans, through their fortuitness have some capacity to engage these creatures and through preserverance they capture some of them and learn their weaknesses. Here's one we captured earlier.

The Earth will be saved. Victory will be ours (if we don't stuff the world up first).

2006-05-29T13:02:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #9
A town called MADDEN
Well, through my travels I have finally found somewhere I can call Home!

It's off the main road a bit, just follow the directions and you to can find it.

There's not to much here but the bare essentials. It's got a general store;

A fire station;

A Community hall;

Oh, that's my Yukon GMC truck on the left.

And cows as well.
A big hello to two locals in Madden......Dylan & Cal ( Cal hit a deer yesterday, quite common in these parts)
Thanks for visiting a Town called Madden with me.

2006-05-29T04:51:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #7A
I Love Beaver

Each of our countries has an animal, or two, that inspires you to like it. In Australia it was both the Koala Bear and the Kangaroo, both for obvious reasons. In Canada, it's the Beaver, This animal is a 'workaohlic'.

I have driven along roads when the next day you pass the same spot, the site has changed. The beaver decides it wants to renovate, needs a new room for the kids and needs some supplies. So no, it's not off to Home Hardware or Mite 10, it's to your backyard. Lets go get some timber.

We are taking all grades of timber here but this Mr Beaver needs a new extension for the kids, they have outgrown the Bedroom so we new a rumpus room. This is going to require some heavy grade posts and rail. Hmmmm, this should do.

A lot of work and some time later, mind you no council building permits required ( That's what we know. There could be a whole committee of beavers giving out building approvals, having site inspections and issuing infringement notices for demolition if the construction is not right) here's the finished product.. So here, there you go. Here is the new extension. Not to bad Mr Beaver. Imagine the home Reno shows, on TV, for beavers. Backyard dam blitz in two days, damn (sorry about the pun).

And I got to see the star of the show. Not that close but close enough for him to dive down and slap his tail to warn us away.

2006-05-21T08:54:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #6D
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
THE ZAMBONI

The Zamboni is Ice Resurfacer which is a machine brought onto the ice, between periods of play in all hockey games, to remove the 'snow' ice that builds up during play. It will leave the surface 'smooth as'. This then gives the players a new surface for the next period.
The Zamboni has spurned it's own cult following, with songs dedicated to it, models in team colours, here's mine......

apparel and websites. Try this one
www.zamboni.com
It even has lego made after it:-

Smoothing Things Over

"Now ever since I was young it's been my dream
That I might drive a Zamboni machine
I'd get the ice just as slick as could be
And all the kids would look up to me."

- Gear Daddies, "The Zamboni Song," bonus track from Billy's Live Bait

2006-05-21T08:38:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #6C
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
The FANS
With all major sports there are the hoard of fans that support the game and takes it all to a whole new level.

Beer is served in plastic cups.

Three fans, three sticks and a puck

Some fans get....... confused....!!!???

Who are these three fans????

2006-05-21T08:29:00.000+10:30

LATE BREAKING NEWS
Late braking news... Edmonton's "The Oilers", in their first matchup up of the semi-finals (called 'Conference Final') against the Anaheim "Might Ducks", have won last night's game. The heading in today's paper reads........

Think about it!
Check the puck out between the goal keeper's legs.

2006-05-21T07:54:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #6B
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
Then there are the RULES.
From here we get the goals, the scores, the penalties and the 'Power Plays' drawn from the penalties.

Above we see a pair of players facing each other , hence the name for this penalty position, a 'Face-off'. They are in a circle, to the right of the goal net, waiting for the umpire to throw in the 'Puck'. The other players are in a set position pending the outcome of this Face-off. There are 4 of these circles, two at each end, one to the left and the other to the right of each goal net.
So, then you have the usual 'offside', the 'cross checking', (see picture below), 'icing', 'sticking', 'high sticking', 'hooking', 'interference'

The average penalty is two minute, the player who is penalised goes to a box and sits there all by himself, unless another player from his team gets penalised as well. There is a four minute penalty for drawing blood and a five min penalty, plus a standard 2 min penalty, should you take your gloves off for a bit of biff.

2006-05-21T07:10:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA #6A
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
This is a post I've been palnning to do for a while. The reason for the delay...there is so many aspect of the sport that is generated from the game, like all large 'fan' based sports, and I want to cover the lot. So here goes.
The game
The game is a winter based sport but played out, at the top level, in enclosed sports domes. I have had a taste of a 'live' game and it makes me want more!!!!

The match was at Calgary Saddle Dome, which is the home ground for the Galgary "Flames", at the national level and the home ground for the "Hitmen" at the WHA level. This was the team I saw play. These are good games to watch for it is from this level players for the national level a picked, so they 'go hard'.

There are three period of play, each 20 min's long and then there is a 20 min' break between each period. Total time = 100 min's. However, if a game is at a draw at he end of a game, you go into overtime which is set in lots of 20 min's. The first team to score, wins the game. However, if at the end of overtime it is still drawn, you go into another 20 min period. The first team to score wins the match. However, if at the end of this extra overtime the game is still drawn, you go into another 20 min period. This whole routine goes on till eventually someone scores. I watched a game like this last week. It was between the Edmonton 'Oilers' and the San Jose 'Sharks'.
The game went 12 mins into the 3rd overtime period. That's 112 mins on the ice and a total game time of 192 mins. The Oilers won!
The national league is made up of teams from both Canada and USA. They are playing for the Stanley Cup. We have just gone through the quater finals of the national league for the season, which is called the 'Play-offs'. Each team in the Play-offs plays 'the best of 7' games against one other team. Canada has only one team in the semi's. GO THE OILERS!!!

2006-05-21T06:49:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
Part #4B. The Holey, The shoe.

As to how light weight these shoes are, they are very light, only a Few grams.

--------------------------And they float to.---------------------

...................Mine........Maria's........Thom's..............

2006-05-19T02:09:00.000+10:30

A NEWSPAPER CLIP OF INTEREST

No, not the article about 'Swingers', the one about the Bear chasing the cyclist!!!!

Click on the image to enlarge it for reading.
In the Banff area, all the ski fields have electric fences around them with cattle style grids on the roads between the fence line to keep the bears out, not sure who's safety that is for????

2006-05-18T14:56:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
PART #5.

WHAT THE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-05-18T14:25:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
Part #4A. The Holey, The shoe.

It is customary here that when you enter a home you take off your shoes. Cool but what if you just need to pop outside for a brief minute and not go through the hassle of 'donning' the shoe on again. What you need is a quick, comfey slip-on for such a purpose. Enter the "Holey", a light weight slip-on and available in a large range of colours. These are mine. Looking like a Birkenstock, not costing a 'burking lot'. $30!!!!max!!!

2006-05-18T14:08:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
Part #3. Bear Proof Bins

Now here is one of those things that are created out of necessity because of the environment. It is the "Bear Proof Bin". Bears used to raid the park bins and eat everything, glass, plastic, cans and whatever food may have been present.

As a result many bears died of stomach ailments. So the 'Bear Proof Bin' was developed, not to protect us but to protect the bear. Insert fingers into handle all the way, lift catch, open bin & deposit rubbish. Catch handle to small and to tricky for bears.

Australia does not have big bears therefore, no "Bear Proof Bins'

2006-05-17T16:02:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
Part #2C The Rockies
Here are some interesting points on the Rockies that I have so far come across.

This picture shows the position of the 'Continental Divide'. A 'not so mid-way' point for all of Canada's rivers.
The flag on the left is that of the Provence of British Columbia at it's boarder. All rivers on this side of the flag all flow to the west, only some several hundred kilometers away, into the Pacific Ocean. The flag on the far right is that of the Provence of Albert. All rivers on this side of the flag flow to the east and into the Atlantic, some several thousand kilometers away.

When 'white' man first started colonizing this land, the area to the east of the Rockies was deemed to be impenetrable but to this massive ('missive' if you are from New Zealand) mountain range.

They knew that there was great lands to aid their expansion but the only access was from the East coast and was weeks of travel. However, a couple of smart trackers found a great crack it the range. This then was the 'break-through' and it was like a hole in a dam wall after that. The East was conquered.

That's only one small part of this great mountain range called "The Rockies". Mind blowing!

2006-05-17T15:25:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA
Part: #2B The Rockies
As I mentioned in Part #2A, there is so many astounding mountains along the Rockies, which makes it hard to stop at any one photo. So here's some more mountain 'eye-candy' for you all to enjoy or relive.

In the photo above, the different layers of rock strata have been shoved straight up and are level with the valley floor. The photo below you can see the sedimentary layers at nearly 90 degrees to the valley floor.

Here you can see the devastating effect of fire. All theses trees are burnt and dead. This area is now closed to walkers in fear of falling dead trees.

Not a bad backdrop to play golf. The person I played golf with is 85, Doris. It Doris at the wheel of the golf cart. Shot 4 pars on this course (it's only a par three course).

More on Doris and of golf to come..............

2006-05-15T10:32:00.000+10:30

MY CANADA - PART #2A The Rockies (See below for part #1, if you missed it). I have to do this in a few parts, here's section 'A'.

I have now traveled across the western backbone of Canada, The Rockies. This mountain range is huge, it goes on and on and on and on, forever!

The funny thing about it is that as a visitor from Australia, where the overall land is so flat, these mountains are incredible. You get you camera out and start shooting for the pictures, then around the next valley and more of the range, it's snap, snap, snap. Then around the next valley and it's snap, snap, snap, etc.

Then around the next valley and it's 'see the previous two sentences' After two hours, 'see previous sentences', although none the less, magnificent.

This country is also the home to a great array of wildlife, including the 'Bear', although the closest I have come to a bear, is bear poo. But I have seen the 'Big Horned Sheep'.

Then, there is the 'famous places of the Rockies', like Lake Louise. Discovered by a Swiss mountaineer. It not only has the mountains but also a lake AND a glacier.

The lake is frozen. There is a glacier right behind me and it is call "Victoria Glacier". It's about half way up the mountain to my right shoulder, as you look at me.
Section 'B' to follow.

2006-05-09T07:36:00.000+10:30

AN ANNIVERSARY
There are heaps of love songs for those loves lost or those loves found but not that many for 'where you are in life or how you got there'. However, every now and then you hear a song that seems to fit your mould, what's happening to and around you, what is applicable to you and how you got here. I have found one such song and it comes from my past library of music (and many thousands of other people's back catalogue') and it is me! It is an anniversary of events as to where I am.
An anniversary is a recurrence over time, time can ramble on.
Now, however, I give you Mr Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

Ramble On
(Page/Plant)
Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it's time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way.
Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I've got one thing I got to do...

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Got no time to for spreading' roots, The time has come to be gone.
And to' our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to Ramble On.

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.
How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air.
T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Gonna ramble on, sing my song. Gotta keep-a-searching' for my baby...
Gonna work my way, round the world. I can't stop this feeling' in my heart
Gotta keep searching' for my baby. I can't find my bluebird!

Thank you Mr Page, Mr Plant for the lyrics and years of 'top shelf' music.
To those about to ramble, I salute you.

2006-05-09T05:47:00.000+10:30

MADDO AT WORK

Well, here I am ready for another day at the office. This is the typical office attire and this is the typical mode of transport, a truck. There are trucks like this very where, it's the main mode of transportation. This is Red Neck country, (they are called 'red neck' because the get red necks when sun burnt?!)
Damn, trucks everywhere, by golly, damn, chew tobacco, damn, spit tobacco, by golly! You ant' nobody unless u got a truck. I like the RAM 1500 dual cab, just like this. I ant' had time to hot probe yet as the ground has now thawed, so it's a renovating we go.

2006-05-08T15:42:00.000+10:30

CANADA - MY OUTROSPECTIVE
Canada, what a great place. I mean all places on Mother Earth are great. Each has there own greatness that makes that part of the Earth great. When we live in that particular part of that greatness for some time, we may lose seeing that bit of Her greatness. We become complacent with it and our brain then filters it out to make more room for things that are important to our every day existence, like; 'Have I put the bin out tonight', or, 'those windows are dirty I should clean them', where's my drink? Yet, there is a sunset in front of you that many only dream about and you don't see it. Boo Hah to that.
Here is Canada through my 'virgin' eyes, (ha!) and remember, 'This is just one man's opinion'.
Over the next few publications I will list/outline things about this great land that I find fantastic, unusual or just damn right interesting. Some of these items/things arise through adaptation to one's environment or remoteness. So, when you have an environment that is not anywhere else, items/things develop to meet that situation/environment and therefore may not be seen anywhere else on Earth, especially Australia.
Firstly, lets start with Part #1

The flag. Part #1
It is the identity of the/a nation. It is flown here everywhere.

You notice this because it is flown everywhere in Canada! On Buildings, commercial or domestic, cars, trucks, tractors, boats, really anything a flag can be attached to.

You can feel a great sense of patriotism and I believe Australia can learn from this. We should not be patriotic just when an 'Olympic Games' comes to town or when Australia hosts the 'World Cup soccer' or any other International Sport. We can be Patriotic at all times. Fly the flag from your home, have a bumper sticker on your car, fly the flag at work, (Oh, by the way, there is no mention, or shall there be, as to what the flag should look like, that's irrelevant to this comment as the flag could be anything design. It's about the FLAG!), fly it from your houseboat, fly it anywhere but always remember what it stands for.

2006-05-05T15:14:00.000+10:30

DEATH OF A FROZEN LAKE/THE REBIRTH OF SPRING
The picture posted on the 25th April 2006, under the house, shows Sylvan Lake frozen. Perfect white. People ice skate, curl (that great sport of chasing large stones with handles along the ice and lots of mad sweeping going on in front of the stone) and even drive their cars on it. It has just, and I mean just, started to melt on the edges. What happens next is the complete breakdown of a structure that was built by 'winter'. A frozen lake is not like ice out of the freezer. It is a mass of packed shards of long ice, all 'standing' side by side. It is like the adhesion between the shards breaks. The lake turns a dirty grey colour.

The shards then float around in one large loose mass, thus now being at the mercy of the wind which will blow it around the lake where it piles up on itself. These piles can be up to 6' high. It is now back to white.

From here the ice mounds are doomed, they now just melt in the warm spring sun. Then before you know it, the boats are out and there is activity once again but without the winter jackets, rubber ones instead.

The lake is now ready for those who dare to brave the cold waters. The above photo also shows another phenomena called a Chinook. It is a band of warm air that swoops down from the Rookies and only happens in winter. It can raise the local temperature by as much as 10 degrees and is defined by a straight band of cloud. The name comes from the traditional people that lived around the mouth of the Columbia River which is where these winds originate.

2006-04-25T14:15:00.000+10:30

I AM HERE IN CANADA
So, after leaving Sydney at 10.10am on the 15th April and flying half way around the world to land in Vancouver at 10am on the 15th April, then transferring to a flight to Calgary. I am here in Canada. Thanks to 'Jet socks', I don't have DVT but a big dose of 'jet-lag'. This took about three days to get over. The photo of the house is where I am staying. It is at a place called Sylvan Lake, just outside of Red Deer. The photo below that is the view from the lounge room. The house boarders the lake which in this photo is frozen. I is quite an eye opener to see such a large mass of water to be totally frozen. The lake will go through a transformation, in the next few weeks, from frozen to thawed. More on this later.

2006-04-24T03:43:00.000+10:30

MEET THE BAFILES
These two lovely people are Kym (Rosemary) & Paul (The Mauler) Bafile. I want the world to meet these people. Great people need to meet other great people. I thank these two for the friendship & love given to me over the years. These type of people are rare, they are out there but hard to find. However when you do, it's friends for life. I am very lucky as I have quite a few of these friends, the type you can not see for years but when you get together it was like it was only yesterday. I dedicate my travels to all my great friends who care about me and to the Girl who set me 'free' (???????!!!!????).

2006-04-24T02:24:00.000+10:30

THE CLEANSING
Ok, here I am about to take off from Adelaide airport, the 'New' terminal that everyone has been waiting for since last Christmas.
What you see here, two bags and a day pack, is all I own in the whole world. It is quite a weird feeling that all your worldly possessions are sitting around you. The process of reducing your belonging to this stage is not that easy, you have to be quite brutal. Those little things that may give you a memory, here or that time there, have to go. If it is not going to assist you on your travels it goes. You could call it "A Cleansing"

2006-04-22T11:03:00.000+10:30

The time has come to Galvanise.
Bring it on. All the preperation is now in place and the dominoes are now starting to fall and there is nothng to stop the momentum. From here, even though there has been much preperation, there is also an element of the 'unknown'. The varible that can not be planned for but is there and it is the 'hand of fate' that lays the path on which I now tread.
The logo?...... The 'M' is obvious, the wings are by which I travel, the halo is what I aspire to; to travel around and have a positive inpact on other people's lives, to help where I can and to mentor where nessary.
More to come,
Mads

2006-04-18T12:03:00.000+10:30

Hello to all my Viewers. The time has come. All the preperation is complete and now it's 'Just hanging around'. This time can be a bit soul destroying as all IS IN PLACE and you are just biding your time before you board the 'Big white bird', so what do you do. All your friends are at work, as they have 'normal' jobs and keep 'normal' hours. So you find comfort with your disfunctional friends. This is not a bad thing as they are good company and you did say 'friends' didn't you. It just plays havoc on your liver.
So, this is my last day with the people I have just spent the last 13 years of my life with. I have not had a girlfriend for that long a period of time. Therefore, what is the diffence between the two that lets me have this long time relationship at work compared to that of having a girlfriend. You have to make allowances, compromises and show loyality to the Company but I see no difference to that at home. I think I have to have some more thought on this and get back to you later. Perhaps some comments here.
I take this opportunity to public thank those, in the picture above, from work, who made it fun but also to all my other work-mates who, combined, made work an ideal enviroment that a lot of other companies need to learn from to maintain staff that stay with you for years,(again, more on that later).
To my work, I quote Doulas Adams (God rest his soul at the end of the Universe) "So long and thanks for the fish".
God bless to you all.
M

2006-02-23T15:57:00.000+11:00

I have just published my first ever 'blog'.
This is for all my friends and anyone else who is interested, to keep up with my wanderings into my new path in life. This photo shows meheading 'down' that new path. Whilst I am still at work I have started my preperations. The house is now sold and will be settled on the 1st March. I now can start to but flight tickets. cheers Mark