Orlando's Baptisim and onto Ironman Melbourne 🇦🇺
Tuesday 20th
The day had finally come it was our trip to Australia, while only a week there was a lot to fit in. First we would go to Sydney for three days, then it would be of to Melbourne for the Ironman, I had been training for about 6 months and was a little nervous as there had been some hiccups along the way. But before this was Orlando's baptism.
I would think it rare for anyone to have crammed as much into their first nine months of life as Orlando, outside the trips to the Maldives, Malaysia and Darwin there has also been the rock star welcome home in Sydney as his uncles and aunts clamor for a cuddle and a smile, which he is happy to oblige. Then there is the hospital, our little man went through his first lip operation in November last year and on the 11th April will undergo hopefully the second and last operation for his palate. On top of this he has learnt to eat, sit up, hold a bottle, play, crawl, trying to stand, get his own way, talk. Makes it all a very big first year. By comparison I am clearly mismanaging time and need to put in some effort!! Also makes you very proud.
A nice flight, with Orlando sleeping most of the way, then a train trip to Wahroonga in Sydney. The combination of my bike packed in a bag and Orlando smiling attracted many on lookers and conversations, including some Kylie Minouge concert revellers that would be a topic of conversation with Elle for a while, titled along the lines of "picking up on a train with a bike and a baby."
Coming home and seeing Mum and Dad on the station was exciting as their faces lit up, especially from seeing their grandson. We took our enormous luggage to the car, Mum and I walked home chatting about the baptism, family and everything in between. Tired it was a little chatter before bed and Orlando's big day.
Wednesday 21st
What a special day, before the baptism Elle said it felt like Christmas, a big comment! But it felt even bigger, Dad had been cooking for a week, about 35 people would be coming, all the family lots of friends, our little prince was arriving.
The day would begin with a rush to have everything ready and a short trip to the church I was baptised in. The church was remarkebly similar to what I remembered, it became all the more special as we began seeing everyone. Including my first nephew, Lucas. Grandad and Nana even made it. With everyone there and our special Godmother, Aunty Margret, and Godfather, Blair Montague Drake, things began. However before the baptism, Elle and I would renew out vows, the pope having decided our marriage could go ahead and be blessed.
Orlando did really well during the service, becoming slightly agitated, he was entertained easily by a piece of paper that promptly went into his mouth and became a shredded mess. Most importantly there was very little tears, even as the water was slashed over him. Father John gave a great service which was relaxed yet special and soon all the blessings had been done and people began to enjoy each others company, chatting away and enjoying each other form the different places and family.
Thursday 22nd
This was a simple relaxing day at home, however Elle left for Melbourne early, as she would be doing some nursing that night to try and keep up her hour, it is a tough job indeed.
Friday 23rd
Packing up the remaining gear, I took Orlando in the Baby Born down to the station where we would take the train back to the airport. It was time to go to Melbourne, it was time to prepare for the Ironman.
The trip to Melbourne was long, with the train in, the flight, though we did see Chris, Jonathan and Emma at the airport, then a bus, where we saw Fiona Habben's mother, then finally a tram to St Kilda. With a lot of gear and not knowing where we were going it made it harder. Orlando was very good, right up until the end of the tram ride, where he decided he had had enough! Thus with lots of gear, on a tram, trying to call Elle for instructions Orlando had a melt down. In a public place this is an interesting thing as people round you have ranged emotions from wanting to help, to wanting to throw you of the tram, however even those who want to help can in reality do little, Orlando wants something entirely different to anything that we can currently provide, he wants out.
Finally we made it to the apartment, and Elle was there waiting, tired from last nights work, it was fantastic to see her none the less and she provided Orlando with a good alternative to what he previously required. Unfortunately it would not be long before she had to go back to work and it was Orlando and I again. The apartment, a warehouse conversion was fantastic, it would be a great place to call home for the next few days.
Time was ticking and i had to go down to register for the race, Chris and Jonathan had already done it, so once I found my bearings and Orlando and I had rugged up, we stepped out into the wind and drizzle to find the registration.
It has been a long time since I had been in this part of Melbourne, I think I had only been here once where drinking was the central theme, how things have changed. Past the scarily old looking Luna Park face and down to the windy choppy foreshore, a buzz ran through me as I saw the Ironman tent, it was huge, a different scale entirely to Busselton. Finding the entrance I walked in with Orlando now asleep cozily in the pram and saw the inside of tent and the huge world of triathlon goodies, exhibitors everywhere, deep breath hold back.
Registration first involved signing your name in gold pen next to your number on a huge wall with all the athletes numbers on it. I am going professional. An indemnity form, then pick up the numbers and bag. It is an enormous relief to have this done, it is a nervous time leading up to this moment, as it would be a disaster to train for 6 months, pay $800 to enter the race, a flight to Melbourne, accommodation, have family and friends come down, then miss check in and not be able to race. Thankfully this did not happen! I had the bag!
That night it was just Orlando and I, some pasta, relaxation and sticking stickers on various components I needed to race.
Saturday 24th
Orlando woke up early and was seemingly unimpressed with his cot, so in one of the special moments of having a baby, he came in bed and fell asleep on my chest and then beside me. It was very special, as having Orlando in bed normally involves him jumping around.
Elle had another big night at work, and had to go in again today, she also ended up going out with her friends which was good, and spent the night with Simone in the hotel.
Once she was back, we were able to initiate phase 2 of Ironman preparation. Everything to do with Ironman is long and logistically difficult, it is the rule and it must be followed. To drop of our bikes, we had to take them to Frankston. This is 42km away, the marathon tomorrow would run back from there. As we had not booked the athletes bus we had to make our own way there. Riding was ruled out by Jonathan, running would not have been good. We discovered the only real way there would be by train. First we had to ride to the city with all our gear, at least the sun was out.
There are bike lanes in Melbourne, but these just give a false sense of security, with Jonathan and Chris riding with me, it was a extremely cautious car dodging, car door opening bad dream, again all the preparation to be ruined by a car door...not good. However with no mishap we found the station, bought some tickets and were soon on the train to Frankston!
The only thing that draws people more than Orlando is bikes, and since Orlando was not here, three people with bikes on a train drew a lot of interest. Once we began explaining what an Ironman was and that we were planning on doing one tomorrow they found it hard to belief. Once old lady committed to us that she would knit us some booties and leave them at the finish line, she had a remarkable talent for picking foot sizes. Though our booties would never arrive.
Logistics the constant challenge, meant that the train only went half way, then there was track work, cause this is an Ironman and if you are going to compete here you need to really want too. So not giving up we transferred from train to bus, our bikes drawing even more interest due to the now confined space. "You are doing what?"
Eventually we made it, and now for the second day in a row, we seemed to be missing lunch. I needed to go for a quick ride and run, to test everything out. It was a good thing I did, as a buckled wheel needed to be repaired, so again following a run with Chris we were pushing the limits before check in shut. However once in we set up our bikes, put in our transition bags, got weighed, collected the time chips and we were done. Hungary, tired, still needing to get back to St Kilda and this was just the check in. The race was tomorrow.
Back to St Kilda, mum and dad had arrived, Elle was back home and it was a reunion.
The day had finally come it was our trip to Australia, while only a week there was a lot to fit in. First we would go to Sydney for three days, then it would be of to Melbourne for the Ironman, I had been training for about 6 months and was a little nervous as there had been some hiccups along the way. But before this was Orlando's baptism.
I would think it rare for anyone to have crammed as much into their first nine months of life as Orlando, outside the trips to the Maldives, Malaysia and Darwin there has also been the rock star welcome home in Sydney as his uncles and aunts clamor for a cuddle and a smile, which he is happy to oblige. Then there is the hospital, our little man went through his first lip operation in November last year and on the 11th April will undergo hopefully the second and last operation for his palate. On top of this he has learnt to eat, sit up, hold a bottle, play, crawl, trying to stand, get his own way, talk. Makes it all a very big first year. By comparison I am clearly mismanaging time and need to put in some effort!! Also makes you very proud.
A nice flight, with Orlando sleeping most of the way, then a train trip to Wahroonga in Sydney. The combination of my bike packed in a bag and Orlando smiling attracted many on lookers and conversations, including some Kylie Minouge concert revellers that would be a topic of conversation with Elle for a while, titled along the lines of "picking up on a train with a bike and a baby."
Coming home and seeing Mum and Dad on the station was exciting as their faces lit up, especially from seeing their grandson. We took our enormous luggage to the car, Mum and I walked home chatting about the baptism, family and everything in between. Tired it was a little chatter before bed and Orlando's big day.
Wednesday 21st
What a special day, before the baptism Elle said it felt like Christmas, a big comment! But it felt even bigger, Dad had been cooking for a week, about 35 people would be coming, all the family lots of friends, our little prince was arriving.
The day would begin with a rush to have everything ready and a short trip to the church I was baptised in. The church was remarkebly similar to what I remembered, it became all the more special as we began seeing everyone. Including my first nephew, Lucas. Grandad and Nana even made it. With everyone there and our special Godmother, Aunty Margret, and Godfather, Blair Montague Drake, things began. However before the baptism, Elle and I would renew out vows, the pope having decided our marriage could go ahead and be blessed.
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| The Blessing from the church |
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| Orlando's Baptisim |
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| Orlando meets his cousin |
This was a simple relaxing day at home, however Elle left for Melbourne early, as she would be doing some nursing that night to try and keep up her hour, it is a tough job indeed.
Friday 23rd
Packing up the remaining gear, I took Orlando in the Baby Born down to the station where we would take the train back to the airport. It was time to go to Melbourne, it was time to prepare for the Ironman.
The trip to Melbourne was long, with the train in, the flight, though we did see Chris, Jonathan and Emma at the airport, then a bus, where we saw Fiona Habben's mother, then finally a tram to St Kilda. With a lot of gear and not knowing where we were going it made it harder. Orlando was very good, right up until the end of the tram ride, where he decided he had had enough! Thus with lots of gear, on a tram, trying to call Elle for instructions Orlando had a melt down. In a public place this is an interesting thing as people round you have ranged emotions from wanting to help, to wanting to throw you of the tram, however even those who want to help can in reality do little, Orlando wants something entirely different to anything that we can currently provide, he wants out.
Finally we made it to the apartment, and Elle was there waiting, tired from last nights work, it was fantastic to see her none the less and she provided Orlando with a good alternative to what he previously required. Unfortunately it would not be long before she had to go back to work and it was Orlando and I again. The apartment, a warehouse conversion was fantastic, it would be a great place to call home for the next few days.
Time was ticking and i had to go down to register for the race, Chris and Jonathan had already done it, so once I found my bearings and Orlando and I had rugged up, we stepped out into the wind and drizzle to find the registration.
It has been a long time since I had been in this part of Melbourne, I think I had only been here once where drinking was the central theme, how things have changed. Past the scarily old looking Luna Park face and down to the windy choppy foreshore, a buzz ran through me as I saw the Ironman tent, it was huge, a different scale entirely to Busselton. Finding the entrance I walked in with Orlando now asleep cozily in the pram and saw the inside of tent and the huge world of triathlon goodies, exhibitors everywhere, deep breath hold back.
Registration first involved signing your name in gold pen next to your number on a huge wall with all the athletes numbers on it. I am going professional. An indemnity form, then pick up the numbers and bag. It is an enormous relief to have this done, it is a nervous time leading up to this moment, as it would be a disaster to train for 6 months, pay $800 to enter the race, a flight to Melbourne, accommodation, have family and friends come down, then miss check in and not be able to race. Thankfully this did not happen! I had the bag!
 |
| Signing In |
Saturday 24th
Orlando woke up early and was seemingly unimpressed with his cot, so in one of the special moments of having a baby, he came in bed and fell asleep on my chest and then beside me. It was very special, as having Orlando in bed normally involves him jumping around.
Elle had another big night at work, and had to go in again today, she also ended up going out with her friends which was good, and spent the night with Simone in the hotel.
Once she was back, we were able to initiate phase 2 of Ironman preparation. Everything to do with Ironman is long and logistically difficult, it is the rule and it must be followed. To drop of our bikes, we had to take them to Frankston. This is 42km away, the marathon tomorrow would run back from there. As we had not booked the athletes bus we had to make our own way there. Riding was ruled out by Jonathan, running would not have been good. We discovered the only real way there would be by train. First we had to ride to the city with all our gear, at least the sun was out.
There are bike lanes in Melbourne, but these just give a false sense of security, with Jonathan and Chris riding with me, it was a extremely cautious car dodging, car door opening bad dream, again all the preparation to be ruined by a car door...not good. However with no mishap we found the station, bought some tickets and were soon on the train to Frankston!
The only thing that draws people more than Orlando is bikes, and since Orlando was not here, three people with bikes on a train drew a lot of interest. Once we began explaining what an Ironman was and that we were planning on doing one tomorrow they found it hard to belief. Once old lady committed to us that she would knit us some booties and leave them at the finish line, she had a remarkable talent for picking foot sizes. Though our booties would never arrive.
Logistics the constant challenge, meant that the train only went half way, then there was track work, cause this is an Ironman and if you are going to compete here you need to really want too. So not giving up we transferred from train to bus, our bikes drawing even more interest due to the now confined space. "You are doing what?"
Eventually we made it, and now for the second day in a row, we seemed to be missing lunch. I needed to go for a quick ride and run, to test everything out. It was a good thing I did, as a buckled wheel needed to be repaired, so again following a run with Chris we were pushing the limits before check in shut. However once in we set up our bikes, put in our transition bags, got weighed, collected the time chips and we were done. Hungary, tired, still needing to get back to St Kilda and this was just the check in. The race was tomorrow.
 |
| Bike Check-In |
A stroke of luck on the way back, we jumped onto the Ironman bus, which were not previously "allowed" on and were were taken back along parts of the run course. Everyone on the bus was analysing and talking about this and that part of the course. The atmosphere was edible.
Back to St Kilda, mum and dad had arrived, Elle was back home and it was a reunion.
We decided on pasta for dinner at our place and early to bed, 19:00 tomorrow was the big day.
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| Pasta night before IM |
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