I’ve been guilty of many things and now that includes a non-updated blog. I’m coming back. Soon.

A new year has just begun and I for one am excited! I always think that a new year calls for a new start. There are a few new years resolutions kicking about in my head some of which *hopefully* will not be broken.
These include -

- finally getting fully derby certified (yes, I’m still fresh meat and it’s been a long time coming)

- stretching more, working on strengthening my knees in order to mitigate derby disaster and minimise injury

- and washing my safety pads!

We all know that knee/ elbow/ wrist/ bum pads are a derby girls best friend, saving us from near death and helping us to glide so elegantly on a single knee. But no one ever told me that they must be washed! I have overheard girls talk of such things, however I just assumed that rank smelling hands after practice was just something that a rollergirl must deal with. But after going for an outdoor skate – at Suffolk Park Skate Park – there’s the actual park and then some good flat ground next to it. The park itself was full of scooters and grommie skaters but I stayed on the basketball court and avoided being run into – which was followed by cocktails at The Balcony in Byron Bay  (I recommend the G-Spot), I couldn’t help but notice that my malodourous hands weren’t all that lady like.

Fast forward a few days and I decided to tackle my first challenge of 2011… To wash my pads! I was inspired by a mention of this in the latest issue of Hit and Miss and I did a little bit of internet research to complement their article. I found a great site – rollergirl.ca, which in their freshmeat section covered general care for your pads. I opted for a mix of warm water, mild washing detergent and vinegar followed by rinse and repeat.

Oh my god. My pads began by leeching out brown stuff and rinsed clean. Talk about satisfying! All those hours of skating, months in sweaty Darwin and then being packed into a campervan were all washed away. Sure I’d made an effort to dry out my pads after skating but this took hygeine to a whole new level.

So I say if you can’t be bothered to get back on the fitness train just yet do yourself a favour and wash those pads out. You never know… it might even inspire you to go for your first 2011 skate!

Ah Townsville… We arrived on Melbourne Cup Day and so the first order of business was to find a pub with betting facilities. I’m like most Australians. I can’t stand horse racing for 364 days a year but come that first Tuesday in November, I enjoy a bit of a flutter. However as per usual neither mine nor Tom’s horses came in but a couple of ‘pots of gold’ over the bar did soothe our pain. I didn’t want to down too many as I had arranged with Horror Belle from TVRD that I wanted to come out to training that night.

Driving out to the training venue at the Willows on Wheels was a bit of a mission that’s for sure. Who knew Townsville was so big? After getting dropped off  by Tom, who then decided to drive all the way back to town to go fishing, there was nothing left to do except head on inside and introduce myself to another new bunch of derby girls. Everyone was very welcoming and as they explained their coach Mick was away that night I was sure that this was a blessing in disguise. Horror Belle took the training which was kicked off with group push ups and squats thanks to Hannasthetic. This soon turned into what seemed interminable pace line drills with forward and backward weaving.

It’s been really interesting visiting the different leagues and coming into contact with so many derby girls of different abilities and skills. In my limited experience trying out for ADRD, they put real importance on stopping – t-stops and snowplows. The TVRD girls were amazing at t-stops, using them to chop and change their place on the track while weaving. We then did some snowplow drills with someone pushing you from behind and there were girls there who were great/ fast skaters who weren’t confident in their plows. In Darwin Jelli Knight is all about getting girls to do knee slides as soon as they can balance on their skates, while that isn’t something you learn in Adelaide until you pass your basic skills test.

At the end of the session I was tired but happy. At times I thought I was crazy for wanting to go to training while on holiday but it’s so interesting to be able to meet other leagues and hear how they do things. As luck would have it, we had a few things to do in Townsville that week and ended up staying another couple of days. And seeing as TVRD train so often (three times a week!) I was able to do the long drive out to training again on Thursday night.

Again everyone was super friendly and welcoming, I know that it probably is a bit weird for someone (with absolutely no reputation preceeding her) to turn up for a random training session. I have to say that these girls are really on their stuff with heaps of backwards drills and jumping. At the end of the session we played Queen of the Rink again and seeing as I know I’m not the best skater, nor am I the strongest so my main aim was to overbalance some of the other girls to get them out. This certainly didn’t win me a friend in Smash Dance.

So I thank the Towns Villans for having me and I think these girls are going to be a force to be reckoned with as they recently beat North Brisbane Rollers on their home turf. If you’re in Townsville check ‘em out, I think they’re having an intra-league bout on November 27.

More info: www.townsvillainsrollerderby.org.au

Reef City Roller Girls share the derby love xx

Well, after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with Nasty Nastazzi from Reef City Roller Girls, the skating ladies from Cairns I was finally able to make it to last Sunday’s training. I turned up at the the location only  to be AMAZED at the floor these girls get to skate on! A sexy polished concrete floor which was a skate rink/ inline hockey court. Tom was also happy as outside there was a banked speed skating track which he got to hit up. Anyway, Killer Bones was more than welcoming and in no time I had the skates strapped on and was ready to roll.

After not having skated for a few weeks (make that six) I was a bit nervous when the first drill was an endurance drill. Fortunately it only involved skating in a line at speed until we caught up with the other group. Being in the fast (not fast fast as according to these girls there is no slow in derby) was a blessing though. Some of these girls had just had their first bout against Townsville and although they didn’t come out on top they are fast and ready to rumble – Pablo Kickasso, Dirty Birdy and 9mmel to name a few.

After that we started doing some simple stepping and C-Curve drills. Simple enough but C-Curves aren’t one of my strong points yet and I still find myself getting all caught up in my skates. We had to step/jump/curve around a minefield of cones, which should be simple because they don’t move… but in reality I tripped over a few times and got all up close and personal with that lovely, polished floor.

Next came basic booty blocking drills and being the new girl – the unknown quantity – I was somehow paired up with Pablo Kickasso, one of their fastest skaters and jammers. She was quick on her feet, getting past me easily but I did manage to get past her on occasion. Let’s just say in comparison to Pablo’s nimble moves I felt like a heavy breathing elephant. When we paired up in teams of three, well I felt there wasn’t much I could do to get past Pablo and 9mmel so I have to say I wasn’t sorry to see the end of that drill.

We finished up the session with two drills – the first we split into two teams and only had one jammer to block/ help through the pack. And then we had two… I got reprimanded a couple of times for getting my elbows involved instead of my body and I had to remind myself that this isn’t women’s C grade basketball where I could get away with that!

….

After a week and a half break while Tom and I went south to Cardwell via Mission Beach I found myself in Cairns again, this time on a Thursday which meant another session with the Reef City girls. It was a bit of a different group this time, with more older bouting skaters like Killer Bones, Megalingus and Break Beat Betty. Another enjoyable practice though, with work on C-Curves and jumping. This was followed up by some pack drills – starting with G rated (no contact), PG rated (limited contact) and M (full contact). It was hard work being a part of a pack with little previous experience but I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it. Break Beat Betty certainly wasn’t taking this practice lightly, throwing herself at other skaters or using her team members as weapons to hurl at the other jammer and blockers. Something to consider in the future…

Next stop: Towns Villans Roller Derby!

I was a fish out of water on the water… but now I’m cured!

It’s been a little while since my last post as I’ve been on the road with Tom my boyfriend. We’ve been travelling down and across from Darwin – via Kakadu, Daly River, King Ash Bay, Mt Isa and right now we’re in Karumba. There has been alot of fishing involved as he is a mad keen fisherman. And although I am sometimes a bit reluctant to get on the water, it has been fun. If you’d like to read more we have been writing a travel blog: www.hoteldelica.com.

I’m going to keep going with this website at the moment with the ‘travelling rollergirl theme’ because at this stage we don’t know where we will end up but wherever it is there is one thing that’s for sure – I WILL be joining a team.

We head east from here to Cairns and are aiming to arrive in the next few days. I’ve already contacted Reef City Rollergirls but there’s no training on Sunday as they’re off to watch the game between NBR v TVR (North Brisbane Roller Girls vs Townsville Roller Derby). But I’ll be skating next Tuesday for sure. Hopefully I’ll also be able to catch a game or two while I’m on the road…

Check ‘em out at: reefcityrollergirls.webs.com

It’s been great fun coming up to Darwin and doing a bit of rollerskating. When I first put the post up on the Darwin Roller Derby friend page (the one with the black and white writing, you know what I mean) I just wanted to meet some gals to skate with. I then found myself meeting random strangers off facebook at high school netball courts. It wasn’t the best surface I’ll admit, but it was centrally located. And I could ride my bike there.

I met Lisa Torture Tolcher from Screamin Assualt Sirens, Sydney Roller Derby and Jelli Knight aka Kim Adams, defector to Darwin from Ballarat Roller Derby. We didn’t plan on starting a league, but it is the only way to go when there isn’t one already. Kim and I kept meeting up and each week there would be some new girls coming along to find out what the fuss was all about. We’d lend out our skates (no extra pairs at the moment unfortunately) get them on them, try and let them know how much fun derby was and send them off to buy skates.

Along came the Darwin Festival and so disappeared my time to skate. I did head to the new skating location of Kormilda College last Thursday and was so happy to see all these new shiny pairs of skates and ladies just wanting to give it a go. I’m sorry I can’t stick around to share my skills and be there as the newly formed Darwin Roller Girls get initiated into the derby love and potentially play the first ever NT derby bout in 2011 against Malice Springs Roller Derby.

So if you’re in Darwin, and have the inclination to be a part of something that’s fun, that’s hard but overall is one of the best things a girl (or guy) can do head to the Darwin roller derby website – www.darwinrollergirls.com

And while I still am waiting to be in one place long enough to be accepted into a team and pass my fresh meat, I’m looking forward to dropping in on the derby teams which are taking over the country – check them out at www.rollerderbydownunder.com!

See you soon Reef City, Towns Villans, Mackay, Port City, Toowoomba and more! Because a derby girl always travels with her skates…

1. #1 Always carry mosquito repellent in your handbag.
2. #2 Stubby holders (or beer coolers) are the perfect accessory to any outfit.
3. #3 Ride your bike with your mouth closed. You never know what might fly in.
4. #4 Lawn sales = Garage sales. Just because they have more water than down south it doesn’t mean that they have an abundance of lawn for sale.
5. #5 Wearing long socks is a good idea if you are going to the Deckchair Cinema. You can just take them with you and put them on in the dark. You may as well use them if you brought them all the way up here.
6. #6 Pint = Imperial Pint. Schooner = Pint. Pot = Schooner.
7. #7 Slow down. You’re walking too fast.
8. #8 Drink soda and mineral water along with tap water. It helps when you’re sweating a lot.
9. #9 When fireworks are legal for one day of the year you should buy them.
10. #10 Learn to drink beer. Or at least something else that can be bought in stubby form.

It’s about time I wrote something about my new home away from home, Darwin. I arrived hot and sweaty at 2am on one of the last humid days for a few months. Since then it’s been sunny and beautiful everyday of the week.

Darwin is a funny town, a lot smaller and laid back so much so you’d be forgiven for not thinking of it as a major city. Pretty much all of the good places to drink beer are sports club for some reason but they have the best views so I’m happy to join. I’ve frequented the Ski Club and had a night at the Railway Club on Wednesday, with a swing band playing inside and the State of Origin Rugby on the big screen outside (it’s a city of contradictions). However, in the coming weeks I’d like to add the Trailer Boat Club, Yacht Club, Dinah Beach Boat Club and Turf Club to that list. I’m also up for a bit of fish feeding at Aquascene and high tea on a Sunday at Burnett House.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that being in Darwin is definitely a working holiday and there’s lots of fun to be had. It’s a whole different vibe up here, unique to anywhere else I’ve been in Australia (not that I’ve been to many places – more on that later). While the rest of Australia bundles up and tries to keeps warm, I’m enjoying this dry season, pulling on the summer dresses for the second time this year.

P.S. The roller derby dream isn’t over. Murder City are still looking for people to join the league and well, there is derby talk afoot in Darwin. Anyone interested should check out Darwin Roller Derby – coming to a scout hall near you!

With that, I bid fare thee well to Adelaide and Adelaide Fringe. It’s been a fabulous ride, and I just thought I needed to throw a parade in your honour. (To make your own head to http://isparade.jp) See you soon in Darwin…

Now that I’m heading to Darwin in three weeks or so (to work as Marketing Coordinator at the Darwin Festival) everyone is coming out of the woodwork for a website. At the moment I’ve swapped over Psychology and the Body to wordpress, started Space for Healing and will work on one for a friends dance company and mountain bike team.

Why not? I know using wordpress isn’t web design nor is it rocket science. But it helps people have an online presence and CMS without the need for forking out the big bucks. Some may argue a facebook fan page does about the same but hey, at least this makes you feel smart.

To set up your own wordpress website, everything you need to know is on wordpress.org. They detail it all in their 5 minute installation guide. However, when you first set up a wordpress site it doesn’t take 5 minutes. It takes longer. You shake your fist at the computer and wail ‘you said this would take 5 minutes but right now the clock is at 1 hour.’

I won’t bore you with tales of my first wordpress install however I will tell you one thing – don’t ever use the file manager from your cpanel. WordPress is magic but comes with an infinite number of folders and subfolders. You miss one – you miss ‘em all!

Anyway, the basics of what you’ll need are:

• An ABN
• Credit Card (for purchasing domain name and hosting. I use inticon.com)
• FileZilla (for folder file transfers)
• Gmail account (for google analytics. A good analytics plugin is by semilogic)

After you’ve got all those things, head to wordpress.org and download wordpress. It may take you 5 minutes or it might not. After a while, it gets a little easier. Soon you’ll get the hang of it, learn the lingo and be hacking the mainframe. With a little help from your friends at the forums.