22/10/2026
This last rainy Sunday Vanessa and I headed off to Oak Valley, just past Grabouw, to ride part of the route that is part of the up coming W**e to Wales cycle race. Vanessa has entered and is practicing 5 times a week. Its a gruelling and tricky race and is a massive challenge, taking her well out of her cycling comfort zone.
The ride is a mix of easy gravel and mud tracks to some rather thin and fine slippery paths in the steep forests. Any small mistake is punished, and a small mistake happened when I misjudged the camber and ended up sprawled on the mud and wet soggy path. Vanessa nearly came to the same fate but managed to stay upright. It was messy and tiring and fun. However, we got to the point where the challenge and the tired started to get the better of us and thoughts of taking the easy route home started to loom large.
Round about this time I remembered an article written by the famous, and sometimes infamous, Australian Glenn McGrath. He was a terrific bowler who tormented batsmen for many years. Eventually Father Time forced him to retire but he soon took up writing and punditry. It was after yet another thrashing dealt out to the English in the Ashes in Australia that he wrote about, what to me, was an unforgettable life lesson.
He wrote that the English cricket teams would arrive full of bravado on the outside, but wobbling with trepidation on the inside. The Aussies, on the other hand, relished the prospect of putting the other team to the sword. Now whether you are English and find this offensive, or Australian and absolutely get it, it is such a simple way of viewing challenge. Relish it. What a great word...relish. I just love the positivity of it.
So Vanessa and I pondered this little piece of Aussie wisdom, and being tired, wet, covered in mud and fighting a bicycle that was jamming from time to time, we wobbled with trepidation and headed home. Sorry to say. But the thought was there, and as they say, it's the thought that counts......! Ok. It was a copout. But we had conquered enough and it was time for a burger and b**r.
It is also time to acknowledge the indomitable spirit of the young lady who we have employed earlier this year to develop our marketing profile and social media. Faced with my general lack of love for things marketing, she has battered me down with enthusiasm, patience and imagination and the results are there for you to see. Beautiful photos, reels, MahJong events, Christmas menus. You name it. She lets everyone know what we're up to.
So thanks Nats. Keep relishing the challenge and thanks for everything you have done for us.
Which brings me to our Christmas Menu. Christmas Eve this year is on a Thursday so I will be on duty and have the pleasure of welcoming you to our annual pre Christmas dinner celebration.
It will be an absolute pleasure to have you along. We have plenty of space so please book and join us for dinner.
See you soon.
Jeremy
PS....the pizza oven will be fired up so those who want pizza are welcome to join us too.
