Forum Discussion
Doing what you LOVE to do - before, during & after BC! What's YOUR favourite?
Hi guys
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)
Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.) Our ages range from the 50s - 80s. Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'?? Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for! LOL
and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.
Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :( (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!
So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........
How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff? Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment? Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?
Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!! After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!! The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!! 4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.
My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010) - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific. A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!
Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much! LOL)
SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!
184 Replies
- Here you go @arpie
A fish photo for you as requested. Thankyou for signing me up to the Breastie's Club. Proud to be a member.
This barra was caught at the base of the Diversion Dam in Kununurra December 2017 on a handline. He literally walked on his tail trying to throw the hook. Weighed just over 7kg. - LOL .... I hope you got your nice reel back, @kitkatb :( ..... so long as you had a matched rod, it is just as easy to cast ......Not fair!!! :(
- Lol @arpie Gee that's nice of Keith. Great pressie. Reminds me of the time Lance bought me a big salt water fly fishing reel even with my name engraved on it. ( I didn't fly fish back then ) Then after giving it to me he suggested maybe it wasn't the best buy as it was a bit big for me to learn on.??? I ended up with his old knocked up scientific angler.
- WOW! SO close to Mulwala, @Doodoo!!! NO EXCUSE for not getting out there & giving it a go if you are up to it physically?? I want to see some pics!! ;)There are so many fishing opportunities up here on the Mid North Coast - fresh & salt. But I am really spoiled here - and have worked out a few honey-hole spots! ;) I do more salt than fresh, tho a buddy was a member of a lodge at Jindabyne & I used to go down there to fly fish (badly! She was VERY GOOD!) Hehehe But I out fish her in the salt! (sometimes! :( )
take care!! xx - @arpie I used to go to Newcastle a lot, my son lived there. Used to drive along the beach from Stockton & fish from the beach. Love it up there. Amazing place! I am hour from Mulwala. Caught many a cod there. When I was young, I used to catch redfin for Dad’s breaky 😊
Great present Keith 😂 - Hey @Doodoo - Welcome to Team Breasties! I hope you can get back to it, soon!! Where (roughly where do you live?) Inland somewhere, I am guessing?? I'll put you on my 'must visit list' along with everyone else! Likewise, if you are ever between Newcastle & Port Macquarie (all the Breasties) make sure you make contact! ;)
I've never even SEEN a Red Fin - there are some biggies out there in some dams!! I wanna get a 1m cod in my yak!! ;) I'm getting reversing pedals for my kayak for Xmas - Keith just doesn't know it yet, that they are from him! LOL :)
I really look forward to getting stuck into the big freshwater fish (as well as Barra) ..... I've only landed cod at Mulwala so far (in the big Cod Comp that was just on last weekend - we were in the Yak division.)
I've done some bass fishing recently at Lake St Clair & have a secret spot not too far from home where I landed a wild Bass that went 50cm!! YEEHAA!!
It was SO deep in the belly - and FAT!! Some people call it a Unicorn! :)
So now Team Breastie is: arpie, Annie C, Kitkat, Zoffiel, Brenda & Doodoo, our latest member!!
Hey! Show us your fish pics too! ;) - I love fishing in rivers & lakes. Cod,Yellow Belly (golden perch), Red Fin, Trout. Bait used is lures, worms, small yabbies, shrimp & Cod love cheese & chicken. Haven’t been for ages.....
Love the photos @arpie - How on EARTH did Annita63 end up on that post - it was supposed to be @"Annie C" 'Annie C' doesn't look anything LIKE Annita63!!! Weird!!
I've made a note of those spots, now, Annie - so no need to delete the post any more! ;)
OMG @Blossom1961 - even I would have screamed at a spider in the bog!
ooooh - I recall you mentioning him as being a guide before @kitkatb !! I am SO JEALOUS! I'd be putting a GPS tracker on him, to get all his best spots!! ;) OMG - and you use an overhead reel! I swear at them, spending more time untangling bloody wind knots more than casting & catching fish! :( I am better casting BIG lures with them, than the smaller finesse ones! :(
Make haste slowly - you will know when you are ready to give it a go! xx
What would be your closest Bass & Barra dam to you? I am sure there are some safe ones up there ..... Eungella perhaps? Monduran? Peter Faust? Perfect for Kayak Fishing!! I want to go up & do all the Bass & Barra Dams in Qld - it is on my wish list!! One day, I will do it! I will surely make contact & hopefully you & hubby & I can hit the water together!
I fished the Barra 'Farm' at Townsville some years ago & had fun, using my Bream Gear .... they still went ballistic out of the water etc ..
I must admit - I DO love Bream, flattie & blackie fishing - and catch whiting as 'by catch'! I don't keep them - put them back, along with 95% of all my fish ;)
Absolutely - any day on the water beats a day off it!!GO TEAM BREASTIES!!! So we have me, Annie C, Kitkat, Zoffiel, Brenda - who else can we rope in?? - Hi @arpie, Thanks for the post. Loved the pics hey are awesome. I am based north of Townsville near Hinchinbrook Island.
You know when people say that if you are married to a mechanic your car needs a service, just as if you are married to a carpenter your house needs work done to it. Well I am married to a fishing guide of 30 years, yep and you have guessed it I don't get out as often as I should. Lol. xx Much of hubbies work takes him up to the NT most of the year and when he is not doing that he is designing lures for a well known company as well as his own brand. You are so right about putting boats in and out of the water. I don't do that when he is away as I'm not confident enough in case of an engine breakdown and I made a promise to him when he is away I will not fish on my own from the bank of the rivers around here. ( we've been round crocs long enough to see them in action especially when we had our own fishing lodge in the NT could tell you a few stories that would make your toes curl up) However I am lucky I still get out and and am at the point now I am healthy enough to get out. 7 weeks post mx. I could really see myself fishing from a Kayak but definitely not up here. As much as people talk about Barra fishing I still love bread and butter fishing. ( bream and whiting ). That pic of us we weren't in a fishing comp just wearing the same shirts as they are promoting the brand hubby designs for. Any day is a good day on the water hey. xox GO team breasties - hahaha You are an AUTOMATIC member of Team Breasties, @Annita63 ;)
I'll make a note of all those spots (crocs or not) for when I finally get up your way! It may not be soon - but it WILL happen! :)
I love the green tree frogs - you rarely see them down our way - but once you are up South West Rocks way, there are some beauties!! One managed to hide inside the Caravan Park Power box for the van - and gave me a bit of a fright when I went to plug in to power! Damn! Can't find the pic ......!
Shame your pretend spiders don't have a 'noise' built in to them - that would scare the crap out of anyone hitting it! LOL
hahaha .... love that one with your sister @"Annie C" ;)
