paragolfer

Happy New Year!!!

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What were your highlights in 2015?

What are you looking forward to over the next 12 months? Apart from the Puffin Magic Circus Ball on 19 March!!!

As individuals and as a society we are in constant flux between reflecting and learning from the past and planning and prophecising about the future.

For me, facing my fear of sit skiing, stand-up fly fishing, joining the management committee of an incredible new resort for spinal cord injured individuals, called Sargood, and the growing success and impact of Empower Golf were standouts of the last 6 months. Understanding that one must be conscious of “stopping something old” to “start something new”, will be key to a successful year ahead.

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Sharks, Expos and Sponsorship

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Who in their right mind would seriously signup for a 1.6km ocean swim starting at Shark Bay?

Apart from the above, a local quadriplegic (a.k.a. me) and his ever-supportive, bikini-clad fiancee (the only one out of 300+ competitors) entered to attempt their first-ever ocean swim – The Bay to Breakers. Website here.

I am immensely proud and happy to announce that after 1 hour, 24 minutes and approximately 47 seconds, Sarah and I were finally back on solid ground. Our combined body heat working overtime to return her lips back to normality and counteract the overwhelming exhaustion my body was engulfed by. The memory of the final 200 m and struggling around the outgoing rip with my “spaghetti arms” almost failing to emerge from the water following every stroke, will be with me for years to come. As will the standing ovation I was met with by the particularly patient crowd in situ on the beach. (more…)

Superstition, Swimming and Soul Patch

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We are all constantly challenged and confronted by life’s inevitable surprises and inherent quirks. But as one who has a historic penchant for fate and its consistent role in every day, even I was at a loss as to how, in my debut appearance in Golf Australia Magazine (Feb edition), there was also a 6-page spread on golfing in Iceland of all places, including coverage of Westerman Islands (where the original Peter the Puffin was caught) and puffins for heaven’s sake! One can only marvel at its originality. (more…)

2014 is going to be BIG!!!!

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A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! I hope you managed some quality downtime over the break and are ready for a bigger and better 2014!

It has been a mad couple of months with Sarah’s family in town over the festive period, Australia going golfing crazy at the end of the year and good progress for Empower Golf Australia. The only downsides were a long bout of cellulitis and limited time for quality exercise and rehabilitation. (more…)

A UK Trip for the Ages

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If you are wondering about the radio silence, I have just returned from a fantastic month away in the UK with Sarah.

I don’t know quite where to start with so many highlights. For once, we managed the perfect combination of downtime in the countryside and city highlife, quality time with old friends/family and larger nights out, experimenting with new activities and venues and enjoying our old favourites, mediating craziness with culture and even spent some memorable one-on-one time.

Firstly, catching up with Sarah’s family (and their many animals) and exporting some of Australia’s finest barbecuing skills… Mr Macdonald even borrowed my ‘off-road’ scooter as a joy-riding-alcohol-trolley, normally reserved for grannies and daytrippers. (more…)