Olympic Games

An awkward tumble – Ouch! (TomO on the trampoline)

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Urban Tramp
TomO – “The Urban Tramp”

With the balance of a cat, the carefree attitude of youth, and fitness beyond his years, TomO is quite an amazing trampolinist.

He got his first trampoline at age 2-years, and outgrew two of them before advancing to an Olympic size mat about two-years ago.

Initially, he undertook training at the local YMCA, but he has never wanted to compete, preferring to think of himself as  “TomO – The Urban Tramp”.

And in many ways the YMCA was all about winning the Olympics…

“It’s all about free-style these days, Mum and Dad…”

And I must say, I’m with him on this.

TomO and Milo
“The Boys” and Milo (The wonder dog)

He is a delight to watch and it takes me back to his age when I also did a lot of trampolining, and to all of you out there that want taut muscles and fantastic abs, do yourself a favour and buy a trampoline. I still get up and have a jump with him in the back yard!

We’ve had 10 years of injury-free trampolining…up until last evening!

We we’re having a get-together for family arriving for the Christmas break, and TomO always likes to put on a bit of a show and was “on the mat” doing his thing.

TomO on the mat
TomO on the mat

DSC_2111

Oddly enough, no one saw the awkward way he landed on the mat, but he came down to the house, holding an elbow and tears streaming down his little angelic face.

He wasn’t used to this happening, and the shock and pain were taking its toll on our little bloke!

TomO
TomO

 We secured his arm and headed straight for the hospital.  And thankfully on the way his spirits started to lift; he was asking whether he would still be able to use his iPad – yes a good sign that he was at least settling and recovering from the shock!

After numerous x-rays, and an examination by an emergency room doctor it would appear to be a soft-tissue injury, however they are going to take another look on Christmas Eve, just in case there is a small fracture that they couldn’t see due to the swelling, which wasn’t actually too bad.

Our biggest challenge lies ahead – keeping him off the trampoline to allow the injury to recover, as TomO isn’t one to dwell, he’s stoic just like his mother, two peas in a pod!

Janet and TomO
Janet and TomO

 And we wouldn’t have him any other way.

 Get better soon mate!

ps: You may notice two springs missing on this mat. This mat has been replaced…

Help – I need Inspiration and Motivation

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TomO – Freshly Pressed!

That is what I was thinking as I headed for the shed this morning for my daily row on a C2 rowing machine, it was 4.30am… 

Exercise is a daily habit for me and always includes rowing, possibly a 10 kilometre walk with a 30 kilo backpack, or some sort of strength training later in the evening.

My friends often comment how much I must like exercise and how easy it seems for me, and true, for the most part I do enjoy it, but as for it being easy, no way, I tell them it is no easier for me than it is for anyone else.

The key is, I tell them, you need to be motivated to do it.

We have just witnessed the world’s greatest sporting spectacle, the Olympics. Those elite athletes’ train for years, day in, day out, they have highs, and I’m sure there are many lows.

Usually their motivation is to be the best, to represent their country, to bring home the Gold, to make their country feel proud as they stand on the top of the podium, the Nation’s Flag saluting their achievement as the sound of their National Anthem heralds their success…

“But what about the rest of us, where can we find our motivation, our inspiration?”

The Shed

This morning as I made my way up the pathway to the shed  in the pre-dawn darkness, a time of day I usually revel in, I was searching for that motivation, something to inspire me, to push me towards my own goals.

“As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, there it was, a vision of why I am doing this, my inspiration… “

Twelve years ago, TomO, our son, was born almost six weeks prematurely. There wasn’t any medical problem for Janet, my partner, in fact everything progressed as normal, but seemingly the little bloke was ready to take on the world and he wasn’t going to wait a moment longer…

A large contingent of medical staff was assembled, ready to provide the life-support that might be needed, it was a humbling moment, but he announced his way into the world in the usual way and was strong enough to take his first breathe without the assistance of the gathered team.

“Those first moments spent cradled in the security of his mother’s loving arms…”

He spent his first three weeks in the intensive care unit of the hospital, growing stronger every day. This was his struggle, his challenge, and he met it head-on, unflinchingly…

 Yes, this was my inspiration, my motivation, the miracle of life, and the will to live…