tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65850551410823159042024-03-08T15:21:07.577-08:00Davo's Corner - East Bundaberg Veterinary Hospital Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6585055141082315904.post-22798449805486359762016-02-02T14:44:00.001-08:002016-02-02T14:44:52.996-08:00Jet Ski Drivers - according to Davo <span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Last month I spent some time at Woodgate – a small fishing and holiday village just south of Bundaberg. My family and I spend a lot of time associated with activities on</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> or around</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the water – both the sea and the rivers that are in that area. Because a lot of our activities involves kayaking, paddling surfskis, stand up boarding, snorkeling and swimming (just to name a few activities) along with fishing – both in the ocean and in the rivers then we often come into contact (not literally) with boat drivers, people who are waterskiing, other kayakers etc and all these people can impact on our enjoyment. We are very conscious of the responsibility of our activities whenever we are in</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> or on</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the water and we spend a lot of time making sure our activities do not negatively impact on other people e.g. we do not snorkel near people who are fishing, we do not take our kayaks into the waterways where people are waterskiing, when using our motorboat we make sure we slow down when we are passing another boat or anyone who may be using the same waterway as we are etc. Also because we partake of many different activities on the water – we are very aware of what is necessary by other boats to allow everyone to use the waterways safely and with maximum enjoyment.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br /><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{148}" paraid="1078565038" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is a pity that many other people do not think the same way.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{156}" paraid="1375131058" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">One of my pet “hates” is drivers of jet skis who either leave their brains at home when they take the </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">jet ski</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> for an “outing” or the people who </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">license</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the jet ski owner are very </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“slack”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{159}" paraid="1624110639" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Now I am very much aware that not all jet ski owners are irresponsible and I apologize to these people from the start and I the following article is not aimed at them but is aimed at the people who have “no idea” of what impact their driving their jet skis near swimmers, paddlers or sailing boats or they just do not care. </span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{162}" paraid="998081025" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">So I was standing on my SUP board (Stand Up Paddling board) just after a jet ski has tried to wash me off by passing with 3 meters of me whilst they were dragging a person on a wake board when I thought – “I wonder how difficult it is to get a license to drive one of those”. And so I thought I would write a blog about a fantasy visit to the authorities to get a license. I will emphasize – I have NOT actually gone for a license and there is every chance I will never go for a license but this is how I think the conversation would go if I did apply. </span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{165}" paraid="1462893073" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">The rest of the blog is written as if I was listening to the examiner and what he would say </span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{167}" paraid="602329360" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{174}" paraid="905987444" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Good morning </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen – I believe you are here for your Jet Ski </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">license</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I would like you to fill out this application and we will take it from there”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{177}" paraid="1561988361" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I fill out the form and give it back to him.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{189}" paraid="706747584" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“It looks like we have a problem right from the start </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen – you have spelt your first name </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“David” properly and in the question “Write down all the numbers between 1 and 10” you have answered the question properly</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and there are no smudge marks where you have had to change a number</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I should have mentioned at the beginning that we have a 2 tier licensing system – if you had not been able to spell your name or if you had struggled with the number question then we would have given you a license straight away because you demonstrated a natural tendency to drive a jet ski. But we will no</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">w</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> need to go to the 2</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">nd</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> system and I wish you well”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{196}" paraid="411159133" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Have you read the jet ski instruction manual and the owner and driver manual that is available on our website and available at all good “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hells Angels</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">H</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">eadquarters”?”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{199}" paraid="1004272031" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I confirmed I had studied the books and was ready for the tests.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{212}" paraid="1502102477" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Again </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen – it is not looking good for you. The appropriate </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">answer would</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> have been one of the </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">follow</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">ing </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> –</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> “What books”, “My dog ate them”, “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">It did not have any pictures so I could not read it</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” or answers to that effect”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{219}" paraid="1412544825" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Here</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">is the test</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and again I wish you all the best”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{222}" paraid="1311614985" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I then go and fill out the tests and represent the form back to the examiner within a short period</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{237}" paraid="1198739225" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Are you sure you want to drive a jet ski </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen – most good drivers either scribble “Who cares” across the sheet or come back questioning which end of the pen are they to write with</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">U</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">sually it takes a good </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">3 to</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> 4 hours for most future jet ski drivers to finish the first question – “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">What is </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">your name</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” on the top of the sheet. </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">But let me check the answers you have given and we can take it from there”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{d2f781dc-268e-40ba-bfbc-fb3349a7816a}{244}" paraid="404250671" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Oh dear, Mr. Challen – on the question “What is the speed limit for Jet Skis in a waterway</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">T</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">he right answer is “Depends on how fast my jet ski is” not that sooky answer you have given talking about built up areas, mangroves, other people and other boats etc.”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{8}" paraid="455463326" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“You seem to struggle with some of the other questions </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen. The answers to the questions “What is the common name for swimmers</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">is</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">S</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">peedbumps”, “What is common name for people in canoes</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” is “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">T</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">argets” and “What is the common name for people on stand up boards</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” is “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">F</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">uture speedbumps””.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{15}" paraid="1825875848" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Here is another one you have wrong </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen. “How far should a driver of a jet ski travel down the river</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">” – the right answer is “It is time to turn around when no one can see me”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{34}" paraid="2077750906" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">n the question “</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">If you</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> come around a corner of a river and find 2 boats stationary – one boat </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">on the left </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">is 5 meters from the shore and fishing towards the shore and one boat is anchored in the middle of the river and people are reading books – which side of the river do you travel on and what speed should you be doing?”</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">t</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">he</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> correct answer is “Between the boat </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">on the left</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and the shore</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> keeping as close to the boat as possible and travelling as fast as possible”. We would have given extra merit marks if you had mentioned “Yelling and screaming as you go past” and </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">especially if you had used the</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> word “Donut” in the answer”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{39}" paraid="727737861" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“The right answer to the question “How close can you safely travel when passing someone on a non powered craft?” is </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">- </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“If I cannot see the white of their eyes then I am too far away””.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{42}" paraid="880920981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“On the question “Once you have launched your jet ski at the ramp – what distance away from the ramp is seen as a safe distance before you “set up camp”?” The correct answer is “Right at the ramp – that way I can leave my car on the ramp, open up the doors and have the stereo playing at full bore and my friends can stand on top of the roof of the car and watch me whilst giving loud whoops and screaming”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{56}" paraid="1008650163" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“Oh dear oh dear oh dear.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I do not think that owning and driving a Jet Ski is really the right thing for you to do Mr. Challen. I see on the question “You are bringing your Jet Ski into the riverbank and there are lots of people swimming around your landing area – what actions should you take and what </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">is the driving method you should adopt</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">?” </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">that</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> you struggled with the correct </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">answer. This</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> is a common </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">occurrence</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Mr. Challen and it is important that you get this right. There are a number of answers you could have given that are correct but the answer you have given about slowing down and taking aversion action and maybe walking the Jet Ski into the bank is not one of the correct answers. You could have written the following “I would accelerate whilst using one of the following driving methods – The No Hands Method, The One Hand on the Steering Handle Whilst Waving with the Other Hand Method, The Handstand Method, The Sitting Backwards Method, The Eyes Closed Method or even the </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Blindfold</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Method” would have been correct and shown that you really understand the expected actions of a responsible Jet Ski driver”</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{67}" paraid="1299963113" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen I could go on and on with these answers but, in reality, I do not think you are suited for a license to drive a jet ski and I feel that allowing you to drive a jet ski would only cause all jet ski owners to get a bad name. I think you should either give up the idea completely or spend more time around </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jet Ski</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> drivers and watch and study the way they act and maybe you might get some idea of what we are looking for in a </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jet Ski</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> driver. Good day </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Mr.</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Challen”. </span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{69}" paraid="724582197" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{74}" paraid="1121682348" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Again I apologize to all responsible Jet Ski owners and drivers. I understand that owning a</span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jet Ski could be fun and if the craft is used responsibly then there would be a “ton of fun”. </span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{77}" paraid="985452630" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">But as a person who wants to use the water to swim in, to paddle in and to sail in – I also know that irresponsible Jet Ski drivers are dangerous and can spoil a “good day out”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{80}" paraid="2124317466" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I also know that there are many boat drivers who are just as dangerous and just as irresponsible and many of the above comments could be applied to them.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{83}" paraid="330971403" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I certainly think there should be blog written about boat owners who cannot reverse their trailers down ramps, who do not prepare their boats for launch BEFORE they reverse down the ramp, who park their trailers and their cars in ridiculous places because they “just want to get out boating” as fast as possible, who do not understand that the propeller that drives the boat along is very dangerous to swimmers and other people who are in the water.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{85}" paraid="347542421" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{88}" paraid="1653804167" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">On the other hand I think I could also write a blog on people who think swimming near a ramp is OK. People who think that all other people and crafts should get out of their road, who feel that the ramp is a good place to walk down and stand there looking down the river whilst someone is trying to reverse their boat or trailer down the ramp, who feel fishing off the ramp or near the ramp is OK and all boat owners should “bugger off”.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{91}" paraid="343178900" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">There is fault, on lots of levels, with people who go on holidays and basically “leave their brains at home” but maybe one day everyone will consider their impact on other people and we can all live in harmony and enjoy ourselves without causing problems for other people.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX100173350" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX100173350" paraeid="{ce8b5c0c-3096-483b-98d3-519041f403c0}{94}" paraid="1953618861" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">In the mean time – I need to go and study Jet Ski ownership just in case I get hit on my head with a hammer and end up wanting to own a jet ski.</span><span class="EOP SCX100173350" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6585055141082315904.post-3166910563799697032016-01-03T15:09:00.001-08:002016-01-03T15:09:21.100-08:00The true meaning of Christmas according to Davo <br />
<br />
When I was very young I lived a lot of my time in a parallel world I call my “Fantasy World”. I believed in Santa Claus, fairies, gnomes, dragons, that men could fly, that good would always beat evil, superheroes were real and that I would rule the world. It was a world where unicorns were real, knights saved damsels in distress, Jason of the Argonauts existed, Biggles fought the Red Baron, the Lone Ranger and Tonto were alive and well and lived inside my brain and Superman saved the world on a daily basis.<br />
Most children I have known are born to believe in this fantasy world – the characters change but the reality of the imagination does not. It is only over time does the child leave this fantasy world behind and enter the “Real Logical World” and some never enter the fantasy world again.<br />
<br />
But to me the world of fantasy was real and no more so than at Christmas time. I lived my young life (in the 1950’s) in Mount Isa and all my relatives lived in Western Australia so Christmas revolved around my immediate family of mother, father and two brothers.<br />
My father had spent 6 years fighting in the 2nd world war (3 ½ of them as a prisoner of war in Germany) and only after returning to Australia did he get married, have a family, got a job and decided to do University at night. We did not have a lot of money, so at Christmas time we would go into the bush and find a Eucalypt sapling and cut it down, take it home, put it into a bucket of dirt, put coloured paper around the bucket and place pine cones (sprayed with white paint) around the bottom and put it in the corner of the lounge room. Then we would put decorations over the tree and hang paper chains around the room. (When I was around 5 years of age my father and mother bought some lights that we could put into the tree so that it lit up at night.)<br />
I thought the tree was magnificent and would stare at it for hours and let my imagination run wild – I could see reindeer in the snow, I could hear the tinkle of bells as the sledge was pulled by horses, I could hear the laughter of many families that lived in northern countries where snow fell and where families skated on ice.<br />
We would place the Christmas gifts under the tree a few days before Christmas and woe behold anyone who damaged or touched those presents – they were there to be viewed and wondered at, but “do not touch”. I would sit for hours at night (we had no TV) and I would stare at those presents with my name on them and I would imagine the most wonderful thoughts about what lay inside.<br />
On Christmas night, my mum would hang the special Stocking from the foot of my bed and she would tell me the most wonderful stories about Christmas’s past and about Santa. I would try to stay awake at night to hear Santa coming but every time I would fall asleep and there, in the morning, was my stocking full of special gifts that Santa had bought me.<br />
Then it was time to sit around the Christmas tree as my father (sitting in his favourite chair) would read out the card on each present and hand it to the appropriate family member. The house would be full of laughter and joy as we opened our gifts and interacted with each other.<br />
<br />
It was a wonderful world my fantasy world - but, like all good things it came to an end as I grew up. When I was around 8 years of age I was told by my friend that Santa was not real and that it really was my parents who were filling up the stocking. I was not devastated nor was I emotionally traumatized – it was a natural progression from going from the fantasy world into the real world.<br />
As the years have rolled on I left my fantasy world behind (with the occasional visit late at night when all around me were asleep) and I become more and more involved with the logical world. I was given some grave news about my own health in the 1980’s and suddenly there was no fantasy world. For over 8 years I lived with an uncertain future and all my time and effort went into living in the real world. I eventually won my battle but by then the fantasy world was far away and long forgotten.<br />
<br />
Then, in 1994, my wife and I were blessed with a son and again my fantasy world returned. I would sit up at night holding my son and watching movies such as “Hook”. As my son grew older I introduced my son to my fantasy world – we would fight the pirates together, we would slay dragons with a single blow, we would fly spacecrafts to the distant galaxies and we would laugh and laugh at Dr Seuss.<br />
Again the magic of Christmas returned and again Santa became real and Christmas developed real meaning – it was a time of being together as a family, a time to be thankful with what we had, it was time to reconnect with extended family and friends, it was a time when we could put our troubles behind us for awhile and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.<br />
This time I could marvel at the imagination of my son as he watched the Christmas tree, as he gazed into the night sky on Christmas Eve and as he struggled to stay awake so that he could see Santa Claus. And I enjoyed every minute of it.<br />
But again the fantasy was taken away – one day my son came home and informed us that Santa was not real and from that moment on my fantasy world dimmed and the real world again took its place.<br />
My son has grown up now and left home and is living in Brisbane.<br />
My fantasy world does not come visiting very often and my time is spent in the real world of business and veterinary work.<br />
I still love Christmas and over the last few weeks I have discussed Christmas with many clients and the majority of the clients were not “fussed” with Christmas and felt “it is becoming too commercialized”. In fact a lot of them had not put up any decorations at home and were planning quiet Christmas day at home and had no plans for visiting relatives or friends.<br />
It was with these thoughts that I headed off to Brisbane on Christmas day – I left early in the morning as my son was working that day and I wanted to see him before he went to work. After driving for 5 hours I finally arrived at his unit only to find him gone. I rang him on his mobile – he had decided to leave early because he was not sure of the traffic and had forgotten that I was coming.<br />
In fact he had even forgotten it was Christmas and as I ended the phone call I realised that he had not even wished me “Merry Christmas”. My son has Aspergers (watch Sheldon in the “Big Bang Theory”) and the real logical world lives and breathes in my son – he had just forgotten it was Christmas.<br />
<br />
Later that day I attended a family Christmas “get together” where my father, my brothers, their wives, their sons and daughters and their sons and daughters come together and share gifts. I was sitting in a chair, thinking about my son and hoping all was OK in his world, when a young great nephew (I think that is right – the son of a nephew of mine) came up and showed my “what Santa had bought”. As I listened to him, I looked into his eyes and my fantasy world was revisited– as he told me the story about Santa and the gifts Santa had bought I could see Santa in his sleigh flying across the pupils of his eyes and the memories of a childhood past came calling again.<br />
My mother died a few years ago but my father is still alive and going well (he is 95 years of age) and every year he sits in a comfortable chair and one of the older children bring the presents to him and he reads out the label and then the gift is given to the appropriate person.<br />
I am a perimeter type person – I sit in the background and I watch and listen rather than participate in the program. As I watched, my mind entered the fantasy world and suddenly the artificial Christmas tree with all its magnificent decorations and the people in the room disappeared and in its place was a Eucalypt sapling and there under the tree was a blond haired boy sitting at his Dad’s feet waiting for his name to be called out. And then in that moment I could feel my mother’s hand in mine and I could hear her words “Continue to believe”.<br />
The true meaning of Christmas started to live inside me again and in that moment my concerns myself and for my son vanished – the fact that he did not remember that his dad was coming to see him or that it was Christmas was not relevant in his world - he was happy and healthy, he was proud that he had a job and he wanted to be responsible to his employer and not be late and that was the most important relevance to him.<br />
<br />
For those people who feel there is no meaning in Christmas – let me remind you that Christmas is about family, about friends, about giving and forgiving, and being thankful for what we have and more than everything Christmas is about letting your imagination go wild and entering that fantasy world you left as a child. You do not need to spend a lot of money, you do not need give big presents, you do not need to eat yourself into oblivion – you just need to revisit your childhood and let your emotions rule your head for a short time. If nothing else – be thankful for what you have rather than what you do not have. Remember the people who are no longer with us and be thankful that we had the opportunity to know them.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas (belated) to all and have a wonderful 2016Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6585055141082315904.post-31855119052008967672015-11-30T23:32:00.005-08:002015-11-30T23:32:53.004-08:00The December Blog 2015 <br />
<strong>Before I start on “my journey through life” I would like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and I hope that 2016 grants all your wishes. I want to thank everyone who has visited my business over the last 12 months and I look forward to seeing you in 2016.</strong> <br />
<br /><br />
<br />
These blogs are based on areas of my life – both as a person and as a veterinarian. I have started explaining the journey that led from me joining an outrigger canoe club to where I was involved with the world’s 3rd longest outrigger canoe race this year (our canoe got a 3rd in the Open section). <br />
But this month I would like to comment on a “walk” I had with my wife (Rhonda) up a mountain called Wild Horse Mountain (this mountain can be seen on the left side of the road as you drive the Brisbane – south of Nambour) in November this year. <br />
<br />
It all started whilst driving to Brisbane on family errands when the conversation got around to how fit Rhonda was especially compared to myself. Now I know that these comments were aimed to hurt me psychologically because anyone who has seen me in the last 12 months knows what peak fitness I keep myself in. <br />
It is only in the last 2 months I had visited our family doctor who, in 2014,had compared my body and fitness to a whale (he actually recommended that I should not swim where there were Japanese and a harpoon gun) and this year congratulated me on my achievements and said that if I was only 8 foot 7 inches tall then I would be in my ideal weight range. <br />
So here we were driving down the Pacific Highway heading to Brisbane when on our left side was a notice telling us of the lookout on top of Lone Horse Mountain. We had plenty of time and I had been listening for the last 2 hours on how she was getting “old” (it is necessary to let you all know that I am 8 years older than Rhonda so every time she complains about her age she does not get a very sympathetic ear). At the same time she was commenting on how fit she was and “what a slug” I was becoming. <br />
“Why don’t we go walk up the mountain?” I said as passed the sign. I had seen this lookout many times from the road and thought I would like to go up there one day – I knew that you cannot drive up there and I thought it is about time someone taught this woman a lesion. <br />
My intention was to “flog” her up the mountain and when she collapsed in an exhausted heap half way up the mountain then I would save the day and help her the rest of the way and when at the top I would remind her that age does not play a role and even though I am 8 years older I am still in peak form and she should be proud to have me as her partner. <br />
“OK” she said “But no taking off and leaving me behind – I may need your arm to help me get to the top”. <br />
“No problems” I replied whilst thinking – little does she realize how fit I really was under this facade of “flab”. Why it was only the other day I finished a training session at the local gym and the trainer did not have to use the oxygen mask and it only took me 10 minutes before I could stand up – yes I am a man of steel and would charge up this mountain leaving a gasping wife in my wake. <br />
So we parked at the bottom of the hill and headed on up <br />
Now this path up the mountain is divided into basically 5 sections with a blind corner at each section so that you cannot see the next section until you turn the corner. The path is approximately 1 kilometre in length and the person who made the path was a sadist (and a fit one at that). <br />
We started up the first section – approx. 20 degree incline. At first Rhonda and I chatted pleasantly but by the end of the first section Rhonda was still talking but I was starting to breathe a lot faster and only answering her in grunts and monosyllable statements. I secretly knew that she must be hurting inside and I was holding myself in reserve for the final push ahead. <br />
Then we came to the first corner. <br />
The incline increased by around 10 degrees. By now Rhonda was exclaiming on the beautiful view and I was having a panoramic view of my shoe laces. Up we go – I am struggling but I know, deep inside, Rhonda must be hurting a lot even though she is putting on a brave face and trying to pretend that she is under no stress and doing the climb easily. <br />
Then we came to the next corner. <br />
It seems to me that now the incline is more like 60 degrees. By this time I am bent parallel to the ground and the arms are pumping hard. Up ahead I can hear Rhonda talking about the view and taking photos as she walks. At one time she suggests that she should take a photo of me but after I pass an opinion on what the camera is going to look like when they eventually find it at the bottom of the mountain so she decides it might be best to just stick to photographing the scenery. By now my lungs are busting, the heart is pumping and the sweat is pouring off my forehead but I am still next to my wife. <br />
Then we came to the next corner. <br />
I am sure the incline increased to 75 degrees. My eyes cannot see because the sweat is pouring down my forehead and into my eyes. My lungs are busting, I am sure I am dealing with altitude sickness and my brain has basically ceased to function. My tongue has swollen to 3 times its size and I am sure that my head is so close to my shoes that I could lick the dirt off the toe area. I am weaving from side to side of the track and my knuckles are dragging on the ground. A little old grey haired man passes me pushing his “walker” and then kindly offers to let me use the “walker”. A family pass me (heading up the mountain) – I look up to see in their midst a grandmother on crutches with a broken leg still talking to the rest of the family about the scenery and what she is having for lunch when they get back to the bottom of the hill. My wife had disappeared – “ha ha I have outdone her” I thought to myself. Only to hear her calling my name form the top of the path at the next corner. <br />
“Come on David – you will love the view from here and the next section is only a short one”. <br />
Then we came to the last corner! <br />
I am sure Sir Edmond Hillary used this last section to train on before he climbed Everest. I will swear that last section was a shear 90 degree straight up. By this time I am down to my knees and pulling myself along with my nails. I looked around for a climbing rope only to see a 2 year old child passing me whilst holding the hand of her great great grandmother who was walking with a white cane while holding onto her Seeing Eye dog who struggled up the path because of the cast on its broken back leg. <br />
Meanwhile my wife is calmly talking to a group of tourists about 200 meters ahead and pointing out areas of interest and assisting them taking photos. <br />
I eventually did make it to the top and Rhonda tells me the views were fantastic but everywhere I looked I could only see a red haze. Rhonda had got tired of waiting for me and she was concerned that the noise from my gasping was starting to upset some of the babies that were in the strollers that the parents were pushing up. <br />
I would like to thank the group of Japanese tourists who assisted in giving me CPR and I would like to thank the ambulance workers who braved the heights of the mountain to assist me back to the car (they must have been telling jokes amongst themselves all the time because they kept sniggering and laughing all the way down the mountain). <br />
I would also like to thank the Lions club of the area for donating the oxygen therapy equipment the ambulance workers used to ease my breathing as well as the local Heart Foundation for the use of their defibrillator that was used to “stabilize the beating drum inside my chest”. <br />
<br />
I am now in intense training for the next assault on the mountain and I have told Rhonda that by the end of 2016 I will be beating her to the top. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6585055141082315904.post-31630283546720858282015-11-01T22:22:00.001-08:002015-11-01T22:22:36.419-08:00November 2015 - Part 2<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A few months ago (on my last Davo's Corner
in the monthly newsletter) I wrote about joining an elite team of paddlers and
heading to Cairns for an ultra marathon race using 6 man Outrigger canoes that
race in "Open water". </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is my story of the lead up to and the
actual event (and I may add some of the after-story).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This will take a few blogs (or longer if I
get side tracked along the way and discuss other aspects of my life)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It all started a few years ago - I was in
my normal peak physical fitness (along with good looks and radiant
personality), for example I was able to jump puddles in a single bound, I could
lift heavy weights with ease (it was not uncommon to see me lift two bottles of
beer – whilst they were full – above my head), my muscles were bulging with
energy (in fact my chest muscles had
expanded to extend to my waist) and I was able to “run like the wind” (my wife
did point out at the time that the only wind I could outrun was the hot air
coming from my mouth – but she has always been a cynical person who has envied
my fitness). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Over the last 15 years of intense training
I had tried different sports - dry land synchronized swimming, backward
mountain bike riding on flat ground, competitive belly flopping off the side
of a pool, upside down buck jumping on rocking horses and (my favourite)
- 3 legged racing with only one person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There was no doubt (in my mind) that I was
an elite athlete and I was disappointed (and surprised) when Olympic selectors
did not recognize “Greatness” even when I was willing to send YouTube's and
Facebook photos of myself in training (in fact I was threatened with court
action if I ever sent them another photo of myself in purple
"Speedos" before a Dry Land synchronized Swimming training session I
held at the local park).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I had decided to look at other
sports and felt that sitting in a canoe (I already had the big bottom, so I
would not need any form of padding on my seat) and paddling was the sport for
me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I joined the local Outriggers Club (at
the mouth of the Burnett River) and started on a journey that would see me off
Cairns in mountainous waves racing towards Port Douglas with 5 other fit and
insane men (who seemed to enjoy the pain and the suffering that is part of
ultra marathon racing). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But I get ahead of myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I joined the club and immediately I was
recognized for future greatness by the rest of the paddlers (they obviously
recognized that by having me in their boat was a huge disadvantage to other
crews and that the other boats would not be able to keep up - so as a
group they all voted that it would be best not to be in any boat or at least
not in their boat). It was often stated at training, that they would prefer me
to go on a single man canoe and preferably in the opposite direction then they
were going.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If I went in a 6 person canoe the other
paddlers would be concerned of the tremendous advantage they had and were often
heard to yell "I want to paddle in another canoe" or at one time 5 of
the crew I was with suddenly got emergency calls and had to go home before we
could start.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was not long before I became a
"valued" member of the club and earned a nickname - "Ballast".
(We all know that earning a nickname means that you are respected and well
liked in any sporting club.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So after 3 days of intense training I was
ready "to take on the world" and I was surprised when I heard that it
normally takes people up to 2 years of intense training to get ready for racing.
It was fortunate that I have that natural ability to "lift" and
become tuned for the high level of sport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was lucky that there was a race event
that the club wanted to compete in and they were missing one crew member - so
in I grabbed the opportunity and entered my first race. It was only sprint
racing - over 2Kl. "It will be over before you know it" the captain of
the team told me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What they did not tell me is that a top
canoe will travel around 12Kl/hr and that means that the race would take around
10 – 15 minutes. I am not sure what went wrong in our race but I swear our race
took 2 hours (the rest of the crew disagree but I am sure it took that long).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I turned up on the day “ready for action” -
I was wearing my yellow lyrca shirt and pants (in case we flipped and the
rescue boat would be able to see me), I had on my green "legionnaires
cap" and my pink gloves. I had drunk 6 liters of water to stop dehydrating
and I had eaten 8 protein bars and 5 bananas (for potassium). In my research I
had found the biggest reasons why people "hit the wall" is because of
lack of energy or from dehydration. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I know that I "sloshed” as I went from
the beach to the boat and I know I sounded like a waterbed as I climbed over
the edge of the canoe and got into my seat but I was not going to let my crew
down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was wearing my heart monitor to make sure
I did not enter into the anaerobic zone "too early" and I knew my
maximum heart rate was 180 per minute. As we paddled out to the starting line I
noticed my heart rate was now at 280 beats per minute - "the energy and
protein bars are working well" I thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In OC6 racing the starter uses different
coloured flags and the captain of the boat calls these out "We have an
orange, now it’s yellow, green is up" etc. This means that the canoe and
its crew must get ready to edge up to the starting line, stop on the line and
then start when the green flag is dropped. But I was not aware of this at the
time so when the captain said "We have an orange" - I replied that I
only had one banana but I did have 2 protein bars and I was more than willing
to share.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The green flag fell and we were off! The
other boats surged ahead as the members of each crew paddled in unison and
drove their canoe forward. When I say “the other boats” what I really meant was
that ours seemed to have something holding us back – maybe the captain had
thrown out a sea anchor or something. We more or less “staggered” over the
starting line and seemed to decelerate from there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The crew were yelling at me “to slow down
and stop thrashing” – I was a virtual whirlwind of action. My paddle was going
in and out of the water at a great rate – I was throwing water all over the
people behind me and filling up the canoe with sea water at a rapid rate. So I
grabbed the bailing bucket and started throwing water out of the boat but in my
haste I was now drowning the crew in front of me – at least now everyone was in
no danger of overheating from the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The crew member in front of me grabbed the
bailing bucket and started to lower the water level in the boat whilst the
other members started to paddle. By now the other boats were at least 200
meters ahead of us but all was not lost – we had a plan. If we all paddled to
out maximum and stayed in unison then our superior fitness should give us a
good chance to at least not be last.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So we settled in – stroking around 75
strokes per minute and looking good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We seemed to have paddled for a long distance
when the cramps started to occur in my body (the crew stated later that we had
only gone 100 meters but I find that hard to believe). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The first cramp hit me in the right leg
causing my leg to bend. Then within a minute or so the left side of the abdomen
started to cramp causing me to start to bend to the left at the waist. Then the
right arm started to cramp in the biceps. By now I was a cripple – contractions
hitting me from every side and not able to move my arms or my legs properly
causing my paddling technique to become nonexistent (surprising it was reported
later that it was about this time our boat started to go faster and catch the
other boats in the race).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then the pain started in the chest!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is talk that there was squealing
sounds “like a girl” coming from the canoe as I clutched my chest and dropped
my paddle over the side of the boat. There is malicious talk that I went “white
as a ghost” and started sobbing but I find that hard to believe. (I am used to
pain – it was only the other day that I stubbed my toe on a toadstool and did
not make a sound).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Obviously the crew was concerned and amidst
cries of sympathy such as “Bloody hell!” and “Bugger” we headed back to the
beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After extensive tests and emergency
treatment I survived (obviously I would not be writing this article) – there
was some talk about “Gas associated with the overabundance of fluids and fruit
fermenting in the stomach” but no one was completely sure of the cause of the
pain. All we know is when I finally loosened my lyrca pants and removed my
shirt, I burped (and passed wind from other areas) and the blood returned to my
face and the pain seemed to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I would like to thank the ambulance
workers, the air sea rescue, the volunteers on the shore who carried me to the
hospital tent, my crew members for being so understanding and my wife (for not
putting photos and messages on Facebook).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Next month I will continue the saga that
lead to me paddling in a canoe around 8 Kl out to sea off Cairns in high seas
and strong winds and heading towards Port Douglas (I was not scared – I just
acted that way to make the rest of the crew feel brave). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Dr David</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6585055141082315904.post-73251607256358195892015-11-01T22:17:00.000-08:002015-11-01T22:17:39.811-08:00November 2015 part 1 - AND IT BEGINS!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
Davo’s corner was started in 1995 when I was starting
writing monthly newsletters and I wanted to document my personal life and
goals. It is my way of laughing at myself and the world that I live in. Most of
the issues discussed in Davo’s corner are based on real issues and real events
but with a touch of satire and a smidgen of imagination and fantasy to aid the
humour or the warped way that I see the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my journey of life, I am aided by my wife Rhonda who has
to suffer my sense of humour and my view of the world. She has been suffering
my company for over 35 years and has developed a “way of coping” by letting me
rave and rant and then reminding me of the reality of life. She is supported by
everyone she meets – it is very usual for people to say “You poor thing”, “How
do you cope?”, “Have you ever thought of leaving home?”, “It is good of you to
sacrifice your life to care for him”, “You are nothing like I thought you would
be after reading his comments”, “There will be a place for you in heaven after
living hell here on earth” (and these are only the good comments people make
after dealing with me and then talking to Rhonda).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the last 21 years Rhonda has been assisted with our
child Matthew who is totally embarrassed by his dad (that’s me) and like all
young men he wants nothing to do with myself or anyone else in authority. He
has a keen sense of humour (developed after living and growing with me over the
last 21 years) and enjoys lazing around and basically living off his parent’s
goodwill and money (hence we do not have a lot of money).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we have our dogs – they are all Boxers and are as mad
as Boxer’s can be and they enjoy life to the full whenever they have a chance.
I am often seen walking my dogs in the early hours of the morning (usually
before the sun comes up) either in some paddocks or on the beach at Woodgate. I
can relate to my dogs very easily – we are all mildly insane and we all love life
and I am trying to learn to wag my tail so that we can all madly become excited
about the simplest of things that happen on our walk. I must admit I am
struggling to run around with a stick between my teeth and I do not fancy
eating kangaroo poo but otherwise we are all the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the years, since I first started writing Davo’s Corner,
I have had lots of different areas of life to write about but one area is still
the main area of topic – my desire to represent my country in some form of
sport. I would love to go to the Olympics as a competitor and I have tried many
different sports trying to excel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a few things holding me back (as my good wife
Rhonda has pointed out on many occasions) – the main one being a lack of talent
for any sport but there is also my age (I now have qualified for a senior card
for a number of years), my weight (if I was 7 foot tall I would be the perfect
weight but I am only around 5 foot 6 inches tall) and the fact that I struggle
with hand eye co-ordination (and hand feet co-ordination along with eye feet
co-ordination).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I see these as small speed bumps on the road to success
and I continue to surge ahead in my quest for greatness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know below this quivering exterior there is an athlete
that is struggling to get out and to have the recognition of the world for his
greatness. I may look middle aged (“What is that snigger for, Rhonda?”), I may
look a little podgy (“Again with the snigger dear”,) I may have slightly
thinning hair (“You really do need to work on controlling your snorting and
sniggering Rhonda”), I may throw “like a girl” (“What do you mean “like a girl Hippopotamus”,
Rhonda”), I may be a bit clumsy when I run (“Try to control your sarcastic
laughter Rhonda”) and my ability to stay upright when riding a bicycle may
leave a little to be desired (“Get off the floor and stop laughing Rhonda”) but
deep down inside I know I have the ability to be “the best” in a sport and
stand on the podium “as a winner”. I dream of accepting the gold medal at an
Olympics and I will continue the search for greatness (and then I may look at
changing my wife to someone who appreciates me).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I seem to run out of room on my newsletters by the time I
get to Davo’s Corner and I can only occasionally write about my quest “for
gold”. Then someone mentioned that I could start a blog once a month and write
about my journey in a page of its own. I initially scoffed at the idea but the
more I thought about it the better it seemed. This “blog” would give me a
platform to express my ideas on a range of topics (all about me) and I could
fool myself that someone may actually read them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are times in the following blogs I will revisit some
episodes in my past that I feel may be relevant (or I have run out of words to
say and I want to make it easier for myself) but most blogs will involve issues
that are happening “now” or have just happened and I am looking back on my
journey through that issue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let us get on with it – the Davo’s Corner Blog in all its
non edited and raw form straight from my computer to you. Over the next few
months or years we will visit many different facets of my sporting life – the
first one to discuss is my quest to represent my country in the sport of paddling
Outrigging Canoes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr David</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090593850761287725noreply@blogger.com0