Luna Park Fun... how can it be called the scenic railway, when your eyes are tightly shut?

My Christmas gift to my cousin Jen and her 4 kids was to take them to Luna Park. It took a while, but we finally made it today.

I was determined to be brave and go on everything they did. No backing out. If I was scared, there was no way they were going to know a thing about it.

All good in theory, until we went on our first ride. Violet (the second youngest) was with me and I could feel her heart beating as she sat snugly against me. She asked me to hold on to her tightly. No problems, I thought, just who's holding on to me?

When we got off just two short minutes later, she was fine. Said she had a great time. Me on the other hand... my face was pale and sweaty and I am told I looked rather sickly. And I sure as hell felt it!

I don't remember the ride's name...
I call it the nauseator.
Two words...
NEVER AGAIN


Stunning day of sunshine and craziness.
And just in case you are wondering?
No. I didn't.
Not after the nauseator.


I did however, manage the Scenic Railway. The rollercoaster that has been scaring people witless for generations. What I don't understand is the name... yes I know it's high, I know it runs the border of the park, I know the view stretches to the beach and across the entire park... but how can it be called scenic, when your eyes are tightly shut?


Dodgem Speedster Monty.
You're never too young, or too old for the dodgems. So much fun, even for me at 42!


G-Force. And in the background, just part of the tracks for the Scenic Railway.


There were smiles all round.


This is the crew.


It was always going to be fun, with such a crazy bunch!
Thanks guys, I had a great day.


Glad to see I wasn't the only one exhausted at the end of it all!

How being fearless changed my life...

In 2006 I travelled to Sydney for what would be a life changing event. I arrived an arachnophobe and went home cured.

I attended Taronga Zoo's "fearless" program which is a 4 hour program that promised to cure my fear of spiders. It was incredible. I am a person who had spent years in fear of spiders, despite all logic and reason. When I found myself face to face with a huntsman and had to get a neighbour to remove it, I knew it was time to do something.

The Taronga program promised to cure me of my fear, and it was a total success. By the end of the day I was handling huntsmen in my bare hands and I even held a Chilean rose spider (a tarantula).

I have written about it before here and again here as I am so enthusiastic about the program, and so yesterday when I received an email saying they are running the program again, I decided to share it with you all once more. It was such an incredible life changing event I want everyone to consider it. It will change your life.

I used to be the girl who could not sit in a room if there was a huntsman sharing the same space. I once nearly threw myself out of a moving car when, as a teenager, a huntsman ran across my lap. The idea of going to bed with a spider in the house, let alone the same room was unbearable. Unthinkable even.

That was then, this is now.

Now I am free of the fear. I can collect any wayward spider up in a container and put it outside. I can go into the shed to collect wood for the fire without my heart rate increasing. And if there was one in the car, I wouldn't care. In fact, not long after I returned from Taronga Zoo I was driving my car and a huntsman ran up my windscreen and onto the roof. Not a problem. I arrived at my destination, I went on my date and I later returned to my car, found the spider, picked up a twig at the side of the road and flicked it off the car. No hesitation. No fear. No panic.

So if you want to be free of this fear that you know in your heart to be ridiculous, and you just didn't know how to do it... this is it. It probably sounds like an exaggeration, but it seriously changed my life.

Be brave. Make the call. Pay the money. Do the course. You won't regret it. And make sure you send me a link to your blog post when you get back. Because once you do it and you are free of your fear, you will want to shout it from the rooftops! Because if you can conquer fear, you can do anything you set your mind to!

Fearless At Taronga Info:
The cost is $250 per person, or $225 per person for bookings of 2 or more.
Spiders - Wednesday 28th October 2009, 9am – 1pm
Spiders - Thursday 29th October 2009, 9am – 1pm
And if you are scared of reptiles, they can help you too.
Reptiles - Friday 30th October 2009, 9am – 1pm

If you have any questions regarding the program contact Taronga Zoo Group Bookings on 02 9978 4782, or email fearless.information@gmail.com
Yes people - this is me! And THAT in my hand is a TARANTULA! If you look closely, I think it's smiling... just a little.