It's time to get extreme.

Today has been a big day at Chez Waffler, no, scrap that, today has been a HUGE day. Today my wee little Petal spread her wings and flew straight out of the nest and into a Prep class, her first day of full time school.

Le Artiste commenced Year Four but with the calm, cool demeanor of a seasoned pro. Well he is eight you know.

But there have been no tears, just smiles, old friends, new friends and the promise of lots of activities to keep their hungry little minds busy. All in all an excellent start to the new school year.

So this all got me to thinking, what lies ahead for Mama Waffler ? Well how about some extreme sports ? Now you may be forgiven for thinking, gosh Waffles, that's a little...urm...extreme don't you think ? But let me fill you in on a little detail that most of you don't already know. Back when Le Artiste was about two years old and Petal hadn't yet arrived on the scene, I decided that I was in a bit of a rut. I thought that I should try something new and challenging. Knitting ? I hear you suggest. Perhaps a spot of pottery ? What about painting your toenails red instead of pink ? Well yes, all good and valid suggestions, but no, I decided to take up rock climbing.

Why rock climbing ? I don't really know, I just thought that it looked like fun. Surely you've thought the same whilst watching a person dangling by their fingernails from the edge of a cliff.

Anyhoo, off I tootled to the indoor rock climbing centre, booked myself in for private lessons with a fairly easy on the eye instructor (ah yes, I am a mother but I most certainly am not blind), and began scaling rock walls. Yes I'll be the first to admit that as I hung from a rock wall which was parallel to the floor, with my instructors hands on my derriere, I did take a minute to wonder what on earth I was doing. But overall I really enjoyed the experience (no, not JUST the instructors hands on my derriere) and had a fabulous day when we finally went on an outdoor climb. Even the abseiling was fun.

So, now that I can cross rock climbing off the list I have found some other prospective sports which I am sure are just perfect for a 30 *ahem* something mother of two.

Base Jumping - Putting on my Super Girl costume and leaping off a tall building, praying that I remembered to put the parachute on under my cape.

Cliff Jumping - Putting on swimmers....oh...hang on...swimmers ? No scrap that one, anything that involves swim wear is waaaay too out there.

Free Running - Umm, running, freely, kind of, I think, with the odd back flip off a building and some monkey climbing that would make Donkey Kong proud.

Ice Climbing - Just like a rock, only icy.

Kitesurfing - Balancing on a board and flying an enormous kite whilst jumping over waves and dodging sharks, stingrays and deadly jelly fish...oh oops, swimmers again, no good.

Sand boarding - Balancing on a board and flying down sand dunes whilst avoiding sunstroke, scorpions, snakes and the odd camel.

Snow Kiting - See Kitesurfing, except colder due to the, ah, snow. The plus side for snow kiting over kitesurfing, no swim wear, unless you are crazy extreme and possibly a little bit deranged.

Now how on earth one decides between such fabulous options I just don't know, perhaps I'll go and have a little hit of Wii virtual golf whilst I mull it over. Extreme ? You bet I am.