Incommunicado.....

Tomorrow, I will attend my only Goddaughter's First Holy Communion. I hope it is sunny and I hope she smiles! I am thinking back to my own 'day out' 33 years ago. Outside my bedroom door in the hallway, the photo hangs, Dad, me and Mum. Mum is the only one smiling, myself and Dad wince in the May morning sunlight, Mum nudges me and through her teeth (like a ventriloquist) tells me to smile too. Too late, no digital re-takes! An eternal grimace.

I've not been up to much recently, I hope to be in Finland in July for Wife Carrying. It looks like I will only be a spectator...there's a drought of strong thirsty men in the world....!!But as a Finnish Champion Wife Carrier once paraphrased to me "YUUULIA! Laife's laike a bux of chukolaites.....!!"

I've come a long way baby! Greetings from the Goldfields of Kalgoorlie, W.A.

Well folks, I have left picturesque yet sunless Finland, my life in Saariselka as an Elf is well and truly over. It was fun but tough. I made lots of friends and even more memories.

Here I am on a very humid Summer night in Western Australia. I have just checked my flag counter and my latest visitor is from Iran and I had those mixed feelings that must strike every lazy blogger. Pride and Guilt, Proud that somebody from a new country has clicked in and the Guilt of not writing often or well enough.
To all of you that check in on me and my exploits, I thank you, it means a lot...!

I reached Perth in the middle of the night 2 weeks ago and overnighted in a motel. Motels are strange places that always stink of men, I don't know why and I'd rather not know why! The first thing an Irish woman does is check the surroundings for spiders and pull the bed away from the wall in case my arachnoid buddies climb up the wall and into my ears during the night.

Next, check the toilet for more creatures. Bang the lid, flush and check toilet roll holders for reclusive spiders.
Then, see how low can the air con go! I had been in Finland 2 weeks previously at-34c . Australia is far too hot for me but it's a chance to see old friends and make new ones.

I had an interesting week in my next port of call Geraldton where I was the guest of the very hospitable people of the City of Geraldton Greenough. I spent time doing radio/ TV interviews and having a very nice time. I was honoured to help them with their Australia Day celebrations, I was MC for their inaugural Wife Carrying race.

I finally had my dream come true! I went on a return visit to The Principality of Hutt River, there I was greeted by H.R.H Prince Leonard and H.R.H. Princess Shirley and their son Crown Prince Ian and his wife Princess Annette and Sir Steve Baikie ADC and his wife Dame Chris Baikie. I got across the border whilst enduring +43c with the help of Geraldton-Greenough P.R.O. Sue Chiera , together we all entered the Chapel at Nain and went though a ceremony bestowing me with my Damehood "for my service to the State for International Sports". I am now Dame Julia Galvin of the Serene Order of Leonard. It was all very formal, the sword came close to my ears but here I am to tell the tale.


All good things come to an end, I flew back to Perth and experienced city life with friends before flying to my Australian H.Q. in Kalgoorlie. Here, I have the advice and friendship of Ciara and Aaron who help to "ground" this old foreigner and "re-group the troop" and assist me in my next campaign...S.A. and the East!

I have been practicing for my bog snorkelling events here in their lovely garden swimming-pool and watching on the TV the terrible troubles of the people of Queensland, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Many thanks to all that are making my trip so memorable.....2 weeks down...! Beautiful Adelaide next!

Sliding into Christmas!

Hello my lovelies!!

I hope that this finds you all well! With Christmas right around the proverbial corner I hope that you are all on the "Nice" list and you get everything you need from Mr. Claus. My wish to you this year is...

LOVE, PEACE, HEALTH & HAPPINESS!

It is probably not a good time of year to Bog Snorkel in Europe at the moment as it is quite cold.

I want to thank my fans, friends and supporters who have done their best in keeping my 'ship' afloat..especially the people of Llanwrtyd-Wells, Sonkajarvi, Finland, The Australians and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley of The Principality of Hutt River.

Some of you may know, I have dual citizenship of both Ireland and The Principality of Hutt River and this year I had the pleasure of becoming The P.H.R. Official Representative For Novelty and Bizarre Sports. (There's a link to the Principality here on the right)

Of course, last but not least, deepest thanks to my main sponsor since 1970... My Dad Frank Galvin!!

God Bless! Julia XXX

Julia holds up her good name.

I have been competing at Eukonkannon MM-kisat since 2003. I still can't spell that word after all this years let alone to pronounce it!

I'm a finer specimen of a woman (i.e. bigger) than most women that enter this
World Championships. Some people have asked in the past if I find it troublesome competing with the 49kg ladies. I simply tell them the objects of the race, namely 1. Win the woman's weight in beer and 2. Have fun!

Coming to Finland for the first time in 2003 I had many preconceptions about
the place, I thought that it would be colder, greyer, windier and wetter than
Ireland. That everybody had a reindeer and that not one person would understand
me!

Wowee! I was blown straight out of the water on all accounts! Most people in
Ireland go to the south of Europe for a "sun holiday". I have been advising all
my friends to come to Finland, where 24hr sunshine and clean and active living
is the order of the day.

Food, fishing, saunas, lake swimming, BBQ's and parties all the time, the
Finns put down a great summer of entertaining themselves and their neighbours.
Their gardens are lush and full of beautiful flowers. You may think I'm
painting a "Too Beautiful" image of the place but believe me, come here and see
for yourself.

Unlike the Irish, the Finns are a little more reserved at the start but "to
know a Finn is to love a Finn"! Once you get past that austere shell you will
find the most loving, giving, spiritual and hilarious people that love to talk!

I love them so much I came back to see the winter, it's snowing and last night
it was -17c! Ireland has a temperate climate so anything below -4c is a great
cause of excitement for me. The houses are hot and snow is just like sugar,
crunchy underfoot - not the best for making snowmen!

Speaking of men - I must say the Finnish men are very beautiful! Other scenery includes Christmas trees, green in the summer and white in the winter and lakes, dark and bottomless in the summer and solid ice in the winter. Cross country skiing is a local activity in the winter that I'm going to try today!

The race itself? On the day about 8000 spectators come to watch at the local
school running track, some people come in fancy dress, some in the latest high
tech running gear. The most competitive are the Estonians, they have been
winning this race for years! Every year they have a new way of carrying or
jumping.

I had the honour of being carried by former world champion Margo
Uusorg in 2007. It was an experience I'm unlikely to forget! I came 29th out
of the 44 couples. Not bad considering I have always come last in previous
years.

I don't know who is going to carry me in 2008 but I know I will see you there!