Bead de jour

Bongo

I had the rest of the beads in this series to post - but my computer has other ideas & is insisting on running at 100% CPU usage. So I can't even edit the darn photo right now.

I've added a couple more photo's of Sophie to the post below. There is a really great video online of her in the race, she turns around just after she finshes & realises that she's second - the look on her face is priceless.
There is also a great chat to her at the poolside afterwards - but it's in the middle of an hour long video about yesterdays event's & I can't seperate it to show you. I'll try & find a link to a short version later & post it in the post below.

Meet a Very Special Young Lady

Sophie

One of the guests at the engagement party was my cousin's daughter, Sophie.
Now I have blogged about Sophie back in May - so I wont go into too much history.

Sophie is an extraordinary young lady. Personally, I am still left wondering when she morphed from a gangly kid into this beautiful 15 year old person - it seems only a moment ago that I was carrying tired 10 year old to my car - because her newly fitted prosthetic leg was hurting her.
You see , Sophie lost a leg in an accident at 2 years old, at the time of the accident it was thought that she may loose both legs - fortunately she didn't.

In 8 days time she is heading towards Beijing to participate in the Paralymics which runs Sepetember 6-17th, following directly on the tail of the Olympics. Part of New Zealand's 3 man, or rather 2 man & 1 woman strong swim team - she is the youngest ever contender from this country.
That's no surprise to us - she gives able bodied adult woman a good run for their money in her chosen events & has in fact beat some of their national records.

Right now Sophie is a bit tired, she has a nasty cough & has been training hard out - swimming 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) per week, which she will continue to do until she competes in Beijing.

Wish her luck :o)

Sophie & some old chick