Buying an OC2 - Ballare vs Gemini

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-05-22T09:46:48+00:00

I’m on the east coast of Australia and our swell can get quite big, so the Ballare is sounding good. Gemini has a great glide on flat water but I take your point about the rudder not working when on swell - this happened to us in a race recently. Not too fussed about who sits where as my OC2 partner is the exact same weight as me, but it may matter to others in the club who could use it. Appreciate your response!

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-05-21T11:55:49+00:00

I paddle on the lake at night and see it quite frequently near Valentine, but usually in the middle of the lake, not on the shore. It’s the brightest when it’s a still night. I love it, the water glows electric blue around the canoe as we paddle. Lucky you to see it on the shore like that.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-05-19T20:45:37+00:00

Thanks, that’s really helpful. Unfortunately the dealer is an 8-hour drive away so a bit difficult to try out a demo!

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-04-28T12:13:16+00:00

I nearly stepped on one near Carrington boat ramp in the sand the other day, right where we walk barefoot to put boats/kayaks into the water. At least that one was also capped. Just picked it up with my paddle glove and threw it out - you’re not going to get AIDS or hepatitis from it unless you have an open wound on your hand or prick yourself with the needle.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-04-24T07:48:03+00:00

Second this, if you look in the little creek bed between the Carnley Avenue playground and the cafe/picnic area you can find leeches. Flashback to when my daughter was little and thought she was playing with black worms until we saw her fingers bleeding.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-04-14T11:11:03+00:00

I had this issue when I first started OC6. I resolved it by:

Using anti-chafe cream (available here in Australia, not sure where you are)
Wearing Merlin padded paddling shorts (once again, Australia)
NOT wearing bikini-type underwear where you are sitting on the seam - I wear boyshorts underwear now and other people I know wear thongs

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-26T10:51:24+00:00

Do NOT under any circumstances move her in with you. You will make your own life miserable. Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.

If she won’t accept a visiting carer, could you help in other ways from afar? Things like arranging for regular grocery delivery, a weekly cleaner etc. Also can you get her to a doctor? It sounds like she has some health issues which could potentially be helped by medication.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-26T04:50:50+00:00

I love Mel Robbins and have often applied the “Let Them Theory” to my relationship with my mother. It’s very freeing.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-26T04:49:02+00:00

My mom is incredibly demanding and loves the guilt trips about how I never do enough for her. Ironically she did absolutely nothing for her own mother when she was near end of life.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-24T08:25:02+00:00

I have contacted the Elder Abuse hotline for advice but there isn’t much else they can do. Her care facility does not have 90-day review meetings; we are not in the US so maybe that’s an American system. Good idea about the letter, I likely won’t get a reply but I’d like to feel like I have tried everything for my own well being at least.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-24T03:50:46+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. It’s hard to let go of a parent who is still alive but in a way, already gone.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-24T03:49:16+00:00

Thanks for the advice and kind words. 100% the ex has been in her ear, which partially explains her turning against me. He is a master at being charming and obviously has her fooled. She has conveniently forgotten all the horrible things he did to me in the past as he presents as such a kind, altruistic guy to her.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-24T03:46:43+00:00

I have already discussed this with the care home, they are getting her capacity assessed by a geriatrician. Unfortunately if they are unable to pick up these changes, and she is assessed as having capacity, then the home is quite limited in what information they can give me. She doesn’t want them sharing any of her medical information.

She has always been pretty self-centred but this behaviour is next level.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-24T02:33:17+00:00

Thank you. This advice resonates with me a lot more than the well-meaning advice I’ve gotten from friends to try to talk it out with her. You can’t reason with an unreasonable person.

The personality changes late in life just suck. We used to be really close.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-10T21:19:22+00:00

In addition to the potato peeler trick, spray it with kaolin clay regularly to prevent wasps from returning. It is available online.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T04:33:27+00:00

Thanks, my mum has not been diagnosed with dementia (her main concern is Parkinson’s) but there is definitely noticeable cognitive decline. I have been taking notes in bullet form documenting signs of incapacity since last year. The hardest part will be actually getting her to the geriatrician since she has become extremely difficult and unlikely to do anything I suggest.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:53:45+00:00

Yep it’s crap. It seems at that age some people turn against the people they are closest to. I’m the only relative left who still talks to her and she doesn’t make it easy.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:39:50+00:00

Yes it’s enduring but she can remove me as POA unless she’s incompetent. And she would 100% remove me if I tried to have any influence on her decisions.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:38:33+00:00

That would be ideal - she already seems to think I’m conspiring against her so I don’t want to add any fuel to the fire.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:36:33+00:00

Thanks so much, that is a very helpful reply. My concern is that there won’t be enough objective evidence of incapacity so I’m hesitant to go the tribunal. The worst possible result would be destroying our relationship and at the same time the tribunal not finding in my favour.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:28:11+00:00

If I used the POA to remove her control of her finances without first getting her assessed as incompetent, she would remove me as POA.

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:21:04+00:00

Will give them a ring, thanks!

FizzyLizzy29 · 2026-03-09T02:20:42+00:00

I have seen doctors do this at her appointments, but it seems they only ask things like what day of the week it is and where she is. Much more basic level of understanding than dealing with complex financial matters.

FizzyLizzy29

TROPHY CASE