Bloom Locksmiths

27/05/2026

Lots of miles under the hood now.

01/05/2026

On my last training run up Mt Edwards, I passed a group of future adults — teenagers — heading up as I was coming down.

At the bottom I noticed a Kokoda Challenge bus, so I assumed they may have been part of one of the Kokoda Youth Foundation programs. It brought back a few memories.

In the early days, Bloom Locksmiths sponsored teams in the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge fundraising event — including a team I remember as the “Mixed Nuts”, who did us proud and came away with a couple of trophies.

More importantly, it reminded me why I have always thought so highly of this organisation.

Kokoda Youth Foundation works with young people through challenge, discipline, mentorship, teamwork, community service and the Spirit of Kokoda — Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice.

Having once sat on the fence myself, I have a lot of respect for any organisation that helps young people fall on the right side of it.

It is good to see they now have a presence in Ipswich as well.

For anyone who wants to learn more, support, donate, volunteer or simply see what they do:

Kokoda Youth Foundation:
[https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/](https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/)

Youth Programs:
[https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/youth-programs-we-fund/](https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/youth-programs-we-fund/)

Donate:
[https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/donate/](https://kokodayouthfoundation.com/donate/)

The Kokoda Challenge:
[https://www.kokodachallenge.com/](https://www.kokodachallenge.com/)

A worthy organisation, and one Bloom Locksmiths still thinks very highly of.

If you need more information about Donating, applying to Volunteer and how to join our Youth Programs, please reach out to our team and we'll be in touch!

21/04/2026

With the mission officially approved by absolutely nobody in Canberra,
there was now only one small detail left.

Preparation.

The Gremlin announced that training would begin immediately.

Batman asked what the plan was.

“Simple,” said the Gremlin.
“We walk.”

And so… training began.

There were walks.
There were hills.
There were discussions about “pace” and “distance” and “not collapsing halfway.”

The Gremlin approached it with complete confidence.

“How hard can it be?” he said.

Batman didn’t answer.
He just kept walking… slightly ahead… at a pace that suggested experience.

But the Gremlin had his own ideas about preparation.

Apparently, this included… strength training.

There was time spent in the gym.
There were weights involved.
There was absolutely no clear connection to walking 1,000 kilometres.

Still… it felt official.

At first, there was enthusiasm.

Fresh legs.
Big ideas.
Optimism everywhere.

But it didn’t take long for reality to start quietly tapping on the shoulder.

Distances felt longer than expected.
Hills seemed… unnecessary.

And somewhere along the way, a very important realisation began to form:

Announcing an adventure…
and preparing for one…
are not the same thing.

The Gremlin, of course, remained confident.

Possibly overconfident.

Definitely underprepared.

Next month:
👉 Companions begin to disappear… as the true scale of the journey becomes clear.

07/03/2026

Post #3 – Ready to Copy and Paste

Some ideas sound better after a good night’s sleep.

This one did not.

After the Gremlin officially announced that he would walk the Bibbulmun Track, it became clear that such a serious undertaking required something very important.

Permission.

Now Batman tried to explain that walking tracks in Western Australia don’t actually require federal approval.

But the Gremlin had already decided the proper place to make things official was Canberra.

So off we went.

Up to Mount Ainslie, overlooking the nation’s capital, where the Gremlin carefully surveyed the city, nodded thoughtfully, and declared:

“Right. This seems like the sort of place where big decisions get approved.”

Somewhere between the view of Parliament House and a sign thanking visitors for caring for Ngunnawal Country, the Gremlin made it official.

No paperwork.
No forms.
No committee review.

Just a very confident Gremlin announcing:

“The mission is approved.”

Batman said nothing.

He simply stared out over Canberra in the quiet way people do when they know a bad idea has just moved one step closer to reality.

Next month:
👉 Training begins… and the Gremlin discovers that announcing an adventure and preparing for one are two very different things.

08/02/2026

So after deciding Batman’s adventures were “cute,”
the Gremlin did what all great overconfident legends do…

He made it official.

There was a dramatic announcement.
A speech.
Some pacing.
Possibly a snack break halfway through.

“I,” declared the Gremlin, standing on a toolbox for authority,
“shall walk the Bibbulmun Track.”

Batman blinked.

Not impressed.
Not concerned.
Just… deeply aware of how this usually ends.

But the Gremlin wasn’t done.

Apparently, this wasn’t just a walk.
Oh no.
This required planning.

And according to the Gremlin’s understanding of how the world works,
big adventures require…

👉 Government approval.

Which is how this journey somehow involved a trip to Canberra.

Batman tried to explain that hiking trails don’t require federal clearance.
The Gremlin insisted paperwork makes things more “official.”

Somewhere between Parliament House and a very confused tourist information desk,
the Gremlin proudly announced:

“By the power vested in absolutely nobody,
this mission is approved.”

Batman rubbed his temples.
He already missed the part where this was just talk.

04/01/2026

They say bad ideas are born late at night.
This one started in broad daylight.
Batman was telling war stories again.
Mountains. Cold. Long walks. Quiet suffering.
The usual.
The Gremlin listened.
Nodded.
Smirked.
Then said, “That’s cute.”
Apparently, in the Gremlin’s mind, Batman’s adventures were impressive…
but not Bibbulmun impressive.
So right there — somewhere between ego and stupidity —
the Gremlin decided it was time to outdo the Dark Knight.
Not with gadgets.
Not with a Batmobile.
But with a 1,000-kilometre walk through the south-west of Western Australia.
On foot.
Carrying everything.
With optimism wildly exceeding common sense.
Batman didn’t say much after that.
He’s seen this movie before.
This is the first chapter of a story where at every step, something went wrong.
And yet… somehow… it still happened.
Next month:
👉 The Gremlin puts the idea forward… and Canberra gets involved.

19/09/2025

The start of the track. Have fun boys.

19/09/2025

Last night of comfort before setting off for the Biblaman track

19/09/2025

The boys enjoying a night in Brisbane before jetting off to Perth for the Bibblamum track

15/09/2025

Things you do on a chilly morning when you have Gremlin whispering in your ear. I noticed he did not join me, so I told him we had to get the big boss to approve his adventure.