Well life's not bad..
Yep its had a few let downs.. and sometimes everything has felt like it was an uphill struggle when even keeping afloat seemed questionable but the tide appears to have changed,
as I ponder this un-original and lazy metaphor it's perhaps not life that has changed but more my interpretation of it that has undergone the transformation..
At very near the age of 30 I found myself thinking about what my life's amounted to. It would be easy to say not a lot. Financial I'm worse of now than I was 2 or 3 years ago and I have no job, again.
however the thought of this doesn't bother me like it would have done a few years back, and my life is not measured by financial rewards or goals, it measured in moments. Perfect memories of locations, times, friends, emotions, activities all intertwined and mapped out in the neurons of my brain.
The past 18months has been an adventure which I feel will mould the rest of my life.. and each experience in my life leading up to and including the past 18 months has played its part in my arriving at this point, this time, and this place in the state I am.
I've been aware that I'm getting older and that my ideals have adjusted and been constantly updated as new experiences and challenges have appeared, therefore my interpretation of my life and the experiences I desire have moved and changed accordingly. This is nothing new and is standard practice but it usually just happens on autopilot. Its rare to actually sit down and think about these things, and in doing so its nice to reflect on my life so far.
Whilst I'm not poor I'm definitely very far from being rich. I have a house.. well most of one. I have no major costs, I have my health.. my body still works the way it should do.. although it's a long time since reading the instruction manual but everything appears to be in working order. Arms, legs, fingers all bend in the right directions. Brain gets a bit cloudy from time to time but clears up after a cuppa tea. I have good friends who I have made along the way, and a few I have lost.
So despite almost being 30 I'm optimistic about the future, Enthusiastic about the places and the adventures I've have had so far, Energetic with excitement about the adventures I still want and know I will have, but most of all happy that I'm living my life honestly and happily and I have someone I love.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
St Kilda Festival
Well i'm still looking for another job and hope to get one soon. In the meentime i'v had a chance to get to know Melbourne a little better.
As its summer the festival season is upon us and I spent Sunday at the St Kilda festival.. It runs for a week but the Sunday is by far the main event. It has a bit of everything. Music on 4 stages from Latin and Samba through to Metal and Rock with just about everthing in between.
Some were good and some I wish I had brought along the ear plugs for.
Also on show were the talents of some Freestyle BMX riders. A bit of a Bike trail demo, Kite boarding which it must be said looks so much fun.. (shame it costs so bloody much to get out and learn it. ) some graffiti artists and of cause it wouldn't be right to be this close to the sand and not have some beach volleyball. These are just the few things I got to see and have uploaded a stack of pics to my flickr site..
After the heatwave it was nice to have a cool and overcast day so I didn't add to the sunburn which im hoping will develope into a tan rather than peeling skin making it look like I have leprosy.
The day was great fun and It wouldn't be a trip to St Kilda without a stopoff at one of the many cake shops on Acland St for some much needed sweet food. Shame I like food so much as i'm sure its restricting my climbing..
the highlights of the day for me were watching the BMX freestlye the kiteboarding and Dan Sultan and his band. Plus some of the cool street performers.
I'm disaponted that I missed the Barisilian Samba and the Capoeria show but it was impossible to see everything.
I hope you enjoy the photos..
As its summer the festival season is upon us and I spent Sunday at the St Kilda festival.. It runs for a week but the Sunday is by far the main event. It has a bit of everything. Music on 4 stages from Latin and Samba through to Metal and Rock with just about everthing in between.
Some were good and some I wish I had brought along the ear plugs for.
Also on show were the talents of some Freestyle BMX riders. A bit of a Bike trail demo, Kite boarding which it must be said looks so much fun.. (shame it costs so bloody much to get out and learn it. ) some graffiti artists and of cause it wouldn't be right to be this close to the sand and not have some beach volleyball. These are just the few things I got to see and have uploaded a stack of pics to my flickr site..
After the heatwave it was nice to have a cool and overcast day so I didn't add to the sunburn which im hoping will develope into a tan rather than peeling skin making it look like I have leprosy.
The day was great fun and It wouldn't be a trip to St Kilda without a stopoff at one of the many cake shops on Acland St for some much needed sweet food. Shame I like food so much as i'm sure its restricting my climbing..
the highlights of the day for me were watching the BMX freestlye the kiteboarding and Dan Sultan and his band. Plus some of the cool street performers.
I'm disaponted that I missed the Barisilian Samba and the Capoeria show but it was impossible to see everything.
I hope you enjoy the photos..
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Climbing hopes gone..
Well after training indoors on the plastic I finally got to feed the rat as it was..
I hired a car got hold of some gear and Jose and me headed to the Grampians..
We were psyched for some proper climbing.. we had a full rack some hangers. Two ropes.
It was hot. Its been a heatwave but after China we were sure we could cope with the heat and find somewhare in the shade to climb..
We arrived in the Grampians on wednesday night and got to Mt Stapylton campsite where we had been advised their were some good areas with quality sports and trad routes so we could ease back into being on the sharp end again..
It was still baking as the sun was setting and while pitching the tent and sorting out gear we got a bit of information from a few other climbers at the site before scouting out the path to our chosen crag..Sentinel Cave.
The topo looked awsome. It painted a picture of steep overhung jug pulling on solid sandstone and friendly bolts.. non of this having to place hangers then draws.. we were in for a real treat..
The next day after an early breakfast we set off to the chorus of a low buzzing...
the sound got louder as the 15-20 minute walk in continued and reached fever pich as we passed / climbed over a wasps nest on route to the crag... still not deterred and happy to find the crag in the morning shade we put down our sacks and started to stare in wonder at the routes..
Then it all went wrong.. a swarm of flys decended upon us and the relentless onslagught of these pestilent creatures drove us insane.. we used every trick at our disposal.. even the breeze did nothing to restrain them and killing them by the dozen's made no impact on the overwhelming numbers of our tenacious foe.
With no options remaining we fled to the car, packed up and retreated to Arapiles but to our dismay this was subject to the full force of the sun and the flys were still in defense of the crag repelling all would be suitors of these magnificent and stunning walls of now polished rock.
Why no mention of this fiendish foe was fortold or advised in the guide we can only guess.. but its just not cricket.
After our failure on rock we salvaged what we could and ran to the cost in search of waves and salvation from the days woes. Despite not finding the free campsite we sorted suitable accomodation and food, and enjoyed a session of surfing on friday morning before a drive back to Melbourn and a 3.5hr session of climbing at cliffhanger, the indoor wall.
My arms are spent. I'm sun burnt again.. and I still have no job.. but the idea of becoming a surf bum is formulating in the back of my mind.. at least until it becomes cold enough to drive the defending flys away, so as battle can be done upon the rock of Victoria..
I hired a car got hold of some gear and Jose and me headed to the Grampians..
We were psyched for some proper climbing.. we had a full rack some hangers. Two ropes.
It was hot. Its been a heatwave but after China we were sure we could cope with the heat and find somewhare in the shade to climb..
We arrived in the Grampians on wednesday night and got to Mt Stapylton campsite where we had been advised their were some good areas with quality sports and trad routes so we could ease back into being on the sharp end again..
It was still baking as the sun was setting and while pitching the tent and sorting out gear we got a bit of information from a few other climbers at the site before scouting out the path to our chosen crag..Sentinel Cave.
The topo looked awsome. It painted a picture of steep overhung jug pulling on solid sandstone and friendly bolts.. non of this having to place hangers then draws.. we were in for a real treat..
The next day after an early breakfast we set off to the chorus of a low buzzing...
the sound got louder as the 15-20 minute walk in continued and reached fever pich as we passed / climbed over a wasps nest on route to the crag... still not deterred and happy to find the crag in the morning shade we put down our sacks and started to stare in wonder at the routes..
Then it all went wrong.. a swarm of flys decended upon us and the relentless onslagught of these pestilent creatures drove us insane.. we used every trick at our disposal.. even the breeze did nothing to restrain them and killing them by the dozen's made no impact on the overwhelming numbers of our tenacious foe.
With no options remaining we fled to the car, packed up and retreated to Arapiles but to our dismay this was subject to the full force of the sun and the flys were still in defense of the crag repelling all would be suitors of these magnificent and stunning walls of now polished rock.
Why no mention of this fiendish foe was fortold or advised in the guide we can only guess.. but its just not cricket.
After our failure on rock we salvaged what we could and ran to the cost in search of waves and salvation from the days woes. Despite not finding the free campsite we sorted suitable accomodation and food, and enjoyed a session of surfing on friday morning before a drive back to Melbourn and a 3.5hr session of climbing at cliffhanger, the indoor wall.
My arms are spent. I'm sun burnt again.. and I still have no job.. but the idea of becoming a surf bum is formulating in the back of my mind.. at least until it becomes cold enough to drive the defending flys away, so as battle can be done upon the rock of Victoria..
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