This week

Well I let that go a bit. To say quite a bit has happened since my last update would be taking understatement to ridiculous new extremes. So I’ll just start with now and maybe backfill some detail as I go, where it’s relevant.

I am currently unemployed! This is something I have not been for a very long time. My last experience with this state was back in January 2002. We had just returned from the USA, where I was working for IBM, but a transfer back to IBM Aust wasn’t on the cards and I had no immediate prospects. With a new family and a bunch of international relocation costs to cover, it was pretty stressful.

I’m a lot more relaxed about it this time around, and definitely willing to wait for the right job to come along.

What else is going on? A busy 12 months of theatre is done and I’m taking a six month break. I overdid it a bit this (and last) year and am feeling kind of burnt out (like an overused blue gel etc. etc.) and looking forward to a few months of being more outdoors than in. I have a couple of shows planned for next year, but I probably won’t take on too many more than that—at least not until my work situation is resolved.

Which brings us to… cycling! I’ve really enjoyed spending more time “off road” on both the CX and MTB this year. Mountain biking is such enormous fun, and while I’m still more than capable of injuring myself at least it tends to be self-inflicted and limited to scuffed knees and the occasional broken collarbone—no I haven’t done that yet, but I’m sure I will. There is a far lower chance of being run down by a dickhead in a ute than on the road.

That said, I’ve committed to the doing the Alpine Classic this/next year (in late January) and I have a fair bit of work to do between now and then to get some road miles in my legs. My general fitness is still good, but I’m struggling with longer rides. So now the weather is warming up and I have few other commitments, I hope to spend a bit more time out on the roadie.

But first, school lunches…