Last week I bought some new climbing shoes, my second pair. (Let's pretend I wore out my first pair doing awesome hardcore rockclimber moves and it had nothing to do with the rubber simply getting old and tough.)
This pair is horribly uncomfortable, crimping my toes and I can't wait to get them off between each climb. Just like a good pair of climbing shoes should.
At least that's what they tell me.
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1. The cold weather has set in over the last week or so and the trees are turning orange and loosing their leaves. But today, although there is a crispness to the air, the sun is shining. It's one of those perfect Melbourne autumn days.
2. Tonight I am going climbing. Last week I realised climbing actually makes me happier, boosts my mood. I knew that exercise was meant to have a positive mental effect - something about endorphins isn't it? - but somehow I never thought that was relevant to me. To notice such a change in my energy levels and attitude for the next day or so was truly startling. The dinner out afterwards doesn't hurt either.
3. After today there is only one more working day til the weekend. The week had flown by, in a pleasing manner. Coming after a short, three day week last week, I feared it might seem endless.
4. I have renters all signed up for Yellow House. A young couple, she is a teacher, he's an electrician and they've already paid first month's rent and bond.
5. I'm looking forward to a weekend away with Boyf at the end of this month. We'll be staying in an authentic log cabin, complete with open fire and spa. I must have had perfect timing in my reservation, there had been a cancellation and the weekend we wanted was the only weekend they had available for months. Lucky for us, not so much for the woman who broke her ankle and had to postpone her stay.
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I had a wonderful night last night. It wasn't special or unusual, just one of those times where everything seems better.
At climbing I did well. After basically not climbing for 8 weeks over Christmas/moving which really kicked my butt, I'm getting back towards where I was.
I'm trying hard. I'm challenging myself. I'm achieving more than I thought I could. I'm improving. It is a wonderful feeling when I look around the climbing gym and see lots of possibilities - lots of climbs I could give a go.
As we were leaving, I got outside and felt absolutely stuffed. That's sign of good night of climbing.
Then we headed to the pub. Ok, the pizza was a total disappointment, (Miss Lib of old, we miss you!) but there were so many laughs. Sitting, drinking cider and talking wonderful rubbish with Ben and John. None of us in a hurry to leave, it ended up being a bit of late night given work the next day.
Even the trip home cooperated with only a short wait for the train and lovely mild weather for that last walk to my door.
A wonderful normal night.
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It's true.
Here is Railay, Thailand, time has slowed.
The days are drifting slowly with lazing on the beach, floating in the warm ocean and cocktails. Lots of cocktails.
I'm currently unbelievable relaxed. Most of that will have evaporated by the time I return home due to lots of flights and time spent waiting in airports but I'm going to hold onto that feeling for as long as I can. After this post I'm heading for a massage.
This is the life.
Railay hasn't been all relaxing though. For the last two days I have been rock climbing.Rock climbing outdoors. On a massive big rock. Oih!
The first morning I was so apprehensive, not knowing what to expect, that I could barely eat breakfast. And it wasn't easy. It was incredibly hot and climbing in Thailand didn't miraculously make me a good climber. Unfortunately. But on the second afternoon (when I hadn't even intended to go climbing but the guide kindly invited me along with my friends) something happened.
I had my moment on the rock.
I was struggling up a climb, having just slipped off twice but decided to try one more time, and I realised I was happy. I was enjoying the moment. It was me against the rock - reaching, twisting, pulling, grunting, stretching, clinging, climbing more than I thought I could.
I am a rock-climber.
I can say that now and not feel like I need to add 'but' or 'although' at the end of the sentence. It's something that I enjoy, that I will do again and that I am committed to getting better at.
I am a rock-climber.
It's also the reason I'm now heading for a massage. I'm a tad bit sore. :)
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I'm just back from climbing (ok, back from the pizza and wine that followed climbing) and I'm on a high! I reached the top of my nemesis climb for the first time. Yay me!
In the interests of full disclosure, I will point out that for many people at the climbing gym this wouldn't be a difficult climb. That doesn't matter though - it was difficult for me.
I have attempted this particular climb every time I've gone there the last couple of weeks, getting a little further, a little better each time. Tonight I attempted it again as my third climb of the night and through sheer tenacity I got further than ever before. My leg was shaking only a few metres up but I kept going and going, hold after hold. Then, with only about 2 metres to go, my hands just wouldn't grip anymore and I came down. Still I was pleased.
My two friends climbed for a while after and just before we left I thought, I'll give that climb another go. And this time I did it, straight to the top! I'm so ridiculously pleased with myself. It's lovely to have that evidence that I am getting better.
So, with my nemesis climb conquered, there's nothing left to do but find a new nemesis. That's what it's all about after all - bettering my last attempt.
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Well, it’s Sunday again and the week just seemed to disappear. This is why.
On Monday nights I cook dinner for my housemate. This week I tried Mum’s recipe for pasties, one of my favourite winter dishes. Although there may have been a phone call to Mum asking what turnips were (the parsnips and swedes confused me alright!) they turned out quite nice. Given that I didn’t own a rolling pin, I’m pretty certain it was my first time making pastry from scratch.
On Tuesday Mum and I saw a Melbourne Theatre Company performance of Let the Sunshine. There were some great one liners – “I don’t want to move to Melbourne. In Melbourne you wear thermals 8 months of the year!” “Tasmania?” “In Tasmania you wear them 10 months!” – but the ending was a little too simplistic.
We started going to the theatre together regularly last year, after I received the tickets for Christmas from Mum. This layout records our experiences and reviews. It is very much influenced by this layout from Susan Weinroth.
After work I met friends Mike and Ben to go climbing again. It is possible I was even more nervous than last time – the butterflies were certainly fluttering – but once I was there, trying, I really enjoyed it. I think.
The first climb I tried I got over half way before I wimped out and came down. Now that climb is at the back of my mind, taunting me. I want to push myself and conquer it.
I did reach the top of the next climb though and feel kind of proud. It is an easy climb mind you, but I did it! Mike provided the motivation, telling me that our friend Gareth had reached the top of this one and I was determined that if he could do it, I could. He was not going to beat me. (Sorry Gareth.) I am discovering I am a touch competitive!
After Mike and Ben climb they go to a pub just down the road and order $5 pizzas and that’s what we did. I’ve been hearing stories of this for so long that it felt like I’d been let into a special club. Climbing then pizza – a great way to spend a Wednesday evening. Now I’m contemplating which climbs I want to try next time, considering buying equipment. (Not because of the pizza, I promise.) I think I might be turning into a climber.
Thursday night I had dinner at Mum and Dad’s house and worked on my quilt. I have finally finished sewing all the pairs of triangles together and could begin the fun part. I arranged them out on the floor, 10 squares by 7 squares, rearranging one then another until I was happy. I even had enough time to sew two rows together and the neat lines have convinced Mum it will look great when finished. She wasn’t convinced about all the different patterns I was using. (I did have a few moments of doubt too!) Given that I am working on it one night a week it will only take me another 4 weeks to get this stage done. Good thing I don’t want it until summer!
Friday was quiet at work so my boss sent me home a little early. I walked out the door with such a sense of anticipation for the weekend ahead, just like a kid. I felt a little tired when I got home though, so decided to take a nap. I woke up when my housemate Paula messaged me, asking if I had eaten or wanted to head to the pub for dinner. It took three or so message exchanges before I realised it was actually 7:50pm and I had been napping for 3 hours! At least I finally got that chicken parma I had been craving all week.
Well, this has been a pretty massive post – see why I needed that nap on Friday! – but I couldn’t leave out Saturday night when I watched the Cats, my football team, beat the Bulldogs by a massive 101 points. It was a thrashing! Dad’s voice was hoarse by half time. I love the atmosphere, the moments of play when you wonder how on earth they managed that and discussing it all with Dad.
And I’ll sign off with this, a cross-stitch update:
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As I begin writing this blog post there is only 40 minutes until the final of Masterchef begins. The Election Leaders Debate is on TV at the moment, an hour earlier than originally scheduled. Sensibly, the politicians decided they didn’t want to compete with Masterchef for an audience!
My housemate Paula has almost finished preparing a special dinner of lasagna, garlic bread and salad for us and a bottle of wine is already open, ready to celebrate the winner. I’m an Adam fan, have been for weeks, however Paula has a bit of a soft spot for Callum. Watching a winner announced will be a great finish to the weekend, although it’s going to be unusual having nothing scheduled at 7:30pm, 6 days a week.
My weekend hasn’t revolved around Masterchef though; I didn’t even watch the episode on Friday night. Instead I went rock-climbing. Yep, you read that right, indoor rock-climbing.
With my only other experience rock-climbing being on a school camp at least 15 years ago where I vaguely recall stepping two pegs up the wall before deciding I couldn’t do it and giving up, I was somewhat apprehensive when my sister gave me the voucher for Christmas. I wanted to think I could do it, but really wasn’t feeling so confident. It took us a while to get organised (did I mention the present was from Christmas 2008?) but finally Friday was the day.
With harnesses in place, Jenna’s done up especially tight after the instructor mentioned the possibility of flipping upside down in mid-air, we went through our safety guidelines. (On an aside – just discovered the thesaurus on my new laptop is in French. Not particularly helpful!) Double loop through the carabineer, end of the rope through the harness loop and recreate a figure eight knot. Hands move in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, rope down, brake on. With all that in mind we took to the wall.
Jenna climbed first as I belayed. Although fine on the short wall under the instructor’s supervision, she climbed not quite halfway up the 12 metre high wall before deciding she was high enough. Have I mentioned Jenna’s scared of heights?
Then it was my turn. I took to the wall with trepidation but after hesitating as I worked out how on earth to actually begin, I climbed. Hand after hand, foothold after foothold, up I went. I was so proud of myself!
I could see the point Jenna had reached looming up above me, providing motivation. I was determined I was going to pass that point and I did, managing a few footholds further before my fears kicked in. I don’t have a problem with heights, I just don’t like falling! The higher I got, the more likely it seemed I would slip. Letting go and dangling mid-air didn’t concern me (unlike Jenna who had to close her eyes before she could release her hands) but the idea of slipping and beginning that dangling unintentionally freaked me out.
We climbed for about an hour, going up again and again but never managing to go any higher. The height didn’t get easier for Jenna and as my arms tired I worried more about slipping. I really enjoyed it though, or at least I’m pretty sure I did. Regardless, I’m going again next week with a friend who likes to climb. Even Jenna wants to go again – that 12 metre wall is challenging us both, waiting to be conquered!
After the activity of Friday night, Saturday was much more about eating. For lunch I wandered to a café around the corner with Paula and her old housemate. Love having places like that only a few blocks away - it feels decadent! Dinner was a bit more of a trek – an Indian restaurant on the other side of the city but the food (and company of Lucy, Chris and Mike) was worth it. I got a text message today from Mike telling me he had eaten too much and I have to say it was mutual. So much food but so delicious. Before I began the drive home we played a few rounds of Just Dance on the Wii. Challenging (and beating) Chris really got my energy levels up.
Today Mum and I headed into the city for the Craft and Quilt Fair. I was happy enough to go after Mum suggested it but didn’t think I would find much to interest me and had no plans to buy much of anything. Oih, was I wrong! We were there for almost 5 hours, wandering the isles, admiring the quilts, finding lots of fabrics and things that we would like to buy and some that we actually did. We were reasonably restrained in our purchases but gathered a list of shops to visit soon!
We had lunch together in the Crown Food Court before enjoying an icecream in the sun by the river. Pretty idyllic but make me yearn all the more for summer. I was home in time to make my yoga class which I really enjoy but often wonder why – remind me to explain tortoise position to you sometime – and that pretty much brings my weekend to a close. Except to say Adam did win Masterchef but Callum became my late favourite after being behind all night. Not to worry though, they offered him a job and scholarship too.
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