Regrouping

Right, so it’s fair to say that my blogging over the past few months has been pretty poor. It’s now almost the end of December and my last blog post was in October. Shocking. Obviously a lot has happened since then and I have a lot to update. I had started putting together ‘how-to’ guides over the past few weeks (as was my original plan when moving over here) but they’ve never actually materialised thanks to my erratic schedule. I’m annoyed with myself for letting this slip but now I fully intend to made amends.

Where to start…

So not too long after I started looking for a job, I landed a social media role at an advertising agency in Milsons Point – just across the harbour bridge and next to Luna Park. A couple of weeks later I got the hell out of the hostel (which I had started referring to as purgatory), moved into an apartment in Bondi and I have never looked back. That was 2 months ago.

So much has happened since then, I don’t even know where to begin - I’ll have to relay the stories gradually over the coming weeks. One thing I have noticed that’s happened though is that my focus has slipped. Having got swept up in the world of having a job, actually being able to afford things and having a proper social circle again, I’ve found that I haven’t really achieved much. Or at least, I haven’t achieved what I set out to achieve. I’m not saying I haven’t had fun, far from it, but I look at my bucket list (and the various other lists I’ve made since arriving) and there’s not much I can check off.

When I made the decision to move to Sydney I was at a low point, and although it wasn’t the best time of my life, the decisions and ambitions I had at that time were 100% ‘me’. Since settling into Sydney working life I feel like I’ve started losing that ‘me’ because I’ve been swept up in it all. I barely run anymore, I’m always out and I’m constantly drinking. I’ve had mid-week hangovers more times than I care to remember, and that really is not the ‘me’ I wanted to become when moving over here.

So as much fun as it’s all been, I’m now deciding to make a change. Since finishing for Christmas I’ve been running again, exploring new places, trying to get my healthy balanced diet back (ie. no dinners made purely from alcohol) and I already feel better for it. I’ve also planned out and budgeted so I can actually do the things on my various lists - which will hopefully stop me carelessly spending money, keep me active and stop me from wasting my time here.

This week I’ve been reminded of how quickly the time you thought you had can be taken away from you, and I don’t want to be one of those “I wish I’d done this, that or the other” people. I’m very aware that I may only be in Australia for a year (although I’m hoping this is not that case) and so time is of the essence. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to be here and I don’t want to look back with any kind of regrets.

A Guide to Wimbledon

Pimms? Check. Strawberries? Check. Are your whites white? Check! Wimbledon kicks off on Monday and, as a bit of a tennis junkie and SW19 regular, I thought I’d share some stories and impart some wisdom (ha!) which may or may not be of use to people interested in visiting the Championships. Here we go…

How To Get There

Train

Trains run every 5 – 10mins from London Waterloo and a return will only cost you a few quid. There are also trains every 10 – 15mins from the Guildford / Woking direction. If you’re coming from somewhere else then best check the South West Trains website for times and changes.

Tube

Jump on the District Line (the green one) and head south. You can either ride all the way to Wimbledon Station or jump off at Southfields (two stops before) and walk. (Head down Wimbledon Park Road and after 5 - 10mins you’ll see the grounds on your right).

Buses

Once at Wimbledon Station, head out the main exit and there are shuttle buses directly in front that leave every 5 minutes and take you straight to the grounds and the queue. A single costs about 2 quid and a return is a bit more – please note that prices vary each year. (This is my transport of choice. One year we found ourselves walking back to the bus stop with Nikolay Davydenko wandering along a few steps in front of us without a care in the world… in the following December he went on to win the ATP Finals at the O2. Bizarre!)

Taxi

If you don’t want to wait for a bus, there’s a taxi rank outside the main exit and to the right. Obviously it works out cheaper if the cab’s full, so if there are only a couple of you why not befriend some strangers! (But don’t accept sweets from them!)

What To Take

Sun cream

If you don’t take anything else with you, make sure you take this! The last few years have delivered incredible weather and even though I’ve reapplied throughout the day I’ve left the grounds slightly toasted every time. My friend makes sure she reapplies every hour or so and yet she still burns. One year she even got burnt through her scarf (much to our amusement!).

Water

Forget what I said about sun cream – this is the one thing you need to take! Unless you’re on Centre Court all day and the roof is shut, you’re going to be in direct sunlight all day. Add that to queuing time and you’re probably going to be in it for 12+ hours, which means you’re going to be dehydrated before even considering a Pimms. Luckily, you can bring a bottle and keep re-filling at one of the taps around the grounds. You can also use the taps to cool yourself off it gets really hot… not that I have ever done that…

Lunch and snacks

Unless you’re lucky enough to be dining at the Wingfield Restaurant, you may want to bring your own picnic lunch. There is a food court but the prices are high and the food, honestly, isn’t anything to write home about. You’re better off heading to M&S Food for a selection of treats before you set out.

Camera

Obviously. You literally never know what’s going to happen at Wimbledon or what you’re going to see. Take a camera or regret it forever.

Umbrella

…ella, ella! Because, let’s face it, we’re in England. Plus it can double up as a sun shade (as long as you’re not on the show courts and obstructing someone’s view).

What To Wear

Obviously this depends on the weather. The last few years have blessed us with some absolutely glorious sunshine, meaning shorts, skirts, t-shirts and flip-flops have been standard attire. This year looks like it’s going to me more like the Wimbledon’s I remember from my childhood – rain delays, cowering under umbrellas and wishing you’d worn more layers.

However, this is England so there’s a good chance it’ll be brilliant sunshine one minute and freezing downpours the next. So the key to surviving the day is layers! Here’s what I’m planning to take:

- An outfit suitable for sunshine and heat

- A slightly warmer layer in case it’s a bit breezy

- A jumper / hoodie for colder moments and in case play continues into the evening (Isner v Mahut are scheduled for Round 1…)

- Waterproof jacket

Things To Check Out

Outside courts

If you’ve only got Grounds tickets then that doesn’t mean you can only watch stuff on the big screen. There are loads of outside courts featuring lower seeded players and doubles matches, some of which have seating and others where you can only stand. But they’re still good – last year we stood and witnessed an incredible doubles match where Dominic Inglot and Chris Eaton (two un-seeded Brits) defeated the world No.1’s – Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic. It was brilliant! The first week is the best for these courts – there’s more going on so the chances of seeing higher-ranked players is greater.

New plaque for Isner and Mahut

One of the outside courts is the now infamous Court 18 where John Isner and Nicholas Mahut played out their ridiculous 11 hours, 5 min battle. To celebrate their ridiculousness a commemorative plaque has been added – worth checking out if you’re around the court.

Practice courts

If you want to sneek a peek at your favourite players warming up, head down to the practice courts. There’s usually someone good down there – over the years we’ve seen Fed, Djokovic, Soderling, Monfils and Rafa. It’s a bit like a zoo in the sense that you have to queue up for a few minutes and the players are behind a fence, but if you can get past that then its brilliant!

Autograph island

You never know who’s going to be here but there’s usually someone signing stuff and smiling for photos with fans. So if you want someone to sign your giant novelty tennis ball, or even your arm, then keep an eye out!

Winners walk

If you snoop around under Centre Court you’ll stumble upon a wall charting all the winners of the singles and doubles matches throughout the years. Perfect for sheltering and killing time during rain delays!

Ticket Resale

Anyone with tickets who leaves before the end of play is encouraged to pop their ticket into one of the resale boxes outside the courts. They’re then re-sold for £5 (with the money going to charity) to anyone already in the grounds. The queues for Centre Court and Court 1 tickets are often long but it’s worth it if you want to see the greats in action, and around mid-afternoon they start to go down quite quickly. I do this every year and always get to see at least one entire match.

What Not To Do

Shout “C’mon Tim”

It is sort of mildly funny the first time round, but 5 days into the tournament and for the 3rd time during a match which doesn’t include a Brit, the joke gets a bit stale. It’s been 4 years since Tiger Tim played on these hallowed grass courts, time to move on.

Drunkenly complain about how much you hate tennis

Big sporting events attract corporate idiots. You may be there because of the free alcohol your company is providing and so you can boast when you’re back at the office, but remember there are genuine fans here who have literally queued for hours in burning sun / torrential rain and won’t even get onto a show court to see their idols. Shut up or hand in your ticket and get out.

Act like a crazed, tennis-loving 13-year-old girl

Okay, I may be slightly guilty of sprinting through the crowds to get a picture of Andy Roddick (people say they’ve never seen me move so fast) and I may have gasped quite loudly at Rafa removing his shirt when he was standing only a few feet away from me (In my defence I wasn’t alone and it was purely a reflex and thus out of my control – that guy has the body of a Greek god!), but I’m not proud of it. I would never run up to anyone and stutter “oh my god, I’m like, your biggest fan and I like, totally love you, please sign my face.” That’s not cool. Many of the players, particularly lower seeded ones, wander about the grounds along with everyone else. Respect their space, it’s not a zoo!

Take in massive banners and flags

First of all, this isn’t a football match. Second of all, anything that could obstruct spectators’ view will be taken off you at the security gates.

Shout, make any sudden movements or use flash photography during a point

This is a Grand Slam, not a quick rally in the local park. For the players, this is their livelihood and winning matches here can determine the path of their entire career. If the flow of the game is interrupted and the players get angry you’ll be glared at by the crowd and thrown out by security.

Litter

This really annoys me. Whether you’re in the queue in Wimbledon Park, sitting on Henman Hill or in prime position on Centre Court, take your rubbish with you. There are plenty of bins and there’s no excuse for being a slob.

Be annoying

Smoking and mobile phones are a massive NO. Don’t smoke in the stands, put your phone on silent and leave the stands before you make a call. It may be Wimbledon but the fans will lynch you if needs be.

So there we have it. Forget Christmas, this is what I consider “the most wonderful time of the year”. I’ll be down at the grounds for a couple of days over the coming week and following the rest of the action like an absolute hawk. Feel free to send any questions my way and I’ll try to answer them!

For all the official information from the Championships, visit the Wimbledon website.

Enjoy! (And beware of Wombles!)

I Want to Ride My (Boris) Bicycle

Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve either regularly visited, worked in or lived in London at one stage or another. But as much as I love our fair city and all it has to offer, the one thing I hate most about it is the Tube… not in general (I’d be lost without it!), but just having to use it when it’s raining, over 18° outside and during rush hour. Combine those three things all together and you’ve got your basic nightmare: involuntarily squashed up against a fat, damp and grumpy businessman - a fate worse than being sent to the Tower.

As an unknowing 18-year old I started my daily commuting life as an avid tube traveller, however over the past seven years it’s gradually dawned on me that having instant access to oxygen is a good thing, not having to walk 300 yards in order to travel 100 yards is a great, and not having rude people push and shove you is actually quite pleasant. I can’t quite believe it’s taken me until my mid-20’s to figure out that walking and getting buses, although it takes slightly longer, is far less upsetting and much better for the soul than being stuck in a sweaty underground dungeon of full of angry commuters.

So when jolly old Boris became Mayor and introduced the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme it seemed like a dream come true. No more relying on public transport - just yourself and your ability to not get flattened by London drivers! I had visions of groups of commuters (myself included) cycling to work singing “doe a deer a female deer” a la The Sound of Music. Brilliant.

Of course my dreams were temporarily shattered when I learnt that you had to register and use the bikes regularly if you were going to get your money’s worth… however, this is no longer the case! Huzzah! You can now use the bikes on a ‘pay as you go’ type scheme, so last weekend I gathered some willing friends and took full advantage! So if you’re thinking of doing the same yourself (which I highly recommend!) here’s a run-down on how it works and what it’s like…

How to Rent a Boris Bike

1 - Find a docking station and go to the terminal. All you need is your debit / credit card - you can’t use cash.

2 - Follow the on-screen directions… it’s pretty simple - you just have to agree to the terms and conditions, say how many bikes you want to hire and how long you want access to them for.

3 - You’ll then be asked if you want to rent your bike straight away. Assuming you do, you press ‘Yes’ and a slip will be printed with a release code on it. Once you have the code, simply pick the bike you want from the docking station and type in the code on the pad on the left hand side (it’s touch sensitive so you don’t need to press the buttons).

4 - If it’s worked then the light on the pad will flash amber and eventually green. Once it’s green lift the handlebars up slightly and pull the bike back towards you to release it. If it flashes red it could be that a fault has been registered with the bike so try another one.

5 - Hit the road Jack! You’re now free to explore London by bike! Huzzah!

Once you're done, you can return the bike to any docking station - just ride up and click the bike back into one of the empty spaces. Done!
 
Cost

As far as charges go, you pay a flat-out access fee: £1 for 1 day, £5 for 7 days and if you’re a registered member you can pay £45 for the year.

Any charges after that are based on your usage and will be charged to your card accordingly: under 30mins is free, up to 1 hour is £4, and it goes all the way up to the 24 hour mark which will set you back £50.

The Bike

The bike itself is nothing spectacular, but I guess that’s fine for zipping around the city. It has lights, you can strap your bag onto the front and there’s a bell… but there’s absolutely no suspension and the “gears” are… well… to be fair, they’re rubbish. There’s only three– 1 and 2 are exactly the same and 3 is only slightly different. So really, much like Charlie Sheen, these bikes have one speed and that’s GO.

For information about cycling routes, a full list of charges and fines, and a map of docking stations, visit the TFL website.

Happy cycling!!! 

How to Get an Australia Working Holiday Visa (for Brits)

If you’re a Brit and looking into taking a trip Down Under to work and travel, then the best visa for you is probably the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417).

I’m going to keep this short and simple because, from experience, if you’re reading something like this then you’re probably in the midst of a lot of research and could do without any unnecessary information and waffle. Here’s all you need to know…

[FYI – this is just a basic checklist for the ‘average Joe’. If you have any health issues, criminal convictions or anything like that then check out the Australian Government Dept. of Immigration and Citizenship website for the fine print.]

Who’s it for?

• Anyone wanting to travel and work in Australia on a short term basis
• Anyone aged 18-30 years old (must have turned 18, but not 31 on date of entry to Australia)

Main features

• Allows you to enter Australia within 12 months of your visa being granted
• Allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months, starting from your date of entry into the country. (You can leave and re-enter the country as many times as you like, but any time spent outside Australia does not extend the length of the visa.)
• Allows you to do any kind of work, however you can only work with the same employer for up to 6 months
• Allows you to study for up to 4 months. (Any longer and you need a Student Visa.)

Eligibility

• You must be outside Australia when you apply and when your visa is granted
• Must not have previously had any type of Working Holiday Visa for Australia
• Must not have any dependent children
• Must hold a passport from a participating country (The UK is one – huzzah!)
• You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and a bank statement to prove it. (Apparently AU$5000 is termed as ‘sufficient’ but I’m not sure how strictly this is enforced… I’ll let you know!)
• Must have an onward ticket out of Australia or enough money to buy your ticket home. (Again, I’ll let you know!)
  

How to apply

First of all you need to have these details handy: name, DOB, passport number, passport issue/expiry date, country of issue, issuing authority/place.

Secondly, grab your credit card. The WHV costs AU$235 which works out at about £150ish depending on the conversion rate.

Once you’ve got all that then head to the Australian Government Dept. of Immigration and Citizenship website by clicking HERE and fill out your application. Simples!

I applied for mine at about 9pm and was accepted by 11am the following day so, as long as you have a straight-forward application, it shouldn’t take too long too long to be confirmed.

Next step? Get planning your adventure!!!

A Life Changing Fit of Rage

It’s been a couple of months now since I decided it was a good idea to move to the other side of the world where I know no one, have no job and nowhere to live. Ever since, I’ve been Google-ing everything, saving money and booking things like there’s no tomorrow, and for the moment I’m at a point where everything is sorted. So now that I’ve got all the necessaries out of the way, I’ve had time to kick back and think about what all this actually entails… leaving me somewhere between excitement and good old blind panic. 

At New Year, I remember saying to a friend that I had absolutely no idea what 2011 would bring me. I had no actual plans past the end of my pending hangover and the year ahead all felt a little bit bleak and uninspiring. Little did I know that only a few weeks later I would be making a decision that could potentially change the direction of my life forever. Here’s how it happened…

Back on Valentine’s Day, having had a less than perfect day at work (non-valentines related), I got home, posted my ranting national rail blog and in the midst of my work-related frustration and upset I figured that now - RIGHT NOW - was the opportune moment to set some life-changing cogs into motion. This is what I refer to as “hitting the wall”: the point where you drop to your knees, scream “I can’t take this annnnyyyymmmoooorrreeeee” and cry. Then decide to do something about whatever it is you’re screaming about, and then cry again because you’ve finally realised that you have the power to change your fate. 

A few weeks prior to that, a week or so before my 25^th birthday, a relative in Australia mentioned the job climate in her neck of the woods (she also mentioned the glorious weather she’d experienced during her weekend at the beach – not what you want to hear when you’re wrapped up in a blanket and can only see grey when you look outside) and how she always has travellers (of the non-gypsy variety!) working short-term at her company. Back then the notion of heading down under was instantly written off with a “ha! I WISH!” but nevertheless, she’d planted the thought in my mind and there it was - hanging in the vast spaces of my brain and rattled around my skull with every step I took towards my office.

As my birthday approached and the quarter century crisis kicked in, I realised that I was at a point where it was either sink, swim or hire a jet-ski to get the hell out of there. I remembered the previous year I promised myself that I would celebrate my 25^th having taken a positive step in my career, be renting my own home and have my own car. Or failing that, I’d be sat in the Rod Laver Arena watching Andy Murray loose another Australian Open. But instead here I was, one week away from that target and finding nothing had changed. My goals were still exactly the same. I had not moved. Then, exactly like in the cartoons, a light bulb appeared above my head and it all clicked. I knew exactly what I wanted and I started doing my research.

Flash back to Valentines Day and my fit of rage… I grabbed my passport, flung open my laptop and began filling out an application for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. Ten minutes later and I was done - finger poised over the submit button and ready to click. But then up popped the mini sensible version of myself on my left shoulder… “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not logical to simply up and move to the other side of the world. What if something terrible happens? There are sharks. BIG sharks. And they will… eat you.” But then BANG - on my right shoulder appeared the smiley, spontaneous and awesome version of myself who told Miss Snooze Stations over on the left where to go. So I took this photo…

A memento of the moment that could have possibly changed my life for the worse / better. Aaaaaaaaaand… CLICK. Done.

The next morning I received my confirmation email granting me a one year Visa and since that point everything has changed. I now have hope, something to work towards and the excitement and satisfaction of knowing I’m going to live out a life-long ambition. 

I’ve done ridiculous amounts of research, made lists, thrown lists away and spent hours figuring out how I could spend the year. I now have a vague idea of how I want things to pan out, but to be honest, I know that as soon as I land I’ll ditch my plans and simply go with the flow. Yay for adventure!

So instead of a plan, I’ve put together a bucket list of 25 things I want to do / accomplish while I’m there:

1. Be accepted for Visa

2. Get on the plane (alone) without panicking / crying

3. Find somewhere to live

4. Open a bank account 

5. Get a tax file number

6. Find a job

7. Sort out a mobile phone

8. Make some friends

9. Watch the sunrise over said new city

10. Learn a new sport / activity

11. Get a surf lesson from a local surfer

12. Sydney harbour bridge climb

13. Visit the Hunter Valley

14. Take a hot air balloon ride over the outback

15. Hike in the Blue Mountains

16. Go to the Australian Open

17. Visit Victor Harbour (family friends)

18. Visit the street in Melbourne where my parents used to live

19. Visit Tasmania (to meet a newly found family member)

20. Go whale watching

21. Learn to dive

22. Celebrate Australia Day / my birthday doing something typically Aussie

23. Go to Ayres Rock

24. Visit Canberra

25. Go kayaking with the dolphins

Number 1 can be ticked off and I’m sure there’s plenty more I’ll add over the coming months, but it’s not paramount that I do everything - I know I won’t be able to do all of them. Most importantly though, and if all goes to plan, the week I turn 26 I’m not going to be sitting at home, eating a whole birthday cake to myself and watching Andy Murray lose another Australian Open final. I’m going to be there. And on my birthday, Australia Day, I’ll be in the sunshine, eating a whole birthday cake to myself with a surf board under one arm and an inflatable Kangaroo under the other. Because that it my happy place.

Fits of rage – they’re underrated!

Doing the Possimpible*

[*Where the possible and impossible meet. When you go beyond the possible and beyond the impossible.]

A few weeks ago I mused over the concept of everyone being headed towards a metaphorical boulder which would eventually cross your path and metaphorically squish you against a wall meaning you metaphorically had to cut your own arm off in order to survive. Basically the idea was that we’re all heading for something and, even if it’s bad, the process of encountering it and coping with its consequences will allow us to gain some form of clarity.

In my case I think this ‘boulder’, the thing that has squashed me and rendered me unable to move, has been my stalling career. In a similar (and yet completely different) way to Aron Ralston getting pinned against a canyon wall, I have found myself stuck and being creatively suffocated by the career path fate or whatever has dealt me.

Over the last two years or so, the majority of my spare time has been taken up with searching and applying for jobs. With the majority of things I’ve gone for, my experience has paled into insignificance against rival candidates. That’s the trouble with a recession – you simply can’t compete with people who have however many years of experience on top of yours. With others I’ve either made it through to the last two only to lose out at the final hurdle or, the most soul destroying of the bunch, I’ve been rejected for being “too experienced”. Needless to say, I’m sick of it. I’ve become accustomed to taking rejection with a pinch of salt and you can call me crazy but this is not living the dream. I am at Frustration Central with a one-way, non-refundable ticket to Nowhereville.

But on a brighter note, I reckon this whole process has been a blessing in disguise. I’ve been able to base myself in London, living with two of my best friends and, even though I’m not well paid, last summer I managed to save enough money to skedaddle off to the States for a few weeks of indulging myself in the wonders of Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. Most significantly though, during this time I’ve been able to figure out what is and isn’t working for me, what I actually want from life and what things I truly value.

For example, I now know that living to work means far more to me than working to live. I know some people are perfectly happy doing a job they don’t particularly enjoy and living for the weekend, but it just isn’t something that works for me. It doesn’t make me happy and going on like this for the rest of my working life will slowly drain my soul. Apparently I need more than a pay check - I need to follow my goals and dreams.

For most people it seems that life goals and dreams are simply that: out of reach notions saved for fantasising over when drunkenly staring at the bottom of an empty glass or discussing what we’ll do when our lottery numbers finally come up. In all honesty that’s what they’ve always been to me, only I’m not really sure why. Surely the whole point of having a dream is to motivate you and give you something to work towards?

I’ve come to the conclusion that even if I follow the widely-accepted route of having a career, getting married and having two kids by the time I’m 35, I know I’m still going to have unfulfilled ambitions, and at this point it’ll be too late to follow them. The last thing I want is to resent my kids, have a mid-life crisis and be one of those bitter people who harps on about how they wish they’d done this, that and the other when they had the chance.

Anyway, the fact of the matter is that I am and have been unsettled since I graduated. I’m not content being where I am in life and I’m certainly not ok with not achieving anything I deem to be of worth. So I've decided to actually follow one of my dreams. It’s something I’d originally planned to do when I was older, had more money to play with and possibly had some kind of boyfriendy-slash-husbandy-type-thing to share it with. But having fallen quite comfortably into my Quarter Century Crisis I figure I don’t need anyone else to be able to do it, I can save up and there’s no time like the present!

I’ve got my visa, I’ve booked my flight and in August I’m moving to Sydney where I intend to spend a year. After that, the world is my oyster. BOOM!

Me in Sydney circa 2005

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

[Disclaimer: I am about to go all deep and thoughtful on you. You have been warned.]

A week or so ago I dragged one of my wussy best partners in crime to see Danny Boyle's 127 Hours. I read the book a few years ago and couldn't put it down (one of the very few I've made it past the first few pages of), so I was itching to see the on-screen version. The partner in crime, on the other hand, is still emotionally scarred from watching The Sixth Sense 11 years ago and was jumping and cowering before the trailers even started. But it's all good. She endured it, I loved it and we both went home happy... or at least I went home happy and she went home and couldn't sleep.

Anyway, there's a line in the book which didn't really resonate with me until I heard it again in the film. As Aron contemplates his grim situation he comes out with this little gem: "This rock has been waiting for me my entire life. I’ve been moving towards it my whole life." I don't know why this made such an impact on my tiny brain, especially as when he said it my partner in crime was unsuccessfully attempting to sneak off to the nearest exit, but it did. What an awesome thought.

Over the past few weeks I've been seriously thinking about what I actually want from life and have realised that for the last two years I haven't had a clue what I'm doing. For one reason or another 2009 was pretty much written off as far as clear and practical thinking goes and 2010 was spent trying to gain any form of stability possible. But now I think about it, I'm not sure if my intentions were based on what I actually wanted or what I thought I needed. Hmm. Going back to the rock though... it made me wonder - does everyone have a rock they're heading towards? Obviously not an actual rock but a metaphorical one (unless you're one of the 0.00001% of people who will get stuck under a boulder and actually have to cut a limb off in order to survive... remember to always have your Swiss Army knife on you just in case).

I guess the metaphorical rock could be different things, or maybe even a series of things, to different people - a job, location, friend, 'the one', or maybe even an actual boulder. But whatever it is to you, you’re always moving towards it… which is quite a hopeful thought is it not? I reckon it’s quite comforting to know that whatever you're searching for is gradually getting closer by the second! Even if you achieve nothing in a whole day you're still that little bit closer, and even if you spend two years skipping about pretending everything is under complete control, it's not necessarily wasted time.

I think I'm slowly starting to realise what I currently want from life and what I personally want to achieve for myself. Luckily I haven't had to slowly saw my own arm off with a blunt knife in order to realise it, but I reckon without going through the past two years the way I have done, I wouldn't be realising it all now. I’m a firm believer in ‘whatever will be will be’ and in this instance I believe that the rock I’m currently moving towards has always been working towards me. I realise that makes no sense to anyone reading this as I haven’t actually divulged what it is I’m talking about, but all will be revealed in the goodness of time.

Basically what I’m saying is that to those of you who are monotonously job searching, frustrated with your current situation or having to deal with the fallout of other peoples selfish actions, just think... there's a boulder out there just waiting to fall on you, every day it gets closer and when it eventually squashes you against a canyon wall its going to give you hope and change your life for the better. Unless it’s an actual boulder in an actual canyon… but, hey - now that you’ve read this you’ll have your Swiss Army knife on you, and it'll all be gravy!

Right. End of seriousness. Here’s something amusing and yet thoroughly heartbreaking to lighten the mood: