Australia Day

So I’m an Australian in St Croix. I thought Australia day would pass by uneventfully, and it did for the most past. I wore my Aussie flag tattoos on hand and leg and stirred up the guys at work about working on my equivalent of Independance Day. They also got the spiel about invasion day and we found plenty of episodes in our histories that are not really that dissimilar.

But then there was a band at the local pub. The only other Aussie I new about on the island was there (I don’t know if it counts after living here for 9 years). So were two others (on a round the world type adventure). The flag tattoos quickly got plastered on cheeks, and suddenly there were a horde of us! I think a few might have been ring-ins, but never mind… The band came on, I ended up dancing the night away, or until the next day had technically started.

I though about where I was last year. And it didn’t really register, because it wasn’t important then. But this year it was.

Aussie, aussie, aussie. Oi, Oi, OI!

Diving

I got a day off work! Shhh, don’t tell my boss Keith (who lives here) and I went diving again. This time we saw a small Hawksbill Turtle, a lonely Barracuda, a big starfish thing and the normal (amazing) array of fish and coral. And the wall off the north shore, which we went little further down this time (80 ft ~ 24m). Still a fair way to go until we see the bottom though (~2,500 ft /750m).

Both time we went out from the shore – the second time in the surf. Although the waves weren’t terribly big, it was still exciting (especially since we had to do it twice – after I forgot to open my air valve before starting, the valve got stuck and we had to reassemble the regulator on dry land). Once you are under the waves, the coral that looks like an aquarium makes it worth it.

Although no one cares, I left my log book somewhere in Aus, so:
Water temp 81°F/27°C and I still felt cold, in a steamer – there must be something wrong with me. Especially when those crazies in Winnipeg (to pick a random city, Hi Stu and Rachel…) are getting around -30°C.
I needed 10lbs of weight, which I upped to 12lbs for the second dive – time to go on a diet.
First dive (at “North Star”)was 36min at max depth of 80ft, ave depth 45ft or so (one guy came with us and had a dive computer)
Second dive (at somewhere else on the beach) was ~45 min at max depth of ~60ft, no computer so only what I can remember. Neither of us are in hospital, so we must have got it right.

Oh, and there were a few dives the other day as well. I must write those down somewhere.

And for those in Winnipeg it is +30°C here. Not -30. Just thought you’d like to know.

News

Exciting news: I have some news. I want to write about it, but I’ve been told that wouldn’t be a good idea. You see, some people in Adelaide still read this thing (why? I do not know). Apparently it has to be broken in the correct manner, by the correct people, at the correct time. I bow to their judgement. Now the messenger wont hear about how I feel now that I am off the phone

In other somewhat exciting news: I have heard that the Spanish Government have finally decided that I am fit to be granted a work permit and a residence permit. While I say fit, I still need to obtain a medical certificate for some reason (and a police clearance and yet other papers…). I started this process in September – the best part of five months ago, and I still have nothing in my hand, or passport. But this is good news, because I may soon be able to have a home again. Even though the home will be a long way from my real home, it wont be someone else’s home. And it is likely that I will rarely be at that home.

I’ll have to get around to learning Spanish at some point, or go hungry. I will be in Barcelona at least for a short period sometime in February. But from what I’m hearing, I will be back in the US before I know it.

At least they speak (a form of) English here.

Houston Half

I seem not to be updating this site any more. Anyway, the Houston Marathon was run today, in beautiful weather. I decided on Thursday to enter after finding out that I may be able to get an entry that a friend of a friend couldn’t use (conveniently timed work trip). So I managed exactly one training run. I went with Carol (I haven’t really mentioned the people I am staying with in Houston – I should fix that one day).

Well the run today was fun, with lots and lots of people. Amazing amount of people. 25 thousand or so (according to the website). That is a sea of humanity. Nothing at all like I have seen before.

I ran about as hard as I could, and only managed 1:42. I should be happy with that, but I know if I had trained I could have done better. But then I would have had to try, so maybe I should be happy with it. My calves hurt, but otherwise a nice, fun run. Carol ran brilliantly, finishing in 2:16. Not bad at all!

Lots of results at the web site. My number was 24913 – don’t bother searching for my name – I was registered as the guy who couldn’t make it (thanks Nigel!). But this does mean I.. I mean Nigel placed 24 in his age group (age group is 50-54). I hope Nigel is happy with that result, and perhaps manages to better it next time

I finished 457 of 6327. That is just the half marathon (ie not including 4429 marathon finishers, or 2065 who ran the 5K)

Actually the results are quite thorough – it tells me I ran a negative split, a shade under 8min/mile for the first 9 miles and 7:30 min/mile for the final 4 miles.

Ski trip

Has ended… and I’m back in Houston. For those trying to keep up.

I had a blast snowboarding. Really. At least I think I did. To be perfectly honest, I fell down so many times that my head ached for three days, and my neck for the whole time. I hurt my shoulders because after a few days falling on my butt it hurt so much that I tried to reduce the pain by falling on my arms. Every now and again a finger or wrist also got caught. Now my back hurts.

When you are learning to walk you take some spills, so you do snow boarding. I can now get down the hill, at a reasonable speed (at least I think it was reasonable, Tim may disagree), on any of the blue runs out here. I managed a few blue/black runs, but the bumps/moguls at winter park are really first class (ie impossible for me) and that stopped me from getting down any blacks. Another few days (maybe weeks…) I would have been there. After 6 days on the slopes, and 2 snow-shoeing you’d think I should be ok at it…

I did really enjoy it, despite the (small amount of) pain. A full week at altitude (between 2,800 and 3,7000m), exercising, messing around in the snow – how could I not enjoy it? Coupled with staying with Tim and Colleen and their daughter Catherine (just the names alone mean I’ll have to like them!) meant I had a great time. Thanks guys!

Now I have to look toward Europe. It should be this month… or next…

Oh, Happy New Year. Like the other Aussie oldies I know, we planned to go to sleep before midnight. The plan fell through, I got to talking with Colleen and Catherine, and we ‘made it’ to 12:30. Pat on the back for me there. Maybe 2009 will go a little slower – last year just flew!