Premature Aging

I am feeling old, and I’m only 25. This shouldn’t be the case as I am in my prime. What is going on?

I’ll tell you what’s going on. I enjoy playing footy, it’s one of my greatest past times. But in the last few years injuries have interrupted my seasons. Last year when I was playing soccer I could rarely finish a game because of constant hamstring strains.

This year I am back with the Goannas playing Aussie Rules. It is leading into round 5 this week and I am no closer to playing than before my latest injury, a partial tear to my quadricep muscle. That was way back in early April, just before the Easter weekend. Physiotherapy has been performed, for the last five weeks to be exact. Everything was going well, full range of movement had returned and it was feeling good. I go back to training and do some running. I go for a short kick and pop it goes again. Not as bad as the initial tear but I can just see the writing on the wall.

The writing says, “Give it away Tim, you’ve had your go, time to move on.” This is a huge dose of reality if ever I saw it. But if I didn’t play footy my fitness would blow out of all proportion, it is already fairly non-existent so I shudder to think what I would look like if it were to get much worse.

If I’m not playing what do I do? It’s usually a question asked by professional footballers. But I’m not, so it should be easier right? Wrong! When you enjoy playing it is still difficult to step away from it.

I am on record as saying I feel I can tell people how to play better than I can actually play. This is also a tough pill to swallow but I think I’ve already accepted that fact. Coaching Auskick is evident of that and further coaching is always an option.

I’m not giving up on this season just yet but big questions will be asked come seasons end.

PUFWE 07

For a reminder of what PUFWE stands for then check here.

The Game

Sydney 14.11-(95) Vs Kangaroos 16.15-(111)

The game is the only compulsory activity of the weekend. After all the choice of weekend is purely determined on when Sydney are playing on the Saturday night in Melbourne.

Unfortunately for the second time in the three years of PUFWE tours the Swans have played possibly their worst game of the entire season. There is a lot of this season left to play but in 2005 (the Premiership year) we definitely saw their worst game. Pessimism set in very early, after quarter time when the score went 7 goals to 1. A big finish made it exciting in the but no one should give away a 6-goal head start and get away with it. Kangaroos were rightful winners.

The Sights

Brunswick Street
A trendy area that could possibly be equated to Newtown in Sydney. For some reason I feel very comfortable walking down Brunswick Street but wouldn’t be feeling so good about walking down the main street of Newtown.

One of our group (the girl) wanted to do some shopping so this day was dedicated to that pursuit. Luckily for the two blokes (me being one) we didn’t enter every single outlet.

The Old Melbourne Gaol
A surprisingly successful visit as we all enjoyed the history that it brings. There is a lot to read which doesn’t appeal to all but it is very rewarding in the end if you put in the hard yards. It’s most famous as the place Ned Kelly was hanged after the shootout at Glenrowan. Three hours later, our legs are sore and our minds full of knowledge.

Eateries

The Retro
A traditional spot for us to visit. Famous for their cakes of generous proportions.

The Tin Pot
Another traditional place for us to visit for Sunday breakfast. Highly recommended comes the BLT deluxe, although other items on the menu are well worth trying also.

The Vege Bar
Recommended by our hosts but rejected by two out of three of the visitors. Nothing against vegetables, they are a side dish, nothing more, nothing less.

Our Hosts

Mr & Mrs Campbell – always generous and gracious when we invade the south.

Let’s Just Be Friends

Words that no one wants to hear. It’s indicates a change in a relationship. Whether these are positive or negative changes is up to the individuals involved. Some changes may fluctuate, manoeuvring between both positive and negative emotional responses. Eventually there is the hope of regaining a reasonable level of sociability again.

The big question is: After breaking up from a serious relationship, can men and women remain just friends?

We hear in celebrity news of constant break ups. Publicists usually try to pedal the same spiel about the couple remaining close friends. What a load of rubbish I would always think. Although it is a different world that they live in so maybe the same premise doesn’t apply to ‘normal’ people.

The famous line from the movie ‘When Harry Met Sally’ brings some relevance to the topic. Harry says to Sally, “Men and women can’t be just friends. The sex always gets in the way.” Unfortunately this statement makes the assumption that all male/female friendships must involve sex, which hopefully isn’t the case. But it is correct by inference that once you have formed a serious relationship it is very hard, if not impossible, to remain just as friends.

I would say it is possible to remain friends. But close friends, well, I don’t think it is possible. You just can’t go back to the way it was before the relationship went to the next level. This may have involved hanging out exclusively but just as friends or going out with groups while still staying close to each other.

World acclaimed marriage and grief counsellor, H. Norman Wright, in his book titled ‘Let’s Just Be Friends’ says that hanging out like that again is a waste of time. It is holding back both individuals from forming new relationships with the opposite sex that may eventually lead to something serious (paraphrasing).

To say a former couple should completely go their separate ways and never speak to each other is a bit far fetched. Not to mention how difficult it would be to avoid each other as similar circles of friends have usually been formed. However, to go back to just being friends may take some time.

300 – Movie Review

I originally turned down an invitation to go see this movie as the inviters had a record of wanting to see bad movies (eg Snakes on a Plane). I earned a reprise and was invited again. I decided to go this time as I had heard interesting reviews from various people since the initial knock back

I’m unsure as to whether this is a piece of history or Greek mythology. Some of the characters make me think mythology.

It is the story of how 300 Spartans battled against King Xerxes army. The Spartans were hugely outnumbered but as the introduction shows, Spartans are trained for battle. Xerxes had no idea how resilient the Spartans were, but I’m not about to spoil the ending.

It’s really gory in some parts, but what do you expect from a battle flick. Decapitations and severed limbs are common place.

I was warned that there were a lot of nipples. Interesting comment but relevant once you see the Spartan war attire. You would think they should wear a bit more than that.

The cinematography was fantastic. It’s hard to describe but it’s clear that they put a lot of work into the post production to make the scenery look spectacular. As weird as it sounds, I like how they made the blood look. It’s different than other movies like Gladiator, it’s almost cartoonish.

Look out for Aussie actor David Wenham who is more famous to a lot of people as Diver Dan in ‘Seachange’. I know him mainly from the Aussie low budget flick called Cosi. To see him in this vastly different role was strange to begin with. It just goes to show how versatile our good actors are.

A movie not for the faint hearted. If you can put up with the gore then I recommend it. Could even initiate discussion about what is masculinity. Southern cross media touched on it in their latest publication.

A Need For Regularity?

I’m already reflecting on the year so far, and it’s only May.

After stopping regular attendance at one church I still haven’t started regular attendance at another church. Last Sunday (29/4) was the first time all year that I have been to the same church in consecutive weeks.

I asked someone whether my irregular church attendance is a bad thing. This person has a particular way with words, which is why of all people I asked him. He wanted to explore my motivation for attending different churches. The answer was primarily to visit friends who attend other churches. I even made up a long list of churches using PowerPoint.

When I was regularly attending one church I had commitments playing in the music group. I had formed a nice little comfort zone for myself. The result -> never venturing elsewhere.

When I stopped attending regularly, for various reasons, I guess I felt a little liberated and wanted to visit them all. Problem is that there is only one Sunday in each week. I was also able to stay home when family came over. With the music commitments I always had to leave them prematurely. This was a bit disappointing as their visits through the year are limited so I like to make the most of them when I can.

Then the focus of our discussion changed to reviewing the areas in which I was serving. As “Jesus came not to be served but to serve” he recited. It was a relevant statement, it’s not as if he was just showing off his biblical knowledge by quoting scriptures. I replied, “But the Lord loves a cheerful giver.” Therefore if your service is not enjoyable anymore is there a problem with going on hiatus from that form of service for an extended period?

“What about moving to other forms of service?” my discussion partner quipped. Fair point, except we are all given certain gifts, call them spiritual gifts if you like. Some have multiple gifts. For me the gift was playing drums in the music group. I enjoyed most of my time but in the end it began to feel like a chore. Going to church shouldn’t feel like that. I wanted a year without drumming of any kind.

My drum kit has been in cases since the Christmas Carols service (Dec 8th 06) so I’m obviously not missing playing. When I do start to miss playing I will no doubt search for a church music group in need of a drummer.

The only other gift I can see in service is coaching Aussie Rules and if you could count that as a ministry then I can say I am moving from one form of service to another.

To be continued…….