It has been a cold and windy day. The forecast had said hail as well, but I have not been outside the office since getting in at around 8.40 this morning, so I have been spared. It had been raining as well, but that seems to have stopped. It was still only 8 degrees when Elysia and I left home this morning, with a forecast maximum 14 degrees. So finally Melbourne winter is here in its full splendour. I have not had a regular run for 2 weeks now, having managed only one in each of the past 2 weeks. It will be a challenge getting back into shape and do a satisfying 10k or 12k in the hour mark. I hope things look up. I feel like Gandalf muttering something along the lines of how dark the hour is and how there’s always hope, and there is always the nether world, and we should always strive on regardless. I guess there are benefits to the countless viewings of the LOTR series after all. The thing about this weather is how it is a parallel of how we are adjusting to life in Melbourne. It is often challenging, the cold and wind is to be lived through and gotten used to. Then hopefully when spring breaks we are in a position to cherish it ever more lustfully. Work hasn’t been all sunny for Theresa and I. We are not exactly in the twilight of our careers, but neither are we hot blooded novices, willing and able to cop all forms of bleeding abuse and efforts to get to the top of the pile. We have been through that and all we want now is to do work and spend time with the kid. That however is often not on the menu as being new to this country, we have to start all over again and repeat that process we went through over 10 years ago. We have to for example, put in the hours and not be the first one to rush out the door come end of the official day. We have to look and behave like hungry young Turks who are constantly seeking new challenges and wanting to learn new things. We do, but it’s hard to keep that hungry look. We need to be able to surge, take a fall, get up and wipe our asses and surge again saying, “Hit me!” Aren’t we too old for that sort of blood-letting corporate ladder climbing? I know though, that we must. Gosh it’s tiring. God, give us strength, we pray. And keep us warm. We pray.