Direction

There was a sign, on the way back from Cape Agulhas (Agulhas is Portuguese for 'needles', because the rocks on the coast are sharp and jagged), and the sign read: Beware of Tortoises. It's not a sign you'll ever seen in Korea, and you won't see: R500-00 Fine For Feeding Baboons. There are a few of those signs between Storms River and Jeffreys Bay.

I had a very interesting chat with Tico, my dad's buddy, last night. We played pool and scrabble (I was unlucky to lose the 3rd pool game but he whupped me soundly in scrabble).
He provided me with some useful insights into the van der Leek mindset.
One of the things he said was: "Perfectionists know how to make money, that's for sure. Perfectionists must also be the most miserable people in the world, and you van der Leeks are all perfectionists."
I'm not sure if that means we're all miserable people, but it certainly rings true that needing to have things done exactly a certain way, to a certain standard, and by a certain time, certainly creates a scenario for difficulty and disappointment because the world ain't perfect.

Being a perfectionist obviously impacts on an entire lifestyle, including how you see and appreciate the opposite sex. In other words, it determines how damn fussy you are. I think I'm pretty damn fussy, and I'd like to be a bit more flexible. The trick is having discipline in one area, like training and work, and being able to unplug, and relax, when the playtime starts. I'm not sure if people are wired to work that way. It seems to me that's a bit schizophrenic, to have a particularly attitude for a particular purpose, and then to undo it at will. It's probably possible with enough practise though. I think the key is just being conscious of what situations merit a specific approach, and knowing when to switch.

One thing I'm aware of is the van der Leek entropy. My dad was due to leave for J-Bay yesterday, and neither of his cars are actually working. The Mercedes has some electrical fault which mysteriously disappears once at Williams, and I don't know what's wrong with the LandRover. Also the one day I need a fax to be sent the fax mysteriously packs up.
Tico said it very well. "It's hard to get the van der Leeks to do anything, but once they do something, it's almost impossible to stop them or talk them out of it. You're so determined it's scary." Or words to that effect.
So my dad is driving up with CJ and a Lala (one of the dogs) today.

He also suggested that I lack direction, and I really took that on, and I think convinced him that actually I do have direction, and am quite focussed on the options, but am not certain which way at the moment. I had direction and consistency over the last 3 years, and now, this time is for approaching things ina new way, possibly finding a new direction. Being uncertain is natural and rational. I'm not uncertain as much as tentative. The way any athlete is a bit tentative, waiting for the starting gun to go off. That's absolutely normal.

But the thing I appreciated the most from our discussion, was the idea that the path we take be seen as an adventure. Not something to be nervous about or worried about, but that it is an adventure, with risks, and rewards, climbs and hikes and hard work, and relaxing sunsets and swims in lagoons. That really helps me with my little quest, including the Ironman.

I'm keen on buying Sarah MacLachlan's WORLD ON FIRE. I heard it in the car and it sounds hypnotic. I also want to get the new mix of the old Phil Collins song, Call On Me, which is now a very energetic dancy song. And maybe I'll get How to Defuse an Atom Bomb, the new U2 album. Allan also introduced me to a new group, Slingshot or something.

Now I really need to get something to eat.
I'll try to provide some information for the pictures already posted, but not now. First things first and now the first thing is food.