Perspectives From a Road Trip

On Saturday at 16:30, after a short 1.75km swim in the Virgin Active pool, Ane and I set off in the Citi (Golf 1.6) for Cape Town.
Even at 16:30 it was sweltering outside. Earlier in the day I'd cycled about 100km, so I was feeling wasted and thirsty.

I arrived back at 17:00 on Monday, and having come full circle, I am already seeing Bloemfontein, and my time here, and the people I know here, in a different way. It's odd, but this impulsive trip has actually proved to be a very worthwhile experience. Travel is such a good educator. It's a mechanism for growth. It's an antidote to boredom. It frees the soul, and inspires the identity to come out of itself.

The whole trip was a lot of fun. We took in the sunset, ate yummy grub (which will have to be run off soon), swam in a roadside dam with some local children, chased owls and roadside antelope, got a herd (not a flock, please) of ostriches to approach the car and stopped to photograph all manner of things: a windmill, a fence, sheer desolation, a steel railway track being polished by a hot sun.

Valentine's Day loomed large and was not without it's stresses and strains, both for Ane and myself.

I have felt a much stronger sense of urgency in terms of securing my financing situation. The Rand has recently developed acne (aka turned a bit ugly)from a Won point of view (now at R6.05 to the $, was R6.23), and also I am beginning to feel I know what is left to be done in terms of the Ironman.
The days left to get work (that means not returning to Korea on the designated date) are also becoming fewer.

This trip was good in the sense that it put things in perspective, especially because the pace of travelling (driving, taking photographs, finally lazing on Llandudno just minutes, literally, before flying back to the starting point)allowed for some insightful reflections and revelations alongside all the fun. Now to apply them.

1) It's running time. Will do 4 runs this week. (need to lose 2kg)
2) Banking: 3 unit trusts, R15 000, by Wednesday.
3) Work: To pursue 2nd and 3rd Year English need to find out when Late Registrations close and get some feedback/results on the 3 applications I have already tendered. Must also take the Home Schooling idea further and get feedback from people in the Education Department about viability.
4) House: Postponed till the end of 2005 unless 3 falls through, in which case I will go to J-Bay in the 2nd week of March and find something.
5) Also in the case of 3 not being resolved in the next week or two, must find worthwile positions to go to in Korea. Davesesl and contacts already in Korea.

The Starting Line for the next race approaches...