It's Cool in the Pool (Column)

While I was swimming this evening I couldn't help thinking back to the book on Hansie I've just finished. What had regurgitated in my mind was the fact that after the King Commission Hansie put on 11 kilograms and then set about losing it, and that's what he did. That's what I intend to do.

August 1 starts with a 5am cycle (that's tomorrow), and then September is officially the beginning of the road to Ironman.

Other matters relating to water include my bathroom, which on Tuesday was completely submerged in an icy puddle of water. Unable to deal with this, I fled to Pretoria and watched Dark Knight on IMAX. Only R25 a ticket! What was quite disturbing is that within 3km of entering Pretoria (via Potgieter Road) the city is already a hollowed out slum.

In terms of economics it looks like we are getting mixed signals (within a signature signal). Exchange rates and a slight drop in oil prices mean we might have a little petrol price dip. The bad news is interest and inflation rates are climbing rapidly, and the long term trend for oil is up. Once again, demand destruction in the US (and energy efficiency gains there) are sucked up by China and India, which means the net effect is a growing demand. And supply is flat if not falling.

The waters of the Gulf are swilling. I predict a major Hurricane within the next 4 weeks.

Locally I have no idea where Zuma is going or should go. It's possible he might do a good job as a leader; as a man who at the very least is in touch with his constituents (read, cares about them). On the other hand, are our standards for ourselves and leaders so low now that we think it's okay to have a man lead us knowing his demonstrated capacity for self enrichment and his questionable views on AIDS, the media and what not?

Don't get me started on the lowering of standards. My experience at the cinema on Friday night (got to that date, or Saturday to read my post) has snuffed out the little candle of community spirit that I'd been kindling. I'm exaggerating of course, but I do believe our lack of manners are going to make the coming period so much worse.

Once again I have to say that while we may feel depressed or disempowered, one of the ways to approach the future is the way Lance approached his cancer. Prepare for it as you would a race, or a journey. To do that you determine what you will need, and what you intend to be doing. You can start now, and you can improve your ability to endure by practising your endurance. Long distance running, swimming or cycling, or all three teach valuable lessons of not only endurance, but also discipline. God knows I need to redefine and recommit to discipline levels abandoned some time ago. We all need to. Which reminds me...I have a plumbing problem to sort out, right here, in my own home.