Hopefully, in the fullness of time and after a period of reflection, the balance is tipped in favour of a positive experience. Well you wouldn't hope so anyway or else you look like a right pair of eejits.
And for us? Well so far, so good. Sure there have been moments when the scales seemed positively jammed on the negative side, but mostly it's all good. Mostly.
One of the biggest weights, if you will allow me the indulgence of keeping to the scale analogy, pressing on the negative side is the loss of a network of family and friends. Accepting the we can't do anything about the family thing - not without taking seriously drastic measures, inventing time travel or discovering a worm hole for example, then the only other opportunity is to create another network of friends. Sounds easy. But it's not. Especially if you are a picky as us! Really! Yes we are! I don't think our friends back in the UK appreciate just how lucky they are to have been accepted by us as friends. I'm only joking of course..... or course they know how lucky they are.
Anyway, back to my point. Actually no. First a bit of back story.
It was the last day of our summer Christmas holiday and we decided that we would take it easy, a lazy day if you like. After all why not? The sun was shining, Auckland had gone on holiday to the Corromadel and we had the whole city to ourselves. A lazy day was just the ticket. Especially after nearly two weeks of galavanting about. Ahh yes, a lie in, coffee on the veranda, a leisurely breakfast and maybe a dip in the sea......
So it came as a bit of a surprise when we found ourselves doing a gym session at 7:30 in the morning. That wasn't part of the plan. Not even close. Where was the coffee? What happened to the relaxing breakfast?
After the exertions of the gym we decided to head to the outdoor pool to cool off. Just to cool of mind you. Keeping physical exertion to a minimum was key to a lazy day after all. It was only then, during my fifth length of the pool, that I began to wonder if our lazy day would ever really start. Thankfully it was still only 11:00am so there was still time to salvage a quiet day from the wreckage of being far too active. Or so I thought.
Quite how we came to be driving to a running club at 5:30, with the sun still blazing away, is still a bit of a mystery. How did that happen? Still, as this was our first time at the club, we were sure that we would be eased in.....
"An hour and a half run? In this heat? Are you sure?," I asked hopefully.
"Yes, Tuesday night's are always a longer run. You need to come on Thursday for a shorter one. That's only an hour and a bit more sociable."
"Come with us", came another voice, "We're taking it easy tonight. It is bit warm after all".
It was music too my era and it seemed like a good way to ease out of the predicament. A slow run in the heat after all, was infinitely preferable to a fast one. Not wanting to sound rude I accepted the kind invitation and set off down the street.
"So how far are we going?", I calmly asked, not wanting to sound too desperate.
"Only about 16k", came the answer, "About 5 minutes per k. That'll be ok with you won't it?"
"Oh yeah, no problem," I replied, displaying a strong British stiff upper lip.
"An hour and a half", I muttered to myself, "Ninety minutes. Ten miles. I don't believe it".
By the time I got to the first corner I realised my mistake. A lazy day should not consist of the gym, swimming and then a log run in the searing heat.
It seemed to last forever. After each hill there was a short and flat respite before heading off up another hill. Surely we couldn't get much higher? Just how many hills are there in Auckland?
"Do you run in these temperatures at home?," asked one of my running partners.
"We don't get these temperatures at home!," I instantly replied between pants.
But as each kilometre ticked by I also began to realise something else. I'd missed being in a running club. And I started to enjoy myself. Well as much as you can when you are bone weary and dehydrating faster than a leaky bucket. In the sun.
By the time I got back to the clubhouse I was spent. And absolutely dehydrated. A sun-dried tomato of a human. But happy. And a bit sore. And a lot wiser.
The next time we decide that a lazy day is in order I'll eat more food, rest more the day before and certainly drink more water.
And do you learn from your mistakes? Of course not! I just know we'll be back there next week, and the week after, raring to go.
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