Mid Year Reflection

I figured it was about time for a quick update, it's been over 3 months since my last post and a lot has happened over that time.
Probably the first thing that springs to mind is all the sickness that has been through the family. In addition to COVID-19 hitting most of us, with the change in weather and increased mingling with others, there have been a number of us out with flu, colds, fevers, etc. It has got to the point where we have just decided to suspend all swimming lessons over the winter. We have also been hit with a series of arctic blasts and temperatures have been single digits most days along with sleet and a few days of snow. There was one day where a false fire alarm knocked out out heating at work and my office was a chilly 11 degrees for the whole day. Perfect opportunity to sit infront of the heater at home and catch up on books and tv! Kids have been gifted with a few jigsaw puzzles as well, so we have been slowly chipping away at them as well. Might put up some pictures if I can remember to take some!
Hockey season started though and I have really been enjoying playing this year, not that I haven't in previous years but I feel like I have gotten more out of it this year than previously. Training is longer and more structured and we have been focusing on specific skills each week so it feels like we are improving each weekend which probably contributes to it. I was also asked to play in 2 tiers this year. I normally play in the bottom grade as I am an old guy without much skill and really just playing for fun and fitness but I have also been playing for the 1st grade team for most of the season. It is a lot faster, a bit more serious but I have been enjoying playing two games over a weekend and I definitely feel like my fitness has improved! That being said there have been the odd weekends where family commitments meant I couldn't play but I love spending time with the family and I think with the additional games, I will still be ahead. Really great bunch of guys on the team as well so while we are not really any chance of winning the competition this year (although it is still early days I suppose), it has been an awesome season so far.

Easter was a great opportunity to have a short holiday and travel up north to visit the in-laws. Had a great time with the kids and we went out past Coonabarabran, near the Pilliga to go for a hike, have a picnic and see some artworks - Sculptures in the Scrub which is where the photo is from. A really great hike and reinforces my hope to take the kids to more walking tracks in the future. There are so many in the local area I have yet to take so looking forward to the time where I can take the troop and not have to carry a tired 5year old after a few steps!
Lastly, my nephew has been living with us for the past 7 months or so but he has decided that he has saved enough money to make the move to Sydney and get more involved in professional acting. We have been trying to teach him some life skills in his time with us, preparing him as much as anyone can to take the plunge and live on his own for the first time. Hopefully all goes well in the big smoke and we wish him well in his career!

In terms of entertainment, the new season of Stranger Things (season 4) was released and I have been absolutely loving every minute of it. The amount of references to other horror and 80's pop-culture is staggering and the nostalgia factor is massive but the effects, score, plot and acting have all been spot on this season. I can't wait for the last part of the season to be released. In between the Stranger Things binge I have also been re-watching all of Star Trek Next Gen. It is something my best mate watched religiously and while I have seen most episodes hear and there, I don't think I have ever gone through all seasons. While I really enjoy the series, I see it becoming a way of remembering my mate who unfortunately passed away 12 years ago. While I won't be able to discuss the episodes with him anymore, it helps keep the memories alive.
In terms of books - I have been listening to Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. With fewer opportunities to travel in a COVID world, my audiobook listening time has taken a serious dive but I am most of the way through now and I am really enjoying the story. While it is now 30 years old, the computer and cyberpunk elements really hold up well and it is really interesting to see how it has impacted on the current state of the internet and the world at large.
Reflecting on the reduction in car travelling limiting my audiobook time, I think that I might invest in an ebook reader like a kindle or something as I find that audiobooks are great for some fiction, when listening to dense or complicated material, I don't tend to retain the it as well. I find written much better for that - where you can adjust the reading speed, quickly re-read or annotate if the content sparks something - bit hard to do while driving.