ANZAC day picnic in the Botanical Gardens.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pedal Power!
I've been riding to work!
OK, perhaps that's overstating it. I've ridden to work exactly twice so far! But that averages out to once a week, and this week circumstances beyond my control have prevented me from donning my stack hat. And no, I don't mean a bit of rain, I'm not scared of getting wet!
Anyway, riding to work. It's a great ride from my place, along the beach, then through the park, and then the last little bit along St Kilda road into the city. So far so good. I was pretty nervous about riding in big city traffic, but there are clearly marked bike lanes and so long as you keep an eye out for distracted morning motorists with road rage, it seems fairly safe. But most importantly - it's completely flat the entire way - no hills!
It actually takes me less time on the bike than on the tram (and that's at my snail's pace - anyone with the slightest degree of fitness would probably get there in half the time it takes me)! And, weirdly, I get to sit down all the way (albeit on a fairly hard bike seat) compared with my usual trip home on the tram standing up packed in like a can of human sardines.
So, I can release some work tension, get some exercise, get home faster (and while sitting down!), save the environment and enjoy the scenery, all at the same time! Fabulous!
OK, perhaps that's overstating it. I've ridden to work exactly twice so far! But that averages out to once a week, and this week circumstances beyond my control have prevented me from donning my stack hat. And no, I don't mean a bit of rain, I'm not scared of getting wet!
Anyway, riding to work. It's a great ride from my place, along the beach, then through the park, and then the last little bit along St Kilda road into the city. So far so good. I was pretty nervous about riding in big city traffic, but there are clearly marked bike lanes and so long as you keep an eye out for distracted morning motorists with road rage, it seems fairly safe. But most importantly - it's completely flat the entire way - no hills!
It actually takes me less time on the bike than on the tram (and that's at my snail's pace - anyone with the slightest degree of fitness would probably get there in half the time it takes me)! And, weirdly, I get to sit down all the way (albeit on a fairly hard bike seat) compared with my usual trip home on the tram standing up packed in like a can of human sardines.
So, I can release some work tension, get some exercise, get home faster (and while sitting down!), save the environment and enjoy the scenery, all at the same time! Fabulous!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Vipassana
On Sunday I went to a one-day Vipassana meditation course. I have previously done two of the ten-day Vipassana courses, but I haven't done any meditation for a couple of years now. It was great to get back into it again.
Although I haven't been meditating regularly, so much of what I learnt in the two ten-day courses has stayed with me and helped me in my everyday life. That's not to say that I am completely 'zen' now, but I am at least aware of some of my patterns of thinking that tend to make me unhappy.
Vipassana is a truly wonderful technique. It is a buddhist-based meditation practice, but it is taught as a secular technique - there is no religious dogma or rites and rituals to follow. It's all very good common sense.
My body is aching from having to sit cross-legged from 9am to 6pm, but my mind feels pretty refreshed! The day actually made me long to do another ten-day course again. After a couple of days of silent mediation your mind really slows down and focuses, which is something that rarely happens in my crazy busy life these days.
Although I haven't been meditating regularly, so much of what I learnt in the two ten-day courses has stayed with me and helped me in my everyday life. That's not to say that I am completely 'zen' now, but I am at least aware of some of my patterns of thinking that tend to make me unhappy.
Vipassana is a truly wonderful technique. It is a buddhist-based meditation practice, but it is taught as a secular technique - there is no religious dogma or rites and rituals to follow. It's all very good common sense.
My body is aching from having to sit cross-legged from 9am to 6pm, but my mind feels pretty refreshed! The day actually made me long to do another ten-day course again. After a couple of days of silent mediation your mind really slows down and focuses, which is something that rarely happens in my crazy busy life these days.
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