I work as a Marketing Lecturer for
Southbank Institute. This seems ironic as when I was at
college I specifically stated that I didn’t want to work for
the public service or be a teacher. But where else can you be
paid to speak to people, guide and shape young minds or give
direction and focus to mature adults. Actually I just like the
nine weeks holiday a year.
I live in Woolloongabba, having lived in Brisbane
on and off since the 80’s and joined PCRG in Jan 2006
thinking this will be different. I saw them mass swimming
after a hot run in December, leaving a huge sweat slick in the
Southbank pool and thought that’s my sort of crowd.
My favourite restaurant is “The
worst vegetarian restaurant in Brisbane” the Norman Hotel
where you can call your steak by their own names as you crave
them up. My last one was called Murray Grey. On my next visit
I will wrap my lips around a Japanese fellow called Wagyu.
My earliest childhood memory is
biting my Nan’s bum after she scolded me for chewing my other
siblings when they crawled pass me on the floor. It was not a
something my Nana ever let me forget (my birthday presents
were usually the worst), but I still get glowing reports from
the dentist on the state of my choppers. The second thing I
remember is escaping from my parents by running and diving
under their double bed when I was in trouble. However one day
I grew too big and knocked myself out on the steel bed rails.
They were very supportive until I revived and then they
strapped me.
My wife says grow up and act like an
adult, my mother told her to carry that particular baton
because I didn’t do so well in her care, my work colleagues
probably think the same because they talk to my wife. It’s a
conspiracy to get to feel old, drop out, play lawn bowls, bore
yourself silly, stagnate, then die dribbling on the lounge and
that’s not me at all.
My favourite movie is Sense and
Sensibility, now that’s a joke, it’s Brave heart because he’s
a leader, a thinker who believed in freedom and speaking his
mind and who looked great in a kilt if you like hairy men who
don’t wear jocks that is.
Brisbane City is my birthplace my
city of choice my ideal “big country city” because I am a 3rd
generation ABC or Banana from Queensland and very proud of my
city as it’s the cleanest , greenest, warmest combination of
any capital I’ve lived in. The people treat you for what you
are, the traffic is reasonable, the coast is close and we are
so lucky to live in a safe environment. I have lived and
worked in several other towns, interstate capitals and
overseas cities and nothing compares with Brisbane. Refugees
swim to get here, Southerners buy their way in so there must
something good about it. I think we should extend the rabbit
fences and keep others out before it gets too big or as silly
as Sydney.
My regular holiday destination is
nowhere at present as I recently spent up big on major
renovations , however I would fly to Prague at a moments
notice to relive some of Europe’s old world charm. In fact I
would go to most European cities especially Paris but always
come back to Brisbane for the peace and quiet. The grass is
always greener on the other side but when you get there
....well nothing beats home! You will miss the Aussie accent
and Don Burke is a blast to listen to, if you’ve been away too
long.
If money was no option I would still
work as everyone is a social animal and we need the
stimulation. Money doesn’t make you happy, it just makes
living more comfortable and then you get lazy. I’ve
experienced that living overseas where the locals still
complain that they haven’t got enough money and are more
unhappy than those without.
It frustrates me when you try to
help someone out, provide good advice and they basically
ignore you because they are too wrapped in themselves and
can’t see the trees for the forest. As Monty Python says “You
tell the young children today and they don’t believe you!” The
next question usually asked “Is Python listed in the textbook
and is it on the test?”
I have been involved in running since
I ran across to bite my Nana’s bum, but really only since
‘83 when they Army started making me run 5km fitness tests. It
also made me like shiny boots and starched shirts. And my
most memorable -uncomfortable running experience is
withdrawing backwards whilst being chased and harassed through
the wet hills of Singleton training area carrying a stretcher
for four hours until dawn broke and the training finished.
Angry NCO’s were yelling at you for hours and you felt “Stuff
you Freddy I can do this until you fall down first.” That was
a particularly nice dawn, the freshness and forest smells
still lingered long after we finished.
I enjoy distance running because now
you are free to do your own thing, no boundaries no pressure
and you are in charge of what you want to do and where you
want to go. What more could you ask for?
My favourite run is still simply
around Southbank, the river and surrounds because there is
ALWAYS someone out doing their thing whatever time of the
morning. Whether it’s running or biking or dragging the dog
around at least they’re out and not lazing around so it makes
me want to run and run.
Motivation is something we are all
born with, it just needs some bright spark to get you going,
maybe Pat is that spark. Maybe that’s why he’s a redhead.
Injuries are a sign you aren’t
invulnerable as I learnt when I suffered a serious lead
climbing accident several years ago.
Nearly killing myself by falling 10 metres
off KP cliffs and breaking my back , fracturing my sternum,
micro fracturing my heel , smashing teeth and generally
messing me up some, which meant major time on sick leave plus
1 year off all impact work especially running and gym work
was a turning point in my life because it made me realize:
1. You never know when your time is up We don’t come with an
expiry date.
2. We must make use of every day of our lives. Every day after
my accident is like cream on top of the pudding (I could have
been dead or at least a paraplegic).
3. If you got your health you got everything you need. The
rest are just bonuses. So don’t complain someone is always
worst off than you.
The Pat Carroll running group are my
saving grace this year. They smile when you arrive on a dark
cold morning, they encourage you, they applaud your effort on
the last uphill climb. Then the buggers all race you back for
the biggest piece of watermelon as they finish. I hate picking
up a piece with finger marks and sweat stains on it that
someone discarded, so you have to run back quickly.
I prefer running in as brief a set
of clothing as possible to feel the light breeze on your skin
because you know it’s working when you are sweating. And when
you’re sweating you’re working. Also my wife says it shows off
my best feature my bum.
Running is natural, being consistent
and getting up for that early morning alarm however is as only
as difficult as you make it.
The best advice 3 wise men gave me
are:
1. My Dad “Always try, because success only comes before work
in the dictionary.”
2. My old Korean martial arts instructor “More sweat in
training, less blood in battle”
3. A work colleague who had just retired “Never believe
anything they tell you” so I guess in summary that’s Train,
try and don’t listen to the wankers.
Heroes and Sports stars inspire me
less than the average normal person who does the best they
can, with the resources they have and still come back the next
day and do it again.
I will always regret not spending more time with my
father before he died, and him not seeing my children grow up.
I will never regret any decision I made because it was
the best choice at the time and you can’t second guess
yourself or you will go nutty.
I do regret not being as tall as I once was. I was
really, really tall, but the fall squashed me down some.
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