Sunday/Rātapu
I have been swimming about 20 lengths every morning. The pool is stunning. Mostly I have had the pool to myself. This morning on my swim I see this guy hanging out by the lockers. The lockers are 2 metres left of the spa and then away from the pool by another 2 metres. He has a hairy back and my immediate thoughts are - He is not the kind of guy I should be here by myself with! I tell myself all is well, and not to be so silly. Then he is turning and looking at the pool and turning back at the lockers.
I am starting to work out how quick is the path for him to run, dive and drown me. I keep swimming thinking I am ridiculous. I start doing breaststroke arms and kick just the same so I have my head up and can keep an eye on him. I can at least be prepared for some sort of defence if the hairy back was to turn! 5 minutes pass and I am beginning to become more anxious as he faces the pool waiting. What was he doing? Should I get out and try and help him if he needs help? Just as I am choosing what to do, hotel management arrive! Phew. He could not get into his locker and management assisted him.
What I got from this incident is how my mind goes into creating a good story. So I have this conversation with Bill about this incident. Sure enough, his wise words come through.You can make up a great story. You also do that with me. Just as well you see it for what it is.
I think of Daniel (he is 25 ) in a birthday card to his father at 7. He writes 'Happy Birthday Dad. I like the way you think.' So do I. He is a great travelling companion as he has organised everything, and I like it he can mentor me when my thoughts go crazy.
We go to eat, movie out and then go to the Comedy Club. We met Ashlie, a journalist and George an accountant in a bar watching the women’s soccer between Cameroon and England . England won 3-0 with controversy! I am sure the coach of Cameroon side is one BiG BULLY. Ashlie works for the Manchester Evening News and is interested in my blog, or did I coerce?
The movie we go and see is "Diego Maradona" at Home Theatre (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5433114/). To me Diego's story was a bit like a Tiger Woods story with a different ending. Both were popular with the press, people loved their sporting prowess and want to know about their private life, both fell from grace, they enjoyed the ladies (Tiger did not do cocaine), both just wanted to play and win in their sport, were leaders in their sport, lied, and cheated on those they loved.
Today I am reminded of my terrible twin. I have one, so do you, and so does everyone.
I reflect. I made the story about the hairy guy and could dwell on that kind of thing more often (not sleeping at nights might be about I am thinking about my terrible twin too much), focussing on the drama of life is my terrible twin. And I could be like her. Though luckily I can see her for who she is. Diego hangs out with his terrible twin and Tiger has spent time with his terrible twin and now he sees the light and realises he is bad news!
Back to swimming!
It was Manchester Day. I got a photo of Sudanese protesting (peacefully) together on Manchester Day. We also dropped in at the Comedy Club after seeing Diego Maradona movie. We will look for more Comedy Clubs. It was funny. We'll do some more of those.
