sports sports sports

Even more than in the Netherlands sports is an almost every-day feature for me here in Dublin. Less commute, a less packed social diary, and thus overall more time allow me to jump, run, and play around as much as I want to. The only force that may compel me to rein in somewhat are the joints & ligaments that have to endure all this fun; my feet have blisters and small wounds all over and in particular my left knee seems to become the main culprit in spoiling all the fun. So far so good however, and I survive by merely pretending all is fine ;)

Let’s take this delightful sports-week as a thriving example of all the physical delight I am exposed to here. Monday was lunch time tennis with Padraig, and however much the entire floor wanted me to win, I guess I have to wait a few more months or years until I get to overtake him (or when age gets the better of him). Tuesday I got to escape the office again over lunch, this time for the usual Tuesday-lunchtime-football game with the colleagues. Wednesday evening I won my first box league ever (that’s tennis). In my first box last year some people at the club had apparently severely overestimated my very humble tennis skills as I lost all four games in my group. I got relegated a few divisions and now find myself competing with more equally skilled players, which led me to win 8-6 last night. First ever competitive tennis game victory! Nice. Today, which is Thursday, we had our weekly 5-a-side on green concrete. Although the exercise was very welcome after a day in the office I played as if I had just decided the other day to give an entirely new sport a go. Will, who had introduced me to the team as their new player just before Christmas, must be eating his words as he told the lads he knew of a good Dutch player to strengthen the forces. Alas as well as I play on Tuesdays as poor my performances are thus far on the Thursday nights! Loads to improve... To finish it off I plan to go running tomorrow and have my second box league of the year Saturday afternoon. Sunday the lads go play golf, which I may sacrifice for some hiking with the girl. Tennis, football, running, golf… you get the idea. And now that I find myself chilling out at home, totally relaxed and with a throbbing knee, I tell myself that too much of a good thing isn’t always the best. Maybe I should let go of that run tomorrow…