Tuesday, April 05, 2005
A Magnificent Obsession
How did it happen? How did I go from a normal 32 year old with a good job, pension, house and mortgage and girlfriend to an obsessed 41 year old who at the drop of a hat leaves the country hoping to find the ultimate windsurfing spot. Along the way I lost the job (well took a part time contract), headed off into the unknown (well a job with Neilson) lost the girl friend (no real loss there I’m afraid – well for her!) and seemingly lost the ability to have a rational conversation that didn’t involve wind, waves or kit.
The only thing that keeps me going is that in the scheme of things it’s not that much of an obsession. I’ve just finished a book about someone who spent six months travelling the world to meet people with the same name. He flew all the way to New York then found out the person he’d come to meet had the wrong name, and walked away. He flew to Israel to meet 5 people (who turned out to be one person with 5 phones!). He even persuaded 5 people to change their names by deed poll to his.
People often ask me why I do it. I normally reply ‘because I love it’. That’s not strictly true, I love it and hate it in equal measure sometimes on the same day (sometimes even on the same run!) At it’s best nothing comes close to touching it. Think sunny, sandy beach, warm water and consistent winds then add you skimming over the water in a pair of shorts with a big grin on your face. See what I mean. At it’s worst nothing comes close. Think a cold rainy day on the South coast with a North Easterly and a shore dump that mullers you, then just after you change, rig and launch the wind dies never to reappear that day. That’s quite a wide spread of experience.
Like Forest Gump ‘you never know what you’re going to get’.
I guess like so many things in life, unless you experience the downs then you can’t really appreciate the ups! Mmm, well if you can guarantee me good wind, waves and sunshine for the rest of my life I’ll give it a go…….
The only thing that keeps me going is that in the scheme of things it’s not that much of an obsession. I’ve just finished a book about someone who spent six months travelling the world to meet people with the same name. He flew all the way to New York then found out the person he’d come to meet had the wrong name, and walked away. He flew to Israel to meet 5 people (who turned out to be one person with 5 phones!). He even persuaded 5 people to change their names by deed poll to his.
People often ask me why I do it. I normally reply ‘because I love it’. That’s not strictly true, I love it and hate it in equal measure sometimes on the same day (sometimes even on the same run!) At it’s best nothing comes close to touching it. Think sunny, sandy beach, warm water and consistent winds then add you skimming over the water in a pair of shorts with a big grin on your face. See what I mean. At it’s worst nothing comes close. Think a cold rainy day on the South coast with a North Easterly and a shore dump that mullers you, then just after you change, rig and launch the wind dies never to reappear that day. That’s quite a wide spread of experience.
Like Forest Gump ‘you never know what you’re going to get’.
I guess like so many things in life, unless you experience the downs then you can’t really appreciate the ups! Mmm, well if you can guarantee me good wind, waves and sunshine for the rest of my life I’ll give it a go…….
# posted by Duncan @ 2:50 AM 
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That comment was just a bit of fun but now I have read the comment about my capabilities,perhaps I was on the right track!!!
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