"And when I return we'll be better than before,
Like two little shells on the shore"
Life's been interesting as of late. Work's been superb - going from working at the Heineken, to covering my first NZ Breakers game this week, and then going to my first international game - NZ v. Pakistan in an ODI at Eden Park - not a bad way to start 2011.
As you're all aware, 2011 didn't really start particularly flash. I'd have to give the opening round of 2011 to Life. Car scenario after car scenario taught me that insurance should always be a top priority! Haha. THough it did teach me another life lesson. You can either wallow in your sorrow for an extended period and suffer, or try and see a positive in it and maximise that positive to help yourself out. In my case, no one was seriously injured/dead - which is a rather big positive!
I have been very fortunate to have the workmates that I do. They all know i'm a bit of a no0bie newbie and are incredibly patient so that helps. The boss is someone I have a lot of respect for, and enjoy a good laugh with. Liam's been really helpful in chcking things over with and having a good laugh and a yarn with. Then there's Helen, our big boss who is all about banter when it comes to English sport. She also makes the most sensational trifle!! Thanks also to Christine for helping me out when needed :)
As I sit writing this I'm trying to think about a wee phrase or something that defines how family's doing at the moment. I guess for all money's worth (little phrase) they're doing well. On the up, you could say, which is always incredibly satisfying to hear when you call from Auckland. Love to the family and extended family - and to Wiremu and Ali who are havin a son in March. Congratulations!
Things with the female partner who shall remain anonymous (will just acknowledge that she is real, however) are going really well. Has been a while since feeling this comfortable about being myself around someone I like, so that's always a positive in my books! It has been interesting hearing various perspectives of our relationship - because of my Christian beliefs and her non-Christian beliefs, views play their part - but to be honest, at the moment for me the focus is on love and nothing else. That is my view, anywho :).
The wee quote at the top of the post is actually from a song I wrote for the wahine. I was down in Wellington and walking down on a beach just north of there when I saw a couple of shells next to each other. From then I automatically thought of my return to the Auckland we all know and love (Right Wellingtonians?). So this is just a wee cutesie song that I whipped up on Garageband.
Life is for enjoying, I have found. And that's what 2011 has taught me so far. There can be negatives for sure, but don't make them a priority.
Here's the link to the song from which the quote at the top of the post is from. It's called Shells on the shore, I hope you enjoy it!
http://soundcloud.com/musicbymatiuworkman/shells-on-the-shore
Matiu out.
Follow: @matiutheworkman
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Cherishing the big stage
This week instead of sitting in Sportal's Auckand office, I have had the luxury of covering the Heineken Open for the company. For those not in the sporting know or are overseas it is the sole ATP Tour event here in New Zealand, and this year's field includes David Ferrer, John Isner, David Nalbandian and more.
I'm not one to be shy on the big stage. I use to love doing productions and stuff for my parents with my best friend at the time, Rutene Spooner. He's since gone on to do real productions that people actually pay to watch. Me? I'm more inclined to write about them.
This is besides the point. Needlessly to say, my first experience at the Heineken Open was that of relief - one of my favourite people in Auckland, and former classmate at AUT University Troels Somerville was working at the Heineken too! Sennsational I though - until I found out he was only working the first two days.
We spent those two days working, walking and talking about how things were going. He's moved on to the big world of fulltime work, as had I. It was incredibly exciting even just to discuss this with the man, because it was as if we were back at university - not for the books, but for the banter.
Anyway, as I came home tonight I had a big think about it - this is me. Matiu Workman, Sports reporter and web editor for www.sportal.co.nz. This is me in this first chapter of life outside of education. As a friend of mine said, it's hard to think of the daily grind and that we're another cog in the mix.
But are we another cog in the mix?
For instead of comparing ourselves to something inanimate, let us compare ourselves to something living - the human body. Instead of feeling like a worthless, oiled cog in the industrialised world of capitalism, why not be the brain in the body of fulltime work that both affects and inspires others? Surely that's a goal worth keeping.
That's my wee rant-in-old-english segment for this blog.
Life hasn't been exactly rosy for the Workman family, as you may well know. I have managed to feature in two car accidents this year, dad has also been one, and I managed to forget where I parked my car for over an hour on Monday. Thanks again, Troels, for keeping the sanity levels at a very respectable 5.6/10 at that stage.
Life's going really well, really enjoying it. It's hard to often have time for yourself and just think about how life is actually going for you. Whether it's on the up or if it's missing something. But when you do have that time, it's bliss, and often provides the catalyst for change or acceptance.
Make time for yourselves. It's sensational!
I'm not one to be shy on the big stage. I use to love doing productions and stuff for my parents with my best friend at the time, Rutene Spooner. He's since gone on to do real productions that people actually pay to watch. Me? I'm more inclined to write about them.
This is besides the point. Needlessly to say, my first experience at the Heineken Open was that of relief - one of my favourite people in Auckland, and former classmate at AUT University Troels Somerville was working at the Heineken too! Sennsational I though - until I found out he was only working the first two days.
We spent those two days working, walking and talking about how things were going. He's moved on to the big world of fulltime work, as had I. It was incredibly exciting even just to discuss this with the man, because it was as if we were back at university - not for the books, but for the banter.
Anyway, as I came home tonight I had a big think about it - this is me. Matiu Workman, Sports reporter and web editor for www.sportal.co.nz. This is me in this first chapter of life outside of education. As a friend of mine said, it's hard to think of the daily grind and that we're another cog in the mix.
But are we another cog in the mix?
For instead of comparing ourselves to something inanimate, let us compare ourselves to something living - the human body. Instead of feeling like a worthless, oiled cog in the industrialised world of capitalism, why not be the brain in the body of fulltime work that both affects and inspires others? Surely that's a goal worth keeping.
That's my wee rant-in-old-english segment for this blog.
Life hasn't been exactly rosy for the Workman family, as you may well know. I have managed to feature in two car accidents this year, dad has also been one, and I managed to forget where I parked my car for over an hour on Monday. Thanks again, Troels, for keeping the sanity levels at a very respectable 5.6/10 at that stage.
Life's going really well, really enjoying it. It's hard to often have time for yourself and just think about how life is actually going for you. Whether it's on the up or if it's missing something. But when you do have that time, it's bliss, and often provides the catalyst for change or acceptance.
Make time for yourselves. It's sensational!
Monday, January 3, 2011
A New Year - A New Beginning
Ladies and gentlemen, it is with my deepest regret that I haven't updated this blog in too long a time. So this is my attempt to ressurect it, if you will, under a new title - The Sideline Report.
It's one of my New Years Resolutions to get this up to date. I have a few other smaller ones - get fitter, stop saying 'lol' etc - but for me this one could be one of the bigger ones.
Communication for me has always been a big thing. I like it so much I studied it - and here I am at the other end of the long walkway with a Bachelor of Communciation Studies.
The new year promises to be an interesting one. Here at work, we are all focussing on a big year in sport - Cricket World Cup, Rugby World Cup, and the numerous competitions that act as a curtain raiser, if you will, to those events.
In an odd sort of way, 2011 will be very similar for me in a personal sense.
This year has already been a drama filled year. I crashed my car for the first time yesterday, was a bit scary but it's all good now that I've bashed the buttons off the Playstation controller. Stupid FIFA. But through that I got a lot of support and texts, and even a phone call asking if I was OK. What I learnt was that when you're down - look around you and appreciate peoples' feelings and compassion. It is them that matter to you, no matter the event; tragic, funny, a major achievement, disappointment, and so forth. That crash was, I guess, a major event. Here's hoping there aren't too many more that.
:)
The title alludes to a new chapter in my life. 2011 is my first year in 18 years where formal education ceases and real education begins. Life lessons, collecting thoughts, experiential learning and reminiscing are all important aspects of 2011.
I had hoped to get some personal thought collection done at my beach house, and I got it on my first night. Just me, the beach, and the stars. That night I went for a two hour walk with the MP3 player, listening to some thought-provoking music. Well, no. I listened to one song, really. Celtic Woman's cover of May It Be provided me with some peace and calm on a beautiful night.
It also provided me with an opportunity to sing gloriously out of tune with absolutely zero critics. Was marvellous.
I also stumbled across a couple of cool looking shells, which have provided the imagery in my latest song I'm working on - Two Shells. It's about the return of a guy to his beloved, and comparing his adoration for her to two seashells sitting on the shore. It's all very soppy. I don't really mind though, I mean, I did write it.
2011 is the year of the Rugby World Cup, and the year of learning about the big wide world of employment. There are no teachers now, it is all self taught.
Maybe this year will be harder than I thought.
I always appreciate feedback, photos, memories, recollections etc here at The Sideline Report. Looking forward to reading, viewing and smiling at your responses.
Out!
Matiu
It's one of my New Years Resolutions to get this up to date. I have a few other smaller ones - get fitter, stop saying 'lol' etc - but for me this one could be one of the bigger ones.
Communication for me has always been a big thing. I like it so much I studied it - and here I am at the other end of the long walkway with a Bachelor of Communciation Studies.
The new year promises to be an interesting one. Here at work, we are all focussing on a big year in sport - Cricket World Cup, Rugby World Cup, and the numerous competitions that act as a curtain raiser, if you will, to those events.
In an odd sort of way, 2011 will be very similar for me in a personal sense.
This year has already been a drama filled year. I crashed my car for the first time yesterday, was a bit scary but it's all good now that I've bashed the buttons off the Playstation controller. Stupid FIFA. But through that I got a lot of support and texts, and even a phone call asking if I was OK. What I learnt was that when you're down - look around you and appreciate peoples' feelings and compassion. It is them that matter to you, no matter the event; tragic, funny, a major achievement, disappointment, and so forth. That crash was, I guess, a major event. Here's hoping there aren't too many more that.
:)
The title alludes to a new chapter in my life. 2011 is my first year in 18 years where formal education ceases and real education begins. Life lessons, collecting thoughts, experiential learning and reminiscing are all important aspects of 2011.
I had hoped to get some personal thought collection done at my beach house, and I got it on my first night. Just me, the beach, and the stars. That night I went for a two hour walk with the MP3 player, listening to some thought-provoking music. Well, no. I listened to one song, really. Celtic Woman's cover of May It Be provided me with some peace and calm on a beautiful night.
It also provided me with an opportunity to sing gloriously out of tune with absolutely zero critics. Was marvellous.
I also stumbled across a couple of cool looking shells, which have provided the imagery in my latest song I'm working on - Two Shells. It's about the return of a guy to his beloved, and comparing his adoration for her to two seashells sitting on the shore. It's all very soppy. I don't really mind though, I mean, I did write it.
2011 is the year of the Rugby World Cup, and the year of learning about the big wide world of employment. There are no teachers now, it is all self taught.
Maybe this year will be harder than I thought.
I always appreciate feedback, photos, memories, recollections etc here at The Sideline Report. Looking forward to reading, viewing and smiling at your responses.
Out!
Matiu
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