I am fortunate to have variety in my work. I wouldn’t change it, but it comes with the challenge of focussing on the task at hand rather than being distracted by what has happened before or what comes after. As I look back over the day it is a rich mix.

I wagged my Tuesday morning swim in favour of some family farewells. I had a city meeting to punctuate some tricky people issues in an organisation I am involved with then a discussion to plan for an upcoming Board meeting. Back to Roslin and the usual e-correspondence. It was cold in Melbourne today … I wore a woollen top for the first time this year … the grey drizzle was both miserable and enjoyable with the experience of changing seasons.

I sat in my exit row seat, looked up and landed eye contact with a bloke sporting a Carlton Football Club cap, worn backwards. “Did you go to the game yesterday?” I asked. His polite but indifferent face transformed as if he’d recognised a long lost friend. He pumped his fist and looked at the floor as if showing off his bicep … people were juggling their carry on bags between us so the words were few, but the shared emotion has palpable.

Maria and I had gone to the game expecting to witness a Carlton loss. Geelong’s 3^rd quarter last week was apparently as good a football as they have played in their recent years of dominance. That our fleet footed young guns beat them at their own running, play-on, risk taking game was heart warming to the faithful who are willing this young team to realise their promise ahead of time. I remember thinking midway through the 2^nd it was all about belief … psychology is a funny thing.

I took out my reading and got started before we had pushed back. I got to the last page just as we started out decent 3 hours later, my head swimming with the possibilities and challenges ahead of the organisation I am working with this week. While I was immersed in strategic planning I wished I had the time to engage the couple beside me in conversation who spent much of the trip north watching TED Talks on the bloke’s iPhone.

The phone call home after dumping my bags on the hotel room floor bought news from the regular hospital visit that is one of our children’s lot. The news was sobering. I wish I was home.

And now I am on the water front; spicy Indonesian noodles and a cold beer filling the gap after resisting the Jet Star fare. The night air is warm and the relaxed Japanese tourist language is undulating around me. The misty and cold Melbourne air a world way.

Sadness, regret, resolution. Celebration, concentration, anticipation. Helplessness, satisfaction, tiredness … what a day.