I have just been distracted from my intention of writing ths entry, by the opportunity to cook My Own Food, purchased at My Local Co-op, in My Own Kitchen. Ok, so it's a shared kitchen in a rented house, and it might also be a stretch to call the co-op local, but I am definitely enjoying the smells of familiar combinations of soy, curry, and ginger, and the colors of fresh veggies.

I have decided to settle in for the winter (or at least until August, which amounts to the same thing) in Christchurch. I'm enjoying a vastly expanded range of aikiido opportunities, making friends in the process, including one who happens to live down the block and any number who are happy to offer rides.

The situation couldn't be better, in fact, except possibly if I had a steady source of income to match my rent. But in the absence of an actual job-as-such, I've had two art commissions, an invitation to teach a weekly art class for the local solo mum's centre, and a couple of entertaining weeks temping as a junk-sorter for the local recycling center. So I'm getting by, and continue to scour the papers, sgn up wth temp agencies, and sus out local networks to see what else is available.

(Note to readers with art and/or solo mum experience: Any thoughts on good material for an 8-session, once-a-week seminar? Focus is on creative / "self" / social time for mums, rather than primarily on kids.)

Aikido makes an interesting focus, not only because it keeps me fit, limber, and largely sane, and it combines peace and violence in a peculiarly satisfying way. The other thing I've noticed is when I do push myself too hard, I get very different injuries to the ones I'm used to from other sports. Fencing bruises didn't tend to affect my ablity to score the next touch, whereas akido uses more of the body, and consequently I'm more likely to feel the bruise again and again until it heals. Right now, for example, I have a bruise on my left elbow, which doesn't affect the action of the joint, but does give me pause when it comes time to roll on it. (Incentive to learn to roll with no hands :-)

Anyway, I'm enjoying myself, and now I'm off to enjoy my food with friends.