NEARLY SIX months after the conclusion of the Paralympics I am off on another overseas adventure.
Well, not really an adventure as such, but, a trip, more like it. On Monday I will go to Germany with a New Zealand wheelchair rugby team known as Te Waka Hou - thenew vehicle or waka - so this is where the hard work and change starts.
After four months of keeping my head down, working away at the Northern Advocate, I'm actually really looking forward to getting away. Not because I'm wanting to get away from mortgage payments and daily newspaper deadlines, but more for the familiarity of jumping on a plane and competing.
The working life is still new to me, and adapting training around it hasn't been the easiest. However, leaving on a jet plane has been a norm in my life since I was about 16.
I suppose part of it will be me wanting to prove to myself that I haven't lost the touch.
In wheelchair rugby terms I don't know if I've ever had the touch, but it is something I'm keen to get over time. So I'll keep chipping away and do the best I can to support the team around me.
People have asked whether or not I'll be competing through to the 2016 Rio Paralympics, and at this I can safely say I plan on being there with bells on.
The beginning of this journey to Rio starts on Monday. While I'm excited about heading to Germany for a bit of crash and bash in my wheelchair, there is something quite serious taking place as well.
Monday also marks D-Day for qualifying for world champs later in the year. I'll only have one shot at it, in the heats on Monday, as my flight to Germany takes off right about when I'd be racing the final. No pressure!
So, for those Northern Advocate sports section readers ... don't worry, I will be back in nine days, after my wheelchair rugby fix and some German beer ... after the competition of course!
