The Worst Fencer Ever – The Climb #169

Sunday 9^th July 2017

I fenced like crap today.
I’d been tempted not to go, given my mood the last couple of days, but then I decided that in doing that, I’d just be defeating myself.  And so, despite my head being elsewhere, I went.
I guess I fenced just about as well as I expected.  I was distracted and didn’t seem to be able to judge measure.  It’s a shame as Sasha was there and he’s about the only person in our school who I have no idea how to fence.  One day I’m going to defeat him…  but I suspect it may be some time…  especially given my performance today.
We fought outside as well.  This seemed sensible given how hot it was but in truth, with the sun it made it just as bad if not worse.  My phone was in my bag and even it got an overheating warning.  I reckon it had to be 30 degrees, which is even worse when you’re wearing a load of protective clothing.
Something I’m acutely aware of right now is how much your mindset plays into how well you fence.  I’ve found doing tournaments that it wasn’t until I sorted out my mindset that wins started to happen.  But even though I’d tried to pump myself up with my tournament playlist on the journey down, I still had my focus all over the place.
It’s quite common that before tournaments you fence terribly.  Not sure why that is.  Maybe it’s because you are shifting from learning new stuff to consolidating into a library of moves for the upcoming tournament.  It’s possible that it’s just an excuse for fencing badly.
As a result, despite sorting some of the issues that have been bothering me over the last couple of days,  I ended the day still feeling a bit pissed off.
So I decided that instead of struggling with the edits, I would take myself for a walk and try and get out of my funk.  I bought chocolate (because it really was one of those days) and came back home with the decision that what I needed to do was get out in the sun a bit more (especially now it was evening and a bit cooler).
So I tackled the impossible and mowed the lawn.  I’m not sure I mowed it so much as used the mower to trim it back a bit.  The tub at the back of the mower would have filled every 5 minutes and then tangle the blades so I just mowed and let the clippings stay there.  I plan to give it another mow in a week or so, this time with the bin on the back so I can collect the trimmings.
It took a few hours to do but I managed it and ended up talking to the neighbours over the garden fence.  First time we’ve really chatted in the nearly 3 years I’ve been here but we got on OK.
I also did some World of Warcraft tonight, mainly focusing on invasions.  I thought I needed to do them to unlock flying.  I don’t believe I do now.  I do need to do some dungeons though.  I’ve found a really good guide on tanking but have only managed to watch the first video so far.
I’d also hoped to go see Spider-Man at the Imax tonight but that never happened either, and I’m on call with the day job next week.
So I ended the day not feeling like I’ve achieved much, and that which I have, having not done it well.