Well, we're getting to the pointy end of the season at last.  Two weeks tomorrow until the NABBA Aisa Pacific Championships in Rarotonga.  So at the moment food is, as it always is at this time of contest preparation a non issue, as there is bloody none!!  Suffice to say, our diet lists on the fridge door don't have a lot of lines for each meal - long gone are the whole cooked chickens and multiple cups of rice!

As per usual at this time, you start to notice television adds - probably because you get to tired to even channel surf during the breaks, but anyway, adds.  Every second add from about 8 o'clock is for bloody decadent luxury food.  Either that or women's sanitary products!  We won't talk about the latter, but the former - chocolate biscuit adds seem to rule supreme, and by heavens, come the second after our last competition this year, there won't be a biscuit safe fro 50 miles...

You also start to have the ever present body builder thoughts, "why the hell do I do this"?  And that is a question that is next to impossible to have a stock answer, as it changes from person to person, and from each individual, the reason also probably changes from day to day.  There is no denying that it does get tough watching those above adds while eating your half grain of rice and two chicken feathers for dinner, and that is when you have second, third and fourth thoughts.  Thankfully though, we are at the stage where we've done more hard yards than there are to go, so it would be a waste to screw up now.

And I don't know if it is easier or harder doing this as a couple.  If one of us was not starving to death, and the other was, I am sure there would be problems, but I don't know, as we've always done this together.  The first time out, while there were no all in brawls, there were certainly a few sharp words now and then!  It has since got easier, as we know what how we're going to feel etc (like death warmed up), but there are still 'moments' where the most trivial things can cause a potential flare up.  Fortunately, the word 'mellow' was invented for me, and to be fair, Ness has also mellowed out a lot during this time of proceedings.  I certainly know my sarcastic humour goes down like a lead balloon at this stage pre comp', so that is out the window!  SO easier or harder, who knows, I expect both have challenges - I am sure Deano could let us know on that one!

Training has been boxing on - early morning walks once again hard as buggery, as energy is at zero, almost no matter how much sleep you manage to claim overnight.  But we still get up and do it, rain hail or shine.  Well, we'll never get the shine, as the sun just peaks over the horizon as we are clearing the beach usually, but the rain and hail and snow and frost we have had!  The highlight of the morning walk has to be the coffee and honey first!

Weight sessions for both of us hard at the moment.  Again, with no gas in the tank, even thinking too hard can raise a sweat!  With me super-setting like mad to get the weight off as I re enter the world of Athletic competitors, and Ness driving herself like no woman I have ever seen, we are both shagged at the end of a session.

There we have it then, two weeks untyil Raro, and then Wellington NABBA on the 11th, the NABBA Nationals shortly after, and if we're still alive, North Harbour NABBA and then the INBA competition in Taupo.  At least the INBA competition I can just come in as lean as possible, and won't have to aim to be below a certain weight.  Post Taupo, a little R&R, get out bodies right (sort out those niggly injuries), and then realign the sights for the next 12 months, what comps to aim at and when.

Raro - bring it on, first step in an action packed few weeks!!