Virgin Territory

My partner would find it laughable that I've started a blog. The more difficult patches in our relationship are nearly always brought about by a failure to communicate. Perhaps I should be more specific here. I'd say it was reasonable to point the finger at me on most (but not all, it has to be said) occasions as the cause for rifts in our otherwise trouble-free and privileged existence. My partner finds it hard to understand why I don't have the need to talk as much as she does. It doesn't make it easier when I tend to be somewhat direct in the way I speak, often without consideration about how the message might be received. Insensitive might be a reasonable criticism to level at me. I accept that I can be at times but it is never with intended malice, of that I am certain. Neither is it the rule. I am probably a typical male specimen who is oblivious to all but the least subtle signs of need for, well, anything really, from their partner. It's not that I'm deliberately obtuse nor trying to make things difficult. I think it's down to the fact that Venus/Mars planetary differences are real. That and the fact that I can be somewhat selfish and self-centred at times. What really matters though is that I do try and address my shortcomings. My partner is a wonderful person and I would like to think that my future is with her so I must keep working at it and making our time together worthwhile.

A somewhat surprising start to my blog. Not what I envisaged at all. I'm fairly certain though that I'll touch on this subject again (after all, she is a big part of my life) as well as the nature of the other relationships I have with friends, co-workers and of course my family. I'll also be waxing lyrical about my love of film, music, guitar, food and running. On that subject (running that is) I am currently fascinated by my latest gadget acquisition - it's a Nike+ training aid that plugs into your iPod Nano and, together with the associated web site (http://www.nike.com/nikeplus/) measures your running times, distances, calorie burn etc. all with your favourite music playing at the same time. It really is cool. When you connect your Nano to your computer with iTunes it automatically downloads your 'workouts' to a personalised space on their website where you can analyse your performance and set goals for yourself. It really is nifty stuff. I especially like the fact that you can see how fast (or slow in my case) you were going at different parts of the run (like approaching 0.5 miles an hour going up that lung-busting hill!). There's an interactive route mapping feature too which you can use to plot your runs. You can share your routes with others too, and use routes nearby that others have published.

Well, that's it for now I think. I have now lost my Blog virginity. I wonder if I'll be back for more. Time will tell...