Service

“One man, when he has done a service to another, is ready to set it down to his account as a favour conferred. Another is not ready to do this, but still in his own mind he thinks of the man as his debtor, and he knows what he has done. A third in a manner does not even know what he has done, but he is like a vine which has produced grapes, and seeks for nothing more after it has once produced its proper fruit. As a horse when he has run, a dog when he has tracked the game, a bee when it has made the honey, so a man when he has done a good act, does not call out for others to come and see, but he goes on to another act, as a vine goes on to produce again the grapes in season”

Excerpt From: Marcus Aurelius, 121-180. “The Meditations.”

Verdun

Today I left Paris for Verdun. It still feels pretty strange travelling by myself so far away from home.

Verdun is beautiful, everything is so green and the hills in the distance are beautiful. You don't really get to see that in Perth and that's exactly why I'm here - to get this sort of breath-taking experience :D

The only thing that sucks is the time zone difference.. It's hard to keep in contact with home unless I'm out (where I'm busy) or I'm home (when he's sleeping)

Tomorrow I get to spend a day touring the battlefields and the memorials of the battle of Verdun. Feels like I've been waiting for this moment for so long, yet it still surprises me that I'm doing it now.

I guess this is what it feels like when you can stop dreaming and start living :D

Peace out!

Meditations

This day I shalt have to do with an idle curious man, with an unthankful man, a railer, a crafty, false, or an envious man; an unsociable uncharitable man. All these ill qualities have happened unto them, through ignorance of that which is truly good and truly bad. But I that understand the nature of that which is good, that it only is to be desired, and of that which is bad, that it only is truly odious and shameful: who know moreover, that this transgressor, whosoever he be, is my kinsman, not by the same blood and seed, but by participation of the same reason, and of the same divine particle; How can I either be hurt by any of those, since it is not in their power to make me incur anything that is truly reproachful? or angry, and ill affected to- wards him, who by nature is so near unto me? for we are all born to be fellow- workers, as the feet, the hands, and the eyelids; as the rows of the upper and under teeth: for such therefore to be in opposition, is against nature; and what is it to chafe at, and to be averse from, but to be in opposition?

Travel

So I forgot to blog about how I went to Sydney with my friends (Josh, Zac & Merv) to see the vivid lights festival.

It was awesome fun! Haven't been to Sydney since '07 when I went with Leah and Jessie!'

My main problem was that we were always full from lunch that we never had space to eat a big dinner, so we didn't end up eating at a lot of places that I had wanted to, but that's okay, because I can always come back here!

While we were there we also managed to go to Atlantis, an EDM event with Paul van Dyk headlining and with Marlo, Mark Sixma and Roxanne Emery performing (I can't remember the other artists, but these were the ones we saw). We made friends at Atlantis too!

I want to stop talking about Sydney now because I want to talk about how I've only been back a fortnight and am now going to Europe with my family on Thursday!

Everyone except Tri is going... I haven't travelled with my family since 2011 when I went to Vietnam with them, so this is pretty exciting.. Because they haven't been to Europe before either!
I'm not too sure what to expect but I do plan to go to Electric Love Festival with my cousin Quang and I'm trying my hardest to fit in a trip to Verdun where I can visit The Great War memorials and battle sites. My last blog post was a quote from Dan Carlin's WWI podcast so I'm pretty pumped to get myself immersed in the western front! I just wish I had more time to explore :(

Anyways, peace out for now. Chances are I won't make a post until after this trip, not that it matters though :)

Armageddon

French shells began to hit to the right and left of us, leaving human forms writhing in agony. Our advance came to a stop and after hesitating a few minutes we drew back while the artillery fire followed us, ripping large gashes in our formation - soon the French drumfire engulfed us, the air was filled with gas and flying pieces of steel.
We automatically mounted the machine gun for action. Then like animals, we burrowed into the earth as if trying to find protection deep in its bosom. Something struck my back where I carried my gas mask, but I did not pay attention to it. A steel splinter broke the handle of my spade and another knocked the remains out of my hand. I kept digging with my bare hands, ducking my head every time a shell exploded nearby.
A boy to my side was hit in the arm and cried out for help. I crawled over to him, ripped the sleeves of his coat and shirt open and started to bind the bleeding part. The gas was so thick now I could hardly discern what I was doing. My eyes began to water and I felt as if I would choke. I reached for my gas mask, pulled it out of its container - then noticed to my horror that a splinter had gone through it leaving a large hole.
I had seen death thousands of times, stared it in the face, but never experienced the fear I felt then. Immediately I reverted to the primitive. I felt like an animal cornered by hunters. With the instinct of self-preservation uppermost, my eyes fell on the boy whose arm I had bandaged. Somehow he had managed to put the gas mask on his face with his one good arm. I leapt at him and in the next moment had ripped the gas mask from his face. With a feeble gesture he tried to wrench it from my grasp; then fell back exhausted. The last thing I saw before putting on the mask were his pleading eyes.

-T. Bradley, quoted in Ascoli, The Mons Star p 63.

ENFJ

Everything you do right now ripples outward and affects everyone. Your posture can shine your heart or transmit anxiety. Your breath can radiate love or muddy the room in depression. Your glance can awaken joy. Your words can inspire freedom. Your every act can open hearts and minds.

David Deida

Gambino

had a great time at Colin's on Tuesday.
Was introduced to the magic that is childish gambino.

So glad I took work off the day afterwards.

Pretty excited for the weekend: I have Jenny's wedding and rflan!

Rows

Today the 5x5 app said do 47.5
Silly me can't count weights properly I somehow put 2x20s and 2x1.25s on a 20 bar..

But yay I can lift!

Last

Vanessa and Josh graduated today. 

I think they're the last of the bunch. 

Looks like we're all growing up!

I also celebrated my birthday with grandpa;

85 and 26. But we didn't have a 6 candle so I pretended to be 25 instead. That's fine by me :D

26

Wow I'm 26 now. I've had this blog for 8 years!

Virtue

A man's only concern must be over his own virtue because his virtue is the only thing he can control.