A Sappy Yet Somewhat Reflective New Year

by Tasha in Epigrams and Interludes, Pre-Trip

Okay I have no important news to share this week. No earth-shattering moral revelations, no big sprawling lists of information, no new exciting day-trips to report. Nil, nada, nothing. But it is New Year's Eve today, and with it brings reflection and sentimentality for past days.

Alex and I have come a really long way in only a few short years and as much as I would love to take all the credit, some pretty incredible people helped us get here. I'd love to say we are still super-close with everyone but unfortunately, life doesn't quite work that way. So cue the sappy montage music, this is a clip show! (click pictures to enlarge)
 

Updates and excitement!

by Alex in Pre-trip, Budgeting, Gear

Merry Christmas everybody! ...Okay, so Christmas was a couple of days ago, but shut up, I've been busy! There's been a lot going on at Didi and Gogo HQ, and there are a few quick updates I'd like to share with you. Let's not waste time:

Its Beginning to Look Alot Like...

by Tasha in Epigrams and Interludes 

Let's start with a little confession.

I love Christmas.

...I mean I really love Christmas.

It's easily my favourite time of year. It has candy canes and Christmas carols and - although tainted somewhat through consumerist coloured glasses - a general air of love and hope and forgiveness towards all people.

And yes, I realise that it is primarily a religious holiday, however I like to think that the spirit of goodwill through December trancends the bounds of religion and race and all other shackles that divide us and brings us together as just people.

I Am Ashamed

Pictured: harmless

by Alex in Epigrams and Interludes

I feel ashamed today.

As I was walking to work this morning, I saw a discarded poster lying on the ground, showing a man's face with a caption in Arabic. After a split second, I realised the flyer was for a candidate in Melbourne's recent local elections. This makes sense, since the suburb in which we live has a high proportion of families of Middle Eastern descent. But before that dawned on me, my first reaction was alarm.

Getting Back On Track

by Tasha in Pre-trip, Budgeting

There's a common anecdote about target fixation. A pilot in a fighter jet becomes so focused on his target that he either crashes into it, or misses it completely. It's one of the many pitfalls of the long road vs the quick fix. You have so much extra time to stare at your target, that it either seems unattainable or so attainable you don't even need to try.

Yes, as the sleuthy among you may have realised, this is all a clever metaphorical example that conveniently relates to my situation without me having to admit I screwed up. However, last time we were all together we talked about fear - fear of failure, fear of humiliation. So therefore, here for your scrutiny and judgement, I do declare: I, Tasha Pemberton, got so off track that I forgot what I was fighting for in the first place.