Overs & Unders

Every so often I like to sit back and assess things in life that I consider to be underrated, and equally things which are just plain and simple overrated. If we understand the value of something, we can measure things up against expectation. That's my measured approach to a lot of things which helps me balance my emotions. Some may say that is overrated. Here are five things that I currently think are over and underrated.

The Underrated

Ireland

After spending the 4 days travelling around Ireland at the end of June, I can say that in all my travels, I have never come across such amazing friendliness and customer service as this trip. From the Hotel owners who made bacon sandwiches, put the Lions Rugby on, and ironed my shirt for the wedding, to the car rental gent who drove us to the hotel rather than the airport, nothing was too much for them. Well and truly spoiled.

RnR

Sleep should be in the overrated column as most of my 2 blog readers are aware of, but Rest and Relaxation is firmly underrated. Taking the time out of a busy schedule to recharge the good old batteries is essential, and one thing I have been learning to do more recently.

Reading

I am probably scribbling this to the wrong audience as you're reading right now, but one thing I tell myself and need to action is to start reading more consistently. A case of finding the time, but I am trying to commit to 30 minutes every day.

Weather Forecasts

Planning for any weather is sensible, but it's a tough old game. Was lucky enough to have a great day (some would say 'the' rather than 'a') for a fabulous wedding in Ireland, but expecting good weather these days is a mug's game. Some of the extreme weather conditions recently have been crazy, and it makes me wonder what it will be like in some 10 or 20 years. I have spared several thoughts for folks in Calgary after the crazy weather there – I sincerely hope and expect the city has rebounded with a sensational Stampede.

Depression

Watching Clarke Carlisle’s superb documentary about depression and suicide in football was a fair eye-opener. As I scribbled a few months ago, I genuinely believe that the biggest area of high performance in sport for potential growth is psychology. If you haven’t seen it, find an illegal download or something. (Oh and piracy may be one of the biggest threats to sport!)

The Overrated

Early Early Flights

I don't mind getting up early, and I don't mind flying. I have had a couple of 6.30am flights recently, and that meant waking up at stupid o'clock. It is one thing to have to get up early morning, it is another to have to wake up through the night. That moment of rubbing my eyes and then putting my contact lenses in is grim to say the least.

Travel Agents

Does anybody even use them anymore? I haven't since I was something like 17 and it is unlikely I will do so again. I guess it is a convenience thing, but I just think if you're willing to do the research yourself, you'll find better options that way. Exchanging money is another one - withdrawing the money on your debit card in the country when you land often has a way better exchange rate than at the Travel Agents.

Sci-fi movies

I actually started writing this blog in a cinema watching 'After Earth'. Not my cup of tea as my mum would say. If anybody you know suggests going to watch this movie, you should defriend them on Facebook and potentially in life in general. You would only thank me for it if you knew.

Friendlies

Friendly people are fine, but friendly matches in football are an absolute nonsense to me. They serve a purpose (more than internationals at least) for building fitness and cohesion in a match environment, but I have little time for watching them. Now that so many of them are televised due to the thirst for live action, it sensationalises David Moyes’ first loss as Man Utd manager etc. Who cares?

P4P

Last year, if you have the inclination to re-read any of my blogs, I predicted Tim Bradley would beat Manny Pacquiao. I was lucky and it was a horrendously poor decision. However, I am going to predict a couple more. I think Canelo Alvarez gives Floyd Mayweather as tough a test as any fighter has given Floyd in his career. He may not necessarily beat him, but it would not surprise me. I will also go on record as saying Johny Hendricks will beat GSP in Vegas in November. As much as I have absolutely loved watching Manny, Floyd, Anderson Silva and GSP in recent years, I fear their time is coming to an end.

Christmas at the Estevas/Burnsies

Christmas should be a time to relax, to spend and enjoy with your family or friends, and the hustle and bustle of working life is forgotten for a short while. Go to any airport in the UK, and in fact, most across Europe right now, and that seems like a million miles away. On Saturday we flew from Geneva to Leeds, on Tuesday we fly from Heathrow to Halifax. It was not easy, five hour delay, but at the end of the day, we got there in one piece. Tuesday may not be so easy but we’ll give it our best shot and hope for the best.

There was a point in the airport on Saturday when they announced over the system – ‘We would like to announce that all flights to London are now cancelled’. If we were flying to London, I would have been gutted. It was tough to see so many disheartened faces who may not get home, or get to see loved ones. Pretty tough though it will be far worst later in the week, when there may not be alternative flights to jump on.

Even this morning, there are some 70% of flights cancelled from Heathrow…thankfully the flight to Halifax is scheduled to leave on time today so hopefully that will be the same tomorrow. There may be live updates on my FB and Twitter pages tomorrow, though I’ll keep the language fit for children even if the worst happens. I feel sorry for the airport staff – no win situation for them and some seriously unhappy faces to deal with. My vow for the next couple of travels is to be chirpy and smiley to all airport staff.

This Christmas, HJ and I are heading to Freeport, Nova Scotia to spend the holidays with HJ’s mum. Over the last five years, we have alternated between England and Canada for Christmas, and this time, we head to Freeport – the perfect location for a wind down and to spend good quality time with family and a few animals. We are both hugely looking forward to this one as always, and it will surely be another memorable one.

All we can do is hope that the snow comes back on Christmas Day. Everybody loves a white Christmas, but not while one has to travel or work. I am not quite sure still why the UK struggles so much to deal with a touch of snowfall although Greg Dyke made some very valid points on television. It is amazing how the snow and bad weather only ever hits the press when London is bombarded with snow. I find that particularly hilarious. The main point though was that it is virtually impossible to invest in ploughs and other major snow-shifting equipment when we have not had a great deal of snow in the last twenty years, and there are no guarantees it will continue. If we are going to have this every year, then fair enough, let’s do it, but tough to justify the costs for something so sporadic despite the disruption and chaos. I guess the question is, does the disruption cost more than the price of the equipment? That should be the determining factor.

Good luck to any folks travelling this Christmas!