Been following it as closely as I can, our news networks don't really show much so Reddit threads are my go to (unfortunately).

Am glad it's started, but between watching this and our own government flop about with promises it never had a chance of fulfilling, politics is burning me out. I'll always be fascinated at how the left vs right in America is truly a divide - in NZ, our right would still register on the American left.

Check out a gameplay video before hand if possible, my brother bought it for our accounts as he's a huge Hideo Kojima fan and I am playing for free essentially.

It's very different, but good fun so far. Great atmosphere and music!

I need to do this on Facebook too - I barely use it now. When I open the App it's only because a "memory" has popped up and I am quick to laugh at my younger self and promptly delete the post.

In lieu of 76, I've started playing Death Stranding - it's very.... different. Like, I knew it would be, but I'm surprised at how invested I am in the story that kinda doesn't make sense but I also kinda don't mind?

So Japan trip is cancelled - partner developed shingles this week, started with some nasty back pain then the rash emerged and we headed off to get treatment. She seems to be in so much pain, it's incredibly hard to watch and be able to do nothing to help her.

Sucked calling and getting flights/accommodation/leave cancelled but imagine if we tried to travel with her like that, 4 hour drive to Christchurch, 10 hour flight to Japan, then 2 weeks of wandering? She'd hate it.

We'll do it again next year with twice the funding for a fun blow out.

The day we found out we had to cancel everything I discovered a friend of mine had just got her fiancee home after having a brain tumour removed - and that slapped some perspective into me.

Hope you're all doing well, pals.

Gonna come back to this when I buy a new laptop. Haven't used a personal one in about two years, just get by with my phone and the work laptop I have. Some lovely suggestions for a question I have also been wondering..

Klein you just always deliver.

A) Had no idea the man was highly averse to stairs.

B) What does he really look like. Remove the hair, and the makeup, will we see sickly, chubbier version of the Jigsaw Killer in Saw? Sorry Tobin Bell, nothing on you!

I do wonder how much time it will take for the rest of the world to trust the USA again.

Ouch! I've only had it down my left leg. Did the injury while cherry picking on an orchard, the next day I was wincing with every step. Oooo it was painful.

Keeping moving made a world of difference for me, frequent walks where possible then back into the gym to step it up when applicable.

I hope you get it right efficiently!

So, NZ bowed out of the Rugby World Cup. Playing against an English side that put on possibly their greatest ever performance, to entirely shut out a team that was thought to be un-shutout-able.

It sucks but the last time we failed to win, the entire structure of our game changed for the better and we went on to win two Cups in a row so there will be positives from this.

Finally moved furniture into our new place. Got a transit van and drove down south to my parents place, where they had couches, a coffee table, TV stand and some book cases so that's our lounge and dining area sorted. Plus the veggies are growing!

Two more weeks till we fly out to Japan - haven't flown in years so I'm a little nervous but that will hopefully pass once I'm in the air.

So many things to juggle but we're getting there. I was also able to bench and squat for the first time in about a month as the physio works her magic. I thought I was acutely aware of how the training affects my mental state, but I was still surprised at how moody I was when I couldn't do my normal lifting. Poor partner is extremely understanding thankfully.

Yay for 100% Just awful migraines then??

Have had some nasty lower back stuff happen before, did you get the radicular pain down your leg?? Always good to remember that you will recover, and quickly if you stick with your rehab and keep moving!

Ahh well, I can talk about it now. England did eactly what I hoped they wouldn't - Curry and Underhill dominated the breakdown and the entire team got in our faces. A deserved loss but one that stings given how ready we must have thought we were.

A silver lining though, the 2007 loss entirely revamped the NZ rugby structure and mindset, the 2019 might do the same.

I quite enjoyed Rogue One - particularly that end scene in the hallway we all know about.

It's possible I'm saved by not being a huge fan of the universe. I've watched them all as they come about, and I was a youngster when the prequels were emerging so that to me, was Star Wars. I wind up just going in expecting some sweet fights and space flight, I'm happy.

Ah that's good to hear. Support can make all the difference huh, glad you're being well looked after!

Remember the amount of people reaching out when you're having a rough time in the future, you're obviously deserving of said support and knowing you're a worthwhile person in many minds is a nice thing to hold in your head.

I am hoping that Japan can join the Rugby Championship - SANZAAR would be insane not to want them in. So much money to be made and Japan can clearly foot it with the best of them now.

I am a little nervous about England - NZ playing Barrett at 6 leads me to think they're going to try and get parity in the set-pieces. If NZ can do that, it's their match to lose as they have too much firepower out back to be contained. However, if Underhill and Curry can pressure the 9-10 axis in Smith and Mo'Unga they're in with the best shout of any team.

Though if NZ do win, I'd expect them to beat either Wales or South Africa in the final - Faf de Klerk won't have the awful game he did when the two met in the first pool match, so that will be a bruising encounter but I do think NZ have finally laid their cards on the table and it's up to someone to try and counter it.

Sorry to hear that mate. Hope the road to recovery gets a bit better for you. How are you passing the time currently?

Less than a month till Japan - woo.

Rugby World Cup has entered it's nail-biting stages. I thought NZ v Ireland would be a huge task, but we won convincingly. Onto England in the Semi-final and if we overcome them, it's either the old foe South Africa or Wales in the Final. Before the whole competition began, people were picking NZ v South Africa as the final so there's an almost inevitable feel about what will happen. Still, two matches to decide what really will eventuate. Japan have been, undoubtedly, the coolest hosts this sport has seen.

Their fans have been routinely printing off the lyrics to other teams anthems, attending the matches in the outfit and singing along. They don't have to do that, they don't even have to attend but they rock up to every match and add their voices to the occasion. It's just so damn wholesome.

Also, the NZ Haka got drowned out by the Irish singing Fields of Athenry which never fails to send chills down my spine:

Finally got in to see a physio about this weird lower back pain I've had for a month. It's been affecting my training which affects my mental health so I'm glad I finally went in to see them. She's been great, really understanding and has a very clear plan in place. So far, I've noticed less pain on a day to day basis which is excellent. Turns out, the injury is probably not what I thought it was. I assumed I was being foolish while warming up but she thinks the culprit is my SI joint as the pain seems deeper than ever before, and I can still quite literally bend to touch my toes without any pain. As well as squat with a heavy load. Turns out I may have been exaggerating some kind of pelvic tilt in an effort to save my lower back from aggravating an old injury, then the joint took too much on board as a result of the tilt. She popped me on the table and used an ultrasound to watch my transverse abdominal muscle work which was cool. We were initially confused as she thought I may have neglected glute work and so perhaps they were the weak link, but she got me to do an isolation exercise and was expecting me to find it hard after 20 reps but I wound up getting to 55 before she made me stop, so clearly that wasn't the case. I wouldn't have minded having such an easy answer, but hey at least I'm thiccer than a snicker.

TBH, I think training will take a big back seat until the New Year. I'm shifting our Dept across campus once more, then shifting things into my new place, then Japan for two and a bit weeks, as soon as I come back I properly move in and clean up the old place. Then it's Christmas! Hoping I can launch into training with a belly full of beer and Christmas ham, then set a PB by squatting Jupiter.

Most of you are in the States right? Always wanted a winter Christmas, but mine have all been beach related. It's really nice but there's something magical about snow on Christmas, everyone tucked up next to the fire.

Does Hubski do a Secret Santa at all? Was wondering about that - not sure if the logistics are too difficult for people to take part but I've always enjoyed sending gifts to other parts of the World.

No.

Would like to be wrong, but don't see it happening.