I guess that's just addiction

I have a confession to make. I have done almost no riding since last weekend. Granted, I've still been riding to and from work each day, but that is more akin to a business transaction than something I really do for enjoyment. The reason for this, incidentally, has been a problem with my headlight -- or more specifically, the generator. While my back up lights are good for a commute, I wasn't planning to take them out on the dark country roads (although I could probably get away with that if it was really necessary). To add to the frustration, it's rained on and off virtually all week -- almost unheard of in the middle of the dry season. The good news is that all should be back in order by this weekend.

In the past I've had time off the bike while recovering from crashes and the like, but this is different. This time I've really had a feeling that I should be out there. I think it's fair to say that I've been a little snappy at times this week, and had a slightly shorter fuse than normal. What is it about a physical release, even if only for a couple of hours, that allows us to cope with life's little annoyances more easily? Right now I'm feeling as though I need some substantial hills very quickly.

In the interim, I've been watching the World cup with great interest -- despite the fact that the results thus far haven't really thrown up too many surprises. Well, a few people wrote of Germany before it all started, but that always seemed foolish to me. How often have they been down in the past, only to produce as soon as the tournament started? And they're playing at home. It's almost as silly as the people who are writing off Brazil after their opening two matches (which they won, but not as convincingly as some thought). Right now I'm expecting those two sides, plus Italy and Argentina to be right in the thick of things when the crunch games come. You can possibly add Portugal to that list, as this is the last chance for a lot of their players, and I just have a feeling about them.

As far as some of the other teams are concerned, Spain are looking good now, but have a habit of faltering in the latter stages of the tournament. England rely too much on a limited number of individuals, and while this will get them past Ecuador and into the quarter finals, I think they'll falter against the top sides. I think something similar applies to France. Australia? It would be nice to think we could win the world cup, but realistically I just can't see it. That said, we should get past Croatia tomorrow, but we'll most likely come up against Italy in the next round, which is bad news.