S. J. Leahy
Bio
Love writing about travel, random happenings and life in general. Many different muses, from being a conflicted skateboarding scientist to living in Japan and touring Pakistan with the Australian Over 40s Cricket Team.
Stories (27)
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Navigating the Middle Ages
Traversing on the high side of forty, although just a number, can lead to a barren wasteland of reflection. Society pushes you to look in the rearview mirror at an already established timeline. Crushed in by the responsibility of choices made and paths taken there aren't many gold stars anymore. All but the most emphatic victory is downplayed and the odd slip up is glaring under the microscope of expectation that comes with maturity. However, against all the odds, there are occasions where we can still slide between the cracks of the relentless march towards retirement.
By S. J. Leahy3 months ago in Motivation
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 8
I’ve never been a huge fan of bananas, which is kind of ironic for someone born in Coffs Harbour, the home of the Big Banana. Something about the combination of shape, texture and taste has never really worked for me. I guess floating in the space between phallic and catabolised, isn't for everyone. However, through desperation to placate my digestive system this all changed while I was in Karachi.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 7
Bringing international cricket matches to Pakistan, even if just a bunch of us old blokes, was a key objective for our trip. From the moment we set foot in the country all the way up until the present, with some help from the power of social media, we most certainly brought some added joy to many Pakistani cricket lovers. No doubt, in return the lives of all touring members were mutually enriched. During the three weeks in Karachi, there were scores of social engagements and meetings with the locals but one in particular felt most special and underscored the ethos of our trip.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Chapters
Chris Joslin Creates Skateboarding History
Heading for smoko on an otherwise mundane Tuesday morning, I sat down in the beaming Australian sunshine and sipped through the crust of my beatdown coffee mug. Although neglected, this “special” artifact reminded me of my body as a rapidly aging forty plus skater. Sticking with the safe routine, I pulled out my equally battered phone and began the doom scrolling. Not the healthiest of habits but at least I can drift off into the ether for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Suddenly, I was hit with a bolt of inspiration, which is becoming a rarer commodity in this instantaneous and apathetic world. Before I go any further, to give this story the respect it deserves, I will have to briefly step back through some skateboarding history.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Motivation
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 6
Saying that cricket in Karachi presents a few challenges, is a bit of an understatement. During the month of September, a big hurdle is the hot weather. Coming from Australia, I am accustomed to warm weather but the heat we experienced on this trip was beyond anything I’ve played under back home. Temperatures hovered around the thirty five degrees Celsius mark and never seemed to dip very much overnight. On top of this, humidity started each day at around one hundred percent and rarely relented, even late in the day. With the scorching sun seldomly having a cloud to hide behind, every moment out on the field rapidly sapped energy and tested resolve.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 5
Who loves a chat, I’ll tell you straight up, Jacko does. I now know he’s a legend of Queensland cricket, but pardon my initial ignorance as I hadn’t chilled with him before this tour. That abruptly changed, when I sat next to him on a flight all the way from Melbourne to Colombo. Luke Jackson is an absolute icon of the cricket scene in MacKay and beyond. Paired with his wicked sense of humour, endless chat in the field and all-round positive nature, there aren’t many better people to go on a cricket tour with.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 4
Some of the greatest travel experiences come from meeting locals. In Pakistan, this was most certainly the case. Everywhere we went there were people keen for a chat and a photo. I have no doubt this would have happened even if we weren’t a travelling cricket team. For me this was the highlight of the trip. I continually mention the Pakistani hospitality, but it has left me with many fantastic and unforgettable memories.
By S. J. Leahy4 months ago in Chapters
Svante
Nestled close to the rocky coastline, there was a small community where Svante lived. Compared to the boundless expanse of Earth, this was only a meagre abode. Although minuscule in scale, this tiny refuge, was where Svante and all his ancestors had survived for generations. Through years of chance and toil, they had calved out a safe niche in this diminutive sanctuary. It was as if their entire world had evolved, trapped behind an invisible dome.
By S. J. Leahy5 months ago in Fiction
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 3
Playing on a number of high quality grounds was one of the most appealing aspects of this tour. Combined with the unique nature of Pakistani pitches, this was definitely the experience of a lifetime material. Including our warm up matches, we played across five different fields. Some more than a century old, and all with unique characteristics.
By S. J. Leahy5 months ago in Chapters
Karachi Chronicles Chapter 2
In a previous incarnation, I worked as a hotel concierge. Although it’s a divisive topic in Australia, tipping is definitely part of this industry. Armed with the inside knowledge, through years of personal experience, I understand and often embrace the power of tipping when travelling. Unlike an exploitative bribe, it is best viewed as an exchange for above average service. If executed right, tipping is mutually beneficial for both the customer and worker. In saying that, it is more of an art than a strict set of guidelines. Our trip to Pakistan was a great real-world example of this craft in action.
By S. J. Leahy5 months ago in Chapters
