I have owned my baseball cap for six seven different years now, so it felt like it was time to wear it somewhere appropriate like an actual baseball game.

Adelaide won a very long game against the Sydney Blue Sox thanks to a 5 run seventh innings. It allowed plenty of time to catch up with friends.

I also experienced the most connection to Australia that I have felt for quite some time, standing to listen to an instrumental of the national anthem with a thousand other people, not one of us singing.

If tonight’s baseball game was a metaphor for 2026, it will start slowly, pick up quite drastically in Spring, and then drag out to a successful but slow conclusion. The last part of the year might get skipped.

I don’t think 2026 will be a microcosm of a baseball game. At least I hope it won't.

It's 2026 and I have officially spent $8.60 on a single coffee. It was jumbo sized at least. And served by the seaside.

Shortly afterwards I was donating some blood and I suppose some caffeine at the blood donation place. As can be expected, everyone at the blood donation clinic is very interested to take your blood. "Would you like to make a future appointment?", "You have such good veins."

I got a keyring and a cookie although I handed back the cookie. The keyring will help me remember my blood type.

The blood people also recommended something salty to help recovery. Probably because they want to take more blood. So for dinner we got take away fish and chips with lots of salt and then we walked in the shallows along the beach which is also salty.

Did I see the aurora tonight? No. But my camera did!