Archery
These days, I spend most of my free time at the local archery club. I started archery a few months ago, when I saw the Australian team take out the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Many people think that shooting an arrow is very simple - you just pull back the string and then let it go! Not so, I'm afraid. As with any sport, being average is simple, but becoming convincingly and consistently proficient is no walk in the park. Learning to judge distance, wind speed, building up back muscles, selecting and operating your equipment and perfecting the all important shooting method takes years of practice. All the drama aside though, I thoroughly enjoy archery on its own terms. There are days when it is pouring rain, and I am alone on the field, and all I can hear is the zip of the arrow, followed by the reassuring thud of it hitting the target hundreds of feet away. It makes me feel strong and calm at the same time, like the Robin Hood of old or an Amazonian warrior princess.