As another brief 'off-season' in Australia has sped by to its earlier than expected ending, it's now starting to feel that 2012 really is approaching. 'Off-season' in the sense that it is period of the year that I don't pin a number on and have to keep my fitness up to a competitive level, there still is a lot of important training to be done.

A few trips around the country for some meetings, rides, and a small Hamilton Island holiday with my team mate Ivan Santaromita, a bit of training, and it was time to pack my suitcase again. Even after all these years, I still have to think about what to leave out of suitcase to take on a 10 month trip to Europe, USA and elsewhere. Off-season highlights? Well, as always, we all love going home after being away for a long time. Seeing family and friends is something we always need. And this year, we did meet some very interesting people from many walks of life, but overall-my home countries appreciation of persistence and work to bring the yellow jersey home from Paris was probably best reflected by a gift from a long time supporter of Australian sport and cycling....Wow!!!