Author: migrant

So, we arrived in Sydney and stayed in one of the YHA hostels. This is a book in itself. It was a useful time to observe human nature and cultural differences. The basis of youth hostels is that it is not a hotel, and much care and cleaning is the responsibility of one’s self. This basic tennant had not filtered through to a significant proportion of the incumbents. The kitchen was dirty, with dirty dishes and the like, and when washing up was done, the idea of putting scraps in the bin was a thought too far. The place was very busy given the time of year, and full of lots young people, again no surprise. I assume young means not yet expected to look after self independantly, and still expecting mum to do the washing up. Am I just a MG? Lots of Brits around, young and older, some for the cricket. Easy to spot-sat in corner of lounge with box of wine. Italians came out top of the mini-poll. Ate communially, proper meals-yes pasta, cleaned up and drank soft drinks with dinner. Germans and the like-lots of hard stares, little alcohol, but when did Bacardi and rum at rate of knots. I will leave description of other facilities to Sara.
Barmy Army HQ ws just around the corner, which S & I did the once. It was a bar,quite empty and expensive, but a least a different venue, with a few people dressed up as Monty P, all the rage.
The rest of the Sydney sights are as they have been for a long time and worth the effort. We went to the early version of the New Year’s Eve fireworks. We did not have the best viewing point, as that would have meant sitting out from about 11am to bagsy your spot. We had a reasonable spot and enjoyed the bangs and whizzs. The opera house looked impressive, just a shame everything was booked up. The trip to Manly on the ferry was great, and as was a fun family trip to the zoo. We went to the Observatory and they had a telescope even bigger than MM’s. We got to look at Venus and direct views of the sun-cool man. Unfortunately, the night view tours were booked up.
A trip to Bondi and Coggee beaches was like a trip to a nightmare Spanish resort. This time of year what do you expect?
We watched cricket on TV and moaned. Joe and I did go to the SCG hoping to get a ticket, but too many buyers and sky high prices. Anyway, crap cricket. So dad and son off to the pub. Anyway, I have now been to the SCG-sort of.
So for a holiday based around the cricket-it lacked a certain amount of cricket. Oh well. Still got sunburned.

Long time no blog as have been in land of superior cricketers since Boxing Day, and I was in no mood to spend more money on internet access to update our activities and impressions on life.
Things did not go as per plan for the England cricket team nor us, or for that matter the other stupid ever hopeful English cricket followers.

We turned up in Melbourne with the series over, but hopeful of entertainment and something to be proud of. We were met with the most abject performance and shortest game time of the tour. (Was Sydney any better? (answers on a postcard to Freddie and the crew, c/o Humbleland, Southern Hemisphere) Joe and I went to day 2. The MCG is still an impressive place, I am comparing to my last visit in 1994, when England were again a markedly inferior team, though not whitewashed. That was when the “Barmy Army”, was new and drove me to distraction as they had only one song, which the sang all day long; “Barmy Army,Barmy Army,Barmy Army,Barmy Army,Barmy Army,Barmy Army,…….get the picture?Am I going on? Have you heard this before? Where was I? Any way, the MCG is impressive, but different, I assume following upgrade for Commonwealth Games 2006. I seems to lack something. Maybe it just seems a little bland now.
Early on things looked hopeful, England bowling after ridiculously low first innings score, but Australia struggling and wickets falling, despite Hayden being given the “no getting out with LBW card” for this innings by he South African fellah, and then going on to score 150+. Symmonds came in and struggled, and pressure was maintained…..but…….second session was plethora of runs and I sat quietly for next 3hours. Nil to cheer about as ball made regular journeys to boundary. The most annoying thing being the fact I do not like Symmonds, and he became an overnight superstar.
Anyway the third day was so terrible that the 4th day was not needed. I was pleased that it did end on evening of third day as I had no desire to watch the last painful moments on the morning of day 4. We had tickets, but not needed. To add insult to injury, I now have to apply for refund within 30 days, I will be charged an admin fee for the pleasure to boot! I have yet to find the secret address to ask.
Melbourne had some delights to offer. Some sunshine, a beautiful botanical garden and a nice little cruise along the Yarra. The trams were good.
We then headed to Sydney. It was meant to be by train but because of engineering works….it ws coach and train.Hmmm.
More later

This is the view Santa will have in a few hours time. Can you spot our house?
Christmas Eve has finally coincided with some sunshine, so family trip to Khandallah pool, remember that place? E, J and I all jumped in and made lots of noise, even Sara had a swim. MG laid at the pool side and fell asleep.
Entertainment on the deck this afternoon, and I expect early to bed to be fresh for the mad paper unwrapping. I have been a good boy all year, so have eight presents under the tree for me.

Last night picked up EQ from end of year, end of school disco. I stood there with the other parents waiting for the music to finish and the lights to come up. I was nosing to see who big daughter was with This is the beginning on a new phase, the picking up after the disco time, but when not really wanted around to see what is going on. I think there will be more of this, and as time goes on, the parental presence will be less well tolerated.
Daughter looked attractive. I think some boys have noticed,as phone calls to house have started.
I will have to wheel out the grumpy Victorian father persona to keep them on their toes!

You now that you are getting old when your children start changing schools. Eleanor is coming to the end of her time at St. Benedict’s and will soon be going to college as it is called here;onto year 9. So as school finishes this week then there are lots of final events going on.
Last week there was the formal dinner for the class with parents. “Formal” might be over doing it but it was on a small scale.
Then tonight there was the school carol service at the local church followed by by the prize giving for the year. Eleanor was a worthy winner of the the cup for special character; the all round valuable person prize.
Parents are proud as punch.

This is posting 100, so how appropriate that I had a cricket theme in mind.
Joe had saturday morning game, the last in the usual tide of events until after the school holidays in February. Summer weather it was not. I sat scoring while being frozen by the unelenting wind. The boys in the game strugled to bowl into the wind and looked like Brett Lee with it.
Joe’s figures 4 overs, 1 for 12. He was player of the day for his bowling and a fine catch behind the stumps with the gloves on.
In the afternoon we went off to the Basin Reserve to watch NZ play Sri Lanka, who it appears are always over here! A small crowd watched in the chill wind. Not pleasant, and certainly not Perth.
NZ are set to lose the game after a low 1st innings score, and Sri Lanka looked comfortable without having the need to push on. Probably too cold for them as well. We only arrived for the last session, but even Joe wanted out before the end of play.
And then home to watch the Ashes live……shite. A painful experience watching the bowling being hit all over the ground, and what opportunities came England’s way not being snaffled.
All not helped by fact that here we receive the Australian Channel 9 coverage, so I had to listen the endless gloating and laughing. Much rather get English commentary with misery and saying how shite they are.
Trip to Melbourne looking to be more of a punishment now. Though Big Al sitting through 4 days(5 looks improbable) of Perth in company of Aussie mates must be an effort.

How many times have I told myself that sport is not worth getting worked up about?

A trip to the Khandallah Fair, and a special request to have a couple of dudes dance for the locals. Three performances in total, with a larger audience than the old fuddy duddies playing country music.

My new mode of transport, which is purely functional and nothing to do with trying to regain my youth or a way of dealing with my middle life crisis. Some wife’s however, do not believe such comments, and are convinced of early death, nasty accident and disablement.
It is 15 years since I last had a mean machine, and that was a 400cc beast. Given that this is nearly new, more modern, though 250cc, it is as powerful and the old number, though possibly not so heavy.
This is a South Korean make. I think they plan to have the same impact in the bike world as they have in the car world.
Anyway, happy motoring with the wind in my flowing locks.