I’ve let things slide for a few weeks as work has taken over somewhat, not to worry I’ll just pick up again where I can. Winter seems to have hit us, such that it is here in Sydney. We tend to get a bit shivery when the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius. I suppose when you’re acclimatised to temperatures in the mid to high 30s in summer you’re allowed to complain about how freezing it is in weather most would consider mild.
A quick word on World Youth Day that is about to take over our city next week. I can’t recall an event or a concept that has given me the irrits as much as WYD SYD has and it hasn’t even started in earnest yet. Personally I would like to simply press the fast forward button and have it all behind me already. A bunch of religious nuts (and Tykes at that) wandering around the city expressing the goodwill to all humanity is almost more than my stomach can take. The fact that the event is going to significantly affect my movement into and around Sydney for the next week only makes me more resentful of the entire thing. And as for the tacky merchandise we’re being subjected to…Pope on a Place? Spare me.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Start of Winter
The first day of winter and we’ve just finished one of the driest Mays on record in Sydney. To underline the fact that it’s winter we were greeted with overcast skies and mizzly rain for most of the day. Fair enough, but the forecast for the rest of the week – right through the long weekend – is for a lot more of the same. It’s a good thing we’re getting out of town this weekend.
We went to the football yesterday to watch the Swans do as they pleased to the Richmond Tigers and were treated to one of the funniest sights in the AFL. As everyone knows, Matthew Richardson is a card-carrying clown. Every possession throws up a new adventure is comedy as he thinks of the most ingenious ways to completely stuff up. To sweeten the pot, and as proof that Swans coach Paul Roos has a sick sense of humour, Richo’s direct opponent for the match was the Swans version of the bumbling idiot Lewis Roberts-Thompson. And so we were treated to 2 hours of Dumb and Dumber as these two fools tried to out-mistake each other. It was worth the price of admission alone.
The only downside for us was that, even though we were sitting in the top deck of the Clive Churchill Stand, when it started raining we were getting wet. What the bloody-well use is it to stick a roof on a grandstand that can’t even protect you from the elements? That was the whole point of forking out the extra dollars. The game was well and truly over by three-quarter time, Richo and LRT were starting to repeat their respective routines and the goofs were starting to grow old, so we decided to head home early.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Collingwood’s 100 point victory over the West Coast Eagles on Saturday. What a game! The Pies are starting to look like the teams of 2002 & 2003. It’s all starting to look very promising, but there’s a long way to go and there are plenty of contenders out there.
We went to the football yesterday to watch the Swans do as they pleased to the Richmond Tigers and were treated to one of the funniest sights in the AFL. As everyone knows, Matthew Richardson is a card-carrying clown. Every possession throws up a new adventure is comedy as he thinks of the most ingenious ways to completely stuff up. To sweeten the pot, and as proof that Swans coach Paul Roos has a sick sense of humour, Richo’s direct opponent for the match was the Swans version of the bumbling idiot Lewis Roberts-Thompson. And so we were treated to 2 hours of Dumb and Dumber as these two fools tried to out-mistake each other. It was worth the price of admission alone.
The only downside for us was that, even though we were sitting in the top deck of the Clive Churchill Stand, when it started raining we were getting wet. What the bloody-well use is it to stick a roof on a grandstand that can’t even protect you from the elements? That was the whole point of forking out the extra dollars. The game was well and truly over by three-quarter time, Richo and LRT were starting to repeat their respective routines and the goofs were starting to grow old, so we decided to head home early.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Collingwood’s 100 point victory over the West Coast Eagles on Saturday. What a game! The Pies are starting to look like the teams of 2002 & 2003. It’s all starting to look very promising, but there’s a long way to go and there are plenty of contenders out there.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Versus Versus Verse
Pulling in to the end of another week and it hasn’t exactly been a particularly noteworthy one, it has to be said. Work continues to take up way too much of the time I would rather be spending elsewhere, but at least this week I had a few projects that kept me reasonably busy.
The warm glow from Collingwood’s win last Friday night has only just started to wear off and is now being replaced by the apprehension over Saturday’s match against the West Coast Eagles. Will the boys be able to get themselves up again after their mighty effort last week?
As I was writing that last paragraph I was reminded of a word that has inexplicably crept into the English language – at least in my part of the world. At first I thought it was just my kids then I thought it was just the kids who went to my kids’ school. Now I realise it has grown to parents as well.
My wife and I do our best to correct out 3 young children whenever we hear them misuse words. The prime examples of this is when they say “should of”, “could of” and “would of” instead of “should have”, “could have” and “would have”.
But the word I’m talking about here is “verse”. I thought it was only children who would say something like “who are we versing next week, Dad?” To which I would invariably correct them with: “Do you want to know who you are playing?” Recently though, we received an email from the manager of my 8 year olds soccer team who informed us that the team would be versing the Seagulls this weekend.
Versing?!?
Where was I when the word versus was bastardized into a verb? Is this how languages develop? Someone hears a word that sounds similar to a completely different word and decides to misuse it, whereupon someone else picks it up thinks, yep, that sounds right and misuses it too until one day it becomes part of the acceptable lexicon.
It remains to be seen though. I will totally eat my words if the Under 9s get out this week and recite Keats to the Seagulls.
The warm glow from Collingwood’s win last Friday night has only just started to wear off and is now being replaced by the apprehension over Saturday’s match against the West Coast Eagles. Will the boys be able to get themselves up again after their mighty effort last week?
As I was writing that last paragraph I was reminded of a word that has inexplicably crept into the English language – at least in my part of the world. At first I thought it was just my kids then I thought it was just the kids who went to my kids’ school. Now I realise it has grown to parents as well.
My wife and I do our best to correct out 3 young children whenever we hear them misuse words. The prime examples of this is when they say “should of”, “could of” and “would of” instead of “should have”, “could have” and “would have”.
But the word I’m talking about here is “verse”. I thought it was only children who would say something like “who are we versing next week, Dad?” To which I would invariably correct them with: “Do you want to know who you are playing?” Recently though, we received an email from the manager of my 8 year olds soccer team who informed us that the team would be versing the Seagulls this weekend.
Versing?!?
Where was I when the word versus was bastardized into a verb? Is this how languages develop? Someone hears a word that sounds similar to a completely different word and decides to misuse it, whereupon someone else picks it up thinks, yep, that sounds right and misuses it too until one day it becomes part of the acceptable lexicon.
It remains to be seen though. I will totally eat my words if the Under 9s get out this week and recite Keats to the Seagulls.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday Sports Rant
It seems to me the Australian cricket team have been just a touch complacent in the First Test against the West Indies in Jamaica. Admittedly, because of the time differences I haven’t seen a heck of a lot of the game, but what I have seen included some very ordinary bowling apart from Stuart Clark and then a dismal batting performance that had Australia at 4/17. Not a lot of value appeared to be placed on each wicket. Is this the curse that 20/20 cricket will place on Test cricket? Thank goodness for Andrew Symonds and his face saving innings of 79 in a total of 167. At least he has managed to ensure that the bowlers have a score that can be defended.
On to Aussie Rules and I’m going to go on record to say I don’t rate North Melbourne at all. In fact, I think the majority of their players are talentless jokes who wouldn’t get a game at a real club. The fact that they are in the top 8 (and ahead of Collingwood) lower s the tone of the entire competition.
I remember the good ole days when crap teams were given a good hiding and sent packing. These days it seems whenever a good side comes up against North Melbourne (aka, a crap side) North seems to have the ability to force the opposition down to their rubbish standards. They’ve done it against Collingwood, they eked out a draw against Sydney and now they’ve lulled a win out of the Western Bulldogs.
Enough’s enough! For the good of the game, give North the 100 point hiding they deserve and send them to the cellar where they belong.
On to Aussie Rules and I’m going to go on record to say I don’t rate North Melbourne at all. In fact, I think the majority of their players are talentless jokes who wouldn’t get a game at a real club. The fact that they are in the top 8 (and ahead of Collingwood) lower s the tone of the entire competition.
I remember the good ole days when crap teams were given a good hiding and sent packing. These days it seems whenever a good side comes up against North Melbourne (aka, a crap side) North seems to have the ability to force the opposition down to their rubbish standards. They’ve done it against Collingwood, they eked out a draw against Sydney and now they’ve lulled a win out of the Western Bulldogs.
Enough’s enough! For the good of the game, give North the 100 point hiding they deserve and send them to the cellar where they belong.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Lewis Roberts-Thompson Is A Clown
School fete today. We had to go...I mean, you have to don't you? Soccer first, boys lost, one was close the other wasn't - usual story. Then we ducked into the school to see how things were going. As it turned out, not a lot. We've got to back up yesterday. One of my sons is in the band, dance and choir and all three are performing at various times during the day.
It's been a big day of celebration for me though. The Mighty Magpies flogged Geelong last night and I loved every minute of it. I loved it so much I watched the replay after midnight too! Collingwood played like a team possessed and showed the rest of the competition that Geelong are beatable. Not only are they beatable, they're floggable. Very exciting stuff!
The Sydney Swans followed up their good win over Essendon with a hard fought victory of Port Power in Adelaide. Very lucky escape from that game for the Sydney boys today. Happy to see them get up of course but they looked a little shaky.
And I've got to go on record to say that Lewis Roberts-Thompson is quite possibly the worst player in the AFL. The guy has absolutely no idea what to do with the ball when he gets it in his hands. You might as well put a red nose and floppy shoes on him and let him run around as the half-time entertainment it's so obvious the guy's a CLOWN. The most bitter pill for the majority of players playing AFL at the moment is that this sorry excuse for a footballer has got a premiership medal in his trophy cabinet and they haven't. You can see that his team-mates even think twice before they pass the ball to him.
It's been a big day of celebration for me though. The Mighty Magpies flogged Geelong last night and I loved every minute of it. I loved it so much I watched the replay after midnight too! Collingwood played like a team possessed and showed the rest of the competition that Geelong are beatable. Not only are they beatable, they're floggable. Very exciting stuff!
The Sydney Swans followed up their good win over Essendon with a hard fought victory of Port Power in Adelaide. Very lucky escape from that game for the Sydney boys today. Happy to see them get up of course but they looked a little shaky.
And I've got to go on record to say that Lewis Roberts-Thompson is quite possibly the worst player in the AFL. The guy has absolutely no idea what to do with the ball when he gets it in his hands. You might as well put a red nose and floppy shoes on him and let him run around as the half-time entertainment it's so obvious the guy's a CLOWN. The most bitter pill for the majority of players playing AFL at the moment is that this sorry excuse for a footballer has got a premiership medal in his trophy cabinet and they haven't. You can see that his team-mates even think twice before they pass the ball to him.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Recovery Mode
Well, it’s all over. After 12 years and 3 kids we have decided that we would quit the weekly swim training. Now that all of our children are reasonably strong swimmers we have decided that rather than go through the weekly arguments about whether or not they should go we’ve decided to pull the pin. This now leaves Tuesday evenings blessedly free –the only night of the week we won’t be running hither and yon. Bet that won’t last.
I’m in recovery mode after running in the half marathon over the weekend. My goal was to break 90 minutes which I managed to achieve, so cue the theme to “Rocky” for me. It’s an interesting experience to be setting myself goals that, in the past I would have reached without having to try too hard. It’s all about the aging process and these days it’s a lot more important to manage the recovery process a little more closely. Anyway, I’ve had a couple of days rest and the body’s raring to go again.
I’m in recovery mode after running in the half marathon over the weekend. My goal was to break 90 minutes which I managed to achieve, so cue the theme to “Rocky” for me. It’s an interesting experience to be setting myself goals that, in the past I would have reached without having to try too hard. It’s all about the aging process and these days it’s a lot more important to manage the recovery process a little more closely. Anyway, I’ve had a couple of days rest and the body’s raring to go again.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Cool on Saturday
Another Saturday means another day of soccer for the boys. As sometimes happens we had a scheduling clash with the first game starting at 8:00 and the second at 9:30. The clash came with team photos which coincided with one of the games. You've got to expect these things. A win and a loss led to mixed celebrations at home. You don't want to enthuse too much when the other team has done pretty poorly. It's all got to be reasonably tempered.
By the way, I'm a happy Collingwood supporter today after the Magpies downed St Kilda in a a hard fought match at the Telstra Dome, eventually getting up by 9 points. Not as comfortable as I had hoped or expected but a win's a win and we can move on with a 50% record after 8 rounds.
Weather forecast for tomorrow has been promising cold and wet conditions for the day, not particularly pleasant for running but at least we won't be overheating. We'll see what the new day brings for tomorrow's half marathon.
By the way, I'm a happy Collingwood supporter today after the Magpies downed St Kilda in a a hard fought match at the Telstra Dome, eventually getting up by 9 points. Not as comfortable as I had hoped or expected but a win's a win and we can move on with a 50% record after 8 rounds.
Weather forecast for tomorrow has been promising cold and wet conditions for the day, not particularly pleasant for running but at least we won't be overheating. We'll see what the new day brings for tomorrow's half marathon.
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