27 March 2016
For the last six months I (and many others) have been whinging and whining that the Footy season is over (see my Up There Cazaly Blog for more explanations about Aussie Rules).
We have suffered through the glorious long hot summer, we've watched Cricket (see my I Don't Like Cricket Blog), hated Tennis ( no one blogs about Tennis) and even got excited about the pre season challenge...some of us have even found an new job interstate and are in the process of moving.
Four days ago we watched as Carlton made a good game against Richmond, going down gallantly by nine points.
We watched in astonishment as Melbourne pipped the Giants by two points, ruining everyone's tipping. We watched the suns belt Essendon as expected, watched an engrossing game between North Melbourne and Adelaide (North won). We snickered madly waiting for Eddie shots as the filth (Collingwood) went down to the Swans (and prayed we don't cop as big a hiding tonight). The Bulldogs upset Fremantle and Port Adelaide finally triumphed over St Kilda.
Now its the Brisbane Lions versus West Coast Eagles and we are getting smashed...sigh.
I hate footy season.I hate being full of hope and confidence and then as the day gets closer I start to fret. I worry. I start making deals with God/the Universe. I think if I do this then the boys will win. It's agony.
I hate reading Twitter as the game unfolds. If I am not at the game I cannot watch us play live on the telly. I swear, a LOT, I shout and carry on, and the neighbours worry.
I 'watch' the game via the AFL site, watching the stats but not the play.
I hate seeing my boys getting their arses handed to them. I hate seeing the umpires favour the high flying teams. Some of the umpiring decisions tonight have been abysmal even allowing for my bias. As I am oft want to advise the umpires when I attend a match ...CONSISTENCY, IT ISN'T JUST FOR PUDDING!!!!!!!!!
I am hoping Leppa can get the boys up and about after half time.
The Twitter is going off that even though we are thirty nine points down we are looking a better team than we did last year.There is hope. There is ALWAYS hope.
Last year the club slogan was ' Believe Belong'. I believe in my team.
This year is 'Your team. Represent'. I LOVE my team.
Even though I won't live in Queensland anymore, I will still be a loyal Lions fan, I will still sponsor my player, Josh Clayton (number 19) and I will still be a member of the Women Of The Pride!!!!!
One day we will revisit the pinnacle of success, the Grand Final, and we WILL WIN and raise that Premiership Cup high and sing the club song loud and proud:
We are the Pride of Brisbane Town
We wear maroon, blue and gold
We will always fight for victory
Like Fitzroy and Bears of old
All for one
and one for all
We will answer to the call
Go Lions, the Brisbane Lions
We'll kick the winning score
You'll hear the mighty roar!!!!!
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Saturday, 19 March 2016
Flower Power
No one could ever call me a gardener. I kill more than I grow (except for kids...I didn't kill the kids) however, I digress...
Just because I am a woeful gardener doesn't stop me appreciating gardens.
One of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen is the Botanical Gardens in Wellington, New Zealand. The most beautiful part of those gardens is Begonia House.
Begonias to me are the plants Mum grew in the little sun room at the back of the house (when I bought the house I pulled the sun room down and replaced it with a bloody big patio).
Mum's Begonias
Bloody big patio (house is for sale if you're interested)
Anyway, a couple of years ago HR and I went to Wellington to watch the Brisbane Lions Play (and win) against StKilda. We made a holiday of sorts and stayed a few days. We took the Cable Car up to the Botanical Gardens and walked down through acres of beautiful gardens.
The Cable Car, the picture doesn't quite do justice as to how steep the climb is.
The walk through the gardens is picturesque but as already mentioned I fell in love with the Begonias. The Begonias are grown in a huge hot house. It is like a jungle in there! But the way the whole green house is set out is amazing and the Begonias of all shapes and sizes are totally glorious to behold.
The Begonia House.
The images I am about to regale you with are all taken with my Samsung Tablet, and they are all Begonias.
I mean Mum's Begonias are lovely and all but......How magnificent are these blooms? How gorgeous is the setting?
No wonder I am hatching a cunning Begonia plan!!
HR is about to find out the hard way (reading my blog) that I want a small greenhouse when I move to where ever it is he is living. I want to grow Begonias, some like Mum's, but more like some of these pictures. I think I'm ready to become a gardener, but not just ANY gardener, a BEGONIA gardener. Yeah!!!!
Just because I am a woeful gardener doesn't stop me appreciating gardens.
One of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen is the Botanical Gardens in Wellington, New Zealand. The most beautiful part of those gardens is Begonia House.
Begonias to me are the plants Mum grew in the little sun room at the back of the house (when I bought the house I pulled the sun room down and replaced it with a bloody big patio).
Anyway, a couple of years ago HR and I went to Wellington to watch the Brisbane Lions Play (and win) against StKilda. We made a holiday of sorts and stayed a few days. We took the Cable Car up to the Botanical Gardens and walked down through acres of beautiful gardens.
The walk through the gardens is picturesque but as already mentioned I fell in love with the Begonias. The Begonias are grown in a huge hot house. It is like a jungle in there! But the way the whole green house is set out is amazing and the Begonias of all shapes and sizes are totally glorious to behold.
The images I am about to regale you with are all taken with my Samsung Tablet, and they are all Begonias.
No wonder I am hatching a cunning Begonia plan!!
HR is about to find out the hard way (reading my blog) that I want a small greenhouse when I move to where ever it is he is living. I want to grow Begonias, some like Mum's, but more like some of these pictures. I think I'm ready to become a gardener, but not just ANY gardener, a BEGONIA gardener. Yeah!!!!
Friday, 18 March 2016
Life Is What Happens To You While You're Busy Making Other Plans
John Lennon was so damned right!
I really do not like the things I have to do to get to where I want to be; on a cruise, sipping cocktails, on the Lido Deck (roll on August!!!)
Take work for instance...please just take it.. The Mausoleum is certainly not a fun place to work anymore. Organisational Restructure is the buzz word. Change Management is the result. BUT... no one bloody knows what the hell they are doing!!!!!
Let's set up THIS organisation they say, it'll be great. But they have no clue what the organisation should be doing, what positions will be required, and therefore no idea how many people they will need. Oh and just for fun? we'll make the organisation out of existing roles and people, and they'll have to relocate, and um yeah maybe after a year or so their position won't actually exist anymore so they won't have a job......but is a hell of a ride yeah???
Some of us have been a bit proactive and secured a position far far away, where HR works actually (cue massive reunion scene...or not, there'll be a funeral shortly...mebbe).
This presents its own set of problems; there's a house to sell, a removal to organise, securing a new abode (HR's mini pad is too small for two house fulls of furniture and a cat), oh and there's training someone to do my job (which may or may not exist in the future) which means writing work instructions ( I FECKING HATE WRITING WORK INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!). Then there's making sure The Mini Brat has a car that actually goes, wondering the best way to transport the aforementioned cat, keeping the house clean for prospective buyers to view (if there were any), working out how to live on fresh air while we pay a mortgage AND rent...where's my wine?????
Of course in the midst of all this frantic activity one then sits bolt upright and ask...am I doing the right thing??
Well guess what? It's a bit bloody late now to change your mind......
I really do not like the things I have to do to get to where I want to be; on a cruise, sipping cocktails, on the Lido Deck (roll on August!!!)
Take work for instance...please just take it.. The Mausoleum is certainly not a fun place to work anymore. Organisational Restructure is the buzz word. Change Management is the result. BUT... no one bloody knows what the hell they are doing!!!!!
Let's set up THIS organisation they say, it'll be great. But they have no clue what the organisation should be doing, what positions will be required, and therefore no idea how many people they will need. Oh and just for fun? we'll make the organisation out of existing roles and people, and they'll have to relocate, and um yeah maybe after a year or so their position won't actually exist anymore so they won't have a job......but is a hell of a ride yeah???
Some of us have been a bit proactive and secured a position far far away, where HR works actually (cue massive reunion scene...or not, there'll be a funeral shortly...mebbe).
This presents its own set of problems; there's a house to sell, a removal to organise, securing a new abode (HR's mini pad is too small for two house fulls of furniture and a cat), oh and there's training someone to do my job (which may or may not exist in the future) which means writing work instructions ( I FECKING HATE WRITING WORK INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!). Then there's making sure The Mini Brat has a car that actually goes, wondering the best way to transport the aforementioned cat, keeping the house clean for prospective buyers to view (if there were any), working out how to live on fresh air while we pay a mortgage AND rent...where's my wine?????
Of course in the midst of all this frantic activity one then sits bolt upright and ask...am I doing the right thing??
Well guess what? It's a bit bloody late now to change your mind......
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Professional my hairy, fat, cellulite ridden, A*se
I'm a nice person
I don't bag people out.
I accept that certain things are just the way they are and naff all I can do about it. BUT.....
When a company uses the word PROFESSIONAL in their name you expect them to behave professionally right?
Picture it... the family home empty, all the little mong, er, children have flown the coop, HR is transferred interstate, and I don't need this much space.
Let's sell up we say
So we put the house on the market. Agents say the market is slow. I get a second agent on board from the so called PROFESSIONAL team. The agent does the best they can and all goes on as you'd expect until four weeks ago.
Four weeks ago HR gets a call from these so called professional types. Your agent no longer works for us, pay this bill and then you're off the books. Just like that. We don't want houses in your suburb anymore we were told.
I sent the agent a text asking what was going on...no response whatsoever.
Two weeks later I get the bill. No Cover letter apologising for what has happened, just a final bill.
Right then, I send an email telling them to get our house of all their advertising, the bill will be paid such a date and by the way you have a set of keys please return them.
A week later they send the keys, in a normal envelope, unsecured, no registered mail, through the post, delivered into the mail box for anyone to take and use to open the House and rob us!!!!!
Again no cover letter not even a single attempt to disguise the keys.
Obviously customer relations are not a high in priority at this real estate company.
I certainly will NOT recommend them to anyone EVER!
I don't bag people out.
I accept that certain things are just the way they are and naff all I can do about it. BUT.....
When a company uses the word PROFESSIONAL in their name you expect them to behave professionally right?
Picture it... the family home empty, all the little mong, er, children have flown the coop, HR is transferred interstate, and I don't need this much space.
Let's sell up we say
So we put the house on the market. Agents say the market is slow. I get a second agent on board from the so called PROFESSIONAL team. The agent does the best they can and all goes on as you'd expect until four weeks ago.
Four weeks ago HR gets a call from these so called professional types. Your agent no longer works for us, pay this bill and then you're off the books. Just like that. We don't want houses in your suburb anymore we were told.
I sent the agent a text asking what was going on...no response whatsoever.
Two weeks later I get the bill. No Cover letter apologising for what has happened, just a final bill.
Right then, I send an email telling them to get our house of all their advertising, the bill will be paid such a date and by the way you have a set of keys please return them.
A week later they send the keys, in a normal envelope, unsecured, no registered mail, through the post, delivered into the mail box for anyone to take and use to open the House and rob us!!!!!
Again no cover letter not even a single attempt to disguise the keys.
Obviously customer relations are not a high in priority at this real estate company.
I certainly will NOT recommend them to anyone EVER!
Saturday, 20 February 2016
love me love my dog...or cat or....
Once upon a time there was a family of three kids and two adults (at least one of us was an adult not sure about HR). We had a cat and a dog and all was well with the world.
Morgan, the Beagle, was a great friend to The Normal Autistic Girl (even though he was really supposed to be the Mini Brat's dog) and Footsie (the abandoned cat from next door) ruled everyone and everywhere as befitting the Empress of Fluff.
Then one day the Normal Autistic Girl decided birds are what we need and promptly brought home Finches and Budgies. Of course Footsie, The Empress of Fluff, thought all her Christmases had come at once. Guess who got to clean the cages and feed the little feathered monsters?
The Normal Autistic Girl got a boy friend and they built a house and she took her birds thank goodness.
Then I turned the big five-oh. Let's do something special we thought (Harry Potter World had just opened at Universal Studios in Orlando) so off to the States we went. We took the Mini Brat with as she was still a little young to be left at home alone. Can that child spend money or what????
Just before we left for the States The Normal Autistic Girl and her by then fiancee decided to rescue cat brother and sister who were unwanted but their owners would not be responsible and spay the parent cats. Such irresponsible behaviour. I'd say that the adoption of the sibling kittehs had some bearing on what happened next....
Whilst we were away The Boy Child was looking after the house. He was in a relationship, they decided to 'have kids'...a cat (Lillith, who the F**K names a cat Lillith?)...several months later The Boy Child got 'divorced' and as always it's the children that suffer (or the in laws in this case) and Lillith became Skitteh.
At this stage the Empress of Fluff is around about ten years old and has been an only cat for all that time. Suddenly there's this little ball of attitude in her space. It took awhile but they finally learnt to live together and there is the odd photo of them actually sharing space.
Several years pass, The Mini Brat gets a boyfriend (who lives mostly with us for a few years) and he in his infinite wisdom decides that The Mini Brat needs a dog (remember we have two cats and a dog already) and thus Skipper comes into the house. (and YES I am the silly cow who feeds, walks, trains, looks after the bloody dog). Ultimately The Mini Brat and the boyfriend parted ways and then she moved out. This year Skipper was successfully rehomed. If I didn't work and had the time to spend with her, I would have kept her, but I didn't ask for the dog. Sounds harsh I know, but when I finally get a dog for me I want to have the time and space to treat that dog the way it deserves with love and affection, not just dump it in the back yard to be fed and patted when I can find the time.
Time passes and so do our furry friends. Morgan crossed the Rainbow Bridge 2014 and The Empress of Fluff was only a few months behind. It was such a sad loss. I have a great appreciation for Pets Rest In Peace, the company that took our beloved fur friends and cremated them, returning them to us with a beautifully presented Urn and remembrance pack.
Skitteh has blossomed without her bossy companion but I know she misses her.
Now Skitteh is an only pet. For most of her life Skitteh has been a purely indoor cat (Footsie, Empress of Fluff, played chicken with the cars one too many times and after many years as an outdoor cat she also became an indoor kitteh). In the last few months I have let Skitteh out the back while I hang laundry and the like. Several weeks ago I went to get her in before I went off to get my nails done and there is Ms Skitteh out the front, having jumped the fence, about ready to cross the road!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say she is back to being a purely indoor cat again! However, Ms Skitteh does not appreciate my concern for her well being. Ms Skitteh sets up an unholy caterwauling when she thinks she should be outside, which is like all day every day!!!!
Ah well I'm happy to be a Crazy Cat Lady for now.......
Morgan, the Beagle, was a great friend to The Normal Autistic Girl (even though he was really supposed to be the Mini Brat's dog) and Footsie (the abandoned cat from next door) ruled everyone and everywhere as befitting the Empress of Fluff.
The Normal Autistic Girl got a boy friend and they built a house and she took her birds thank goodness.
Then I turned the big five-oh. Let's do something special we thought (Harry Potter World had just opened at Universal Studios in Orlando) so off to the States we went. We took the Mini Brat with as she was still a little young to be left at home alone. Can that child spend money or what????
Just before we left for the States The Normal Autistic Girl and her by then fiancee decided to rescue cat brother and sister who were unwanted but their owners would not be responsible and spay the parent cats. Such irresponsible behaviour. I'd say that the adoption of the sibling kittehs had some bearing on what happened next....
Whilst we were away The Boy Child was looking after the house. He was in a relationship, they decided to 'have kids'...a cat (Lillith, who the F**K names a cat Lillith?)...several months later The Boy Child got 'divorced' and as always it's the children that suffer (or the in laws in this case) and Lillith became Skitteh.
At this stage the Empress of Fluff is around about ten years old and has been an only cat for all that time. Suddenly there's this little ball of attitude in her space. It took awhile but they finally learnt to live together and there is the odd photo of them actually sharing space.
Several years pass, The Mini Brat gets a boyfriend (who lives mostly with us for a few years) and he in his infinite wisdom decides that The Mini Brat needs a dog (remember we have two cats and a dog already) and thus Skipper comes into the house. (and YES I am the silly cow who feeds, walks, trains, looks after the bloody dog). Ultimately The Mini Brat and the boyfriend parted ways and then she moved out. This year Skipper was successfully rehomed. If I didn't work and had the time to spend with her, I would have kept her, but I didn't ask for the dog. Sounds harsh I know, but when I finally get a dog for me I want to have the time and space to treat that dog the way it deserves with love and affection, not just dump it in the back yard to be fed and patted when I can find the time.
Time passes and so do our furry friends. Morgan crossed the Rainbow Bridge 2014 and The Empress of Fluff was only a few months behind. It was such a sad loss. I have a great appreciation for Pets Rest In Peace, the company that took our beloved fur friends and cremated them, returning them to us with a beautifully presented Urn and remembrance pack.
Skitteh has blossomed without her bossy companion but I know she misses her.
Now Skitteh is an only pet. For most of her life Skitteh has been a purely indoor cat (Footsie, Empress of Fluff, played chicken with the cars one too many times and after many years as an outdoor cat she also became an indoor kitteh). In the last few months I have let Skitteh out the back while I hang laundry and the like. Several weeks ago I went to get her in before I went off to get my nails done and there is Ms Skitteh out the front, having jumped the fence, about ready to cross the road!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say she is back to being a purely indoor cat again! However, Ms Skitteh does not appreciate my concern for her well being. Ms Skitteh sets up an unholy caterwauling when she thinks she should be outside, which is like all day every day!!!!
Ah well I'm happy to be a Crazy Cat Lady for now.......
Saturday, 13 February 2016
When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter Aligns with Mars.....
Jan 24 1:46 am
so.. The New Year is 24 days old, let's take stock:
Feb 14 2:12 pm
According to both Western and Eastern astrology this is meant to be an excellent year for me.....could someone please tell The Universe/God that??
Master Tsai tells us that this is the Year of the Metal Monkey and that as I am a Water Rat this is an auspicious year for me:
'Rat is connected to placid water or rain. Water is also connected to wisdom and intelligence. Monkey is connected to wind or storm. Storm can bring more rain to Water. Monkey can bring more wealth, wisdom and health to Rat. Wind can stir the water to flow. But we don't know which direction water will go. Monkey can change Rat's life style from tranquillity and relaxing to busyness.'
and
Typical Western predictions:
' Tenderness and tact are also highlighted skills for you in 2016. Be realistic and kind, especially in the late summer and early fall when Jupiter and Mercury increase your people skills. Watch as obstacles and opposition melt away under your gaze.
It will be in the realm of family and friends that you may see the most progress. When things are going smoothly at home, career and public life are much easier. What a dynamite year!'
So, when does this all start again? I seem to be missing out on a few things methinks.
I'll let you know how the year progresses.....
so.. The New Year is 24 days old, let's take stock:
- I have a new car
- The pooch got rehomed
- The Commodore is FINALLY gone
- I survived the car smash with no serious injuries
- I've read 8 books....
Feb 14 2:12 pm
- The Boy Child has viral meningitis (he has a couple of lumbar puncture sites to prove he doesn't have the bacterial meningitis)
- The Mini Brat's car died on The Range coming back from seeing her sick brother
- Then the remaining poochie got seriously ill and had to be helped over the Rainbow Bridge to ease his suffering.
- My real estate agent has left the company and has yet to inform me of such (her boss rang and told us, he also informed us he does not want to list houses in this suburb)
- I have three interviews for jobs
- I've read another 5 books (going back to work slows one down a tad)
According to both Western and Eastern astrology this is meant to be an excellent year for me.....could someone please tell The Universe/God that??
Master Tsai tells us that this is the Year of the Metal Monkey and that as I am a Water Rat this is an auspicious year for me:
'Rat is connected to placid water or rain. Water is also connected to wisdom and intelligence. Monkey is connected to wind or storm. Storm can bring more rain to Water. Monkey can bring more wealth, wisdom and health to Rat. Wind can stir the water to flow. But we don't know which direction water will go. Monkey can change Rat's life style from tranquillity and relaxing to busyness.'
and
Typical Western predictions:
' Tenderness and tact are also highlighted skills for you in 2016. Be realistic and kind, especially in the late summer and early fall when Jupiter and Mercury increase your people skills. Watch as obstacles and opposition melt away under your gaze.
It will be in the realm of family and friends that you may see the most progress. When things are going smoothly at home, career and public life are much easier. What a dynamite year!'
So, when does this all start again? I seem to be missing out on a few things methinks.
I'll let you know how the year progresses.....
Friday, 12 February 2016
Up There Cazaley
Did anyone else just feel it?
that little frisson of excitement that tells us it's almost FOOTY SEASON!!!!!!!!
The official AFL Season starts Thursday 24 March 2016 with Carlton Blues v Richmond Tigers and though both teams are crap I will watch the game purely because it is the FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.
There have been pre season hitouts, but they are scheduled when us folk that live 150 minutes plus drive from Brisbane canna get there.
There's the NAB Challenge, used to be the NAB CUP and if memory serves Brisbane won the last CUP on offer there. NAB Challenge is played at non traditional grounds, out in the communities that might not otherwise see footy. I hope to get to Burpengary and Metricon but given the old financial situation ( petrol and a hotel trips these are) it may not be feasible.
I am a fairly rabid Brisbane Lions supporter and have been for ten years or more. Let me tell the story of how I came to be an Australian Rules fan.
Way back in the dark ages, so my kids tell me, I emigrated to Australia with my family and after a short sojourn in South Australia we settled in a place called Little River for a year or so.
Little River is just outside Werribee, which is just outside of Geelong. Geelong Cats are the AFL team. I was under the age of ten and in my formative years, the years when a child is most susceptible.
At the little two room school I went to everyone was a Geelong fan. We had a Polly Farmer doll (Geelong great) in our classroom. Every time Geelong won he faced the room, when they lost he faced the wall...he spent a lot of time facing the wall that year.
After the indoctrination in Little River it was only natural when we went to West Australia that we would continue the love affair with footy. Swan Districts was the club of choice. The arch rival of the Swans was/is Subiaco and many is the time we were at Basendean oval screaming our team on. I even got to go to Subiaco oval long before the remodel. Back in the day there was a local TV footy comp where if your picture was shown on the telly, after attending a game, you won a Sherrin, my brother won himself one!!!
From the west it was off to the Nation's Capitol for a few year and I took my interest in Geelong with me. From Canberra to Adelaide and I became a rabid Glenelg supporter. I worked in hotels at this stage and there was always a great rivalry with the patrons who didn't always share my enthusiasm for my team.
After a few years of not following any particular team we fetched up in Queensland and the love affair with the Lions began.
At the beginning of each season the feeling is the same; unbridled optimism. We pick up some good players in the off season and draft, we go to training if we can, watch the boys get their pre season under the belt and start to speculate. Every season we think we have the mix right we just need a little patience and luck. Every season we think we can make the finals at least if not the big one.
Then it gets to every game we think we can win this one...it's never over till the final siren and as our famous coach Leigh Matthews once said if the amount of time left is the same as goals needed you're in with a chance.
Then it gets down to well we can win this quarter......
I always believe my Lions can win right up until the last siren. I make bargains with God/The Universe that if we win I'll do/stop doing this or that. When we win I remember the routine of the day in hopes that by doing everything precisely the same before the next game we will win....sad but true I KNOW that nothing I do or don't do has any bearing whatsoever on the result of the game but..I bet I'm not the only one who does it :)
Being a member of the Brisbane Lions is a wonderful thing. I also sponsor a player. I get to meet my player and other players, I have access to fantastic functions (Player sponsor and Club Champion are my two favourites) and I am an Foundation Member of the Women of the Pride as well.
There's nothing quite like the drive down to Brisbane, checking into the hotel, meeting up with The Normal Autistic chick and strolling up to the Gabba Inside we get to our seats, generally in time to watch the boys warm up 40 minutes or so before the game starts.
As the time gets closer to the first bounce the nerves set in. Watching my team is the most exhausting thing I know; I am even worse watching the Lions play an away game on TV. At the Gabba I have to behave as there are kids around and we want to set a good example. At home the neighbours get to hear the full range of my anger .Of course almost all of my angst is reserved for the umpire.
Of course should we lose the blokes at The Mausoleum think they're funny and make jokes at my expense, it's always good if their teams have gone down that weekend, they're less likely to be mouthy.
Ah well another few weeks and it'll be on like donkey kong!!!!
that little frisson of excitement that tells us it's almost FOOTY SEASON!!!!!!!!
The official AFL Season starts Thursday 24 March 2016 with Carlton Blues v Richmond Tigers and though both teams are crap I will watch the game purely because it is the FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.
There have been pre season hitouts, but they are scheduled when us folk that live 150 minutes plus drive from Brisbane canna get there.
There's the NAB Challenge, used to be the NAB CUP and if memory serves Brisbane won the last CUP on offer there. NAB Challenge is played at non traditional grounds, out in the communities that might not otherwise see footy. I hope to get to Burpengary and Metricon but given the old financial situation ( petrol and a hotel trips these are) it may not be feasible.
I am a fairly rabid Brisbane Lions supporter and have been for ten years or more. Let me tell the story of how I came to be an Australian Rules fan.
Way back in the dark ages, so my kids tell me, I emigrated to Australia with my family and after a short sojourn in South Australia we settled in a place called Little River for a year or so.
Little River is just outside Werribee, which is just outside of Geelong. Geelong Cats are the AFL team. I was under the age of ten and in my formative years, the years when a child is most susceptible.
At the little two room school I went to everyone was a Geelong fan. We had a Polly Farmer doll (Geelong great) in our classroom. Every time Geelong won he faced the room, when they lost he faced the wall...he spent a lot of time facing the wall that year.
After the indoctrination in Little River it was only natural when we went to West Australia that we would continue the love affair with footy. Swan Districts was the club of choice. The arch rival of the Swans was/is Subiaco and many is the time we were at Basendean oval screaming our team on. I even got to go to Subiaco oval long before the remodel. Back in the day there was a local TV footy comp where if your picture was shown on the telly, after attending a game, you won a Sherrin, my brother won himself one!!!
From the west it was off to the Nation's Capitol for a few year and I took my interest in Geelong with me. From Canberra to Adelaide and I became a rabid Glenelg supporter. I worked in hotels at this stage and there was always a great rivalry with the patrons who didn't always share my enthusiasm for my team.
After a few years of not following any particular team we fetched up in Queensland and the love affair with the Lions began.
At the beginning of each season the feeling is the same; unbridled optimism. We pick up some good players in the off season and draft, we go to training if we can, watch the boys get their pre season under the belt and start to speculate. Every season we think we have the mix right we just need a little patience and luck. Every season we think we can make the finals at least if not the big one.
Then it gets to every game we think we can win this one...it's never over till the final siren and as our famous coach Leigh Matthews once said if the amount of time left is the same as goals needed you're in with a chance.
Then it gets down to well we can win this quarter......
I always believe my Lions can win right up until the last siren. I make bargains with God/The Universe that if we win I'll do/stop doing this or that. When we win I remember the routine of the day in hopes that by doing everything precisely the same before the next game we will win....sad but true I KNOW that nothing I do or don't do has any bearing whatsoever on the result of the game but..I bet I'm not the only one who does it :)
Being a member of the Brisbane Lions is a wonderful thing. I also sponsor a player. I get to meet my player and other players, I have access to fantastic functions (Player sponsor and Club Champion are my two favourites) and I am an Foundation Member of the Women of the Pride as well.
There's nothing quite like the drive down to Brisbane, checking into the hotel, meeting up with The Normal Autistic chick and strolling up to the Gabba Inside we get to our seats, generally in time to watch the boys warm up 40 minutes or so before the game starts.
As the time gets closer to the first bounce the nerves set in. Watching my team is the most exhausting thing I know; I am even worse watching the Lions play an away game on TV. At the Gabba I have to behave as there are kids around and we want to set a good example. At home the neighbours get to hear the full range of my anger .Of course almost all of my angst is reserved for the umpire.
Of course should we lose the blokes at The Mausoleum think they're funny and make jokes at my expense, it's always good if their teams have gone down that weekend, they're less likely to be mouthy.
Ah well another few weeks and it'll be on like donkey kong!!!!
GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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