Thursday, May 17, 2012

Shepparton Masters Tournament 2012

Shepparton Sports Precinct, Shepparton, Vic.
5th & 6th May 2012


I love the Myths & Legends association. It was set up to allow basketballers of yesteryear like me to continue playing well into our forties, even our fifties and for some Buzz Lightyear types, well into 'infinity and beyond.'

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Bic Runga, Athenaeum Theatre One, Melbourne.

4th May 2012
Athenaeum Theatre One, Melbourne.

With a name like Bic Runga, I had absolutely no idea what sort of music we were in for, whether it was a he, a she, or a them, or even if this was a music gig at all. Let's face it, Bic Runga could easily have been a pseudonym for a big hairy World Wrestling Federation heavyweight.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Australian Pelican

INTRO: We’ve been in Australia for over two years now and we’re still blown away by the abundance of wild animals and birds we come across in the great outdoors.  Allow me to share some of them with you, captured by our very own camera lens.

#6 The Australian Pelican
April 2012, Werribee South, Victoria






The Day I Met Michael Jordan.

November 9, 2011.
Cook + Phillip Park Aquatic Fitness Centre, Sydney


An audience with a basketball God? One of only eighty people invited to a Gatorade Launch with his Airness, and you need me to RSVP? Don't be stupid. I'm in already! 


Out and About at Werribee Golf Club

Friday 27th April
Werribee Golf Course, Werribee

If it wasn't hard enough already for a novice golfer, I didn't need the added burden of snakes lurking in the rough. That just isn't cricket, or golf for that matter. If my ball went into the rough, it was going to stay there, and I would happily take a drop. Needless to say I was less worried about my score card of one twenty, than I was with coming off the course with all my fingers accounted for.

Just in case you were wondering whether snakes do actually turn up on the fairways, this report from a competition from August 2011 confirms it:

"The warmer weather is definitely on the way as we were told there was a snake sighting on the 17th hole. Any balls that went astray in the rough stayed that way, not many wanting to risk the chance of a friendly sighting!!" Competition Report, August 2011
A friendly sighting? Is there even such a thing? Besides, I'd would be pissed if you built a golf course on top of my house without prior consultation.

"On one occasion this led to a snake being disaquainted with its home which in turn slowed the pace of work." The Starting Years at Werribee Park - A recollection by Alan Thompson (Life Member WPGC)


VFL: Country Football Victoria Style

Sunday 29th April 2012
Chirnside Park, Werribee




Strictly speaking the score was 15.13-103 to 17.8-110, but what the heck, all you need to know was that Williamstown staged a remarkable comeback in the last ten minutes kicking three stunning goals to win this battle of the West. The Victorian Football League (VFL) is the feeder league to the AFL, and for my money is just as enjoyable. Each club is affiliated to one of the premier big boys, so players work hard to impress, just in case their first team coaches are watching, which generally means the quality is excellent. Plus, it's only ten bucks, and you can cycle to Werribee's home ground from my house in about twenty five minutes, which helps.  

There are some great advantages the VFL has over its big brother the AFL; for starters it generally will cost less than ten bucks to see a game. Secondly, the footy grounds are much more interesting, often nestled into the beautiful bushland such as Chrinside Park above, which is also surrounded by the serene Werribee River. For sports fans though, the main bonus is just how close you get to all the action. Footy ovals are absolutely huge, so having the freedom to get close up behind the goaline, and move around the ground freely through each term is gold. If you haven't tried it already, give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Just in case, you were wondering about the great photo above, (and I'm sure you were) allow me to introduce my new Nikon Coolpix digital camera, a fab birthday present from Alison. Not only does it take these cool 180 degrees panorama shots, it's waterproof to ten metres, shockproof to five feet and has built in GPS. Nice snazzy blue finish too!