Footy Footy Futsal

I have some bad news in the sporting world to report.

The indoor soccer team...correction...futsal team I have been playing on since November made it all the way to the finals. At the holiday break we stood at the top of the Futsal league with no loses on our record, and only a couple tie games -- we were set to take the season title. After a few grueling weeks of playoffs, today, Monday Feb. 23rd was the championship game.

The final match kicked off at noon - we took off with an early lead with a quick goal in the first five minutes and went into the second half with a lead. And sadly we fell a bit short....the only game all season we lost - the final score was 3 to 1, the team we lost to we had tied in the regular season match.  The team decided that Chris and I will need to come back for next season in order to make a good run for the playoffs again.

Here is a shot of the team during happier times, our semi-final win last week.

From left to right - Dan, Grant, Giles, Spinos (aka Iceman), Holman, Marcus, Natalie, Me, Mel and Laura. The PGI Eddies.

So about that triathlon.....

Now, I know a few of you have been concerned with the quantity of shark attacks that have been reported here on the east coast of Sydney this summer - and I thought to calm your nerves I would share this little piece of news with you. 

This would be the time where you click the link and read on.....

http://www.smh.com.au/national/navy-diver-fights-off-shark-in-woolloomooloo-2009211-8404.html?page=-1

Now, I bet you are thinking to yourself, "Now, Sam, really Woolloomooloo, there is a neighborhood  named Woolloomooloo?" and I would have to say that yes, yes indeed there is place called Woolloomooloo. In fact it is only one little bay over from where we live. Chris and I go running right along this exact spot all the time. 

So, here's the thing, I have been keeping up with my triathlon training, and even before this incident I was a bit weary about the swim portion of the race. And really it was not because of the other animals might be joining me in the harbour -- but more or less, the fact that I am less than a stellar swimmer. But now you go ahead and add this whole "shark factor" thing and well we've got ourselves a whole new ball game - a few of my pals down here have said, "Well you will just have to swim faster -- oh gee thanks. 

Did you see the photo of that NAVY DIVER?  You really think if he couldn't get away in one piece that I will be able to? My good friend John Herrity once told me that I just have to be able to swim faster than the slowest victim (swimmer/racer.) Dear lord John, I hope you are right. 

February - Australian for BBQ.

I bet you're wondering what I have been up to since the Australian Open ended last weekend.

Well lucky for you - I am here to give you an update.

As we are all aware of by now, Nadal and Ms. Serena Williams took the cake at the AU Open - Federer shed a few tears, I lost countless hours of sleep I will never get back, Nadal and Serena continued to rack up their millions and the heat wave let up a bit in Melbourne. But just as the weather was easing up a bit in Victoria it began to really sizzle here in NSW.

Last Sunday we took a little day trip out to Seven Hills/Blacktown via train to have a BBQ at the Hull's-- I should note here that previously we had really only been on city suburb trains, and not the intercity trains, when we hopped on to platform No. 7 at Central Station we climbed aboard to a rather comfy air conditioned train -- we later learned that there is a 1 and 3 chance we would have gotten a non aircon (what the aussies call Air Conditioning) train - which would have been a bit unpleasant in that heat. Dan picked us up at the station and we headed to his parents house, where his Dad, Mark immediately asked us if we would care for a Budweiser -- he bought a 6-pack especially for us (Dan's calls us the Americanos). It was sweet of him, and actually I would never order a Budweiser back home, but it was rather refreshing on a 90 degree day.

The BBQ was a sweet success, Deb, Dan's Mum (not mom) was the mastermind of the entire operation -- Mark is not to be left alone by the grill for more than 2 minutes -- and both Deb and Dan's older sister Kate, had their hands full with him...it was rather hilarious. Mark is such a talker that the least of his concern was what he had going on the grill, and he was much more focused on his guests. The spread that afternoon was amazing; Chris and I were most excited because we hadn't had a real "home cooked" meal in months, and the Hull's did not disappoint!

There was steak, lamb, sausages, shrimp (prawns), sea bass (I think, I am not sure what kind of white fish it was, but it was delish!!), we had potatoes, bread, two kinds of salad....and my wine glass just kept refilling itself every time I would look away, it was the wildest thing. And then, just when I thought I couldn't possibly eat any more Deb pulled out the home made brownies and ice cream she had made for dessert. And of course I couldn't turn down a perfectly good brownie...so I devoured that too.

We spent a good chunk of Sunday hanging out with Dan and his family, exchanging travel stories and mindless trivia - Dan's parents and sister have both been to the states recently so they had plenty to tell us about, and we had tons to ask about Sydney and things.  It was a great get away from the city, and I've already invited myself back over for another BBQ soon, it really was a wonderful time and felt a bit like home which is why I think I enjoyed myself so much.

Let's see here, on Tuesday this week we went over to Joel and Kari's to help them celebrate Mr. Ethan Robert's 2nd birthday -Kari whipped up some excellent tacos and we all watched the birthday boy inhale the cheese and chips:) I am not sure who was more excited for his new toys he opened up....Ethan or me?! Either way I will let him use them first, and I will try out the pail and shovel when he's done...I have always been good at sharing.

Thursday night our pal Andrew invited us to dinner at La Mint, www.lamint.com.au which is only about a 20 minute walk away in a nearby suburb, Darlinghurst. It was French-Vietnamese cuisine and I must say, I was super surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Andrew brought along two bottles of Savion Blanc from New Zealand and we shared the 7 Beefs Main course -- which was amazing.

After dinner we headed up to Oxford street which is just a couple blocks from La Mint, and we had a drink at the Colombian Inn, and then we walked up to the Oxford Hotel - which looked fairly promising from the curb, but once inside it was as if the patrons at this bar had been dancing since last Friday night - and they showed no signs of stopping, it was barely 9pm, several of them had on their sunnies (sun glasses), shirtless, and were apparently not only drinking, but on a cocktail of rave-like drugs as well, we quickly decided not to hang with the party animals and decided to give it another go at the Midnighter. (I think that's what it was called any way) About half way into our drinks we heard some noise start up in the front of the bar, and wouldn't you know it....we had made it just in time to see Thursday nights Drag Show! It was great, and unfortunately I did not have my camera with me last night, but let me just tell you - the second performer of the night had the best pair of stems I have ever seen; for some reason I want to say her stage name was Winnie Cooper, but I am not positive on that.

Aahhh... the Wonder Years.