Wow, I didn't expect that!
Fantastic performance from the England boys yesterday that shut up more than a few aussies that were sat around me at the 'G. Great recovery to restrict them to 252ao when they should have got well over 300, followed by Colly's 2nd consecutive century and good contributions from Belly and Fred. I must say though that the 'G is awesome and certainly the best cricket venue in the world. The only downside is that tickets for the 2nd final in Sydney tomorrow are going for double face value and it would cost me 300 bucks and a night in the airport to get there - tempting, but not that tempting!
One negative comment from yesterday was the farcical decistion to restrict drinks to two per person, making it a pain in the backside to get a round in for the three of us (me, Dom and the old man). Every other ground (even the fascists at the Gabba) would let you buy 4 or 5 at a time - it was a minor annoyance on a great day. that was finished off with a bottle of:
Crown
A lager produced by Fosters, and a hell of a lot better than the Carleton Mid they were serving in the ground!!! A quiet day today I think before settling in to watch the match on the tele tomorrow. I'm 3-1 so far!
A very happy England fan
R
Friday, 9 February 2007
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Aussie Beer of the Day #17, #18 and #19
Sorry folks, but I've been a bit remiss on getting onto the internet until now. Am now back in Melbourne and getting ready to watch England tround the Aussies in the first final in a couple of hours!!!
The Gabba was a great place to watch cricket, if a little bit concretey. Mind you, most of Brisbane is like this so why should I expect the cricket ground to be any different. A great innings from Colly, with good support from Strauss and Jamie D got Englan a reasonable 270 - and got me over the disappointment of Michael Vaughn getting out without laying willow on leather! A shocking first few overs, they got to 50 in the 6th, were dragged back well by Freddie and Monty. Colly also bowled well, but they still looked favourites needing 80 off 10 overs with wickets in hand. But England managed to take wickets steadily from then on and they never caught up the 20 run differential. Bring on the Aussies. Unfortunately I can't reprot a new beer from the ground because they only served XXXX Gold, however I did have a quick one in the hotel, which was:
Cascade Premium
A damn good drop. So up early at 4-30am, which idiot booked the 6-50 flight because it was cheap, and back to Melbourne. Fairly quiet rest of the day 'cos I was knackered, but did manage a:
Redback
A pretty good wheat beer. Then back out in Melbourne city yesterday. Had a nosey round the market, casino and lunch on the south bank. Followed this with a trip on the circular tram, a pub visit or two and then dinner with the folks and family here in a really nice restaurant on docklands. However I must report that no beer was consumed yesterday, but I did try:
Bundy's and Ginger Beer
Which is a bit more refreshing than the usual Bundy's and coke (Bundy's is Bundaberg Rum for the uninitiated), but probably not the session drink the coke variety is!!! Must go and don the lucky shirt for todays match - Come on England!!!
From Melbourne
R
The Gabba was a great place to watch cricket, if a little bit concretey. Mind you, most of Brisbane is like this so why should I expect the cricket ground to be any different. A great innings from Colly, with good support from Strauss and Jamie D got Englan a reasonable 270 - and got me over the disappointment of Michael Vaughn getting out without laying willow on leather! A shocking first few overs, they got to 50 in the 6th, were dragged back well by Freddie and Monty. Colly also bowled well, but they still looked favourites needing 80 off 10 overs with wickets in hand. But England managed to take wickets steadily from then on and they never caught up the 20 run differential. Bring on the Aussies. Unfortunately I can't reprot a new beer from the ground because they only served XXXX Gold, however I did have a quick one in the hotel, which was:
Cascade Premium
A damn good drop. So up early at 4-30am, which idiot booked the 6-50 flight because it was cheap, and back to Melbourne. Fairly quiet rest of the day 'cos I was knackered, but did manage a:
Redback
A pretty good wheat beer. Then back out in Melbourne city yesterday. Had a nosey round the market, casino and lunch on the south bank. Followed this with a trip on the circular tram, a pub visit or two and then dinner with the folks and family here in a really nice restaurant on docklands. However I must report that no beer was consumed yesterday, but I did try:
Bundy's and Ginger Beer
Which is a bit more refreshing than the usual Bundy's and coke (Bundy's is Bundaberg Rum for the uninitiated), but probably not the session drink the coke variety is!!! Must go and don the lucky shirt for todays match - Come on England!!!
From Melbourne
R
Sunday, 4 February 2007
Aussie Beer of the Day #15 and #16
Made it to Brisbane. Many thanks to Fitzy's Dad, Rod, who picked me up from the airport and showed me round on Saturday afternoon. Got a great seat on the halfway line for the Super 14 game between the Reds and Hurricanes on Sat night. Cracking match, the pace of the game was extraordinary! Shame it was a bit spoiled by the South African ref, Caplan, who continued his kiwi biase for the evening. Beer in the ground was self-service, another good idea, so I had to sample the local brew:
XXXX
Not to be confused with XXXX Gold, which I have to say I preferred!!! Had a fairly quiet day yesterday. Mooched around the city for a while before going out in the evening and watching the Aussies beat NZ in a couple of pubs. That really sets the game up here on Tuesday - winner goes to the final! Controversially, a different type of ale was tried:
Tooheys Old
Which is a stout. Didn't realise this when I ordered it, but its not as heavy as Guinness so it went down ok.
Form Bris
R
XXXX
Not to be confused with XXXX Gold, which I have to say I preferred!!! Had a fairly quiet day yesterday. Mooched around the city for a while before going out in the evening and watching the Aussies beat NZ in a couple of pubs. That really sets the game up here on Tuesday - winner goes to the final! Controversially, a different type of ale was tried:
Tooheys Old
Which is a stout. Didn't realise this when I ordered it, but its not as heavy as Guinness so it went down ok.
Form Bris
R
Friday, 2 February 2007
Aussie Beer of the Day #14
Boy am I surprised I don't have a hangover after yesterday! Great day at the cricket topped off with an England win. Started the day by heading down to Bondi (well you've got to, don't you!). Great beach and watched the surfers for a while - buggered if I could do it!
The SCG is a pretty modern ground, but they've retained the old members areas which gives it a bit of tradition. Was sat in the O'Reilly stand, pretty much opposite the members area. Met Mick and the boys who'd driven 6h and 600km that morning from the interior - really nice bunch of lads. When Freddie won the toss there were the usual cries of "no" as he chose to bat, but they were completely unfounded. A solid start from Ed and Mal, included one huge six that landed about 10 yards in front of me, was broken just after Mal took one on the chin from Pidgeon. Belly came in and batted well for 50, but it was Ed Joyce and a late flurry from Jamie D that got England to a competitive 292-7.
The boys were looking forward to watching Gilly chase them down, particularly Mick, but he was disappointed as England took 2 quick wickets. I was getting a bit worried when Haydos and Roy got the runrate going, but steady wickets and Roy's retirement gave the fans the win we'd craved for! Where's Mr C when you need him! The beer flowed pretty freely all day, with the beer snakes being raised and hidden from the, somewhat overzealous, stewards in green. The beer of the day was:
Some 3.5% light ale they were serving
Because I'm buggered if I can remember what it was called! Not seen it anywhere else though! Off to Brisbane today, rugby to watch tonight! Come on England in the 6 nations!!!
From Sydney
R
The SCG is a pretty modern ground, but they've retained the old members areas which gives it a bit of tradition. Was sat in the O'Reilly stand, pretty much opposite the members area. Met Mick and the boys who'd driven 6h and 600km that morning from the interior - really nice bunch of lads. When Freddie won the toss there were the usual cries of "no" as he chose to bat, but they were completely unfounded. A solid start from Ed and Mal, included one huge six that landed about 10 yards in front of me, was broken just after Mal took one on the chin from Pidgeon. Belly came in and batted well for 50, but it was Ed Joyce and a late flurry from Jamie D that got England to a competitive 292-7.
The boys were looking forward to watching Gilly chase them down, particularly Mick, but he was disappointed as England took 2 quick wickets. I was getting a bit worried when Haydos and Roy got the runrate going, but steady wickets and Roy's retirement gave the fans the win we'd craved for! Where's Mr C when you need him! The beer flowed pretty freely all day, with the beer snakes being raised and hidden from the, somewhat overzealous, stewards in green. The beer of the day was:
Some 3.5% light ale they were serving
Because I'm buggered if I can remember what it was called! Not seen it anywhere else though! Off to Brisbane today, rugby to watch tonight! Come on England in the 6 nations!!!
From Sydney
R
Bloomin' 'eck - we won!
Get in there. Fantastic performance by the boys, particularly Ed Joyce and Liam Plunkett. Pretty beered up (!) so more tomorrow!
R
R
Thursday, 1 February 2007
Aussie Beer of the Day #12
Got loads done yesterday. Took the ferry up to Manly and spent the morning around the beach up there. Went to Olympic Park in the afternoon and did the Telstra Stadium tour - very impressive place! Grabbed a beer in a bar there:
VB
Yes it had to happen, we all know how good (!) VB is!!! Met up with Becky in the evening, a friend of Lisa and Sam's who is working over here . Had a couple of drinks and dinner in Doyle's, a fish restaurant overlooking the bridge and opera house - really nice.
Off to watch England get murdered at the SCG today - hopefully they put up more of a fight!
R
VB
Yes it had to happen, we all know how good (!) VB is!!! Met up with Becky in the evening, a friend of Lisa and Sam's who is working over here . Had a couple of drinks and dinner in Doyle's, a fish restaurant overlooking the bridge and opera house - really nice.
Off to watch England get murdered at the SCG today - hopefully they put up more of a fight!
R
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Aussie Beer of the Day #11
Great news - the broadband works in my new hotel!!! So I'll be uploading some pics to the link on the right.
Transferred to Sydney yesterday. No upgrade on the plane, but I did get an emergency exit seat - hurrah! My new hotel is pretty good (The Menzies), rooms a bit smaller but not a box, and right in the middle of the CBD. Only got a few days here so got on with it straightaway, wandering round the coastline to get a look at the bridge and opera house - very cool!
Wandered round the Rocks last night, grabbing a few ales. Completely randomly met Darren Gough, Graham Hick and Allan Border in the Fortunes of War pub. They were out promoting the XXXX beach cricket that's on over here. Didn't have my bloody camera with me though! However I was drinking:
Tooheys New Supercold
A pretty decent lager, reminded me of Carlsberg! Oh, one other thing, if the Aussie Premier is listening - can I suggest he gives me a job to help out with the water shortage. Every time I land in a new city IT'S BLOODY RAINING. If he wants to pay me, I don't mind flying round the country visiting cities and reservoirs! Drought my arse...
From Sydney
R
Transferred to Sydney yesterday. No upgrade on the plane, but I did get an emergency exit seat - hurrah! My new hotel is pretty good (The Menzies), rooms a bit smaller but not a box, and right in the middle of the CBD. Only got a few days here so got on with it straightaway, wandering round the coastline to get a look at the bridge and opera house - very cool!
Wandered round the Rocks last night, grabbing a few ales. Completely randomly met Darren Gough, Graham Hick and Allan Border in the Fortunes of War pub. They were out promoting the XXXX beach cricket that's on over here. Didn't have my bloody camera with me though! However I was drinking:
Tooheys New Supercold
A pretty decent lager, reminded me of Carlsberg! Oh, one other thing, if the Aussie Premier is listening - can I suggest he gives me a job to help out with the water shortage. Every time I land in a new city IT'S BLOODY RAINING. If he wants to pay me, I don't mind flying round the country visiting cities and reservoirs! Drought my arse...
From Sydney
R
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