28 to 31Dec 2010!!
I was up bright and early again today. It was day 3 of the 4th test and England were looking good.
We had a big lead with wickets left and I was hoping for a good days cricket – it didn’t disappoint.
I took my usual morning walk across the park and around the Botanic gardens towards the MCG. It was a beautiful sunny morning and there were a lot of joggers out,pounding the usual route around the gardens. There was also a good atmosphere in the air as they were letting kids in for free today and there were families everywhere around the ground. I actually arrived early and took a quick walk around the outside of the stadium before heading in through gate 6 and taking my seat (not actually my seat, but one that wasn’t taken, in the sunshine!)
England didn’t start too well losing some wickets and were finally out just before lunch. In the afternoon session although there were plenty of shouts for wickets, the Australians made it to the tea break, with only 1 wicket down and it looked like being a long day – But after tea England came back again and took 5 more wickets by the end of the days play. Plus Ryan Harris - one of the Australian bowlers, injured himself and looks like he wont be able to bat -so England need only 3 more wickets to retain the ashes. It was a great day for me and the Barmy army, with not as many insults being thrown towards the Aussies as yesterday – Mainly because there didn’t seem to be many Aussies about!!
I had a few beers during play and afterwards headed into town to have a few more with the Barmy Army, but after spending all day in the sunshine and having a couple of I was really knackered and eventually came home reasonably early after grabbing a bit of scoff down-town– at least that’s my excuse – I actually wanted to make sure that I am up bright and early tomorrow and able to get back to the MCG in time for the start of play. It shouldn’t be a long day and hopefully England will get their victory in the morning or in the session after lunch!! Cmon England!!
I made it up bright and early and with the anticipation of an ashes victory I wandered back down to the MCG and actually made it there well before the start of play. The atmosphere in the ground was just brilliant – There weren’t many Aussies about at all and the crowd was only about 13000, but it was all happy smiling faces of England supporters. I grabbed myself a couple of beers and stood for a while just taking in the noise and the sunshine. Play started on time ans after an early wicket, the Aussies started to add runs to their overnight score. The travelling England fans didnt mind though as they were enjoying themeslves too much – singing songs about England, the Aussies and their lack of skill (Thats a very polite way to put it!) Matt Prior, Kevin Peterson and Swanny all kept turning around and giving encouragement for us all to sing louder and so we did! At one point, one of the Barmy Army, who was dressed as the queen, was approached by a local Aussie policeman – He bowed his head and kissed the blokes hand as if he was the real queen and it was all on the big screen! A few minutes later the Aussies crashed a six into the seats in front of me, where the ball was caught by a big bloke! That was shown on the screen too and we were seen around the world on telly.
Just before lunch and after 5 early morning pints, the Aussies were all out – England had retained the ashes and we started to celebrate properly. The barmy army all stood as one and sang our hearts out as the team came around to celebrate with us- They even did the sprinkler dance in font of us, before applauding us and leaving the field. People didn’t want to leave and we were there for good hour after the end of play before I finally grabbed my bag and headed home. I could of gone into town with the rest of the lads and celebrated all day, but I decided to be sensible and went back to the hotel for an afternoon nap.
In the evening, I went around to Jennifer Parsonage's house, where I met her new house mate and we sat in the garden eating a really nice risotto, cooked by Jennifer Parsonage. After a few glasses of wine we sat in the lounge and watched a couple of movies, while chatting and drinking more wine. We were celebrating two things – The ashes win and Jennifer Parsonage has got herself a job, starting just after new year! Good luck mate!
It was getting late and so I headed back home to the hotel at about midnight. I missed the bloody tram so had to walk all the way, but it did help to sober me up a bit before I went to bed.
So on my last day in Melbourne I had no cricket to go to, so after a good lie in I met Jennifer Parsonage on the tram into town and we spent a while wandering around the shops, hunting down backstreet to find interesting new cafés or shops and finally we settled in a riverside pub/restaurant for some food just after 3pm. On the pavement next to us was one of those statue blokes, who was dressed as a devil. He was pretty good and we laughed as he scared people who were passing by. We were surprised ourselves later though, when he sat down at a table in the pub and enjoyed a pint, while still dressed in full devil outfit!
After a really nice lunch we went into PJ Obriens, an Irish bar that is also Barmy Army HQ. It turned out to be a long night as we chatted and drank Gin and Tonics, till after 11pm.... We were joined by Paul, Jennifer Parsonage's house mate and I finally left them to it before midnight as I have to get up for my flight to Sydney in the morning.
I was up and ready this morning when my transport arrived and I got to the airport by 10.30. The most exciting thing to happen at teh airport was watching one of the new Airbus A380s take off - Those things are massive!! After a bit of breakfast I waited around and boarded my flight back to Sydney. It was a really easy simple journey and there’s not much to tell about it. From Sydney airport it was a 10 minute train ride to Central station and only 5 minutes walk to the Hotel. Unfortunately things started to go wrong as the lifts were broken and I’m on the 11th floor!! Thankfully the staff lift was working so after a short wait I made it up to my room. I'm now sat waiting for Keri and then after a bit of food we are going to get ready and head down to The Ivy, for a new years eve to remember. Tomorrow, it will be a lie in and then in the afternoon I get to meet up with Donna, Liv, Lisa and Andrea!! I’m really looking forward to seeing them al1!
28 Dec 2010!!
I was up bright and early again today. It was day 3 of the 4th test and England were looking good.
We had a big lead with wickets left and I was hoping for a good days cricket – it didn’t disappoint.
I took my usual morning walk across the park and around the Botanic gardens towards the MCG. It was a beautiful sunny morning and there were a lot of joggers out,pounding the usual route around the gardens. There was also a good atmosphere in the air as they were letting kids in for free today and there were families everywhere around the ground. I actually arrived early and took a quick walk around the outside of the stadium before heading in through gate 6 and taking my seat (not actually my seat, but one that wasn’t taken, in the sunshine!)
England didn’t start too well losing some wickets and were finally out just before lunch. In the afternoon session although there were plenty of shouts for wickets, the Australians made it to the tea break, with only 1 wicket down and it looked like being a long day – But after tea England came back again and took 5 more wickets by the end of the days play. Plus Ryan Harris - one of the Australian bowlers, injured himself and looks like he wont be able to bat -so England need only 3 more wickets to retain the ashes. It was a great day for me and the Barmy army, with not as many insults being thrown towards the Aussies as yesterday – Mainly because there didn’t seem to be many Aussies about!!
I had a few beers during play and afterwards headed into town to have a few more with the Barmy Army, but after spending all day in the sunshine and having a couple of I was really knackered and eventually came home reasonably early after grabbing a bit of scoff down-town– at least that’s my excuse – I actually wanted to make sure that I am up bright and early tomorrow and able to get back to the MCG in time for the start of play. It shouldn’t be a long day and hopefully England will get their victory in the morning or in the session after lunch!! Cmon England!!
I made it up bright and early and with the anticipation of an ashes victory I wandered back down to the MCG and actually made it there well before the start of play. The atmosphere in the ground was just brilliant – There weren’t many Aussies about at all and the crowd was only about 13000, but it was all happy smiling faces of England supporters. I grabbed myself a couple of beers and stood for a while just taking in the noise and the sunshine. Play started on time ans after an early wicket, the Aussies started to add runs to their overnight score. The travelling England fans didnt mind though as they were enjoying themeslves too much – singing songs about England, the Aussies and their lack of skill (Thats a very polite way to put it!) Matt Prior, Kevin Peterson and Swanny all kept turning around and giving encouragement for us all to sing louder and so we did! At one point, one of the Barmy Army, who was dressed as the queen, was approached by a local Aussie policeman – He bowed his head and kissed the blokes hand as if he was the real queen and it was all on the big screen! A few minutes later the Aussies crashed a six into the seats in front of me, where the ball was caught by a big bloke! That was shown on the screen too and we were seen around the world on telly.
Just before lunch and after 5 early morning pints, the Aussies were all out – England had retained the ashes and we started to celebrate properly. The barmy army all stood as one and sang our hearts out as the team came around to celebrate with us- They even did the sprinkler dance in font of us, before applauding us and leaving the field. People didn’t want to leave and we were there for good hour after the end of play before I finally grabbed my bag and headed home. I could of gone into town with the rest of the lads and celebrated all day, but I decided to be sensible and went back to the hotel for an afternoon nap.
In the evening, I went around to Jennifer Parsonage's house, where I met her new house mate and we sat in the garden eating a really nice risotto, cooked by Jennifer Parsonage. After a few glasses of wine we sat in the lounge and watched a couple of movies, while chatting and drinking more wine. We were celebrating two things – The ashes win and Jennifer Parsonage has got herself a job, starting just after new year! Good luck mate!
It was getting late and so I headed back home to the hotel at about midnight. I missed the bloody tram so had to walk all the way, but it did help to sober me up a bit before I went to bed.
So on my last day in Melbourne I had no cricket to go to, so after a good lie in I met Jennifer Parsonage on the tram into town and we spent a while wandering around the shops, hunting down backstreet to find interesting new cafés or shops and finally we settled in a riverside pub/restaurant for some food just after 3pm. On the pavement next to us was one of those statue blokes, who was dressed as a devil. He was pretty good and we laughed as he scared people who were passing by. We were surprised ourselves later though, when he sat down at a table in the pub and enjoyed a pint, while still dressed in full devil outfit!
After a really nice lunch we went into PJ Obriens, an Irish bar that is also Barmy Army HQ. It turned out to be a long night as we chatted and drank Gin and Tonics, till after 11pm.... We were joined by Paul, Jennifer Parsonage's house mate and I finally left them to it before midnight as I have to get up for my flight to Sydney in the morning.
I was up and ready this morning when my transport arrived and I got to the airport by 10.30. After a bit of breakfast I waited around and boarded my flight back to Sydney. It was a really easy simple journey and there’s not much to tell about it. From Sydney airport it was a 10 minute train ride to Central station and only 5 minutes walk to the Hotel. Unfortunately things started to go wrong as the lifts were broken and I’m on the 11th floor!! Thankfully the staff lift was working so after a short wait I made it up to my room. I'm now sat waiting for Keri and then after a bit of food we are going to get ready and head down to The Ivy, for a new years eve to remember. Tomorrow, it will be a lie in and then in the afternoon I get to meet up with Donna, Liv, Lisa and Andrea!! I’m really looking forward to seeing them al1!
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