According to several recent articles Melbourne is now the Swine Flu capital of the world… I would like to say I am concerned about this, but because it is basically just a different version of the flu… I am sure I will survive. As well, a three-day quarantine would probably be a nice break.
Things have been pretty great down this way, today I experienced my first Footy game. Hawthorn vs Sydney, Hawthorn came out on top but it was a pretty close game. Considering it is a sport only played in Australia I am always amazed at the attendance. The MCG holds 90,000 and today there were over 45,000 people at the game. It is a pretty brutal, full on tackling game that involves kicking the footy (it is not called a ball, just a footy) or punching the footy in order to pass it to a teammate. I have to say I am fairly sold on this sport and will definitely be attending more games. I would love to see 90,000 in a stadium!
Lately there have been loads of social activities, I went to see kangaroos and other Australian animals last weekend and obviously playing Frisbee at least a couple times a week. However, reducing down to only two nights a week is kinda sad. At the end of the month I head to Brisbane to an ultimate Frisbee training camp where coaches from all over Australia give you advice to get better in groups and there is also individual coaching. It is done on a cost-share basis, so it is pretty economical and a great way to get better. I also get to catch up with Foxy before he heads back to Canada so that is another great bonus. Oh, and it gives me a break from the Melbourne winter, which is probably still nicer than a Newfoundland fall.
Pictures to come, since Mom bought me a new camera... :)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
It's just stuff...
It has been an eventful and boring couple of weeks at the same time:
Unemployment = boring
Parties = eventful
Budgeting = boring
Getting your house robbed = eventful
Employment = boring
Frisbee = eventful
I guess I should probably start with the robbery… my most interesting topic. Sadly while at Frisbee last Monday night our house got broken into and my laptop and camera were stolen… no I did not back up my photos. While they are just things I have to say I am horribly sadden by my loss of photos and 70 DAYS worth of iTunes purchased music… (yes, I am aware that I have an addiction… this may have cured it). To deal with this loss, my flat mates and several other individuals drank… significant portions of alcohol…until 5:30am… it was a good way to ‘celebrate’ being robbed… what else can you do?!?
On a brighter note, after only a week and two days of unemployment I am now employed doing billing for an electric company… the job should last until I head home, it’s full time, in the CBD and pays okay. Due to my current employment status I have decided to return to Brisbane for a two day Frisbee training camp at the end of June… I am pretty excited about this, not going to lie. Not only do I get to meet up with Foxy and my friends in Brisbane but also I think the camp is going to be sweet! On another note, I am playing with two really great teams in Div 1 and 2 and defiantly think that I will get much better before heading home.
Current date to head home is beginning of August… this may get pushed… I hate making decisions. It is going to be ridiculously hard to leave Melbourne. Last date I can move my flight to is September 1st.
My social life is pretty full on; I don’t feel like I have any down time. This will probably change once Kat and Maria move on to Perth. I think there has been a Frisbee party or get-together ever weekend since Nats… hence why ultimate Frisbee is sometimes called cultimate here…
My upcoming plans are pretty nonexistent. I will stay in Melbourne, work, save some money to pay for Brisbane and visiting Alice springs and Ayres rock before heading back to North America. Once arriving in North America…who knows… I only have a flight to L.A.
Unemployment = boring
Parties = eventful
Budgeting = boring
Getting your house robbed = eventful
Employment = boring
Frisbee = eventful
I guess I should probably start with the robbery… my most interesting topic. Sadly while at Frisbee last Monday night our house got broken into and my laptop and camera were stolen… no I did not back up my photos. While they are just things I have to say I am horribly sadden by my loss of photos and 70 DAYS worth of iTunes purchased music… (yes, I am aware that I have an addiction… this may have cured it). To deal with this loss, my flat mates and several other individuals drank… significant portions of alcohol…until 5:30am… it was a good way to ‘celebrate’ being robbed… what else can you do?!?
On a brighter note, after only a week and two days of unemployment I am now employed doing billing for an electric company… the job should last until I head home, it’s full time, in the CBD and pays okay. Due to my current employment status I have decided to return to Brisbane for a two day Frisbee training camp at the end of June… I am pretty excited about this, not going to lie. Not only do I get to meet up with Foxy and my friends in Brisbane but also I think the camp is going to be sweet! On another note, I am playing with two really great teams in Div 1 and 2 and defiantly think that I will get much better before heading home.
Current date to head home is beginning of August… this may get pushed… I hate making decisions. It is going to be ridiculously hard to leave Melbourne. Last date I can move my flight to is September 1st.
My social life is pretty full on; I don’t feel like I have any down time. This will probably change once Kat and Maria move on to Perth. I think there has been a Frisbee party or get-together ever weekend since Nats… hence why ultimate Frisbee is sometimes called cultimate here…
My upcoming plans are pretty nonexistent. I will stay in Melbourne, work, save some money to pay for Brisbane and visiting Alice springs and Ayres rock before heading back to North America. Once arriving in North America…who knows… I only have a flight to L.A.
Monday, May 11, 2009
West Coast
Post tournament I spent four days in and around Perth, exploring the sights of one of the most isolated cities in the world. Compared to Melbourne it is a pretty small and quite city but great for a visit. I couldn’t really see staying there for any length of time, I think if I stayed any longer I would have had to do some camping and touring around the coast.
My four days consisted of doing a walking tour around Perth, visiting the Valley of the Giants and climbing a 60m tree, biking around Rottnest Island and visiting Fremantle. The highlight by far was Rottnest Island. Jess and I biked over 25km around the island, took in the sights, got to pet a Quakka and go snorkeling. The beaches were beautiful and it was just really nice to do something different. I think it has been about ten years or more since I used a peddle bike, highly enjoyable.
The tree top walk was a lot of hype but wasn’t anything really amazing. I also did it in an all day tour, which meant over nine hours of driving in one day…you would have to show me something pretty spectacular for me to feel like that much of a commute was worth it. The best part of that day was earlier on when I got to climb the tree. I was the only one from our tour group to do it, and I can see why. There is basically a ladder of bars with chicken wire on the outside. It was pretty much the minimal amount of safety precautions that could be put in place. If you fell between the bars you would have had no hope… fortunately I got through with minimal drama, I still greatly dislike heights but at this point I feel like I have done everything possible to face my fear.
Fremantle and Perth were okay, nothing too spectacular. There was some nice architecture, beautiful weather and a great brewery that made cider. While I miss the nice weather, it is good to be back in Melbourne…even if it was only five degrees. Welcome to winter…
My four days consisted of doing a walking tour around Perth, visiting the Valley of the Giants and climbing a 60m tree, biking around Rottnest Island and visiting Fremantle. The highlight by far was Rottnest Island. Jess and I biked over 25km around the island, took in the sights, got to pet a Quakka and go snorkeling. The beaches were beautiful and it was just really nice to do something different. I think it has been about ten years or more since I used a peddle bike, highly enjoyable.
The tree top walk was a lot of hype but wasn’t anything really amazing. I also did it in an all day tour, which meant over nine hours of driving in one day…you would have to show me something pretty spectacular for me to feel like that much of a commute was worth it. The best part of that day was earlier on when I got to climb the tree. I was the only one from our tour group to do it, and I can see why. There is basically a ladder of bars with chicken wire on the outside. It was pretty much the minimal amount of safety precautions that could be put in place. If you fell between the bars you would have had no hope… fortunately I got through with minimal drama, I still greatly dislike heights but at this point I feel like I have done everything possible to face my fear.
Fremantle and Perth were okay, nothing too spectacular. There was some nice architecture, beautiful weather and a great brewery that made cider. While I miss the nice weather, it is good to be back in Melbourne…even if it was only five degrees. Welcome to winter…
Australian Ultimate Nationals
What an amazing couple of days! I played on a team that had no hope of winning, but went into every game, played the best they could, had awesome spirit, some amazing moments of brilliance and overall came together as a team. I couldn’t have had a better four days with the Honey Bees. Both on and off the field the girls were awesome to be around. I think I am in shock that it is all over. After my whole time in Melbourne so far preparing to go to Nationals I am feeling a huge sense of loss.
The highlight for me of the tournament was my layout catch in the end zone, my best point ever! I don’t know if I will ever exceed that in my ultimate career. It was surreal at times to realize that I was playing nationals in Australia. For some reason this one seemed more important than mixed nationals, maybe because I had a better sense of a team. I also get the feeling that preparation for women’s and men’s is far more intense than for mixed.
To clue up the tournament there was a cops and robbers theme party held at Fremantle prison, which apparently is supposed to be haunted. All of the Honey As and Bees went as pirates, less drama ensued than I anticipated but still an entertaining night.
Pirate Night
Canadians
Me and the disc the girls gave me for being 'Mum' all week
The highlight for me of the tournament was my layout catch in the end zone, my best point ever! I don’t know if I will ever exceed that in my ultimate career. It was surreal at times to realize that I was playing nationals in Australia. For some reason this one seemed more important than mixed nationals, maybe because I had a better sense of a team. I also get the feeling that preparation for women’s and men’s is far more intense than for mixed.
To clue up the tournament there was a cops and robbers theme party held at Fremantle prison, which apparently is supposed to be haunted. All of the Honey As and Bees went as pirates, less drama ensued than I anticipated but still an entertaining night.
Pirate Night
Canadians
Me and the disc the girls gave me for being 'Mum' all week
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I wonder if I can avoid wearing sock though the whole Australian winter…
I wonder if I can avoid wearing sock though the whole Australian winter…
Last week I received both a winter league and summer league Frisbee league registration notices, it’s so strange that I am headed towards winter and not away from it like everyone in Canada. I planned very well for last year, my 10-11 months of summer/spring was quite enjoyable…however the next 10-11 months will all be a lot colder. I have spoiled myself! I also picked one of the coldest places in Australia to be for the winter…not sure where my logic was there, however it is an amazing city so that is probably why. The one bad thing about heading into winter in Australia is that it feels like I should start prepping for Christmas… I think it is a little sad that there is nothing to break up the winter blues down here. I am torn between considering heading home in August to catch the little bit of sun Newfoundland gets or doing the full year here, because it will be a LONG time before I can come back…if I ever do (so many places still to see). As well, since missing the birth of beautiful baby Abbott I don’t know if I want to miss out on Sara and Dave’s wedding. Decisions decisions…
Other notable things:
·My favourite term for the moment is “pashed” which is referring to someone making out or kissing someone
·Kangaroo meat tastes pretty good and is by far the most economical meat of choice with the added bonus of helping with population control (of kangaroos…just to clarify)
·Since leaving Queensland the number or people I have seen with mullets is reduced significantly… at this point I would say I would see one or two a week…in Queensland it was more like 7 or 8 a day
·Frisbee leagues at times seem like a thin veil for a dating service, almost everyone I know from Frisbee with a significant/insignificant other met through Frisbee or now play together
·I don’t understand why Canada and the US have a different regular size paper than the rest of the world. The rest of the world does not use 8 ½ x 11”…but A4, 8.3 x 11.7”… seems such a silly thing to differ on…
Perth in two days! I am really excited. All I have to do is find a place to stay after the tournament and book my excursions… funny how for others I am ridiculous at planning but with my life right now I am seriously lacking direction…well for the next 3 or 4 months anyway.
Last week I received both a winter league and summer league Frisbee league registration notices, it’s so strange that I am headed towards winter and not away from it like everyone in Canada. I planned very well for last year, my 10-11 months of summer/spring was quite enjoyable…however the next 10-11 months will all be a lot colder. I have spoiled myself! I also picked one of the coldest places in Australia to be for the winter…not sure where my logic was there, however it is an amazing city so that is probably why. The one bad thing about heading into winter in Australia is that it feels like I should start prepping for Christmas… I think it is a little sad that there is nothing to break up the winter blues down here. I am torn between considering heading home in August to catch the little bit of sun Newfoundland gets or doing the full year here, because it will be a LONG time before I can come back…if I ever do (so many places still to see). As well, since missing the birth of beautiful baby Abbott I don’t know if I want to miss out on Sara and Dave’s wedding. Decisions decisions…
Other notable things:
·My favourite term for the moment is “pashed” which is referring to someone making out or kissing someone
·Kangaroo meat tastes pretty good and is by far the most economical meat of choice with the added bonus of helping with population control (of kangaroos…just to clarify)
·Since leaving Queensland the number or people I have seen with mullets is reduced significantly… at this point I would say I would see one or two a week…in Queensland it was more like 7 or 8 a day
·Frisbee leagues at times seem like a thin veil for a dating service, almost everyone I know from Frisbee with a significant/insignificant other met through Frisbee or now play together
·I don’t understand why Canada and the US have a different regular size paper than the rest of the world. The rest of the world does not use 8 ½ x 11”…but A4, 8.3 x 11.7”… seems such a silly thing to differ on…
Perth in two days! I am really excited. All I have to do is find a place to stay after the tournament and book my excursions… funny how for others I am ridiculous at planning but with my life right now I am seriously lacking direction…well for the next 3 or 4 months anyway.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Bunnies, BBQ and boards…
I hope everyone had an amazing Easter… while other than an Easter egg hunt at work and making mini-cheesecakes that looked like Easter baskets the Easter celebration was pretty minimal.
It was a weekend hanging out with expats and celebrating the long weekend. On Friday…forgetting that it was Good Friday… I had a baking endeavour at Carolyn and Brad’s while the girls were my taste testers and then we had a massive BBQ. It was really awesome, felt like something that would happen at home. As well Carolyn and Brad are from Nova Scotia so they remind me of home in all the best ways. They are also the first East Coasters that I have met since moving to Australia.
Saturday was a surf competition at Bell’s Beach, where Rip Curl started. It was the women’s comp and we got to see some of the best women in the world, very cool to see what those women can do. I also have great appreciation for them because I was ridiculously horrible at surfing. The big downside to the day way the public transport…it took us four hours to get there and four hours to return… not a venture I would take on again.
My weekend clued up with a couple of hours of Frisbee practice and a game. Only a week and a half until Perth now! I am really excited and the next several days are mainly focussed on Frisbee. I have sorted accommodation, food, costumes and transport for 15 girls…now I need to buy a return ticket, find a place to live for when I get back and figure out some kind of game plan for my next couple of months…minor stuff really…
It was a weekend hanging out with expats and celebrating the long weekend. On Friday…forgetting that it was Good Friday… I had a baking endeavour at Carolyn and Brad’s while the girls were my taste testers and then we had a massive BBQ. It was really awesome, felt like something that would happen at home. As well Carolyn and Brad are from Nova Scotia so they remind me of home in all the best ways. They are also the first East Coasters that I have met since moving to Australia.
Saturday was a surf competition at Bell’s Beach, where Rip Curl started. It was the women’s comp and we got to see some of the best women in the world, very cool to see what those women can do. I also have great appreciation for them because I was ridiculously horrible at surfing. The big downside to the day way the public transport…it took us four hours to get there and four hours to return… not a venture I would take on again.
My weekend clued up with a couple of hours of Frisbee practice and a game. Only a week and a half until Perth now! I am really excited and the next several days are mainly focussed on Frisbee. I have sorted accommodation, food, costumes and transport for 15 girls…now I need to buy a return ticket, find a place to live for when I get back and figure out some kind of game plan for my next couple of months…minor stuff really…
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Are we human or are we dancers?
This past weekend was V-festival weekend. The line-up included Snow Patrol, The Killers, Kiser Chiefs, Elbow, Razorlight and many many more. Highlight of the night was Snow Patrol for me, mainly because they remind me of living in Scotland and they played most of their old good music…not so much the new. The other bands were also really great, I have to say I was very impressed overall. The sad part about the day was that Vanilla Ice was playing but it was too packed to get around the stage to see him… ah well…you can’t watch everything… I also don’t know if his repertoire still includes “Ice Ice Baby.”
The rest of the weekend was recovery from the festival, a delightful walk in the botanical gardens, brunch with Kat, drinks with the Frisbee people and running around fields. All around pretty classic.
Only two weeks until Perth, I must admit I am getting pretty excited. I still absolutely adore Melbourne but I get itchy feet if I don’t get to see somewhere new after a while. I also think it will be a really fun trip travelling with 15 girls across the country to play. We are all staying together in three villas on a beach in Scarborough about 15 minutes outside of Perth. Each night there is some kind of social activity cluing up with a fancy dress cops and robbers party. I believe a team theme will be in order. I will be staying for a couple of extra days to see around Perth, but I think in total it will only be a week long trip, then starting the job hunt again.
By the middle of May I have to decide when I am coming home… I still haven’t thought much further then Perth. It will probably depend on if I find another good job in Melbourne or not, so far I have been pretty lucky with how things have worked out. Who knows what the next adventure could be.
The rest of the weekend was recovery from the festival, a delightful walk in the botanical gardens, brunch with Kat, drinks with the Frisbee people and running around fields. All around pretty classic.
Only two weeks until Perth, I must admit I am getting pretty excited. I still absolutely adore Melbourne but I get itchy feet if I don’t get to see somewhere new after a while. I also think it will be a really fun trip travelling with 15 girls across the country to play. We are all staying together in three villas on a beach in Scarborough about 15 minutes outside of Perth. Each night there is some kind of social activity cluing up with a fancy dress cops and robbers party. I believe a team theme will be in order. I will be staying for a couple of extra days to see around Perth, but I think in total it will only be a week long trip, then starting the job hunt again.
By the middle of May I have to decide when I am coming home… I still haven’t thought much further then Perth. It will probably depend on if I find another good job in Melbourne or not, so far I have been pretty lucky with how things have worked out. Who knows what the next adventure could be.
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