A spot of NRL?

Do I like my NRL?

Do bears bear? Do bee’s bee? Does a picket fence? Do wild bears shit in the forest? You get the picture. I’ve grown up my whole life with every sport and I find myself in the last 10 years or so getting so wholly involved with my teams, with so many memberships, it’s actually getting hard to manage. I’ve not missed attending at least one Origin game in those said 10 years. Grand Finals, tests, crushing defeats, mind blowing come from behind wins and even cheating. Yes I’m still in a world of hurt from the 2009 NRL Grand Final.

I sat though what was ultimately the best and worst footy season of my life. I watched a random footy show episode, watching my Nathan Hindmarsh tell the panel that we need to win 9 of our next 8 games to make the final. I persevered. Every home game I attended, even away games, I was there and we were on a 7-game winning streak, the last game of the regular season saw me trek out to Kogarah. We were annihilated. Beyond killed, at 37-0 having us just finishing in the top 8. 

The following week I went back, sat in the same seat and watched us play against the minor premiers, a game that I was sure would end in defeat and being out of the game, but I wanted to pay my respects to the team for the last time, and WE WON.

We then beat a few others and trail blazed our way to beat the dogs in the prelim final. BF had had enough of me by then, bursting his eardrum with my screaming, and putting up with me being a blubbering mess and he declined my invitation to attend the sacred Grand Final. To find someone to attend a grand final with me was harder than I thought. Brother was a dog as was Dad. That would hurt too much the week following that defeat, none of my friends are fans, so hmmm.. Mum? She jumped at the chance to attend and I had her holding my hand tightly as the last 40 min of what should have been the greatest day of my life slowly disappeared. Melbourne Storm won 23–16.

Retribution was mine on April 22, the following year when the Storm were stripped of all their points – bastard cheaters of the salary cap. I left work as this was breaking to watch the press conference. To quote David Gallop – the Storm went to “elaborate lengths of hidden payments” “Well organised system of paying players outside the salary cap” then the best news. The stripping of 3 minor premierships and 2 premierships. Retribution. 

So this blog didn’t turn out the way I expected, it was a tribute to a team of the past. My beloved Parramatta Eels. Next sporting blog I’ll tell you more about my love of other sports.

Who says I'm not happy being me?

A year ago Mrs D asked me to be her maid of honour at her wedding. Sitting in a lovely conference room in sunny Sydney I was overwhelmed and wow excited. I’ve never been in a bridal party before let alone being maid of honour. And I agreed.

The wedding was taking place in Austria (no not Australia) in 6 months time AND Mrs D is a small size 6. Next to her I look like the elephant woman.

So I joined the gym, going at least daily, started eating calorie controlled frozen meals and cut out carbs. Everything I could to shed a few kilo’s to look just past half decent walking down the aisle next to her. And it worked, the wedding was amazing, my holiday after the wedding (well if you’re in Europe in July then it is a must) but I was depressed. I’m not a gym person and I don’t get any satisfaction out of eating a calorie controlled frozen meal. The part that depressed me more than the gym was the comments. Suddenly everyone started commenting or thought it was their right to encourage, offer pointers or tell me how great I was looking. I did this for myself, and not anyone else, and I don’t see when it became your everyone’s right to tell me how I was going. No one tells a skinny how or what to do to make them look different.
I stopped the gym and the cardboard foods a few months after the wedding, it wasn’t sustainable and I couldn’t justify the costs (getting slim is expensive) and the weight is slowly starting to creep up again.

Yesterday I rejoined a new gym, and I’ve made the first step into making sure that I’m doing something for myself again. Hopefully without the constant monitoring from all my friends this time. My goal in New York with a skinny Miss JJ. I realised though all of this that a number on a scale isn’t important but how you feel is. I need a personal goal to keep me motivated and that motivation isn’t something that comes from other people.

5 things to do in Bali

I've never been to Bali. I never wanted to go. My high school friend was 'rich' enough to go every school holidays and my memory was of her returning to school with her hair braided. In one week I am going to Bali with 3 girlfriends for the first time. We've got everything and nothing planned. A private plunge pool, a bike ride down a volcano and a breakfast that you need to plan ahead for (and bring a buffet dress apparently) and a lot of massage time.

I don't know what to expect really. Firstly it will be the first travel I've done with these friends, and secondly, being my first trip to Bali, will it meet my expectations, what even are my expectations. Will I come home with my hair braided?
I decided to create a top 5 things I plan to do in Bali, and I'll revisit my post with what I came to find.
1: Tanah Lot, the ancient pilgrimage temple. Preferably at sunset.
2: Bike ride down before mentioned volcano, taking in the rice terraces
3: Massage massage massage
4: Eat everywhere from food stalls, to the Rock Bar 

5: Quite possible some shopping time or chance to get my hair braided?

My girls in Bali