Cruising

I always wondered if cruising was for me. I can see the endless cocktails, and funny folded hand towels in my room, I can see buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I can't see me taking part in early morning yoga on the deck, or line dancing lessons. 

The BF surprised me with a 9 day cruise to New Caledonia a week after we moved back to Sydney. How am I supposed to react to a 9 day cruise after the year I'd had (in the same month as Christmas). Not overly well I found out.

I was bored, bored before we took off and bored for the next 9 days. I found out we're not the line dancing type, and we're not much for karaoke or yoga. We watched a lot of television (often the same episodes of Greatest Catch repeated) and a few shared cocktails. 

The day trips onto the islands were rushed and there was very little to. I'm not sure if it was to do with our boat in particular, or just our type of holiday style, maybe a little of both. For me it felt like an RSL club on water. And I'm not one to frequent the local club. 

Maybe I'll give it another shot another time (with a different liner) but I think it'll be a little while before that happens.

There's nothing like Australia

There's nothing like Australia. I know that. Everyone knows that right?

Tourism Australia has created a new campaign (http://bit.ly/LiZHt9) at a cost of $250m to try and lure tourists to Australia. Unfortunately tourism to Australia will continue to decline whilst the Aussie dollar is so over-valued against other world currencies - no matter how clever and attractive are the advertising campaigns and the cost of EVERYTHING is also a serious problem, until that is addressed we are fighting a losing battle. Do we know the Chinese even want to see fluffy koalas and kangaroos?

Some of the places, actually the majority of places listed in the fabulous campaign are so hard to imagine any ordinary visitor ever setting foot in. Did you know that Cape Leveque is near Broome? Flights there range between $433 - $2184 per person each way.  El Questro is in the Kimberly region of Western Australia and it's web site references regular flights are available between Perth and Darwin. Sure, there is only 4000km between those locations. Eenie meenie miney mo - let's pick.

In my humble opinion,  we need to focus on a campaign that does two things, one is that gets overseas people thinking and BOOKING a holiday in Australia, the every day tourists, that can focus on shopping and coffee in Melbourne, Sydney sights, or the beaches of the Sunshine Coast because they are the repeat experiences, things that people do and love so much that they think of coming back because of how easy and fun it was. The second thing and a lower priority is a high end campaign taking in some of the amazing features of the current advertising. Just know that once they have visited, the likelihood of a return visit is very slim. They ticked the box, lived the high life and next they will be checking out what is new and hip in Russia or Scandinavia or wherever the next big thing will be.

Nice try Tourism Australia, but I think you're only half way there.

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.

My Aussie Pride

Australia is tough. It is the most beautiful and the most deadly of the countries. The Box Jellyfish, Salt Water Crocodile, Blue Ring Octopus, Funnel Web Spider, Great White Shark, Brown Snakes are all from our shores. They make us scared of swimming and walking around outside. But that doesn't stop us? Hell no. Throw on a pair of thongs (flip-flops) and she'll be right.
We have the same outlook for our natural disasters. Since 2011 started, Australia has seen some of our worst ever natural disasters, inland tsunami's, flash flooding, fire, heatwaves and a category 5 cyclone. (Comparison URL: http://bit.ly/eQjVBG ) While several of the media are looking for the news to break us, or the sensational story that will capture everyone's hearts, the one true feat in this is we're all tough and we're all mates.
The sheer number of volunteers turning up to sandbag stations pre-flood and the tens of thousands helping in Brisbane and surrounding areas post flood made your chest swell with pride. These are Aussies, not rich, not looking for any form of recognition, just wanting to help out fellow Aussies. Mate helping mate. (ABC News: http://bit.ly/ghs7yU )
Bring on the recovery plans, the economic downturn while we pick ourselves up.
We'll have bananas growing again soon and be ready to take on whatever else will be thrown at us. Just like The Goonies, we never say die.