Melboring 2015 Part 1

Posted: October 20, 2015 in Travel

Time to trek south once more to see a bit more of Victoria and catch up with family. If the zoo was open of course. Shortish flight so cattle class will do but don’t cry for me just yet as am approaching said plane from the Qantas Club. Slightly smaller plane – 737- so actually boards from both ends. Bit like me at an all u can eat buffet. This should work well you would think? You walk down the skywalk and big sign directs seats 15-29 to right and out to back of plane. 1-14 stay left. Go down and climb up stairs and find our twin aisle seats easy enough and the watch the morons struggle. You would think sitting in row 19 no one should be coming from front of plane and going to back seats eg 21. You would be wrong. And of course morons gather in groups so you have clowns that boarded from back walking up to row 7! The only other certainty in life is that when you think you have the knob kiss and no one is seated next to you as doors about to close the last heifer arrives ( from the front of course!) and needs you to get up so they can almost squeeze into their seats. In ROW 19!

Easy enough flight I guess and picked up at airport by John and Lorraine which was very helpful. Now when I went to school they had slates. That is not relevant here though but the maths I did is. 13 kgs is 13 kgs right? Both of our bags weighed about the same but somehow CLP slipped 16 house bricks in her bag while on the baggage carousel ! And no wheels! It was so heavy on one side I walked around in circles for 30 secs whenever I put it down until my body alignment adjusted. Anyhoo a little detour to see latest addition to family- Alice – and a lovely lunch with Nic , Paul and Hannah before heading off to our digs for first 3 days with JL in Macleod. Needless to say the drinking started early only to be interrupted by the eating. Daylight saving too of course but this little black duck wasn’t waiting for no sun to set over yardarm. Which is about 10 pm. Apparently.

On Sunday we took a drive to Yarra Valley to visit some wineries and also Healesville. Oak ridge and Chandon were first up and always great to travel with someone who knows about wine- and is also prepared to be designated driver ! Chandon was especially impressive as CLP loves her bubbles. Healesville is a bit like Montville meets Nimbin with many interesting shops and characters. Strangely they all come from the one family! Sadly we couldn’t make the markets 😦 More wine purchased and even some rather famous Gin it appears. Time for some sweets so what better place than the Chocolaterie near Yarra Glen. Ok, it was Sunday but the crowd was massive for a rather isolated place. What is the diabetic % in Victoria anyway ? Then onto Yerring station for final visit before the trip back home on what had been a glorious day. The wine travelled pretty well too but strangely did not last 24 hrs.

On our third day we travelled into CBD as some folk had to work. He He Ha Ha. Another glorious day so after a stroll through the streets we took a river cruise on the Yarra and had a very pleasant lunch at Ponyfish Island. Then back home for a bex and a lie down because rumour had it there may be drinking involved later that night. They were right.

Lovely few days with family and then on Tuesday it was time to hire a car and drive to Daylesford for a couple of days. This of course would involve driving through Melbourne. Yikes,stay tuned fans

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Grand Finale Indeed

Posted: October 4, 2015 in Sport

And so the Grand Final with no losers north of the border is cracked, boxed and buried. Being a Broncos fan naturally a bit disappointed but not distraught. Great to see JT get his moment in the sun at last but sport can be a cruel mistress. I do love me a sporting streak and now the Supercoach’s GF run has come to an end. Everyone spoke well last night and you can see the genuine respect they all have for each other. So what do we know now in the wash up

1. Jimmy Barnes live is not a good sound. Leave it to Mossy mate – as great as Cold Chisel are

2. Why didnt the sporting Gods let JT kick the winning goal at the end in what would have been the fitting end? Who can forget O’Connor’s goal line conversion in the SOO? Instead the field goal will be remembered more for Hunts drop rather than any brilliant execution . Bennett has come out saying he disagrees with Golden Point and always has to be fair. Yes it may sound like sour grapes but without elevating him any further part of his angst is probably for Ben Hunt. I do not agree the GF should be replayed – that is not really feasible in this day and age but would suggest a golden try ending would be more fitting for a GF , or SOO, when your whole season can come down to a field goal

3. Broncos defense was great but they shut down the game too early – like 20 minutes from end! Cowboys attack is their strength , not their defense which to be fair looked a tad susceptible out wide. No doubt they were coach instructions but they were wrong. Wasting a bit of time does not tax the Cowboys and constantly giving away field position too easily. Turn a 4 point lead into 8 or 10 and then u may slow things down. One out runs and kicks into touch just allow Cowboys to mount another raid and it dont matter how good your defense is, everyone eventually cracks against a side that is not tiring as not doing much defense work

4. JT was pretty quiet for first 60 mins but stepped up when needed and it is the little things he does that are amazing – the big one on one tackles, kick chase and of course kick return near own line. Morgan was always going to be a danger and proved the winner in the end. JT should be an immortal but then again so should Locky. The Cowboys kick offs were great all night and no surprise one would be spilt eventually

5. Speaking of immortals, Joey Johns is a prize goose. And a troubled one. I do fear waking one day to hear something bad has happened there with him. Great footy mind though

6. The crowd was great and hopefully puts paid to any nonsense talk about shifting the GF. Superb spectacle all round

7. Hodgo was all class last night, especially off the field, but suspect he was not 100 %. Hunt will be remembered for the dropped ball but really made two massive mistakes earlier that let Cowboys draw level. The spear tackle and then the dropped ball in the last few minutes were death blows . Realistically he did cost the Broncos the match but it was before the dropped ball in Golden time.

8. QLD could dominate SOO for another 10 yrs with players like Morgan and Milford to slip in down the track. DCE can stay in Manly thanks

9. Referees did a good job and they should not figure in any discussions this morning which can only be a good thing

10. Seeing the POMS kicked out of their own World Cup in rah rah land certainly outshines any mild disappointment one may have about the Broncs losing

Thursday Thoughties

Posted: September 30, 2015 in Midlife Crisis in Maryhole

Like a couple of Rabbitohs lining up at the Chemist I thought it would help us all to wait a couple of days for your weekly Fillet of Flash this week – which goes very nicely with a battered Sav I am reliably informed. Its an odd week of sport actually. First up while I would have liked Day to win Spieth is a worthy winner as well. Anyone who thinks Day choked has never played golf half way seriously at all. It is a frustrating and soul destroying game at times and while it was very slow to recognise women I am convinced they were involved in its creation at the start because their hands are all over it like white on rice. Spieth went walkabout a few weeks ago after looking unbeatable 2 months ago. The one golden rule he definitely displays is “drive for show, putt for dough” – or $10 million in this case. Then we get to the NRL . I would like Broncos to win as they are my team but there will be no wrist slashing if Cowboys do because JT deserves it as much as anyone I know. And of course once again we have to put up with the nonsense of “play the grand final in Brisbane”. Why ? Suncorp only sits 52,000 for starters. Its much more fun to go to Sydney and win – as long as someone stops the airlines from gouging Joe Average as per usual. The Dally Ms confirmed two certainties – JT is the best player in the game at present and Turnbull should stick to Polo and leave the blue collar games to anyone else. At least Keating never pretended to be a sports follower. I still occasionally watch the Today Show as Step 7 of my 12 Step plan for Rageaholics Annonymous but “Thank You Karl” even outdid himself this week by starting a movement to bring this Sundays game to Suncorp! Complete Tool

Hayne ran for 37 yds (not even metres!) and zippers bulged the world over. At least all of his years playing for Paramatta will hold him in good stead for a season that finishes early every year. The only match of any real importance in the must win caper this week is of course in Rah Rah land when we take on the Poms on the weekend. Win and kick them out of their own tournament would be tres sweet – and ensure Sammy is back in red and green next year.

TV wise Ray Donovan wrapped up its 3rd season and is currently the best drama on TV . Utopia on ABC continues to expertly portray some classic government office workplace scenarios while Gruen rounds out the best hour of local TV all week. 800 Words is simply Seachange in NZ with less likable characters but plenty of cliches. Scream Queens was a pleasant surprise and Quantico has a workable premise and narrative which does not necessarily guarantee success or even survival as it is still a bit sudsy. Trevor Noah has the toughest job on TV at present and while the show is still good with the help of correspondents I do feel that his guest interviewees interaction may be lacking. With all of the late night shows around these days I find best solution is subscribe to them on You Tube and then each morning can check out the best skits and interviews via ATV in less than 30 minutes! Across the ditch and the This is England TV spinoffs continue to decline with each subsequent series

Finally lets talk weather. Its been an interesting week to say the least. I have lived (at least my version of it) in Maryhole for 38 yrs and remember well years ago when we got our fair share of storms. Now storms can be nasty and destructive so missing 95% of them is not necessarily a bad thing but what has happened here in the last few years? No new mountain ranges et al I am aware of? It is like the Red Sea has relocated to Tiaro and everything parts there. Maybe there is a Black Knight of Bauple declaring “None shall Pass” . The last two days in particular have been tres confounding and it is like BOM suddenly runs out of blue ink when it approaches us. I have no issue with them predicting “possible storms” because they certainly do look likely at times but just once it would be nice if someone added the rider ” of course it will likely dissipate before getting to Maryhole despite any other obvious indications”. Can someone just explain why this happens all the time and trust me I will shut up about it. Its the biggest tease since Sharon Stone uncrossed her legs. Its only going to get worse of course when the summer heat starts rolling in next week or two. I hate hot weather – its my basic instinct

Tuesday Thoughties

Posted: September 21, 2015 in Midlife Crisis in Maryhole

So Summer is approaching and the days lengthen and warmthen. This we know because the neighbourhood dog and bird choir is in full swing by 530 am. Not a big issue for moi as always been an early riser. Sometimes even get out of bed. When I do time for a quick breakfast and then out to golf course for some bunkering et al. Given the short duration of said breakfast and preference for hands free news absorption one turns on the Today Show which sadly has started by 530 am. If I actually have to cook something this can extend to a 30 min chore which gives one the opportunity to observe what passes for 30 mins of “infotainment” these days. We have the news bulletin, ads, sports bulletin, ads, weather, front pages and then the cycle starts again at 6 am. In between there is usual some plug of other 9 shows, where they are travelling to next, and of course the standard “coming up” tease of something that could be slightly interesting but may not show until 8:59 am. Thankfully well and truly covered in sand by then

Speaking of pointless TV shows when one starts the day so early one finds oneself having a break mid to late morning and wanting to relax and not really concentrate on a serious show like Ray Donovan. Lo and behold it is the 2015 Emmys live from somewhere else. Tragically I had missed the red carpet interviews. There is no such thing as a good awards show but some are less tedious than others and really are just something to have on in the background while doing something more productive like clipping your toenails. Quality of course starts with the host and while I dont mind Brooklyn 99, Samberg is not my cup of tea and certainly not a substantial host. The tin of beans gag on the red carpet simply leaves one wondering how this even gets to air. Then we have the “stars” and the awkward presentation interactions. These shows , like many, appeal to that large, and sadly ever increasing, segment of the populace that even now have their own species identification. Dumbas Oxygenwastas hereafter known as DO to save time and energy for said toenails. This show was as predictable as airport workers going on strike during school holidays. Awards to shows spread like chickenpox so that once it is on, IT IS ON BABY. Olive Clitoris, VEEP,GOT……zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I love Bill Murray as much as the next guy but to get an Emmy for playing himself for 3 minutes is simply ridiculous. One imagines they think his passing is imminent. Hamm gets a deserved Emmy but for all the wrong seasons much like GOT which just had its weakest season really. Just when you think you understand that its makeup time Amy Poehler misses out as JLD wins again for doing the same thing 4 yrs in a row. At least Modern Family didnt win! There were two categories for reality shows – Structured and Unstructured?? Pandering to the DOs again. How about Crap and Utter Crap next time. The one that did stand out as odd though was the best writing award for GOT . Series based on popular books always attract your stranger group of rabid fans but even they would be surprised at that one. And of course who could have foreseen Viola Davis turning her speech into a Black Women Power theme. Of course things are different in 2015 then in 1955. Everyone knows that – except the Australian Liberal Party. Which leads nicely into….

The coup was a raging success. Turnbull has soared in the polls to dizzying heights unseen since that last popular PM. Now what was her name ? Oh thats right Julia Gillard. What could go wrong?? Lets just say dont get too comfy Talkbull. It is galling how the media, especially those with other agendas, pounce on this without the obvious rider statement. You are polling the same DOs that gave Scott Cam a Gold Logie remember. It is like the weather bureau who consistently say “chance of a shower or storm this afternoon for Maryborough” which of course is true in a way but doesnt tack on the historical fact that 99% of the time it doesnt happen. Scott Morrison is the interesting player in this and now maybe thinks he can do a Keating and ascend to the top via the Treasurer position. As even Lloyd Bentsen would say “Sir you are no Paul Keating”. The other laugh of course is that Hockey tells us the age of entitlement is over but he wants a plumb ambassador job in USA thanks muchly. Ya cant write this stuff. But if you could you just may win and Emmy. Stranger things have happened. As luck would have it the leadership meeting of the Liberal Caucus has leaked online and as a service to you same is provided below

Finally to sport. Can we please stop referring to them as “Hayne’s 49ers”. There is a $12 million a year QB sitting there crying and scratching his head wondering why they took SF out of the franchise name. Too many head knocks can do that to ya. Stop dumbing it down for the DOs. Anyone who doesnt know he plays for SF by now really are not interested. I was interested in his story and good luck to him but think reality is about to hit hard mostly because it aint a real strong team folks. And then we get to the feel good sports story of Jason Day. It is a fascinating time of year for your serious golf watcher as despite the obscene amount of money available at the end of the Fed Ex watching the players move up and down in standings and what it means for next week is tres fascinating. We are now down to the final 30 and the permutations and combinations are numerous. I think if Jason Day finishes 17th, Sangboon Bae comes 2nd, Jordan Spieth dies after 54 holes, and Tiger Woods doesnt make a golf headline all week then Day gets all the choccies. You know it is getting tight when on the 16th hole on the last day the caddie is sacked and a 13yr old Asian maths whizz is suddenly carrying the bag and a calculator.

Hayne for Deputy PM?

Posted: September 14, 2015 in Midlife Crisis in Maryhole

There are only two stories in the news today so why not mash them. Haynso was seen wearing a helmet so we assume he is playing in about 45 mins. Abbott should have worn a helmet but instead was knocked out of the ring. Welcome to Australia 2015 where we can kick out a PM while most of us are asleep and yet Karl still has a gig on the Today show?

I didnt think anything was going to knock Haynso off the lead news item today but I was wrong – briefly at least. By 11 am it was great to see the first 6 newsfeed items on Facebook were all about him actually starting in todays game. More than anything this should tell me to start unlikeing a few pages methinks but doubt I can avoid it anyway. Will I watch it ? Yeah, will start because afterall have to justify paying $60 a month for Foxtel just to watch PGA golf. Unless there is a wardrobe malfunction in the pregame show or Haynso scores a touchdown with his first touch doubt I can stay interested for the 8 hrs your average NFL game takes

As for the other news, it is a sad day in many ways. Not for that clown Abbott but rather for politics in this country where yet another PM is anointed by his party rather than the people . Did they not learn anything from the Ruddiard debacle? I iamgine Abbott was a good and decent man as they all are really but he never really connected with the people and won by default more than anything else. This of course is now the norm in Aussie politics – the incumbent loses rather than a shining beacon being swept into office. The interesting question of course is will Turnbull go the way of Downer and to a lesser extent Peacock and once elevated to the position suddenly start losing appeal ? One thing for sure is it is going to be one dull election next time around with Talkbull and Curly front and centre. Talk about last clown standing. Of course the one person forgotten in all this who just may have drowned in his porridge this morning is The Parrot aka Jonesy. Jonesy isnt into the funny business with sheilas but would gladly have adopted Abbott if he could have. The smart player in all this is likely Julie Bishop who may just come out relatively unscathed , if such a thing is possible. Turnbull loses the next election and then the Bishop/Morrison team rises to “unite the party in these difficult times” . Which means there will only be one song being sung in the Liberal caucus meetings in about 18 months time

Ice Scream is Just Desserts

Posted: September 2, 2015 in TV

In keeping with my dotage directed viewing habits it was interesting this week to finish two seasons – and most likely one series – for two shows based on popular movie franchises. We are referring to Hannibal Season 3 and Scream Season 1. Another spooky tie in of course was the passing earlier in the week of Wes Craven who just may be rolling over in said grave now although many folk seem satisfied with the TV treatment of his movie.(Yes he was a creator of series) Not me , but then never expected to be. What both shows demonstrate though is how much more enjoyable a good story is when condensed to 2hrs in a movie rather than 10 hrs or more. Naturally in the latter you get padding and both shows are guilty of this

Hannibal was initially a bold interpretation of what was a well known and critically acclaimed yarn. Mads was great of course but never took to Fancy Dancy and really if he and Claire of Homeland fame ever reproduce I hope the kids dont go into acting ever – tortured souls dullsville. The first season was very good – and very graphic. I believe Fuller originally had a 5 season plan and dont know if and when that plan changed but season 3 did end up a bit of a mess with a wonderful Italian travelogue for first half before the introduction of Big Red in the second half. In a similar vein of course SOTL was always the standout in that movie series. By this season it seemed at times that sensible plot had been cast aside as the graphic set designers engaged in communal circle jerk . Some stunning imagery indeed but really at the expense of an engaging and believable yarn for most part. Gillian drifted in and out in a rather bizarre relationship even for this show – her final post credit scene was suitably teasing and not just for letting the puppies roam more freely. Eddie Izzard was sadly underused. I cant be bothered tracking down the timeline for when the cancellation was known but suffice to say it was very good and clever ending. Overall the seasons waned over time but it was certainly a worthwhile, if somewhat ambitious, endeavour. 6/10

Scream was a classic movie for its genre which sadly led to many inferior sequels but at least some good spoofs. It was of course part parody itself with constant references to what happens in slasher movies. The TV series has at least one character carry on this same parody which works well but the real problem is stretching a 90 minute yarn into 7 hours. Characters you simply dont care about are introduced and the whole back story of Brandon James doesnt really work. And you dont have any stand out scenes like u did in the movie with Drew Barrymore. Being MTV you also get plugs for music being played – which of course some may appreciate. It may have worked better if watched in quick succession over a couple of days – but doubt it. It would have appeared better methinks if not for the original movie. There will always be a market for this stuff and no doubt some already have the Season 2 premiere date inked in on their calendar. This little black duck will give it a miss 5/10

Tuesday Thoughties

Posted: August 25, 2015 in Midlife Crisis in Maryhole

So Pup has finally left the kennel and the mongrel took winter with him! Suddenly our batsmen understood how to leave a ball outside off. Pup needed 220 runs to average 50 in test cricket and be considered a great but fell a tantalising 205 short to now be considered a “former captain and current Channel 9 commentator” in all future introductions. Siddle showed how to bowl with line and length and many may say where was he last test match? Dont matter mate when you get bowled out for 106 in the first innings! Before too long this series will simply be remembered as stated in the record books – a 3-2 loss on foreign soil. Jolly good effort chappies – here are some more bags of money for you. Sandwiched between a towelling in the West Indies and a flogging in Bangladesh, many test records will hardly be affected and the major problems apparent to blind Freddy will once again go unanswered. Why did England perform so badly? They are professional sportsmen simple as that – their minds and motivation work differently to normal folk

For more on this fascinating sub species lets move to NRL. As certain as a win in dead rubber in Test cricket was so is a cellar dweller beating a top contender when their season is over. These people are not the sharpest tools in the box and seem motivated by things that seem less important to us – than winning the premiership for example! These buffoons run around all year with no clear form guide but given a chance of picking up the wooden spoon, suddenly become world beaters. Manly were already thinking of next week when got cleaned up by Parra but Melbourne last night was simply inexcusable and Bellyache agreed. Broncs couldnt beat a depleted Roosters side which pretty well sums them up – close to the top but not quite there. Sticking with Roosters/Cowboys GF with Bulldogs the smokies. Of course it is hard to get much local NRL news these days with Boy Wonder Hayne catching a ball and running 20 yds in USA. Dont get me wrong, he looks good and should make the squad but with NRL almost over can we send Rabs over to commentate purleese. If I hear one more vegemite or kangaroo quip I will be physically ill – and not just from too much vegemite or Roo meat. If nothing else I will at least watch some more NFL this year it seems but has always been a very slow and complex game for moi.

Some media gooses seem shocked that Sydney and Melbourne have such a high numbers of clowns using the Ashley Maddison Stray Shaggers Site. In particular they refer to a “racy” city like Rio only coming (no pun intended) in 11th. Does this mean that Sydney is more racy than Rio? Of course not, I doubt Rio even has the internet. I think it says in general the folk in these Aussie cities are arrogant, lazy fools. No need to put in any effort to stray when I can just sign up with this app on my work provided phone. Mathematicians have looked at the sums and reckons that it implies that 15% of the active working male population in Melbourne has a profile. Luckily I was never an active worker. If 95% of subscribers are male does that mean that the 5% sheilas are very, very busy or that as usual about 90% of men are missing out ? Sao Paulo actually tops the list apparently – guess playing wet the biscuit there is still popular.

Who invented the term the “pub test” and can he or she please be shot immediately. The term itself is harmless enough but does grate when you hear someone like The Parrot or Karl Stuffanosepick use it regularly and that queasy vegemite feeling comes back. Could not imagine the last time those clowns were in a pub but glad I wasnt there as well. At least Jones has moved on from “struggle street”. Mind you if this current financial crisis deepens much more we may all be walking down Struggle street soon looking for a pub – and some cheap Chinese takeaway. Interesting to see how Tony et al deal with it

Dawn breaks on a New Day

Posted: August 17, 2015 in Sport

The Masters of Merriment – Roy and HG – dubbed Ian Baker Finch The Dark Shark in that wonderful Aussie way of mixing praise and derision in equal measure. The original GWS aka Greg Norman is likely the most famous, if not necessarily most accomplished, Aussie golfer of all time. Certainly the most talented and what he did, or didnt do, with that talent is the source for most ridicule. He also was a massive influence on the generation of Aussie golfers to follow especially Adam Scott. Much like how the WAGS lost us The Ashes it is clear that Mrs Scott and Scott Junior have similarly killed of Scotty’s career. God knows what he will do when he has to ditch the broomstick – or at least give it back to his wife 🙂 Having just spent a lovely weekend with the Flashman Five I do understand how younguns can distract one. They say any good golfer can win a Major but you have to be better than good to be a multiple winner. Of course the one tag you dont want is “best golfer to never win a Major” and this rotates around the usual suspects year after year. I do prefer the “How the hell did he ever win a Major” personally but the original is more fun. So every new Aussie star on the horizon is inevitably compared to GWS but no one has risen to his stature in the game. If you were to construct the supreme golfer of the Aussie variety you would take the course management of Peter Thomsen, driving of GWS, iron play of Scotty and putting stroke of IBF. This was of course when these players had their A Game and before IBF went wandering off into the bunda every second shot. Then Jason Day emerged and lo and behold if he doesnt just about match all those categories himself with the possible exception of course management which he may still learn one hopes. He is amazeballs long of the tee, high straight iron shots, great bunker play and a supreme putter. The last one cannot be underestimated – just ask Scotty and Sharkie!

His record in Majors before today is also rather amazing with a string of close finishes and 9 previous Top 10s. Of course when the “close finishes” start to pile up then the dreaded word “choker” will appear rather than “damn he is consistently good”. He had a handy, but not winning” lead before last round today of 2015 PGA at Whistling Straits GC on Lake Michigan – a stunning course to say the least. Of most concern was his nearest follower was the always dangerous Jordan Spieth who already had two Major wins this year. The turning point was probably the 9th when after a massive drive he hit a 100 yd shot 50 yds inexplicably. However he then proceeded to get up and down while Spieth bogeyed giving a handy lead for the back nine. So, he has finally reached the pinnacle his talent richly deserves and one can only hope from this lofty height his Vertigo does not kick in again! At 27 yrs of age he now has the chance to ice the cake and join the McIlroys and Spieths of the world rather than the one hit wonders like YE Yang! With his distance of the tee combined with that putting stroke the sky may well be the limit. He will never have the charisma of Sharkie but then he will likely only have one wife too eh. Speaking of which WTF was that Evert scene in the movie Trainwreck – talk about following the title to the letter!

In other sporting news I only have one question. Why has no one thought of putting our netballers in the Line Outs against the All Blacks. They are tall, can jump, and know how to beat kiwis! Broncs look good, Hayne going well, Kyrgios is an assclown – yep not a lot else changed

Having spent a lovely couple of days with Flashman Five I have nothing to moan about on this Monday but…….. been a bit of bad press lately for Uber and I have never used them so dont know the deal but I did use a Taxi on Saturday night in Brisvegas. Celebrating with CLP in Riverside and then caught a taxi home to Windsor. This is not far – as in barely got the seat belt done up when he had his hand out. Given there is almost $5 on the meter even when u open the door at a rank it soon adds up but really $21 for that distance! We really get ripped off here in Aussie land and that is why companies like Uber spring up , good or bad.

But lets not worry about these things now when there are so many pleasant memories from the weekend

Jess1

So, a couple of shows have had their season finales so lets run the sliderule over the current state of play

True Detective 2

Help. Now in my advanced years I have taken to saving up slightly convoluted shows for a binge watch at season’s end so that my unicellular brain can cope. To say that TD 2 is slightly convoluted is like saying Pup slightly divided the average Aussie cricket fan. I watched the first 7 episodes in quick succession prior to yesterdays finale and didnt mind it too much but really was looking through some rosy glasses methinks. On reflection and after watching the finale it was a muddled mess of misery. Rolling Stone summed it up best for me. Ben Caspere, the murdered man at the heart of True Detective’s second season, got his eyes burned out with acid. To many viewers who stayed with the series to the end, he got off easy.. I was never as enamoured with season 1 as many and still think MM is vastly overrated as an actor and they would be hard pressed to match his woodeness in season 2. How wrong could I be. VV is ok and wasnt given much to work with while Col’n just mopes around mostly and McAdams gets down and dirty but mostly just dull. After FNL I thought Riggins would be the next big thing but whether it is poor choices or a charisma bypass he has been hopeless. However they all get Oscars compared to Reilly as VV’s current squeeze. She had to be taking the piss surely? As with the first season the highlight really is the opening montage and haunting theme.

Halt and Catch Fire 2

Now this is a good show as it chronicles development of the computer and technology through the 80’s. When it stays on track and stays away from the suds it is a great story and one certainly hopes there is a season 3 in the pipeline. The addition of Cromwell only helped an already strong cast. Cameron is Some Kind of Wonderful although not Mary Stuart Masterson somehow ? Until we know its fate will work my way through Mr Robot which is very modern day IT caper but looks good.

It was a sad week in a way with the end of Daily Show of the Jon Stewart variety. Devoted fans would know I was lucky enough to see his show for my birthday this year (as in be in actual audience, not just download and watch with a bowl of popcorn!). It leaves a gap in my satirical look at US politics which never fails to intrigue. Oliver is great but different and will be a different Colbert that returns, although undoubtedly entertaining. Noah may be good but much like Charlie Pickering V Mad as Hell it wont be the same but hopefully not as bigger a gap. Oliver invariably has at least one memorable segment per show but hard to beat this last effort – epsecially if you watched the whole show and saw the earlier bowling ad with Mike

There have been some new kids on the block – Brink has its moments but uneven while Ballers is poor despite the charm of The Rock. Second season of Murder in the First has been weak only saved by the nostalgia stirring views of San Francisco in the background. Really, every cop show in the world should be shot in SF. Or London…. There is though a more important show restarted last week for this old nostalgic fart. In the week that George Cole passed the final season of New Tricks starts and Terry finally exits with a two parter at start of Season 12. Long past the glory days of Arfur and Terry maybe but that is a bit spooky dont you think ? So lets end with one of the most iconic openings this little black duck remembers with much fondness. They dont make them like that anymore. Instead we get an hour long show with videos of cats being stupid ie being a cat.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Posted: August 8, 2015 in Sport

And can he take his bitch Warnie with him please!

So the greatest certainty since Sticky the Stick Inset got Stuck on a Sticky Bun is finally over. Now Puppy may not know his way around a batting crease but he does with a media circus. He fell on his own sword…….. and still only nicked it!! My practicing religion is Cynicism so lets look at the timing of his departure. The final 3 dayer will now be his last test match and that will be all that matters. There will be more praise flowing than a margarine convention on a hot day because while we love to cut down tall poppies we still love to throw a bit more fertiliser on their dying roots. Only one real question remains – can he score more runs in his final dig than the similar cement boot clad Punter did? (Memo to selectors no more nicknames starting with “P” for Aussie test captains please). His form this series has been bad but really for the last couple of years it has been up and down like a Nun in a cucumber patch (thanks Dabear!) and there could be a tinge of sadness that a once dominant batsmen ends up on the wrong side of 50, test batting average wise. That is one of those magical numbers that defines true greatness. Its not all doom and gloom of course because clearly the only reason that the Poms won this series was because of the Aussie coach they have! Which brings us to the burning question – can someone please detail what the KSCs are for the job of Aussie batting coach. Di Venuto?? Sounds like an italian ice cream that melts on exposure to air. Its like having Tony Abbott as Minister for Womens Affairs. Ha Ha , good one eh. What??? You have to be joking…. Lordy Lordy, take me now. Under all this jocularity though is a serious question facing the game’s administrators. How do you pay Watto 4 million a year to stand in dressing rooms shirtless when you are only getting 3 days of gate takings! A standard ticket for the Edgbaston test match was 90 quid which I think is $3,275 AU. It will always be the mugs that get slugged

Then of course there was the match last night that the whole of Australia sits on the edge of their seats for. It doesnt happen often and usually there is a clear favorite with a distinctive coloured jersey. It wasnt a great match but by the end of it there was a surprise winner! Yes  Parramatta beat the Panthers. Elsewhere in the city some wallabies beat some team from across the ditch with a patchy record at best. The Bledisloe cup is odd to say the least – how can you have a best of two series?? Once u win the thing its very hard to lose so when we travel to Land of Long White Cloud to play reverse “Game played in Heaven with Rules designed in Hell”, the kiwis will win and another year passes of what ifs and coulda beens. But back to the real game of footy aka NRL. Its a year when only a sheila could win the local tipping contest because form means nothing. Get the darts out or go for the old favourite theme of big animal always beats little animal. You know, Panther V Eel, Bronco V Bulldog……. hmm ok I give up.

Speaking of sheilas at least they know how to win. Forget cricket, how about those Netballers! And lets be honest they are our only hope in the dive in and dont sink caper in the wet stuff come Olympics and World Champs. And of course Tomic is clearly our best tennis player. Everywhere you look the girls are our only hope. Lets face it if one of them hadnt slipped a roofy into an apple all those years ago where would we be? And all from one rib. Imagine if he had used a femur ?

Apart from Adam falling over at regular intervals the world would be a different place eh.