Who Dunnit

Fri 6th

The ice breaker started at 7 but I didn't have time to get changed after the pool game, so went, as I was. There was a Murder mystery dinner afterwards and many of the people were already in costume. It was good to meet old friends and to get to know others -  both complete strangers and those who previously had just been names on emails.

I headed to my room about 8 to get changed. My character was Bessie Smith a black Jazz singer known as the "empress of the blues".

All the characters were from the 1920s, so we had various actors, writers and poets from that era. The plot was that H G Wells had invited us to a soiree and transported us to modern times in his time machine and was then murdered. I won't say who the murderer was in case you get to go to a similar event.

It was a pleasant evening with great food and was held in the library.

After it finished, a group of us finished up in Steve's suite until about 2am.

What, this old place?

Fri 6th

The Mensa conference was held at the Carrington Hotel In Katoomba. This is a colonial style hotel that was re-furbished and modernised so most rooms have en-suites.

The outside is very grand and the inside is all wood, high ceilings, stained glass and antiques. 



The stairway is directly down from the entrance with a bar to the left and the dining room behind it.

I was on the first floor which had its own lounge and further seating in the passage way between the 2 wings.

I was in a Colonial room which had an ensuite. It too was stocked with antiques.

There were no organised events until Friday evening although Adcom had their meeting during the day. The 4 Adcom members were the only other people, other than Mal and I who were there Thursday night, although people turrned up during the day on Friday.

Fortunately the hotel had wireless internet, which we all had for free. I spent dome time using it and reading in the morning and about 1 headed for lunch joining a group at the nearby Brasserie. THis was originally a bank and like the hotel itself has that old world charm.

The weather was not good so we spent most of the afternoon playing snooker and pool. The snooker table was full sized so games took about an hour.

Road trips

Thu 5th

Yesterday was as uneventful as most of the last week or so - a visit to the library to check emails, etc. I took the gopher again and made a movie of the drive through the village on the way home.

I tried to load it but it failed. Will wait till I get home to try again.

Fri 6th

Time to move again. We left Goolwa about 9. I was hoping to stop at a Dymocks on the way to the airport and pick up a copy of the latest Robert Jordan book which was released on 27th (ie after I'd left Adelaide) but both the shops that were on the way were out of stock.

Consequently we arrived at the airport a bit earlier than planned so I had 2 hours before my flight, which I spent in the Qantas club. I printed off some maps of the route from the airport to Katoomba and located the Dymocks stores on the way.

The flight was uneventful and for the first time in the last month or so I had an empty seat next to me. It was a bit under 2 hours so there was no movie. I read the paper, did the crosswords and that just about filled in the time. We did get a light lunch on this flight.

I had an hour to wait for Malcolm who was flying from Perth on Virgin. He was renting a car so I was getting a ride with him. By then I had my case so had to drag that with me and eventually sat in the coffee shop area in the Virgin terminal and read till. he arrived. We left close to 4-30 and by then the traffic was building up. We stopped at Parramatta for a loo break and picked up some kebabs. These were additional benefits, since the initial reason was to visit the Dymocks there who did have the book. I will now have something to read going home as I'll probably finish the current book I'm reading before then.

Because of the stop and the traffic it was after 7-30 before we reached the hotel and Mal's GPS had us at the back where there were no entrances so we spend some time in the alleys ways behind it before we got to the main road and could drive in. It was raining and foggy and getting dark so we had no views on the way up.

I walked to the Coles about 1 km away to pick up some mixers and nibbles. It was sprinkling and misty so I got a bit damp but not wet. Then I joined Deidree and Peter in their room for a drink. Mal had gone to the Wine shop across the road and returned with 2 bottles of red and needed a corkscrew to open them,but we didn't have one. Peter pushed the cork in with a peg so they could have some wine and I had my whisky. By this time my knee was really aching, not helped by the walk.

Time flies

Tue 3

Only 2 more days till I head off again. The last week or so has been quite a lazy time. I have come here to the library most days to get internet access and check my emails. A lot of the rest of the time I have been reading, watching DVDs etc or just having naps. The photo on the right is with Mum and Dad on their decking.

I have fixed up a number of problems for various clients and done some minor enhancements but generally not done a lot of work. I have looked up tours, cruises and maps for Mum and Dad who are going on a Cruise from Sydney to Melbourne and Tasmania in December. Their are a number of trips available through the shipping company but generally these can be up to double the cost of a similar tour you organise yourself.

My knee is still quite sore although I can move around reasonably well. It tends to be painful when I get into bed and is very painful if I knock it or over-bend it.

I have used Mum and Dad's gopher a couple of times to come to the library when they aren't heading out anyway to bring me in the car. THis travels about 10km so is not very fast but quicker and easier than walking.


I watched Dad at his bowls on Saturday but When we went to see Mum on Thursday she had dropped put of her game due to being overheated. It was over 30 that day and as skipper she spends nearly all the time in the sun.

Mum and I had a drive to Hindmarsh Island for a view of the Murray mouth one day.

Today Frank and Betty visited from Adelaide. Frank is Mike and Richard's cousin on their mother's side so not a blood relation to me. However, I tutored their son in Maths while I was at Uni, so we were quite close. (The son has now turned 50 himself.) I hadn't seen them, like my cousins, since my great aunt's funeral in 2002.

Cousins

Mon 26th

Today we had a visit from 2 of my cousins. Richard is about 5 years younger than me and lives in Adelaide but Michael is around the same age as me and lives in Canberra. He also left school 40 years ago so it is no surprise that his school had a reunion but it was a good co-incidence that it was the same weekend as mine. He is here for 4 days only. I don't think I've seen Mike since Aunt's funeral in 2002.

They arrived around 12 and we had a good long chat all afternoon, with a BBQ lunch around 1. He had a similar experience at his re-union which was also the first one he's been to. Recognising some people almost instantly but others hardly at all. We also caught up on family and reminisced about things, as you do.

The vets hockey next year will be in Canberra, so assuming my knee recovers and I'm still playing I may see him sooner than in another 7 years. Their elder brother is also in Canberra now as are friends of mine from Uni days.

A Lazy Sunday

Sun 25th

This morning the retirement village where my parents live held a brunch for everybody in the centre. It was to support breast cancer. We were (as usual apparently) late but not the last to arrive. However this meant that we could not all sit together since there were only 1 and 2 seats left at the tables. One party had pushed 2 tables together so they could all sit together but this effectively removed 4 places where the 2 joined. The organiser said that they had set up 5 extra places and couldn't figure out why there weren't more spare seats. I didn't bother to point out the obvious 4 chairs. The food was served from a Bay Marie and was the usual cooked breakfast fare - scrambled eggs , bacon, sausages, hash browns etc. Quite nice but more than I'd normally have for breakfast. Mum and I sat together and chatted with the others on the table, they had some raffles and so forth. A pleasant enough way to spend a Sunday morning.

Afterwards we went home. I photographed the crossword from the Sunday paper and did it on the PC so Mum could do the one in the paper, which she didn't do in the end. I then lay on my bed and read a bit before falling asleep. Dad fell asleep in the lounge chair. Eventually I forced myself to get up and Mum and I went for a drive along the coast. We stopped at Port Elliot at the bakery and had a pie for afternoon tea which we ate at the look out on the point. It was very windy and although there was a lot of surf it was quite choppy. Further along we had seen kite surfers and surfers out for a ride. I think the former were having more success than the latter. When we got back to Goolwa we drove to the bridge that connects to Hindmarsh Island. This was the site of the famous "women's business" case many years ago where some protest groups claimed the island was sacred to the aborigines. This turned out not to be true but held up the development for years. They have apparently been pumping water into the Goolwa straight, which is the stretch of water that runs past the town and it was as high as its been since they moved here. There seems to be quite a bit of water around with the run off lakes near the bowling club also full. They still have water restriction here though.

We looked at my photos from the last US trip before dinner and then watched TV again. I feel asleep during the second of the 2 CSI Miami episodes and of course by the time I got up and got ready for bed was wide awake again. I finished of some of the other Sunday paper puzzles and read my book before finally getting to sleep.

Long time no see

Fri 23rd

I'm travelling again, this time to Adelaide.

My knee operation was Monday last week and yesterday I had a follow up with the nurse at the surgeons offices. I had taken of the bandages last Saturday to see a couple of fiximul strips covering the wounds from the arthroscope entry. These were a bit loose so I replaced them. I have only 2 very small scars but the knee is still quite swollen. I was told that this and the pain I'm still experiencing was normal and would get better over the next few weeks.

I tried to check my seat allocation on Thursday night and realised that my flight was with Jetstar rather than Qantas. I was a bit annoyed since I was using my FF points so I didn't "save" anything but flying the budget airline but still had the inconveniences such as having to pay for everything - food, drink and entertainment - that you want. My gold card at least got me passed the issue of excess weight without needing any discussion and I did have a big breakfast and a few juices at the Qantas lounge, as well as picking up so reading matter and crosswords for the flight. The plane was pretty close to full. I managed to sleep on and off and entertain myself with the newspapers and magazines and listen to the audio using a converter from one of my US domestic flights so I could plug my computer headphones in.

The flight was on time and since I was right near the back of the plane by the time I got to the luggage area, my case was already out. I took a taxi to the hotel. My room was reasonably roomy and on the ground floor so I didn't need to drag it upstairs. Once I'd settled in I walked up Gouger street to the markets. It was too late for lunch, due to the time difference and daylighhts savings and I was going out for dinner so didn't want a big meal anyway. I revisited a market day tradition from my Uni days by getting a packet of hot nuts and some Kabana. Quite tasty but you don't want to breathy on anyone till you've cleaned your teeth. I picked up some drinks at the super market and headed back to my room. I had thought of taking the tour of the old school at 6 but realised I didn't have enough time to cdhange and get out there, so I rang and confirm the dinner time and location.

I got a taxi and it was quite a sort trip from the city to the show grounds. These have changed a lot since I was last there, and I can't even remember when that was but probably well over 40 years ago.

The dinner was a 40 year school reunion and there were about 40-50 people there including some teachers, all of whom had retired. I haven't got to any of the otehr reunions, since living in Perth makes it a big issue to get there, but the timing of this one was good enough to co0mbine with the Mensa conference and have a wekk or so with my parents in between.

It was a pleasant evening, seeing people and trying to work out who they were. Some were obvious and others I suspect I didn't actually know at school anyway. IN between there was those that I sort of knew but had to look at the name tags to identify. Of course they probably would have had even a harder time remembering me. I got a lift back to the hotel with the one guy who I have kept in contact since school since we were in the same crowd at uni but it would have probably been 20 years since I saw him. All in all, everyone was friendly, even those that I probably didn't get on with that well at school. Time heals all wounds or perhaps just makes things seem irrelevant.

Sat 24th

I slept in past 9, which is of course not even 7am in Perth time. Theoretically check out was 10 so I didn't have time to do much otehr than shower and repack. I had some sakes with me for a liquid breakfast and was down at reception not that much after 10. Mum and Dad drove up from Gollwa and we were on our way before 11. I had checked for a particular chmist shop and found one on the road we were taking so I picked up some more shakes. I later found there was a baranch in the shopping centre near Mum's anyway so it wasn't really necessary.

We stopped at McLarenvale for lunch at a cafe and then dropped Dad at bowling in Willunga before heading home. This was followed by a quick shop at Woolies.

I then set up my laptop to display on the TV. I had forgotten that they had upgrade to an LCD but since they had I could plug into it. I set up to watch the video of the finals from Hobart, which jumped around all over the place. THis happened when I was previewing it in Hobart before we left. Some time later I had a sudden revelation and sure enough the shuffle setting was turned on. Duh!

We also looked at some of the photos from Hobart. Dad got home about 6. He'd last his match but had won a meat tray in the raffle.

Since then we've had a quiet dinner and watched a bit of TV. BY the end of the night we'd all dropped off to sleep at some stage.

I called the twins to wish them Happy Birthday.

Bronzed (West) Aussies

Sat 10

We play our final game today against Queensland for 3rd and 4th positions. In the equivalent game last year they beat us knocking us back from 3rd after the round robin to 4th.

The game was at 8am, so it was an early start and it was still very cold when we arrived. Although we had most of the play in the first half we weren't as sharp as yesterday and there were no scores in the first half, although we did have 1 corner. My knee was a bit swollen so I was a bit less able to run than yesterday but I played most of the half.

We picked up in the second half and scored off 2 corners in the first 10 minutes. Karen deflected the first on it off the right post and then I did the same off the left.  Susie scored our 3rd later off a long corner, again with a deflection near the post and Qld got a consolation goal right at the end, also off a corner.

WA has a tradition of having the "virgins" were one of a number of similar frocks at least once on their first tour. These were originally made nearly 20 years ago and worn to dinner. We finally got hold of a few for our new girls. The sizes are somewhat restricted and Jacquie, who is under 5ft fairly swam in hers.

We watched some of the following games before heading back to the apartments around 11. By this time it had warmed up and with the sun shining and no wind has turned into a glorious spring day. The river was like a millpond and I was able to get some shots of the river as we drove home.

A truck will be loading our luggage around 1-30 so we have spent the intervening time packing. Of course we still need our clothes for the dinner tonight, PJs and tracksuits for the flight home tomorrow. However, with a 4-30 ETA at the airport we need to load as much as possible this afternoon.

We got together around 4 and were all given bows for our hair. Karen made these for us and then spend hours while we were there adding the pinkl ribbon for breast cancer to them, since this was the theme for the dinner.

There were some more awards and trophies presents as well as gived for the coach and manager.

We then headed to our rooms to get ready for the Windup dinner. I had bought some boots but decided flats were the order of the day.

The dinner was at Wrest Point and in contrast to too many of these affairs there was plenty of food and it was very good. It was served as a buffet and again there were multiple tables so the wait was relatively short. There was a live band who played some 70s and 80s songs for a while and announcements including the Australian teams. This year I was neither surprised not disappointed. Well I was disappointed, but with my injuries rather than the selection. There were 3 girls from our team in the Australian 55s as well as one from the 50s who will be old enough next year.

There was a very funny skit from the Tasmanians who  bared their bums and  painted faces on them. They danced about, while Mabo no 5 played and others put their hands through the curtain and played instruments, "ate' chips and even blew up balloons. It had the whole room laughing.

The band came on for more dancing but I was quite uncomfortable with my knee and other soreness so didn't participate. I was more than happy to head home early, especially since we had to get up around 3am.

Sun 11th

Sure enough, we got up at 3am, after less than 4 hours sleep and dragged ourselves to the car park, after packing our overnight things and cleaning out the rooms. We were at the airport around 4-30 for the 6am flight. It was only 55 minutes to Melbourne and I slept a lot of the flight.

In Melbourne, Lidia and I took our roomies to the lounge where we sat in comfort, read the paper and had juice or coffee.

It was just over and hour and we were boarding again. The plane was a wide bodied with 8 across in economy and was nearly full. We left about 30 minutes late due to loading and then a technical problem. Again I slept a lot despite a film being shown, although I did have breakfast.

I was picked up at the airport by John, who with Pat has been feeding my cat and collecting mail while I've been away. Another couple of hours sleep were the next order of the day, before I visited pat and John with some small gifts I'd bought in the market.

Mon 12th

Woke early today - still on Tassie time which is 3 hours ahead due to daylight saving there. I did some crosswords from yesterday's paper and got up around 7-30 to have a light breakfast. No more food or drink till after my operation which is after 1-30 today. I'm have a knee debridement, which will remove the torn cartilage and trim up the edges. Hopefully this will not only fix my knee but allow the other strains and tears to heal, once my walking is back to normal afterwards. This blog will resume in a week or so and cover my trip to Adelaide and the Blue Mountains near Sydney at the end of the month.

Some goals at last

Fri 9

We played South Australia today, with the loser being relegated to last and the winner playing (as it turned out) Queensland for 3rd place tomorrow.

The most dangerous play for SA is their centre half so Legs was assigned to mark her out of the game and we played a new system with 2 centre halves ourselves. It worked very well. Their player was shut down and we seem to have a lot of space to move the ball about. Everybody played well today and I was pleased with my own game.

Our first goal came from a bit of a mess up on the first short corner as often happens this can upset the defence more than the attack and when the ball was pushed back into the circle I was on the spot where I had a swing an a miss. The ball rolled onto the left post where Legs put it in. The goalie by this time was on the ground to block my non existent shot.

I scored also in the first half when a ball looped up from a defenders stick and was going across the face of goal. I knocked it down from about waist height and across the line. I had a good long run down the right and into the circle where I put it back on the defenders feet for a short.

In the second half. I had a couple of full-blooded shots at goal, which missed, before finally scoring again of a short corner. This time I put the ball in play with a drag and was waiting on the post for a pass and a shot into the far corner. We didn't core again but had a number of chances and kept the pressure on the goalie. The win puts us into the play off for 3rd tomorrow at 8. Considering I have the torn cartilage in my left knee and a torn right hamstring I thought I did pretty well.

I did get a message from the surgery confirming the op on Monday. I don't have to be there till 1-30 and can have an early breakfast but must fast from 8am.

We watched the 35s game before heading for the pool again. I'd forgotten to put in my tracksuit pants and had to go inside to warm up. It was only 10 degrees outside in the stands.

A number of our group watched the 50s play but I stayed in and caught up with some reports for the hockey and solved a few work problems. Our dinner was at the Telegraph Hotel again with the 50s team. Some one had booked which was good because it got quite busy.

On the way back we took some pics of the fairy lights in the trees along Salamanca with this being the best of them.

Our team meeting was tonight since we play at 8 tomorrow. Karen has been sewing everyday since we got here adding the breast cancer ribbons to the bows she made earlier for us to wear to the windup dinner.

A surprise appearance

Thu 8th

I went for a walk this morning to both fulfil the exercise recommendation from the physio and to get my buddy photo printed. When I went outside I could see the snow on Mount Wellington. I walked from the apartments past the parliament to Murray St in the central area. The first photo place advertised 30minute processing but said it could be 40 minutes because they had a big job on. I got it organised and then was told it would be over an hour, so I wouldn't have time to wait and get back for the meeting. A bit down the road there was another printing place who did them in 10 minutes at half the price.

We got to the ground and found they had changed the fixtures. we were expecting 3rd v 4th match against Qld and instead found we have a 2nd v 3rd against NSW. I'd had a little jog in the car park while we were waiting to load the cars and once at the ground I did some more jogging and realised I was able to do it. I didn't start but after 20 minutes I said to the coach, there's no point saving me for Saturday's gold medal match if we don't get in and went on. I played the rest of the game without any real problems although I couldn't run as fast as I would have without the injury. Unfortunately we weren't up to it today and got beaten by a better team. We play SA tomorrow and the loser effectively finishes 5th. If we win we play again on Saturday for the bronze.

We went for a swim again, or actually a walk in the swimming pool to ease our muscles. This was followed by another physio appointment, with more ultrasound and acupuncture. The physio was an Olympic canoeist.

Tonight was the 55 get together with teams from all states gathering for a meal at the Italian restaurant across the road from our apartments. Last year we had a breakfast and generally sat in mixed tables. However tonight we tended to sit in our teams but then socialised afterwards. It wasn't a late night and we were back home by 9.

The gang's all here

Wed 7th

Marg had been arranging for us all to have a massage which was generously paid for by Lidia. She changed my session to a physio visit and I went at 11-30. He diagnosed it as a level 1 (lowest) tear and gave me some ultra sound and acupuncture and suggested I might be able to play by Friday. I had some stretches to do and needed to do some walking. I went to the team meeting without changing to playing strip and was told to do so anyway. I wasn't really up to playing but at least it kept the opponents from realising I wasn't playing. We played SA who had lost all 3 games to date. Their goalie, Maxine, is very good and play with me in NZ last year so we knew it would be hard to beat her. WE had nearly all the attack and unfortunately we didn't score although how one shot missed is anybody's guess. It may have hit the crossbar.

A nil all draw was a bit of an anticlimax but we finished 3rd and would have needed a 5-0 or better win to get to second.

All the teams from WA got together for dinner at the grounds. First of all we had a photo taken of the entire contingent. Talk about herding cats!, Still eventually enough of the bossy boots started doing what other people told them to and it was finished.

Dinner was a disappointment. The steak and salad we were expecting turned out to be hamburger patties (looked like they came out of a packet) and sausages. There we only 3 platters of salad for 100 people.

Still, the skits were fun and we had a good time. I finally got a photo of all 6 of our group of buddies to go in the photo frames I bought for them.

We are the 55’s in the Veterans Hockey Team Come on ladies, you can hear us scream Usually we draw, occasionally we win, We’re here to tell you of the year we bought the trophy in

Fourteen little ladies playing for the team, We fell for the 60’s coach, he was just a dream. The things that we got up to, when the lights went down. But Lyn caught us in the act and ran us out of town.

Eleven little ladies playing for the team. There was a Tech Directive and it was really mean It said we couldn’t wear our skins but didn’t tell us why. Hamstrings pinging left and right – another three, bye bye

Eight little ladies playing for the team, We were training well, rough and tough and mean. We were so busy training, we didn’t plan enough Forgot to take our pills, and landed up the duff.

Six little ladies playing for the team, We went to the doctor feeling pretty green, He told us “You’re hockey days are nearly through, You’re over 55 now, and menopausal too.

Four little ladies playing for the team. We were more nervous than we’d ever been. So we started drinking to set ourselves at ease. Had to give the game away – we’ve got the D.T’s

Now there’s just the two of us playing by ourself, But we brought the trophy home and put it on the shelf. We tried to bribe the umpires by offering them some sex But in the end it was easier just to buy them specs

We are the 55’s in the Veterans Hockey Team We know that we are better than we sometimes seem We knew that we could do it, in spite of all our sin. And that was how we brought the trophy in

When we got home we sat down and had some cheese, dips and crackers because we were all still hungry.

There's no business like Snow business

Tue 6th

A lot of ups and downs today starting with high altitude and low visibility and ending with a team high and a personal low.

We started with another guided imagery session with Lidia around 9 am. After that we split into 2 groups. One group had coffee together and the other went to the top of Mount Wellington. I was in the latter as I hadn't been there in my previous and only other trip here.

The forecast was for rain with snow above 600m and we had our first snow flakes part way up the mountain. WE stopped at a park and got out into a mild snow fall. 2 of the girls had never seen snow before and were quite excited. As we continued further up the fall became heavier and the road turned white. When we got to the very top there was 6" or more of snow and we had snowball fights and even made a small snowman. The disadvantage of this was there wasn't much of a view because of the clouds.

Even as we descended it was melting with tress that were covered on the way up already free of snow at the top.

After that I joined the Hobart Mensa group for the monthly lunch which was held at a restaurant only 5 minutes from the apartment. There were a few people I knew and a couple I didn't. Deidree dropped in with the printouts for our skit but didn't stay. I'm not sure if she made a special trip just to hand them over.

By the time lunch was over it was nearly time for the team meeting. JR, the doctor from the 50s had written medical certificates for myself and Jane to wear our skins which were accepted by the Tech director. All that fuss over nothing it would seem. Today we played Queensland. We had nearly all of the attack and in fact our goalie did not even touch the ball. WE scored twice, once of a short corner and once with a field goal. Unfortunately I was sprinting into the circle at one stage and pulled a hamstring. Ironic since I was wearing Skins to prevent just such an injury. So our first win but on a personal level not a good result. I guess with the sore knee I was not running in my usual manner and over stressing the right leg in compensation.


Helen, from our team, turned 60 today so we went out to dinner to celebrate. We went to Fish Frenzy where we'd been the first night.

Not so Manic Monday

Mon 5th

Today was a general day off for 3 of the grades including ours. The day started in the same way as yesterday - waking up early and worrying about Skins. I haven't played a game or even practised with out wearing them for 5 years since I got a medical certificate to wear them. Those of us who have worn the full length ones in previous vets championships expected to do so again and have no short grippers, bike pants or skins to wear instead. I composed an email to the sports doctor who I went to for my knee problem initially requesting a medical certificate, then appeared to lose the draft. I managed to recover it by opening the file and copying it, but it would not appear in the drafts folder. But the time I had fiddled around with this the others were up and we got ready for another 8am training session.

It didn't take long to confirm I should not run again today so I more or less repeated the actions of yesterday. warming up the goalie, seagull on the post and short corners. As we were leaving the manager provided me with a hat say this is for "Dora the explorer" because I have been navigating for the bus. I realised this was just a sortned for of my real name "a - dora-ble"

Our manager had managed to contact a doctor playing for one of our other teams who was quite disgusted with the Skins business and more than happy to provide medical certificates as required.

After returning to the apartments for breakfast and showers, we headed back to the stadium to watch the 50s again, arriving almost exactly halfway through the first half. The already had a 1-0 lead scoring about 10 minutes in. Lidia has a video camera which I used to capture the rest of that half and which she used for the second half. After less than a minute after half time there was a collision betwen 2 players with the NSW girl eventually being taken off in an ambulance. There appeared to be a clash of heads, watching the video, but someone said that whiplash was the worry. Our doctor was playing and advised them not to move her and call the ambulance.

We stopped at Woollies on the way back and I took the short stroll to the BWS to buy some whisky. A small bottle would have been enough but the economics had me buying a normal size one. My roomies walked from there but I was happy to ride and had the leftover nachos for lunch. Another run to the stadium was available to watch the 35s but I had a problem to look at for a Perth client. IN fact I was able to find the error and send of a fix within 5 minutes but they had already left. I finished up having a nap which was probably better for me.

We started working on our skit for the WA team get together based on one used at a local club windup. We have changed some of the verses to reflect some of the events and situations here. Hopefully it will get some laughs.

Dinner tonight was at the Vietnamese Restaurant down the street where we had bought ice creams a few times. It was good value and quite tasty and I do like that sort of food. Once we were back my room mate, who is a psychologist ran a guided imagery session for the team. This is a meditation type exercise to help us focus on being in the game and visualise us having the skills we need. It is used by elite athletes.

Sunday not too far away

Sun 4th

I got to sleep easily enough but when I woke up at 4am I had trouble sleeping again, since I kept thinking about this issue with the Skins. I'm hoping it can be settled but sometimes people make these decisions and then won't back down for fear of losing face.

We have 5 teams in our grade so we each have a bye and today it was our turn. We arranged to get an hour of practice on the turf but in order to do this before the fixtures started we had to be there by 8am. My leg was sore enough not to want to risk further damage so I limited what I did - mainly playing next to the post and practising deflections. I kept the goalie warm while the rest were doing side line exercises and took part in the corner practices,

We went for  a leisurely drive through the country, leaving about 11 and heading first to Sorrel which is East of the city, then looping round to the North an west before returning. We passed by lakes and rivers and drove through hills and valleys. It reminded me to some extent of the countryside in the North Island of NZ.

In Sorrel we visited a local market, much smaller than the one in Salamanca, However I think we as a team bought more stuff there and the previous day. I bought 6 golf balls for $5 from a guy who works as ground staff at one of the courses. I picked out  ProV1, ProV1x and Srixon Z-stars.

We then headed on to Richmond the home of the oldest bridge in Australia, or maybe just Tasmania. We wandered around for a while looking at the old buildings including the gaol and the church and then had lunch at the bakery. I had the pies of the day - Curried scallop and Chicken and Camenbert, both of which were very nice. The rest of them continued to wander around looking at the shops but I decided it would be better to stay seated until it was time to go.  I stayed in the bakery doing crosswords. Or at least I started on them but kept falling asleep. (Just like Sunday afternnons in Perth really) Eventually I thought I'd better get up and move to the car.

From there we drove  through Bridgewater and on to New Norfolk along the South side of the Derwent River. We found a Chicken Feed store and boughtvarious Knick Knacks. I found some presents for my buddies.  Some of the girls had a coffee as well and our coach Bev found a tablespoon in the antique shop that she bought.

We returned to Bridgewater along the North side of the river and recross the bridge, where traffic was banked up due to a motor cycle accident. As we were driving back to Hobart along the road that passes the stadium, we stopped to watch the 40s play their game.

There was nothing organised for the evening and my roomies decided on pizza but I went to the Mexican at the end of the street and ordered a Nachos supreme. I could only manage half of it so the small option might have been better. We had a quiet evening watching TV.