Sunny and muggy Brisbane. Full of (what seem) narrow, winding roads, construction sites, people wearing thongs and short-sleeved shirts or singlets, and everywhere I look another shade of green. Not many other colours, just greens. It felt weird being back in Brisbane for the weekend, familiar, but not completely, esp with the new buildings everywhere. Vibrant, but a bit pacy after Adelaide. The G0Betweens song ‘Streets of Your Town’ drifted through my head.
I had a nice start to the journey meeting my old mate Kev from Avid Reader at West End on the plane flying north – he’s still fighting the good fight in the environmental and arts worlds. As I waited for mum to arrive to collect me from the airport at 11.30 pm a fellow Adelaidian (although female and somewhat overweight) commented how hot it was. Hmm, wait til the sun comes up, I suggested.
Friday was spent reconnecting with Jan, Meg and Grace, seeing Mum and Jean Jacque and then jumping on the City Cat to town, catching up with chums and wandering around the CBD. Coffee with Marty and some lunch with Paul, David and Briggsy. The new big and shiny buildings stuck out but I wondered how much had really changed, like attitudes or norms? Not much, I suppose.
I joined Neil at the golf course for an afternoon tonk – my first serious hit since the Barwon Heads visit last October. I was very pleasantly surprised to hit a screamer off the 1st tee and few others during the 9 holes. Neil and I, just like old times, wonder how many rounds of golf we have played together? Must be more than 500 I reckon. Golf was followed by a quick beer with Shirls and then a lovely dinner with mum, JJ, Meg and Lorrie. Fine food, wine and some vigorous discussion, I expected nothing less.
More golf on Saturday afternoon – what a treat – as Neil and I slaughtered (harsh, but fair) PJ and Barnsey. My form was a little scratchy early but improved as the day wore on. Neil shot a very impressive 1 over. A few cool drinks with the boys and then it was off to the Lions. Despite the balmy evening I wore my Lions scarf, even though it held a 0-3 record at the Lions games I have attended with it – all quite bad losses to the Dogs, Port and Magpies respectively. This will be the turnaround, I thought, the scarf bogey will end tonight!
Briggsy was like a 10 year-old kid waiting outside the dentist’s surgery, a bit pale and wringing his hands to keep himself calm. As usual Brisbane started poorly with 2 quick goals to the Eagles and looked shaky in front of goal.
Dear reader, I admit to struggling to provide a blow by blow description as round 2 has already come and gone and I havent completed the round 1 wrap. Hmm, what do I remember? Fev kicked one out on the full. By a mile. David and I gave fullsome praise to Travis Johnstone for his calmness and poise under pressure, even though Briggsy got cross at us. Adcock got injured which left the bench short. Young fella Banfield made an impression but missed a couple of sitters. Brennan showed outrageous skills all night and was best afield. David and I squeezed in a quick beer at half time and somehow missed the start of the 3rd qtr. The most vivid memory was of Noel Briggs trying to destroy my scarf at the end of the 3rd quarter on the basis that it was causing the Lions to lose. What a silly man. But, I did succumb and placed the scarf under my seat. The Lions subsequently kicked 7.6 to 2.2 and romped home by 32. Go figure. Brown kicked 5, Fev 3. Brilliant!
Pics from the weekend, inc from a lovely afternoon stroll around Qld Uni with mum and JJ, and some video footage of golf available for your visual pleasure. Got some pics from the Lions too, but be buggered if I know where they are…
Lions v Port round 3 is just days away. While stumbling through the AFL website (which BTW is a complete nightmare on a slow computer because it is overwhelmingly full of clutter, crap and multimedia which you need super highspeed broadband to use) I noticed that Port are favourites, paying $1.95 v $2.20 for the Lions. Interesting. Reckon Lions by 42, esp if Fev clicks. Even though he is a dick.
Brisbane Lions 2.6 6.10 9.12 16.18 (114)
West Coast 4.2 7.6 10.8 12.10 (82)
[...] from near the top to near the bottom. The highlights for me, regarding the Lions at least, were Round 1 live at the ‘Gabba with my mates, and Round 10 versus the Pies. How sweet that one [...]