Forgive me...

it has been NINE days since i last blogged! so let's catch up...

Friday 1 December

we had a swimming session @ Manuka Pool instead of our usual gym/running workouts...good fun except i kicked my coach in the shin when treading water & badly bruised my second toe on my left foot!

still managed to do my last point-scoring run for Customs...a bit faster than last week...

the stats:
start temp/humidity: -
start time: 12:29pm
total distance: 5.00
total time: 24:14
avg pace: 4:50
total calories: -
finish temp/humidity: -

1k splits: 4:37, 5:07, 4:57, 4:43, 4:48

fairly good turnout in warmish conditions...

attended the Oakley sale after work where i purchased a new golf shirt (can never have too many of those!)

Saturday 2 December

golf was a pairs event & my partner & i managed to come 3rd...everyone had to bring a chrissie gift which people got to select from in finishing order...

over to mum & dad's for a massage before heading home to pack then it was out to the Durham to see a friend's band ("The Ripoffs") again...

Sunday 3 December

up early to do last minute packing before heading to the airport...it was time to head to Melbourne for the Cricket Australia Cup!

got into Melbourne around 10.15am & it turned out i was to be one of the three approved drivers for the two vehicles (one 12 seater mini bus + trailer plus a Kia Carnival people mover)...we only had three approved drivers because we were the only ones over 25!

we headed straight to the grounds to be used for the series so we could have a training session before checking into our hotel...lots of tired & hungry players didn't make for a particularly sharp session but i enjoyed running around...

into the hotel then off for a walk to get lunch before returning to watch the test match for the rest of the afternoon...

dinner was at an all-you-can-eat place across the road from our hotel before most had an early night...i watched Shrek for a laugh (i had my laptop with me)...

Monday 4 December

first up we played the Queensland Academy of Sport (Queensland's 2nd XI)...we won the toss & bowled first, surprisingly dismissing them for 101! unfortunately no-one stood up with the bat as we were all out for 81...

my contribution: 8-2-1-22, 4 catches & 2 off 16 (dismissed playing the ball into the back of my leg only to see it roll back & hit the stumps, d'oh)...

to the Monash Aquatic Centre for a recovery session...had dinner at an Italian restaurant...

Tuesday 5 December

this was also one that got away as we played the Victorian 2d XI...this time we batted first & made 9/158...they made it with 1 wicket & 15 balls to spare after we had them 7/81...poor bowling cost us as we racked up 32 wides (ie 5 extra overs)...

my contribution: 22 off 34 (run out, not my call!), 10-4-2-16, 1 catch...also copped a ball on the already bruised toe while batting which also bruised the big toe as well (d'oh)

we returned back to the hotel a little depressed but perked up while watching the Aussies win a test match that looked destined for a draw!

to the Monash Aquatic Centre for a recovery session...dinner was Subway...

Wednesday 6 December

at last we got the monkey off our back by defeating Tasmania (their senior side like us) by 17 runs! this was the first time ACT had won a match in this level of competition...

we again batted first making 9/152...Tassie made steady progress before it got quite tense in the end as we dismissed them for 135 in the 43rd over...

my contribution: 54 off 67 (bowled trying to dab off the stumps in the 2nd last over), 9-5-2-19, 2 catches (including the last wicket which was an up & under with me running around from mid off to mid on to take it!)...

to the Monash Aquatic Centre for a recovery session...had dinner the ala carte place across the road from our Hotel...

Thursday 7 December

our last match was against the very strong NSW A side...we batted first but could only manage 131 all out in the 44th over...only one batter reached double figures...

we at least fought hard to the end, taking 5 of their wickets & forcing them to take 36.2 overs...

my contribution: 8 off 25 (caught at square leg), 10-2-1-14, 1 catch...

finally we could let our hair down! first it was dinner at the RSL before ending up back across the road from our hotel at the karoake night!...most of us were home by 2am but a few kicked on elsewhere until 5am!

Friday 8 December

this was our bye day so most headed into to town to shop while two of us went to watch what was practically the final to decide the winner of the tournament - NSW v Victoria...

NSW ended up winning quite convincingly - 4/248 v 120...while Queensland won a thriller over Tasmania by one wicket with 3 balls to spare...the finishing positions were NSW, Vic, Qld, ACT, Tasmania...

the presentations were held & we collected the Spirit of Cricket Award (points awarded by the umpires) while i managed a share in the most dismissals by a fielder/wicketkeeper with 8 (the other player also wasn't 'keeper, which is quite unusual)...

back to the hotel to collect our gear & then onto the airport for our 9pm flight...

Saturday 9 December

back into the swing of things here literally with a game of golf - good scores by most of the players on a hot day made winning difficult, Suze came 6th while I was 7th (we both scored balls)...

now i'm just catching up on my washing!

tomorrow i'm off to Bankstown for club cricket...