The history, the atmosphere, the rivalry and the media hype; It's all there in abundance as we anticipate the latest installment of cricket's greatest rivalry, with opinion split as to where the little urn will belong come January. Since late September the vast majority of media coverage had all but guaranteed an Australian victory on home soil, England's talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes' hopes of appearing in the series seemingly knocked onto a street outside a Bristol nightclub. The incident was lapped up by an Australian media whose memory of a similar incident with their own David Warner aiming a punch at Joe Root was conspicuous in it's absence, and dare one say that the supersilious Australian attitude came back once again with several predictions of another 5-0 whitewash, regardless of who wears the revered Baggy Green over the next 7 weeks.
The magnificent
Sydney Cricket Ground
How quickly times have changed, with the announcement of the Australian squad leaving many to rescind their earlier predictions, some going so far as to say that the home side have handed the series to England on a silver platter. The reality is that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future success, we don't have to cast our memories too far back when England walked the series in the homeland in 2013 with a score of 3-0 and succumbing in monumental fashion just a few months later Down Under to a second 5-0 whitewash in 3 series on these shores. The bottom line is that once the players get on the field we will get more of an indication of how things will go than by reading anything currently written in the press.
Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses; the captains are the world's top batsmen in the last 18 months and are relatively early on into their captaincies, which promise much. Indeed, this is the first time they will lead their country in an Ashes contest. There is much excitement around their roles, and who will handle the pressure, the media and the occasion the best. Steve Smith has the advantage of being the home captain with a nation behind him, Joe Root has the attitude that nothing will get to him and take his focus off the main event. It all points towards a mouth-watering contest.
The bowling department is one where I believe Australia would have the advantage with an established seam attack led by Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc backed up by the exciting Pat Cummins, however should one of those suffer an injury then doubt will seep in. Both Starc and Cummins have a history of injuries, the latter making his debut back in 2011 but only making his home debut here 6 years later due to a multitude of stress fractures and other ailments. And so that is where England's depth looks a little better. Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will doubtless go down in history as two of England's greatest, and while the pace may no longer be there the potency certainly is. Between them they have 894 Test match wickets, it is not impossible that they will pass the tally during this Ashes series of one of the greatest fast bowling partnerships in Test cricket; Courtney Walsh and Sir Curtly Ambrose have 924.
1/3: Driving Jamie Overton through the covers.
It was clear from the age of 16 that the
Overton twins would be stars. (2011)
I may be biased but I am delighted to see the selection of Craig Overton in the squad having played several years against him and twin brother Jamie in the Devon Premier League at one of my favourite grounds, Instow in North Devon. Incidentally, also the home of world renowned umpire David Shepherd. Jamie Overton is perhaps a yard or two quicker than Craig, but having suffered his own injuries Craig led the Somerset attack with aplomb, snaring 46 wickets at 22.39 in the County Championship to earn his spot in the touring party. Don't be fooled by the warm-up games, Craig Overton can bat. Of course, club cricket is completely different but one game I'm fortunate to have missed in 2011 saw Craig hit a stunning hundred against us. He will want to contribute more than a few runs should he take part in the series.
I would feel secure placing a bet that Jamie Overton will also represent England at some stage in the next couple of years, having already been picked for an ODI squad without featuring. Chris Woakes will fill the all-rounder role until Stokes arrives and will be a very handy back-up to Broad and Anderson. The Australian pitches will suit his style and together with Ball or Overton (all 6ft 5in of him) give the Australian batsmen plenty to think about during the series. Add Stokes into the mix and England's bowling is a force to be reckoned with and according to the latest reports it is almost a certainty that Stokes will play some part in the series.
2/3: Hitting Jamie Overton for 6,
representing Bovey Tracey v North Devon,
Devon Premier League (2011).
With Jake Ball's ankle showing a decent recovery and George Garton an untested left-arm quick, there appears to be only a little depth to England's seam bowling, the reliance on Moeen Ali to lead the spin attack will be vital to their chances even with Mason Crane encouraging tongues to wag and English cricket to believe they may have a world class leg-spinner in their future. We have seen that hypothesis before though. Whatever happened to Scott Borthwick? It should be noted that Joe Root can send down some useful off-spin but the burdens of captaincy may curtail that thought. I always thought Michael Vaughan should have bowled himself more, perhaps Yorkshire's latest national figurehead will contribute in all facets.
3/3: North Devon players search for the ball
in what is known as the "Adder Pit",
Britain's only venomous snake can be
found in the Gorse. (2011)
Australia's reserve stock has some experience in Jackson Bird; 34 wickets in 8 Tests at 27.47 is not at all bad. But the worry will be what comes after? If one of Starc, Hazlewood or Cummins gets a niggle, Bird comes in. But if two get hurt or can't hit form Australia are vulnerable. Nathan Lyon will continue to twirl away but with Smith nothing more than a very part-time Leg-spinner these days the reliance on Lyon to hold an end up is immense. Stephen O'Keefe's chances are running out, and the selectors appear to have run out of patience with his off-field antics. Should Root, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes and tail-enders like Broad go after Lyon and hit him out of the attack the knock-on effect of an increased workload for Australia's injury-prone pacemen will resonate.
The question marks don't end with the bowling. England's carousel of opening batsmen to replace Andrew Strauss (who retired in 2012!) shows no sign of slowing down or coming to the end of its shift, however Mark Stoneman nailed down the spot alongside Alastair Cook in the warm-up matches with three fifties and a sublime 111 in his four innings. Much will depend on his ability to continue that form. James Vince at three will be vulnerable but he shows considerable promise. What better stage to fulfil that promise than an Ashes opener at The Gabba? Having Gary Ballance at 3 against South Africa was not, in my opinion, a sustainable move. The lack of footwork and susceptibility against good short pitched bowling have been exposed horribly on English pitches, to put him into the fire on fast Australian pitches would be counter-productive given that he bats at 4 for Yorkshire. Headingley, The Gabba is not. If Ballance plays, he should not bat higher than 5 but the selectors look to be in favour of Dawid Malan for that spot.
Australia's selection of Shaun Marsh has been met with widespread derision, yet one thing we know
The historic SCG Members Pavilion
about Australian's is that they are most dangerous when they are written off. Marsh has been recalled to the fold eight times over the course of his stunted Test career, and Usman Khawaja will feel aggrieved to have not featured more heavily since his SCG debut in the 2010/11 Ashes series. David Warner's pre-series comments have fallen flat on both sides, and the Australian's usual press release that they will target England Captain Joe Root have had even less impact than Warner's attempted punch in 2013. Australia, so strong and almost invincible a few days ago, are now finding themselves on the defence before a ball has been bowled.
Matthew Renshaw's omission based on a less than stellar start to the Sheffield Shield season has split opinion among cricket writers. Some say his Test record didn't warrant him being dropped, some imply that you can't afford to risk an Ashes Test to try to get him into form. Both perfectly valid points, but pale into insignificance when the subject of Tim Paine is broached. Currently ousted from the Tasmanian state side by rival keeper Matthew Wade, and with only 4 Test matches behind him (all outside of Australia in 2010), on paper it is a very surprising inclusion. Lest we forget that not so long ago there were plenty calling for his inclusion as the "Best gloveman in Australia". Although Peter Nevill can feel slightly aggrieved to be overlooked, at least we don't have to put up with "Nooiiiiice, Garry!!" through the stump microphones as Wade watches from the pavilion in Hobart.
Sir Ian Botham
Headingley 1981 needs no explanation
The romance of an Ashes series cannot be equalled in any other cricket fixture. Memories of recent classics still resonate; Edgbaston 2005, Adelaide 2006, The Oval 2009, Adelaide 2010, Trent Bridge 2013, Perth 2013 and Trent Bridge 2015. The fire of Flintoff, Hussey's heroism, Broad's Blitz, KP's Double and Johnson's Thunderbolts. They all deserve their place in the annals of Ashes folklore, stories to be passed down through generations of cricket tragics. Hutton, Compton, Bradman, Benaud, Lawry, Chappell, Boycott, McGrath, Warne, Flintoff, Waugh, Botham, Ponting, Gilchrist... The list will continue to grow.
2005: Flintoff's Ashes
Perhaps the most challenging aspect is attempting a prediction. If you had asked me a week ago I would have said Australia would probably win the series 2-1 or 3-1. Three days before the series begins in earnest and taking into account the strengths and obvious weaknesses between the two sides I feel that England have a real chance, and while Australia will still be considered favourites the door is slightly ajar for England to walk through. Remember, Australia were favourites heading into the 2015 series. No-one could forsee England clinching the series with a game in hand, much less seeing Australia dismissed for 60 in 18.3 firey overs without leading wicket-taker James Anderson.
Much will depend on the opening bout at The Gabba beginning this Thursday. Historically not a happy hunting ground for England or any other touring side; Australia are unbeaten in Brisbane Test matches since 1988, when a West Indies side at the height of their power took the spoils. England have not triumphed there since 1986. Records are there to be rewritten, remember England hadn't beaten Australia at Lords for 75 years before Flintoff's heroics in 2009, backed up by Ian Bell, Joe Root and Graeme Swann's feats in 2013. It is not beyond the realms the England can win at The Gabba for the first time in 31 years this week. Either way, a nation will be glued to the coverage, and none of us can wait.
My series prediction:
Australia 1-2 England
2010/11: The last time England won the Ashes in Australia.
Rather than write with emotion in the immediate aftermath, here we are a few weeks on from another mass shooting in the United States. Isn't it enough of an eye-opener already that we say the word "another" whenever it happens? How often does it have to happen before action is taken? How many more people have to die or be injured by shootings before the United States wakes up and realises the Second Amendment needs to be seriously looked at? The facts are there for all to see, in the UK and Australia when gun laws were tightened the number of shootings dropped drastically. I understand that the USA and the UK/Australia are vastly different countries with different cultures towards guns, but the fact remains that if you remove a gun, it can't be used by anyone to shoot and kill anyone else.
1996 was the turning point for both Australia and the UK. In March 1996, Thomas Hamilton walked into a Primary School in Dunblane, Scotland to shoot and kill 16 children, a teacher and then himself. One month later, Martin Bryant entered Port Arthur in Tasmania, Australia and killed 35 people in a mindless act, injuring 23 others. Both countries were so shocked by these atrocities that they took decisive action and banned guns. Since the ban, the number and frequency of massacres has reduced markedly. This month in Las Vegas, 59 people died and 546 (yes, FIVE-HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX) people have been injured as a result of being shot by a man intent on flaunting his Second Amendment right in the most awful way. What is it going to take for Americans to change the way guns are viewed? How big does a massacre have to be in order for something to change?
I understand that Americans' relationship with guns and the culture around guns is vastly different to anything I have experienced in Great Britain or Australia, but I know enough to be outraged at the refusal to take some kind of preventative action. You see, it doesn't just affect Americans, it's not just about American citizens any more. The world has become more accessible and people from any country can be affected now. A friend and his family were in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, and in the general area of the shooting. Thankfully they had left before the shooting occurred, but what about the thousands of family members of those affected by it? I repeat, 59 dead and 546 injured?! I am sure there were plenty of Brits and Aussies in the area as well as people from all over the world, why should they have to become victims because America refuses to take a look at the Second Amendment, and people think that the Semi Automatic weapons, or weapons that fire hundreds of rounds per minute are comparable with the weapon that the Second Amendment was written for; Muskets.
One of the more understandable arguments that Americans have is that the gun ban in Australia (population of 18.3 million people in 1996, more like 24 million in 2017) wouldn't be the same scale as America, population 323 million people. There are an estimated 300 million firearms in the USA, and when Gun Control came into force in Australia the number of guns recovered was approximately 600,000. That is only 0.2% of the USA number right now, so logistically it is extremely difficult. Even more so when you take into account the US Government would need to initiate some sort of buy-back scheme, costing billions of dollars. Difficult, but not impossible.
I also understand that Americans love their guns, they've had several generations of people growing up with guns and interested in guns, and that in itself isn't a problem. There's nothing wrong with saying "I like something, don't take it away from me." There cannot be any other reason for anyone other than a hunter or the military to own a gun. The argument of protection is absolute bull when it comes to assault rifles, sniper rifles, semi automatic weapons or weapons with so-called "Bump Stocks". Weapons that you have to keep in a safe are no protection from an intruder, and if there is an intruder the likelihood is they want to steal something, not take away your life. No-one has a problem with responsible gun owners, but they're not the problem. The problem is the number of idiots who can get hold of a gun without a rigorous enough background check. And the choice of weapon, a handgun or pistol could be argued to be a protection weapon, but an AR-15?
The National Rifle Association thinks the answer to the problem is more guns. Give everyone a gun. "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." Let's dissect that, shall we? Give every single American Citizen a gun. What happens if there's an armed assault by a "Bad Guy" or group of "Bad Guys" on, say, a theatre similar to Aurora in 2012? Well, every "Good Guy" has a gun now, they can all turn on the Bad Guy with the gun, right? Think about the confusion surrounding a massacre, all it takes is one Good Guy to misidentify the Bad Guy, and shoot a Good Guy instead. Suddenly, that person is now the target for all the other Good Guys with guns. And that could happen several times over in just seconds, or just once. Then the police arrive and they see a room full of people with guns. How do they know who is a good guy or a bad guy? They are trained to take out anyone with a weapon who is threatening life. Whether you're a good guy or a bad guy in this situation, you have a deadly weapon with the capacity to endanger life, and you will get taken down. Suddenly there are several possible deaths or injuries, the exact scenario the NRA think they've stopped by giving everyone a gun. In my opinion, this is ludicrous.
Like I mentioned earlier, it isn't just Americans this now affects. So does the NRA propose to give a gun to every single person that enters the United States? Why does an American have the right to "protect" themselves while walking down the Las Vegas strip, but not me or my wife if we visit there as British/Australian tourists? Is the answer to give everyone in the USA, regardless of nationality or reason for being there, a gun? Of course it isn't. But in the "Land of the Free", I do not have the freedom to protect myself from someone with a gun because I'm not from there. Think about the reasons you wouldn't arm a foreigner, and the danger they may pose and then tell me why that wouldn't apply to an American Citizen.
American Law allows for American Citizens to have a gun. Technically, in the UK and Australia, you can still have a gun, but it is highly regulated. You cannot walk into a supermarket and buy a gun, like you can in America. The licencing and background checks for firearms are very strict in the UK and Australia. I am not suggesting that Americans should have their guns taken away necessarily, however there is obviously a vast number of firearms out there in the hands of people that should not be anywhere near them. THAT is what needs regulating, THAT is what needs to change. By all means, have guns, but don't hide behind the lie of "I need it for protection". Have guns because you have an interest in them! Keep them at home! No-one outside of the military or police needs a Semi-Automatic weapon, an assault rifle or a sniper rifle.
The Second Amendment was written so that American Citizens could form a militia to fight a tyrannical government, giving them the right to bear arms. The obvious thing to point out here is that MILITIAS ARE REGULATED! Militias are an organised group of armed individuals, they are not random members of the public coming together as a gang with whatever firearms they might have. The irony is that with Donald Trump as President, such a divisive figure could lead to the formation of a militia by his opponents who view his policies as a Government intent on tyranny. I wonder if that's what it will take for America to see the absolute absurdness of saying every single person has a birth right to own a firearm. Over half a thousand people were injured and 59 people died in quarter of an hour because of one man's right to own guns this month.
The defence will be that "America was formed around a culture involving guns". So what...? Times change. Australia was an Aboriginal country for thousands of years before the white man arrived. Then Australia was colonised by convicts. Aborigines were treated abhorrently by the invading white men, and convicts settled. Lawless individuals settled, and eventually law and order was brought to the country, the white man apologised to Aboriginal leaders for the treatment of their ancestors and Australia is a beautiful country, that happened to also outlaw guns. Tell me why the United States, supposed leaders of the Free World, supposedly one of the worlds leading superpowers, why can't the USA take the same attitude to changing gun laws as they did to abolishing slavery, or changing the prohibition of alcohol? Why was it deemed proper to end the unfair treatment of slaves, but it's not even sensible to regulate the unfair risk that nearly 600 innocent people attending a music festival had their lives changed forever by one man's right to own a gun?
Maybe Alex Jones is right... if guns were banned in the USA, the militia would be formed almost immediately by the gun supporters. "1776 will rise again" he screamed on a TV appearance. America would almost certainly be in a state of Civil War, on a scale the modern world may not have seen before. How can it then be argued that these weapons are for protection? The saddest thing is that we all know that nothing is going to happen for at least 3 years. Meanwhile, the world will watch from behind a couch as massacre after massacre occurs in a beautiful country, victimising not just innocent Americans, while Trump dismisses it as Fake News. Who is going to be the one brave enough to stand up to the armed militia that will shoot unarmed people under the blanket excuse of "protection"?
Hundreds of lives have been lost to mass shootings in the United States since 2010. Hundreds of suicides caused by gunshots in the same time period. I ask the simple question; What is it going to take to end this madness?
A little over a week ago I was involved in a car accident and until tonight perhaps I had underestimated its effect. Last night and tonight I have been in one of the troughs associated with depression and anxiety, feeling lethargic and genuinely finding difficulty in actually moving or doing anything, lost in a circle of thoughts which I cannot shake off. I'm feeling pressure, and feeling wronged.
While Dave was swapping details with the other drivers and making sure they were ok, I sat down on a wall trying to process what had happened. I went for a slow walk to the car which hit us and looked inside; some loose telephone cables, but no sign of a phone holder. My suspicion is clear, however the driver explained to Dave that his sunglasses had fallen off his head and while scrambling to find them by the time he looked up he was into the back of us. He admitted full responsibility and wasn't an idiot about it so I said nothing and let Dave deal with that part.
Ever since the accident I have had a dull headache in the top of my head. I have seen my chiropractor twice and visited the Doctor too. Nothing has taken away the constant dull headache and I wonder if this is why I'm currently in a trough. I keep having to remind myself of the positives right now; I'm 1st Grade Captain of a cricket club I have loved since my first association with it in 2006. I am Vice President of the same club. I am Assistant Manager at one of Australia's leading cricket retailers, and I am around the game I love on a daily basis. I am lucky enough to be paid by the Australian Reptile Park, one of Australia's leading wildlife facilities, to take photographs and handle animals I adore such as snakes, alligators and more. But despite all of this I am currently wracked with self-doubt, consumed by a lack of confidence in myself and doubting my ability.
Cricket is a mentally taxing game, and last season I was the leading run scorer in 2nd Grade for the entire Sydney Shires competition, despite missing several games. But do I belong in 1st Grade? Do I deserve to be Captain? I believe the answer is yes, I've played several seasons in the Devon Premier League 1st XI alongside and against players of International standard, County standard, minor county standard, and competed. Vernon Philander, Farhaan Behardien, Faisal Iqbal, Hasantha Fernando, Mark Lathwell, Vusi Sibanda, Lewis Gregory, Craig & Jamie Overton, Aizaz Cheema to name a few. Not excelled, but competed. I've been a net bowler for the Australian and West Indies sides and dismissed Wavell Hinds, Kieron Pollard, Xavier Doherty and David Warner, and troubled Michael Clarke, Peter Nevill, Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch and Jason Holder. I've Captained an Under 24's side to the club's only appearance in a Grand Final (to date), to its only victories in Finals Series games. I top scored in that Grand Final, despite us losing the game. I can't understand what I need to do to make me feel like I belong, its a serious weakness. I don't profess to be a great cricketer, or even a very good one, but I can hold my own, I'm not bad at it.
When I cross that line, I'm switched on. I have faced much better bowling (and quicker) in the UK, and prospered. I've got photos taken of me putting Jamie Overton over his head for 6, and facing up to Craig Overton who this week has been selected for the Ashes squad to tour Australia this winter. I've not risen to a level of being feared in any way. I have always been told I can do anything in cricket, it's just my mind that stops me. NO-ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME HOW TO GET MENTALLY RIGHT FOR IT, NO-ONE HAS SHOWN ME HOW! The truth is I don't know how to get mentally right for anything, not just limited to cricket. And this last few days I have really felt a struggle to even move.
I'll think about moving for about 20-30 minutes before actually doing it. Getting out of bed takes a long time, but not anywhere near as much time as actually falling asleep. Getting off the couch to go to bed seems to be a huge effort. When the spirits are up, it's no effort at all, you just get up and do it. Right now, the way I feel, I have taken to writing this crap to avoid going to bed and yet I am so tired. I'm procrastinating getting the sleep I so dearly need yet not going because I know as soon as my head hits that pillow this tiredness will have no effect and the desire to sleep will be met with blank thoughts and wide eyes. Tiny issues seem huge. Conflicts won't get resolved. I don't feel support which is most likely there. There's not even any point to this blog post, I'm just putting my current feelings down and hoping there is some sort of cohesion to my writing.
None of the current issues I am having are insurmountable, none are individually even significant. But together they are eating me up, and last night I had a mini breakdown. In August Jess and I went to the Gold Coast and it was a superb holiday, superb mental break. I feel like I need another week there! It's nearly time for Bathurst, so maybe that will help. I understand fully that feeling like this is part of a mental cycle, it's just one that I am struggling to deal with at this time. The constant dull headache is exacerbating things I am sure, it will get better without doubt. I just needed to vent, and this is my forum. The car crash is perhaps a fitting metaphor... Going along fine, but getting smashed unexpectedly. A headache that could be done without.
I'm not spiritual, and I'm definitely not religious, and I don't believe in an afterlife even though I constantly "talk" to my deceased family members. After several months of working without a break Jess and I took a well deserved holiday last week and returned to the Gold Coast. We chose to drive, and stayed one night in Byron Bay then four in Surfer's Paradise. It was a 1,900km round trip which gave me plenty of time to ponder my thoughts while cruising up and down the Pacific Highway. Honestly, I'm not even sure I truly understand what it means but I think while we were there I found some inner peace and another degree of happiness.
Before the holiday, late nights and early mornings with very little sleep were beginning to be the norm and it was taking a toll. A few books I had read had mentioned the relaxing qualities of classical music, so I experimented and played Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite as I got into bed. It worked, I slept well those nights. Being able to drift away into sleep in a relaxed state was so good, I cannot say. I had begun to contemplate seeking medical help for insomnia but I am still petrified of the thought of taking medication to sleep (not propofol, in case you're making that link) and never waking up. Since turning 30 last year I have become very aware of my own mortality and the fact that once it's over, it's over. That's it.
This weekend upon returning from the Gold Coast we spent time with my (Australian) nephew and niece. Children really give you a chance to forget the complications of an adult world. They give you the chance to return to that time of your life where all you cared about was what toy you wanted to play with, or who you want to sit next to at the dinner table. They are so trusting with you, and the responsibility you have to look after them is such an honour. There's something magical about watching a child learn different things, whether it's how to crawl, stand, walk or talk, it's such a beautiful thing to see. Even more so when that child has an emotional attachment to you.
What is really sad is that as a man writing about this, it will raise a few eyebrows because it is "not what men are supposed to do"... The reason I am though is because I feel great pride at being a part of my Australian nephew and niece's lives but at the same time a great sadness that I cannot share the same closeness with my English nieces. My eldest niece wasn't even 3 years old when I left the UK, and now she is 7. I've not been there for over half of her life. I saw those earliest magic moments, but missed many milestones since then, and she has tugged at my heart with her words on a few occasions about the distance between us. My youngest (English) niece was born almost a year after I left, I've only spent a total of a couple of weeks with her. I met her for the first time just before our wedding. FaceTime is great but it's not the same. She knows who I am, but it took a long time before she'd want to come near us because she had no idea who we were.
When I first came to Australia aged 20, I stayed with a family (who I have considered my own ever since) who had a one-year-old daughter. I saw her first steps, heard her first words and became very attached to her. When I returned to Australia as a 23 year old, this baby girl was now four. The first time I had a conversation with her was magical. I got to see her go for her first day at school, another milestone I have missed out on with my English nieces. This girl turns 12 soon, is a very accomplished gymnast and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see her at the Olympics, such is her dedication and drive. Yet I still remember those magic moments of a one-year-old girl (who I am not related to), trusting in me and looking up at me with arms outstretched and squeaking the word "Up!" Children can give you perspective about what is really important in the world.
Ever since I can remember, my Grandad impressed upon me that I am the only male Carter in his branch of the family and it is up to me to continue the family name. It was during that first trip to Australia in 2006-07 and forming that emotional bond with my "adopted" family that I knew for sure that I wanted to do just that. I have seen the joy that children have brought to my friends, to my sister, to my in-laws. After this weekend, more than ever, I want nothing more than to become a father and to be the best possible father I can be. I want to take on the challenges of providing and nurturing my own children, and helping them become the best they can be. I want them to study the greats, and become greater.
It's taken a few years of getting to this level of confidence again. They say never work with children or animals, but I have found that working at the Australian Reptile Park and dealing with children (and their parents) has been incredibly therapeutic. I have learnt how to deal with many situations, and characters. I feel that I am as ready as I'll ever be to bring someone into the world that has that magical look in their eyes, that will blindly trust in us, that we are responsible for, and won't have to worry about a thing. I dream about that day that a child can call me "Dad". I believe it is what I was put on this planet to do, and when it happens I know that I won't be able to resist the urge to hold my child, look to the sky and say "This is for you, Grandad. I hope we've made you proud."
It's May 2017, and Tottenham Hotspur have played their final game at White Hart Lane, a stadium that they have called home since 1899. 118 years of legendary footballers like Jimmy Greaves, Bill Nicholson, Ricky Villa, Glenn Hoddle, Teddy Sheringham, Jürgen Klinsmann, David Ginola, Gareth Bale and Harry Kane fast approaching that list, if not already firmly cemented in it. Tottenham have waited 22 years for this season, their best ever in the Premier League since its inception in 1992 because for the first time since 1995 we have finished above our greatest rivals; Arsenal.
When I started supporting Spurs at the age of 8 years old, I was unaware of the scale of our rivalry with Arsenal. Supporting what was a mediocre team (being generous) in the late 90's I always thought the biggest game of the year was against the dominant force at the time; Manchester United. In 1998 I had got bored of Manchester United constantly winning and was pleased that Arsenal had won the title, because it was someone other than United. Had I been aware of the size of the North London rivalry I may have looked at it differently.
Spurs win the 1999 League Cup at the old Wembley Stadium
with Sol Campbell as Captain
Tottenham had a habit of being unable to hold on to their best players, I was particularly upset when my favourite players such as Jürgen Klinsmann left, and even more so when my all-time favourite player Teddy Sheringham left for Manchester United. I was delighted for him when United won the treble in 1999. I've always liked Manchester United even though I just mentioned I enjoyed a different team winning the title. But they didn't win every trophy that season... The 1999 League Cup was won by Tottenham Hotspur, and the cup was lifted by club Captain Sol Campbell.
At the turn of the century Sol Campbell was seen as a Tottenham legend, a rock in defence and undeniably one of England's, if not the World's, best central defenders. We simply had to keep him. We'd lost Teddy, we'd lost Klinsmann, we'd lost Ginola. All the speculation was that Campbell was going to leave, despite giving TV interviews saying "I'm staying", see below:
I can't find the clip, but I vaguely recall an interview where he said: "Nah, I'm Tottenham through-and-through."
July 2001, I put on Ceefax (for those unaware, it was a digital news page that we could access on BBC channels in the UK), and on the Sports headlines it simply said: "SOL CAMPBELL SIGNS FOR ARSENAL."
Sorry, WHAT?!
Originally from Woolwich, South London,
Arsenal moved to Spurs territory in 1913
and thus began a fierce rivalry
By this stage I had become aware of the rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal, and it was at this point my dislike of Arsenal formed properly. How can someone be "Tottenham through-and-through" and then join Arsenal and, as it turned out, on a Free transfer? Campbell had let his contract expire meaning Arsenal (or whoever he would join) would not have to pay Tottenham a compensatory transfer fee, and Campbell could have fetched upwards of £10 million at the time. Joining any other club on a Free transfer would have been disappointing enough. We'd have probably wished him well and given him pantomime stick like Spurs fans did for Teddy when he returned in a Manchester United kit (not me, I still idolised him). Any other big club we could forgive and forget, but Arsenal?! The fans were quite understandably furious. Myself included at age 15.
The first time Sol Campbell returned to White Hart Lane as an Arsenal player, I remember watching the news of it and being shocked by the hostility but strangely agreeing with it. The Arsenal team bus was being peppered with glass bottles and bricks and the Spurs fans looked terrible because of it, I totally disagreed with that. But I agreed with the sentiment of making Arsenal afraid to be at Tottenham, give them a hostile environment and make them know they wouldn't be in for an easy game.
Inside the stadium, the crowd booed, jeered, whistled and let 4,000 balloons go with the word "JUDAS" emblazened across them. Now, that I did agree with. A protest without violence. At the end of the day it's professional football and legally Sol Campbell did nothing wrong, some would argue morally he didn't either. He saw out his contract at Spurs without speaking to any other clubs, was fully involved with Spurs right up until he became a free agent but by doing so he would, somewhat ironically, stiff Tottenham royally.
My point of view at the time was he deserved some stick for saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. Sol didn't help himself by emerging out of the White Hart Lane tunnel and immediately clapping and waving at the Arsenal fans, almost goading the Spurs fans, although I'm sure the intentions were merely to force his own focus onto his new fan base. I have since learnt that at one stage Sol Campbell looked to the stands in that game and saw his own brother Tony in amongst the Spurs fans, and he was supporting Tottenham. Sol has expressed dismay at this, however it makes sense. Fans pick a club and stick with them. Players are professionals, it's a job to them so they can move to whatever club is best for them. You can't deny that Arsenal were the better team at the time, but while I am sure Tony Campbell wanted to see his brother succeed, he wouldn't want to see Arsenal succeed at Tottenham's expense.
Sol Campbell's reasons for leaving Tottenham were fair enough, he wanted to fight for major trophies and Spurs at the time would not have given him that chance. Arsenal could, and that is a painful thought for Spurs fans. We could have forgiven a move to Manchester United, Liverpool, maybe even Chelsea. We could have even supported a move abroad, to Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona or somewhere in Europe. But not Arsenal. Strip the rivalry away and the move makes sense, but football fans aren't that objective.
In 2004, Arsenal were invincible and Campbell was part of the side that went unbeaten as Arsenal won the Premier League. They won the title with a 2-2 draw... against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Arsenal clinched the title on Tottenham territory. As much as I hated Campbell in an Arsenal shirt, he did something that day which I respected him for... he was interviewed on TV and said he left the pitch at the Final Whistle and didn't join in the Arsenal celebrations because he didn't want to
Sol Campbell lifting the Premier League
trophy as an Arsenal player
provoke anybody and disrespect the Spurs fans by celebrating in front of them. I thought that was very decent of him, because winning a title is a rare thing and although this was his second Premier League win with Arsenal, all you want to do when you win is celebrate with your team-mates.
The best Spurs ever got out of their games against Arsenal while Campbell was there in his first stint were draws. No wins. Sol Campbell got vitriolic abuse, a lot of it completely unnecessary and a lot of it disgusting, including homophobic and racial chanting. For the record, Sol Campbell is not a homosexual and if he was... so what? This type of chanting is horrific and too personal. Some would argue the chants of "Campbell, you're a c**t! Campbell, Campbell, you're a c**t!" or "Sol, Sol Campbell! Ooh-ahh! I wanna knowwww why you're such a c**t!" (See below) are too far as well, however those don't bother me too much, and whilst it is strong language I don't think it was wrong to use. It's a word that a lot of British people are offended by, and perhaps I'm taking the Australian way of looking at things but to me it's just a stronger way of calling someone a dickhead, a twat, a wanker... all used in everyday conversation and on football terraces. But the word "cunt"? People lose their minds over it.
Come to Australia, where people call their mates "cunts" and their enemies "mate". Ask people why they are offended by it and the majority will only be able to come up with "because it's a disgusting word!"... In this case I think it's justifiable, it's an expression of what level of ire these people had with regards to Campbell's character for appearing to crap all over Tottenham to go to Arsenal. I'll reiterate that professionally, Sol did nothing wrong. But the Spurs fans felt betrayed, felt like they'd been deceived. Trust me, there are some individuals who I feel personally betrayed by and I would quite happily call them cunts too.
What fuelled the fire is that Spurs have not had anything near the amount of success as Arsenal, we are envious, jealous even, of the level of success Sol achieved with our rivals. It should have been us! We won the League Cup again in 2008, beating Arsenal 5-1 in the Semi-Final, but Campbell had left by then. He returned to Arsenal and faced Spurs in April 2010, and finally Spurs won a Premier League North London derby 2-1 courtesy of goals by Danny Rose on his debut (see below, one of my favourite goals ever) and Gareth Bale. This was the beginning of an era where Tottenham would gradually get closer and closer to Arsenal.
Perhaps it's the passage of time, perhaps it's the fact that Spurs have beaten Arsenal on more than a few occasions in recent years... but Sol Campbell's transfer doesn't carry too much weight for me now. Spurs have finally finished ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, and deserve to. Spurs are now the team more likely to push for a Premier League title in the coming seasons. But it's only one season, Spurs were only superior over the last 12 months. There is a strong argument still that Arsenal are the bigger club. Personally, I disagree but then that's what bias done for me. Yet, still to this day Sol Campbell is seen as a hate figure by Tottenham Hotspur fans. I think that the time has come to let bygones be bygones. You can forgive Sol Campbell, even if you can't forget. The man is human.
Sol Campbell in Spurs colours, where he spent most
of his playing career
Much was made of Tottenham's farewell to the wonderful stadium that is White Hart Lane, and the club legends invited to be there, the Kings of White Hart Lane. Sol Campbell was not invited. I haven't heard what the official reason for this is. Part of me agreed, did he deserve to be invited after dropping Spurs for their most hated rivals? Part of me thought he should be there. He made more appearances for Tottenham than for any other club, scored more goals for Tottenham than for any other club, lifted a trophy as Captain of Tottenham Hotspur. He will go down in history as a trophy winning Captain for Tottenham. Would there be a better occasion for him to celebrate Tottenham's heritage and reconnect with Spurs fans? To give a new generation of Spurs fans who only know him as "Judas" to see that he actually contributed to the club's historic successes?
One of the Kings of the Lane who was there, Pat Jennings, is a club legend at Tottenham. He is also a club legend at Arsenal. Yes, the circumstances were different with his transfer but people don't taint the contribution he made at Tottenham Hotspur because of his time at Arsenal, they remember it and are grateful for it. It's 16 years since Sol last put on a Spurs shirt. He found success at Arsenal, and while Arsenal were ahead of us for two decades it is a very different Tottenham Hotspur now. We are in the ascendancy, Spurs are coming of age. Arsenal could win the FA Cup final next week, and if they do that's another trophy they have over us. But we are not jealous of them any more. We do not envy Arsenal any more. Sol Campbell's association with them should mean nothing now, but his history with Spurs should.
I recently read that Sol Campbell was here in Sydney a couple of months ago ahead of Arsenal's visit to Australia in July. If he comes back, I would actually welcome the chance to sit down with him over a beer, talk to him about his time at Tottenham, the switch to Arsenal and what exactly both clubs mean to him. Despite his time at Arsenal it is clear that members of his family have a love of
Sol Campbell in Arsenal colours
Tottenham Hotspur. I find it staggering still to this day how fans forget that players are also human, and have to think for themselves at times. Sol Campbell deciding to move to Arsenal may well have been what he thought was best for his family at the time. His family responsibility is a huge priority over fans opinions, and while the fans reaction may be partly understandable, it is clear the abuse went way too far. If you really think that level of abuse is deserved then you need to take a long hard look at yourself and ask what kind of person you are for condoning that level of abusing someone for a change of employer. Sol Campbell is not a criminal, he is not a murderer, rapist or thief. He was a footballer, a bloody good one at that, and we should be thankful he graced the turf of White Hart Lane.
I have no idea how many Spurs fans would agree with this article, I suspect the percentage would be low. I personally feel Sol Campbell owed Spurs fans an apology over the way he left the club, and indeed he did apologise HERE. OK, he technically did nothing wrong and he honoured his contract, but the fact that Spurs got no compensation for his move to the rivals is what rankles. Having said that, I feel the Spurs fans as a whole owe Sol Campbell an even bigger apology for the vitriolic abuse
he has received from our fans since the move. I mean the homophobic, racial and disgusting abuse. The pantomime abuse can be understood and I don't mean that, but Spurs fans went too far. With that in mind neither side is in the right and as such it is high-time to move on. Tottenham don't need Sol Campbell in the same way they did 16 years ago, but football as a whole has never needed that level of hooliganism or vitriol.
I don't think he ever would read this, or even accept the invitation... but I would like to shake Sol Campbell by the hand and thank him for his role in growing my love of Tottenham Hotspur as a child, for showing huge courage to do what was best for him at the time and to have a beer with him and show him that this Spurs fan at least has moved on. White Hart Lane has gone, and with it so has some history of which Sol Campbell was a part of. The future of the club looks bright, and Spurs fans are now beginning to look forward and lose that sense of jealousy and injustice. The man has apologised for the hurt he caused Spurs fans, and that contrition is more than enough to forgive a man that ultimately put up with a lot more abuse than he ever deserved.
Sol Campbell statistics:
Tottenham Hotspur: 255 appearances (10 goals), 1 League Cup
Arsenal: 146 appearances (8 goals), 2 Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cups, 1 Community Shield
The tragedy of a human death brings a pain to those closest to the individual that cannot be expressed. Even more so when the death is of a young human with all of the potential joys of life ahead of them, stolen before it had even begun to develop. When the death is unexpected it makes it even more painful. Everyone can imagine, if not understand, how horrible a situation that could be. And yet in every situation there will be someone who tries to exploit it. I read an article today by Fred Pawle of The Australian, and I come away from the read feeling a little angry at what has been written, and I am going to address parts of the article here in the hope that Fred Pawle will read it, take it on board and perhaps see an alternative point of view. This week, a 17 year old girl was killed by a Great White Shark while surfing off Esperance in Western Australia. An unspeakable tragedy, my heart goes out to her family and friends who are suffering from her loss, and nothing we can do or say will ease that. No-one would wish that heartache on any family. Fred Pawle has used this tragedy to write a highly biased, unbalanced article that in the first sentence hints as to what direction he is heading; Tabloid-style exploiting of a horrible situation. The opening paragraphs read:
"Our insane shark-conservation policies have cost another life, this time a 17-year-old girl who was attacked in front of her parents and siblings.
I would like to say that this incident will be the turning point in this debate, that our politicians will finally realise we need to reduce the increasing number of aggressive, lethal sharks in our waters, but this is unlikely."
I take issue with the notion that we "need" to get rid of sharks in "our" waters. What this boils down to is lack of understanding from the people who write these articles. Or even worse, total understanding that they are writing click-bait. Why is it "insane" to conserve a species that is vital to it's eco-system? I am glad to see the WA Government has (for now at least) said they won't deploy drum lines, because they don't work. Not only that but it is a complete stab in the dark and doesn't guarantee that the shark caught is the individual shark that attacked.
Next up from Fred Pawle, a direct attack on a common-sense approach:
"The forces against such action are deeply entrenched in all our major organisations. For example, Surf Life Saving Western Australia, where yesterday’s attack occurred, recommends six responses to sharks: research, education, surveillance, communication, preventive action (“shark barriers”, which can be built only in placid waters) and emergency response. It does not recommend the reduction of sharks, despite many fishermen in the state saying the size and abundance of large sharks, especially great whites, off WA are alarmingly high."
Most surfers are completely aware that the sea is the shark's home. I find it deplorable that people still support culling of sharks rather than support educating people of the dangers and how to avoid interacting with them. It's the same with Crocodiles in the NT and Queensland. There needs to be more of a push for educating people about sharks, snakes, crocodiles, spiders and the likes because most of the people spouting about culling any of the above animals don't have a damn clue about them. Fred, your agenda is revealed thus:
"Researchers and academics whose careers depend upon continued funding into the behaviour and fragility of these “apex predators” long ago convinced politicians and large sections of the community that to reduce the number of sharks in our waters would be an ecological disaster."
Mr Pawle, tell me this; Are you serious? Are you actually f***ing serious? Are you suggesting that Marine Biologists around the globe are all party to a conspiracy that they have to say these animals are vital in order to retain funding?! That is preposterous. Funding is usually issued as a result of sustained successful study. If these researchers and academics weren't giving any information of substance then funding would have been cut and any understanding we currently have of these animals would be vastly reduced.
Pawle: "So a teenage kid, doing what Aussie teenagers have done for more than a century, has died instead. She won’t be the last."
But sharks, doing what sharks have done for more than a million years, are secondary to our pursuit of recreation in their territory?
Pawle:"The Senate’s environment committee, chaired by Green Tasmanian Peter Whish-Wilson, will coincidentally hold public hearings into shark mitigation strategies in Perth on Thursday. If, when the hearings begin, the committee expresses sympathy for the latest victim’s family, it will be an act of breathtaking hypocrisy."
Yet if they don't express sympathy you would attack them as being heartless monsters, also an act of (tabloid-style) breathtaking hypocrisy. They would be absolutely right to express sympathy, and any suggestion that the sympathy wouldn't be heartfelt is shocking. It's basic human nature. Culling sharks will solve nothing. Of course it is reasonable to take actions to mitigate the risk of shark attack however drum lines and culling aren't the answer. Yet you criticise the very people whose research could lead to a manageable solution and dismiss them as doing nothing more than perpetuating their funding?!
The problem is the arrogance of the human species that we feel we are entitled to be anywhere we want to be regardless of what else is there, and at our convenience. I absolutely agree that residents of WA should feel safe while surfing, and I am not for a second suggesting that any shark attack victim is arrogant, but in order to meet your desired level of safety you will need to cull the whole population of White Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks etc. Lets not forget that state lines mean absolutely nothing in the animal kingdom. If you were to kill sharks in WA it wouldn't stop them coming from South Africa or South Australia or New Zealand or Guadalupe arriving in WA at some point. And then what? An animal goes extinct because "people want to surf?!" If that's not arrogance, what is it?
"As reported in The Australian this month, the committee has already reached a conclusion that its job is to help revive the number of sharks in our waters, downplay the dangers they pose, dismiss methods that have proven successful in Queensland and Sydney, and educate the public about these “wonderful” and “extraordinary” animals.
Its priority is the safety of sharks first, people second."
I think putting value on a human life above a shark's life, while not necessarily wrong, is what contributes to the mentality that sharks lives don't matter, or any other animal for that matter. At the end of the day humans are land creatures, we cannot live in the water. What right do we have to kill them in their own home just so we can play there?! I think we may have to agree to disagree because to me that is huge arrogance. We go there at our own risk, we don't have a "God given" right to play there and assume we will be safe. We don't have a right to annihilate any species to facilitate our desire to ride a wave. Education leads to respect. Education can eradicate a fear or at least make it manageable. I was petrified of snakes as a child. When I came to Australia, I decided to educate myself about them and I have since completed two venomous snake handling courses, am awaiting the catch and release course, work at a Reptile Park (where my colleagues collect venom from snakes and spiders in order to create anti-venom and save lives) and try to educate the public about these beautiful creatures and their behaviour. Once you understand their natural behaviours you can adjust your behaviour accordingly so we can co-exist.Yes, it is us that has to adjust our behaviour. As the vastly more "intelligent" species we can adapt. Sharks are not domestic pets, you can't train them to not follow their instincts.
"Of the six people invited to the Perth hearings, two are conservationist academics (UWA professors Shaun Collin and Rebecca Meeuwig); one is selling an unreliable personal electronic deterrent (Shark Shield); one advocates the immediate abandonment of drumlins and nets in Queensland, the presence of which has coincided with an almost complete absence of fatal attacks for 50 years (Sea Shepherd); and another is SLSWA, whose timid six-point plan is outlined [in the article]"
There is not a problem with these invitations. And you are very clever in your wording... "almost complete absence of fatal attacks..." However, you are wrong. In December 2014 there was a fatal shark attack at Rudder Reef in QLD and according to sharkattackdata.com there have been five fatal attacks in Queensland since the year 2000. Do these five lives lost not register for you because they contradict your point that with drumlines and nets shark attacks are nullified? Even with these measures in place, five people lost their lives. Even with these measures in place there were 46 shark attacks in Queensland between 2000 and 2016. The fact remains that humans are animals. We ARE part of the food chain but it is our vastly superior intellect that (most of the time) keeps us from being eaten. We are not food for sharks but unfortunately for humans a shark doesn't have hands to check what something is, it has rows and rows of razor sharp teeth that can be devastating if a human gets on the end of, potentially life ending. One nick of a major artery and you're dead in minutes but not because of a predation, but an investigatory bite. It's very rare a human is eaten by a shark.
"The committee’s hearing in Sydney last month repeatedly heard witnesses say that surfers and other ocean users must accept the risk of entering the water. Even surfers are spouting this line these days.
'Real surfers understand that sharks are extraordinary beasts and that we are in their environment' Surfrider Foundation representative Brendan Donohoe, from Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach, told the committee during its Sydney hearings last month."
Surfers are "spouting" these lines because they make sense. The moment sharks start coming up the beaches into territories they don't belong and begin attacking humans then I'll support a shark cull. It is absolutely ridiculous that to this day people still think animals have the capacity for human thought and reasoning. I wrote about this in my early blog entries in 2013, Animals Don't Think Like People, People.
"Mr Donohoe also told the committee that “there are a lot of morons around”, by which he meant there were many people who blamed governments for the shark crisis currently affecting Australia. “The idea that it is someone else’s fault is astounding to me. Everyone knows the risk, and the risk is not statistically lessened by anything we do.” "
Mr Donohue and I agree on something. There ARE a lot of morons around, but that isn't restricted to any particular debate. The definition of "moron" is "a stupid person." The definition of "stupid" is "having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense." Tell me, Mr Pawle, where a lack of intelligence comes from? Isn't it from a lack of education about a certain topic? How can extended research into sharks be a bad thing? How can it be a bad thing to increase our knowledge as much as possible in order to understand and reduce a potential threat?
"Researchers, including Bruce himself, last year conceded that such predictions are impossible. A report for the WA Department of Fisheries, co-authored by Bruce after conducting one of the biggest shark tagging and tracking projects in history, found that great white behaviour is “highly variable” and “not consistent”."
Well that's an easy one. They're wild animals, they aren't on rails or programmed to set routes. They'll follow their prey, which is predominantly fish or seals. Similarly, the fish and seals aren't restricted to any particular piece of ocean and occasionally our paths will cross as people enter the water. More research may be required into the numbers of fish in particular areas, why they are there, and what effect they have on the local population of sharks.
Mr Pawle, your article is irresponsible. Your article takes advantage of an inherent fear of being eaten that most humans possess, you play and prey on that with sensationalised headlines that are not backed up by the facts. It's an opinion piece, of which you are of course entitled to one. You are writing for the national broadsheet, The Australian and as such people rely on you and the media as a whole to provide accurate, fair articles. People's opinions are formed by what information they see in the media and you are in a position of responsibility. If people are to share the opinion of individuals like yourself and Vic Hislop, to go back to a medieval attitude of belligerence towards any animal that causes any danger, and to value it over the proven scientific research given to us by "researchers and academics" then the future is very bleak.
Mr Pawle I would very much welcome your response. I would very much like you to back up your opinion with evidence. I would welcome your input into what I have said, and if I am wrong about anything please let me know, I firmly believe in being as fully informed as possible. I would like to know what exactly has brought you to the opinion you now have, and I would like to know what you propose should be done to reduce and avoid shark attacks in future, and why.
Yours in anticipation,
C Carter.
With deepest condolences to the family and friends of Laeticia Brouwer. RIP. (Edited 26/04/2017 to correct grammar and a typo.)
Although I haven't posted a blog in a while, I have four drafts written which I haven't quite finished and one of those probably won't get published (Far too controversial, wouldn't want to get counter-sued!). The intention has been there, however it has been a tumultuous few months again with the atmospheric highs of new life events and the dramatic lows of family bereavements. Plural.
In a nutshell, my Grandfather passed away last October followed two weeks later by my wife's Grandfather. Over the Christmas period we had a mortgage application approved, viewed some homes and placed an offer on a brand new apartment which was accepted. Then while preparing everything for the move my Grandmother passed away in mid January, leading to an emotional game of cricket and exceptional support from my friends and family alike. Then the move... inevitable trips to IKEA for furniture. There really is nothing to make you feel more Australian than driving your European car to buy Swedish furniture for your Japanese TV while drinking your Mexican beer and eating your Italian pizza. Multi-culturism? Pfft...
We've covered some mileage over the last few months too, between Christmas and New Year we took the almost traditional trip to Victoria to visit my Great Auntie Kath in Echuca. At times like this it becomes apparent how different Jess and I are, in that Jess has always lived in a city and is used to having everything nearby. Echuca is very much a country town and while it has all the amenities it is a very different pace of life. Honestly I love getting out into the country, whether it's Echuca, Bathurst or wherever. It sounds corny but when you are out in the country it's easier to connect with what's around you, to find peace within yourself and relax without time pressures. Or is it just that being in the country is such an irregular occurrence for us that it highlights the fact we are away from the normal pressures of our day-to-day lives? It's all about perception.
The heatwave that hit Australia in February was astounding, in the middle of which we took a trip to Wagga Wagga (for people reading in England, it's pronouced "Wogga Wogga") for Jess's Uncle's retirement party. Ian Ferguson has been the Golf Professional at Wagga Wagga for 40 years, which is truly a remarkable achievement. The newspapers wrote a great article, which I would urge you to have a read of here: http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/4386322/end-of-an-era-as-ferg-prepares-to-finish-at-wagga-country-club-photos/
Yet again the trip to Wagga was another escape to the country, my Father-In-Law and I decided to take advantage and get a round of golf in while Ferg was still involved with the place. The problem was the fact it was 46°C in the shade. Golf? We put up a cricket score. But it is a beautiful course and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to play there, it is in such wonderful condition you'd think you were playing at Wentworth. I'd love to have a go in more reasonable temperatures!
The weather has relented in the last few weeks, unfortunately to the stage where rain has interrupted our cricket season and ended it prematurely. None of our teams reached Finals this season which is a disaster, and slightly takes the shine of what would normally be a huge personal achievement; I finished the season on 390 runs from 6 games (out of 13) and finished as leading run scorer in 2nd Grade Shires. This might seem like a FIGJAM moment but I have never been leading run scorer of anything before... I'm proud of it. I've scored 6 centuries, 3 in England and 3 in Australia. The ones in England were in 2005, 2009 and 2012. Not exactly regular. The 3 in Australia all came within 12 months... January 2016, October 2016 and January 2017. It's not considered good form to blow up one's personal achievements, but like I say... I'm bloody proud of myself for it especially given what I've had to deal with job searching, home buying and losing both grandparents. You can see from my previous published entry how much my Grandfather meant/means to me, and my Grandmother was the most beautiful, kind-hearted woman that to be able to walk onto a field 2 hours after learning of her death and score that hundred with that determination and dedicate it to her? It's a level of mental strength I never knew I had. The report is HERE.
As I previously alluded to, Jess and I have bought our first home and we could not be happier with it. It's taken nearly four years of saving and hard work but we have finally got there. Of course the hard work has not finished, but we are finally in a place where we are a relaxed kind of happy. I finally have a job which I am in my element at Kingsgrove Sports, constantly around the game of cricket in a role with responsibility but not constantly under pressure and fully confident in my knowledge and ability to fulfill the role. I can't harbor too many regrets about previous efforts as ultimately they have led me here and I have made many great friends as a result. Obviously there were things that didn't go as expected but I am happy and secure in the knowledge that ultimately I have come out on top, and escaped a dire situation.
Our first home is taking shape nicely and we almost have everything as we want it. We've already settled into a daily routine and once we have a few final things in place we will be set. And then I'll hopefully have the time to do things like go flying using the money you have kindly donated to my Flying fundraiser. Maybe I'll even have time write a little more regularly in this blog about a variety of topics and observations. As mentioned, I have a few lined up; "People Take Offence", "Speed Kills Is A Lie", or "What REALLY Happened At..." ...You be co-operative, now... don't get me in trouble! The point is that I haven't updated this blog as often as I did when I left the UK and I find myself two weeks away from being eligible for Australian Citizenship and an Australian passport, which means I have been here for 4 years. And I haven't even mentioned the exciting new Formula 1 season that is just around the corner... 870km away in Melbourne. Pretty close by Australian standards.
