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I awoke in the early hours of this morning, found my radio still humming away, and soon afterwards heard the news from Switzerland  –  Australia had [not surprisingly in my view] not been successful in it’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup Soccer finals. In fact, what did surprise me was that the vote went to the Middle eastern country of Qatar, which as I would comment in Facebook later on, strikes me as a choice for money – in an unpleasant climate, and basically unpleasant country as far as tourism might be concerned!!  While as I suggest, the hopes of Australian being successful were far more optimism than a likely reality, those supporting the Aussies’ bid team etc, were certainly shattered and bitterly disappointed by the overnight decision.  It was an equally disappointing night for  the English, who had been hoping to get the right to host the 2018 World Cup. That decision went to Russia!!  It simply becomes so obvious that money plays such a dominant role in all these decisions!!  Our national team captain [Lucas Neill] had this to say about the result –

“Hand on heart, I honestly thought we ticked all the boxes for our bid.   “Let’s be honest, it’s incredible to think that we can only get one vote up against the likes of the countries we were up against. But we accept it and we move on.”   Neill admitted it would be a while before Australia would get the rights to host the World Cup but felt the bid committee did all it could in their attempts to capture the 2022 tournament.   “It’s unfortunate it’s going to be a long time before we get another opportunity to bid but we have really done Australia proud,” he added”.

That disappointment must have rubbed off on our cricket team!!  The 2^nd Test against England, in the Ashes Series started today, and Australia batted  – not very well  –  in fact, we had our worst ever start to a Test match, losing the first three wickets for just 2 runs, as opener Simon Katich was run out on the 4^th ball without even facing a ball, captain Ricky Ponting came in, and was out immediately first ball, and two runs later, vice captain Michael Clarke was out!!! I didn’t hear about any of that until much later, and I think I’m rather about that!!  In the end, by the close of play on Day 1, Australia were all out for 245 runs [our best scorers were the heroes of the First Test, Michael Hussey [just missed another 100, out for 93] and Brad Haddon.  England were 0 wicked for 1 run at stumps!  Certainly was England’s day in the cricket!!

A quick trip down to Ballarat today, for a funeral. Wall Smith was 87, and the father of my brother’s first wife  – I think Ian still looked upon Wal as a bit of a second father. A rather nice service at the Doveton Park Funeral Centre in Ballaat North, followed by the burial service over in the Ballarat New Cemetery. Despite a long downpour of rain during the later part of the drive down from Sunbury,  the weather in Ballarat was perfect during the period of the funeral, which made us all rather lucky, particularly at the cemetery stage!  [I shall return anon>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>]

It was an interesting, even sometimes eventual drive down to Ballarat this morning – much of the first part of the trip was covered in isolated patches of thick fog, and I was grateful for daylight, as I have never enjoyed driving at night in foggy conditions – remembered various wintry Monday nights when I worked at the Shire of Gisborne, north of Sunbury, and the occasional late night drive after a Council or Committee meeting in rather unnerving fog conditions One of the girls  who used to work with me, named Belinda, also came from Sunbury, and I recall she was even more apprehensive of the fog than I was – on a couple of occasions, we arranged for her to closely follow me, so at she at least had something in front to guide her, while your writer here, was often just hoping for the best, that he was still on the correct side of the road, or simply on the rod!!

Anyway, back to today – conditions much better than those nights. However on the second half of the trip, the rain started again, and at about 20 minutes out of Ballarat, it was coming down by the proverbial bucketful. This did not auger well for this morning’s funeral!!  However the ‘gods’ were with us, and the rain had basically stopped by the time I reached Ballarat just before 9am, and the sun would be shining for the next few hours!!  Just for ‘old Wally’.  That in fact was whose funeral I was attending  – Wally [Walter Godfrey] Smith, born in 1923 [two years after my own father], and died at the age of 87, on 26 November. I’m not sure [and I didn’t press the issue] why I didn’t find out until late yesterday afternoon, and then only by accident, then my sister’s husband ‘grabbed me’ on Facebook.  Had I not logged on at that moment, I would not be here now [in Ballarat], would not have had the opportunity to pay tribute to Wally, nor [as important as everything else], would I have had the opportunity to meet my younger brother who I’d not seen since the end of June 2006.  I believe I would have been ‘a little upset’ had that occurred.

The connection with Wally  –  he was Ian’s  [the brother I am referring to] first wife’s father, and I think in many ways, Ian looked upon Wal as a second father to himself, certainly he had a lot of time and respect for him, and had kept in touch over the since his marriage to Jenny [one of Wal’s daughters] had fallen apart.  And while I had only seen Wal on a couple of occasions over those years, he was always someone you would be happy to call in upon. In fact as I mentioned earlier, I’d intended to do that before I went up to Brisbane in October  – but ‘didn’t get around’ to doing so!

Ian was one of the first people I met, upon arrival at the Funeral parlour in Doveton Street North – he had driven basically 24 hours straight through from Brisbane [most of it in rain and unpleasant weather conditions], and had stayed overnight at Wal’s home, with Jenny’s sister, Sue, who had been caring full time for her father over recent years as his health deteriorated. For this funeral, I had mistakenly assumed it would be a small and short affair, instead, the numbers of mourners was quite large for this man described by all as ‘generous in spirit, generous in time, and generous in character to family and friends, in fact anyone who did the right thing by him. As one of the tributes to him stated, he was the kind of man that you would visit, and upon leaving, would feel as though you had taken part of him with you, a wonderful complement.

Amongst the  large number present, were of course all of my sister’s family [the Skilbecks], Jenny, Sue and their two brothers, whom I didn’t really know, and Ian’s two sons by Jenny – sadly, since the marriage breakup between their mother and Ian, the relationship with his sons had not been the way you would like, and not necessarily any fault of Ian’s. So he met two of his grandchildren today for the first time, and was barely aware of their existence before today apart from the advice passed on by our sister!  So one can only hope, that arising out of the death of this wonderful old man, that some degree of ‘reconciliation’ of this family can eventually take place. At least today, there was communication.

In the meantime, I think that both Jenny [and Sue], and Ian, were separately happy to see myself turn up today – and so was I, particularly in view of how close it came to not happened. I must admit, I was always fond of Jenny as a sister-in-law, and I think for a while, got on reasonably well with her at a distance [one state away] after her marriage breakup.  But eventually, everyone drifted apart, but it was a good feeling today to be welcomed at Wal’s funeral with feeling of warmness. I think Ian thought so too  – not only met his grandchildren, but ‘even got a hug from Jenny’!

As for Wal, a man who had lived a long life, had many different jobs, served in the Australian Army during  World War 2 [so today’s service included an RSL component as had occurred at Dad’s funeral, back in 1969], never made fame or fortune, but certainly was much loved by all who became part of his life, even for a brief period of time. A man who spent half of his working with one hand, after he lost it in an industrial accident, yet never allowed that to stop him from living the rest of his life ; a man who lost his beloved wife, I assume when the four children were still reasonably young [I never met her], and who as his son said, remained faithful to her, until the end of his own life.

Wal was a fan of the music and singing of Paul Potts, and Susan Boyle, so this morning’s service included Nessum Dorma [by Potts],  I Dreamed A Dream [by Susan Boyle], and ended with Time To Say Goodbye, sung by Paul Potts. It also included a Photographic Celebration of Wally’s life, on a screen, which I noticed Ian, whom I was sitting with,  had difficulty in watching  – this whole service had quite an affect on my ex-Army brother. Meanwhile, by now, Ballarat was bathed in brilliant warm sunshine, and it remained that way, as we joined the brief service at the graveside in the Ballarat  New Cemetery, across the road. Certainly, the ground was very soft and wet underfoot in the cemetery grounds, but for that time, the weather remained perfect [later in the afternoon, back in Melbourne, we would be ‘enjoying’  thunderstorms and drenching rain again.]

I only stayed briefly for the ‘wake’ & refreshments following the two services – long enough to take Ian back across the road to the Crematorium part of the cemetery, where we visited the joint memorial to our Mum & Dad.  Jean [sister] and her daughter & boyfriend joined us for that brief moment of tribute to our own parents, at the site of the resting place of their ashes, one from 1969, the other from 1990.

For myself, it was departure time, back down the highway to Melbourne, where I basically had to go right into the city to get across to my workplace. That drive was in fine weather [just] though a number of ‘large trucks’ seemed to be ‘haunting’ for most of the trip which didn’t allow for much relaxation on the drive.  In many ways, I regretted not deciding to spend the day in Ballarat rather than rushing back the way I did, but having made the commitment to get back to the office by early afternoon, I felt obliged to do.  Should have committed myself differently.

My short stay in the office this afternoon, saw your writer feeling rather tired, and there was no rest this evening either, as it was the final meeting night of the radio station committee  –  a meeting  that I must admit, consisted entirely of an informal ‘gathering’ for a meal at the local Bowling Club restaurant, our usual annual haunt for that purpose. Those who know me, will be aware that I generally make conversation only when it’s needed – and as a consequence, when I night like this evening occurs and after the events of the day, I find that after 2 hours I have virtually been talking non-stop, well, my voice simply ‘cracks it’  and I can’t continue. So it was not a late night!!

On this first day of December, which officially happens to be the first day of Summer here in Australia, I am left wondering what happened to our Spring? I guess we can’t complain – after a decade of drought conditions, emptying reservoirs, dead lawns and beloved plants fading to nothing, the rain we have had over the past few months has been a delight, and has certainly freshened up and created a multitude of greens all over the countryside.  I guess it is really the low temperatures that we have experienced through much of Spring, especially in November just past, that have left the feeling that we have missed a season along the way somehow!!!

However, the general view [if you are an overseas tourist coming to Australia at this time of year] is that it will always be typically hot and dry, great swimming weather etc throughout the nation. But be warned, being such a large country covering many different climatic zones, one area can vary immensely from another, with  deserts [of varying natures], beaches, rainforests, bushlands,  and mountains to take into consideration.  Have a look at these average temperatures for December weather in Australia. Of course most of my experience comes from Melbourne, and while the specified averages below for Melbourne are a good representation, that average that be exceeded quite severely [or vice versa] sometimes from one day to another.  That in fact, to my point of view, is what attracts Victoria’s weather [and in particular, this southern coastal region] to me as being ideal  –  it may get extremely hot for a few days [or vice versa] but you can always guarantee that it will change after just a few days. Over in Perth, for eg, you mind find anything up to three weeks at a time with temperatures well above the 30s – thankfully that doesn’t happen here. As has been said before, Melbourne [and district, which includes Sunbury] has been capable of producing the equivalent of four seasons in one day!!  Great place to live!   The weather in Melbourne is less variable in December compared to November, though it can still be quite diverse. Cool and overcast conditions can happen for several days. Hot days are at time associated with unpleasant north wind, which can be fairly strong.  Anyway, those average temperatures are:

Average Temperatures in December
Adelaide: 16°C (61°F) to 27°C (81°F)
Brisbane: 19°C (66°F) to 30°C (86°F)
Canberra: 11°C (52°F) to 26°C (79°F)
Darwin: 25°C (77°F) to 33°C (91°F)
Hobart: 11°C (52°F) to 20°C (68°F)
Melbourne: 13°C (55°F) to 24°C (75°F)
Perth: 16°C (61°F) to 29°C (84°F)
Sydney: 18°C (64°F) to 25°C (77°F)

Meanwhile, Australia’s 2022 World [Soccer] Cup bid team will be finally decided one way or another this Thursday, over in Switzerland I think.  The successful hosts for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be announced together on Thursday.  I have to admit to personally feeling was it is a bit optimistic to expect Australia to be successful – sure, we are a great sports loving nation, but it could never be claimed that we are yet [if ever] a power in football [soccer].  Yet despite what the other football codes in Australia try to suggest, a successful bid would bea great bonanza for a country, but sadly, the selfishness of our other codes [Australian Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union] would most likely see those codes hoping the bid fails, particularly if they feel that success will rebound against their sport. A recent report, in today’s Age newspaper,  places other doubts on Australia’s hopes of a successful bid. An AFP,  Reuters report says:-

‘Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid team has played down the significance of a FIFA study which ranked the country last overall in projected revenues for the tournament. The report by management consultants McKinsey was distributed to all members of the FIFA executive committee, who will pick the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Zurich on Thursday.  The study assessed each bid in five key revenue areas: ticketing, TV and media rights, sponsorship, hospitality, and merchandising. While rival 2022 bidders the United States scored 100 per cent overall, Australia trailed last with 68 per cent. Japan placed second with 73 per cent, with South Korea 71 per cent and Qatar 70 per cent.  However, Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy shrugged off suggestions that the report may have a damaging impact on the Australian bid.  “McKinsey are not voting,” Lowy told journalists. “They are not the deciding factor.” “I don’t want to give you a lesson in economics but I can tell you that if 2022 goes to Australia it will be very profitable, especially for FIFA. “If you look at the growth of Asia, Japan, China, India in the last 10 years, what will happen in the next 10 years is unbelievably great in numbers of people, wealth creation, spendable dollars. “Those things are overwhelming, whatever McKinsey might say.” Australian bid officials said they had commissioned their own studies in the past which had given a different picture, he added. “It does put a picture that is very profitable for FIFA and World Cup Australia. What we need to take into account is that we are a gateway to Asia.” Lowy said Thursday’s vote would not be swung by one individual factor, whether that was the technical or financial strength of the bids, the political lobbying or Wednesday’s presentations to FIFA’s executive committee. “There are many deciding factors, but I think we have a credible, good, top bid, very seriously done,” he said’.

Of course, it’s not surprising that our people associated with the Aussie bid would be downplaying  any negative attitudes towards Australia’s hopes, and good on them. Being a great fan of all levels and kinds of international sport [even if actually being a live spectator is becoming less of an attraction as one gets older!], I would love to see the World Cup come here. But 2022, mmmmm, that’s 12 years away! How old will I be?  I don’t want to think about that! However, in the past, when thinking about the main international sports I’d like to go to, the top five have always been the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Ashes Test Cricket,  Grand Slam Tennis final, and the World Cup [Soccer] Final  –  the latter is the only one I’ve not got to, and don’t ever expect to, unless it comes here!  Anyway, we will know the outcome of Australia’s bid in less than 48 hours!

Earlier in the year, I was following the progress of my brother [ex Australian Army] and his partner’s travels around Australia, but around the time of the football finals, while they were somewhere over on the Western Australian coast, I kind of lost contact, and didn’t hear any more from Ian & Toni. I did hear when I was up in Brisbane 5 weeks ago, that they wre on their way home – to Brisbane, but up until today, I really didn’t know whether they had finished their trip or not.  That was answered today, when a brief online conversation with my brotherinlaw in Ballarat revealed that Ian’s ex-fatherinlaw had passed away this Monday past, the funeral would be held tomorrow in Ballarat, and that Ian was driving down from Brisbane to attend the funeral.

Meanwhile, this was another case of my leaving things too late. During my brief visit to Ballarat in September for my sister’s 50th birthday, one of the other guests was the sister of Ian’s first wife – Sue, who was now [or then] a fulltime carer for her father, old ‘Wal’. I promised her at the time that I would call in to see her father, who was a wonderful friendly old chap that I’d not seen for a few years. I had intended to pop down to see him just before I went up to Brisbane, but as fate would have it,  never made that visit! Perhaps even then, it might have been too late, as he had been in hospital for a little while, and only the immediate family had been permitted to see him. However despite, I still felt a little regretful had not having made the effort in time. So despite the short notice, I determined that I would get down to Ballaat tomorrow morning – it was an early service, at 9.30, which would allow me to be back at the office by around midday. The added incentive to make that trip, would be the chance to very briefly see my brother, whom I had not seen since June 2006.

Incidentally, back to the World Cup 2022, and the decision to be made at 1.30am on Friday morning our time, as to which country would host the event that year  –  there were apparently five contenders – the United States, Qatar, South Korea [which had ‘plans’ to discuss the hosting of some matches in North Korea as a peace gesture, although after recent developments, the idea might have been dropped by now], Japan, and Australia. So that is the competition we are up against!  I have a feeling, as a matter of diplomacy, that Korea might get the nod.

Finally, a bit of expert commentary on possible changes to the Australian cricket team, for the Second Test due to start in Adelaide on Friday  –  “Australia have two major concerns stemming from the Gabba, one with the ball and one with the bat.  Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus failed to have an impact. Hilfenhaus got a wicket with his third ball of the Test and then failed to have any success in the remaining 50 overs he bowled while Johnson’s match total of 0-170 combined with a first-innings duck made for a horror return.  The concern with the bat is that almost 70 percent of their first-innings total was made by two batsmen, Hussey and Haddin.  The question the selectors face is determining whether those factors are significant enough to warrant a change in personnel ahead of Friday’s match. Pacemen Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris have been brought into an expanded squad, increasing the pressure on Johnson and Hilfenhaus to retain their places. On the batting side, while Hussey has extended his period of grace with his great knock, question marks persist over Marcus North, who has been out in single figures in 15 times in 33 Test innings’ [from the Cricket Australia website, today]. I imagine the final team will be announced tomorrow.

In an article in today’s local newspaper, the Liberal candidate in the local electorate [Tristan Weston], who looks as though he will just be beaten when the final count of votes is ascertained, had a couple of useful comments, which to my mind, suggested it was a pity he was going to fall short. The item, in the Macedon Ranges Weekly Community Voice noted that:-

“Mr Weston, a police detective, told the Weekly that regardless of the final result, he was satisfied with the job he did. ‘Obviously it would be great if we can win. It’s too early to call it one way or another, but there’s nothing I would have or could have done differently. I think the days of the local MP sitting back comfortably are over. This is a marginal seat now and everyone knows marginal seats will usually be looked after. I’m very happy with that and think the people of Macedon can look forward to more attention from their local member’. Mr Weston said the Liberal Party’s policies for Macedon had been formulated after consultation with the community. He said if a Liberal government came to power, it would honour its promises irrespective of who the local member was.  ‘Both Joanne Duncan and the [former] government have been sent a message. If they want to claim a [local] victory out of this, it’s a victory in name only because she’s being given a crystal-clear message that the community are not happy with how she or her government were doing things. I think she’s being told in no uncertain terms to lift her game. If she stays local member she’s on notice.  I think I’m done an enormous job for the community by making it a marginal seat’”.

I couldn’t agree more, and as I commented on here a few days ago, the current member, who looks like continuing in that role,  has had it far too easy for the past decade, and before this election, has barely had to do much to keep her seat!  This time, the Liberals made a determined effort with a good candidate, and while they may have fallen short, have made everyone realise that this electorate could change hands very quickly next time. around

Certainly, that is the way the day started after a night of very poor sleep, this writer didn’t really want to go anywhere this morning. When we eventually did get on the road, we immediately made the wrong choice as to which route to travel [I have two options of a morning], and as a consequence, a stretch of highway just out of Sunbury that is normally traversed in 3 minutes, took over 25 minutes this morning. Had it been because of an accident, I would have been much  less annoyed than I was to discover that this monstrous delay at peak hour on a 110 kph stretch of road was due to road works been set up early!!!  A little bit of forsight on someone’s part could have avoided all that hazzle – but then sometimes, I think these ‘road people’  do things like that for a bit of a laugh!!  Well supervisor on the Calder Highway this morning, it wasn’t funny!

Meanwhile with respect to the outcome of the weekend’s State Election, it would not be until late this afternoon before the existing Labor Premier, John Brumby finally accepted the inevitable, and conceded defeat for the outgoing government, when he realised that his Party was not going to be able to win enough seats to retain the government. So it seems that as of tonight, Victoria has a new Government – the Coalition of the Liberal Party and the Nationals, and  new Premier of Victoria will be Ted Bailleau. Obviously I’m quite happy about that because ‘my team’ has won for a change!!!  Not so certain, is our own electorate here, the Macedon seat – apparently the vote counting is continuing and is still very close, although most pundits seem to be giving it to Labor’s Joanne Duncan, again!  That will be a pity, as I would have liked to see this electorate fall in line with the new Government, and have it’s first Liberal representative for a decade.  We will have to wait on that one.

The news in the cricket was not so good – for Australia –  while we didn’t lose, we didn’t win either, with the match ending in a draw after another mammoth batting display by the two English batsmen who finished yesterday’s play not out. That’s where they stayed until the game ended this afternoon  –  not out, and broke various records along the way, the most impressive of which was the  biggest partnership scored in Australia by England in the history of the game.  This report from sportinglife.com

“England will head for Adelaide tomorrow still convinced they can win the Ashes after Alastair Cook led their second-innings escape from the Gabba.  Cook was the cornerstone in record stands of 188 with his captain and fellow opener Andrew Strauss and then an all-comers’ best against Australia down under of 329 with Jonathan Trott for the second wicket.  He finished unbeaten on 235 – his first double-hundred in first-class or Test cricket – alongside Trott (135no), as England declared on an astonishing 517 for one.  After Strauss’ 110, this was the first instance since 1924 of England’s top three batsmen each making centuries.  The circumstances of the feat made it all the more notable, after England had begun their second innings needing 221 runs simply to make their hosts bat again in the first Ashes Test.  Few made much of their prospects of rescuing a stalemate at that point, even on an ever-improving pitch”.  The English scorecard showed  Strauss 110; Cook 235 not out; and Trott 135 not out, leaving the team at the end of their innings, when they declared, on 1 wicket for 517 runs!!  That record partnership between Cook and Trott –  329 runs!!    The final team scores were England: 260 and 1/517 declared.  Australia: 481 and 1 for 107 at the end of the match.

On the world front, I’m a little concerned that  the United States  is going to go ahead with it’s planned joint US-South Korean military exercises [war games if you like] in the Yellow Sea, despite China’s concern that the exercises may provoke Pyongyang [North Korea] into further aggressive action against the South.  At the same time  the South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak has vowed to make North Korea “pay the price” for its “inhumane” artillery attack last week  on a frontline South Korean  island that killed four people and sparked global outrage.  Lee had come under pressure to take a tougher line against Pyongyang after his military’s counter-fire following North Korea’s deadly artillery strike on a border island last week was seen as feeble.  I suppose he has to respond in such a manner, but it strikes me as being a further inflammatory reason for the North Koreans to get ‘trigger happy’!  It’s a very precarious situation up there on that peninsula, and I worry that somehow Australia will get dragged [again] into any longterm conflict that might arise, and all of the ramifications that could arise from that.

I mentioned at the beginning of this contribution, that the day had been preceded by a poor night’s sleep!  I have these moments when I begin to worry and think about all the various little tasks I’m trying to get completed on the home front, and realise that the middle of the night is not the time of day to dwell on such matters!  Unfortunately, my mind is apparently not always disciplined enough to obey the obvious, and occasionally decides to go to work at the most inconvenient times!!!  Bahh!!!!

I guess not really lazy, as I did spend almost 5 hours at the radio station, in the early morning and late afternoon with two very different music programs, but admittedly, inbetween those two shows I was not terribly energetic or  active. I did make a couple of comments through Facebook about yesterday’s election, in response to a friend’s query. Asked how I was going to celebrate the ‘possible’ change of government, my response was as follows:-            “You know, I’m really not sure that we have much to celebrate, yet, if at all, I mean to the average Victorian, does it really make that much difference which of the two major parties is in power? So long as we keep those other ‘extreme’ and…(tharr be more) narrow minded groups from exerting more influence than they deserve. It’s probably good for Australia in broad terms that our system means that after two or three [sometimes more] terms in office, a Party gets on the ‘public’s nose’ a bit and we have a change of government – we think that there is a large group of Labor/Liberal fanatics who will never change their views, but election results prove that a fair percentage of the population do change their minds and attitudes every couple of elections – the ‘swinging’ voters are good for a democratic society because they have that opportunity. A lot of commentators are talking about the importance of ‘the time for a change’ philosophy, and while it can be a weak ‘excuse’ for a poor performance [and in my view was over-used by the Labor rep on the ABC panel last night], I think there’s something in it. It seems to have influenced the thinking in our electorate where the Labor members at both Federal and State level have had an ‘easy ride’ for a decade – I mean in the Fed election in August, there was barely a sqeak from the Liberal candidate and the Party in this area – Maria Van deserved to win that one in a canter because no-one bothered to make much effort to oppose her. At least this time, Triston Weston had a go, and I personlly hope it pays off for him whatever the final result at the State level”.  Received various brief comments but no serious response to that contribution!  Of course, it may be a few days before we know the outcome of the election – it seems the odds are just favoring the Coalition, but on the local front, while the Liberal man is just in front of the sitting member, Joanne Duncan, it apparently is assumed that she will eventually win after the distribution of preferences.  A pity!

Meanwhile, Day 4 of the cricket test – it was certainly England’s day this time. They batted all day, initially chasing 220 runs to force Australia to bat again, and by Stumps on Day 4, the English score had moved to 1 wicket down for 309 runs!!!  Andrew Strauss [captain] 110; Alaistair Cook, not out 132; and Jonathon Trott not out 54. So England lead by 88 runs, and it looks as though, with one day to go, the match is headed for a draw, unless there is a dramatic batting collapse by the English players tomorrow. Doubtful!!

The rain had stopped this morning, and all seemed calm outside, however by late morning, it was raining again, steady drizzle, enough to sadly prevent my son’s cricket team from getting some much needed play this afternoon – they have not had too much because of all the wet Saturdays we have had, so far this season.

Did my citizenship duties this morning  –  an early visit to the local polling booth to vote in today’s State election for the Electorate of Macedon, and even at that point, there was a brief queue to get to the electoral table.  Today, voting for both the Upper and Lower Houses of State Parliament. There are 3.5 million Victorians eligible to vote today,  and voting takes place on just the one day between 8am and 6pm, although there have been pre-polling and postal voting facilities available for people not in the electorate or unable to vote today. We have had 11 years of Labor Government in Victoria  – I decided that was enough, and voted Liberal this morning!! Probably not a surprise to most who know me!  There are 88 electorates in all, and counting of votes will commence as soon as the polls close at 6pm.  I hope to have some progressive comments as the day proceeds.

Meanwhile, purchased my first Christmas gift this year, for my eldest girl  – rather an early start for me. In fact it was a morning spending money – something I’m never keen to do very often – with visits to the supermarket and the local garden supplier, needed a few little new plants to freshen up and add some colour to my front garden.  It was perhaps a bad  omen, but I sent a message to Adam – hoping he gets some cricket played today, and he was rather confident it would happen!  Not long afterwards, it started to rain again!!  Misguided optimism!

Well, with the weather deteriorating outside, what else can a guy do, but adjourn to the television set, and watch Day 3 of the Ashes Test Match?  We left Australia last night on a score of  5 wickets for 220 runs. By lunchtime today, that score had moved to 5 wickets for 329 runs, with the partnership between Brad Haddon [our wicketkeeper] and Michael Hussey sitting at 184 runs [Hussey 124 not out, Haddon 79 not out]. The pair’s 186-run partnership is one run shy of the Ashes Gabba record for Australia for the sixth wicket, held by Steve Waugh and Ian Healy since 1998-99. England failed to take a wicket in two-and-a-half hour first session but bowled without luck.   By the Tea  break, yes, they were still there –  5 for 436, Hussey on 176 and Haddin on 134. Haddin didn’t last long after Tea –  out for 136, and the Australian score then 6 for 450 after a partnership between the two H’s of 307, a lead over the English score of 190 runsm still more to come, hopefully!  However, Michael Hussey went out a few minutes later  –  for 195 runs!!!  Bad luck!

Back to politics!  The polling booths closed at 6pm, and as tonight’s ‘election coverage’ commences on the ABC,  the first reported exit polls, and final polls from this morning were indicating the election would go towards the Coalition [Opposition] –  Labor people pessimistic, Liberals optimistic, but not confident. The voting turnout – affected in many areas by more heavy rainfall at different times throughout the day. With a high % of pre-polling and postal votes occurring [perhaps up to 900,000], this is likely to slow down the final result if things are close at the end of tonight. Pre polling votes won’t be counted until Monday!

By 8pm, a clear swing away from Labor, but is it enough? Swing seems to be all over the state rather than in a few predicted areas. The only Independent member of the former Lower House loses his seat to the National Party [the other half of the Liberal/National Coalition], and the results overall being given to us on the tally room floor are suggesting a likely change of government.  Though surely, it is too early to claim that as yet?

By 9.30pm,  the election coverage is suggesting quite strongly to us that there will be a change of Government, from Labor to the Coalition, although many seats are admittedly still too close to call.  Surprisingly, even  in our local electorate of Macedon – well, Joanne Duncan is in real danger of losing the seat she has held since 2002, though again, the outcome there will depend very much on postal and pre-poll votes. Overall, at present, a 5.4% swing to the Coalition.

[As an interlude, at Stumps on Day 3 of the Test Cricket match, Australia lead by 202 runs, with the match scores so far being:  England: 260 and  0 for 19. Australia: 481.  Two more days of play.]

I wonder if anyone [apart from the writer] is reading my little contributions from day to day? Just say hi, if you happen to be passing – say what you think, lol!!!   I hopefully react to criticism, by trying to improve, so no need to feel you have to please my ego!!

I’m just an ordinary guy who loves to write!!  And read – what you have to say!

I was hoping to get back to Sunbury this evening before the storm hit  – there had been warning signs along the freeways re ‘severe thunderstorms, flash floodimg imminent!  Well, I almost made it, just reached the outskirts of town when ‘all broke loose’, as they say. In a matter of five minutes many of the lower lying intersections and other parts of the roads around Sunbury were awash with fast rising water. Sunbury has many hills around and within the town, and most of them lead to lowpoints – when we get the kind of 20 minute downpour like what hit me as I reached the town, the water rushes to those lower points. Added to that, it suddenly became quite dark, and I was finding it extremely difficult to see clearly through the windscreen. However at least I was in the town, not out on one of the surrounding country roads or highways [just hoped Jodie wasn’t out in this – I knew the boys were both watching the cricket from brisbane on TVs somewhere, and Susan was at work, was just worried about the whereabouts of my youngest].

A couple of times, I wondered if I should pull over and stop but decided that as the rain wasn’t slowing down, and I really didn’t have far to go [having already decided to forego the planned shopping visit and head straight for home], it would be better to continue – traffic was heavy and relatively slow because of the waterlogged intersections I was going through – so we kept going. Looking at a report later on, it sounded as though we were in the middle of the worst of it – ‘thunderstorms and flash flooding have hit the northern suburbs of Melbourne [with] South Morang [to the north east of here] and Sunbury alresady experiencing the brunt of the bad weather’. So I wasn’t imagining it!!!

• This isn’t Sunbury, so obviously other parts including the citry were hit pretty hard by the rain, hailstones, thunder and lightning, as the following report indicates

“UPDATE 7.38pm: WILD storms ripping through Victoria have prompted hundreds of calls to state emergency services.   Winds of more than 100km/h have wreaked havoc across the state, and the trip home is already turning into a nightmare in Melbourne, with major train and traffic delays across the city.Wild storms left a trail of damage in Victoria’s west before hitting Melbourne a short time ago.  By 7.30pm, the State Emergency Service had received 1160 phone calls for help as the worst of the storm front passed the central region.Heavy rain was being dumped from Geelong to Werribee just before 5pm as the fast-moving storm front hit the city”.    That front reached us here in Sunbury at around 5.30pm.  Three hours later, all is relatively calm outside, still raining, and strong gale force winds are expected through during the night

Meanwhile, up north in Brisbane, the Ashes Cricket almost got through a full day’s play until cut the day short late in the afternoon.  At Stumps on Day 2 of the First Cricket Test between England and Australia, the Aussie team, in response to England’s score yesterday of 260, had taken their own score to  5 wickets for 220 runs, still 40 behind the English.  Unbeaten, on a score of 81 not out is Michael Hussey who has restored the Australian score after a middle order batting collapse. Hussey himself considers the game is evenly poised after two days, which is probably a fair statement.

Meanwhile in the world of politics, the Victorian State election is to held tomorrow. This morning, I called in briefly on to the way to work, at the radio station to give my Friday morning sports report, and the on air host mention that he hoped to have the two leading contenders in our electorate on air, about an hour later for a bit of a debate about the main issues. I realised that I would be out of the car and in the office by then [where I can’t pick the reception from Sunbury], but somehow managed to get back out to the car as ‘Ron’ was interviewing the sitting Government Labor Member, Joanne Duncan – she was actually on the phone [Ron had been expecting his guests to come into the studio I think] but at least she put in an appearance at the time requested. Her Liberal opponent didn’t turn up  – well, not on time anyway, I think he came in just about the time the interview with Joanne finished. I heard him speak briefly but couldn’t keep listening. In between those two interviews, I couldn’t resist a brief note on Facebook, which was quickly followed by a second one  – neither of which, strangely enough created any response, which was a little surprising. Perhaps it was just as well!!……………..I said: -“Congratulations to 3NRG’s Ron Bourke for ‘attempting’ to get the leading Macedon candidates for tomorrow’s State election to debate on air this morning, the issues  –  thanks to Joanne Duncan for at least finding the time to accept Ron’e request. Where were you, Tristan, missed a great opportunity for some last minute self/Libs promotion?”……………………….a few moments later I had to retract that ‘accusation’ with……………”Ahhh, I was too quick, he came in late, can’t pick ‘my’ station up in the office, my apologies – good effort anyway Ron, great presenter for interviews!!”

As for the election, the general view seems to be that the outcome could be very close, though hopefully at the kind of deadlock that took place at the August Federal election! Well, we have had all of the promises and commitments from all sides as to what ‘their’ Party is going to do for the rest of us – though of course, ‘politician’s promises’ need to often be taken with a grain of salt!  My personal prediction is that the Labor Government, which has been in power in Victoria since 1999, will be re-elected again, even though 12 months ago, that seemed an unlikely proposition. The Liberal/Nationals Coalition opposition seemed to be in the box seat, but their leader, Ted Bailleau, has not I consider, inspired Victorians enough to consider him an appropriate Premier of this state.  I think he is a nice enough guy, but not sure if nice guys necessarily make a strong and decisive leader.  There feels like something is ‘lacking’ in that respect, but then, I’m just looking at it from the perspective of an outsider, and maybe that is the kind of character Victorians are looking for – but will that be enough to get voters to put him in front the current Premier, Labor’s John Brumby, who in the past few weeks has presented himself in ways we have not seen him before – as a family man, trying to identify with the general populace.  We should know one way or the other within 24 hours!

Yesterday’s drive to Bendigo was quite enjoyable [and would have been even better had there not been a meeting to attend to, the purpose of the trip.  I think it  was just a ‘day out of the office’ granted to me by the boss as I had no major role up there other than picking up and delivering a group of tenants members from the  train, and handling a bit of  ‘paper work’ during the course of the day.

Bendigo itself is located about 153 kilometres north  west of Melbourne [therefore 113 from Sunbury], and is the 4^th largest city in Victoria [behind Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat]. It’s a beautiful city, quite old in places, being a significant gold boomtown of the Victorian era. The discovery of gold in 14851, created [as it did for the Ballarat area] an influx of migrants from around the world, seeking to make a quick fortune. Bendigo is notable for its Victorian architectural heritage and gold mining history. Since 1851 over 22 million ounces of gold have been extracted from its goldmines, making it the highest producing 19th Century goldfield in Australia in the nineteenth century and the largest gold mining economy in Eastern Australia. It is the largest finance centre in Victoria outside of Melbourne as home to Australia’s only provincially headquartered retail bank, the Bendigo Bank,  Impressive Victorian buildings line the wide streets of Bendigo, as a reminder of the rich history built from one of the world’s most exciting gold rushes. One of my favourite buildings in the town is the Bendigo Art Gallery, although I’ve not had the opportunity to visit it for many years, and unfortunately, didn’t have the time to do so yesterday.  Certainly it is not a ‘country town’ with the traffic around the main city area, quite heavy yesterday, and the city itself, a very business metropolis.

Anyway, we were well looked  after at the motel conference centre, where the organisational meeting was conducted, and also well catered for the ‘lunch’ part of the proceedings. Very nice food, although by the end of the day, I’m not sure that it did me a lot of good!! Ended up rather tired and lethargic by the evening, although we did manage a walk in the warmth of the late afternoon, perhaps that bit of exercise was ll-advised on this occasion.  That ‘tiredness’  actually continued into today  –  a Thursday that seem to literally ‘drag on and on’ as if someone had stopped the clock!!!

Meanwhile overnight, the weather changed, again,  and it rained throughout the night, and into much of today, which while bringing a bit of welcome relief to the few brief hot days we had just had, the change was not so noticeable indoors. But I must  say that the affect of the rain on the gardens is a beautiful sight to see – when I returned home yesterday afternoon, the gardens at the front of the house looked quite dry and depressing even though it had not been many days since the last rainfall  –  but this morning, and again this evening, the freshness and new colour to the shrubs and flowers was a delight to see.

Now up in Brisbane today, the long awaiting ‘Ashes Test Series’ commenced – the first of five cricket tests between Australia and England. Certainly, the English supporters were pretty confident of a good win in this series, if the comments of one of my online friends in the UK was anything to go by. However, things didn’t start out too well for the English, when their captain decided to have a bat. He himself lasted just three balls before he was heading back into the dressing rooms – not the kind of start that England had hoped for, and assumed. Anyway, while there were, during the course of the day, one or two good batting partnerships by the English batsmen, overall, Day 1 of the Test had to be Australia’s day! And one man in particular  –    Australia’s Peter Siddle took a sensational hat-trick on his 26th birthday, and his return to test cricket after suffering some injuries and a form lapse,  as Australia dominated day one of the first Ashes Test.  At the time he took that hat-trick  [3 wickets in 3 successive balls, a rare occurrence at any level of cricket by a bowler], I was in the car, on my way home, waiting at a railway crossing actually! My phone buzzed, just seconds after the third wicket had been taken  –   I knew it would be Adam [son number 2]  –  with his brief to the point message ‘Hat trick to Siddel’.  I can always rely on Adam , if something significant happens in cricket, or in sport generally!!………………………..Peter Siddle finished with 6-54 as England were dismissed for 260, the Victorian claiming his first five-fer of the year. It was a cherished moment for the 26 year-old on his birthday, considering he last played Test cricket 10 months ago against Pakistan following a stress fracture of the back  Anyway, it was Australia’s day, with England all out not long before stumps for Day 1.

Scores: Day 1 of First vTest Australia vs England: England all out 1^st Innings:  260 [highest scores were Ian Bell with 76 and Alastair Cook 67]. Apart from Siddle, Xavier Doherty in his first Test match picked up 2 wickets.  At Stumps on Day 1, Australia in response were o wicket for 25 runs.