Ouch!

So I’ve had lots of time lately for quiet contemplation, as I watch my thumb turn various shades of green and purple and practise wriggling my fat little sausage fingers.

What started out as an early-morning dog walk on a frosty day ended up as a three-day stint in Bega Hospital having surgery on a broken wrist, which involved a plate and some screws to put it back together. Serves me right for wishing that I didn’t have to go to work that day. My son and his girlfriend were visiting and I would rather have spent the day with them. As it turns out, I did, but not how I’d expected to. Be careful what you wish for, hey? Luckily they were there to drive me up the coast to the hospital, and then look after Tilly and Mr Tibbs for a few days.

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Go the under-Doggies!

bulldogs

This blog piece is football-inspired, since this city is going crazy over football at the moment. Even non-football fans like me are interested in this year’s AFL grand final, because it’s going to bring barracking for the underdog to a whole new level. Facing up against the Sydney Swans tomorrow are the Western Bulldogs – ‘Doggies’ by name and ‘under-Doggies’ by nature. Their one and only premiership win was in 1954, and they haven’t played in a grand final since 1961. Their fans have endured heartbreak after heartbreak, with the team getting oh-so-close to a grand final many times over the years, but not close enough. Until now!

Somewhere in this city, there’s a man called Steve, and I just know that tomorrow he’ll be watching the game and cheering for the Bulldogs, and hoping and wishing and praying for a win with everything that he has.

I encountered Steve when I was travelling home from work a couple of months ago. I got onto the train and found a spare seat, and was surprised when I noticed that the middle-aged man opposite was staring straight at me.

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