GF Training and Parade

As our voices returned from the celebrations on the weekend prior, and we exhaled a grateful and lucky sigh of relief at the news of our successful Members ballot ticket allocation for the third time since 2008, Grand Final week began. Fremantle were confirmed as our opponents for the biggest game of the year, and the throng of Purple clad supporters made their presence felt in Melbourne across the week.

Thursday saw a roadtrip our to Hawthorn's training ground, and former home ground, Waverley Park. A windy and wet and cold day, we battled the elements to get to the portion of the old stands that now sits in the middle of a housing development - the old VFL mosaic still looks impressive!

Huddling into a spot semi-sheltered from the elements, we awaited the arrival of the team onto the ground to go through their paces, and watched as many people gathered, all adorned in their brown and yellow colours.

Former players and club legends were interviewed and talked they about the big game and occasion ahead, to keep the crowd warmed and pumped, as we waited for signs of the team.

The team came out in groups, before coming together for the full ground training drills and mock play.

I haven't been to a training session for the Hawks since the same time last year, but it was pretty exciting to be part of it.

The event that makes the Grand Final feel very real is the ceremony of the Parade through the city on the Friday. Blocking off traffic and trams from the Arts Centre and all the way along Collins Street, both teams get to soak in the atmosphere of the hype in Melbourne city.

I met Melissa and Mum, Adam and Courtney at a good position along the path, after spotting Jessie up on the balcony of the Old Treasury Building again this year. Lucky girl, with an amazing view!

One of the first things to reach our position was the Premiership Cup, being looked after by our own Hawk hero Shane Crawford.

A brass marching band with Freo scarves on, playing the Freo song, got the West Australian fans in Melbourne into voice - and wow, there was a lot of them!

The Hawks were the second team along, riding past, taking it all in, and sharing it with their own kids.

Here we have the boys in the cars as they travelled along past us at the top of Collins Street - Gibbo and Buddy, Rough and Taz, Lake and Stratts, Gunstall and Sheils, Hill on babysitting duties with a baby Mitch, and the Cyril and Spangher (clockwise from the top left).

Once all the cars made it to the top of Collins Street, both teams are presented to the loud and massive crowd. Both coaches too, and then the Cup is held up by the opposing Captains. The crowd cheers, and sings their respective song....and then disperses back to work or off to the pub, like a bizarre flash mob!

There really is nothing quite like Melbourne during Grand Final week!

The Qualifying and Preliminary Finals 2013

Hawthorn finished on top of the AFL Ladder again this year, and September looked exciting. Nerves and jitters of excitement mixed, as all other plan making ability for the month was on hold, total focus was on the Finals Football schedule!

Our first match was a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, and of the final match of the AFL season for 2013. Playing on the Friday night, at the MCG, the Hawks set about to play Sydney . Tickets purchased, and pre-match plans set, we gathered at Riverland for some settling ciders, before making the walk along the Yarra to the biggest stage in Australia.

Such a blockbuster lived up to the hype and anticipation for the first half, with the Hawks up by just one point at the first change, and then scores were level at the Halftime break. But the second half saw Hawthorn in full flight, and blow the team from Sydney away – ending up with a crushing win of 54 points. Wow!

Drinks and some replay watching at the Duke followed, with much footy talk, and a lot of contented smiles!

This massive win afforded us the following weekend off. A treat – a rest for our bank accounts and nerves, and for the team to be fresh and ready for the next hurdle. Watching both games was a must, in anticipation of the competition and our next opponent.

Arch rivals Geelong won their way to meet the Hawks in the Preliminary Final. The siblings and I set out on our preparation for the week by watching the past two mammoth Grand Finals wins against our most feared and respected football opponent, the 1989 and the 2008 wins against them. This made for such an intense and footy-filled week, with much discussions, banter and reminiscing. Watching that fierce 1989 clash had our blood pumping, and boiling, and then there was a screening of a documentary of the same match, from players' perspectives, which only solidified that game as the greatest ever in our view!

Again, sticking to our successful routine to date, we gathered at Riverland for a few drinks, and then made the walk to the MCG. Taking our seats along from the goals, the nerves were high, anticipation at fever pitch!

This game lived up to our fears and anticipation and excitement - an epic battle. Heart-stopping stuff. Such a rollercoaster of emotions.

And when the siren sounded (not that we could hear it over the roar of the crowd!), the Hawks were 5 points in front. WE WERE INTO THE 2013 GRAND FINAL!!! The stronghold that the Cats have had on our team since that 2008 GF was broken. At last.

Drinks and some serious debriefing was done at the Duke once we left the stands of the MCG, before we allowed ourselves to start thinking ahead. Plus, having played on the Friday, we needed to await for our opponent on the biggest footy weekend of the year to be decided.

These games were all the more amazing by being there and experiencing it with two of my sisters, Heath and Mum. Such a family affair, our football passion!

The Golden Temple Of Amritsar

Hearing that we were to do an 11 hour bus trip day from Chandigarh to see one of the most beautiful temples in the world loomed as one of our most anticipated days on our India tour - to see the Sikhs' holiest shrines. A really special place to see, and take in.

Once our bus arrived, a little behind schedule, we walked through the bustling streets to get to the entrance, and figured out pretty quickly what we needed to do to enter, respectfully. Each of us needed to cover our heads, and remove our shoes and walk through a foot bath for this very religious site.

Stepping down to the marble walk all along the holy water tank and drinking in the stunning view of this temple square was breathtaking. So beautiful, and unique. A feeling of peace, and a hustle of prayer, reverence, with the contrast of the chants and songs of prayer broadcast constantly floating across the complex.

Given the eventual timing of our trip, and the plan for the whole day, many of us used the time of our visit to this special place by wandering around this holy pool, and taking in the view, the feeling and the significance of the site. Observing families in prayer, and visiting this most important temple to them, was incredible, and a lesson in a religion that I know little about.

One of the other features of the Golden Temple - and one which Fi and Dave made a concerted effort to experience in our short visit - is the meal served every day to 60,000 to 80,000 pilgrims and visitors alike. The notion that the Sikh's invite one and all to eat together, as a mark of unity, to people of all religions, creeds and nationalities, is a beautiful idea, and surely one the notion of religion should be about.

This special visit drew the envy of so many people for the rest of our time in India, and will always be etched in our groups' collective memories as an amazing moment of our travels, and a powerful lesson in the people, peace and humanitarianism of the world.

Project 52: Friday Afternoon

This particular Friday I was in Sydney, soaking up the sunshine and warmth on the decking on my friend's "mansion" (as I call it!). A glorious afternoon of catching up, talking travel and footy, ready for the last round of AFL football for the year, before the finals.

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Eureka! Bird’s Eye Of Melbourne

The tallest building in Melbourne, and indeed in Australia*, is the Eureka Tower, and a visit to the Skydeck on Level 88 gives you a view of Melbourne afforded to the birds in flight, and helicopters…and not many others!

Sitting along the cluster of buildings in Southbank, this Skydeck is sitting on the top layers of the distinctive yellow section of the building's design - this is actually 24 carat gold plating! - is the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere.

Andrea, Dean and I took Cooper and Charli up to check out the view of Melbourne, and experience Skydeck and the Edge. Riding up the elevator was fast, effortless and without any more than an ear-popping effect. Less than 40 seconds!

Then we were on the Skydeck, and started the circuit around to take in the incredible views.

There are 30 viewfinder spots all around the Skydeck, each pointing at a landmark in Melbourne. It is clearly marked, so you know what you are looking at, and there are also viewfinders at the same points at little people height so they can see what you are seeing. Such a great idea!

The viewfinders also have mirrors inside, giving you a kaleidoscope impression of the sights below.

From these we got to see the buzz going on down at Federation Square and Flinders Street Station. A viewfinder pointed out Southern Cross Station for us, Flemington Racecourse, and the Shrine Of Remembrance. We could see trams cross Princes Bridge across the Yarra River.

We could also clearly see the Arts Centre spire directly below us, and the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Tennis Centre, and the cluster of buildings that make Melbourne city unique.

The Skydeck also has The Terrace, which lets you outside on a corner of the building, to feel the air and wind from right up there.

From here, you could see all the way to the Dandenong Ranges, and also out into Port Phillip Bay. Down along St Kilda and the marina, plus out to Geelong and all the port activity in between.

We could pick out Government House in the middle of the Botanical Gardens.

On the other side of the building we could see the sun glint off the Rialto Building.

The views really are spectacular!

Once we had completed our lap of Level 88 and taken in the views, we lodged our tickets for The Edge. Unfortunately it was a 60 minute wait by this time – we so should have lodged this and received the pager for our turn when we first got to the level – that’s my tip for all visitors, especially with little people. Our little people got over the wait pretty quickly, having completed the lap of windows and seen what there was to see. The Edge gave out yellow wrist bands that stated “I survived The Edge” – there were a couple of moments there where we were not sure we were going to survive the wait for The Edge, let alone the plunge out of the side of the building.

For the adults, there was coffee at the Kiosk. Caffeine with an incredible view!

Finally our pager went off, and we were each given shoe covers and directed into the glass cube. Once all ready, the cube rolled outwards from the building, and then the glass turned from frosted to clear, showing that we were hanging out over nothing!

I had wondered if the kids would be scared about this part, but they took in the view some 300 metres above the roads we had crossed to get to the Eureka Tower all in their stride, and could see the people on the footpaths below. Photos were taken by the Edge operator, before the cube slide back into the building.

The views from the top of the Eureka give you a view of the city like no other, the full 360 degrees of our amazing Melbourne and all it's goings on.

I was provided with a Family Pass to attend the Skydeck and The Edge as a blogger, and we purchased an extra ticket so I could take my favourite family along. Words, photos (except The Edge one, which was purchased in electronic format), and tip about beating the wait, are all mine!

*Notwithstanding the spike of Q1 on the Gold Coast. Q1 is 323m, and 78 storeys, and Eureka is 297.3m and 92 storeys high.

Cricket In Mohali - 3rd Test In India

So, while we were wandering around Agra seeing the sights like the Taj Mahal, the Australian Cricket Team were meant to submit some homework - reportedly a review about how each of them thought the team could improve. Four of them didn't complete it, and in a stunning move, were suspended from playing in the next test, including a couple who we expected to be a chance to be called up, and also the Vice Captain.

"Homework-gate" gave significant weight to the talk on tour about the issues of culture within the Aussie Team. The apparent divide between the playing group, the personalities, and suspected feuds. The shock of the suspension though, was big. How ridiculous! Especially how badly the team was going with a full squad to pick from!

After all the controversy of the build up, we woke on the morning to Day 1....to rain! Which did not go away for the whole day. A forced travel rest day in the end, as we all waited back at the hotel for any positive news about a possible start of play. But eventually it was called off for the day, with no play at all. A very much needed day of rest, a total bonus, after all the travel so far. It meant we got to explore the Section 17 area of Chandigarh, the shops and the buzz of people and life!

Day 2 we got the chance to head across town to the suburb of Mohali, to the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Convincing auto rickshaws to go that far was a bit of work, and we certainly didn't know if they were going the wrong or the long way, but we all managed to make it there in the end!

The Aussie's won the toss, and set out to make a good day of batting. Luke presenting the Flaggy Greens to the new Waving The Flag tour members, and we took our seats for some cricket.

Runs from Cowan, Warner and Smith had us a little happier at the end of the days play, finding a pub across the road from our hotel with very cheap beer! (No girl's loo though...ahhh, you can't have it all!)

We chose Day 3 to be our Chick Pink Day, and upped the ante with our India-styled tunics bought from a women's stored in Section 17. Getting them was quite the experience for us, and getting treated a little more favourably by the security staff on the gate when we were dressed like this, made it all the more fun.

Our attire for the day also started many conversations with the locals. I could not resist getting a photo with this gent on our pink day, given his gorgeous turban! He enjoyed the chat, and had been to Melbourne before, so we had much chatter to fill a few overs of time with!

The Aussies batted on till just before Lunch, posting 408. Then the Indians were in, and we watched debutante Dhawan pile on the runs to finish the day on an impressive 185!

St Patrick's Day fell on Day 4, and also Trish's birthday, which promised to be a fun day. After downloading a picture of a shamrock onto my photo in the morning, I commissioned one of the lads always eager to paint our faces with India flags to try his best. A green shamrock on my cheek, to be sure!

Luck, and tons of skill, was with the Indians again on this day on the field, and the runs kept coming. They finally succumbed to our bowling efforts well into the last session, making 499. Effective dashing all hope for the match for the Aussies.

We found a bar with a kangaroo as the logo that night, and had many beers, toasting the birthday Sheila.

The last day was a forgettable one for the Australians, losing our remaining 7 wickets, and then we watched as the Indian batsman made the winning 136 runs - a win by 6 wickets.

The most entertaining part of our time in the stands was to watch the Number 1 Indian Fan, and his little copiers/followers. All painted, loud and mouthy, these three kids kept us pretty distracted from the carnage that was going on out in the middle.

Project 52: Friday Lunchtime

Back to the kind of work role that involves being out of the road completing visits to clients, albeit within the suburbs of Melbourne and mainly homevisits in this role. Within my locum role, and because I have begged to be kept busy rather than idle, I am currently out and about from the office around 2-3 times per week.

Heading back to the office from one of the outer suburbs on this particular Friday, I remember being pretty pleased with the progress and goals set at the visit I had just completed - and loving the fact that, with the aid of an interpreter, I had conducted a visit in Spanish!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.