Last week

was quite the adventure for me.

Manila first, with pat downs and bag inspections at every door, boot inspections and under-car examinations at every driveway entrance. The Australian Dept. of Defence required us to cheque into executive suites, as part of their security policy and it turns out that that means a four room apartment with an enormous bed, three desks, a lounge suite, two TVs and a big marble bathroom in which I managed to get lost in the middle of the night! All that because it gave us access to the executive desk so that we did not ever have to use the lobby.

I had my shoes inspected, my packet of mints fingered through, my tissues rummaged through and my iPod examined at Manila airport on my way out to Palau.

Then came Palau. An incredibly beautiful spot. Warm, sunny, isolated, picturesque. I'm told it figures in scuba divers' top five before dying. Shame about the bitching and moaning that came out of the expats' wives' mouths and splattered all over my poor dept. of defence escort. He had a bit of trouble relaxing and enjoying the place. But I managed.

I even got to plant a baby clam!

I came home with sunburn and washing and probably an extra 2kg to fit into my jeans thanks to the insane Philippino habit of adding copious amounts of sugar and lard to EVERYTHING, and the very bad influence of my escort, Les, who could not bare to see a buffet opportunity to go waste.

Next week? Tahiti.

And I have to stay at the Sheraton.

Go on, Good Nick. Hate me.

Shoesday - putting the boot in

Score: (something) – 1

Last night at the Anzac club in North Sydney/Cammeray/Crows Nest the brave SRFs took the mini field for their first ever game of fustal and boy, did they look handsome in their matching navy shirts.

I’ll admit to feeling some trepidation when the first goal was scored against them within 2 seconds of the starting whistle but the guys and girls of the mighty SRF soon got into the swing of it and put on a jolly good show.

The menacing white team were hungry for goals and clearly had lots of experience both with futsal and with each other. But that did not stop the virginal SRFs making all kinds of trouble for them.

We saw some edge-of-the-seat goal saves from Bryan and Mattess. Bron connected with the angry catheter-wielding monkey nurse within and was all over the bewildered whites. Jess honed her tricky passing skills while Jen and Shari revealed a natural tendency to tackle like warriors. We saw a spectacular head ball from the shiny noggin of Noodle and who could forget ‘that corner penalty’ from Good Nick that lead to the first ever SRF futsal goal.

Player of the match and winner of this week's McDonalds cheeseburger was the magnificent Matten. Just because I say so. Also, keep an eye out for Shari who has a fire in her belly and Jen who is awakening the primary school soccer star within.

Next week they’ll do a lot better without the embarrassing sideline cries from Sarah “soccer mum” F and they will have 100% more experience behind them. They may even have some more steadfast numbers behind them (some of Mattess elegant red gaffer tape numbers sneakily peeled away at half time, confusing and throwing off the sweaty white team and giving the blues an extra edge.)

What heart. What a night. What a team. While they did not win the game they certainly won the hearts of the people.

It’s going to be a great season. I can just smell it.

SRF Event

The SRF Futsal debut!


What: Stephen Roberts handball grows up
Why: Our metabolisms are not as young as uni students' anymore
When: Tonight (Monday 18 September)

Where: See Mattess for details

Last Day in Canada

Well I'm on my last day in Canada. I can't say it's been all that exciting so far. After my 20ish hours flying, I had a 3 hour drive, on the wrong side of the road, in the dark, right across the state, on unknown roads, with unknow road rules. Not doing that again. I was in a tiny town called Owen Sound, where I woke up early each day, went to work, then after work I drove past the town (which pretty much closes down at 5pm) back to the hotel to sleep again. The pizza joint and the petrol station were the only things I could find open :( I can report quite accuratly on the 80ish TV channels and room service though.

Me outside Owen Sound Hospital

Today (Saturday for me) picked up a bit. I woke up early and drove to Niagra Falls. It took two goes, about a hour into my drive I realised I forgot my passport and had to go back, but I got there in the end and I have to say it was amazing, a must see before you die.


It's really mind blowing, the sheer ammount of water that goes over the edge. A few minutes before you get there you need to turn on your windscreen wippers from the spray. You don't need more that a day there but it's worth the stop. Anyway, tonight I'm going out in Toronto with a lad called Mark (On of Shari's friends that moved over here). And then tomorrow off to Kansas City, with a packed schedule.

See you all soon.

WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF CHICKEN.....

....GOOD NICK!