On a warm Saturday my Men’s B Grade team won our grand final against East Coburg by 14 games. Andrew (my nephew), Tony Hendy, Cameron Hendy and Nick Norman carried the day against a very strong former A grade team. East Coburg dominated the competition only losing 1 match (to us) and having a 200+ percentage. It was a great win and follows up our 4th placing last summer. The additional of Nick Norman made a huge difference. While I went from playing last year’s semi-final to not making the final’s team I had a great year on the court (plus 69 games) and an enjoyable one off with this guys. Next summer the team will most likely go up to A Grade so I probably won’t be with them but I’m happy I helped made this all possible especially for Nick, Cameron and Andrew. Now it’s onto Myrtleford for the annual Easter Tennis Tournament and a chance to catch up with friends. This year I’m back playing with Jacqueline Damen in mixed, last time we finished runners up so who knows what this time holds for us both! I’ve been trying to get into sharp for the long weekend and while my weight hasn’t got better at least I think my fitness is okay. I suppose I’ll find out soon.
Nathan's Insights
World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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I have done some early planning for our world trip in 2009-2010. My sister and Andrews mum Kara thought it would be a good idea to work out a plan now so we have some idea of cost (and see if this could be done), so I did a phantom booking as if we were going this year. The plan below has us leaving on Tuesday 27 November (at 23.59!!) and returning Wednesday 27 February at 9.30 so a 3 month trip.
1st Leg – Egypt
Duration: 15 Days
Tour: Highlights: Local guide and entry fee to Pyramids and The Sphinx – Egyptian museum – Citadel and excursion to Khan al-Khalili bazaar – Nubian village dinner – Felucca Sailing Trip (The Nile) – Kitchner Island – Karnak temple – Valley of The Kings and Medinat Habu – Mt. Sinai climb
2nd Leg – England
Duration: 13 days
Highlights Tower of London Big Ben Shakespeare’s Globe theatre Premier League Match Possible side trip to Paris, France
3rd Leg – USA (New York)
Duration: 9 days
Highlights: Time Square New Years Eve!!! New York Nicks (NBA) Statue of Liberty Empire State Building Central Park Broadway Show Comedy shows plus a possible side trip to Niagara Falls
4th Leg – South America (Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil)
Duration: 47 days (1 day before tour, 45 day tour and 1 day after tour) Tour: Southern Cross (with GAP Adventures)
Highlights: – Day tour Nazca Cemetery and potters workshop – Guided tour of Colca Canyon (overnight) – Guided tour of the Sacred Valley – 4-day hike on the Inca Trail with local guide, cook and porters – Guided tour of Machu Picchu – Guided tour of Taquile and Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca – 3-day 4 wheel drive excursion to the Salar de Uyuni – 2-day wildlife excursion to the Pantana
So if Andrew was finished Year 12 this year and I actually had some money this is what we could do.
Now due to some of the flights (in LA for 5 hours, Santiago for 4 hours, 2 hours London) having access to a First Class lounge (or any lounge) would be ideal. Anyway this is all subject to change but I think it is a good trip with great things to do from the Pyramids & the Nile, to London and New York, perhaps seeing Niagara, crossing the Inca Trail and finishing up in party town Rio!!!
While I’ll be repeating some things again I think they are worth a second visit and Andrew shouldn’t miss London & New York. Let me know what you think!
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Starting on Saturday 26 January (Australia Day) I enjoy a short 3 day weekend away in Adelaide with my brother Reagan. I got him the trip as a combined birthday/Christmas present as we didn’t get to spent must time together these days. On the Saturday we went and saw a small but beautiful German town called Hahndorf which was a short 40-50 minute drive out of Adelaide. I did manage to get us slightly lost just after I told Reagan I’m a great map reader, so that wasn’t ideal timing!
That night we walked around the city centre (which was 95% closed) and checked into our hotel. On Sunday it was time to go to the star attraction, the Adelaide Test match, Australia vs. India. I booked this trip in September last year but after the Sydney Test Match it looked like this one might be cancelled.
A very enjoyable day watching cricket, this makes it 5 different Test Matches grounds for me;
1) Melbourne,
2) Sydney,
3) Christchurch (New Zealand),
4) Joh-burg (South Africa) and now
5) Adelaide.This is the only one we didn’t win however. As Gilchrist had announced his retirement overnight I got to see his final match. Ponting and Michael Clarke got hundreds. I choose to walk back to our hotel and saw a very drunk young man crash his bike into…. well nothing he just crashed but thought he hit something.
I helped untangle him from the bike and him wanted to toast Australia Day with me, unfortunately that was yesterday (I’m guessing he had been awake for 30-40 hours so I suppose it was still for him!) and he had smashed his last beers 😦 And on the last day we went to the horse races at Cheltenham at which both Reagan and I helped the local economy by giving all our money away. I know I’m very generous.
I also realised I got sunburn at the cricket, but only on my face!!! I put sun cream elsewhere but thought the cap would take care of my face… I was very wrong. I won’t need lights at night this week as I now glow in the dark 😦 Despite this it was a good weekend away from the everyday life in Melbourne. I have a feeling big things are about to happen in my life in the near future so this was a good chance to take a break.
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I had a great time today at the Australian Tennis Open 2008 with Andrew and my sister Kara. Found out my serve speed is 127 kph, on his second attempt Andrew managed to get a serve at 160 kph but I say his average speed when trying to hit hard is 140 kph. With a ground pass you can just walk between matches whenever you want.
Some of the matches I enjoyed were Akiko Morigami beat Michella Krajicek 6-2, 6-2 (watched the first set), Janko Tipsarevic defeat Joseph Sirianni (Aus) 7-5, 6-2, 6-7, 0-6, 6-0 and Fabrice Santoro defeated John Isner 6-2, 6-2 & 6-4. Both Andrew and Kara however thought watching Justin Henin and Nadal practising up close was worth the entry fee. Last year I missed the Aus Open for only the second time since it was moved to Melbourne Park (in 1988). Most people rarely get a chance to see a Grand Slam event and I get to do it every year!
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On 12 January 2007 I had the pleasure of witnessing my good friend and former mixed doubles partner Catherine Coutts marry her soulmate one Glenn Orton. The new Mrs Catherine Orton looked stunning all day. The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Mt Carmel with the reception at Catherine’s (and my) old school Rupertswood Mansion. A real stunning day, Catherine even got me dancing at one stage! A also had the pleasure of sitting next to another former mixed doubles partner Jacqueline, who match to climb over all the other girls and get the bouquet like a good Essendon supporter that she is! The next day went very slowly, seems like champagne has a big effect on me after all 🙂
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Had a very enjoy time this Christmas at my place in Southbank with my family, mum (Helen), Reagan (brother), Kara (sister), Jason (brother-in-law), Andrew (nephew), Erin (niece), Lana (sister), Steve (brother-in-law), Harry (nephew) and Darby (niece). As the day wasn’t too hot we didn’t brother with the pool but a few matches on tennis were enjoyed (well by Andrew since he won every set!).
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Well I’ve finished my last flight for the year and incredibility I took 95 different flights, with 2 of them being personal flights (to Auckland and back to Melbourne). A crazy amount of flying and I now have a better understanding of why I’ve struggled with my weight. Hopefully next year I won’t hurt the planet as much.
Since February 2003 I’ve undertaken 298 different flights, but this time it included a world trip. I don’t know how many before then but I’d guess about 100 more (most on Ansett now gone, and a world trip in 1999-2000). Each flight I suppose I increase the odds I’ll be in an accident but no problems so far!
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We all had fun watching Darby enjoy her 2nd birthday. Boy time flies, watching the next generation of the family – * Andrew jumping on the trampoline * Erin ripping up the paper * Harry running around and wanting all the toys and * Darby eating her ice-cream I really could see the joy that being young brings to us all.
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I found out today that I will be receiving an award for innovation from my employer. I get to choose from a list of prizes worth $300 (including going towards a laptop). A bit of a surprise but it is always nice to be recognised for ones work and creative ideas. This might be timely as I just applied for a promotion. Despite this I’m still planning on a 4 week break October 2008 and a big world trip with my nephew at the end of 2009.
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The arrogance of some of the just defeated Liberal party members!!!!! Workchoices was the major issue of the election; time and again it was listed as the major point of difference between Labour and the Liberals. In fact the Liberals complained that Labour was ‘me too’ on almost all their policies. So really if you believe the Liberal party this was the difference. The Australian public overwhelming rejected Workchoices, a policy that the Liberals didn’t even have the integrity to mention to the public at the last election. There is a small opportunity for the Liberals so restored faith in the system, I don’t expect them to vote for the removal of the legislation, just not to vote against it unless the Rudd Government tries to deliver something different than the policy he went to the voters on. The Senate system that doesn’t allow the new members to take their seats until 1 July 2008 shouldn’t be used as a way to stop what the public voted for.
