On the third day of Christmas ...

my true love sent to me ...

three Ponting runs,

two Brad Hogg wickets,

and a Matthew Hayden century

Unfortunately, one of the world's best batsmen has scored a 4 and a 3 in this match. As we all noted, 'someone will pay'. Ponting has a become an insatiable batsman, always wanting more runs, a higher score, the psychological edge over a team. Will the Indians pay in the next test match, or will they continue to successfully target his hard hands and wandering feet early in his innings?

However, today in his improving captaincy, he kept up with Roogirl's predictions: declaring with under an hour to go (10 overs); giving Stuart Clark one or two overs before stumps (two) and tossing the ball to Brad Hogg just to see what may happen (despite 3 full tosses, the Indians didn't try to score).

A predicted 37C for tomorrow has me re-considering my record of unbroken attendance at each day of an MCG test match since 1994 ... now when I put it like that, how can I miss?

On the second day of Christmas ...

... my true love (?) sent to me ...

Two Brad Hogg wickets,

and a Matthew Hayden century!

Today was a very good day of test cricket. We completed our innings early, and then let loose a very disciplined and responsible Brett Lee, and an impressive and unlucky Mitchell Johnson.

As usual, Roogirl picked every bowling change, identified an injury to Matthew Hayden, said she'd allow a Tendulkar 50, but no more (he made 62) and declared to all who would listen that it would be Stuart Clark's impeccible line that would trouble the Indians (4/28 comprising 1 x bowled, 2 x lbw & 1 x caught behind).

At stumps we lead by 179 (ish), with Hayden & Jaques making the two-paced wicket look benign, and the Indian fielding making my speed in the field look respectable.

C'mon day 3 ...

On the first day of Christmas ...

... ok, I don't have a true love, but I did receive

A Matthew Hayden Century!

The comfort of being a frump

Fashion issues, age or just plain lack of interest reared its head in the lift as I left the office this evening.


There was I, in a respectable grey, knee length skirt, white cotton knit 3/4 sleeve shirt, topped with a navy cardigan, all atop navy court shoes. Totally respectable and happy to chat with colleagues in the lift as we descended from level 16. My love of cardigans and twin sets has endured from my entrance on the 'sort of' fashion stage with the 'Sloan rangers'. Frilly shirt cuffs and collars, opaque tights and yes, even occasionally a set of pearls.


At level 14 we were joined by a pert young thing and my conversation dried up. I love magazines, but they mostly contain food or sportsmen, and I can't seem to embrace fashion mags.


My untrained eye spotted a black wrap jacket in a sort of crushy, sheeny fabric. If I didn't know better (and I volunteer that I don't) I may have suggested taffeta, but it was much finer than the 80's version I remember. Her skirt was a bubble skirt of the same material, which made me remember that dreadful Haysi Fantayzee song 'shiny, shiny'.


Below this relatively restrained concoction were opaque tights (it IS December!) and patent (ie shiny!!) 4 inch strappy shoes with SILVER SOLES AND HEELS!


At this moment, as she tottered from the lift and out the front door, I strode purposefully home in my practical attire, embracing my frumpyness. Long may cardies rule!

The colour purple

Some people say it's summer. Me? I say it's still a couple of weeks away (wait for the solstice, people!)

However, I will say that driving through the streets of Camberwell and Hawthorn has reminded me that it is the beginning of December. For a moment I wondered if I was driving down Walkerville Terrace in Adelaide, but no, I've discovered that we have jacaranda trees in Melbourne as well!

You see, it is usually at this time of the year that I'm in Adelaide, sharing the hospitality of friend, the definite need to boil all water, and the beauty that is the Adelaide Oval.

Even with the new fangled Chappell Stands guarding the Victor Richardson gates to the east, it is still a ground full of character and charm. The gently sloping grass banks beneath the scoreboard, the low tin roof of the conjoined Mostyn Evan, George Giffen and Sir Edwin Smith Stands.

Roogirl and I have watched test matches at the Adelaide Oval each year since Australia defeated the Windies in 2000 (except in 2001 we watched the rain at Bellerive, then decided to return to Adelaide).

It's not far off, we'll be there on Australia Day weekend. I wonder what will be flowering then?

7.24pm and counting

I have a phone conference at 7.30pm tonight. It's with a colleague in the UK to discuss other colleagues in the US, Thailand, UK, Singapore ... you name it. This will be 8.30am their time. We had originally planned to talk at 8am (aka 7pm Australian time) however, with the onset of their winter, it is still dark at that hour. Here in Australia it is still light (or would be if not for the cloud) at 7.26pm.

Strangely, I was on a phone call with a colleague in the UK at 7am this morning (8pm yesterday for them).

Tomorrow I have a video conference with the UK at 8am our time (9pm yesterday in the UK); and a phone call with the US at 9.30am (4pm Thanksgiving Day, Mountain time). It's OK, I'm talking to a Scot, not a Yank.

OK, 7.30 it is ... hello world, it's me, are you there?

my homework or 'How I celebrated Australia's Ashes and World Cup victories'

It was a hot January day ... the 5th, I think it was, as I recall mentioning that it was the anniversary of the collapse of the Tasman Bridge to my big sister. Anyway, my bm Roogirl and I exchanged a few txt messages, imploring Kevin Pietersen (a native South African) to leave the general area (but in fewer words) and mentioning the numbers 5 and 0 quite often!

Now, I'm not usually impulsive, and do like to plan my time, but this victory annihilation was well worth a spur of the moment acceptance of an invitation from Roogirl to dinner at their favourite Italian restaurant in Wantirna.

It was too warm for red wine, and I couldn't manage to drink a whole bottle of champagne on my own, so I did the Kath & Kim thing and picked up a 3 pack of piccolos at the local bottle shop. Pasta, champagne, smiling and laughing with great company and just to top it off, we walked to the local McDonalds for a sundae. I'm sure I completely embarrassed my nephew (who was on duty) in my joyous state, but then again, once he has seen me sing ABBA, Barry Manilow AND Donny Osmond, there's not many more layers of embarrassment!

I'm well aware that Australia regained the Ashes on a warm December day in Perth, just before Christmas, however the redemption (to use the words of Ricky Ponting) wasn't complete until the score was 5-0!

The World Cup? As previously mentioned, I was in the air between London and Hong Kong during the match, and it was again Roogirl to the rescue with a text message. My celebration? (remembering that it was one-day cricket, not the real thing) was a quiet smiling satisfaction watching Hong Kong wake up and then I indulged in a champagne at the pointy end once I was on board again (I sense a theme).

Thanks to the Australian cricket team for such great memories, thanks to my bm Roogirl for my homework, and my apologies for not collecting my intended birthday present at Borders. Let's face it, they're just like the poms... too f'ing slow!