Ich bin Egyptian!!

As I drove to work yesterday morning, cutting through the woodsmoke like anti-Ahmadinejad slogans at dusk in Tehran, I heard numerous cries of "Ich bin Egyptian!".  What a pleasure it was to see Egypt resolve some of our overhanging angst from that game against Italy in the 2006 World Cup .  

In the last few minutes of the game I am sure I saw one player whisper to another "Let's do it for Lucas!" Internationalism is a feature of players of the world game - but I was somewhat surprised that the players took the game involving Australia as their inspiration.  We should ask Egypt here for a friendly - I'm sure we'd get a decent crowd at League Headquarters. (My skills at lip-reading Egyptian improved out of sight as I came to understand the broader sub-plot of the game).

I liked the linguistic reference to the 2006 match too.  (When road testing this post with my tri-lingual work colleague he got it at once!).

Go Egypt - we thank you!

Worth repeating

I read this in the Examiner this morning.

What do you call an Aussie at the T20 World Cup?

A spectator!

Cricket highlights

I had been waiting for this - I remember, yes I am older now, when the cricket highlights included complete overs, even a whole run up, delivery, stroke and running between wickets, even a return to the keeper.  Today I saw a highlight from the Ireland -Bangladesh game - which consisted of a shot of a ball in mid air followed by the said ball landing over a fence. That was it. No bowler, no batsman and the slightest glimpse of a fieldsman - boy we have come a long way.  No wonder I cant concentrate for longer than a few seconds now!

More shocks - when will it end?

Bob Brown will be bailed out by a wealthy benefactor - well I never! It has been said before but what a clever pollie our Bobby is!  Create a sense of urgency - a public holiday Monday media release should get some attention - over an issue that has been alive for some time - then get some more publicity when the urgent problem - which wasn't - is resolved!  Boy - money for jam from our Mercury.

And on the Mercury - well the Sunday Tasmanian at least - the headline "Fears resurface" on Sunday reminded me of the old SEM gem - "Plane kills snake".  I saw a boat near the bridge yesterday - certainly has resurfaced a few of my fears. I now have a nice textured and patterned concrete slab right over the top of them - that will stop the Lake Illawarra getting through!

Symo gone in shock development

Well - what can one say? Who could see the sacking of Andrew Symonds coming?  What next - Haydos coming out in his support? No, surely not...

Nice to see the Dutchmen start the summit of cricket tournaments in style.  Would love to read the British press reaction.

Mesmorised by microwaves

Sometimes it happens.  While watching the turn, the elements equalize leaving the result less pleasant than anticipated until just before that last turn.

A break from the kitchen.

Master Chef Geoff experiments with new recipe in Blast chiller

Well known around West Hobart as a dab hand with the apron and pan, Master Chef Geoff tried a new recipe on Saturday - dabbling in the cook - chill method.  Not content with scorching opponents in the blast furnace that was Kelvedon Park in 2008, Geoff changed tactics to see how quickly he could chill players, parents and opponents alike in the blast chiller that is McKillop Park.

After a curious result from the previous week's visit to the kitchen - a deflating concoction that left a slightly bitter aftertaste - the Master Chef tried a new range of implements.  "Borrowed Boots" O'Donovan responded with three goals - the first a lovely semi circular stirring motion that left the Nelson Eastern Suburbs goalie scrambling to catch up - which he didn't.   James "the Artist" Cherry mixed the other two goals to go to the top of the goal kicking list.  Jack O'Sullivan's searing movement up the right wing in the second half deserved another goal but the Taroona boys know when to stop baking - or in this case - chilling, the cake.

On the sidelines the question was raised. Will the Master Chef do a Morton and wear a suit and tie to this week's foray to the kitchen?  We look forward to a return to a more conventional cooking heat!