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Published: September 5th 2008
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Pefect way to spend the Perfect Day
In 6 Weeks we've have 3 days of rain, the rest were days like this. Poles apart from home so I'm told Hi All, You'd probably think by reading the last two blogs about getting accomodation and jobs that we haven't done anytrhing else, well you'd be very wrong. In between all of the hassle, stress and erm worry we've been able to put on a brave face and show up at a few local watering holes.
We arrived on a Sunday morning and went on a short sight seeing tour of Sydney, We were really surprised that the city centre is so compact you look at something on the map and think it'll take 20 minutes to walk there. You head off and after 5 mins you arrive at something very like the thing you're not supposed to see for another 15 mins. It's really easy to get around. The people are really friendly and helpful, no matter how stupid or irrelevant the question, they'll point out where you need to go, even if it is right in front of you and they won't even try to make you feel stupid. I would, but the Ozzies don't.
The weather has been really good, sunny and quite warms 15 - 20C most days and only a few grey drizzly days.
Just 2 days
Nice Office, Darlin'
Maeve's office is on the 28th floor of the tallest building in the photo ago myself (M) and Chris (C) (Irish) and Trent (T) and James (J) were on a job at the Olympic stadium. I was up at 5.30 to get a bus to get a lift there. The job was supposed to include putting up 20 stands and take all day. We started at 7.30 and by 11.00 we were done. The job was cut to 8 stands at the last minute.
As we were getting done the conversation turned to
C: What will we do with our new found hours of leisure?
J: Golf
M: Golf?
T: Why Not?
C: Excellent!
M: I don't have any clubs
J + C: Neither do we, we can rent them, it's cheap.
M: What about an international competition Ireland v. Australia
C + T + J: Excellent
M: Losing Nation buys the beer ( I said knowing (a): we wouldn't lose and (b): they'd probably be too busy rushing off home after to stop for beers if (a) should fail)
So after we finished off we went. I hired my set of clubs, bought 6 balls (knowing I'd need at least 5 of them) and we set off for the 1st tee. There
was no sign of James, where could he be? A few moments later he came around the corner golf clubs and two plastic bags in tow. He had 2 plastic bags full of ice and bottles of beer. James said that this wasn't a proper course, at proper courses they have guys who drive around in golf buggies selling beer to people whilst they're playing. We had a great round. It was a cracking day absolutely perfect for golf, blue skies about 18 - 20C and a very slight breeze. The competition finished up all square over 11 holes Ireland won 4, Australia won 4 and we drew 3. It did all go down to the last shot on the 18th, a par 3. Chris on the green in 2, fluffed 2 putts and it ended up with 5, all even. It was a great that it was so close up to the last shot, and we'd been slagging each others national golfers off all the way round. I didn't think when I got up at 5.30 that I'd have such a great day. We'll have to have a re-match and Ireland will have to buy the beer this time.
I was explaining my exploits that evening to Aidan and Aoife, friends of Maeve's. I was getting really good sympathy for my early start and for working so hard. That sympathy quickly disappeared when I told them of my evenings exploits on the golf course. Aidan is keen to give this drink-golfing combo a go, it might even help his game.
Sydney has been great craic so far and it certaintly hasn't dissapointed in any way. We met up with Aidan and Emer on our first friday evening here and have been having great craic since. I was actually in scondary school with Emer and didn't know she was over here. She was actually in Wildwood in the US for a summer when my twin brother Paul was over there, I think there may be a pattern emerging here. Kevin, Emers' boyfriend, has just arrived over in Sydney for 6 months so we already have a band of merry drinking folk to accompany us in bars all over Sydney for our stay. It's great to have drinking pals so soon, I think we're all settling in much quicker as a result.
Now I have to head off to another shift,
Rooftop Views
Our buildings 18th floor rooftop views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House starting at 3.30pm on a friday is not much fun but I suppose I was drinking my way around 11 holes on tuesday so I really can't complain. I do feel it is important that I keep my golfing skills sharpened whilst I'm in Australia, you never know when I might need them.
P.S. I'd love to see Dan and Gav staggering up the 18th fairway at the Bush, golfbags and beer in tow, with Bobby Brown looking on. Maybe that's why Australia doesn't have as many golfing stars as Ireland.
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