The Boxing Day Massacre

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Hello everyone,

Firstly, I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day, and are still enjoying the festive period as we creep towards the New Year.

Something happened yesterday which I thought i'd share with you all - Some may find this utterly boring, some may find this utterly amazing - As I did.

From the time we booked our flights for our travels, I knew that we'd be in Australia whilst the England Cricket team were touring Australia in The Ashes. I left it as just a thought though, as I never really thought we'd get to see a match, as the Aussies love their cricket and getting tickets would be really hard to come by. Fast forward to Singapore, after having 2 tickets on a plate and neglecting to buy them because they 'weren't near enough to the Barmy Army', it seemed i'd made a massive mistake as the tickets had sold out. The realisation kicked in that Amber and I wouldn't be watching any cricket apart from in a Pub full of Australians. Then a fellow Yorkshireman we met in our hostel told me in delight that he'd just secured 4 tickets to the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG, Melbourne. I was shocked, quickly asking how the hell he'd got those tickets, and I found out that a 'very limited' amount of tickets had gone on sale to the public as they'd been held back for desperate people like me!! I fumbled for the bank card and ran to the nearest PC, sweating as I scrambled though the Ticketek website to buy 2 golden tickets. And I did. I was bloody elated! Amber less so!

Fast forward again to 26th December, Boxing Day, Melbourne. I got up early like a kid in a candy shop (although i'd immersed myself in too much white wine the evening before), we got ready and headed for the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Now, those of you reading this who have followed sport, i'll give you an example of what most of the day felt like. When you see your team score a goal, that feeling of absolute elation, the feeling that you have a family of thousands of people feeling exactly the same as you, you'll know the feeling as it's unique. Well that's how I felt walking from Richmond Station to the ground surrounded by England flags and Australian flags, walking together in unison towards the breathtaking MCG. The stadium holds 100,000 people, can you imagine the noise when everyone rose to sing the National Anthem? Now i'm not a lover of our National Anthem, but even the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

And the match itself? Well, the script couldn't have been written more perfectly if i'd tried. To sum it up, an Aussie sat behind us was on the phone to his mate and said 'The sun's shining for England, it isn't for us'. I won't bore you with the statistics, but give this a read and enjoy the strap line: 'England dominate woeful Australia in Melbourne', which I prefer to translate to 'England batter the Aussies in their own back yard'. Ricky Ponting, your boys took one hell of a beating.

A truly wonderful, wonderful day - The only thing that was missing was my brother sat in the empty seat next to Amber and I.

Love to all,

Mat & Amber

xXx

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Comments

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Merry Christmas
Hello Munchkins, just read your Crimbo entry, and believe it or not it was the cricket that had me shed a little tear, well the bit about your bro Matt to be honest and the fact that its so warm and my heating has gone!! Sound like you had a fab time and much admiration for the dinner Bamb...but when you get home i will show you how to make good proper thick gravy for those yorkshires! Loved your message honey, and yes again i had a little tear, we miss you loads and cant wait to get together when your back... Have fun in Sydney for New Year, sure the Fambo will look after you...love you guys lots big hugs xxxxx