GOALSKIE AUSTRALIA!!

Aah, I gotta tell ya, it was REALLY difficult to punch the air while watching the end of the Australia/Croatia game without making a sound! I couldn't sleep and since the dawn's early light was coming through the window, I had to get up and try to follow the game on the FIFA site. Minute after agonising minute waiting for the text to update then (quiet) elation as we equalised again. Then I just had to sneak in and turn on the telly to watch the final few minutes without waking the wife. Gotta love that Harry Kewell scored the decider - his comeback after injury is turning into an Aussie sporting fairy-tale.

Now we have to face Italy. (wipes sweaty brow) Yoiks!

Matt's Visit Continueth!

We're over halfway through the Japan leg of Matt's Tour and been taking in all sorts of interesting sights, sounds, tastes and whatever else we've been managing to get up to.

I've put up a page of pix I've taken here, but you can also have a look at Matt's page on the link to the right.

I'll post a longer series of stories and what-have-you later, but this should give an idea of what we've been doing!

CBS doesn't know the difference between Japan and China

Only adding to the evidence / myth that Americans don't know much about the world that exists beyond their borders comes this piece from CBS News' website. The flag has since been corrected, but the woeful Photoshopping of the image (shadow pointing wrong way, and it isn't the Moon; it's one of Saturn's) remain.

Another reason to drink coffee #2

Not only can coffee perform a host of useful tasks in keeping your body healthy, it looks like it can also prevent cirrhosis of the liver too! Maybe I could subtitle this post another reason to drink beer as well!


Matt arrived safe and sound, as did his cargo of Penfold's which has been duly drunk already! Delish! Tomorrow we're off to Hiroshima to check out the sights, sounds, tastes and so on. Gonna rain though, but nevermind.

Stay tuned for more!

Long time.....

Sorry about the break. It's been quite a few weeks.

Been dealing with two deaths in families; one here and one back home. Also been sick since the end of April. Work's also been really busy when I haven't been taking time off. Blogging's been one of the last things on my mind.

At least the Socceroos gave me a good reason to break my blogging drought.

I caught the game in Akashi last night at Murphy's Irish Bar. Mostly a Japanese crowd including a fellow teacher who was decked out in the blue strip. Was touch and go until the end which was just fantastic - a dream start to the World Cup for us. Me and another Aussie fellow named Nathan jumping up and down in front of the big screen after the game must've been quite a sight!

I'll give a big credit to the fans in the bar though - they were gracious in defeat. One poor fellow next to me whose favourite phrase whenever something exciting happened (about once every two minutes!) was, "My stomach hurts," bought me a beer after the game, so I bought him one back.

Bring on the Brazilians and the Croates!

Stuart (from England) and I practice our celebrating before arriving at Murphy's

I don't know what's more amazing; we scored three goals in ten minutes,
or this hot babe actually wants to have her picture taken with me!

Nathan gets a drubbing from his friend after the game.

Long time.....

Sorry about the break. It's been quite a few weeks.

Been dealing with two deaths in families; one here and one back home. Also been sick since the end of April. Work's also been really busy when I haven't been taking time off. Blogging's been one of the last things on my mind.

At least the Socceroos gave me a good reason to break my blogging drought.

I caught the game in Akashi last night at Murphy's Irish Bar. Mostly a Japanese crowd including a fellow teacher who was decked out in the blue strip. Was touch and go until the end which was just fantastic - a dream start to the World Cup for us. Me and another Aussie fellow named Nathan jumping up and down in front of the big screen after the game must've been quite a sight!

I'll give a big credit to the fans in the bar though - they were gracious in defeat. One poor fellow next to me whose favourite phrase whenever something exciting happened (about once every two minutes!) was, "My stomach hurts," bought me a beer after the game, so I bought him one back.

Bring on the Brazilians and the Croates!