Melbourne - more stadia!

From http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/

In Melbourne this weekend when we were hoping Andy would have pulled it off, but it wasn't to be. The Rod Laver Arena is just a short stroll from the city centre:

Almost adjacent is the wonderful MCG - already added to our collection by John McDonald, but here it is again anyway:

Some great statues outside the MCG as well - including one of the great Dennis Lillee in full flow. The Members' dress code published outside the cricket ground (in Batman Avenue of all places) lists, amongst other barred items for gentlemen, "no thongs" - the mind boggled at first until we realised what the Aussies call flip-flops!

More stadia!

From http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/

Greetings from Adelaide - we're on a trip Down Under, visiting our daughter. We stopped off at Hong Kong on the way and came across the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Happy Valley Racecourse:

We moved on to Oz and over to Adelaide where the Tour Down Under (featuring Lance Armstrong) was taking place. We went to see the final day when they do a circuit of 20 laps (90km total) round the city centre. Here's the start:

The circuit goes round the Adelaide Oval, where the Barmy Army are due back tomorrow (Australia Day) for a One Day International. It's a superb stadium in a fantastic setting - renowned as one of the prettiest in the world:

Unfortunately, my plans to go and see the ODI have been scuppered by my daughter who has bought us tickets to go to Barossa Valley and watch Sting in concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in an outdoor setting - oh well - another time perhaps.

One for the Hibees

From http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/

Sitting in the BA lounge at Heathrow, just spotted Craig Burley and his co-commentator (can't remember his name) preparing themselves for tomorrow's lunchtime Sky match.

Indiscreet to the last, Burley was dissing Ian Murray big-time. I would have said something had I disagreed, but I always thought he was c**p too!

23rd Anniversary celebrations

From http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/

Well, there was no footy to celebrate our 23rd anniversary, but we managed a nice sociable get-together in the Douglas:

Surprise showing of Geordie Ziegler (far left), with me, Dan. John McW, Ian McR, CK and Ian Sh also in this photo. If we'd taken it a bit earlier, Jack and Ken B would also have featured, as would a few from the squash club.

I'd put out a late text to wear our souvenir shirts - too late for many, but Messrs McRae, Kilgour and Corbett did (eventually) don theirs - I was already wearing both my 50 and 60 Thistle shirts - Geordie happened to have a Scotland top on, so we let him join in as well:

Time was marching on but the usual Friday night hard core celebrated with a late dram: