HoltPress

Black Caviar Makes History, Again

2012-02-11T19:35:00.000+08:00

If you didn't know, I'm a sports nut. There's not many sports I don't like and a good sports story or event is sure to attract me. Thus it was that I found myself at Caulfield Racecourse this afternoon to watch the world's best racehorse, Black Caviar, win its 18th race, from 18 starts. (Not just my opinion. Black Caviar was rated the world's best by the international committee who decide these things!! Probably not as voted by her peers though.) The world record is 19 wins in a row I believe, held by Zenyatta, in the USA and the way the Aussie champ won today, racing over 1400m for the first time, I think that record is about to be equalled, passed and left trailing in the dust. BC won with effortless ease. There were over 20,000 people there to watch it, courtesy of the Victorian Racing Club who made it free admission for the day. I'm not a real racing fan. Like most Aussies I really only get interested when the Melbourne Cup comes around each November, but this horse is something special and I was glad I was there to see it creating history this afternoon.

That's her in the mounting yard before the race by the way, wearing number 8. I had a pretty good view of the finish line but had to follow the race on the big screens because of the huge crowd.

A little late but here's a pic of Chris and I at the Australian Open Tennis at Hisense Arena. We had a great day.

The trip to Tatong was a great success. Here's Mum and Lorna just before we left for home. Lorna wasn't too well on the second day and was still a little off-colour when the photo was taken. Considering she's 84 she did very well and Mum was very pleased to see her and Allan. They have been friends for nearly 50 years I think.

On the way home we took a detour to Shepparton to visit Auntie Merle who despite a recent lengthy stay in hospital was quite bright and cheery while we were there. Her warning to Lorna to watch the step came a split second too late and Lorna was lucky to stumble rather than tumble her way into the loungeroom.

We spent a day in Benalla and looked at a few houses with Vicki who is working out where she wants to live. Benalla appeals because it's close to Mum and Shannon but she's also considering Geelong, which is close to us, and the Cats!

We didn't stay very long, partly so we didn't tire Auntie Merle out, partly because she had an appointment to go to, and partly because we were also catching up with my younger sister Shannon and her three boys, Eli, Isaac and Samuel. The girls stayed on the farm with Neil. It was good to see her, especially given that a few days earlier she was involved in a serious crash. She pulled out of the farm gate into the path of an on-coming truck ! It hit her from behind and rolled Shannon's car. Amazingly she suffered no serious injuries, mostly a bump to the head which resulted in bruising of the brain. We are very grateful for her survival and that none of the kids were in the car with her.

Sadly Eli is a Hawthorn fan but despite this I invited him to come down to Melbourne and I would take him to the footy when the Hawks play the Cats. He's never been to a live game so hopefully we can get it organized.

Surprises

2012-02-09T08:23:00.000+08:00

I've got two days off so I've borrowed a trailer from Chris next door and come up to Mum's place at Tatong.
Tatong?
You know Tatong!
Minute speck on the map 29 km east of Benalla, up a steep winding dirt road!
Benalla?
Northern Victoria, 2 hours from Melbourne on the Hume Hwy.
Yeah, that Tatong.

You know I like to maximise the use of my time so as well as visiting Mum in her new home I'm also picking up The Heir and Spike's stuff that was shipped over here with Mum's stuff when she moved from WA. Rumour has it the boys will be here in Feb and March respectively though healthy scepticism is entirely forgivable...they were originally coming for Christmas, then for new year, then for late Januuary, then mid- February, etc, etc!
If and when they arrive they'll need their gear, thus the trailer.

As a surprise I arranged to bring Allan and Lorna, lifelong friends of Mum and Dad up with me. They were delighted for the invitation and were waiting at the door when I arrived after finishing work last night.

As a surprise to me, Vicki rang a few days ago and said she'd like to come too and could I pick her up from the airport on the way through. Of course I was rapt at that news and adjusted my plans accordingly. Vicki flew in at 7.35 and we collected her from Tullamarine abot 9.00, having used copious wads of paper towelling to cushion the tow ball and trailer hitch from rattling when we drove above 90kmh.

Mum was expecting me but had no idea about the three surprise guests and we staggered our entrance upon arrival, me first, Vicki a couple of minutes later and Allan and Lorna shortly after. It worked a treat and Mum was overjoyed to see everyone. One minor hitch was a surprise at our expense: Mum's friend Mona was still here. We all thought she was leaving yesterday to return to Bridgetown. The only issue being the extra squeeze on beds and sleeping arrangements but we managed to sort it out and everyone had a place to sleep.

It was quite a long drive after a 13 hour work day but Lorna kept us all entertained and alert, though even she started to flag as midnight approached.

Mum's place is lovely and situated on the side of a hill with beautiful views in every direction. We drove up the final steep road in the dark which was probably a good thing for Lorna's nerves.

We'll get a better look shortly when we take Mona into Benalla to catch her train to Melbourne.

On the Bus

2012-02-06T18:46:00.000+08:00

It's 7.00 o'clock on a Tuesday night and I'm at work.

I pull up at a bus stop.

A young girl and guy are waiting it seems.

But as she goes to board the bus he stops her.

Physically.

She looks confused and says "Let me get on the bus"

He refuses her request.

For a moment I think they're mucking around but the look on her face and the tone of his voice suggest otherwise.

She tries repeatedly to get on the bus and he stops her every time.

Holding her.

Blocking her.

Pushing her back against a fence.

Constraining her with desperate whiny pleas. "Stay here. Stay with me. Don't get on the bus. etc" and all the while physically preventing her getting on the bus.

She looks at me and apologizes and again says "Let me get on the bus, I want to go".

It's my last run of the day.

I've got one passenger on board.

I'm due at a driver changeover in 8 minutes.

But I'm not going anywhere.

I get out of my seat and say to the guy, "Mate, you need to let her go so she can get on the bus".

%#@$ off! is his predictable reply.

I repeat myself but I already know he's not listening and is not going to comply.

I think back a few months to a similar scenario in town where I instinctively intervened to stop a violent incident and copped a punch in the face for my efforts. As blood poured from my nose I had watched the boy proceed to hit, kick and drag his female companion up the street. I called the police and reported it the next day, providing pictures of my assailant but surprise surprise the police said there was nothing they could do without independent witnesses!

I look at the boy in this incident.

He's smaller than me. Weedy. No obvious weapons.

I consider my options.

I could drag him off her, I'm confident I am big enough and strong enough to overpower him but...

Then what?

Does he stand meekly by while his girlfriend and I get on the bus and I drive her away?

Unlikely.

More likely he gets on the bus too and suddenly my problems are multiplied, or he kicks and bashes the bus and inflicts damage on it and us.

I keep a safe distance and tell him I'm going to call the police.

He says he doesn't care and I believe him.

I call 000.

Police please, to ____________ Rd & ____________ St

The operator asks the standard questions and tells me police have been notified.

The wait for reinforcements begins as the stand-off continues.

I could get on the bus and drive away trusting the police will turn up and sort it out but...

I'm sure this is a bad situation that has the potential to get much worse.

I wait.

I apologize to my passenger and he is understanding.

Over the next twenty minutes the girl tries in vain to convince her "boyfriend" to let her go and he continues to hold her "prisoner", all the while pushing, dragging and attempting to carry her around the corner and up the street.

My changeover long since missed I monitor the situation and look up and down the street hoping the cops will arrive soon. I've been there 45 minutes.

To compound the situation my radio breaks down. I can't let anyone know where I am or what's happening.

The next bus arrives. I get my passenger onto it and use its radio to contact my changeover driver. He has wisely decided to start his run some time earlier.

I continue to wait.

The girl continues to seek her freedom.

The boy continues to keep her captive.

I call 000 again and request more urgent attention.

This time I speak to the police directly.

They ask the same questions, get the same details and give the same assurance:

"We'll be there as soon as possible"

I'm not confident but I wait and look and hope, all the while keeping an eye on the situation.

I've decided that if it escalates I will physically interevene but so long as nothing changes for the worse I will wait for the police to come and deal with it.

Finally they arrive.

The boy lets her go and she walks away as the police get out of the car.

Two officers.

One speaks to each while I watch and listen.

The older officer talks to the girl and seems pretty competent.

The younger cop talks to the boy and takes a friendly "light-hearted" approach.

I'm not impressed but say nothing.

After a couple of minutes I talk to the older cop and describe the events of the last hour.

He then speaks to the boy and quickly makes a judgement.

"I don't like him, he's a smart arse".

I presume their strategy is "go softly, avoid an arrest, sort it out peacefully, get them on their, separate, ways."

Plan A is for the girl to get on my bus and depart but then the boy says he's gonna get on the bus too and the cops say they can't stop him so they opt for plan B, they will take the girl in the squad car.

I return to the bus and as I drive away cop some predictable abuse from the boy, now standing on the footpath, on his own. He's not happy but he should be grateful, it could have been a lot worse!

The Giants Won the Superbowl!

2012-02-06T17:55:00.000+08:00

I managed to maintain a media blackout, a 5.30 am start at work and an appointment after work in order to watch the Superbowl without knowing the result. And to make it sweeter, the New york Giants won!

MVP and winning Quarterback, Eli Manning

Chris' Night at the Australian Open

2012-01-29T20:50:00.001+08:00

My friend Chris splurged on a package deal for the tennis and has been to the 1/4 finals, semi-finals and is right now at the men's final. Rafael Nadal is fighting hard to stay in the match as I write.

Chris sent me a couple of emails that so captured the mood and excitement of her experience of the match between Novak Djokavic and Andy Murray in the semi-final that I asked her permission to re-post them on my blog.

Here they are:

Wow
What a battle and the crowd was amazing, lots of singing all night, at the end everyone cheered novak, poms and serbs alike, everyone walked out of the arena with a smile on their face, even andy. That was special, very special.novak was gone for all money in the third, appeared to be exhausted, then he came back the final set was extraordinary, people jumping out of their seats after every point, poms singing serbs singing then an almighty eruption and a very long standing ovation. Even Julia and the First Bloke stayed in the arena. The serbs all gathered outside and sang all the way to the Gee carpark. Then this fabulous drumming outfit were in the tunnel between Rod Laver and the Gee, what a night, never been to such an event where everyone was just in awe. Fancy Rod Laver himself being there. Noval just so gracious and humble in victory. As bruce would say......we saw something s..p...e...c...i..a..l
Melbourne can sure turn it on., got home about 2.30
You'd sell your family jewels to have an experience like that.
What am i going to do today??????

Obviously the excitement had not worn off by the following morning...

Hi there

I had a night I'll remember for a very long time last night at Rod Laver Arena, mens semi, 5 hrs 10 mns Scotland andy murray vs novak jokovich from serbia. Amazing game, 2 warriors incredibly hot night, felt like broome, fabulous crowd, lots of singing, a really good feel about it. Best game i've seen and best atmosphere, the noise was deafening between every point. Both men collapsed into each others arms a the end and kind of held each other up. I was surrounded by poms, serbs, russians, malaysians, everyone talking to each other in little bits of english, i sat beside a lovely lady from Russia and er husband, here for the tennis, just fabulous. Julia and the First Bloke were there. At the end we all just stood and roared, no one moved for ages, including Julia as the warriors had their big hug. I followed a big bunch of Serbs back to the Gee carpark and they sang all the way, flags waving, lots of blokes in tartan skirts ( they look very nice too)

Then to top it all off there was a fabulous drumming band outside the Gee playing up a storm at 2 oclock in the morning..........just imagine that happening in Perth....not likely, there'd be some sort of law against it for sure!! It was just one of those magic nights, worth mortgaging the house for

Everyone's Home Again

2012-01-20T11:50:00.000+08:00

My week off is racing by, only 3 days till I go back to work, with a week of early starts to look forward to: think 5.30!

I picked Mrs Holt Press and Sport Boy up from the airport on Wednesday night, having spent the day at the tennis in Melbourne. I missed out on seeing Roger Federer but made up for it by getting in to see Bernard Tomic win his 2nd round game.

They (Mrs HP and SB) are happy to be home and I'm happy to have them back.

Last night Sport Boy and I went back to Melbourne for our first taste of Twenty 20 cricket in the Big Bash League. We missed a train and as the next one would get us to Melbourne 40 minutes late we decided to drive. Bad decision! Not only was the traffic extra heavy with both cricket and tennis happening but the MCG in their "wisdom" closed the car park at Jolimont despite there being plenty of available space. A frustrated lap of the block followed by a diversion to Burnley ensued before we caught a train back to Richmond! We therefore arrived in time only to see the last two overs of the first innings! Despite the irritation we enjoyed the game which moved along at a rapid pace, punctuated with music, fireworks, shooting flames and crowd involvement.

After the cricket we raced across the road to Melbourne Park to catch the last of the tennis on the big screen in the garden area. Lleyton Hewitt was playing Andy Roddick.Just when I managed to get a couple of tickets to Rod Laver Arena from some departing patrons Roddick retired hurt and the match was over! Good to see the Aussie win but disappointing not to be inside to see it played out.

Have I mentioned before how much I like living close to Melbourne?

By the time we caught a train back to Burnley, retrieved the car, found our way through Port Melbourne to the West Gate Bridge and got on the road we didn't get home to Ocean Grove until about 1am; next time we'll take the train even if it means being late!

15 Down 3 to Go

2012-01-16T12:19:00.000+08:00

I have survived on my own for 15 days, a feat worthy of some recognition I think. 3 days to go.

Friday was my last day at work before my much anticipated 10 day Rostered Week Off, woohoo! My mind was drfiting into holiday mode toward the end of the day and I failed to drop a passenger off at her requested stop. A quick trip around the block got her back pretty close. I also took a car instead of a bus to my last changeover and had to double back and swap vehicles, holding up the driver I was relieving in the process!

Repetition and boredom are what lead to mistakes usually so I'm always on the lookout for things of interest and keep my camera handy for any such diversions. this will sound lame but I really like capturing interesting number sequences on the odometer when I'm driving, especially if it's "turning the clock" back to zeroes.

This one attracted me recently, as did this ute, obviously decorated by a Lady GaGa fan!

Clearly I needed to finish my shift and get away on my break.

As soon as I finished my last shift I took the train up to Melbourne in order to go to the live show of The Spicks and Spectacular Finale, a Christmas present from Favourite Daughter. The show was excellent and I had a lot of fun. Spicks and Specks has been an iconic program on the ABC, clocking up 277 episodes in 7 years so it was good to be able to see one of their final shows together.

After the show I met up with Favourite Daughter who had just returned from Tassie glowing and recounting stories of her adventures. I think she likes the place. She returned my car (leant to her because the Kombi is not quite ready to pass a roadworthy/get registered) with a couple of minor scratches, one the result of a bloke who backed into her in a car park and then yelled and swore at her as if it was her fault. It wasn't, I've seen the pictures to prove it, but he gave her a hard time; probably to cover his own embarrassment and annoyance.

A couple of travelling "hippy" friends of hers and Spike, Lee & Sol, came to stay for a few days, wearing their psychadeliic clothes and cooking their vegetarian food. It was nice to have some company and they enjoyed looking around the Bellarine Peninsula. They left yesterday for Apollo Bay and all points west till they get back to Perth and Sol goes back to Uni. Also in pic: Toni and her boyfriend, name unknown.

I took Alan J on a shopping expedition to look for a pair of slippers on Thurs arvo. We weren't successful, slippers being near to extinction in the 21st century it seems, although we got a lead on some that would be available in March! We then had coffee and a bite to eat in Belmont. For my first solo adventure with Mrs Holt Press' Dad it went pretty well. This is a picture from Christmas Day when he joined us for Christmas lunch, the first time he's been to our place at Ocean Grove.

On Boxing Day a few of the Jones clan gathered at Auntie Kath's for afternoon tea, including Brett and Elizabeth over from Perth.

My first couple of days off have been spent drawing while watching sport on TV. Tottenham only managed a draw with Wolves but this morning the NY Giants knocked the Green Bay Packers out of the NFL playoffs.

Mrs HP and Sport Boy will be home on Wednesday and I helped them arrange an early departure from Bruny so they can spend an extra day in Hobart before leaving. I booked a motel room for them near the harbour. They should be able to visit MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art) and look around the city.

MONA, set up by a wealthy but unusual philanthropist has only been open about a year and has a reputation as quirky, strange, confronting and even disgusting in places so it should make for interesting viewing.

I think I'll go up to Melbourne on Wednesady morning and spend the day at the Australian Open tennis before going out to pick them up from the airport.

I should also be able to squeeze in a visit to Mum's at Tatong while I've got this time off.

Before I go, a few catch up pics:

Firstly from Josh and Kish's wedding in Bacchus Marsh just before Christmas. They had a hindu ceremony first followed by a more traditional western ceremony later in the day. Sport Boy looked pretty cool for the occasion.

Another thing I look out for on my travels is public art and unusual houses. This place in Katherine St West Geelong covers both categories!