Foggybear

my favourite Filipino beer is Red Horse despite my Filipino partner informing me that only "rough people" drink it. He says that is too strong. He too is happy with San Miguel Light although give him a Corona & he is even happier! At least it is not Colt 45 -another beer not as I first thought a bourbon! !

I was thinking of you & this story when I heard about the Cyclone some days ago!

I'm really enjoying reading this yet again. Thankyou so much! It is interesting, as I write, the A.F.L. is holding it's draft tonight. Looks like Sydney pick up 3 players!

Jason Ball & Jason Tuazon-McCheyne are both great blokes & personal friends each in their own way! Jason like myself has a Filipino partner & together they have done great things with the Purple Bombers! Rainbow Swans had a get together pre-game function some years ago prior to a game between our two sides! We happily met @ the Beauchamp on Oxford St., in the city. That was the first time I had met Jason! I made several friends that day who I still treasure today1 A couple of them share our love for Heritage Trains & we have met up on several occasions!

I remember that game with Phil Hughes. We were deeply shocked. Thankyou for deciding to include it! I recall that a good mate - A cricket Umpire & a NSW AFL Umpire (now deceased) was particularly devastated - we were all in shock of course! He was also a Member of Rainbow Swans who encouraged me to go to the Swans with our group & ended up in facilitating a meeting at swans HQ THE S.C.G. which resulted in the Sydney Swans officially accepting us & appointing a staffer to oversee us!

Paddy McCartin & (his brother I think?) ended up with the Swans last year. the Swans are pretty good with giving former players another "go!" ( I KNOW - I'm biased) they made a pretty formidable couple!

I had forgotten about Amos, but then I don't have all that much time for Hawthorn especially after 2014! Then I should remember that Lance Franklin came from Hawthorn, kicking 13 Goals in one game in 2012. it is interesting that one of the articles you've quoted mentions Chris Fagan who is now under fire for some of the treatment handed out to indigenous players during his time at the Hawks! it is so easy to be wise in hindsight - I am stopping myself all the time!

I recall that Grand Final very well! We left as soon as the game had ended - it was humiliating & most frustrating! The only good thing that could be said (pretty much the same as this year as it turned out) is that we at least made it when 16 other teams did not!! The same with the 2016 Grand Final, but that was due more to the umpires than the Swans playing ability. it is indeed unfortunate that that G.F. has gone down in the history books as being one of the most blatent examples of Umpire bias in GF History! However I am getting ahead of myself again. I am really enjoying rereading this series. Thankyou Graeme for writing & posting it!

I am re-reading this series. It is still as enjoyable as when you first wrote it! My partner (a Filipino) & I really love our football and are Swans Members. I have stepped down as the head of Rainbow Swans as I was finding it too much! Don't ever get old! We are all very upset that The Swans have signed up Qatar as a sponsor, but at least the guy who put the deal together met with us at one of our pre game get togethers, to explain his reasons. He still doesn't get the idea that it is crazy to say on one hand that your club is inclusive & the next to sign up a sponsor which is known to be homophobic. The Club has been fantastic & as you probably know, are actively involved in the Pride Round that the AFL hosts each year! The swans generally play St Kilda (who just happen to be my "second team) I would love to see the GWS GIANTS & their Rainbow Giants take on the Purple bombers in another game in that round. Jason Tuazon McSheyne (Head of Purple Bombers) is all for it. Just to keep you in the loop, all clubs now have a "PRIDE" Team1Rainbow Swans always have a pregame Function when it is our turn to host the Pride game & I'm proud to say that Andrew Pridham, the Swans C.E.O. was in attendance. he is a great bloke & the club is most supportive. We have 4 players as group allies who are not embarrassed to sign Guernseys etc.,

I"VE NEVER ACTUALLY DONE IT! I don't like heights much either. However the Hammons (senior - Mary & Harry) were customers of mine & my sister used to work for them in the Revolving Restaurant (see, I was a good bear & did not refer to it as he Revolting Restaurant) until she poured boiling water all over herself- I doubt that she'd remember much about that now. WHEN SYDNEY Is covered by fog it is hard to see anything - even the Bridge & Opera House can get completely covered in it, & of course the Airport gets closed etc. Thankfully those days don't happen too often down there.

the EDINBURGH military Tattoo is something that is customarily shown on our TVs on New years Day of the following year. It is something we really look forward to. I'd love to attend in person but I don't think my partner is interested. Every time he gets time of from his work he (naturally enough) wants to visit his family in the Philippines. I did live in N.Z. years ago & have been back 6 times. My partner, now that is he truly an Aussie, no longer has to get a VIsa, we can just go anytime! Thankyou for this story, it is really inspiring1

The Qld Cane Toad is poisonous & has become a huge pest that are gradually moving into other parts of Australia, unfortunately. They were initially brought over her to combat another pest, but adapted so well to Aussie conditions, that they quickly became out of control. Now they are a terrible nuisance for which there seems to be no easy way of keeping them contained!

All place names starting with the letters "Wh " are all pronounced as if spelt with an "F" - quite a trap for the unwary!

I read this story quite some time ago, but I am learning so much more this time around. I have been to Melbourne many many times, even sailed on the Sprit of Tasmania, Have been to Philip Island & yet I didn't know about "The Rip" or how dangerous it could be. I do know that Bass Strait & Cook Strait (It separates the North & South Islands of New Zealand, are amongst the most dangerous in our world. Thanks for the reminders about the South West of Western Australia!