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Well It's About Time!!!
Hey folks
Well I've been back 5 months now so I thought I'd better write you all an email
to let you know what I've been up to. So make a cuppa, sit back and enjoy!
I arrived early on a Thursday morning and after 24 hours on a plane I underwent
an hours interrogation with my good friends at customs. Firstly I was asked why
I was returning so soon after leaving. Then after 10 minutes of making up
plausible crap I was then searched for carrying to much alcohol. This was funny
friends as a search of my bag revealed an intriguing collection of bows and
arrows, stolen beer glasses and a very suspicious beer hat!! Luckily they saw
the funny side and allowed me into the country where I was expecting to be
greeted by the open arms of Ashleigh but instead walked into an empty arrivals
terminal with a few messages on my phone which mainly consisted of "where are
you" and "I've been waiting for ages" etc etc. But alas all was sorted and I
found her driving round outside, turns out she came for the wrong flight so it
wasn't all my fault but I'm sure she'll tell you otherwise hehe!
 A
week after returning I flew down to a place called Murwillumbah just across the
border into New South Wales to play for the Cairns opens squad at the state
championships (opens is like a reserve grade squad but the standard is more
intense than league hockey). These championships were a huge learning
curve for me, we played 2 games a day which were followed by a pool session to
stop cramping of the muscles and sugar intake in the form of jam sandwiches to
build up energy for the next game. We usually had one game around midday when
the temp hit over 30 degrees so it was pretty tough going and our pool never saw
the sum so it was like a plunge pool so you had to keep moving or else it hurt,
many jokes were thrown my way about being a pom so I should be used to it etc.
Down time at the carnival was good, had fines meeting (I was fined for being a
pom), and on the last night had a big session with the boys from Townsville
which ended up with the rookies having to do a nudie run through the town... We
came 9th at the carnival which as a team wasn't great but for me I enjoyed it
lots and learnt new things about approaches to hockey and different styles of
play needed for use against the oppositions tactics.
After this things were pretty quiet, I wasn't getting much work so my days were
spent in front of the telly, or spending time with Ash when she was having a
break from her university studies. This was a bad time as I struggled for 2
months trying to make up my mind on whether to stay or to call it quits in
October, as I'm sure many of you know that when you spend time alone the
thoughts in your head take over and the voice of doom comes to the forefront.
This was tough for Ashleigh as well as me because none of us knew what would
happen in October. My birthday was in May and I had a good day, I spent it with
Ash, we went to play some put-put (crazy golf) then to the beach and that night
she took me out for dinner. Many thanks to those who signed the card that Kirsty
sent out it was great to hear from you all.
I moved out of Nigles place in late June as his sister returned from 6 months in
Canada and moved in with Tims sister Angela and her pets Bruce the dog and
George the cat.
At the end of June the Barrier Reef League started
with 12 teams in 2 pools from Cairns, Townsville and Mackay competing. We opened
our account beating local rivals Stingers in a close game then the week later we
travelled to Townsville to play the Mackay teams, we lost our first game but won
our second game hung-over after a big one the night before! A week later we beat
both Townsville teams in Cairns which left us top of the group resulting in
another trip to Townsville where we met South's from Cairns (these are like the
Muppets in Mansfield - we hate them). We lost this semi-final and I was sent off
for a bad tackle, I got the ball but I went through the player and his stick to
get it! It was a shocker friends probably a result of being 2-0 up to being 3-2
down. I was rooming with Nigel and an under 16 Jack (me-off) and straight away
they made their intentions clear by bringing the fire hose from outside into the
shower (where I was). I didn't hear the door unlock, I just hear a now and as I
poked my head around the curtain and saw a grinning Nigel looking back. Next
followed a girly scream on my behalf then vain attempts to hide behind the
curtain. He smashed me, I'll get my revenge one day!!!!
We had a new coach this season, Kenny Holmes, who comes straight from the old
school hockey text book, our training sessions were all working on the basic
skill, followed by drills for lead patterns and presses. Each game he'd turn up
to coach with 6-pack of XXXX Gold and his radio for the racing. But all was in
vain as we struggled to find the net on so many occasions leaving us bottom for
the second year but with the 2nd best defensive record in the league. We also
had 3 new players this season, Marc Johnson returned to us after time out,
Justin our new GK joined use from Townsville and Glen from Western Australia who
is having a year with us on his travels around oz. These have become very good
friends of mine and have fitted into the team well. I had a good season which
was reflected in being nominated in the top 10 players in the league, I didn't
win but it was still an achievement for me. I scored a goal this season too,
probably the best I have ever scored, we had a free hit on the top of the 'D' so
I made my way to the right hand side as was shocked to end up with the ball,
hence I miss trapped I and the ball flew in the air, I then preceded to cream
the living daylights out of the ball and it screamed into the top corner a shot
worthy of even you Mr Butler you would have been proud! I'm also famous in our
club now for "stacking it" its happened twice this season, one time it happened
as I was playing against Ashleigh's teams Mens side, she was watching with her
dad and I was running back to half way as we had a penalty corner, I was
travelling backwards and my heel caught the turf and I was sent flying into the
air landing on my head much to the amusement of those watching in the grand
stand and the embarrassment of Ash - That's my boy!!! The season has now
finished and I wish all of you at North Notts the very best for the season
ahead, I'll be checking the results on the net.
  
The world cup came and went, I got dressed up with
Joe another English player who came to brothers this year and I had England
flags over my car, its a new experience being chased by aboriginals who don't
like the fact English people were parading around their territory!!!
 At
the end of July Ash and I went to Mission beach for 4 days. This was a great
trip as it allowed us to spend some time away from the stresses of normal life
in Cairns and also allowed us to see how we get on when we spending a fair bit
of time together. This leads me onto my next subject.
As I'm sure many of you have heard, I'm currently applying for a visa to let me
migrate and work in Australia. I reached this decision around July time I'd
gotten over the homesickness and was loving the Cairns lifestyle again, hockey
was going great and I was beginning to feel a part of Cairns Hockey by
socialising more with people form other clubs, finally things are great with
Ashleigh we've become closer and stronger, she's beautiful, makes me happy and
we just have a great time together. Hence when I finally weighed up what I truly
wanted to do I was left with one answer and that was to stay. I was tough
because I have so many great friends and relatives back in the auk and I will
miss you all, and make sure we keep in contact ok!
I found work in a kitchen which annoys the sh*t out of me but its much needed
money, and Ashleigh's dad also helps me out. He is my sponsor, I was originally
going to work for Queensland Hockey coaching hockey in the Gulf Peninsular to
the Aboriginal communities but that fell through so now I'm going to do
brokerage work for his business.
August/September has been a busy time for me, we had the hockey grand finals, I
got smashed so I don't remember too much hehe, It was Ashleigh's birthday so I
spent the day with her, bought her a ring then took her to see Eskimo Joe that
night. That weekend we went to Brisbane to see her friends and her sister. I was
refused entry into a club for being to over dressed - what a joke!
 Jay
and Clare paid me a visit on their honeymoon trip, it was great to see them
sounds like they had fun, they came to watch the local hockey and Jay was
particularly pleased to hear the old North Notts war cry - GAAAAYYYYY!!!! being
echoed around Cairns Hockey - I like to think I've made an impression here. On
their last night we went to Tims for a BBQ and allowed them to meet a few of my
friends here and catch up with Tim.
2 weeks later my folks arrived which was great, I've only seen them for 3 weeks
in 18 months so we had a fair bit of catching up to do. They spent a day at Port
Douglas (where Steve Irwin copped it) with Ashleigh's folks probably telling
them embarrassing stories of my childhood etc. We went to the reef which was
amazing but a bit choppy though, I tried snorkelling and just got smashed by the
waves. As I got out of the sea I fell over trying to walk in flippers and after
5 minutes of choking this chick who was the photographer said "have you finished
choking" and preceded to take my pic! On the days I worked their did their own
touristy stuff, but they now know what my new life is about. I hope my parents
enjoyed it, they only got back yesterday so I haven't spoken to them yet.
Tim and Michelle tied the not on Sunday in a beautiful ceremony at Paradise
Palms. It was a fantastic day and I wish them all the best for the future.
Tim gave me the duty of
 being
music man so I had to play the songs in the right order for when they walked
down the isle etc. To be honest I was crapping myself, one slip up could ruin
the wedding, but I just about held it together and the day went without a hitch.
The free bar was much appreciated and we all made the most of it! I'll get
photo's of that as soon as I can as I forgot my camera.
Tims bucks party was held at the amateurs race day so we all had to suit up I
had 4 bets and didn't win anything. The night before was the amateurs ball and I
accompanied Ashleigh along to it, she looked amazing in her dress and I tried my
best not to feel like a penguin in my hired tuxed, but the night was brilliant,
free drinks, fireworks, live band etc!
Well that's about it, I hope you enjoyed it and I haven't kept you all up too
late!
Take care and keep in touch.
Missing you all
Taggie
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