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The Boxing Day Test
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Boxing Day Test -27/12/07
Boys day today at the boxing day test. Brendon and eddy came around this moring about 8.30, beer in hand, talking up the prospects of a great day at the home of sport, the mighty MCG. Australia V India, in a clash of the Titans. I hadn't seen Brendan in maybe 4 years, but it was like nothing had changed, as we cordially greeted each other with a call of , 'wobbles' and 'big fella'. Wobbles being my nickname past down from my grandparents. So with the all the boys together for the first time in years, Tom, Ben, Eddy, Brendan, and myself (missing lucas who would join us later), we stood in line for the inevitable photo, to highlight how the years have changed us since the last photo taken many years ago, in our 'prime'.
We boarded the train at gardenvale, and with amber chatting happily away with the lads we head for the mecca of sport. Amber found it funny that we named a suburb after the essential equipment of a thief, in Balaclava. It was like old times.
Having entered the G, (me after forking out 191 dollars, to renew my membership for one days play of cricket), we were suitably impressed by the new members stand, which had been built in my absence, for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Polished boards, escalators, walls of glass and all this even before seeing the pitch. So we headed straight down stairs to the Bull Ring (famous bar), had a bit of Red Rooster, to line the stomachs, then straight in to begin the drinking at 11.00. Pints in plastic, after a few fights during the footy finals, not appreciated, but we worked through it for the sake of the day.
We were joined throughout the day by a series of friends who came and went, the first of these to join us at 11.00 and the last to leave about 2 am the next day. We managed to do a pub crawl inside the members, going to the Bull Ring, the Brewster bar(maybe), the terrace bar right, the terrace bar left, and the bars on the top floor of the stands. Amber and i saw about 8 overs, in two four over spells, of cricket all day, which was twice as much as anyone else, but we saw two wickets, and the changed of innings in those times.
It wasn't long after the change of innings that we headed out of the G to continue the day/night of cricket/socialising. We chose a spot just outside the gate, people went for food or toilets or to say goodbye to other friends and we all agreed to meet in 15mis. As we all found the meeting point the debate hotted up as to where to spend the rest of the evening, going to fed square, or a local called the cricketers arms in Richmond a dodgy old mans pub. All debate was soon put to an end as Tom (my brother) finally arrived. In the time it took for everyone to meet up again, Tom had somehow managed to rip his collared shirt, and spill hot dog sauce all down the front of it, so that kind of put an end to the discussion, the cricketer's arms it was. Seeing how bad is shirt was and finding a lonely souvenir stand still open, we all pitched in and bought Thomas a souvenir Aust v India t-shirt, not only to smarten him up alittle but also to remember the day.
Had a brilliant time at the cricketer's arms. It attracts all the characters who attend the cricket, and brings them all together in a melting pot of excentricities and stupidity that is something to behold. While we were there a lone, there were the boys all attending in stubbies and singlets with zinc painted lips and noses, the lads from England just trying to fathom this cricketing tradition, and the girls behind the bar who obviously loved Benno, and he loved them too.
As the night wore on the boys became restless for some more fun, so it was off to the royal, for more beer, topless barmaids and the intermittent strip show by some saggy boobed over the hill stripper. Amber and Mel especially appreciated the special enthusiasm and zeal of these women obviously reaching the dizzying heights of their profession, much like the cricketers we had just seen toiling away in the hot summer sun at the mcg.
We stayed for a pot.
With tummies rumbling and the call of our local ringing in our ears we headed back to brighton for our fill of food, a few more beers and hopefully a game of pool to cap off the night.
Chicken Parma's all round.
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