with Bronwyn Jameson
 |
| Our driveway and creek crossing |
The October long weekend always seems to sneak up on me. Perhaps because I don’t recognise it for a reason, such as Anzac Day or Queen’s Birthday or Australia Day. I had to check to reassure myself of its raison d’etre – Labour Day, that would be, although for many sports-loving Aussies it’s the Footie Long Weekend. At least it has become so since the AFL and Rugby League scheduled their grand-finals on this one week-end.
Given the current flooding, no-one in my household was going anywhere this weekend!
 |
| No caption needed! |
I am a bit of a sports tragic, so settling in for a weekend of football grand-finals and other games/events was no hardship. I am not a hardcore supporter of any teams, as in I have my favourites but I don’t don team colours and watch every game from season’s start to end. So although the Swans (my fave AFL team) lost, I didn’t shed tears...except in response to the good-guy, good-news stories that followed.
Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Or a gesture that defines a man as one of the good guys? Or a Hemsworth viewing?
 |
| At Ohio State University one year ago |
I did not watch the Rugby League grand-final. After the World Cup of Hockey final, the AFL grand-final, two American College Football games – we got to see an Ohio State University game while in Columbus this time last year and I became an instant fan – and the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix (yay, Daniel Riccardo!) I was pretty much sported out. I needed a walk, some gardening, and a (non-sporting) book* to round out my weekend.
*Although if you’re looking for a sports-themed read, check out Amy Andrews’ Sydney Smoke Rugby series.
How do you spend this past weekend, whether short or long? Are you an armchair sports fan? Do you enjoy sports-themed romance (and if so, do you have any recommendations?)
Hi Bronwyn
ReplyDeleteYep long weekend here and I watched the AFL grand final on Saturday sad that the Swans didn't win (although I was sadder the week before when the GWS Giants lost ) I had a work reunion Saturday nights lots of fun lost an hours sleep because of daylight savings then I won tickets to the Sydney grand final neither of the teams at my team but I really wanted the Sharks to win and they did woohoo and I love books set around sports teams and am loving Amy's ones :) Donna Gallagher has a series set around a Sydney rugby league team which is fabulous
Have Fun
Helen
Fabulous weekend, Helen, by the sounds of things. How awesome that you got to go the grand-final. I'm not a Sharks fan either but I love the emotion when the result has been so long coming...same for both grand finals.
DeleteI have had my eyes on Donna's series; I know it would be authentic, football-wise, and that's important to me when reading sports-themed fiction.
I'm no sports fan, Bron. I didn't watch any grand finals (although had a house-full of people who did). A lot of sadness here that the Sharks won!
ReplyDeleteThis weekend involved going out to dinner, caught up with a school friend I hadn't really seen in 25 years, played lots of board games (have just received Risk Europe - had to bring in it from OS as not available in Australia yet), practice piano (exam in 4 weeks) and marked a load of uni assignments. So non-stop but fun.
Board games!!! Oh, I wish I'd thought of that...although not enough people this side of the creek for a true competition. Last time my sisters listed we played Quiddler, which is a version of scrabble with cards. So much fun!!!
DeleteI never used to be a sports fan, but I am crazy for baseball now! My team (the BlueJays) has just made the wildcard entry, so we have one game in which to cinch a spot in the playoffs. So yes, there was lots of sports in our house over the weekend. Big game is tomorrow and I'm very excited!
ReplyDeleteMy Canadian relations are all aboard the BlueJays bandwagon so perhaps I should join them and you? Last year, this time, we were visiting them and it was all about the BlueJays. Possibly because the hockey season hadn't yet started. Have you been converted to the national sport?
ReplyDeleteNot quite as much as baseball but I do enjoy the hockey - just wish tickets weren't so crazy expensive!
DeleteOh that's not good. Perhaps because stadiums are smaller and seats bought up by members and then resold? Definitely not good for a fun night out.
DeleteI followed the Joseph Parker fight, and left the rest of the sports to my man. Sunday we attended three birthday celebrations so it was quite a day.
ReplyDelete3 Birthdays = 3 times the fun!
DeleteUnusual thing in my family is I'm the sports-obsessive. My man enjoys motor sports, esp bikes, but I'm usually in charge of the remote when there is football to be watched.
(I'm going to have to google Joseph Parker because that means nothing to me.)
I love that picture of you in your Ohio State Uni jersey, Bron! Many moons ago when we were in London, Mr Douglas dragged me to an English Premier League game -- so now I'm a soccer tragic. So on the weekend we watched old season highlights (from when our team won trophies...see, I told you I'd become a tragic). And this year we again have season tickets to the local league -- though, we don't have high expectations of our team. Still, it's fun to go along to the games and to cheer them on.
ReplyDeleteHaving just booked the first leg of our 2017 trip, to Paris and on to London, I think I need to start taking an interest in the other football. Our son has been to three Arsenal games this season already. I've let him know that this must be on our itinerary next year!
DeleteWho do you and Mr D follow?
A trip to Paris and London next year? Oh, what a fabulous treat to look forward to, Bron! Yes, you must put a game of EPL on your itinerary -- you'll have a ball.
DeleteAlso, Snap! It's Arsenal all the way for us too! :-)
Go Gunners! (see, I'm totally up on this!! and I've told #1 son that this must be on the list for 2017)
DeleteYou even know the lingo! Happy sighs. :-)
Delete*g*
DeleteHi Bron. What a lovely pic of you in the US!
ReplyDeleteNo, we didn't spend a sporty weekend but caught up with family instead, which was a real treat. On the other hand we did catch a little of the NRL final. We do watch a bit of soccer though and there may be more of that coming up.
Hope the flooding eases our your way!
Catching up with family is always the best treat, Annie. As I've just mentioned to Michelle, soccer needs to get on my radar. No hardship, there. I spent a lot of time watching Euro games earlier this year.
DeleteWe've had another big storm tonight so tomorrow and possibly the next day we'll still be marooned but the forecast is looking good after that. Fingers crossed!
Awww, thanks for the plug, Bron xxx
ReplyDeleteI actually watched the AFL grand final for the first time in my life - staying at a friends house....So I guess hell did freeze over :-)
As far as sports roms I've really enjoyed, I'd have to say Mel Scott's baseball books are awesome!
Please don't summons Hell freezing over, AA, it's bloody cold and wet enough down here already! :-)
DeleteBaseball is not a game I've gotten into but that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy reading about it. Thanks for the recommendation. *Added to TBR pile*
Agreeing wholeheartedly here with AA on Mel Scott's baseball books. She's fabulous! Also love SEP's work as well. As to the Lindsay household and sport, we don't even have cable TV so I guess you could say we're not exactly sports fans. We do like seeing a live game when we can (and we're given tickets! LOL!) and I love to watch the All Blacks on TV but the delayed telecast usually ends up making it a very late night for this bedbug! :-)
ReplyDeleteWould you believe a Mel Scott newsletter about her baseball books just landed in my inbox? Targeted marketing or just timely coincidence?? :-)
DeleteAnd you've reminded me that SEP has a new Chicago Stars book out. I've been trying to *not remember* because that is a book I will want to read start to finish without stopping. Perfect for a long flight or a lazy weekend but not for when I have work to be done!
Live sport is awesome entertainment. My ultimate wishlist event is SuperBowl. One day...