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  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #61: The Olympic Edition

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #61: The Olympic Edition

    Olympics

    Today, I thought I’d give you an insight into Ella’s “winning’’ view on the Olympics, via a conversation she had with The Bloke in The Shed. The script went something like this:

    Scene: Commentary from the men’s swimming 200-metre medley heats during the Olympics blasts from the TV. Dressed in pyjamas, Ella creeps from her bedroom into the lounge room. She looks around the room, trying to find a reason to stall bedtime.

    Ella: “What stroke are they doing, Daddy?’’

    Julian: “That’s the butterfly, darlin’. Now get into bed.’’

    Ella: “Well, what stroke is that now, Daddy?’’

    Julian: “That’s backstroke, darlin’. Now get into bed, please.’’

    Ella: “But I can’t do those strokes, Daddy. When are they going to do the one I can do? (motioning her little arms in the form of doggy paddle).’’

    Julian: “They don’t, darlin’.’’

    Ella: (with sad face) “But how will I be able to go in the Olympics?’’

    Julian: “Well darlin’, if you can talk them into adding a dog paddle event, shrinking the size of the Olympic pool to about five metres and allowing personal flotation devices, then I reckon you are set.’’

    Ella: (Skips off to bed happily).

    How are your children enjoying the Olympics? Or are they like me and do everything to avoid it?

    Now, it’s time to score something nice in this week’s linky. Just click on any – or all – of the links below for the chance to win.

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.



    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • The Shed: C’mon, Aussie Lleyton, c’mon

    The Shed: C’mon, Aussie Lleyton, c’mon

    tennis ballsBy Julian O’Brien, aka The Bloke in The Shed

    The look in the eyes of the kid was unmistakable. It was steely-eyed determination and grit. The kid with the backwards cap and the focus beyond his years who was looking intensely at the sports journo from a regional newspaper interviewing him was Lleyton Hewitt. The other bloke was me.

    I was interviewing Lletyon after he won the national 14 and under hardcourt championships in Burnie, Tasmania and alongside him was the female winner. She was a much taller, more affable and a more relaxed personality. Her name was Alicia Molik.

    Interestingly, Lleyton’s mum and dad hovered close by. Not much has changed.

    What struck me then has also not changed to this day. Lleyton Hewitt is just one extremely talented and focused individual who has a terrific family support network.

    Get him off court and comfortable, he’d be a terrific bloke to be around. Get him on court or out of his bubble, he’d be an absolute nightmare.

    If you look up “competitor’’ in the dictionary, it would be fitting to see Lleyton’s mugshot there. Sure, Australia has probably produced more decorated tennis players, but the fact remains – on statistics – he is our greatest ever Davis Cup player. Ever. He loves the nation which spawned him. Therefore, we should love him back.

    I saw someone refer to him as “Bogan Lleyton” on Twitter recently. I’m tipping Lleyton might wear that as a badge of honour and I’d encourage him to do so. The tennis player I saw as a kid transferred to the world stage.

    As a pimple-faced kid, I saw him chase down balls no-one human had the right to retrieving. He was a player determined to make the most out of his ability and, regardless of any future results, he has already done just that. That should be respected, whether you love him or hate him.

    Lleyton, whether the end of your career is nigh or far, you are a champion. Thanks for the memories.

    What are your favourite tennis memories? Have you been watching the Open?

    Photo credit.

  • SHED: I know a bad omen when I see one

    SHED: I know a bad omen when I see one

    View from the seat at the MCG

    AS A mad Magpie attending his first Collingwood live game since the little princesses were born,  I knew it was gonna be a long day when the first person I saw at the ground was Geelong premiership captain Tom Harley.

    Maybe, just maybe, if the next person I saw was Collingwood premiership captain Nick Maxwell things might be alright, I thought. I turned the corner … and there was Joffa – Collingwood’s comic-like cheer squad leader. Crap.

    Earlier in the afternoon I’d left Princess Kel and the li’l princesses after a long day of shopping to make their way back to the Medina Grand, while I jumped onto a tram on Flinders St to get to the MCG.

    A view of the city from the MCG walkway

    It was a bitterly cold evening and Kel was concerned I did not have a jacket, despite shopping for one all afternoon. In stark contrast to how it normally works (I’m the shopper of the family), Kel had seemingly bought half of Melbourne and I’d bought nothing.

    “Julian, you’ll freeze,’’ was Kel’s parting comment as I kissed her, assuring her I’d be OK. It was on arrival at the MCG I spotted the merchandise stand. “Got any Collingwood jackets?’’ I enquired, as the lady proceeded to unveil a sparkling new Magpie waterproof, lined polar fleece jacket.

    Entrance to the 'G

    I rang Kel: “Want the good news or the bad news?’’

    “What?’’ she replied, suspiciously.

    “Well, I’m not gonna freeze anymore … I bought a Collingwood jacket and it only cost me $100 … Hello? Kel? … Are you still there?’’ Bonus.

    Princess Kel bought me the ticket to the game as a Christmas present (actually she didn’t buy the ticket, she just said I could go). I organised the ticket, which looked on paper a bloody good seat, through an equally mad Magpie workmate. With much excitement, I raced to my seat to check the view only to discover it was right on the fringe of the Geelong cheer squad. Sent a scathing text message to my workmate. Double crap.

    Among my new Geelong ``friends''.

    Oh well, best enjoy the night anyway. To my surprise I found the surrounding Geelong supporters bloody nice people (thus disproving my previously held theory about Cat supporters). I enjoyed the game and had a ball despite the eventual Magpie loss, roaring myself hoarse (which Kel would have been most embarrassed about had she been there).

    My beloved Pies were pretty ordinary on the night but, had Geelong lost, their supporters could have felt more ripped off than the MCG patrons who pay $8 for a mid strength beer.  I raced home, still buzzing from the experience, to the comfort of our hotel room and the li’l princesses sound asleep. Magic.

    Tell us about your best experience at a sporting event.