This season Melbourne introduced its first ever international rugby team, The Rebels, to the Super rugby franchise. We had high hopes and as the home games are all played at AAMI stadium - a mere 5 minute walk from our apartment, we were keen to jump aboard the Rebel bandwagon and get supporting. As was the rest of Melbourne.
For a generally non-rugby-supporting city, having 25,000 people show up for the Rebel's first game was testament to Melburnians' obsession with sport... and their staunch rivalry with Sydney - their first game was against the Waratahs. I don't know if it was the shock of 25,000 turning up to watch them or new kid on the block nerves, but they performed dismally. A 43-0 drubbing ensued and I was more than ready to renounce my support on the spot. I dubbed them the Te-rebels.
We decided to watch them play "one last time" against the Brumbies on Friday Crowd numbers were tellingly down 10,000 from the week before but those who didn't show up missed one hell of a game!
After drowning his sorrows and allegedly trying to steal a bottle of spirits from a Chapel Street bar after last week's disgraceful game, Danny Cipriani was on his best behaviour and kicked some stellar penalties. Stirling came through with a great try in the 72nd minute and another penalty kick by Cipriani just before the full time whistle secured the Rebels' victory 25-24. Pretty lucky as S bought a team shirt before the game!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Yarra Valley
I can't believe I've let a month pass without posting anything. I blame late nights at work and the absolute dread I feel when faced with a computer screen at home after a 12 hour day. Things have thankfully calmed down a bit on the work front so here I am.
A few weeks ago we hired another car and headed out to the Yarra Valley- about an hour drive north east of Melbourne, for some wine tasting and general tiki touring. I had been there with the girls on a weekend back in 2008 so had some favourite vineyards that I was keen to revisit.
It was a stunning day - hot and windless. After a couple of tastings at Rochford, we headed to Healesville for lunch in the sun at a pub (the name of which escapes me) on the main strip. Delicious calamari salads and thirst quenching local ciders later, we hit the road again and visited a couple more wineries - Yering Station and Domain Chandon, an outpost of French champagne heavyweight Moet & Chandon. More tastings were had (just by me at this stage, S was relegated to driving duties) and more bottles bought.
We drove a bit further down the road to Yarra Glen, a quaint little town, which we were to discover, is famous for its antique stores. Some small, some warehouse-sized and requiring hours of fossicking for treasures. Some really cool little finds and definitely a place to go back to.
A few weeks ago we hired another car and headed out to the Yarra Valley- about an hour drive north east of Melbourne, for some wine tasting and general tiki touring. I had been there with the girls on a weekend back in 2008 so had some favourite vineyards that I was keen to revisit.
It was a stunning day - hot and windless. After a couple of tastings at Rochford, we headed to Healesville for lunch in the sun at a pub (the name of which escapes me) on the main strip. Delicious calamari salads and thirst quenching local ciders later, we hit the road again and visited a couple more wineries - Yering Station and Domain Chandon, an outpost of French champagne heavyweight Moet & Chandon. More tastings were had (just by me at this stage, S was relegated to driving duties) and more bottles bought.
We drove a bit further down the road to Yarra Glen, a quaint little town, which we were to discover, is famous for its antique stores. Some small, some warehouse-sized and requiring hours of fossicking for treasures. Some really cool little finds and definitely a place to go back to.
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