Goulburn and the Death of the Dockers

Well it was raining when we arrived in Sydney and it was raining when we left!  Looking at the bright side, we considered ourselves lucky that the rain had mostly stayed away during our stay.

So it was that we packed up our little home once again, and headed nervously south towards Goulburn.  I say nervously, because I've been watching the temperature there, and most days and nights it's colder than Canberra.   Brrrrrrr.

We arrived about lunchtime, to a very warm welcome by Kiwi Andy.  I was pleased because were no steep hills, sheer drops or side fences for the caravan to negotiate, and the kids were pleased because the place is a kids' paradise, inside and out!

We unpacked and got settled in, while the boys familiarised themselves with the trampoline, the sandpit, the swings, the slide and the fort.

 

Later in the day we met Andy's lovely wife Carolyn and their son Harry.  We all enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of chatting, cooking and sharing a meal.  The boys enjoyed sharing Harry's movies, rescue helicopter and giant fish eating (and pooing) dinosaur!  Oh, and the "spicky spicky" pudding.

 

We all sat down with great anticipation to watch the big game.  We even convinced Kiwi Andy and (NSW) Carolyn to watch our code of football.  We all got pretty excited in the first quarter, but I spent the next two quarters very nervous, and the final quarter, well a quote from a great friend (thanks Karen) summed it up perfectly -

 

 "Its #&%@ dead men walking.  Agony to watch."

 

I am not the best Dockers fan around by any means, but I was flattened after the game.  My heart goes out to the tried and true supporters (Nikki, Zoe, Ian, Josh) and of course to Pav and McPharlin and all the boys.

 

My eloquent friend summed it up this way, and I couldn't have put it better myself.

 

"Hawks just kept makin' it look easy.  We would get the ball and scramble around with it and struggle to keep possession.  They get it and dominate it!"

 

Our family had been planning on a 'once in a lifetime' road trip to Melbourne next weekend for a chance to watch the Dockers play in the Grand Final.  Alas it wasn't to be. 

 

This morning we enjoyed a sleep in and a great pancake brekky.  Thanks Bruce!

 

 

Later we wandered into the thriving metropolis of Goulburn to check out the Spy Fest.  Apparently George Lazenby (the only Aussie to play cinema's most famose spy, James Bond) was born and bred in Goulburn and he returned today, age 76, because he heard we were here.  Spyfest included a parade of Aston Martin cars, including the actual car Lazenby drove in the movie. 

 

But I liked this one.

 

The festival also embraced other spy movies and TV shows, from the shagadelic Austin Powers to the bumbling Maxwell Smart and Spy Kids, with characters, cars and activities.  You could even get your finger sprayed gold to become Goldfinger.

After getting our fill of the Goulburn playground, we headed over to give our best wishes to Rambo, who was celebrating his 30th birthday today.

 

The Big Merino, built in 1985, is a monument to Goulburn and the surrounding district’s fine wool industry.  Standing 15.2 meters high, 18 meters long and weighing 97 tones he is the grand-daddy of our little 7 metre model in Wagin (who's name is Bart and who incidentally celebrates his 30th birthday on 10 October).

 

We spent a lazy afternoon relaxing, enjoying the sweet aroma of Andy's Indian Roast Pork Belly baking in the oven and watching the storm clouds roll in over Goulburn.