Moses Mabhida Stadium

While Howie and I were on the roof of my flat the other day (having a braai with sun downers), I took the opportunity to take this photo of the new Durban stadium that is currently being built. It's coming along nicely, and if you look at the artist's impression below, it definitely seems like it's going to be quite an impressive structure.


(The part about the braai was a lie, we were fixing the satellite dish)

Zinkwazi - Ballies Weekend Away

Muz you look different in this photo

This last weekend saw the official start to Summer. It’s now already the 3rd December, so Summer really should be in full swing, but until this weekend, I don’t think any of us really felt that this time of year was any different to any other. Throw in a coastal cottage, swimming pool, a view of the sea and daytime beers and your perspective suddenly changes.

It was Mike and Jane’s turn to organize a weekend away and they settled on Zinkwazi up the North Coast. The house we stayed in was modest yet effective. Nothing fancy about it, but capable of sleeping up to 14, TV, hi-fi and awesome bar area included, within a minute’s walk to the beach and of course, the star of the party, the salt water pool in the garden.

Saturday was spent literally all day in or around the pool. Activities included a bit of garden cricket using the metal equivalent of a pool cue for a cricket bat, and some garden footie with Mike and I taking on Verve and Muz. The footie ended in a 10-10 draw after I managed to boot the ball over the fence (Have it !!!) and was evidently stolen while I recovered in the pool for a few minutes. Based on the amount of uncontrollable wheezing and panting I was pumping out, recovery time was essential, but also quite concerning considering we were playing on 4m X 3m pitch.

Shot for a superb weekend chaps. It was good to get everyone together especially Muz, Lol and the G-Man.

Soccer balls easily stolen from this area

Summer lovin'

The Pitch - Looks smaller than it really is

Mo-Vember

The month formerly known as November has come and gone and the mustangs have been expelled until next year. Thanks to Biscuit and Kath for donating cash to CANSA.

The Ultimate Stand-Off

Not sure how many of you saw this - a couple of weeks ago the Kiwi's took on Wales at Cardiff. The usual pre-match Haka unfolded but it ended with one hell of a confrontation with the Welsh refusing to be intimidated by the Kiwi's and an entertaining stand-off ensued which eventually ended only once the ref had a word with both captains. Brilliant stuff !!!!

No Lite Beer Poker League

I’ve never made mention of the fact that a handful of us play a monthly game of poker and have been doing so for a while now. The ‘No Lite Beer Poker League’ kicked off sometime in the first half of the year.

The inaugural event was at Mike’s house and it was a corker. Besides the fact that we had a good turnout, Mike ensured there was some additional entertainment in the form of a very inebriated, single woman neighbor from downstairs who made a surprise appearance and clung to the outskirts of our poker table like a bad rash. She was clearly in the market for a bit of man-love, but everyone’s reluctance to focus on her rather than the poker, resulted in the coining of the word ‘RIDIC’ which she was throwing around with wreckless abandon in her judgment of us all. That, along with her abuse of Mikey Hammerson that he must be gay because he wasn’t giving her the time of day, made for some entertaining action.

By the end of the evening, amongst accusations that one of us had stolen her handbag (what handbag??), our special guest had a severe case of memory loss and had absolutely no idea where she was and began to panic. She was abruptly escourted downstairs to her flat and sent straight to bed.

Mike dominated the ’08 season from the start and his early lead stretched further and further as each event went by. At the final year end ‘Christmas Special’, Steve Tuna had an outside chance of taking gold, but this never came to pass. Mike was overall winner and results on the night saw Diki Long take home 1st prize with Verve and myself following in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Rules of the Christmas Special were that you had to wear a poker hat of some sort along with a pair of sunnies to create a party vibe. The vibe was duly achieved and it turned out to be a great event to end the season. With a bit of luck the ’09 season won’t be such a one horse race and with the No Lite Beer Poker League officially established I think there are a lot of guys keen to make some high finishes next year.

I invite okes into my home and this is what I get, bring your own chairs next time