Pub Motels are Hellacious!

Last weekend, our DodgeBall equivalent touch footy team travelled down to Yass for the Yass Touch Knock Out Competition. Prize money was on the line, but the closest we got to it was forking it out - with the help of Balmain Association. According to Census (thanks Kathy), Yass has a population of approx 9000+ and an overwhelming total of 3 Asians. It must have been the gold-rush days revisted when we sashayed in our Honda convoy into the one strip of road that is Yass.

If you ever stop by Yass, DO NOT STAY @ The Australian Pub Motel! HELLACIOUS:

1st room (#33) we walked into had only (stained) mattresses on the ground - no bed, no sheets no nothing!

Bearing in mind that it was stinking hot in Yass, the room I was in had no ventilation - and the tiny window was facing the air con unit from the opposite building meaning HOT AIR blowing in all night. I didn't get one wink of sleep that night.

Someone attempted to come into the room @ 3am. They were fiddling with the locks for a good 5 mins

Insects/bugs/fleas/cockroaches galore!

So my night in Yass was spent doing the combo of swatting away eeky things, wiping away sweat and crying tears (like Federer) of sorrow. I felt so sorry for myself. Luckily the rest of the team were just as traumatised so we promptly rang some apartment in Canberra the next day and booked accom for the next night - bless mobile phones!

I have a slight suspicion that it was originally advertised as $6 (which would be still an inflated price considering the quality) but some smart cookie decided to tack on a ZERO due to the influx of tourists that weekend. Unbelievably, the luxury accomodation in Canberra turned out to be cheaper than the Aust Pub Motel. This world is not making sense anymore.

The touch itself was enjoyable. We have improved as a team and I scored, not a try, but a nice golden tan. We managed to come 16th out of 32, which gave us the dubious privilege of playing the top team on Sunday morning. Definitely some dodgy draw rigging happening there. It was terribly hot both days. The heat was stifling. And as we left the grounds on the 1st day of competition, there was an announcement that the Australian Pub Motel had a couple of rooms available.

Photos of interesting and enjoyable weekend available here.

Super Slow-Mo

The TV networks have discovered a new toy: super slow-mo. Channel 7 (tennis) and Channel 9 (cricket) are obsessed with the stuff. Interesting to note their super slow-mo choices:

Serena Williams vs Daniela Hantuchova - where the frames for Hantuchova were slowed down until they were almost freeze frames. It was literally the never-ending Hantuchova forehand story. Serena, on the other hand, was afforded normal slow-mo, and it only lasted a few seconds. Taking into account the extra pounds Serena has stacked on, and the leggy legs of Daniela, probably a logical move by Channel 7. They put the 2 side-by-side at one stage, and it reminded me of King Kong and Naomi Watts - I don't recall her character name.

Brett 'Binger' Lee - someone will have to educate me as to why 10 secs of Brett Lee profusely sweating (in super slow mo) is worthy of airtime. It's not like he was wearing short shorts, or headlighting a la the women players @ the Aus Open.

I must say that the headlighting phenomena of yesteryear has not re-surfaced in 2006. More of a low beam style this year ... perhaps we can blame it on El Nino.

Disappointing that my fave female player, Lindsay Davenport, lost tonight. Amazingly, Lindsay has been one of the most consistent female players having attained the No.1 ranking more times than any other female. Yet she doesn't get the recognition seemingly reserved for other flashier/younger players. Understated people are good.

Have discovered a new term: "gay vague", borne out of the fact that it is increasingly harder to determine straight from gay men. Apparently there is a reason why 'men in Western societies are adapting, becoming more feminised and turning into over-therapied, over-sharing, over-emoting "emo boys" and metrosexuals who get facials and buy wrinkle cream and wear pink flowered shirts'. The reason is simply because the Y chromosone is degenerating and shredding genes. As the following article suggests: Better to be an X chromosome than an ex-chromosome. Interesting read.

A note to buskers and bums

Knowing your target market is absolutely vital if you are in the business of inducing strangers to part with their money.

As I was walking through Chinatown last night, I came across a young fella busking (quite uneventfully) with recorder in mouth, blowing the tune of "I still call Australia home" ... in Chinatown. Perhaps he may have faired better in Cronulla.

Unsurprisingly there weren't many coins/notes in his makeshift donation tray. Although that could be due to the fact that he ended up playing just 2 notes repeatedly after a while.