EDM's Belated Birthday

How does one forget their own birthday? I really don't know, but EDM himself has managed to achieve such a calamity.

Yes, Nah Seriously's first birthday has come and gone with no mention from anyone let alone a celebration or toast from yours truly. 22 October 2010 was the day of my very first post so I've even missed it by weeks rather than just a mere few days. Oh well, this sad predicament will quickly be remedied by this post.

And what a year it has been. Over 70 odd posts in a 12 month period is a little short on the frequency I was hoping for when I started this blog so I've certainly had my share of writer-guilt at times in not being more consistent in my output.

But I have realised I was a little naive back then to be expecting to churn out three a week given how busy the other elements of my life have been, especially the last few months and my role right now as primary care giver and house husband. That new role has also seen a real change of tack in relation to the topics I post about as my life as a working man and the issues that revolve around that are on temporary hiatus.

Alas, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and think the blog has achieved one of its purposes in seeing for myself if I have the commitment and drive to write on a regular basis and put myself out there in relation to my thoughts and arguments. It hasn't been short of controversy as a result but I've always welcomed comments from others disputing my take on things and providing alternative arguments.

On a personal front, the year has had a lot of ups and downs, some of which has made it on to Nah Seriously but some of which has not. I have actually written a number of posts over the 12 months that expressed my frustration or sorrow at something going on with ourselves or with friends/family but I haven't ended up publishing them in the interests of privacy and not wanting to potentially upset other people.

I said in my very first post that I wouldn't limit myself in subject matter and that I would post on anything as "I am interested in anything that is interesting". Well, I think I have succeeded on that front as the range of post topics is quite diverse.

From political discussions on the carbon tax and Campbell Newman's foray into State politics; to AFL season previews and reviews and some passionate takes on the ups/downs of my beloved Melbourne Demons; to rants and raves on social issues such as Brisbane's response to the January floods, the recent riots in London and the changing nature of Australia Day; and to storytelling and narratives on my own life, particularly around my family and of course the amusing antics of The Son.

So what will the next year bring? Hopefully some more readers and followers for a start but also a more regular timeslot for the publishing of posts. My aim at the moment is to post on particular days each week so that people know when to expect another one.

Haven't quite worked out when that will be but all will be revealed in due course as well as some lowgrade marketing initiatives (or shameless self-promotion as some might call it).

As to topics, who knows? It all comes down to the happenings of the world at large and my particular place in it and who on earth can predict any of that.

I am always thinking of my loyal readers, however, so below is some of my favourite and more interesting posts of Nah Seriously's first year for your reading enjoyment.

Some Of Life's Pleasures
Some Of Life's Displeasures
Some Of Life's Questions
Day In The Life Of A Political Staffer
Mind's Eye - Trip To The Pool
It's A Grand Old Flag

So thanks to all that have dropped in from time to time and especially those that have 'followed' me from the beginning and provided comments. Here's to me then and Nah Seriously's first birthday, but here's to all of you as well.

Til next time my friends,

EDM.

I Rest My Case

The Aussies bowled out for a meagre 47, the last 20 odd runs coming from the last wicket pair of Siddle and Lyon. Then the Saffers smash us around for an easy 8 wicket win.

I rest my case (regarding arguments and antics from my last post). Something is rotten in the state of Australian cricket.

Leather On Willow Again

It's on again. Apparently. A brand new cricket season. Wow. Don't all come back at me with such unbridled joy. Whoa back there. Take it easy.

I speak in sarcasm obviously as it certainly feels like there is a lot of apathy towards cricket at the moment. In Australia anyway. We're on season's eve and even the cricket journalists seem to be pretty ho-hum about it let alone the paying public who've been slowly losing interest over a number of years.

What a contrast. There was a time when I couldn't wait for it to all start and would be eagerly reading this and looking up that for the latest on the season to come. Some of my most favourite memories include a day at the cricket with a bunch of mates cheering on the Aussies against the latest enemy, preferably the English or the Saffers.

I raced to the Gabba after school many a time to catch the last session of a Test when the dog track was still there and remember whole days on the XXXX Hill during swatvac when I should have been studying for uni exams.

I toured the UK in 1999 watching the World Cup and had a day to the remember watching the final in a pub that was literally underneath one of the stands at Lords with hundreds of other Australians.

I took in many a New Years Day hangover on the 'Hill' at the SCG while also creating new hangovers at various one-dayers armed with vodka-filled watermelon and buckets of hot chips.

And I've watched numerous Boxing Day Tests sitting in freezing Melbourne weather and drinking nothing but coffee just to keep warm.

Yes, I think I'm fairly typical of the Australian cricket fan who, due to a number of factors, have slowly turned to viewing the cricket season as 'interesting' rather than as an 'obsession' like bygone days. A real shame.

So where did it all go wrong? I know for mine one of the reasons I stopped going to the cricket was the fun police. My last big session involving multiple days of the same test was the Ashes series in 2006-07. It was billed as being the series of the century and tickets sold out in hours rather than days/weeks. But in the end the actual viewing was very poor with the uproar about only plastic bags and no balls, etc and even the banning of the Barmy Army's trumpeter. The beginning of the end for mine.

The actual Australian team of the last few years may also be to blame. They just aren't as likeable as previously and there's certainly no rogue mavericks or loveable larrikins like a Warnie, Merv, Dougie or Boonie. It's all hair product and bling and model WAGs which most of the viewing public just can't relate to.

The so-called feud between Simon Katich and Michael Clarke over the incident at the SCG certainly points to the generational shift within the team and what the new breed deem important. Think that has also crossed over into the relationship between the Australian team and the Australian public.

But I reckon the biggest thing for me has been the cricket authorities all over the world pimping themselves out to the bastard that is 20-20. Corresponding with the rise of India as the centre of world cricket and its own Premier League, 20-20 has taken the focus away from the real stuff that is and should be Test Cricket.

The entire tour schedule is now set according to the IPL in particular but also any other 20-20 tournament the administers want to make money from. It's a truly sad state of affairs when its becoming the be-all and end-all rather than Test cricket with a lot of players now happy to give up the opportunity to wear the baggy green to make a few bucks in a tournament no-one remembers who won afterwards anyway.

My case in point is the soon-to-commence Test series between Australia and South Africa which has been reduced to a mere 2 tests. This is one of the most contested rivalries in the cricket calendar with both countries, teams and their supporters, not wanting to give an inch and to get one over the other. But what do the administrators do? Make it a farce by reducing the contest to only 2 games rather than the usual 3 and sometimes 5 to allow the IPL to take place unhindered.

And the Australian Cricket Board are wondering why cricket has lost it status as the country's number one sport. I don't know all the ins and outs of the recent Argus review/report but here's hoping the implementation of its recommendations go some way to restoring the faith the public had in the game and the Australian team itself.

Anyway, that's a quick rant on the state of play after realising the season is about to start and then thinking back to how it used to be. How I used to be excited and keen. How I used to already have my tickets sitting snugly in my wallet awaiting the first day. But now its a passing reference in the paper and just a check of the scores on the evening news. Something has gone wrong and I don't think I'm the only one. Geez, I hope I'm not the only one.

Actually, I know I'm not the only one so here's a link to a fine article by John Harms who puts it in better words than mine. It was written at the start of the year but is definitely applicable to this upcoming season as well.

Nonetheless, I'm interested in what the (other) masses have to say on this as well. Has cricket lost its mojo? Can it come back and return itself to status as our national game and national pastime?

EDM.

Promises, Promises and That One Race

Well, October was a bit sparse wasn't it. It was my first full month of daddy day care so those responsibilties do appear to be undermining my blogging consistency. Plenty of inspiration mind you, but just making it hard to sit down for an appropriate block of time and punch out a post. I am promising more this month though so a good thing it's only the first giving me amble opportunity for a productive November.

Yes, the daddy day care thing is pretty full-on. I know there are plenty of people who seem to think I'm on holidays up here on the coast so it just goes to show how little spare time you get when you're doing the bulk of the parenting duties. Although I did get some boys time most recently on the weekend so it hasn't been all nappies and park time. Very good weekend in fact which took most of Sunday and yesterday to get over.

The occasion? Our annual Noosa Triathlon weekend (I didn't have far to go) whereby we do the Eyeline 1000 ocean swim on the Friday before enjoying ourselves for the rest of the weekend while most of the event's attendees do their bit. It's quite a tradition for our group with it being the 11th year for the founding fathers and my 7th. The swim went pretty well actually considering I only trained for about four weeks so plenty of ammunition for the celebration that followed. Hence the hangover that only diminished yesterday.

And so it is the 1st of November and that means Melbourne Cup Day. I've missed nearly all the buildup and just managed to get some ill-informed bets in a few minutes ago. I'm currently at home on my lonesome while the wife works and the son is asleep so quite surreal to be honest. At the very least, I've always had a work function to go to with a few beers so strange to be sitting here watching it on the TV while punching out a post on the laptop.

My bets? Shizza, have forgotten already. Think it was a bit on Niwot and a bit on Drunken Sailor as well as a boxed trifecta for the big bucks. First one is one of the favourites but had to go with Drunken Sailor as well for its name.

(stepping away now to grab a waking son and to watch the big race)

And the winning horse is...Dundaden, by a hair. Meaning I'm not a winner which is par for the course as I'm still yet to have a win on a Melbourne Cup race. My awesome strike rate continues. Shizza once more. But a memorable experience nonetheless to watch it with the son on my lap. He did tell me to stop when I was cheering them on, however, so probably not the most authentic of horse racing experiences.

So there you have it. A promise to be more productive and consistent over the coming month with this blog and also a riveting narrative on my rather sad Melbourne Cup experience. Bet you lot can't wait for more after this. That's sarcasm by the way.

Anyways, best of luck to all with their bets and see you soon (hopefully).

EDM.

PS - And a Reserve Bank rate cut just announced. This mortgage slave reckons that's much better than a Melb Cup bet win.