K. Dana Morris

State of Origin

Wednesday June 5, 2013

Well tonight was the big State of Origin for Rugby League in Australia. It was a test between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. I was invited to watch the test at the Old Boys – University RFC Club House. It really isn’t a club house but that is what they call their home pub. It is very nice – much nicer than any rugby club I’ve been to here in the states. Of course, rugby is their primary sport so I can see why they went all out with the amenities.

Here are my dates for the event. Saia is a friend of a friend of mine from Orlando Rugby.

John Porter and Saia Fisilau

We cheered for the Maroons all night but the Blues won the test. Clearly these guys were for the Blues!

Conrad Smith came from this club and currently plays for the New Zealand All Blacks, which is the all-star team of the entire country. He is number 13 and I’ll see him play Saturday night in Auckland. I tried to get my picture with his picture but as you can see the flash got me.

Photo of Conrad Smith of the All Blacks

Walkabout

Wednesday June 5, 2013

I was so excited to wake up today to only overcast skies and almost no rain. So I took off quickly to do a walkabout town before the next storm. The past two days I’ve only seen it from the inside of a cab or inside of a pub.  Here are some of the sights.

Prince’s face just randomly on the side of this building.

Pretty wharf-side building.

Glad it’s free!

Hot dog stand!

I found this very artsy overpass and walked all around it. It is in front of the Civic Center Building and crosses over the main road to the waterside. There are all of these wooden and metal sculptures and neat signs.

I thought of my childhood friend, Eddie Roberts, when I saw this sign.

This shot is for Penny Peavler!

And, of course, how couldn’t I think of my friend, Nancy Chesnut, when I saw this sign?

I love my sassy friends!

I thought this “family” restroom had quite the changing station. P.S. Bathroom stalls are called cubicles. And in the States we call our office spaces cubicles. Turns out both are crappy – HA!

Wee Trolleys

Mount Victoria in Wellington is so very beautiful with its trees, ridges and wooden homes tucked all throughout. The homes are literally on top of each other as they go further up the mountain. At street level are garages, then attached to each garage is a Wee Trolley. It is a 1-2 person box that travels up a monorail all the way to that individual’s home. Most people have their own Wee Trolley but some folks that are at the tippy top share a trolley with a 3-4 person box. Pretty handy after a trip to the market!!

From the market…

…to the top of the mountain!