XXXX Hard Core

Has the title grabbed your attention to get the optics activated - thanks for getting to here, we do enjoy your attention and involvement, even though it is mostly silent. Feel comfortable in making this claim as have been hearing the term "blog" far too frequently from those that such a term is slightly unexpected. XXXX Hard Core - there we go again, stick with us.

Apologies for lateness in posts this week, have had to escape from the Lions cage and return to a normal work life that involved a few days in Bris Vegas where after alighting from an aerial virgin, one of the first things that accosted my sight was an illuminated billboard "give Fev a go" - yawn, yawn and yawn. So due to the time lapse will shovel a few days of content into this post.

Always enjoy the chance to return to this northern wonderland, from being a resident here in the years of 96 and 97, remembered by the locals as the Super League years and when Queensland won their second Sheffield Shield. Anyway on the Tuesday as the temperature passed 32 in the early afternoon, the dust could be seen building on the horizon in a threatening manner. As the wind picked up a massive hail storm was unleashed, followed by what was measured as 300 lightning strikes in an hour and then around 12 mm of rain fell in under an hour. All of this was aptly described by the tv weather presenter as "hard core". The XXXX is the obvious local reference to beer.

Smash and Max1 were away in Bankstown, home club of the Waugh family (and ResultsVault foundation members kindly remembered) on another Victorian tour, Smash adding another century to his October list and Max1 working through nearly 30 overs.

Unable to keep the scheduled appointment with Agent 13 for the transfer of intelligence regarding the oncoming Demons, arranging discrete electronic contact with the Domestic Selector instead. Mission accomplished, the quality is thorough.

Inclement weather in Melbourne of a slightly colder variety again played havoc with training. Feedback through the grapevine though suggested that energy levels do need some attention, an injection of urgency could be required to assist the birth of that collective winning feeling. Even though a long way from home, can offer credible support to this viewpoint as the text messages of soft excuse from the expected suspects do arrive on cue once the clock ticks past 4pm.

So from this, we may as well play a game. Will move forward to Thursday, another wet afternoon. I will list the time and message details for some of what is amongst the incoming and leave to the dear and welcomed reader to determine the origin. Some are valid and reasonable, no problem at all - some others, well let judgement fall elsewhere.

9.32am - "Won't be at training due to a driving lesson"
3.36pm - "Suffering a headcold, won't be at training but right for Saturday"
4.13pm - "Raining pretty hard out here, might stay in and complete some study"
5.03pm - "Sorry for late notice, have to work tonight"
5.07pm - "Not feeling the best but will have a hit indoors tomorrow night"

More to come ..........