Jacob's Space

After an exhausting and cold experience rafting down the Tongariro River,and then almost burning of our skin off in the local hot pools, we arrived back to our designated camp at the Marae. We were completely worn out. Though that wouldn’t and didn’t stop 10 of us guys (and 2 girls) playing a very physical game of Rugby on the sacred grass outside the Marae. After an accidental fist into my face that resulted in a bleeding mouth, then after 8 great tries the game was decided by a beautiful intercept by Stefan (a late addition to the losing side) finishing the match 5 tries to 4. Good job Stefan! Lifting up the footy spirit I begged Stefan to let me go to the pub with Patrice, to watch the Eels smash the Roosters… What the rest of the night had in store was somewhat different to the ‘expected’. Stefan came up with an interesting idea which was to take all of us to the RSA, ‘The Retired Services Association’ to watch the game together. Thanks Stefan! I was irrationally excited as the rest of the night would prove. We arrived at the RSA an hour before the game began and suddenly realized that yes, we were the only people in this building under the age of 72. One man who I was talking to at half time, went on to tell me 3 times, on different occasions that he was 102. Apparently time doesn’t have the best effect on memory. At one stage during the night there was another unexpected occurrence… Nick Harrison (who has beaten me a million times at pool) was challenged by a little 9 year old boy (who was previously in the restaurant which was attached to the side of the club) to a game of pool. Nick had a large grin as he broke which was soon swiped across his face as young Troy hit 3 balls in on his first go. To Nick’s dismay and utter shock, Troy went on to win with flying numbers against Nick, who was almost 4 times Troy’s height. How embarrassing Nick! Though he was probably only half as embarrassed as I was, walking in with my Eel’s jersey and scarf, telling everyone I was 95% sure the Eel’s would massacre the Rooster’s, when in reality it was the Rooster’s who would be doing all the massacring! 42-12. Those numbers will continue to haunt me I’m sure. Anyway, after me being completely crushed to pieces after the game and everyone else being exhausted from a big day, hours of Doppel Kopf (a German card game), snooker, and pool everyone was a little surprised at Stefan’s and Phil’s decision to stay back late to watch the All Blacks do the haka and then get smashed by Australia. So we thought. It all seemed like disappointment after disappointment as we watched in horror as the All Blacks completely dominated the whole game! First my team then my country! All I could do was drown out my sorrows by comfort eating through 2 bowls of wedges and 5 bottles of Lemon and Lime Bitters… Luckily I had my good old friends to comfort and cheer me up in an otherwise disappointing night. Though I’m sure the Eel’s will come back next week on their charge to the finals. Peace out and Go the Eel’s!

Jacob (our latest addition to the class, the son of the Parramatta Eel’s CEO)