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Warrick



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 29
Sign: Cancer

City: Sydney
State: New South Wales
Country: AU
Signup Date: 8/9/2006

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009 

Current mood:  stressed
Category: Blogging
| Today at 10:20pm |
If you've been anywhere near my suburb of Galston in the last year, you'd know that the old service station and adjoining shops were torn down and a brand new shopping centre has been constructed in its place.
The new Franklins at Galston is... well a supermarket. 24.11.2009

Well today marked the 'grand opening' of Franklins in Galston and things didn't look to promising from the moment I received my spanking 'Franklins catalogue' in the mail on Monday. Apparently all the specials in the catalogue were only 'available at Franklins Gladston, North Rocks, Turramurra, Westleigh, Pennant Hills and Castle Hill...

Yep, you read right.

GLADSTON.

First official catalogue and the editing job produced that beauty of a misprint.

So if you're planning on sending me anything via the mail - be careful not to add an 'e' on the end of the apparent name of my suburb - otherwise some Warrick Nicolson in central Queensland will get your letter.

The most impressive thing is that they didn’t end up going with Gladstone. They’ve re-arranged Galston and added a ‘d’ to get Gladston but I’ve never heard of Gladston before? Perhaps a place in Scotland somewhere but the Queensland town definitely has that ‘e’ on the end and a quick google search also gives me Gladstone on the NSW mid-north coast.

But Gladston… baffling!

All I needed tonight was cream, but felt like being nice and spending a little more than that - just to 'give back to the community'.

Can't say the shop is anything amazing... after all it's just a supermarket.

But it is a little smaller than your Woolies or Coles and feels a little cramped - even with the latest in supermarket design.

The actual centre they've built doesn't look too bad from the outside, but you have to wonder what the rent for the other shops in the centre is - as although Franklins opened today, not a single other shop has even the remotest sign of future occupation.

The good news for local businesses - esp. the two butchers, deli and bakery: the corresponding sections in the new Franklins look very average and tiny.

But I will say this - the lady who served me was very friendly and was quick as a bunny to get a loyalty rewards thing I'd never agreed to use scanned before I had time to say hello.

To the photos...
No sun at all... a day after a 40 degree day we get a very cool day... el nino or something I'm sure... 23.11.2009
Sitting on the back deck at my sister's feeding the dog... 23.11.2009
Chicken Stir-Fry for dinner on the deck... 24.11.2009
Sunset... still searching for a sun. 24.11.2009

Warrick
Monday, November 23, 2009 

Current mood:  selective
Category: Blogging
| Today at 1:57pm |
Conversation from Saturday Night.

"So you found it on the side of the road?"
"Yep, they're renovating so it was just sitting there."
"Seriously, that is awesome. All you need now is for them to deliver like they used to."
"Yeah because when they ask what the address is, we can just say look for the KFC sign out the front."
"Exactly."
Best road-sign acquisition of all time... 21.11.2009

I now want my very own old school Kentucky Fried Chicken Sign...

Don't you?

The weekend is done and dusted once more. Busy Friday and Saturday gave way to a lazy Sunday that involved much watching of cricket and eating of mango.

Friday was an opportunity to reconnect with a pair of friends I really shouldn't have let months pass between visits and hearing how God has blessed their lives recently was great.

Saturday brought another loss at cricket... but less said about that the better. Twas a little hot when we bowled however. Then at night it was off to a mate's party in the front garden of his place in Killara.

Sitting back chatting about stuff with people you barely know - always refreshing. Plus having a good pow wow with some mates I do know in that environment was relaxing.

I guess the summation is when people take themselves a little less seriously, fun always ensues. Let the crazy out a bit more... that doesn't mean streaking down Fiddens Wharf Road at 11pm with a bucket of KFC under your arm... but discussing the pros and cons of really spicy Thai food - that's living life to the full.

Because it isn't fake. It's slightly disturbing but it isn't fake.

The photos... more in the album:
Been way too long since I've visited... Sunset 20.11.2009
The Canoe awaits... now can I remember how to canoe? 20.11.2009
How's the serenity... well apart from the boat in right of screen... 20.11.2009
Another loss for the Pumas... 21.11.2009
Massive case of deja vu walking down this track... months ago I had a dream about a little playing field existing near my local primary school... now that doesn't exist but this place I found months later was eeriely similar - esp the decent to it. 21.11.2009
By the time I walked back up past this little field - the cockatoos were everywhere. 21.11.2009
Sunset... 21.11.2009
Sunset... 22.11.2009

Warrick
Thursday, November 19, 2009 

Current mood:  tired
Category: Blogging
| Today at 11:56pm |
Daisy and I walking in downtown Galston late at night... 19.11.2009

Walking a dog.

It is a great experience that is guaranteed to teach you at least one thing every time you do it.

What is that you may ask?

The answer is where every other dog has relieved itself from the point you leave the house and the furthest point from the house you walk.

Because with a dog on the end of a lead - you'll be stopping each and every time the dog gets a whiff and investigates.

After another great session of bible study at my place, I drove around to my sister's house for an 11pm walk of her dog Daisy. Walking the footpath past the deserted shops this late at night is a cool experience...
Kind of like you're in a Zombie film but your life isn't in danger.

Although I didn't get invited (thanks girls)... a bunch of my friends are going to see the new 'Twilight' film New Moon tomorrow night... I'm only disappointed I didn't get an invite because of this scene from the film...
The YouTube Clip... will add a direct one on my FB page to the main site (better quality)
http://www.youtube.com/wat..ch?v=-6yuWmrMI0g
All credit to the team at The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien... I was laughing so hard it hurt when I saw it last night. Apologies for the quality...

Pictures from the last two days...
Sunset... 18.11.2009
My name is Boonie... 18.11.2009
Dinner... tastes better than it looked. 19.11.2009
Bible Study at mine... 19.11.2009
Sunset... back to the good stuff. 19.11.2009

Warrick
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 

Current mood:  working
Category: Blogging
| Today at 4:51pm |

By the change of innings it was all over.

'We're on a Boat' had belted 93 in our final pair to finish with 171 runs from 12 overs in our Grand Final against the West Pymble Vets and the Division 3 title was ours.

The crowd is pumped! 17.11.2009

I'm still not sure who won the toss - 6/7ths of the team was flipping coins to figure out who would miss out on playing in the game... but we batted and just obliterated the game as a contest by halfway.

We didn't start well. I opened up with Paul as we have for most of the season. We didn't lose a wicket until midway through the 3rd over, but lost another in the 4th to finish up with only 32 runs in the first 24 balls. I wasn't seeing the ball well and hit it to the fieldsmen too many times rather than the nets and Paul just couldn't get going at the other end.

Still 32 was ok. Not the 55 we put on two weeks before that, but still competitive with the batting we had to come.

Nathan and Mike then teamed up in the middle pair and put on 46 for the loss of just one wicket. It was a vital contribution as it set up our last pair for an all out assault on the bowling with 2 power play overs to use and 78 already on the board.

The feeling was we get to 100 and we can defend that with confidence.

Instead Nic and Brett just exploded in the bonus overs. Brett was sensational with 55 individual runs (in the power play overs all runs are doubled) and Nic not far behind with 30 odd as we scored 93 runs from our last pair.

171 on the board off 72 deliveries.

As I said - the game was over.

Still winning is everything and if you're going to win - win in style I say.

Talking tactics... or where we'll celebrate the win afterwards before our opposition start trying to chase 171. 17.11.2009

Their opening pair was good. They took their power play over and put on 46 runs in the first four overs but despite some sloppy fielding at times - we didn't bowl badly.

Their next pair scored 31 to get their total to 77 but that meant they still needed 105 from the last 24 balls to win.

Needless to say - they didn't.

Five dismissals (including a hat-trick) later they had scored just 5 of the 105 required for victory.

So the final score was:

We're on a Boat 32.46.93=171 defeated West Pymble Vets 46.31.5=82

Division 3 Grand Final:
We're on a Boat 32.46.93=171
West Pymble Vets - 46.31.5=82
A Comprehensive victory. 17.11.2009

We're on a Boat are Division 3 champions.

Big thanks to all the boys for an enjoyable mini-season, especially given we had to win every game coming in a 3rd of the way through the comp just to make the Finals - getting to the GF and winning it emphatically was good fun.

Thanks to Naomi & Katie for coming out to watch the GF.

We'll now be celebrating our victory with a complimentary dinner at the Penno Hotel next Tuesday night to the tune of $250.

Thanks lads - shame we won't be continuing but maybe during winter next year we can get back on the boat.

We're on a Boat was: Nic McInerney (c), Michael Renkert, Paul Dennis, Brett Turpin, Mitch Stone, Nathan Ryan, Warrick Nicolson and special guest star for one game... Corey Yung.

Cheers lads.

Some shots from the night...

Arrival at Indoor... a Grand Final awaits. 17.11.2009
Our last pair begins... a competitve total is above 100. We're on 78 as our last pair - Nic & Brett start. 17.11.2009
And so begins the carnage! 17.11.2009
They scored 93 in 24 balls... with 2 bonus overs but still! 171 on the board for We're on a Boat! 17.11.2009
Here come the action shots by our spectator! 17.11.2009
Paul has his eyes on the prize... 17.11.2009
Paul getting ready to bowl the best slower ball of his life! 17.11.2009
C'mon just try and get it past me... I'm a panther. 17.11.2009
Celebratory drinks afterwards at the Blue Gum... our team dinner will be next week with our winner's voucher. 17.11.2009
Sunset...
Basically no sun to set... 17.11.2009

Warrick
Currently listening:
Simple Times
By Joshua Radin
Release date: 2008-09-30
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 

Current mood:  overstimulated
Category: Blogging
| Today at 12:12pm |
This blog is probably more about tonight (17.11.2009) than yesterday but given I will probably do a write up on our performance in an Indoor Cricket Grand Final tomorrow, here's a tiny preview today.

I do believe I just managed to squeeze tonight, yesterday, tomorrow and today into the same sentence... pats on the back for me.

I pulled up quite well from the Josh Blair Cup on Sunday and at the request of my brother - headed down to a local oval for a kick of the footy and a session of slips catching with a tennis ball and tennis racquet which was murder for my bruised left thumb. Still it was great fun - and that's why I did it.

The three of us having been kicking footballs, hitting cricket balls and smoking tennos at each other for as long as I can remember. Getting the phone call late in the arvo that 'we're going for a kick' is always a call you'll happily take. And truth be told I can see us doing this for a while yet.
Having a kick with my brother and a mate before the storm arrives... 16.11.2009

But back to tonight.

As you may have already read in this blog over the last couple of months, a good mate of mine decided to put together an Indoor Cricket team and enter it in the local comp. Ten weeks (and eleven games) later we have won ten of them - including the last nine straight. So now we have qualified for the Division 3 Grand Final and given we joined the competition 6 or 7 weeks behind everyone else - taking out the competition (Div 3 or otherwise) will still feel pretty good.

There's only two current cricketers in the lineup but everyone has adapted to the Indoor game quickly and especially in the past two games (which were sudden death to make the Finals and last week - we had to beat the #1 ranked team in the Semi) our batting has stood up under the pressure of chasing scores in the 90s.
Indoor Cricket Grand Final Tonight! 17.11.2009

So tonight we take on the West Pymble Vets... I think that reflects some of the older ages in the team rather than the fact they are all veterinarians from West Pymble. We beat them in our only regular season fixture fairly comfortably but they are a mix of young and old players who just hit the side nets and bowl straight. That strategy will win you games in Indoor and so it has for them.

So our team 'We're on a Boat' enters our first Grand Final in our first season together with optimism... but for some of at least - guarded optimism... no Final is ever easy.

The team for the Grand Final at 7pm Tuesday Night at Thornleigh Indoor Centre 17.11.2009 is:
Nic McInerney, Nathan Ryan, Brett Turpin, Paul Dennis, Mitch Stone, Michael Renkert & Warrick Nicolson (one to be omitted).

If you've got nothing on and live close-ish - we offer moderate playing skills, plenty of team-mate to team-mate sledging, access to slushies from the drinks counter and hopefully a celebratory visit to the classy joint that is Thornleigh McDonalds afterwards.

To sunsetty pictures...
From Old Northern Road the view is slightly decent... 16.11.2009
Sunset... 16.11.2009
Warrick
Currently listening:
Silent Alarm
By Bloc Party
Release date: 2005-03-22
Monday, November 16, 2009 

Current mood:  blah
Category: Blogging
| Today at 1:24pm |
Where the heck does the week go?

It seems like only yesterday I wrote the blog for the 9-10th of November and yet here I am on a Monday afternoon realising I have the best part of five full days to recap. Admittedly I won't even get close to doing that but you'll get at least one story worth wasting more time on Facebook reading.
The solitude of the dressing room before I go out to bat... at 6/100... 14.11.2009

The big event of the past week has been my nephew's 4th birthday. Preparations for his first real friends over for a party (which unfortunately I could not really enjoy for long at all due to cricket on the Saturday) were frenetic on the Friday - but I still managed to fit in a coffee with him at a local cafe, watch him blow the candles out on his cake and help him build his first LEGO castle set and a Dragon named Dilbert.

He and his sister stayed at our place on Saturday Night so being woken up by two wriggling little bodies jumping on my bed Sunday Morning was a treat.
Coffee with my sister, mum, niece and the birthday boy - my nephew! 13.11.2009
Blowing out the birthday candles! 13.11.2009
My nephew rides his scooter in the kitchen for the one and only time... 13.11.2009
Isaac's party was at our place... but I had to leave just as it started for cricket. 14.11.2009

Sunday was the 2009 Josh Blair Cup - a friendly game of soccer/football between the Youngsters (22 and under) and the Oldsters (23 and up). It took extra time and a number of debatable refereeing non-calls to decide it but the young legs won the day 2-1 with a golden goal.
The 2009 Josh Blair Cup kicks-off... Youngsters v Oldsters... doesn't quite have the same ring... 15.11.2009
Oranges well received by the participants... 15.11.2009
The Youngsters talk tactics at the break... 15.11.2009
The Youngsters won 2-1 in golden goal extra time! 15.11.2009


Here's a story...

Last night at the supper following church a time honoured tradition of Robin Hooding was on display. In the same way that Robin Hood would steal from the rich to give to the poor - the process of stealing a food item from another friend's hand or plate while they talk to someone else is always well received by the people who didn't have cake in the first place.
What you need is the person who has the cake to be so involved in their discussion with another person that they hardly notice your hand snake in - snaffle the cake and only react in time to see you stuff your face with said cake.
Of course there is absolutely nothing they can do about said cake. All they can do is laugh, cry and plot the downfall of the Robin Hooder.

Last night it was two good mates going at it. Paul liberated a caramello koala from Jem's unattended plate, then Jem walked in and grabbed Paul's half eaten pavlova while he talked to someone else and then adding to the tom foolery - Jem took half of Paul's wife Naomi's lamington from her unsuspecting hand.

Ah yes, fun fun fun.

Try it on your friends - always funny.

The rest of the photos from the last week worth adding to this blog.
Warning... there's quite a few...
My niece and nephew discovered this wasp trying to fly off with a spider it had killed. As you can see the spider is actually bigger than the wasp and it couldn't fly. 11.11.2009
Sunset on a day you simply have to remember... 11.11.2009
While out running at 9pm I came across this 4wd 'parked' 80% in the bushes on a street corner notorious for people spinning out on... 11.11.2009
The cloud was angry that day my friends... 12.11.2009
Check out this storm cloud ready to explode... 12.11.2009
Sunset post storm... 12.11.2009
Built and set up a yabbie trap in the creek... 13.11.2009
Sunset... 13.11.2009
Penno #1 & #2 v the Hurricanes... 14.11.2009
End of a day's play - good to sit down have a drink and talk about cricket... well not so good when we have a bad day like today... 14.11.2009
Sunset... 14.11.2009
Baby 'wren' in a potted tree on my verandah... 15.11.2009
Sunset... 15.11.2009

Warrick
Friday, November 13, 2009 

Current mood:  awake
Category: Blogging
Finished up a rather tedious (but at times interesting) exam supervision period at my local high school on Tuesday and was reminded once again that our size definitely skews our perspective on things.

The Galston High School Hall... so much smaller than I remember it as a child when I went to awards nights my brother & sister had there. 9.11.2009

Take the GHS Hall for instance. I have memories of going there with my family for an awards night for my sister and brother and thinking - wow how big is this place! At that stage I was still at primary school and didn't return to this hall until now and - wow it is small.

Where I went to school (CTHS) - we had a state of the art MPC (Multi-Purpose-Centre with stadium seating on one side and a stage on the other. The thing is I don't really recall thinking it was 'THAT' big when I went to school - could've been the thousand odd students that filled it at assembly time but still - it seemed about right as the size a school hall needed to be.

Then I went to live in Canada as an exchange student and there was something very cool about the school halls there. They were the heartbeat of the school - a heck of a lot of school sport was played there on weeknights - and people could go watch and sit in the old school grandstand seating. I remember watching one of my friends play basketball and volleyball there with an ok crowd and when I was in Peterborough for a short time - we went to one school hall that was just pumping with energy and people for a school game of basketball. It was an experience that I just never saw replicated here in Australian schools. Sure we might have the sports but the following that the community gave was just amazing.

In fact one of my big regrets from Canada was getting hurt at the start of training camp for the school football team and deciding (dumbly as it turns out) that I wouldn't play. The groin injury was fine within a month but I'd missed the camp and (upon reflection) made the wrong call not to push myself to make at the very least the practice squad. It bugs me to this day and as a result no matter what injury I'm carrying - if I can play - I play. That's not to say I didn't try when I played sport before that (if you know me - winning is pretty much all that matters on the sporting field) but sometimes opportunities that arise don't come again a second time...
I must also point out that learning the game would've been a challenge but that in itself is another aspect that I feel I missed out on. Odds are I would've played somewhere defensively and put my hand up to punt... and tackle - how I loved to tackle. In fact once the groin was good one of the sport teachers asked me to run Rugby classes at the school - and that remains one of my fondest memories from Canada.

The GHS locker rooms remind me vividly of the ones back in Canada... when school sport really means a heck of a lot. I miss those days... 10.11.2009

When the season kicked off, a big highlight was the Friday Night games at the local sports field. Going along with some friends and having some friends playing in the game is a buzz that's hard to explain. If you've seen Friday Night Lights etc or Remember the Titans etc - it really is special.

Especially when as a vocal supporter yelling out from the sideline at a poor refereeing decision - half the people in your section do a double take on your position every time you call out. Why did they?

Because hearing a strong Australian accent call out 'You're kidding ref!' is not something you hear every day at a high school football game.

How I miss that... and I still beat myself up over not playing.

Onto the photos...
Winding down with my guitar alongside my nephew and Elmo's guitar. 9.11.2009
Sunset... 9.11.2009
Apparently a film crew was in our street on Tuesday to capture the 'hero do a u-turn'... we await the release with little or no interest... still we've got a nice street. 10.11.2009
Sunset... 10.11.2009

Warrick
Currently listening:
Swoon
By Silversun Pickups
Release date: 2009-04-14
Thursday, November 12, 2009 

Current mood:  thirsty
Category: Blogging
One thing I've immediately realised when I sat down to write this blog was: Don't let yourself get so many days behind, because your memory isn't that good.

Crossing the bridge into the city for the release of the Panda into the wild. 7.11.2009

Looks like I have basically last weekend (Fri to Sun) and the first three days of this week (Mon to Wed) to type up. Not so much what I did as much as what I remember being important... which means if you crossed my path in the last week and don't make this list... clearly you're just not important.

Ok right about now would be a good time to say 'that's not true - everyone is special' and hope you buy what I'm selling.

So here's the photos of note from Fri-Sun...

Friday
Test driving a new pizza dough recipe... 6.11.2009
Check out the deep dish pizza result! 6.11.2009
Sunset... 6.11.2009


Sat Night - the Yoghurt's off...
Sunset over Cockle Bay. 7.11.2009

Best story from the weekend...

On Saturday Night we headed into 'The Loft' at Cockle Bay to send a very good mate of mine off. He's now earning his bamboo in New Zealand and we had a great turnout at a very decent location. Anyhoo as the night went on into the morning and the last of us were sitting around the lounges relaxing - the decision was made: Time to split.

So we dragged the Panda off the ground and as we're heading for the exit which was located behind some decorative indoor lattice like work (best I can do to describe partitions that were fancy and had holes all over them) - we were greeted by a cute little puppy dog.

But this cute little puppy dog had two blue suited police alongside it and your first instinct is 'drug bust!' - kind of exciting really because people that pop the disco biscuits obviously haven't discovered how awesomely entertaining the Lifestyle Food channel is - and deserve to get sprung!

However the fun didn't stop there. As the dog sniffed our feet and completely ignored Panda for his personal hygiene choices as it went past - we looked up towards the partitions to see a sight and a half of full cream dairy cop.

No less than 11 more police officers walked single file across our line of sight and started fanning out into the place. If you were packing disco biscuits you're heart would've skipped a few extra beats not induced by the 'helpers' in your pocket.
As we were leaving The Loft - one sniffer dog and around 13 police walked past us. Sight to behold - seeing cop after cop after cop after cop shuffle past you. 8.11.2009

I'm pleased to report all our crew got out in tact and in fact, as we said our goodbyes outside the place - the 13 police officers walked back out of 'The Loft' and across to 'Bungalow 8' for another sweep. That meant that quite possibly none of the patrons within 'The Loft' were caught...

Anyhoo - we farewelled the Panda and proceeded to enjoy the longest ever stop at a traffic lights in human existence... but that's another story.

Sunday - bad tv and bbqs:
While watching the One Dayer on Sunday I came across this plot description for an old classic tv show called MacGyver... I just hope the 'Fonz' didn't come up with this story idea... 8.11.2009
Picking up Paul from his place, we heard and observed a party going on in one of the apartments with 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion in Japanese going 'off' in more ways than one...8.11.2009
It wasn't until I uploaded this picture that I realised that you could conceivably think that the fish is attached to Paul's line... you know how people pretend to push back up the leaning tower of Pisa or take a bite out of the Big Banana or Pineapple - that kind of look. 8.11.2009
BBQ at Nics... see Tongu's photos for far better quality and quantity. 8.11.2009
Sunset... 8.11.2009

Warrick
Friday, November 06, 2009 

Current mood:  productive
Category: Blogging
| Today at 4:34pm |
A wise man once said: "you don't solve life genius, you live it."

They'd both just woken up - hence the mango cheeks! 5.11.2009

I wonder how much truth there is to that in your life?

Are you constantly trying to come up with the next big fix to smooth out the cracks in your existence? Or is the sticky tape still doing the job?

I was reading the local rag the other day and they reported that a number of the 'Jesus All About Life' banners that have been put up outside churches in the last month or so had been cut down. I wasn't outraged by this but I was interested in the motivations of the people who did it.

Are they pro-evolutionalists? Are they anti-Godites? Are they operating undercover for some government agency determined to rid the world of Christianity's influence- wait they're in politics.

Or more likely - are they not really sure why they are doing it?

The thing that grabs me when I hear people say or indicate that they are 'anti-God' is that their outward attitude seems to be more of 'why would I want to follow God?' rather than 'here's why I won't follow God?'.

The whole Jesus All About Life campaign (best as I can ascertain - having still not seen a single ad on tv) is that Jesus is the answer to what you're looking for in life. Yet what I sense from people who don't know Christ is that they are more compelled to ignore Him than actually have a good reason not to believe in who Jesus is.

Am I way off?

People can pick and choose what 'fad' they follow and will weigh up whether it really applies to them but when it comes to Jesus - people just don't want to aim up to the reality of what Jesus offers. There's a fear of what might be learnt along the way, as opposed to what the end of the road ahead represents.
Is their viewpoint? "At the moment I'm going alright by myself, life's ok I guess, I'll take each day as it comes etc..."
Or is it this? "Who is this Christ fella and why would I want to believe in him? Everything that Jesus stands for is so not for me. Christ pfft... give me Satan."

I think it is far more the first than the second... and I don't believe that people are truly against Christ.

They are against the thought of knowing what knowing Him actually means for their life.

Yet what we think fulfills us each and every day - what we strive to fill our lives with - what you're truly missing is a relationship with Christ. We can pile everything this world has to offer into the shopping trolley, but when we get to the checkout - nothing's leaving the store with us.

And if you've got to this point of the blog and are firmly in the 'I don't believe in God or Jesus' camp, please consider this from Matthew 8:28-34.

The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men (NIV)
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" They shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

A couple of points.
> Even demons believe in the Son of God. - verse 29
> Jesus victory is complete - judgement is coming and the Demons dread it. - verse 29
> People fear the unknown. - verse 33
> People prefer to ignore Jesus and ask him to leave them alone than deal with the truth - verse 34.

So if you chose not to believe that God exists - the great deceiver has got you believing something he knows isn't true. In plainer terms - even Satan knows who the one true God is, what makes you think that you know better?

As verse 34 says - the town asked Jesus to leave rather than have Him around them. My read (wrong it may be...) on people these days is that they truly fear what they might become as a Christian, more than the concept of being saved by Christ. Because until you aim up and realise what Jesus dying on the cross means - the truth of what life really is all about will escape you.

Life isn't about you. It is about you & HIM.

The eternal life angle isn't going to 'sell' Jesus to everyone. But the concept of opening up yourself to the love of Jesus - that's what people fear the most - and it is the reason people don't want to face who Christ really is.

Jesus didn't come to make amends simply for 'people being bad' - he came to reform our relationship with God that we turned our back on at creation.

What He wants more than anything is to be part of your life, to love and be loved by you.

Life is a walk with God. It is not a walk on your own.

So as the wise man said above - living life is the real deal, trying to solve it by yourself is not.

=================

Back to the photos from the last few days...
Grampy just informed my sister that the book Grannuy was reading was missing the last page... so the ending is still unkown! 4.11.2009
Granny getting something to read on the plane trip back home... 4.11.2009
Grampy & Amelie putting together those Russian Babushka dolls... 4.11.2009
Sunset... well a lack of sun. 4.11.2009
The view outside my office window... that tree gets a lot of stares when I'm stuck somewhere in the novel... 5.11.2009
While mowing the lawn - well overdue I must admit - I got a little creative thanks to the mower fumes... that's a 'W' for Warrick! - and yes there's serious symmetry issues. 5.11.2009
Sunset... again without sun. 5.11.2009

Warrick
Currently listening:
Dear Agony
By Breaking Benjamin
Release date: 2009-09-29
Thursday, November 05, 2009 

Current mood:  satisfied
Category: Blogging
| Today at 4:12pm |
A couple of months ago a good mate of mine had the urge to get some friends together and have a crack at Indoor Cricket. I’m not sure if it was the allure of playing the game itself or getting a bunch of mates together for a bit of hit and giggle (ok we don’t giggle – we mock each other’s ineptness constantly) every week – but he managed to convince us all that paying $15 a week to catch up was a worthy investment.

NEC McInerney & MCG Renkert mid-pitch conference... 3.11.2009

We started with a scratchy win first up and then didn’t play well at all in a game two loss, to start the season 1-1 after two weeks. Our team was a combination of current cricketers, past cricketers and cricket watchers – so you figure it’ll take a few weeks before we all start firing as a unit. That is – if we were capable of firing at all.

Yet for the past seven weeks we have been firing on all cylinders. I know writing this before the semis is probably tempting fate but at the end of each game some members of our team (I won’t mention any names… Brett! Nic!) have been complaining about the lack of competition. A few of us ‘wiser’ campaigners have been applauding our own team’s efforts instead of bagging out our opposition… yet here we are entering the Finals with an 8-1 record. What is amazing about our performance is every other team started with a 6 game head start on us. But our seven match winning streak saw us sneak into 4th spot on run differential and a chance to win the comp from dead last 6 weeks into a 15 week season.

It's stinking hot and We're On A Boat has to play indoor... 3.11.2009

On Tuesday we beat ‘Inferno’ in an inferno of a night (check out the temp pictures at the end) who had to beat us to get into the Top 4 and after they won the toss they asked us to field.

Here is the scorecard – as best as I can recreate in a word document·

Took this picture a fraction early - the ball actually hit the net right in front of the camera... 3.11.2009

INFERNO Innings
First Pair – Overs 1-4
Over 1 – MCG Renkert 0/6 - including 2 dot balls & 1 No Ball. Inferno 0/6
Over 2 – PNG Dennis 0/13 – carted! Inferno 0/19
Over 3 – MCC Stone 1/5 – including 1 CATCH dismissal. Inferno 1/24
Over 4 – NYE Ryan 1/0 – including 1 CATCH dismissal, 1 dot ball. Inferno 2/24
Pair Score: 2/24 off 4 overs – including 2 CATCHES, 1 No Ball & 3 dot balls. Run Rate: 6.00 rpo.
Team Score: Inferno 2/24 off 4 overs @ 6.00 rpo.

Second Pair – Overs 5-8
Over 5 – MCC Stone 0/5 - including 1 RUN OUT dismissal & two wides. Inferno 3/29
Over 6 – PNG Dennis 0/13 – carted again! Including 1 dot ball, 1 four & 1 wide. Inferno 3/42
Over 7 – MCG Renkert 0/8 – solid. Inferno 3/50
Over 8 – NEC McInerney 0/14 – Smashed! Inferno 3/64
Pair Score: 1/40 off 4 overs – including 1 RUN OUT, 3 wide, 1 four & 1 dot ball. Run Rate: 10.0 rpo.
Team Score: Inferno 3/64 off 8 overs @ 8.0 rpo.

Third Pair – Overs 9-12.
Over 9 – NYE Ryan 2/0 – including 2 CATCH dismissals. Superb! Inferno 5/64
Over 10 – WIN Nicolson 0/10 – wayward! Including 2 dot balls, 1 wide & 1 no ball. Inferno 5/74
Over 11 – NEC McInerney 0/19 – BONUS OVER including 1 SIX, 1 dot ball & carnage! Inferno 5/93
Over 12 – WIN Nicolson 1/5 – BONUS OVER including 1 BOWLED dismissal & 1 wide. Inferno 6/98
Pair Score: 3/34 off 4 overs – including 2 Bonus Overs, 2 CATCHES, 1 BOWLED, 2 Wides, 1 No Ball, 2 dot balls. Run Rate: 8.5 rpo.
Team Score: Inferno 6/98 off 12 overs & 8.16 rpo.

Setting us a competitive total of 99 to win off 72 balls or 8.25 runs per over.

We're on a Boat in fine form chasing 98... 3.11.2009

WE’RE ON A BOAT Innings
First Pair – Overs 1-4 – NYE Ryan & MCC Stone
Over 1 – 11 Runs: NYE Ryan 6 Runs from 3 balls (3x2s) & MCC Stone 5 Runs from 3 balls (2x2+1x1). We’re on a Boat 0/11
Over 2 – 2 Runs: NYE Ryan -3 Runs from 2 balls (1x2-1 RUN OUT) & MCC Stone 5 Runs from 4 balls (1x3+2x1 incl. 1 dot ball). We’re on a Boat 1/13
Over 3 – 3 Runs: NYE Ryan 6 Runs from 2 balls (1x4+1x2) & MCC Stone -3 Runs from 4 balls (1x2-1 CAUGHT incl. 2 dot balls). We’re on a Boat 2/16
Over 4 – 14 Runs: NYE Ryan 9 Runs from 3 balls (1x5+2x2) & MCC Stone 5 Runs from 3 balls (1x3+2x1). We’re on a Boat 2/30
Pair Score: 2/30 off 4 overs – including 1 RUN OUT, 1 CATCH, 1 Five, 1 Four, 0 Extras, 3 Dot balls. Run Rate: 7.5 rpo
Team Score: We’re on a Boat 2/30 off 4 overs @ 7.5 rpo.

Second Pair: Overs 5-8 – PNG Dennis & WIN Nicolson
Over 5 – 15 Runs: PNG Dennis 2 Runs from 2 balls (2x1) & WIN Nicolson 10 Runs from 4 balls (1x5+1x4+1x1+1 wide faced) + 3 runs from 1 wide. We’re on a Boat 2/45
Over 6 – 13 Runs: PNG Dennis 7 Runs from 3 balls (1x3+2x2) & WIN Nicolson 6 Runs from 3 balls (3x2). We’re on a Boat 2/58
Over 7 – 17 Runs: PNG Dennis 5 Runs from 4 balls (2x2+1x1+2 No Balls faced+1 Wide faced*ran a single on that wide) & WIN Nicolson 3 Runs from 2 balls (1x2+1x1) + 9 Runs from 2 No Balls and 1 wide. We’re on a Boat 2/75
Over 8 – 10 Runs: PNG Dennis 4 Runs from 3 balls (1x2+2x1) & WIN Nicolson 6 Runs from 3 balls (1x3+1x2+1x1). We’re on a Boat 2/85
Pair Score: 0/55 Runs off 4 overs – including 2 No Balls, 2 Wides, 1 Five, 1 Four, 0 Dot balls. Run Rate: 13.75 rpo
Team Score: 2/85 off 8 overs @ 10.63 rpo.

What technique MCG Tendulkar! 3.11.2009

Third Pair: Overs 9-12 – NEC McInerney & MCG Renkert
Over 9 – 11 Runs: NEC McInerney 6 Runs from 3 balls (1x4+1x2+1 wide faced) & MCG Renkert 2 Runs from 3 balls (1x2+2 dot balls) + 3 from 1 wide. We’re on a Boat 2/96
Over 10 – 19 Runs: BONUS OVER- NEC McInerney 13 Runs from 4 balls (1x7+1x5+1x1+1 dot ball) & MCG Renkert 6 Runs from 2 Balls (2x3). We’re on a Boat 2/115
Over 11 – 8 Runs: NEC McInerney -1 Runs from 3 balls (1x4-1 Run Out+1 wide faced) & MCG Renkert 3 Runs from 3 balls (1x2+1x1+1 No Ball faced) + 6 Runs from 1 Wide & 1 No ball. We’re on a Boat 3/123
Over 12 – 26 Runs: BONUS OVER- NEC McInerney 15 Runs from 3 Balls (1x9+2x3) & MCG Renkert 11 Runs from 3 balls (1x5+2x3). We’re on a Boat 3/149
Pair Score: 1/64 from 4 overs – including 1 Run Out, 1 Nine, 1 Seven, 2 Fives, 2 Fours, 2 Wides, 1 No Ball, 3 Dot Balls. Run Rate: 16.00 rpo
Team Score: 3/149 from 12 overs @ 12.42 rpo.

Result: We're on a Boat won by 51 runs - taking 4 points for the win and 3 bonus points for each batting skin (more runs per 4 over block).

We're on a Boat soaking in the statistics of our victory - 149 to 98! 3.11.2009

Man that took way too long to write out – but once you’re halfway through you figure you might as well finish it.

And we didn’t even have Turpintine!

I believe we’ll play the Match Fixers in the 1 v 4 Semi Final next Tuesday lads after getting through on run differential from two other teams also on 58 points.

Congrats fellow sailors but let’s not stop here – we play the game for one reason = to win.

McHappy Day is November 14 - get your first bigger mac and live a little! 3.11.2009

Man it was hot on Tuesday... took a couple of shots to give you an indication of why we were sweating up a storm at indoor.
It was hot... 6:31pm and 34 degrees... 3.11.2009
13 minutes later and it's now 36 degrees... 3.11.2009
It's now 8:05pm and still 36 degrees! 3.11.2009

And here's the mandatory sunset picture...
Sunset... 3.11.2009

Warrick