I get excited when September approaches. Over in
Melbourne, it marks the beginning of Spring. Everything looks brighter and less
gloomy. The blue skies reappear. In September in Melbourne, I would also wait
for the supplement in the paper listing all the show bags for the year’s Royal
Melbourne Show. When we were younger, we would spend up like fools. Then we got
older and I think we bought the cheapest show bag when we were at the show the
last time. I think it was that chocolate beetle bag (Bertie Beetle?). LOL.
September also marks the end of the footy season. Things
get very exciting if you live close to Fed Square and the Casino. We would turn
up outside the Casino on Brownlow night just to see the celebrities driving
past or walking in. I remember waving to Jim Stynes one year and he waved back
at me with a big smile from his 4WD. We would turn up at Fed Square multiple
times in the final week to queue for freebies (e.g. chocolates, lollies, autographs,
Coke Zero, Sherrin Footballs, etc). LOL. Ok, some people may find it boring but
I was having a ball every year. I love to be among the people that turn up in
the city during that time of the year. Melbourne wakes up from its Winter
slumber during the AFL Grand Final week.
Getting tickets to watch the Grand Final match at the
MCG is very expensive. Carlton hadn’t played a Grand Final game in a long time
and even if I was given free tickets, I may not turn up to watch the
Colliewobbles. So, the cheapest way to enjoy Grand Final day, other than to
watch it at home, is to watch it at Fed Square. We would sit on the steps
outside Chocolate Buddha and would have a good view of the giant screen. The people
that turn up are usually friendly. A few cheeky monkeys may attempt to create a
scene but there were always many police officers around to keep things calm.
Rain, hail or shine, we would sit there and enjoy the full game. Well almost
always. One year we had to run home during half time because the rain was
really pouring. LOL. The year when Collingwood tied with St Kilda was the most
fun. I nearly died of excitement. I just wanted the game to keep going. In the
final seconds when there was confusion, people stood up hoping that the game
would go on. The big truckie next to me urged me to stand up because it might
keep going. I was thinking that the St Kilda boys might struggle to keep going
because they looked all so tired. Had the game continued, they wouldn’t need to
come back 7 days later for another match because Collingwood was just too good
that year.
Yesterday was that very special day in September, in
Australia. I was required to work but I made arrangement to leave early so I
could watch the game at home. Having lived in Melbourne longer than I have in
Malaysia, I also wished that the trophy didn’t end up in Sydney. Unfortunately
a few things happened at work in the last couple of weeks and we are
desperately short of workers as a result of that. Things are bound to become
worse at home. So despite approval from two ‘bosses’ that I was allowed to
leave early, I stayed for the full shift to avoid getting picked on by my ‘third
boss’, who is technically an employee. I missed the match. I did watch the ABC
news and learnt that Sydney took the trophy home. That was a disappointment. As
for work, it will be all hands on deck for the rest of the school year. It also
means that the stress levels will increase. God, please help me to
get through
it.
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