How things have changed in your life when you go to a country fair (Imbil Show) and you find yourself in the Pavilion (young Boris claimed just a posh word for Hall) critiquing CWA scones, fruitcakes and the like. Not only was I picking faults my ego was running away with itself and had me imagining that I was receiving blue ribbons for my scones and banana cake in next year’s show and of course bragging rights. It is with a sense of humour one that I would even think of this but could you imagine the Imbil CWA finest elder statesmen clapping and cheering graciously whilst a middle aged “man” took to the stage to receive the winners ribbon……sure the ladies are gracious on the Australian River Cottage episodes when Paul outcooks them but with an honest submission that I think those little old ladies wouldn’t be the same off camera. When they enter the cooking gladiator pavilion everything is on the line, armed with recipes that they have perfected over many years, even in some cases with recipes handed down over generations, mmm something tells me TV land doesn’t portray the truth, said with a smirk.
Still all in all it was an awesome experience, country life at its finest. From Cowboys walking around, to a gang of kids in the full cowboys set up (to me they stood out but hey there they fitted in there and who am I to judge – there were no X Boxes in sight) goats, cows, chickens, horses, pigs – everything was on show and up for judgement. After witnessing two goats going head to head it was with great interest that I stood there watching the old lady judge – prodding, feeling the animal with a poker face, all but a few mmmm and aarrhhhs, she wasn’t showing any advantages to either goat. The goats didn’t care but it is hard to describe the look of the two owners eagerly awaiting the result you could see the anticipation on their face’s the results to them meant far more than a ribbon. They take things serious out there and I say this with a hint of jealousy and respect, they never have to worry if there has been an accident on the M1 or the day to day rat race of the city, they have different worries of a different kind but theirs are all real.
After watching all forms of horse events, the other thing that really stood out for me is just how talented some of these people are on horses. From show jumping to barrel racing and everything in between it was with awe and fixation that I found myself admiring both the horses and riders. But it was towards the end of my visit that the city boy came out of me and showed its head. I have no doubt that all these horses mean the world to these people it doesn’t take you long to realise that with riding these animals it isn’t all the rider it’s a bond between the horse and who’s on their back to, that only comes with care, patience and training of the horse a bond between man and beast. It was the horses used for the rodeo that had me standing beside their stalls with my head in between the rails shaking in disappointment. I won’t go into it as I’m still arguing with me, myself and I -logically there are pro’s and con’s and perhaps this is the city conscience speaking but it was sobering for me the only disappointment of the whole day in what was a well-balanced weekend between leisure and work around the farm.

This weekend held only a brief farm visit but it seen me at a mini reunion at my old football club, with some very old friends. My first outing in almost 2 years and I learnt a lot this weekend.
• VB really is a shite beer
• Though Kurt Cobain made cardigan’s look trendy back in the 90’s and your pushing 50 – there really is no excuse, Cardigans are not really a fashion statement any more
• I got called “Old” a lot (Maybe the Cardigan didn’t help)
• I went home at a respectable hour – is that a rhetorical statement to self?
• I need to practice Chess more and I had forgotten just how good of a game Chess is – I got panced yesterday by Graham, what a quiet Sunday afternoon, sitting on the deck with a beer pondering my next move – again is that a rhetorical question, am I really get old?
• But what I probably learnt most is just how much some of these people in this world mean to me and how much I have missed them. Football was such an integral part of my life until the farm – 36 years in fact as a player and a coach. It brought me up, raised me through life bringing a lot into my life over the years both good and bad. And our relationship didn’t end well, I was left feeling disillusioned by the whole lot and what I had come to realise was the superficialness of it all. Sure, not all people are like that but what I have also come to realise that in fact I had also become superficial – when I walked away from the game I also walked out on a lot of people that I dearly loved the friendships that were based on much more than football. Call it what you will the modern day “Bromances” perhaps but some of these relationships were so so much more than that to me. Okay we spilt blood, sweat and tears on the field but we also shared all the trials and tribulations off the field along the way – each other’s passages through life, we shared deaths, kids being born, the weddings, the downers the uppers – the whole lot. I have missed them, every single one of them and I promise to be a better friend. Life is much more than ego and as each year roles by I see my ego diminishing maybe this is life’s subliminal way of teaching you that. It’s not about who won or loss or why even – your ego makes you question this, it’s about being true to yourself along the way and the people around you, the ones you truly love. Yes, you have to hold your own values but I have come to realise the true element here is understanding. We are not all the same – fact, life can change us but without assumption and judgement comes understanding. Understanding that you may not live in each pockets or even see each other for a couple of years, you understand why. Kids, jobs, families circumstances they all change but never assume that the love we hold for each other has.
• I’ve learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes
• So far this is the oldest I’ve been, relax and enjoy the ride more…….