Sometimes in life an opportunity to do something comes your way that would be foolish to turn down....
Such an opportunity came my way this month at the end of a very stressful year and I just thought sod it ! you only live once. That opportunity was a trip to Perth in Western Australia to see the Ashes test match at the beginning of an Australian summer.as well as feeling in need of a break the UK weather was dire and a few pieces of the jig saw came together...
- Two flights to Perth were available with Emirates
- a very generous offer from a patient of a house and car to use in Perth (thank you David)
- Two match day tickets very kindly provided by Paul Collingwood , a gesture from a world class cricketer and Sunderland supporter for which I will be forever grateful
- My lovely wife Liz asked the school if my son could be cleared to come
So there we have it , a boys trip that even Carling would have difficulty putting together !
The flight to Australia certainly makes you realise how big this world is as we sat through twenty hours of flying (good service from Emirates I might add ).
Eight hours of time difference and thousands of miles of flying, but the journey was worth it when 90 degrees and sunshine greets you .
Perth is a beautiful, refreshingly underpopulated for a major city and with very friendly locals.
Forgive the lack of sensitivity to the UK climate as I post this picture but I couldn't help myself. Makes me wonder why I continue to live in the north east.
This is rockingham Beach during the school summer holidays , I can only imagine what this would look like if it was Seaburn beach on a similar day in Sunderland, quiet eh ?
As for the cricket ...
What a buzz to see the WACA full on the first day , many of them Barmy Army English generating a fantastic atmosphere.
Due to the kindness of Paul Collingwood it was a privilige to have a seat in the members pavillion at the heart of Aussie cricket, great banter I might say. Ninety degrees made the famous grassy banks of the WACA a big attraction ans so lying in the sun it was for me and my son David (Sunderland shirts on of course) .
It was a stunning start by the Poms, sitting on the grass when Colly took Ponting with a world class catch brought the hairs up I might add. The wheels came off but it didn't spoil the spectacle of seeing two of the best teams in the world scrap it out in front of our eyes , priceless !
To round off this trip of a lifetime two of my favourite bands ever just happened to be playing in Perth whilst we were here...
Saturday and a trip to see U2 supported by JayZ on their 360 tour was a bit special , take a sneak view of it on this you tube clip click here
Following this, on the Sunday my current favourite band Muse were in town , they were sensational !
So there we have it .... A trip that money can't buy.
This dentist can't believe how lucky he has been to be able to do this with his son, a lifetime memory.
I would just like to thank the following people for making this great trip happen for us...
- Frank Curry - for setting up the tickets with Colly for us
- Paul Collingwood for putting himself out for us (and the Ponting catch )
- David and Lorraine Carr for their enormous generosity with house and car
- The brilliant team at Olivers Dental Studio, so good ,I never think twice about leaving the Studio in their hands, means a lot. http://www.oliverdental.com
- Liz Oliver, a Mrs supreme, for letting her lads go so close to Christmas
