Sunderland dentist joins the Barmy Army Ashes 2010 Perth

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