When considering the pros and cons of living in Australia, about the only negative that has ever sprung to mind is that, because of where our girt-by-sea land sits on the world map, we could never be in Eurovision. We could look at the smorgasbord of cheese on offer each year — the Irish Guinness…
A day in the life of a remote control thumb
8am: The human is particularly excited this morning, talking about a big night of sport and checking the batteries in the remote. This looks ominous. 9am: Now, she’s carb loading. Banana pancakes. Which I’m expected to help her cook, by the way. Midday: So, it seems tonight I am to navigate the Australian Open women’s…
Earth to Lance Armstrong
Every parent knows the drill in the heat of battle with an errant toddler. You caution them, in the words of Supernanny, that their behaviour is ‘not esseptable’. They ignore you and continue on their infuriating way. You start counting out loud. Slowly. You warn them at two that if you get to three, there’ll…
Australians all, let us rejoice
It’s been ten years — no, that’s not a typo, ten — since we celebrated our national day by getting an Aussie bloke into the quarter finals of the Australian Open. Last night, with Nick Kyrgios one point away from defeat against Andreas Seppi, it looked like we’d chalk up another year of disappointment. Nick…
What’s the hurry, sport?
OK, I’ll admit I’m a late adopter. If there’s a new gadget on the market, I’ll get it about three years after everyone else. I’ll embrace a fashion trend just as the hipsters are sending it to the charity bins. And it’s taken this sports devotee twelve years to appreciate the merits of T20 cricket….
Thank God for girlfriends
Sydney in January is fantastic. For a start, most of the people who live here bugger off on holidays. Apart from the one million people who converge on the harbour for the new year fireworks, you practically have the joint to yourself. It’s a month of beach and barbecues. Even if you’re not so inclined,…
Reader’s request: how to be a world champion
You’ve seen in the new year and made the usual resolutions to eat less, exercise more and give up all your vices. Seriously, where’s the fun in that? How about branching out a bit? Why not become a world champion? I’m not talking about turning yourself into the next Usain Bolt or Serena Williams. That…
The year in sport… in song
Who better than Miley Cyrus and the cast of Deliverance, among others, to recap some of the highlights — and lowlights — of the year in sport? Budget schmudget Vladimir Putin spent $US51 billion staging the Sochi Olympics, more than every other Winter Games combined. It wasn’t enough to adequately furnish the facilities, light up…
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