Happy Xmas from Perth

By The London Leprechaun
December 23 2010

The London Leprechaun shares more random observations from Perth, mixed with some cricket news and some links with Middlesex CCC. 

I'm not only here for the Cricket 

I have now spent more time as a tourist in Perth than at the cricket. And I know all sorts of odd things about Perth which I am sure you are also anxious to know. So here goes:

The Swan Valley wineries are the closest wine growing region to any major city in the world. And there are many wineries: 47 in an area 9 x 18 kilometres wide. Plus some breweries, and a chocolate factory.  And if you go on a wine tasting tour you can sample a lot of wines in a short space of time, which may or not be a good thing.  But they do make a mean Merlot in Western Australia. And their chocolate is not bad either.

But there are still no swans on the Swan River, though our bus driver says they do hang out near the Casino. I can’t think of a pun on that fact so you can make your own up!  And it was a bit too far to go and check.

There is a very pretty village near Perth called Guildford, where I would much rather play our Championship match next year than the Surrey place.  Only problem is it does not seem to have a cricket ground though it did have a village green.

Western Australians who want to talk about football rather than cricket all seem to support Crystal Palace or West Ham.  Not sure why.

Perth buses are ever so good – they are free, plentiful and come along in multitudes.  But the person who announces the stops sounds almost identical to the one who does the same on London buses.  Nice work if you can get it.

Some Middlesex Links

Native Western Australians sound like Justin Langer (the men that is).

There is a Murray Street and Brearley Close in Perth and a Henderson Avenue in Rottnest. But we can’t get any closer than that to a Middlesex team in this part of the world.

Some Cricket News

The media are trying to ratchet up the Melbourne Test – by saying we are getting worried about the sledging at Perth, trying to get people to say unpleasant things about each other and generally trying to make England out to be running scared in between the latest news about Ponting’s finger and Anderson’s side strain. As far as Australia goes our bowling attach on Boxing Day will either be untested or unfit. Maybe they have a point. . .

Meanwhile the State sides have started their one day season and are playing them with split innings – even odder as they are 45 over matches – so the split is 20/25.  I caught a bit of one on TV and it did not look right.  It certainly did not draw the crowds, but two days before Christmas might have something to do with that – not the best timing to launch a new competition.  Maybe it is not just us who can’t get fixture scheduling right.

And now the cute factor

Australians cull kangaroos in the wild but breed them in captivity.  Hmmm. . .. They are cute though especially when you get to feed them, and they start getting close and personal.  But koala bears are really cute – and of course are not bears though they really look like they ought to be.

How cute is that?

And if you want cute with attitude how about a wombat?

By the way, Australia chose the kangaroo as their national emblem because kangaroos cannot go backwards. Positive thinking but I still have my doubts about having a kangaroo on a coat of arms above a courthouse. I forgot to ask if they can go sideways but that would make them more like a crab than a kangaroo.

No turning back

With a whale of a time

A trip to Rottnest Island today was just fab.  We saw a whale, got close to a New Zealand fur seal and some Aussie sea lions all just chilling out in the sun and to cap the cuteness stakes found the local marsupial the quokkas hanging around the restaurants.  And I even saw black swans on the river!

And that is probably quite enough wildlife for you to put up with.

And finally a Seasonal Taste

There is a definite Christmas spirit about Perth; the decorations are quite tasteful, they have Christmas choirs in the street – there was a great adaption of Jingle bells – dashing through the bush, and an outdoor Nativity presentation tonight with real sheep, donkeys and camels.

So from Perth and me: Happy Christmas and speak to you all at MTWD from Melbourne.