"I beat the beef"

Thursday night was the annual St George's 1 kilo-in-1 hour steak challenge. Of course, I took part as a proud representative of my country.

The rules are simple: each man (& 1 woman) has to eat a 1 kilo (that's a whopping 35 ounces!) hunk of rump steak as fast as he can, or wishes to, in one sitting. Finishing within an hour gets you on the wall of fame.

I gave it my best effort & came a fairly respectable 15th - 19 min 40 sec. That pleased me, because my aim was to beat the 20 min mark. But, rather more embarrasingly I was beaten by the only chick competing!

A few times I was heaving & thought I might 'chuck', but fought on through & surprisingly didn't actually feel ill after, still needing pudding to fill up! Always room. It really does become a battle between your inner spirit & the steak - it becomes your arch enemy within a matter of minutes, & at points it can seem that this nemesis might take it to the death, but I overcame!

I didn't really do my country that proud though - but it's ok because Ben did (the other Leicester-ite down here) with a high ranking second place in 7 min 20 sec. First place was an astounding 'man-eating' time of 6 min 40 sec... the fastest time on record! Sick.

Otherwise: weather has generally been up a few more degrees this week, spent a bit of time chilling on the beach, catching up on some neglected uni work & looking forward to my summer break, just round the corner!!! (I haven't had my 'compulsory' 3 months off yet this year... something expected by all students, making tax payers green with envy!)

PS: Tried loading images from the internet for your satisfaction this time round. Big no show. Sorry people! Will continue to endeavour. Possibly not my IT skills but comp not doing the business. Or maybe not.

Big opposition, but bigger waves

First off, today was the inter-college rugby game. I was recruited on Thursday & was keen to get amongst some of the action on the rugby field, after around 3 years since a 'competitive' (used lightly) game. After I was roped in I was told the opposition included a number of 'State players' (primarily South Africans & Zimbabweans), which basically means they play rugby lots & are very good (but not professional). As if that wasn't enough of a challenge, Trinity college (the opposition) were to field a Western Force player. For the uninitiated, Western Force was Western Australia's recent addition to the southern hemispehere 'Super 12' teams, making it the 'Super 14'. This is the best of club rugby union in the southern hemisphere. For the ex-Matravers rugby captain who had to beg people to play on the day of a game to get 15 players for a scrap with Clarendon, this was a slightly challenging prospect. So I was mentally preparing myself for an absolute mauling with some big hunks of rugby skill & passion.

Thankfully, things developed a little differently on the day. We had our own secret weapon. I met our maori destroyer just before the game - all 6'7" & 120kg of him! I introduced myself, "I'm Junior" boomed his response. How ironic. He was also a Western Force player - all be it in the academy. Still, you don't want to bump into him on a rugby field.

Anyway, I'm not even sure Trinity did use their Western Force player (he wasn't very impressive if he did play!) but they were a good side. I started on the bench. Junior didn't end up playing (something to do with injury liabilites & Western Force being annoyed if he played with the likes of me). When I was called to duty mid-way through the first half, I was straight in at prop! Not necessarily my strong point & I definitely don't have the build, but I was in the pack for some of the loose ball work. Luckily scrums were uncontested so my spine remains in tact, though is a little stiff & possibly now slightly crooked. I really enjoyed it, got involved with a few runs, some rucking (my first experience of an opposition player 'running down' my back when on the wrong side of the ruck - in this case, not so bad as it looked), & some tackles. But we lost: 10-5. A pleasing result though seeing as last year was a 60-0 crushing defeat & St George's have never scored points in this fixture!

So, the rugby players were not as big as expected. But on Thursday, the waves certainly were. Probably weighing in at head high, but definitely the biggest I have actually got out there in & given it a proper go (previously, just got mauled - a running theme?). The 4 guys in our surfing party struggled to break out through the surf, which led to failure in trying to 'get out the back'. This is important if you don't want to get smashed & want to catch waves - both relatively important facets of actually enjoying surfing. I enjoyed it though & got out the back lots. Catching waves was another matter though. I got some brief 'feet time' on a few waves but quickly got swallowed by the crashing water. It was stormy & so so gnarly.

Saturday was cleaner & smaller surf. Beautiful clean 2-4ft peelers. We surfed (well paddled with a board in the water & had fun) several different breaks, but I was punished a few times by the ocean for thinking I could handle it. Strangely, after a good caning, I would always resurface gasping for breath, checking all my limbs were still attached, but still grinning like a chesire cat! There is something about the power & force of the dynamic ocean that excites me & gets my adrenaline pumping...therefore it hurts me, & I just smile & laugh back! Still, one good ride & some progress I think, though much much more slowly than expected.

As I sit here typing, the sun is setting for the day as it dips itself into the Indian ocean, throwing a variety & richness of vibrant colours across the darkening sky. As it does so, my room is flooded with fiery colours (very poetic huh!?). Seriously though, it is utterly awesome & beautiful. Jim enthused of the Western Australian sunsets before I left - he was not wrong. Will have to try & enjoy a couple down on the beach. I would try to share the view from my room in a picture, but could never do it justice, & my computer skills remain inadequate to upload it! I will let your imaginations 'paint the picture'.

Otherwise, had a few nights out for a friends birthday & socials with St Georgians & my Bible study group: good times. In summary of the last few days, I've been taking it a little easier again after all those essays. Exams are just round the corner, so it cannot last too much longer. Maybe!

Home & away

My task is so nearly complete (for this semester)... all that lies between me and 3 months of summer fun is 1 more essay & 3 'open book' exams (a weaker & distant relative of what academics in the northern hemisphere regard an examination - for those who would rather be hanging out on the beach rather than memorising their extensive lecture notes). So, I guess that is quite a lot till I'm done, but I feel optimistic at the moment - I have emerged from the murky underworld of essay writing & it feels so so good. This really has been my life for the last 3 weeks - not that it is all I have done, but everything has been arranged around my essay & presentation schedule. Relief.

Otherwise, I have been enjoying the increasing familiarity of uni & life here. Hence the sparsity of my blogging.

So, some highlights & stories of recent weeks, since I guess that's what you are reading for?!

College debate - tonight was the second of the semester. A chance for 6 guys to test their insults out on the opposing team & entertain the masses with their comical genius... the topic tonight was 'Alcohol is good for you'. All in the name of comedy and the whole 'college community' bag - it was very funny & will give us some dinner time banter for the next couple of nights no doubt.

Warm cosy sun - spring is here, & it is a most beautiful thing. The endless summer: the rosey & semi-permanent vibe of Perth. Sea temperatures around Perth dip in the winter to a few degrees centigrade warmer than British waters at the height of summer! So, as you can guess I am enjoying the southern hemisphere climate.

Perth Royal Show - it was the last night of the annual week long festival/carnival on Saturday night. 10 of us from college went, & soaked up the atmosphere. Spent most of the night at the fairground. Was very worried I would make myself ill after Anthony went on a ride & took well over an hour to return to colour!... especially as I often don't take rides too well. But, I took on the cream of the rides & loved them! Included 'MEGADROP' - a vertical drop of maybe 50 metres... definitely enough to get the pulse racing. Also, proved my killer shot with a gun & won myself this toy... an ugly little thing but my first fairground win ever, so nonetheless a proud moment.

'Getting involved' - UWA Oktoberfest was on Friday. I arrived at 4pm for a beer (after handing in an essay!) & most of the people there had been drinking since around midday.... it kinda showed. Anyway, it was very cool to buy a stein & pretzel, & enjoy the dodgy German entertainment - everyone was in high spirits. Then, went canoeing on Sat am out on the river with a guy from church & some of his mates. Beautiful day & good to be out on the water... but, I definitely prefer being 'in' the water, & preferably with a surfboard & waves that are too big for me, or something else to get my adrenaline going (nothing of an illegal nature, of course). Also, housewarming party on Sat pm with some friends from my Bible study group, & a BBQ with guys from the cu on Sunday. It was a great weekend - they have often been the more difficult times so far, especially Sundays... because they are fully associated with family/friends/Anneli time, & meeting with Chrisitans I am familiar with. So, it was good to feel more 'at home' with people here, & 'get involved' in their social scene.

Reading & talking - I have seriously loved having the privelege of doing lots of reading/thinking/chatting about deeper issues that interest me recently. Reading 'Knowing God', studying 1 Peter/James/Joel/Romans (books of the Bible), hearing good Biblical talks from godly men, & conversations with new & old friends have all been of great encouragement. It is very cool to be challenged & keep growing in my faith through many different relationships, both old & new.

Speaking to Anneli & fam - it is really refreshing & so good to hear the news from the Shire, London & Derby... though these relatinships have a 'new place' in my life, I am enjoying the joys of having a great family & girlfriend to continue 'growing up' with (*gush*). It is so good to enjoy those few moments with those who know me best, even at 10 000 miles.

And some Australian culture to finish... peculiarities of regional discourse:

- HEAPS: a generic term to determine anything of a value or worth slightly larger than average. As far as I can tell it serves relatively little purpose largely owing to its profuse overuse.

- 'HELL': a substitute for 'very'. Eg: it was hell good / that is hell funny. I don't like it.

- SHRIMP: contrary to popular opinion, Aussies (apparently) don't call prawns 'shrimps', but prawns. Therefore, Lloyd Christmas' "G'day mate, put another shrimp on the barbie" is sadly an Americanisation.

Yet again, due to my IT inabilities & resulting failure to upload pics, you will have to wait a little longer to see the latest shots & meet some of my Aus people. Thanks for reading.