Greatest 2009 Memories
For what was overall a shit year there were still some memorable moments.
Nicky Bomba – Saturday, 24th January
Nicky Bomba was playing for the Skandia Waterfront Festival in Geelong. He also did a ‘Drumming Workshop’ during the day where he would sit down on stage and take the crowd through various beats, timing etc. At the end of it he wanted a group of people to get up and jam with him and he picked me out of a crowd – I was probably looking the most lazy lying back in the grass, flicking grass. So got up on stage with him, Glenn also came up and a few other people and got to play a song (various drums) with him (on guitar and vocals). Quite fun!
Mr Magoo ‘s Apollo Bay Series – Final Gig – Saturday, 7th February
A summer series of gigs at Apollo Bay with Mr. Magoo came to a close on this final night. And what a close it was! Every show in the series had the crowd up and dancing by start of SET 2, but this night was different. A Hen’s party entered during the second song and so did some other intoxicated males and it was on like Donkey Kong. Everyone was up and going wild by the second song. Great atmosphere down there, but lack of facility, as we were on ground level with the crowd. This became a problem as the night progressed with drunk people falling into the stage area and one person throwing his drink on Glenn and headbutting him in the chest. This got Glenn really angry! The guy was a tool (who happened to be an off duty staff member!). All in all it was a crazy fun night and a great way to say goodbye to Apollo Bay.
Mr Magoo at The Sphinx – Saturday, 21st March
The band was fairly rubbish by this stage, with a last minute replacement of guitarist, Jake’s drums falling to pieces and songs that hadn’t been practiced. Somehow it still rocked and we even managed to play ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ practically unrehearsed. Jake also played ‘Long Way To The Top’ with a snare drum on the ground (after it collapsed mid-song). Plenty of bogans drove home (questionably drunk) satisfied with a good night’s rock. Gig paid well too, but they weren’t having us back – that’s for sure. This ended up being the last gig for a broken down Mr. Magoo.
Movies with Kath and Glenn
The first couple of movies we saw with them for the year featured (unexpected and usually awkward) sex scenes. This became known as the ‘Movies with Kath and Glenn Curse’. We started to second guess movies that surely wouldn’t!? Would it?
Ballarat/Daylesford Weekend – Saturday, 28th March – Sunday, 29th March
Sarah and I decided we needed to get out the house and decided to go canoeing in Daylesford. So we booked somewhere to stay in Ballarat and did it in two parts. We drove up to Ballarat on Saturday, walked around the town and got some stuff from the shop then got Fish and Chips. We went in the pool and spa at the hotel. Sarah had her underwater camera in the pool, so we took some presumably kool (not yet developed) photos underwater. This was fine we we had the pool to ourselves, but when a mum and her daughters got in the pool I’m sure we just looked like a bunch of pedophiles. That night we went and got some Jasmine Thai (the best thing ever – must get if your are visiting Ballarat) and drove some poor lady to the other side of town because she asked before visiting Naomi in her Ballarat pad! We played badminton inside the house and listened to Nom’s impressive ‘old lady’ singing. The next day after we spent the morning in the spa in the bathroom, we headed off to Daylesford. We visited the main lake, walked up to the top of Daylesford to see the markets (which had shite all of interest) and then went around to the caravan park that had canoes! The feet got a bit muddy getting the canoe onto the lake, but all was good and we canoed around in the sunny afternoon and loved it! On the way out I got some of the best ever honey at a honey stand, then we rocked it on home. I think I teed up some toast as soon as I got home to try the honey. Most random and sensational weekend ever.
Lorne Camping Weekend
Nigel
Murphy’s Trivia Winners
Our trivia team, The Jive Turkeys, tired of the Bended Elbow trivia scene and decided to move on to Irish Murphy’s. On our maiden visit we found that it was quite different to The Bended Elbow’s trivia. This one was conducted by a complete nutter bloke who would read the question first in his head and then say stuff like “This is a good one” or “I reckon I would have known this one”. I believe they probably paid him in beer for his duties – most likely while performing the hosting duties. Anyway, our first two rounds were average and we were keeping up the the leaders. In the third round, however, we completely blitzed it. This was the signature Jive Turkey style, we always came home strong. We had a good range of specialist topics covered. Jess had the 80’s and Movie Classics, Tom had Science and Nature, Glenn had Music and Rock History, Kath had Musicals and Theatre and I had Computers, Video Games and all things nerd. So we smoked the last round and took out 1st place on our first visit. Everyone there loved us because we took down the team that was winning week in week out, and that they were getting sick of seeing winning. Hazar, free parmigiana with our winnings!
TLE and Subway
I Love You Man with Sarah at Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Socialist Alliance Gig
Peter Cat and the Cool Cats Club Band
Geelong v Saints at Vertas
Pillow Fight in Fed Square
2009 GF
Car Crash
1 Vickers Court bought – 29th September
Cleaning Jake’s Room
Sarah’s Graduation
Rove Last Episode
Christmas Day
I think the funniest memory was when Gran cracked it and walked out of the room. She tried to discreetly retreat into Cody’s room but he had the Door Sensor Alarm I gave him for Christmas equipped. The wailing sirens detracted from the dramatic and had me and Cody in fits of laughter.
New Years Eve
Originally published on Vox [ronovan.vox.com]
6th January 2010