“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”
Anonymous
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Shumpty on Tour: Days 1 and 2 … Melbourne
What a pleasure it has been to have a couple of a days in Melbourne before hitting the Great Ocean Road. Rather than do a usual travel blog for these two days I thought I would just do a “good, bad and ugly” for my time in Melbourne. After all, there are tons of travel guides for this place.
Good:
Hare and Grace Restaurant: The venue for dinner last night was my favourite restaurant in Melbourne and yet again it did not disappoint with the food being absolutely spot on and service exceptional. Only criticism is that it is a bit pricey.
Coffee: I confess that I had forgotten how good the coffee is in Melbourne. I haven’t had a bad cup yet and my favourite place so far is the Barbershop in Chapel Street.
Bad:
The Weather: Pretty simple really this one as it has rained for most of the time I have been here. Indeed I have been told that this week will be the coldest week in November in Melbourne in 20 years. Enough said really.
Ugly:
Cab drivers: I tweeted last night about one experience with the cab drivers of Melbourne that is led to me issuing a formal complaint over overcharging. Frankly though I have not had a pleasant one yet and in the most part the cabs I have taken in Melbourne have been driven by surly gentlemen who think wet weather driving means you should drive quickly and change lanes erratically. Next time I will hire a car the whole trip.
All in all it has been a great two days in Melbourne but now the Great Ocean Road beckons. Next blog will be from Warrnambool.
Quote of the Day
“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.”
Anonymous
Shumpty’s Punt: Emirates Stakes Day
Emirates Stakes day brings to an end another wonderful week of racing at Flemington. Polanski’s success in the Derby aside, it has been a barren period on the punt for this blog. That being the case I am limiting my exposure this week and focusing on the big race only with one exception being a tip that think is a moral in Brisbane. No multi today for multi fans: am still poleaxed from the Dallas Stars (NHL) costing me a pay day twice in three days.
Flemington:
Race 7:
Best bet: Toydini (Number 4) (each way)
Best roughie: Solzhenitsyn (Number 1)
My cousin “Dangerous” Dave aka “Fat Guts” swooped in the last on Derby Day and picked up Smokin’ Joe at $46. I am not ignoring the tip again and will have a little each way wager here too.
Eagle Farm:
Race 6:
Have been following Tail and All from the Heathcote yard for some time and can find no reasons for it not to win today.
As always: good luck and good punting!
Shumpty’s Punt: Friday Fancy
It is another day and another opportunity to have a crack at an American sports multi. Here is the multi I fancy today:
Leg 1: Miami Heat to defeat the LA Clippers in the NBA
Leg 2: Boston Bruins to defeat the Florida Panters in the NHL
Leg 3: Baylor to cover the line (-16.5 points) against Oklahoma in NCAA Football
Leg 4: Washington Capitols to defeat the Minnesota Wild in the NHL
Leg 5: Detriot Red Wings to defeat the Dallas Star in the NHL
Leg 6: Washington Redskins to cover the line (-1.0 points) against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL
Leg 7: Denver Nuggets to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
All up this multi will pay just a touch over $36 for every dollar invested. As always: please gamble responsibly.
What’s going on with the Wallabies?
Ewen McKenzie has named his team for the test against Italy tomorrow evening. The team is:
Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben Mowen (c), Michael Hooper, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane.
Rob Simmons comes back from a knee injury on the side of the scrum and, despite some press about it earlier in the week, Ben Mowen remains the captain.
There was much talk around the dinner table last night about the Wallabies woes at the moment: from lamenting the Deans years through to a consideration of whether we have too many Super 15 franchises to some forceful discussion about Australian rugby’s obvious failings when it comes to the domestic game. The crux though of all of the problems we discussed seemed to come back to this immutable truth: the Southern Hemisphere competitors of the Wallabies come from countries where rugby is the national sport. Unfortunately, diehards aside, rugby union is the 4th most popular “winter” sport after NRL, AFL and, of late, soccer.
Therein lies another problem: rugby union seems to be losing its base. The Deans years and the lack of immediate success arising from McKenzie’s appointment is frustrating the diehards and, frankly, moving them away from the game. I offer myself as an example: 12 months ago it would have been personally unthinkable for me not to stay up late into the early hours of the morning to watch the Wallabies play on the European tour. This year I have chosen sleep over disappointment.
I am not sure what will bring back the diehards like me. Winning will help. That said: being competitive will be a bigger help. Here’s hoping that process starts against Italy.
Shumpty Speaks 