History in the Making

Geelong will now be in the record books as Premiers 2009 for as long as there's AFL football or interest in it. Grand Final weekend, traditionally the last of September, will go down in my memory for another reason more important to me. At the weekend we had 100ml of rain. The water tanks we had installed last Friday are now full. Ian, Andrew and Dean from Vic Water Plumbing worked through Friday's showers and left before the rain became heavy late in the day.

It's been the wettest September for many years. I haven't kept a tally but I look forward to reading the rainfall figures for the completed month after they are put in the post office window. In excess of 200ml for sure.

Lib and I watched the footy with Ricky Ralph and wife Monica, who invited us for lunch. Monica, a native of Sweden, prepared a super meal with a Swedish theme. We kicked off with a shot of Shnapps followed by beer before entree of pickled herrings in three types of sauces, prawns, potatoes, dill eggs, salad and Jarlsberg cheese and Swedish dry biscuit. After two helpings of entree, and more Shnapps and beer, the main course of meatballs with red wine was equally satisfying, as was the desert of berries, the name of which escapes me just now but they're a common wild berry in Sweden. Monica has fond childhood memories of her family going out to the countryside to pick this berry, and blueberries, which both grow wild in the deciduous forests.

The day ended happily for Rick who is Geelong barracker. Interesting word that, barracker. I heard or read recently that it began in Melbourne, specifically at the MCG or Yarra Park, way back when there was an army or police barracks adjacent. A crowd of soldiers/police would come out to watch the game and congregate, loudly, on that side of the ground, becoming known as the barrackers. The story, attributed to no less than Geoffrey Blainey, said that the term barracker caught on and spread through Australia, then the world, and is now almost a universal term for team supporters at a football match.

With the rain came cold winds from the south and we've lit the fire the last three evenings after a break of a few weeks. Lib's cousin Margaret from California has been touring Vic and NSW visiting rellies and is due here Friday night. Before she left the states she emailed asking what sort of weather could she expect. I replied most likely mild temperatures but with quite a range, suggesting she brings something warm to wear. I'll be interested to hear what she's experienced. I think she was in Sydney for the dust storms.