Thursday 29 October 2009

I allus has wan at eleven

I have always been baffled by the cracked mirror we have in the corner of the room I never go into at home... What the hell does "I allus has wan at eleven" mean? I always took 'wan' to mean won, 'has' to mean had, and 'Allus' to be the scary looking Santa impersonator in the picture. Was 'eleven' a game?



It was never as though I gave up guessing. And despite searching the National Archives, and Google's research abilities, I'm still guessing. Apparently the scary Santa impersonator was an English gold prospector named Sam Griffin. He rocked into Victoria just as the gold was running out but he worked at a saw mill and at a pub near Warbuton. A photographer from Melbourne took a photo of him at the bar and a few years later Carlton Breweries bought the pic. They renamed him Sam Knott and shortened his original quote for a promotion.

He originally said: "I allus has wan at eleven, it's a habit that's got to be done. Cos if I don't have wan at eleven, I allus has eleven at one." Fair call. So 'eleven' isn't a game, it's a time. Further research tells me it was 11am, to be exact. And 'wan' is not won, but one.

With today's society tut-tutting a drink before mid-day, yet binge drinking being the norm, I put it to CUB to re-release this promotional material with the last part of his quote: "I allus has eleven at one". There. Much more responsible. Nobody likes an early drinker...

So that just leaves me with one question. Who the hell is 'allus'?

Saturday 24 October 2009

Have I Just Found Myself?

I was reading a trading forum in which one guy said anyone with a personality type 'S' or 'P' will never be a good trader. So I did the test.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

And somewhat flattered, this is what I was told:

Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving

"Clever" is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best. The professor who juggles half a dozen ideas for research papers and grant proposals in his mind while giving a highly entertaining lecture on an abstruse subject is a classic example of the type. So is the stand-up comedian whose lampoons are not only funny, but incisively accurate.

ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick, and generally love to argue--both for its own sake, and to show off their often-impressive skills. They tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate. They sometimes confuse, even inadvertently hurt, those who don't understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport.

ENTPs are as innovative and ingenious at problem-solving as they are at verbal gymnastics; on occasion, however, they manage to outsmart themselves. This can take the form of getting found out at "sharp practice"--ENTPs have been known to cut corners without regard to the rules if it's expedient -- or simply in the collapse of an over-ambitious juggling act. Both at work and at home, ENTPs are very fond of "toys"--physical or intellectual, the more sophisticated the better. They tend to tire of these quickly, however, and move on to new ones.

ENTPs are basically optimists, but in spite of this (perhaps because of it?), they tend to become extremely petulant about small setbacks and inconveniences. (Major setbacks they tend to regard as challenges, and tackle with determin- ation.) ENTPs have little patience with those they consider wrongheaded or unintelligent, and show little restraint in demonstrating this. However, they do tend to be extremely genial, if not charming, when not being harassed by life in general.

In terms of their relationships with others, ENTPs are capable of bonding very closely and, initially, suddenly, with their loved ones. Some appear to be deceptively offhand with their nearest and dearest; others are so demonstrative that they succeed in shocking co-workers who've only seen their professional side. ENTPs are also good at acquiring friends who are as clever and entertaining as they are. Aside from those two areas, ENTPs tend to be oblivious of the rest of humanity, except as an audience -- good, bad, or potential.

From http://typelogic.com/

Is it me?

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Drunken Athletes

Recently I've seen a few photos of my favourite athletes enjoying themselves, so I decided to start a collection of them. (And short of anything remotely interesting in my life to add to this blog, I may as well post them all here...)

I'll start with surfers. (...cos they're usually pissed anyway.)


Hoyo pictured with Ry Craike. Hoyo's probably not even drunk here- it's just what he does.


Luke-E with Occy. Two of the greatest surfers of all time and a bottle of Jaegger. That's a party.


Taj. As usual, just "getting stoked with the other kids".


Jordy. Working his magic...


Steds. Subtle as usual, yet still makes an impact.


Campbo. This is as aggressive as I would ever like to see Campbo. He can throw a punch.


Eugene. The loosest cannon on tour. I'm sure we can find a better pic of Eugene. Send 'em in.

Thursday 8 October 2009

Sunday 4 October 2009

Ironman

Ok. I'm ready. It has been brewing for a few months and over the last few weeks I've been consciously considering the pros and cons of returning to triathlon to polish the last thing on my triathlon list- the Ironman.


I originally planned to do this at around 25 years of age but I guess that decision was made when I was 15 and surrounded by triathlon. When I left triathlon at 17 there seemed no point going back because the only reason I did it was to be better than yesterday and that would require all my time and effort. I know people who still do that and good luck to them but I, personally, would rather have friends.

So something over the past 6 months has changed in my mentality surrounding racing that has allowed me to consider doing this without destroying my lifestyle. For me to do longer distance races my goal is no longer faster and stronger. I have always wanted to finish Hawaii and to do that I need to qualify so I still need to be quick but it's not the be all and end all. My new goals surround pushing myself further, going longer.

Triathlon is such a simple sport but psychologically very complex once you start investigating your reasons for being there. So I can't do it without goals- that would just be a swim, ride and run. I'll race the Geelong half ironman in February 2011 (what? I've got a lot of work to do!) with the aim of racing Ironman Australia, possibly in Port Macquarie in March 11, but more likely in Busselton in Dec 11.

...better find a physio first.