Cass and I had only just dipped our toes into Taiwan's culture in October 2001, yet we had winged our way back to witness the historic win of the Newcastle Knights in that year. It was also the last time I spoke to Dad in person. I have some very strong mixed emotions about that time.
Another watershed moment came in those few months as well. The crew of Aussies here were great fun, but comprised solely of Victorians and Tasmanians, strangely enamoured in that "other" form of Australian football, AFL. I tasked my mate, Coombsy, who had spent a little time in Newcastle growing up, to give me a team worthy of my support which mirrored the characteristics of the town and the Knights. He thought about it for a few days then came back with a definitive answer: "Blue-collar, hard, strugglers....Richmond is the team for you!"
I've supported them through thick and thin ever since, and I must tell you it's been almost exclusively "thin"! They've scrapped their way to a couple of semi-finals over the years, only to promptly lose in the first week and usually in a slightly embarrassing capitulation. I've become hardened by their performances and defensive (if not resigned) about their constant failure.
Until this year.
Saturday was the culmination of probably three years of re-building a team from the ground up. Players had matured like aged red wines, more subtle and mellow yet explosively good at times and dominating their opposition. They had become a team of champions and a champion team. Their at times dour scrapping for each tackle , each play, each contested contest, saw them streak away from teams in the latter part of the game all year and nothing was different in this grand final. Not only did they win a semi for once, but they kept winning and dominating all through the final series. Not to be denied, they rode an emotional wave to victory despite being pitted against a far superior team on paper and form: go the mighty Richmond Tigers.....it was all worth the wait!
The euphoria of the day and evening meant a rather quiet day on Sunday for me, as you can imagine! I had been around at Wal and Annie's new apartment for a little while on Friday night after attending the Middle School, back from camp celebration down at Eddie's Cantina. Cass declined on the party, mainly because she needed the time on Friday afternoon to recover from camp properly after another hectic week at the chalk-face (or should that be "data-projector"-face these days?!)
W&A have had a very hectic few weeks shifting all their stuff into their new digs: it's a beautifully fitted out apartment after all their renovations and I think they'll be very comfortable there. There is a very substantial rooftop apartment and space they can use as well, which was part of the attraction to buy where they did. It's not too far from our place and our usual haunts, so that's convenient too.
Photos: the new apartment before and after the move. Diadora joggers just $16 at a shop round the corner, Hello Kitty dominates every market, and an early shot of viewers settling in at Patio 84 for the big grand final.