Yes it's that time of year again...the time when all the men in this house get that glazed over look in their eyes and sit in front of a television for longer than they hog the newspaper! When they start communicating in a language that is foreign to the females around here! And when they suddenly organise their social life around Friday night and weekend television viewing!
You guessed it, of course....it is...ho, hum....football season again!
Now, it doesn't matter what the code is....be it league, rugby or AFL.....the testosterone filled excitement around here is palpable! Suddenly, the breakfast table becomes filled with talk of such things as scrums, tackles, goals, tries, forwards, line-outs etc! Not that I understand, nor wish to understand, any of it! But watching a pair of males bond over their favoured teams and who among them happens to be leading in the local footy-tipping competition is something to behold! Regularly across the weekend, they can be seen leaning over televisions, radios and computers trying to get their regular fix of updates! They have huddled discussions on who should win and who didn't and which players had a good game etc etc! The twelve year old suddenly adopts an entire maroon wardrobe (Broncos colours, in case you're wondering!) and his front yard play is devoted to kicking an oval shaped ball into the air (and on the roof!) while he stands under it and tries to catch it!
Oh and I don't intend to sound sexist! I appreciate that there are women out there reading this who also like a variety of football games and more power to them....it's just that in this house, we girls don't particularly!
But this year, the football stakes in our house are higher! For the first time ever, I have consented to the said twelve year old playing competition rugby! Ok, I didn't have much choice (and yes, he did do AFL last year which was only slightly safer!)! He desperately wanted to trial for his school team and as he is now going to a school that is known for its football ability, my opinion (ok nagging) about safety was overridden! No one here (apart from me) seems to care that football players almost always have chipped teeth and broken noses! No sirey! All they care about is the rough and tumble action of playing the game! Far out!
So this winter, dear reader, I am biting my tongue, sitting on my hands and wishing like heck that cricket lasted for twelve months of the year (Yep, cricket players wear heaps of padding and helmets to protect their precious faces.....ok, ok, the occasional accident like a black eye ;) does happen but it's not make by some else's body connecting with your face!) And if I make it through to the end of the season without heart palpitations along the way, then it will be a minor miracle! Wish me luck!
