For Some Reason They Call It Football! (20/3/09)

FRIDAY 20TH MARCH

Because we only have today in Brisbane we head for the town to see what it’s like. From what I’ve seen it’s pretty much like any city anywhere in the world. I am coming back here in a week or so, so I’ll have a better look around then. I’ve still got the gyp and I’m really hungry: what should I do? The question should actually be what shouldn’t I do? The answer of course is do not eat. Do I listen? Do I ‘eck as like. No I decide to eat at a buffet Chinese and that is without a doubt 100% the wrong thing to do. The pain is really bad, so much so that I end up going to a GP in a shopping centre. I expect to be seen by someone like Dr. Nick (Hi, everybody), as a GP in a shopping centre probably attained their practice licence from some hick state in the US via the interweb. It turns out not to be the case as far as I can see; looking at his bookshelf and reading his computer screen, it seems he went to a decent university in Oz. It turns out, as I expected, that I have food poisoning and really shouldn’t be eating at all, let alone gorging on Chinese food (but it’s so delicious). The Doc. puts me on antibiotics for five days, adding that I should be OK. If I’m not he gives me another script for some super-strong meds (super-priced at AU$45 for 10) just in case the first lot don’t work. The not eating doesn’t bother me, but I’m not allowed any beer either. It’s gonna be a killer, I’ve already gone without for 4 days.So kids the moral of the story is if you think you have food poisoning you probably do, and don’t eat greasy burgers in Alice Springs.The evening is already planned, we’re off to watch the first game of the NRL season between the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, it’s only AU$27 (£13) a ticket. Louise likes rugby union and thought that was what we were going to watch. When I tell her it’s the other code, rugby league, she gets herself confused and can’t remember whether or not she knows the rules. As it turns out she enjoyed the game as much as me; she got all excited when a woman on a horse (I’m guessing a bronco, but I could be wrong, but I doubt it) came out waving a flag when Brisbane scored. The Broncos won 20-16 with Israel Folau scoring a superb try from an up and under. At the final whistle we head straight off to the hostel as it’s 22:00p.m and we have to be up at 04:00a.m, and we’re still to pack.