Funny things, Owls.
They can sit on the tree-lined highway as you drive north to Coffs Harbour, and they can be watching you, but you would never know.
Or so myself, Groundskeeper Willie and Forza Jnr agreed, as we made our way north on our odyssey to see the Socceroos.
Having decided one hour earlier that we were going, it was a case of throw whatever clothes that did not have beer stains into a bag, and hit the road.
Such was the haste at which we left, that when I left I had packed 18 dollars in cash, a quarter tank of petrol, and oh, well..a case of Fosters Lager.
I have to say that while I had originally fully intended to go to Coffs for the entire series, the problems with the dates of the tourney, meant that I had said I would not now be going.
While, I had no control over such matters, and was like many others, an innocent victim I STILL had this feeling that if I did NOT go I would not be doing my duty" to the Socceroos, and this did not sit comfortable with me.
So, we were off.
The fact that we had no accommodation booked, was but a minor detail and we left Mrs Forza to arrange that from base camp and set off.
(Mrs Forza had to work over Easter, and yes¼..I know, I spoil that girl.)
We successfully negotiated the first 6 hours of the trip, and arrived at very posh Port Macquarie hote WHICH Mrs Forza had arranged from base camp, and relayed to us per medium of mobile phone.
Now, this was not the kind of hotel that GKW and I would normally be expected to frequent.
For a start, they didnt ask for a deposit, and even said, "well just fix the bill up in the morning"
(The last time I heard those words of absolute and welcome charity from an innkeeper was as a member of the Tartan Army..but that its another story.)
So having worked out where the mandatory 2 hour sleep would occur, the next priority was....BEER!!
Now, strange people these country people.
Forza Jnr is a very mature 17-year-old, and has for the past few years, having had much training, been responsible for ensuring the safety of GKW and myself on our escapades.
When we are allowed out together, it is usually because we have a responsible adult or minder like Forza Jnr who ensures that we get together/come home in one piece.
A shock, therefore, that the bowling club would not let us in because they considered Forza Jnr "under age"
Little did they know that if they had let us two old codgers in, and sent Forza Jnr back to the hotel, they would have had to ring him up later and, as the nominated "responsible adult" get him to come and take us home safely..oh well, theyre loss.
Back to the hotel and no problem...the barmaid gave us a welcoming smile and the last thing I can remember is staggering through to the lift about midnight with GKW clutching two full schooners, as he insisted we desperately needed "just one more".
Next morning they were still there, untouched..
Awaking, a very cranky Forza Jnr suggested that while he was used to my snoring (someone once said it sounded like the steam loco 3801 firing up) he was not used to the bad language and screaming that emanated from GKW, while he lay there.
Now I have to say, he woke me up with the use of such expletives in his sleep, and I was truly shocked.
I have long made it a policy, and a wise one I believe, NOT to talk in my sleep, especially when Mrs Forza is around, but GKW must be pursued by some horrible demons in his subconscious, and he was certainly fighting them off and telling them where to go in no uncertain terms.
So having dealt with said demons, it was up, feed, and off to Coffs.
Well, it was..but we had to wait for GKW to have his pills first.
His assortment of bottles would not be out of place in an apothecary shop in Cabramatta.
He has a green one to make him go to the toilet, a red one to stop him going to the toilet, a black one to wake him up, a white one to calm him down..assorted others, and last but not least, a Berocca B tablet., which having accepted the offer of one, its main purpose as far as I can see is to, 3 hours later, turn your urine a nasty shade of purple and fill you with dread that you have caught some horrible disease!!
Anyway we were off, and we made it!!!
A major disappointment was that we were unable to find a shop that sold silly hats, but a quick couple of phone calls and we were in the company of the Gatt family, and other fellow listees Bec and David Arnold who had travelled up from Sydney and had just arrived.
Now Hoodie has always been a good bloke and wed had the odd schooner together, and although Id nodded and exchanged a few words with Mrs Hoodie on the odd occasion, it was only after the third bottle of wine she had and hearing her recount her younger day stories of drunken revelry and fighting with taxi drivers, that we knew we could relax, and behave normally.8-).
After eating the biggest steak ever, (I have to admit tht there have been times when we have "forgotten" to eat on such trips) it was off to the game!!
I should mention at this point my thanks to both Bonnie and Hoodie for providing us with tickets for the match. As it turned out we had a few spares and we gave them to a couple of pensioners and a young family as they approached the turnstiles.
Now, you just have to know GKW to KNOW that despite his advancing years, two things will happen at football games.
1 He will get detached at some point from the rest of you, and
2 He will do something embarrassing in front of officialdom.
So I was thankful that number 1 happened before reports of no 2 came filtering back.
Someone needs to remind GKW that no matter how drop dead gorgeous the girl handing out the Socceroo posters was, one SHOULDNT try to kiss her in front of The Chairman of Oceania, Soccer Australia, Oz Youth Coaches, managers, various civil dignitaries etc..
Anyway, we had left the grandstand and joined the real people by this time.
Mr Dunkerley, Gavsta, Cameron Atfield were all in attendance, as it turned out were 5 or 6 "lapsed" Marconi supporters who had made the trip up, and were very good value for the rest of the evening.
Not much to say about the game, other than I really think the locals thought it was going to be another walk over, which of course it never was.
We sung¼we always do, whether it is appropriate or not, but generally the atmosphere was more akin to a Marconi V Eastern Pride game on a wet Saturday night.
A major disappointment, and something that was reinforced to members of the media, players, coaches and officials, was the failure of the Socceroos to acknowledge the crowd in any form at the end of the game. Maybe not a HUGE thing to them, but I reckon loonies like us and others who travelled say from Melbourne or Brisbane or wherever, would have liked to think that the players were glad we made the trip to support them in a such a game, and a little wave would have cost nought and very probably shut GKW up¼he was quite upset by this lack of protocol, and had to take TWO white pills to calm him down, such was his angst.
Next it was off to the resort where the Socceroo party and assembled guests were staying.
Everybody was here, and in all seriousness a great time was had by all, players, officials, punters, everybody, and it left me with a feeling that for all we may pettily squabble on this list, football really does bring out the best in us.
The Chairman of Soccer Australia, in the company of the Chairman of Oceania, on their way to a feeshul function upon entering obviously recognised that I was giving GKW such a hammering at pool, that he had better come to the rescue, and turned ut to be a very good pool player, with him and GKW beating Forza Jnr and I on the last ball.
Tony L did though, have the advantage of sobriety, and he bought us a beer by way of appreciation.
Bec, doing remarkably well to still be reasonably coherent at this late hour, cornered him about some political views where she and Tony did not apparently agree, but I think they ended up good mates and agreed amicably to discuss it later and from memory Tony even gave her a contact number to discuss it when everybody was sober.
Andy Harper, Kyle Paterson, ALL the players, Basil Scarsella, Frank Farina ,Bonnie, all made an appearance and intermingled for varying degrees.
Fitba heaven if you like.
Although Michael Cockerill, perhaps because he was sober and late arriving didnt fulfill his promise to come up and join in at the pool table..
When Andy Harper told Kyle Paterson that "these guys are all Marconi supporters" (pointing to the 7 or 8 of us) we even laughed when he said "Marconi supporters, Id better get away from here then."
The players seemed to enjoy being involved in the countless "photo opportunities" and the banter, and singing.."
We even had a Harry Kewell look alike, in the shape of one of the waiters...and the song "We've Got Harry Kewell.." went up, as the photo was taken.
At this point I did my best to convince GKW that it was not the REAL Harry Kewell, as he was becoming quite distressed that Harry would rather work at his second job as a waiter, than play for the Socceroos, but I knew it was an argument I was only going to win in the morning when sobriety had set in, and I suggested to GKW that it might be appropriate to take another of those white pills to calm down his angst..
About this time, although we had trained hard for such events, fatigue was beginning to creep in among some, and so, reluctantly, Forza Jnr and I returned to our hotel, leaving behind assorted stragglers.
As I understand it, GKW and BEC made it to the official function only to be asked to leave 3 times (nowhere near a record) and Willie ended up gate crashing some wedding, before he finally made it, miraculously, back to the motel.
So just another normal night, I suppose.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I am truly glad that I went up, and enjoyed the company of everybody I met.
The officials, players, fans, media etc all got on extremely well, and it showed that although we might be divided by club loyalties, we really are all part of the one big fitba family.
So if you were there, and I met you, thank you, I had a ball.
Thanks particularly to Bonnie and Hoodie for tickets, and hello to other listees and especially the 5 or 6 lapsed Marconi guys.
Thanks to Forza Jnr for making sure we survived the trip, and and Id also like to thank Mr Foster and Mr Toohey for my instabilities.
Finally, Id like to thank the Owls for watching over us...we might not be able to see them..but they can see us...