Mike in PORTLAND April 3rd

Hello to everyone ,

Ok , Ok so yes it has been a very long time since the last update. I do apologise to anyone who has been missing the bi weekly issue ( Oh Lillian ). I have found a bit of good luck and been very busy over the last four weeks working od jobs and more recently working on and interior paining job. So today's package has alot to offer due to the huge amount of time between emails. So without further ado , today's post will include the following topics, Hockey , My Barbershop Quartet , Rugby in Portland, The Doug Emery Jazz band, Work

and last but not least YOUTUBE ! footage ...

Barbershop Quartet

The barbershop quartet has had their first practice together. We have started out singing "Ive been working on the rail road" one of the songs that I sung with the Pride Of Auckland Chorus. The first night was very shaky with one of the guys being sick and one of the guys loosing his way and not turning up. The big positive was that we have three guys that are looking to make good music and that we didn't have to pay for the first nights practice.

Hockey

About four weeks ago I was lucky enough to go to my first professional hockey game with Merin and a few of her friends.The local team is called the Portland Pirates, They are not part of the NHL but are like a second tier competition that feeds the NHL. The Portland Pirates feed the Anaheim Ducks. It was a really fun game, I had no idea what was going on but I did have a really nice treat. The treat I had was a Chocolate chip cookie with an inch of ice cream sandwiched in the middle :) It was beautiful. I have forgotten who won the game but it was very close and exciting.

Rugby In Portland

I have been training with the Portland Rugby Club for around about 7 weeks now. I have been trough the pre season fitness trainings and have attended one field training. It has been so much fun ! I have meet some really great guys who have helped me with numerous things over the past two months. The guys been fantastic and have had a hand in helping me find my feet with some work, Getting me good deals around town, Treating me to my first venison meal, Giving me rides to and from training and even helping me decide which boots to buy. Its a really good team to work with and it feels good to be part of a team again.

So the preseason training is over and this Saturday was the first schedualed game. We turned up half an hour early to set up the field. The field was the in field of a horse track. When I got there I was curious to where the field was. I then noticed that guys from my team were painting the markings and others were shoveling the straw piles that were all over the in field. My task was to remove the big rocks that were on the field. All in all after the posts were set up and the rocks and straw were cleared it was a nice firm field and it looked pretty good. The best thing was that you could watch the horses run around the track while we warmed up.

I was very surprised when I was called for the starting Fifteen. It was so cool after all the years of watching Roko and Willy play footy I would finally have my day in the sun . I warmed up with the team and then we took the field. It was a very fast match . I played as hard as I could and tryed my best not to muck up too much. at one point in the second half I was soooo tired that I was standing with the ref while my team were back ten meters, the captain was half way to getting me when I realised I was just dead on my feet. I was very pleased to be on the field and last the full 80 mins. It felt so good to walk off the field and be with my Merin, that was what made the day for me. Oh we didnt win but we were very close I was encouraged by it being our first game , Next week I play again , so maybe we can pull out a win :)

So I have now joined the family club, Tony , Denise , Roko , Willy and now Mike are the rugby players in the family :) , Check out the pictures below :)

Rock, Will , Dad and Mum , You guys are hard :) I tip my hats to you all :)

The Doug Emery Jazz Band

After a long while I have the recording of the jazz band. It sounds really good and I was very excited to hear it. Alas it is a sad fact that I no longer part of the band. So I didnt have the chance to perform with the guys but did get the memories of the practices and the great recording that we mad together. I have got some good news from it, One of the pubs that I was going to get a gig for the band has told me he still wants me to sing for him at his club so I have a gig of my own ! I will let you all know how that works out :)

Work

As I alluded to earlier , Work has been great I have landed on my feet with some interior painting. I have about a weeks work to go with this house and I could have more work after this through the lady's friends and family. At this point in time I am happy with any work I can get and have been very lucky.

On a side note , The work Visa is still being processed , and I should know about it in the next two weeks :) Fingers Crossed:)

YOUTUBE

Finally ! FOOTAGE from mike in the USA , Currently I have an Ice Skating Video up ( My first try so don't laugh ) , and I have a small piece of RUGBY footage that Merin was able to get on her Sony cam. In the rugby footage I am wearing the number four ! Watch the late tackle I do on the poor guy in the ruck. The balls out and I hit him. I will try my best to get some more footage out there for you all it takes forever to upload it to YOUTUBE , There is more to come so keep looking !

I will post you the locations as soon as they upload, the rugby one is still uploading !

Well guys I love you all so much, Merin sends her love to you all as well :)

Till the next time I will leave you with some pictures to look at :)


- Mike and Merin m&m in PORTLAND

VISCOUNT TEACHERS ( AND ex TEACHERS )

How are you all ? Let old mike know how its going over there:) I am thinking of you all , Love you GUYS ! AND YOU TOO