Mike ... Still in Portland May 2007

Hello one and all ...

Here I am again at the begining of an update that will be full of things about Mike and Merins adventures. Written after a long bike ride home on a beautiful monday afternoon. I am not really sure when my last update was mailed but I do know that I have new nformation to let you know about so without further ado here are the catagories for todays episode in no particular order , Rugby , Dancing , Swimming , Work Permit / Work and what ever else I can think of at the end ... Oh a bit of YOUTUBE for yall !

Rugby : Portland Super Men

This weekend the Portland Rugby Football Club fronted up at the New England Rugby Football Union Tournament held at the beautiful city of Newport. The weather was great for rugby but very bad for spectators rainy and windy. We won two games on Saturday which put us directly into the final on Sunday . I was very fortunate to get any game time at all considering that I have not been to training for two weeks with my course. I played one half in each game on saturday. Game two was the semi and was so exciting especially at the end of the game I conceeded a penalty which they easily kicked and put tem ahead with 5 mins to play , only a matter of a minute later one of the guys on the team made the most beautiful drop goals I have ever witnessed, It would rank right up there with Jonny Wilkensons kick to win the world cup and the thing was the guy that kicked it was a Brit ! Thanks Evan !

I left the boys that night because I had to get home for work orientation on Sunday which was very hard to do. I got home and slept and had to call in for the news the next day. THe news was good ! Portland had beaten the host team in the final . I asked around and some of the guys told me that they had never been to the final before and won it, and one of the guys has been playing for 14 years ! another guys said to me that it may have been 30 - 40 years since portland rugby have won that competition ! So it was a wonderful weekend for portland rugby . I only wish I could have been there to lift the trophey with the boys but that ok there is always next year.Portland, New England Rugby champions , now thats nice !

Portland Mansions

On Saturday between games Merin and I went sight seeing around Newport. Merin took me to two big mansions that were built back in 1832 . SEE YOUTUBE . These palces are amazing inside and they are kept in the same vintage as they were made. We could not take pictures inside but we have pictureS from the outside eVen though we snuck into the grounds without paying lol . One of the houses was owned by one of the captains who defended the Americas cup 3 times. I don't think he would have ever have thought that the cup would have been won by Team New Zealand Lost by Team New Zealand and Won again by team NZ again in 2007 , Hmmmmm Yes I hope so GOOOOOOOO TEAM NZ !

Dancing

For more cross training for rugby Merin and I have enrolled in Ballroom Dancing Lessons. We have been going for about three weeks now and I am having a blast learning the new steps. I really enjoy it and its greaat to have time with Merin having fun and doing something we both enjoy. We have touched on the Swing Dance ( My first fave ) , The Waltz ( My second fave) and another one that I cant remember the name of but its a slow slow quick quick dance.

Its has definitely helped me with my foot work on the rugby field and I am thinking about incorporating a waltz box side step into my moves for the next game ! LOL

Swimming

I have been training n the pool for two weeks now and I am beginning to get back a bit of power in the old arms and legs. I began to get really sore shoulders reminiscent of the old days but I thought I would try to ACTUALLY kick for once in my life which alleviated most of the pain and its now bearable to train. 2kms has been my limit for the past two weeks and this week I am stepping it up to 3kms. It should be ok, I want to get up to a week of 4.5kms in a session then Ill back it down and do a kind of a mini taper . Only 5 weeks away till my week taper begins so its kinda crunch time. I need to get as much millage under my belt as I can. I am sending in the entry form this week and have decide to swim in the 100 free, 200 free , 50 free and 100 fly. I cant wait to get some photos of me at the pool complex ITS AN AMAZING complex. Ill let you know how the training is going ...

Work Permit / Work

Thanks so much to all the people who emailed me re my work permit coming through. Its so good to be able to apply for jobs and have interviews !

I had an interview 3 days after getting my card and was accepted as a Life Guard / Swimming Instructor for the city of Portland. I was originally meant to be applying for a management role but because the work permit took so long they had already filled the position . No worries though I am happy I can focus on my swimming teaching and learn how to implement a swimming school for the future when Merin and I own our own sports complex.

So far so good , I have a work permit , a job and start of the 16th of June so its all come together after 5 months of waiting but its worth the wait working legally will be so much easier now we can actually plan our saving and best of all we have planned trips around the place including a trip to NC to see RENT ! LIVE on Broadway yeeeeee haaaaaa :) Ill keep all you RENT heads posted don't worry :)

I have now got to the end and I am sorry but I can not think of much more to tell you about , I have attached a few pictures for you to look at and a link to my YOUTUBE page theres a new video up there of the place we stayed in Newport A BEAUTIFUL mansion http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KIWImike69 go check it out :) I will add another video of me making a meal of a try that could have been if I had not of dropped the ball Grrrrrr LOL :)

I love you all so much , Keep in touch and let me know whats going on on your side of the world where ever you may be. I have to stretch now because Im going to go for my 4mile run " A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do"

Peace Out

- Mike