Page 12 - Irish Examiner USA

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2019 G’Day From

13th,

November Downunder

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EXAMINER n my return from As this event is the cream the fight in another four people. Let me give just a two it and mimed for him to
Mike Bowen With all The Latest From Irish-Australia

Japan, I had high
IRISH Ohopes of writing a of the crop, should they not years. Hopefully the IRFU examples of the integrity of phone it for me.
have prepared to have the
He obliged and then there
will see to it that the team
the people. On the 28th of
lengthy report on Ireland’s
was the problem of trying to
October, the day I was leav-
peaks on time and not two
team peak at this time? The
progress and expectations excuses used of them peaking years earlier as they say they ing to return to Australia, the explain to the receptionist my
of returning to Dublin with to soon is ridiculous; did the did this time. No plan is a plan hotel arranged for a taxi to predicament, after being
the Webb Ellis Rugby IRFU not know that the to fail. The lesson to learn is take me to the Airport transferred to five others at
World Cup, after my 16 day World Cup takes place every that you have to plan. Limousine bus stop in the hotel I finally spoke to one
stay in the land of the rising four years? All was not lost with Shinjuku. The airport bus is who spoke a little English.
sun. The tier two team Japan Ireland’s loss as my son in res- about ten times cheaper than I explained that the hotel
Alas, oh what a disappoint- topped Pool A Group by win- idence in Tokyo, Emmett, a taxi to travel to the airport. had arranged for the taxi to
ment it was for all those who ning their four games, beating joined my traveling compan- It happened to be raining pick me up earlier and could
spent their savings, or bor- Ireland into second place and ions Paddy McCarthy (pub- cats and dogs when I arrived they track down who the taxi
rowed on their mortgages to sending Scotland home, lisher of The Irish Examiner at the Limo bus stop. Two company were and alert the
make the journey to cheer on unqualified to progress to the USA) along with Garrett young attendant lads at the driver that my back pack was
their heroes in green. quarterfinals. Doyle (owner of Tuttles Bar bus stop took my bags out of in the back seat.
The traveling loyal fans In the Quarterfinals, the and Grill in New York City). the taxi and lined them up to To make a much longer
kept smiling and in good spir- host nation again put up a Making up the rest of the be loaded on the bus when it story short, six more phone
it as they continued to sing determined and gutsy fight group were Jonathan, my arrived. calls and two hours later, the
their hearts out in praise of a against South Africa (now other son who is also a colum- Meanwhile I was searching taxi driver returned to bus
team that had no heart or World Champions), unlike nist with this newspaper, my my pockets for change to pay stop 23 with my back pack
respect for the jersey they Ireland’s performance against business partner Alan Sherratt the taxi driver. I had no luck with all intact.
wore so proudly two years the All Blacks, a team they and his wife Maree from with enough change from my The bus ride from Tokyo
ago, when they blitzed all had beaten in their two previ- Australia making up the inter- pockets, so I dug into my back to Narita Airport is an hour
who dared to challenge them. ous meetings. national group of non-Irish pack to take out my pouch and a half. Thank God that I
I was reminded of the old say- It was obvious from the residents. with cash, credit cards and always leave plenty of time
ing of always being happy to start of that game that the Emmett makes an excel- passport along with flight when traveling to an airport
be a bridesmaid but never the Irish team had left their hearts lent tour guide in a city of 13 tickets. just in case of a problem, traf-
bride. and fighting spirit somewhere million, where there is not a I handed over the money fic wise or other. I made my
Ireland came into the com- in the changing room. lot of English spoken. I’m and stepped out of the cab flight on time.
petition as number one in the It was sad to see this Irish sure each of my traveling col- backward in the rain. As soon On a previous occasion
world and was beaten by the team perform so badly, now leagues will vouch for that. as I went to reach for my while staying in Osaka and
host nation, a tier two team, only a shadow of the team He ferreted out plenty of backpack the door of the taxi traveling the bullet train to
who made Ireland look like a that won the Grand Slam and places for us to eat at and closed and the taxi drove off. visit Hiroshima, I hadn’t real-
tier three team. I’m not one had also beat the best of the have the odd drink or two. All taxies in Japan have ized l had left my wallet with
for calling a shovel a spade, a best only a few years ago. Other than the disappoint- automatic opening and clos- my passport and airline tick-
spade is a spade and a shovel Time to take the brush out ment of Ireland’s loss a great ing doors all be it controlled ets plus cash at the station.
is a shovel, so there is no and sweep away the losses time was had by all. by the driver. What the f**k I only discovered that three
point in me trying to gloss up and disappointment of 2019. I have been to Japan many just happened? A sense of dis- days later as I was preparing
Ireland’s performance at this Time for new faces and big times and have sang the prais- belief hit instantly followed to fly to New York the next
World Cup. hearts to be introduced for es about the country and its by panic (what else). I felt like day. Again in a panic, I
I was on Mars with no way of checked all the restaurants I
getting back, no money, no had dined at in Osaka and
credit cards, no passport or then decided to try my luck at
airline tickets and only two the railway station.
words of Japanese in my With my two words of
vocabulary. Japanese and a lot of miming,
As Olly of Laurel and I was directed to the lost
Hardy fame would have said, property office. On arrival I
that’s a fine mess that I find was met by a smiling gentle-
myself in. Holy S**t, what man in uniform waiting to
now? present me with my wallet
After saying about a dozen with all contents accounted
Hail Mary’s and Our Fathers for.
to my favorite saint Mary Where else in the world
MacKillop, the panic seamed could you find honesty and
to ease. I showed one of the help like that? Where else but
young lads who was loading Japan?
cases on to the Limo buses Until next time be good to
my hotel receipt with the those who love you and
address and phone number on slainte from Downunder. C