G'Day From Downunder

G'day from Downunder! Get the kettle on and I will tell you about some of my recent exploits. I tell you what, the older you get the harder jet-lag hits you whether you travel in the front, middle or back of the plane.

Since my last article, as I'm sure most of you know, I have been over and back to New York. I have also covered a lot of ground here in Oz since my return which is why I have been missing from this column for a while.

First let me thank Paddy McCarthy for the wonderful hospitality he showed to my wife, Marie and I while we were enjoying the beautiful weather that we bought over with us from Australia to your beautiful city.

It was quite extraordinary. We never saw a drop of rain in the week that we spent there. Before travelling we had heard of the huge snow falls you had, so we got well prepared for the cold, cold weather. I had even threatened to buy an overcoat while there to fend off Mr Frosty! Thankfully it was more like T-shirt weather walking in Central Park on Sunday March 7. You wouldn't wish for a more glorious day.

I had forgotten how beautiful Central Park can be at times like that. Lot's of unmelted snow, ducks sitting on the ice patches in the lakes, squirrels busy entertaining the children in the warmth of the lazy sun making Central Park heaven on earth... it was real magic!

On Saturday March 6 we were guests of the County Cork BP&P Association of New York's 126th Annual St Patrick's Day Dinner Dance at Antun's honouring Donie Carroll, Cork Man of the Year, Treasa Goodwin Smyth, Cork Woman of the Year and Catherine "Kitty" Kilroy who received the Frank T Carvill Distinguished Service Award.

We were also delighted to catch up with Tommy "with a Y" Smyth from ESPN. He now enjoys something close to super-hero status in Australia where his commentaries are avidly soaked up by all Australian soccer fans

Boy oh Boy do those Cork people know how to throw a party and hooley I expected that by about 10pm jetlag would begin to send us off to gaga land but oh no, we were still going strong and among the last to leave at 2am dare I say 'plus'. The determined revellers went on to the 'Grandstand' (whatever that is!) where they saw the sunrise before they finished.

On Monday March 8th it was celebration time again. This time it was at the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue and then afterwards (of course) at Eamonn's for another late night or early morning to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of 'Irish Connections'. It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and make new friends; a million thanks to you all for making us feel so much at home.

With what spare time we had left over when not partying we went along to see a couple of shows on Broadway. "The Rock of Ages" and "Memphis the Musical" are certainly worth seeing if you get the tickets at half-price as we did.

The weather was so good we gave shopping a big miss. What we didn't miss out on though was lots of walking and just enjoying the atmosphere that is New York.

Time always flies when you're enjoying yourself and so nothing changed here. In what looked like no time at all we were back on the 'big bird' with the kangaroo on its tail and heading back over the pacific to the Land of Oz.

Since returning, my feet haven't touched the ground other than attending the final of the A league soccer between Sydney and Melbourne played here in Melbourne where I mixed with the local fans who are fanatical about our own Tommy Smyth with a Y and would you believe, even in his absence they were singing "with a Y, with a Y, with a Y"? I have to be honest here, ESPN are not doing themselves any favours by not sending Tommy Smyth with a Y Downunder to help boost their ratings.

I kid you not if any of you saw 'The Life of Brian' and the devoted blind loyalty of the flock that followed him; such is the popularity of Tommy with a Y in Australia. I know for a fact some of his devoted fans sent him 'Vegemite' which is the Australian iconic sandwich spread.

He is much more likely to get a rousing welcome than most rock stars or statesman. The rumour was running rife among the fans that the "Stick the Onion in the Bag" man is coming to Melbourne to commentate the world famous horse race, 'The Melbourne Cup' on the first Tuesday in November. If that comes about you will see a huge swelling of numbers at the race, pushing the crowds well over the 100,000 mark.

So ESPN are you listening? Send your best asset Tommy with a Y down among us so he can boost your ratings and quench the thirst of his devoted and loyal fans. For those who may be interested, Sydney won the game on penalties 4-2 after a 1-1 draw in extra time.

I have been getting all the reports of the New York St Patrick's Day Parade down here and I must send a huge "congratulations" to John Dunleavy and his hard working team for keeping the parade and the Irish National Day a major focus in the world. In the USA you do not always have a Formula 1 Grand Prix preferring maybe the heavier more powerful cars of the Indianapolis. (but you have had one in recent times, ironically in Indianapolis). The F1 Grand Prix is largely owned and controlled by one 'big man', but he's physically no bigger than a bar stool. It is a huge international travelling circus much more about making money than it is about sport. Well, the big show hit Melbourne last week. It came and went l like a summer breeze and left nothing but a load of letter and a hefty bill. Who won? Who cares? It cost the city over $50 million in losses this year (over $300 million cumulatively) but they claim an "economic profit". The figures are as rubbery as a pack of prophylactics because the public servants are under instruction to "make it look good". So in America you must have the greater wisdom!

As I write it's nearly Easter, It'll be gone by the time you read this. The shops are full of chocolate eggs and bunnies and the doctors are rubbing their hands together as the national cholesterol count goes up through the roof. So I hope that the Easter Bunny remembered you (and the doctor didn't) and, if you own a chocolate shop I hope that your stock is only a shell of what it was, EMPTY.

Until I talk to you again soon be good to those who love you and Slainte from Downunder!

You can get me at mike@globefins.com.au