This Week's Bogey Beans Blog

Howdy ,

Back again for another weekly waffle.

We kicked things off the best way possible on Thursday morning with Coffee Rooms. Great turnout as always, plenty of chats, plenty of coffees and plenty of random facts...

We even had Daire O'Brien make a surprise appearance. It was very much like that Ian Wright gif.

In fact, it was special, similar to Ian's. He never told anyone he was coming, which is probably the safest option because if he didn't show, nobody would've known he promised in the first place. Fair play to him. We may get another outing out of him.

Thursday is a caffeine-driven work day, coffee at 6am, coffee at 9am and a few more as they turn up. Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions on Thursday night. I counted my chickens before they hatched and confidently tipped the Swans. 

That confidence lasted all of about five minutes. Brisbane had other ideas. It reminded me of the Grand Final where the Swans technically participated... but that's about as far as I'd go. They happened to be on the field while Brisbane ran riot. 

Speaking of Lions, this was the big Wahgunyah Lions weekend, with twelve of us making the trip down.

Friday morning started, as many do these days, in Tuga celebrating Fee's birthday. Warm coffee, pastries and good company. 

If we're really scraping the barrel for complaints, it'd be paying as one group at the end instead of just paying as you order. Dividing ten coffees and pastries is like trying to get a calf to suck the teat. It will eventually happen, but the experience of getting there is not what you signed up for.

Minor inconvenience in what is still one of my favourite Friday rituals. As you know, these Friday and Thursday meet-ups have been going on for close to 2 years continuously. 

Then it was off to the dentist. Nothing like a coffee and a pastry before the dentist, no hiding here. I remember when I used to eat frostries for brekkie before heading to the dentist, those were the days, but Frosties "were great."

I actually don't mind the dentist. I understand why people don't enjoy it, but I always leave thinking they're doing me a favour. 

It may be something a few don't know, but I carry floss everywhere. Not the person, the item. 

Every meal, every day. I don't know where the habit came from, but it's stuck ( unlike the food, ae, knee slapper that ). 

So when they tell me everything looks some what healthy, I'm quietly delighted. Apparently, an electric toothbrush is the next upgrade.

Isn't it funny though? You walk in with absolutely no idea what's happening inside your own mouth. They could tell me I need fifteen fillings and four wisdom teeth removed and I'd probably just nod along. You're completely at their mercy. Thankfully this time was one of the good visits. Celebrate the little wins.

I also entered the $20 million Lotto as you know, and ye would be the first to know as this blog would be the first place, All would be brought to a big coffee bonanza, a gathering, a shindig.

Then immediately washed the ticket in the back pocket of my chinos. The joys of me doing the washing, I do not check the pockets.

Thankfully I hadn't won anyway. Scanned the ticket, "No Win." Into the bin it went. Maybe next week.

Back to work before collecting the absolute wagon for the Wahgunyah trip. 

I'd originally booked a Kia Carnival, but Hertz upgraded us to a blacked-out Mercedes Vito eight-seater. Suddenly, we looked less like country footballers and more like a touring band. No paparazzi, please, or fines more so. They are the cameras that will get you... 

To get this car, it involved a few calls back and forth, sorting out the ins and outs, different cars etc. Would you believe, there were no 8 seaters available other than the two we got for this weekend. Must have been a huge demand for a road trip to Wahgunyah.

Six hours after work doesn't sound too bad until you're actually driving it in the dark. But the company was good, so it makes it easier.

Once we got onto the Hume, it was basically "drive straight for 530 kilometres." Easy in theory. Long in practice.

The snacks came out almost immediately. What snacks would you bring? Would dried mangos be on this list? Then somebody made the executive decision to stop in a servo, and to buy a lamb roll absolutely drowned in gravy from a truck stop.

Now I'm sure it tasted nice, maybe? Was told the locals were having it, the locals being the truck stop burly men. They'd have a constitution for grub, iron guts, no bali bellies there.

The smell...

Good lord. I am sensitive to smells at the best of times, dunno what it is, I big up smells quite strongly.

Even standing outside the van eating my soft serve, I could still smell it. It had its own postcode. We're not naming names, but whoever you are, fair play for finishing it.

Eventually we rolled into Albury before midnight, parked up at the Airbnb and called it a night.

Saturday morning Colin had been onto a local who recommended Thick as Thieves for breakfast. If a local recommends somewhere, you listen.

Good coffee. Good breakfast. Four degrees when we arrived, but it climbed to fourteen during the day. Crispsy, dry winter weather. Honestly perfect. Could not have asked for better weather. This was the start of my steak consumption. Brekkie, Dinner & brekkie again. Talk about the high life.

Before the game we wandered through Rutherglen before heading over to All Saints Winery.

A lovely stop.

Originally built by Scottish brothers, it looks more like a castle than a winery. Proper grand. Kieran and I briefly debated whether one glass of wine would actually affect the football later.

We decided not to find out.

No excuses.

Game time.

After losing by around eighty points earlier in the year, I genuinely thought we'd be right in this one.

Unfortunately, the opposition kicked forty-seven points in the first quarter alone. They basically had half their final score before we'd settled into the game. It was wave after wave.

Kieran was taking absolute hangers all afternoon. And was winning the ruck, should have kept him there tbh. White man can jump. Like the movie.

I, on the other hand, managed to completely Shawshank one shot at the goal. Honestly, if I'd aimed at the scoreboard it would've gone closer. But what do you expect, a set shot, I more of an on the go guy.

Thankfully redemption arrived later.

Snapped one through and all you could hear was the travelling Irish contingent roaring from the sideline. Moments before this they were singing "You're shit and you know you are" after the previous miss. How things can turn quickly.

Support comes in many forms.

Afterwards, we had a few tins with the locals in the clubhouse. That's what country footy is all about. Everyone chatting. Everyone welcoming. Everyone genuinely happy you've made the effort to come.

It's one of the things Australia absolutely nails.

Community.

Everyone buys into something bigger than themselves. Wahgunyah has been through a lot over the years and hopefully, they're slowly turning the corner. Wins will come. Until then you compete, you enjoy it and you keep showing up.

Despite the result, it was probably my favourite trip down there so far.

Having twelve people travel down made the whole weekend special.

Dinner that night was back in Rutherglen at The Victoria.

The Prince had hyped it up because apparently they served more than beige food.

He wasn't wrong.

The steak was unbelievable.

We'd also carried around a sponge cake with fresh cream since Friday, with the intention of surprising Fee with candles.

Turns out carrying a fresh cream cake around country Victoria isn't the greatest logistical decision. It could of walked itself into the Victoria and had a seat itself.

We abandoned that plan and got a flourless cake instead.

Fee was happy.

That's all that mattered.

Sunday morning meant breakfast before beginning the long drive home.

We stopped through a few country towns, another winery and spent most of the drive attempting crosswords. 

I'm dreadful at them.

Between my spelling and general lack of vocabulary, it's a challenge.

Still managed to get two answers.

That's progress. Also learned the difference between Jam & Marmalade, which passed a bit of time...

1,255 kilometres later, we handed back the Mercedes and squeezed ourselves, bags and snacks ( yes the snacks came home ) into a Toyota Prius Uber.

Originally I'd booked a seven-seater for the weekend.

Thank God Hertz upgraded us.

Otherwise we'd still be trying to fit everyone into the back of the Tiguan on top of one another.

Overall it was one of the highlights of the year.

Great people.

Great laughs.

Great memories.

Back into work Monday feeling every bit of the weekend but sure that's part of it.

The big news this week was the Bogey Beans website officially going live.

It's something I've been quietly working away on. Merchandise is finally online, shipping is available worldwide, and I'm looking forward to slowly adding more designs over time. Nothing rushed. Limited runs. Pieces that actually mean something. And hopefully you will enjoy also.

If you've ideas you'd love to see, flick them on.

I'll always have a crack at putting my own twist on them.

And if you pick up a bit of merch...

Congratulations.

You're officially a BB. BB BB BB ( I am currently on the couch saying this with my fist pumping ).

Another thing that struck me over the weekend was how normal six-hour drives are over here.

Imagine finishing work on a Friday in Cork and deciding to drive to Donegal.

People would think you've lost the plot.

Out here it's just, "Yeah, see you in six hours."

Finally...

A note to self.

Not everyone enjoys listening to podcasts on 1.5x speed.

Apparently I'm in the minority.

Keep the good side out.

Coffee shop of the week: Little G in Rutherglen

Pastry of the week: Oh, a gorgeous carmel square in Holbrook Bakery and I did not take a photo, imagine that. A first, it was incredible. The lady said it is the best in Vic.

Podcast of the week: Whatever everyone else can tolerate at normal speed. But listening to Tom Brady on the Overlap was very good. Worth a listen. Mindset, culture, insights, it has it all. He mentioned setting standards and injury prevention, which I got some gems out of.

A lil reflection, I am blessed with the environmental & group of people I am surrounded by. And it may be hard to put this into words, but it is magical.

Again, as I always mention.

And keep the good side out x

Slán,
Bogey