Hogboy's Blog

G'day sports fans.

2007-06-08T15:49:00.000+10:00

Yeah, I know, shit loads of time between posts.

Priceless Lad resumed from a spell at Randwick 2 weeks ago, and ran an awesome 3rd. He was trapped 3 wide for nearly the entire race, and was running them down when they crossed the line. He is racing again at Randwick tomorrow (9th June). The track is probably going to be heavy, however he has won on a slow so it shouldnt bother him. Most tipsters have him as their best bet of the day. Click here to listen to some of the comments about tomorrows race.

I'm flying down in the morning, so if anyone is keen to come to the races, just let me know :)

I'll post some more interesting information soon, i promise ;)

Unconditional :)

2007-01-28T18:54:00.000+10:00

Our new house went unconditional last Thursday, and with any luck will settle early (Friday 2nd Feb). We went through it again today, to go over our paint samples and make sure that it will all look good :) We transplanted (with the help of Malcolm) all the plants we want to take with us, which was the chilli tree, the mandarin tree, poinsettia and our herbs, so hopefully we can plant them next weekend!!

Owning a horse that may be a champion - PRICELESS!!

2007-01-25T07:51:00.000+10:00

Yes, yes, sports fans. Priceless Lad has won again :) Yesterday at Canterbury Park in Sydney, ridden by Darren Beadman, and won like he is going to be a good horse!! You can read a little more about it here. His record is now 3 starts for 2 wins and a 5th (unlucky 5th), with prizemoney and bonuses totalling around $40,000 (which means he as earnt more money in 6 weeks than Esprit d'Oiseau has earnt in 4 years............) Unsure where his next adventure will be, but it is likely that he will now get a start in the city on a Saturday, which is excellent prizemoney when he is a 3 year old, worth nearly 60 grand to the winner :) Needless to say, when he does get a start on a Saturday, we will be on the piss in Sydney that Saturday night :)

Our New House!!!!!

2007-01-11T08:31:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, at 6.10pm, Shelly and I bought this house!!! We made a list of everything our new house needed, and this one fit the bill! We settle in 30 days time, so on your next visit to us, you will have new holiday accommodation!! Priceless Lad ran at Warwick Farm yesterday too. He had barrier 1 with Darren Beadman riding him, and was sitting absolutely pretty until he nearly fell coming down the home straight......not good. I am waiting on a report from John Hawkes to see that he pulled up OK. Keep following him though, coz he's a goody :)

Priceless Lad wins on debut!!

2006-12-28T10:41:00.000+10:00

Priceless Lad finally went to the races. After a few shin sore moments I thought he was going to be a little bit like ED, however he raced at Kembla Grange on the 23rd December. Click here to read all about it. John Hawkes is unsure of his next race, whether it be out at the provincials or straight into the city :) The picture is his jockey after the race, Mitch Beadman, who I think isnt going to take long to emulate his old man.

Bad week to be famous.....or a legend.....

2006-09-08T16:15:00.000+10:00

G'day all.

Finally, downloaded Blogger on to my laptop. I figured that since I spend a fair bit of my day on the computer, that I could start blogging again....so here it is.

As for the title, I just found out that Peter Brock was killed in a car accident whilst competing in Targa West (a rally in Western Australia), in the same week that Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray in Cairns.....at least they both died doing what they loved.

Horse updates. Esprit d'Oiseau is shitting me up the wall. He is currently in his first racing prep under new trainer Joe Pride. He ran the house down first up, beaten narrowly into 4th behind some good horses. His next two starts were on too wet a track which didn't suit him at all. He was then put in a race which was made for him, and he was (supposedly) ready. Joe Pride even got on Thoroughvision (Foxtel) and said that it was D-Day for this horse. So, me being the good bloke I am, told everyone I know to back him.......and he ran like a busted arse. He ran again last week at Kembla Grange, 25 lengths last on the turn, beaten 1.5 lengths into 5th.......basically he isn't running that bad but he's running like shit......

Anyways, he is in at Warwick Farm next Tuesday (12th September) up against some reasonable horses, however providing they don't get too much rain this weekend he should go OK. As for the other galloping tin of dog food, he went shinsore 2 days before his long awaited race debut, and still has 2 weeks of recovery before he gets back into it. Word on the street is that he is a good horse, but unfortunately words aren't paying the bills at the moment.

Babies. They're everywhere. My friends Dipa and Brendon have recently had their first baby, a boy named Sebastian, and my best mate OC (Darren) and his missus Naomi have also had a son, Brodie. They are awfully cute baby's, and Michelle is getting clucky. Our friends in Canberra, Kirsty and Steve, are also expecting their first baby in November!!! It's all happening, luckily I am a young 32......

My new job is awesome. Apart from the fact that im averaging about 80 hours a week.....but I have no-one over my shoulder and I seem to be able to bluff everyone into thinking that I know what im doing, so that works :)

Anyways, time to knock off!!! at 4.39pm, nearly a record for me to be able to get out of here before 5. I'll post some pics soon when i put them on my lappy. Hope everyone is well

He's Back.

2005-09-27T20:41:00.000+10:00

Thursday 29th September. Gosford Race Club. Race 7 Number 1. Shit barrier, reasonable jockey....should probably go OK first up, hopefully he smashes them and then he might get a run in some of the good races over the Spring Carnival.

My new purchase has a new name too. Priceless Lad (the picture is him, taken 1 week ago). He is due to start work at the end of this week, with his aim being the Adelaide Magic Millions in Feb, then with any luck the Magic Millions up here, then the Golden Slipper!!

I like to dream.

The Golden Snitch.

2005-09-19T19:09:00.000+10:00

G'day.

After my weekends efforts in the garden (refer to Shelly's blog), I now refer to my gardening exploits as being similar to Quidditch. It does not matter how many goals you score, the winner of the game is the team who's Seeker grabs the Golden Snitch.

On the weekend, I grabbed my Golden Snitch.

I have finally beaten my nemesis, my arch rival, my Achilles heal.....Cookies has gone down. Although my garden is going to look a little like an Iraqi minefield until the plants establish themselves, unless he gets his licence he will never knock another one of my plants over again!!! Finally, our garden looks like its going to stay looking good for a while, the grass is starting to take over the yard again, and the spa is clean and ready for action. A few more eye catching additions, and your accommodation on the Gold Coast will be 5 star!!

Be on the lookout for ED over the coming weeks. He looks to be resuming about mid next week, probably in the country first, then back to the big leagues. I now have another share in a horse (with my Dad). He doesn't have a name yet (probably will next week) but he is looking the goods and is a real chance at Magic Millions level next year. I'll post a picture and his name when I receive them next week.

I finally got my name in the paper. I have made an effort in each place that I have lived to be mentioned in the paper in one way or another. The Gold Coast Bulletin publishes the weekends golf results every Monday, and even though I played shocking, I managed to hit one good shot on the 7th (Par 3) and got nearest-the-pin for B Grade. So as well as winning 2 golf balls, I also rate a mention in this fine piece of print media!!!!

Long time between drinks.....

2005-09-04T16:34:00.000+10:00

G,day.

Well, since it has been a decade since i last blogged, this is going to be another one of those epics.....

I'll start from most recent and work my way back.

Today I cordonned off the section of my yard that Cookies and Custard seem to destroy the most. The weather is starting to get a little warmer up here, and I want to save what yard I have left and get some good growth into it in the summer. So at the moment the back yard looks like roadworks, as i 'borrowed' some materials, but hopefully it will get the job done.

Yesterday, Shelly and I took my nephew Aaron to the Gold Coast Show. Wow, thank god you can give kids back. Not that it was a chore, but we only had him for maybe 4.5 hours, and I was buggered, and broke.... he had a ball though, and we got to see Shelly's floral entry in the Show, which was really excellent, and a lot better than some of the entries that finished above her. She is keen for next year though :)

Last Wednesday my latest nephew, Tyler Keith, entered the world...so as I was indisposed when Aaron was born, this was my first opportunity to 'wet the baby's head'....which involved starting drinking at 12pm on the Wednesday, and walking home from Jupiters Casino to Labrador (10.7kms according to my car the next day) at 5 am the next day......

Couple of weeks ago I was up in Airlie Beach working, which had its good and bad points. Number 1 bad point: worst drive in history. The Bruce Highway has to be Australia's roughest road, rivalling the Lethal Weapon or the Corkscrew...and in a 5 tonne truck with suspension made out of concrete....not a pleasant experience at all... On the third last night i was there, we were on our way out of the pub to go to work (it's like that up there...) a bloke stopped me and said 'you look pretty big, do you wanna sail in a yacht race tomorrow?' I figured that he only wanted me for extra weight so i said 'yeah, no worries...people pay 150 bucks a day to sail around the Whitsundays, why shouldnt i do it for nothing'.......Wrong. When he said big (as i found out the next day), it was shoulders, not belly. So, i was on the pumps in the middle, hoisting the main sail, and trimming the sail/spinny every time we tacked. Now, in a 24 mile race, with about 7 check points, i reckon we tacked about 250 times......so it was the skipper calling 'Tack' which meant me and the other bloke on the pumps had to get up first (not easy on a yacht that always felt like it was about to tip), trim the sheet, then jump back up on the other side (see previous problem....). Funny thing was, we won the race by about 4 minutes, and the skipper asked me to stay up there for a week and sail in the Hahn Premium Race Week off Hamilton Island (the race we were in was part of the Hogs Breath Race Week). I said I couldnt get time off, so he suggested that I get a bit fitter and sail with them in the Sydney-Hobart....he said it was easy, exactly what i had been doing the last 3 hours, except for 2 days with no sleep. I told him i'd see him on tele.....Anyways, the yachts name was 'Vanguard', and the crew were excellent. Good luck to them in the Sydney-Hobart.

Various weekends: my injury ravaged rugby league team playing THE most ordinary football i can ever remember them playing.....perhaps next year.

And thats about it. I have a new work car (XR6 sedan this time), but am struggling a little bit in the new job, early days yet though.

See you in 8 weeks for the next blog :)

2005-07-18T17:53:00.000+10:00

Here is my new business card. I have never had one of these before. I wonder if this means I am important now :)

2005-06-30T18:20:00.000+10:00

The calm before the storm....this is what the sky looked like the last time it was reasonably clear (pic taken from our deck 25.6.05)

Must be doing something right.....

2005-06-28T17:38:00.000+10:00

G'day.

Yeah I know, its been a while. Lots of developments though.

1. Esprit d'Oiseau. After the pain of watching him run last at Rosehill, Rodgo reckoned he pulled up OK so wanted to give him one more start. So he did. Not last Saturday but the one before he ran down at Kembla Grange, not his best performance once again. He was in a winning position but just didnt have the kick he usually does, and finished 4 lengths behind the leader in 6th. He's now out for a well deserved spell, and will hopefully be primed for the Spring Carnival in Sydney.

2. Malaria. Yes my friends, its back. Was crook as Rookwood last week, and it kind of felt the same as when I had Malaria, so I headed to the quack. After a quick piss in a bottle he confirmed it, so it was off to hospital to get some shots, and a few days off work......which is still continuing.......which leads me into......

3. Work. I'll be buggered. I'm off crook, heard rumours that the boss was gonna tighten the belt a little, so started thinking.......No need. He rings me yesterday, says he has a new plan for me, tells me he's gonna give me a car (XR6 Turbo), same salary for the moment, and stick me out on the road doing sales. Our company kind of works a little different to everyone else, and sales isnt such a bad job, plus it gets me out and about. Being in the office has helped though, I think, as all the blokes that i've talked to on the phone about jobs, I can now get out there and meet up with them, and learn a whole new side to the business. It will mean that the only job I cant/havent done yet, is the bosses. So, I'm planning to get Malaria in say.......October, have another couple of days off, and come back as the Managing Director!!!

4. Shelly. Shelly rocks :) We had a great night at the Casino on Saturday night. I figured out that all up I won about $950, and Shelly generously donated $150 of that to a worthy cause (i think it was the World Federation of Abandoned and Unloved Roulette Wheels and Poker Machines.) Still, we had an awesome night. Going to watch Tripod on Friday night. The Gold Coast Arts centre is having like a comedy season, and we went and saw Wil Anderson a few weeks ago, which was pretty good. We are starting to do lots of stuff to help us enjoy where we live, and also to prepare a tour for all our visitors when they FINALLY arrive. Hint hint...

5. Garden. Cookies plus Custard plus rain plus cars to chase plus shit to pull apart does not equal garden. I fear my mum's suggestion of filling the yard with concrete is not as silly as it sounded.....

That should do it for a couple of weeks :)

Mastercard ad.

2005-06-05T17:23:00.000+10:00

Flights to Sydney - $256
Accommodation - $210
Cab Fares - $100
Bets (both horse and casino.....) - Countless
Watching the jockey ride your horse in complete contrast to how you tell him, and see it run last in its city debut.....

Devastating.

Rosehill update

2005-06-03T03:19:00.000+10:00

Rosehill. Race 4. Number 6. Barrier 3. Quote directly from newspaper on form: "Racing in top form. Sustained a long run to record breakthrough 3 3/4 length win (54.5) Azzamethyst, My Storm Trouper 2100m Gosford Mdn May 5 then on same track 3/4 len win (55.0) De Rigueur, Spin Twins 2100m Gosford C1 May 15. More depth here but done enough to suggest he'll be very competitive again at this trip".

Here's hoping!!

Rosehill

2005-06-02T13:03:00.000+10:00

He's in!! Probably the last race at Rosehill on Saturday arvo, but he's there. 2 problems though: 1. He has beaten half the horses in the field in previous races, and 2. I logged in to a track work (training) website this morning, and he is listed as one of the top 3 runners to watch on the weekend......so that pretty much put paid to getting some sort of price for him. It will still be an excellent day at the races, with my cousin Adam and Shelly's brother Steve coming with me.

I was saying to Shelly last night he has already exceeded my expectations, which was to win 1 race.....anywhere. I was kind of hoping that he might get a start in Sydney on the weekend, but to see him get a start in this Class of race means that even if he doesnt perform, he can drop down a few levels and still run in the city, which hopefully one day means more prizemoney for me :)

The Office Manager at our work resigned last week, so on top of all the Operations crap i'm already doing, I now have to do the majority of her work also........quotes, invoices, bookkeeping etc. I never used to be any good with numbers but it all seems to be coming to me OK. Keeping me busy though, and I am even more tired now when I get home than when I was actually doing the manual work!!

Work is busy = blogging is slow....unfortunately. But I'm new so bad luck :)

Check out my links and go to the site of the original 'Crazy Frog'. It was designed by some Swedish dude imitating his mates souped up mopeds. I saw it about 5 years ago, and I still piss myself everytime I open the site.....guess I am insane.

Isn't it funny.....

2005-05-19T12:48:00.000+10:00

Most people who know me know that I have a pretty hot temper, and on more than one occasion losing it has cost me dearly. Along with this, on occasions I also tend to shoot my mouth off, which has also cost me dearly.

Epiphany.

Today at work I don't think I could have been any more angry with my boss. I was at the point where I asked some people who had been there longer than me that if I gave him 2 weeks notice, would he let me stay for the 2 weeks, or just tell me to leave. The answer was the latter. So I decided on a different course....kind of I suppose. I told him (firmly, unfortunately, but civily) that I did not appreciate being in a position where I wasn't entirely trusted, as I had never had to encounter this before. I also told him that I was prepared to take on a lot more responsibility providing he let me do my job, and get the shits with me when I stuffed it up.

He said 'No worries', and gave me a pay rise.......

Go figure.

First Again.

2005-05-18T13:46:00.000+10:00

He done it again!!! Future Melbourne Cup winner "Esprit d'Oiseau" stepped up to a Class 1 at Gosford on Sunday, and won again!! It was a little closer than his first victory, but he still won fairly convincingly. So much so that Graeme Rogerson, his trainer, has decided that it's time for him to go to the big smoke!! He is nominated for Rosehill on Saturday (21st), however he probably won't run then, but will be freshened up for a race at Rosehill on June 4. Shelly and I will be there to see him run!! Click here to hear him win his Class 1 at Gosford.

2005-05-07T04:03:00.000+10:00

White tail bites a myth? I dont think so....It's a bit blurry, but you get the idea....

2005-05-06T12:57:00.001+10:00

Me and 'ED'.

First

2005-05-06T12:57:00.000+10:00

G'day.

Welcome to my blog. Future Melbourne Cup winner "Esprit d'Oiseau" won his maiden race at Gosford today. Click here to hear him win. I started cheering for him with about 1000 metres to go, but lost my voice with 200 metres to go. Scared shit out of Cookies and Custard.