Footy Fever

*Melissa*

Oh wow. It has been too long.  It’s not JUST that we’ve been busier than bees in the middle of spring, it’s that time has just been picking up speed the closer we get to graduation!

We had perhaps the quickest month ever at Repat Hospital.  It was a lovely little get-a-way from Flinders where it felt like we were visiting old friends at work all day.  We were there from “Adelaide Cup Day” until “Good Friday” – so it made for two 4-day weeks, adding to the speed that the month seemed to soar by at.

Chad and I had a splendid little weekend getaway as well, where we were able to visit McLaren Vale and Willunga one last time.  Terribly sad, but an awful nice little break.

Perhaps the most exciting thing that happened around this time was also our night at an Aussie Footy match! I had been graciously “hired” by Dr. Wycherley to proctor the radiology consultant exam.  After which, he mentioned that he was headed out of town, and offered Chad and I to take advantage of his season footy tickets and go see the game that night.  Much to my surprise, I had to convince Chad that we should go.

Aussie “Footy”, for all us “yanks”, is Australian-Rules Football.  Sort of slightly resembling American football, but without all the helmets and padding, and with a lot more action, speed, and excitement.  We caught the free “Footy Bus” to take us to AAMI stadium – something Dr. Wycherley had promised would be quite exciting in and of itself.  Fans were decked out in colorful garb, all awkwardly containing their resentment for the people standing next to them wearing the opposing team’s colors.

Chad and Melissa outside AAMI stadium

Although we didn’t understand everything that happened throughout the game, it was an incredible experience, and an awesome game; we watched St. Kilda (Melbourne) play Port Adelaide, and every time Chad or I looked at each other and said “There’s no WAY St. Kilda will be able to recover”, sure enough, the regained the lead.  In the end, coming straight down to the wire, Port Adelaide won by ONE POINT!  The crowd went absolutely bonkers, and there were at least 3 gentlemen behind us that I was sure were going to have an aneurysm from yelling so hard.

We rode the footy bus home; SO glad we had taken up the offer of the tickets, and hoping we might get a chance to see another game before we go.

This, however, was only a minor break from our preparations for the looming event of the ASMMIRT Conference in Sydney.