origin three 2012

Back at the end of 2010, after the mighty Maroons had won five successive origin series, I said to the smelly Blues, “Well, thanks, that’s a new record, winning five straight years. If you guys really insist, you guys can win next year’s series. We’ve gotta keep some competition running, you know.”

Only when I realised that last year was Darren Lockyer’s final swansong year, I had to take that statement back. I mean, can you imagine winning five straight years, then for your sixth and final year, going out with a loss? That’d be a TERRIBLE way to finish your career! So I said to the  Blues, “Sorry, guys, you gotta let the mighty Maroons win this year too.”

They did, and come 2012, I was fully prepared to let the Blues win the series this year; I mean, six straight losses and their morale must be pretty low.

But the mighty Maroons showed what true champions they are by taking out this series too, taking their dominance to SEVEN consecutive years!

Before the first game, I’d gotten permission from dad to invite Uncle Colbert over for the game. My invitation was more or less the same as last year’s invite: “You are formally invited to the Chan household to watch the opening State of Origin match. Just remember, the same rules as last year apply: wear NOTHING blue. If you come wearing anything blue, I simply won’t let you inside the house, or, if you get inside before I notice you’re wearing something blue, I’ll simply push you back out the door. If you’re too strong for me to accomplish that, I’ll simply call for my dad to toss you out. That won’t be any problem, you see: he’s a bigger build than you.” XD last year, Uncle Colbert had replied, “Message received. Don’t worry; I have a pair of brown pants that I can wear. I just have to do some ironing first.” So this year, I suggested, “Perhaps you should find those brown pants you wore last year and get your iron ready?” but he replied, “Don’t worry, because I went back to Hong Kong at the beginning of this year and bought many pairs of non-blue pants.” XD

Come the afternoon of the first origin, my carer/life coach/support worker/whatever you call them now :P had wizened up after last year’s State of Origin and not gotten me anything blue to wear. Last year, she’d passed me a pair of blue underwear to put on, and I’d demanded, “Carol, please get me a pair of white underwear, or something not blue. I’m not wearing this pair!” She argued back, ‘but Em, it’s not like anyone’s gonna see you wearing the blue knickers. You’ll be fine.” But I insisted, “Carol, if we lose the first game tonight, I’ll KNOW for SURE that it was my fault coz I wore blue underwear! Now hurry up and get me another coloured pair, please.” Laughing, she did so. XD

I’d also brought along a packet of chips to serve as our snack food for the game; they came with a funny story behind them, too! See, one morning, when I was at UQ doing physio, Karen the teacher (actually, I believe they’re called ‘facilitators’) had wandered over and said, “Emily, if you can clasp both hands together, bend down and touch the floor with your hands, I’ll buy you a bag of chips.” I’d done so, and then asked her if she’d keep her promise. She’d laughed, saying, “Sure. But it’ll be a very small bag of chips, and we’ll eat most of them for you.” Lol, that was fine with me, coz I hadn’t been expecting any chips!

Most days, I end my UQ physio session by walking two laps down and back the hallway before leaving. However, that day, karen suddenly had the insane idea of turning me around and sending me walking down the hallway again! I’d complied, but not before grumbling, “You’d better buy me a BLOODY big bag of chips! And I get to eat some, too!” Karen had laughed and agreed, before asking me which kinda chips did I want? I’d answered, “There’s this brand called ‘Red Rock Deli, and they have this flavour called ‘honey soy chicken’. I want that, please.” Laughing, she’d agreed, and then sent me down plodding those extra two laps. XD

When Uncle Colbert had arrived at our place that Wednesday evening, I’d gone and opened the door for him. The moment I saw him, he’d waved his hands around himself, saying, “See? Nothing blue, honestly!” I’d laughed, opened the door and beckoned him inside, saying, “Come inside first, Uncle Colbert. It’s too dark outside, I can’t see what you’re wearing at all!” once he’d entered our hallway and was illuminated by the lights, I’d ordered, “Freeze. Uniform inspection.” He was a sport and obediently stood stock still. My eyes gave him a very thorough inspection, but like last year, I could detect nothing wrong, so I just said, in the end, “Welcome to our house!” (What I actually said was like “Thanks for not wearing anything visibly blue. You could be wearing blue underwear for all I care, but obviously I’m not gonna check that!” XD

The game was awesome, probably because the mighty Maroons prevailed and we won. : P Mother fed me about 1.5 tofu containers of the delicious honey soy chicken chips that I’d won from Karen; dad and Uncle Colbert gobbled the rest up.

The next day, Thursday, I attended writers group. Having won, I of course rewore my Queensland jersey to show off the power of the mighty Maroons!

Fast forward like one month, and the second state of origin loomed. Again, Uncle Colbert was invited and again, he passed my strict uniform inspection. : P Unfortunately, the smelly blues won the second match (it being held in Sydney probably helped) so I didn’t bother wearing my Queenslander jersey the next day nor did I ask mother to buy the paper for me. XD

However, Uncle Colbert didn’t watch the decider with us! See, Aunty Winnie had already organised a short family holiday up to the Sunshine Coast for that. I sent him an e-mail with the subject heading ‘your choice’, explaining to him how I’d bumped into his wife at Warrigal Square that afternoon and how she’d explained that their family was going on holiday somewhere. Near the end of the e-mail, I asked him, “If we lose this match and therefore the series, may I have your permission to send you a very irate e-mail blaming you for Queensland’s loss?” XD

Uncle Colbert replied immediately (he’s got an iphone, which instantly notifies him of any new received e-mail) and said that he was going on holiday ‘in order to show a wider base of support’. XD

I e-mailed him back, saying “Oops, sorry, I forgot! Do you remember Bear Bear, my favourite teddy? Well, he’s turning NINETEEN at the end of this year, and mother says it’s time to retire him, lest he fall apart completely. So he’d just like to say bye to you.” Nice Uncle Colbert immediately responded with “Please wish old ted a peaceful retirement for me.” :)

Anyway, that Sunday, Janice came over to visit me, and when we were discussing the final origin game and I told her about how uncle Colbert couldn’t come watch it with dad and I, she said, “Hey, you should ask my dad along instead! He loves that kinda stuff!” so after asking dad for permission, I invited him through Facebook.

The next day, Uncle Yuk Tai replied, thanking me for the invite but having to decline coz he was spending Wednesday night having dinner with some missionaries.

So the audience for the final origin decider was whittled down to just three: Bear Bear, dad and I. Mother avoids these games, because she gets way too over excited and starts screeching things like “RUN!!!” at the players, even though they’re on the television set and can’t hear her. XD

Because it was the final ever origin series for Bear Bear, we stood along with the rest of the crowd for the national anthem, and I placed Bear Bear’s arm against his heart for him. XD

The game itself was nerve-wracking! When the clock hit sixty-five minutes, I asked mother please to put my dessert in the oven for me. (usually, I get only like 1.5 level spoonfuls of ice-cream for dessert every Wednesday night, but now that it’s Winter, mother has decided that it’s now too cold for ice-cream and instead feeds me this little custard puff pastry thing. It’s quite yummy!)

So it bakes, and the game draws to a tie. It’s nerve-wracking, and all kudos goes to Cooper Cronk for slotting that field goal that eventually won the mighty Maroons the match and their seventh consecutive series, so perfectly!

Only … we were all so engrossed with watching the Origin decider that we all totally forgot about my custard puff that was baking in the oven! That is, until, our fire alarm starts SHRIEKING at us! *BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!!!* It yells. “Eep!” wails mother, as she flies to open all the windows. But hot air rises, yes? And once dad managed to defuse the downstairs smoke alarm, the upstairs one joins in! *BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!!!* XD

Sometime during all that commotion, the phone suddenly rings. “Oh, that’s Uncle Colbert, I bet,” says mother, taking the phone. “Hi, Colbert!” she greets him without even asking who was speaking. “We won!” and she was right! I have a cheer on the phone to him also, and dad tries to have Facetime with him using my ipad, but uncle Colbert calls suddenly over the phone, “Oh, sorry! No wi-fi reception here!” XD

When Darren Lockyer retired last year, he was carried off on the shoulders of his team mates. This year, they did the same for Petero, although, of course, he needed two of the bigger guys in the team to carry him off. Personally, I did the same for Bear Bear. XD

Anyways, when I got inside, I announced to Bluetooth (the blue Ikea nightlight that dearest dad bought for me) “We won!” and the silly light burst into tears! “Thank god!” the silly light sobbed! “I was so afraid the Blues were gonna win! Bear Bear and Daddy Bear already told me that if NSW won, they wouldn’t speak to me for a week!” aww, poor Bluetooth. It’s not his fault that he’s blue coloured. XD

Anyways, I had great fun rubbing it in to my high school buddy Mel and one of my carers, Annette that their beloved Blues had lost. AGAIN. XD

But seriously, isn’t it time NSW won a series again? See, we’ve gotta keep the competition going, you know!

My UQ physio teacher certainly doesn’t agree with me, though! “No way, Em!” jess says. “We should only consider letting them win after we win TEN series in a row!” XD

Anyways, next post here … well, maybe this Thursday, coz our monthly book club’s happening! I haven’t blogged about a book club meeting for ages! Righteo, until then!

Cheers,

Em. ^^