A very special meeting

[Anotherkiwi]

As some of you know, and some will remember now that I've jogged your memory, I'm in Australia at the moment following the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
 
I've just had a couple of days off between the group and knockout stages, and I've been lucky enough to spend some time with I/O and his beautiful (and very pregnant!) wife.  Despite the impression that he tries to convey, he's actually a pretty nice guy, and his wife is a lovely lady who cooked an awesome dinner last night.  But that quote on his avatar ("You want it sugar-coated?  Buy a donut") doesn't refer to her - it's him! 
 
Seriously, I'm glad that I could spend some time with a happily married WM/RW couple.  It certainly helped to erase some doubts that I've occasionally had about this venture, but they also made me well aware of some other pitfalls that I hadn't even considered.  Hopefully my course will continue straight and true, with not too many deviations caused by the vagaries of (mis)understandings in our amazing languages. 
 
Just to finish, a TR wouldn't be complete without some photos.  Here are a couple of I/O's neighbours:
 
 

[GoodOlBoy]

Are those Big Red's?

GOB

[mobob]

Any of them single? Oh, wait, I'm married. Nevermind. Oooh, I'll pay for that.

[Anotherkiwi]

Are those Big Red's?

GOB

I think they're Eastern Greys, but I/O or someone else who knows better can correct me if I'm wrong.
 

Any of them single? Oh, wait, I'm married. Nevermind. Oooh, I'll pay for that.

All married with children, as far as we could see!

[I/O]

Big Red's?

Eastern Greys.

[Faux Pas]

As some of you know, and some will remember now that I've jogged your memory, I'm in Australia at the moment following the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
 
I've just had a couple of days off between the group and knockout stages, and I've been lucky enough to spend some time with I/O and his beautiful (and very pregnant!) wife.  Despite the impression that he tries to convey, he's actually a pretty nice guy, and his wife is a lovely lady who cooked an awesome dinner last night.  But that quote on his avatar ("You want it sugar-coated?  Buy a donut") doesn't refer to her - it's him! 
 
Seriously, I'm glad that I could spend some time with a happily married WM/RW couple.  It certainly helped to erase some doubts that I've occasionally had about this venture, but they also made me well aware of some other pitfalls that I hadn't even considered.  Hopefully my course will continue straight and true, with not too many deviations caused by the vagaries of (mis)understandings in our amazing languages. 
 
Just to finish, a TR wouldn't be complete without some photos.  Here are a couple of I/O's neighbours:

Wow! You mean Cricket is a real sport with a world cup and everything? Who'd have think it? 

[u4072498]

i alawys have a problem in understanding cricket.

[newjason]

I have always had a  problem understanding vegemite.

 

[Anotherkiwi]

I have always had a  problem understanding vegemite.

 

Me too - I'm a Marmite Man! 

[Anotherkiwi]

Wow! You mean Cricket is a real sport with a world cup and everything? Who'd have think it? 

Yeah - unlike the "World Series," other sports' World Cups actually involve the whole world (including the USA and Russia: although they're not yet good enough to play cricket at this level, they both made it to the Rugby World Cup, where they played each other).

[I/O]

I have always had a  problem understanding vegemite.

You and 6.8 billion others.

[Anotherkiwi]

You and 6.8 billion others.

...including every RW on the planet!

[TheTraveler]

very cool, kiwi and io !

[Faux Pas]

Yeah - unlike the "World Series," other sports' World Cups actually involve the whole world (including the USA and Russia: although they're not yet good enough to play cricket at this level, they both made it to the Rugby World Cup, where they played each other).

Imagine that! Here all this time I thought it was just some lawn game for rich guys that the Brits left in India
 

[Olly]

...including every RW on the planet!

I like vegemite with toasts in the morning. 

[Anotherkiwi]

I like vegemite with toasts in the morning. 

Your fiance is obviously a perfect Ocker!

[Olly]

Your fiance is obviously a perfect Ocker!

Sorry, I don't know what is Ocker. And my fiance don't like vegemite

[I/O]

I don't know what is Ocker.

Olly, Ocker is is a word used to describe an Australian slob who is lazy in dress & language and even more so in manners but due to their delusional nature, believe themselves to be the quintessential charming Australian man. Generally hallmarked by poorly fitting shorts, a large stomach (beer inflated), flip flops (thongs) or other similar footwear, a singlet and often found expounding there knowledge of various sports of which it is doubtful if they have ever played.
 
Such would be the natural dread of most RW's and I highly doubt your other half would fit that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocker

[Shadow]

Yeah - unlike the "World Series," other sports' World Cups actually involve the whole world (including the USA and Russia: although they're not yet good enough to play cricket at this level, they both made it to the Rugby World Cup, where they played each other).

Cricket has as much a 'real' world cup as Korfbal.

[Olly]

Olly, Ocker is is a word used to describe an Australian slob who is lazy in dress & language and even more so in manners but due to their delusional nature, believe themselves to be the quintessential charming Australian man. Generally hallmarked by poorly fitting shorts, a large stomach (beer inflated), flip flops (thongs) or other similar footwear, a singlet and often found expounding there knowledge of various sports of which it is doubtful if they have ever played.
 
Such would be the natural dread of most RW's and I highly doubt your other half would fit that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocker

Thanks for explanation. No He is not Ocker and i don't know why Anotherkiwi think he is

[Gator]

Anotherkiwi,
 
Have fun at the cricket matches.  If you believe crickets are fun to watch,  you should come to Florida to see the cockroach matches. 
 
 
 

[Anotherkiwi]

Thanks for explanation. No He is not Ocker and i don't know why Anotherkiwi think he is

Sorry, Olly, poor joke - I should have put    this in!

[Anotherkiwi]

Cricket has as much a 'real' world cup as Korfbal.

Shadow, for starters every country in western Europe (except maybe the little principalities, but including Belgium and The Netherlands), North and South America and Asia has a national cricket team.  Admittedly many of the players are expat English, Indian or Pakistanis, but the Dutch and Danish teams are good enough to play in some of the English competitions.  Some of their players have also had distinguished careers in English first-class cricket, such as Ryan ten Doeschate (Holland) and Ole Mortensen (Denmark).
 
Below the ten "major" cricket countries there are eight levels of associateship covering a big majority of countries in the world.  Any team can progress higher by winning enough qualifying matches, and they're all eligible to compete at the World Cup (senior and junior) if they get through the qualifying tournaments.  That doesn't happen with baseball, whose "World Series" is in any case played between clubs, not countries.
 
At least I've heard of Korfball, although I'm not familiar with the game.  Perhaps you could expand on it.  However, this is all totally    and irrelevant to the point of the thread, which is my visit to I/O, not the trip to Australia itself. 

[I/O]

He is not Ocker

Probably confusion between the words Aussie and Ocker - it happens often.

[JayH]

Olly, Ocker is is a word used to describe an Australian slob who is lazy in dress & language and even more so in manners but due to their delusional nature, believe themselves to be the quintessential charming Australian man. Generally hallmarked by poorly fitting shorts, a large stomach (beer inflated), flip flops (thongs) or other similar footwear, a singlet and often found expounding there knowledge of various sports of which it is doubtful if they have ever played.
 
Such would be the natural dread of most RW's and I highly doubt your other half would fit that category. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocker

You forgot to add-- often found on holidays in Bali embarrassing themselves!!