The season kicked off with our tour to the Hunter Valley aka Brownie's Bellbird Hotel. Same old story - some blokes peaked too early and got smashed on Friday night. Monte certainly fits that category, which wouldn't have mattered except for the fact that being the youngest tourist he was supposed to look after Sylvester, Sly has never been the same since he was left hanging from a second floor window. I won't go into Bones almost getting into a blue with the locals around the pool tables 5 minutes after we arrived - something about Fossy stealing 2 dollar coins.
The 2001 golf day was incorporated into the tour and like recent golf days the alarming trend of pyjama golf (9 holes only) continued. Congratulations to Andy Mostyn who went right through Friday night, Brownie poured us a schooner around 6.00am and we were on the first tee a Royal Cessnock at 6.30am. A fog rolled in, hence the morning became known as Cats in the Mist, or as Bairdy labelled it 'sip, wack, fuck'.
Question without notice: Has anyone ever been on a bad rugby tour? The fact that we don't play rugby anymore when we tour is irrelevant.
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the reunion on 30 June. Fantastic job by Hibbo and Kegs. The final count was 110 blokes. Whilst snatch cam stole the show great interest was show in the voting for most memorable on field and off field moments in the last 20 years.
Voted on by a panel of retards at the Wing Wah over lunch, few can argue with the winners. Roscoe's on field brain explosion opened at 5 to 2 on and romped in - many had fond memories when he took us through the airswing that night. Millard came first and second (unusual that) in off field incidents - one involving an electrified fence and one involving a golf cart and lake.
The charcoals day at Milner ( there's got to be a morning after) was as always a hoot. Two 17 all draws, one against Eastwood and one against christ knows who means the Cats retain their unbeaten record since 1994.
A special general meeting was held during the half time break in the Wellington Bledisloe. The outcome: the revues are back, 20 years since the first one, 10 years since the last. Hibbo has two revues scheduled for the first and second Saturday nights in May.
All proceeds from the revues will go towards next year's tour. Likely to take place in June or July we will be flying to Coolangatta on a Friday, staying at the Greenmount Resort, playing footy (Believe it or not) against the Brunswick Heads Buckaneers on the Saturday followed by a leisurely game of Lawn Bowls on Sunday morning: then home to mother.
Speaking of mothers the tour will be known as the " No Questions Tour ". You know when your wife says to you:
where are you going? Who are you going with? What time will you be home? what about the kids yabba yabba yabba.
Well when you go on a rugby tour you take everything at face value and you don't need to ask questions. When Decca says it is going to rain, you don't say: why do you think it's going to rain Decca when it's a beautiful day, you just think to yourself that's Decca; no questions. When Fossy looks like a dead man standing you don't ask why don't you go to bed Fossy? You just leave him there holding up the wall - no questions. There will only be one exemption 'booze' whose shout? What do you want to drink? etc and as long as I'm TC there will be no (la law ) rollback.
The Cats wish the Juniors, the Colts and the Senior sides all the best in season 2002.
Top Cat