Just a quick one this, and time to plug a couple of websites that are really worth a few minutes to read.
Firstly is THIS ONE from my cousins Sylvie & Marie-Anne from Ottawa. They, along with a couple of friends are in the process of cycling..... yes, cycling!.... across the southern US, a place I'd really love to visit, and return to Arizona especially.
Anyway, they started in New Orleans about a month ago, and have now made it almost all the way across Texas! That's some good going, and great timing to avoid the winter up here north of the border too!
After beating Wolves 2-0 yesterday at Ninian Park, the Mighty Bluebirds of Cardiff City, are now through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup! Yes... the LAST EIGHT teams! Something we've not done since 1927, when we actually went all the way and won the FA Cup itself, beating Arsenal 1-0.
Now, one nice chap called Andy has been following "The Road to Wembley" since it started way back at the start of the season, and its now brought him to Cardiff. He was at the game yesterday (making me very jealous, and just a little bit homesick) and now will be following our next game (or more). You can read all about it HERE.
BLLLOOOOOOOOBIRDS!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Greatest Show on Ice! - "Go LEAFS Go!"
This past weekend was quite simply brilliant, and the summit of that brilliance was on Saturday afternoon, when after many years of dreaming from across the Atlantic, and then many months of hoping here in Canada, I finally got to see my first Toronto Maple Leafs game.
Tickets for the Leafs are harder to come by than one of Willie Wonker's famous golden tickets, so when Amanda's sister Kim managed to get us two spare tickets from a friend of her's in work, I was utterly overjoyed. The fact that these tickets were for the only game this season against the Detroit Red Wings (as previously mentioned in the Ottawa game, the Wings are currently the best team in the NHL), and the first time they've played in Toronto since 2003, due to the mess of the NHL fixture list, was extra special.
These two teams have been long time and bitter rivals for over 300 games and about 80 years, and with the cities just 5 hours or so apart, it always provides a great atmosphere and mix of fans from "Hockeytown" Canada and USA!
Toronto have been having a rather rough season, but despite a couple of good wins against Ottawa and Montreal this week, were also hammered 8-0 by lowly Florida. So what to expect against Detroit? Which side of Leafs Nation would we see in this game? I was desperately trying to remain hopeful and optomistic in my Maple Leaf heart, but my realistic hockey head was saying nothing but a defeat was likely.
The game started well with the Leafs holding their own , and actually getting some very good shots away at the Red Wings net, and as in the game up in Ottawa, Detroit didn't seem to settle well........ and then........... midway through the first period......... from a bit of a freak deflection.... the Leafs score! I think it took most of the Air Canada Centre by surprise as it seemed the cheers were muted from our lofty perch, but we were actually in the lead! we held on until the end of the first period, and then Amanda and I were able to catch our breath, and let some small glimmer of hope shine that we might possibly win the game.
In the second period it was again fairly even, with chances being traded pretty equally at each end. Toronto were playing a very controlled tactically aware game matching up against the clinical play of the red Wings, a change form the usual high pace and tempo and harder hitting fore-checking usually seen in most NHL games. On one rare occassion where the Leafs did send someone in Detroits end to challenge, the Red Wings broke away and scored the equaliser on a tip-in close to the net.
Hope for the Blue & White waned, and then as so often happens, Detroit seemed to take a bit more control of the game, and with about 7 minutes left in the third period, took the lead themselves, sending the Red Wings fans around the ACC into joy, and the Leafs into despair.
BUT WAIT... there were two who would not be denied. Goalie Vesa Toskala had been outstanding all game for Toronto, and the Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin stood-up and pulled the team with them. In the last seven minutes Sundin barely left the ice for breath, and deservedly scored Toronto's equaliser. this time it was the Leafs fans chance to crow, and that they did well. Urging on the team giving them the support to hold on until overtime, and a guaranteed point at least.
THEN... a minute into the four-on-four first-goal wins action, Toronto surged into the Detroit zone, goalie Dominic Hasek lost an edge, went sprawling and then lost his hold on his stick in the process, Anton Strahlman shot from the high-slot, and Nik Antropov tipped puck infront, and..... well... the rest is a bit of a blur to me! There was lots of cheering, shouting, jumping, hugging, bouncing, flag waving, and I've never been more glad to hear "Zombie Nation" come over the speakers. Quite an adrenaline rush, and the closest I've come in a long while to the feeling of Cardiff scoring a last minute winner. HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Our post match dinner was a very happy one surrounded by equally happy Leaf fans in a very happy city!
Don't worry, there will be more on this to follow soon! ;-)
Tickets for the Leafs are harder to come by than one of Willie Wonker's famous golden tickets, so when Amanda's sister Kim managed to get us two spare tickets from a friend of her's in work, I was utterly overjoyed. The fact that these tickets were for the only game this season against the Detroit Red Wings (as previously mentioned in the Ottawa game, the Wings are currently the best team in the NHL), and the first time they've played in Toronto since 2003, due to the mess of the NHL fixture list, was extra special.
These two teams have been long time and bitter rivals for over 300 games and about 80 years, and with the cities just 5 hours or so apart, it always provides a great atmosphere and mix of fans from "Hockeytown" Canada and USA!
Toronto have been having a rather rough season, but despite a couple of good wins against Ottawa and Montreal this week, were also hammered 8-0 by lowly Florida. So what to expect against Detroit? Which side of Leafs Nation would we see in this game? I was desperately trying to remain hopeful and optomistic in my Maple Leaf heart, but my realistic hockey head was saying nothing but a defeat was likely.
The game started well with the Leafs holding their own , and actually getting some very good shots away at the Red Wings net, and as in the game up in Ottawa, Detroit didn't seem to settle well........ and then........... midway through the first period......... from a bit of a freak deflection.... the Leafs score! I think it took most of the Air Canada Centre by surprise as it seemed the cheers were muted from our lofty perch, but we were actually in the lead! we held on until the end of the first period, and then Amanda and I were able to catch our breath, and let some small glimmer of hope shine that we might possibly win the game.
In the second period it was again fairly even, with chances being traded pretty equally at each end. Toronto were playing a very controlled tactically aware game matching up against the clinical play of the red Wings, a change form the usual high pace and tempo and harder hitting fore-checking usually seen in most NHL games. On one rare occassion where the Leafs did send someone in Detroits end to challenge, the Red Wings broke away and scored the equaliser on a tip-in close to the net.
Hope for the Blue & White waned, and then as so often happens, Detroit seemed to take a bit more control of the game, and with about 7 minutes left in the third period, took the lead themselves, sending the Red Wings fans around the ACC into joy, and the Leafs into despair.
BUT WAIT... there were two who would not be denied. Goalie Vesa Toskala had been outstanding all game for Toronto, and the Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin stood-up and pulled the team with them. In the last seven minutes Sundin barely left the ice for breath, and deservedly scored Toronto's equaliser. this time it was the Leafs fans chance to crow, and that they did well. Urging on the team giving them the support to hold on until overtime, and a guaranteed point at least.
THEN... a minute into the four-on-four first-goal wins action, Toronto surged into the Detroit zone, goalie Dominic Hasek lost an edge, went sprawling and then lost his hold on his stick in the process, Anton Strahlman shot from the high-slot, and Nik Antropov tipped puck infront, and..... well... the rest is a bit of a blur to me! There was lots of cheering, shouting, jumping, hugging, bouncing, flag waving, and I've never been more glad to hear "Zombie Nation" come over the speakers. Quite an adrenaline rush, and the closest I've come in a long while to the feeling of Cardiff scoring a last minute winner. HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Our post match dinner was a very happy one surrounded by equally happy Leaf fans in a very happy city!
Don't worry, there will be more on this to follow soon! ;-)
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Another view of Toronto
While I'm here, there's a couple of things that I found while nosing around on YouTube that will hopefully interest and amuse most of you.
Firstly THIS, which is a funky little film of the ice rink in front of City Hall where I go skating after work, and then the Eaton Centre, Toronto's busiest and most well-known shopping centre, and the commercial heart of the city.
And secondly, in more of a bit of fun HERE, so just watch and enjoy how the city was "put together".
There's also a couple more good tours of the city HERE (which features some really good music too) & HERE, and another clearer slightly better version of the New Years fireworks at City Hall.
There's plenty more if you want to look for them and take in this wonderful city that I'm very happily calling home at the moment.
Firstly THIS, which is a funky little film of the ice rink in front of City Hall where I go skating after work, and then the Eaton Centre, Toronto's busiest and most well-known shopping centre, and the commercial heart of the city.
And secondly, in more of a bit of fun HERE, so just watch and enjoy how the city was "put together".
There's also a couple more good tours of the city HERE (which features some really good music too) & HERE, and another clearer slightly better version of the New Years fireworks at City Hall.
There's plenty more if you want to look for them and take in this wonderful city that I'm very happily calling home at the moment.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
A Winter Blanket
On Friday we had the second major winter storm of the season come through Toronto (and most of Eastern Canada), which lasted almost 24 hours, but fortunately was much nicer and less messy than the first one.
That meant Amanda and I had the chance to go out and enjoy some of the wonderful wintery conditions and play in the snow after work on Friday evening. I think this one storm produced more snow than I can remember seeing in the last few winters combined back home, and so I'm making the most of savouring the sights, sounds & fun of the city covered in a blanket of white!
Here are some of the photos of our adventures:
The streets of Toronto look very fresh and enticing in this winter wonderland.
Amanda & I "made a new friend" who wanted to say hi to everyone.
Now here's a real snow angel!
And just before we headed home, the snow came back to wish us goodnight!
That meant Amanda and I had the chance to go out and enjoy some of the wonderful wintery conditions and play in the snow after work on Friday evening. I think this one storm produced more snow than I can remember seeing in the last few winters combined back home, and so I'm making the most of savouring the sights, sounds & fun of the city covered in a blanket of white!
Here are some of the photos of our adventures:
The streets of Toronto look very fresh and enticing in this winter wonderland.
Amanda & I "made a new friend" who wanted to say hi to everyone.
Now here's a real snow angel!
And just before we headed home, the snow came back to wish us goodnight!
AAAAAHHHHHHH! How cute!
I'm a little bit late in saying this, but its been a busy week, so accept my apologies...... but please welcome to the world Carys Megen Sofia Evans!
She arrived on Friday 25th January, at about 10pm, and weighed in at a healthy 7lb 12oz. She is Rhys & Heather's second "bundle of joy", and means Rhodri now has a little baby sister to take care of.
And speaking of my godson, it was a busy couple of days for the Evans family as Rhodri celebrated his third birthday! Three years already... how time flies, and how quickly he's grown.
So Happy Birthday from Uncle Owain!
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