Monday, March 28, 2011

Saint Patrick day?! ... CHEERS!




On March 17th 2 festivities occurred for Italian and much more relevant (only for the amount of people involved) worldwide citizens: Italian Unity anniversary and Saint Patrick's day.

But no worries, I won't annoy you with the origins of “Saint” Patrick, his life, his devotion and connection to Christianity, his kidnapping from Irish pirates or about the origins of Italian Unity, its history, its presidents and its best prime minister of the last 150 years (guess whose quote is that?! clue: it's a self certification! :-P )... because I assume you already know about this, right? I mean, you readers are smart people. Maybe you can tell me something because I am pretty much oblivious... ignorance rules on this side of the planet! Saint Patrick? Mmmhh... of course, the new brand of beer!! :-P

Anyway, last March 17th , a Thursday, “mummy” Oracle took the BDG (Business Development Group to whom I belong) to a sport centre in North Sydney for a team building afternoon!

It was just brilliant. BBQ food was distributed, unlimited beer was available (all for free), awards were assigned (I won the “best dress” one gaining 2 free Cinema tickets! Wow! But hey... who can be more attention-catching than me?! ;-> Plus my smartest manager was the judge so... hehe), then a weird character entered the eating area: a big, chubby, tanned man dressed like an Hawaiian who is probably the most relaxed person in all Sydney. His speech began in the following way (imagine someone speaking very slowly): “ First of all guys, for the whole day bear in mind that it won't get faster than this” hahahahaha and continued “I personally selected the people to be assigned to each different team...if you don't like that....just change team!” Practically it was communicating easiness, a sort of “Sydnai” Lama.

The game was lawn bowl, practically “bocce” (they use this term also in Australia!!), teams have a certain amount of OVAL balls at disposal and need to throw them and reach the “jack” (small white ball) as close as possible. The more balls of one colour close to the jack, the more points assigned to that team. A tournament took place and my team won!

Sun was shining, the view on the bay was magnificent, walking on the pitch barefoot was a soothing sensation (no shoes allowed to protect the grass). We chatted and laughed a lot, I had plenty of fun. Recurring fun word of the day between me and Nathan was “Collisiooooooon!!!!” when 2 balls touched. Please see video :-) and follow this link for more pics.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100150794465719272442/LawnBowl?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ--9OiFwv7aQw&feat=directlink

Aknowledgment for my victory goes to NONNA: your teachings at the beach when I was a kid were not vain!! ;-)

3 comments:

  1. Yes Aeolus, “team building afternoon!” I like this stuff and seem they are very well organized over there.
    By the way, did you see man? In one of your pictures there is a guy with an Irish T-shirt behind to you!!!! Great!!!
    How often does Oracle organize stuff like that? And…tell me, is “bocce” is a commune activity over there?
    So funny that part: “…who is probably the most relaxed person in all Sydney. His speech began in the following way (imagine someone speaking very slowly): “First of all guys, for the whole day bear in mind that it won't get faster than this” …So Funny!!!!
    This guy must to be (As we native Spanish speaker people say lol “un crack!!” (Original, startling fellow)
    The only think I really cannot share is: “no shoes allowed to protect the grass”. I mean, I don’t want to sound prehistoric but…c’mooon the grass is the grass!!! Just grass, no flowers or plants…grass, no more no less. No walking on the grass??? Why???Does it get ruined? It’s not true!!!!!
    Still astonished anyway, about lawn bowling. I mean if a girl discovers you playing bocce over here in Europe your status among fair sex is gone, forever. lol
    Good overview of your not-work related activities with your work-related friends, Thanks.

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  2. A curiosity: did you win the "best dress" of the day (St.Pat.) or generally of all days???

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  3. hahahhahaah good one!! well it is easy to win every day by boasting Italian fashion ;-))

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