Written Thursday 13/08/2009

FROM MY SEAT OF KNOWLEDGE, 

15 MAN LOOSE IN THE BIG SMOKE,  NOT A GOOD THING.

Tuesday afternoon and night just gone,  I was in Brisbane for a Tallow Wrestling function that went horribly wrong,  but that is another story.  Of course 15 man rugby chooses to stay at The Holiday Inn there in Roma Street,  one reason being is that he is comfortable finding it in the car and on foot,  but very hospitable place to stay.  Got booked in and comfy there before heading off for a bit of a stroll around town.

On my way back,  after encompassing the Eagle Street precinct,  and noticing "Wanted" posters in the window of the Pig and Whistle,  searching for our three intrepid travellers and revellers,  Andrew of course the ex State of Origin Footballer,  Dallas the Professional Bull Rider,  and Duncan,  dual Olympian in the discipline of rowing.  Seems they had caused more of a ruckus there than they remembered.  I managed to lose all sense of where I was,  starting to worry about my age,  and in the end was lucky to find my way back to the Inn,  but fortunately I negotiated my way back,  not sure how I lost my way,  must have been while I was admiring the big buildings.

We showered up and folks,  it doesn't get any better than it was on Tuesday,  except for the coat and the other coat thingy that goes between the shirt and the coat,  a vest is it.  I am highly challenged in the fashion stakes.  I was going for the gangster look, black shirt,  white tie,  dark pants and the croc skin boots,  hair gel to control it when it gets dry and for the moist look,  dress ear rings,  not pretty but it gets no better than that.   I liken it to the Phantom,  for all you older fans out there of Phantom comics.  The Phantom was the guy in the purple bodysuit and the thin black eyemask ,  had a dog named devil and horse named hero,  lived in the deep jungle,  in the skull cave,  and periodically had to deal with various scum.  Jungle folks used to say that on occasion,  the Phantom would leave the jungle and walk in the town like an ordinary man (Mr Walker),  this was one of those nights.  Mr Walker,  disguised of course in a long coat,  and dark sunglasses,  would enter a saloon and order a glass of milk for himself and a bowl of water for his wolf dog.  Think I would be looking for a bowl of tepid tallow myself.

 I struggled in the getting ready phase,  managing to put deep heat on my toothbrush,  and fortunately the smell gave away the identity of the stuff prior to entering the mouth.  We were off to a poor start and I had to scrape my gums and teeth with the paste applied via finger and fingernail.

So off we went,  finally ready for the biggest tallow event yet on the calendar.

There were a few pre function drinks,  and the Red Baron and the Silver Fox were ready to go,  deadset keen.

Some speeches and presentations as part of the ceremony,  and a very important night this too as speakers pointed out the records broken in getting to this event.  Truly marvellous stuff.  I thought the speech by the CEO,  more affectionately known as "The Boss" (not a bad Tallow Wrestling name,  but a little small) was particularly poignant and deep,  a good message.  None however was as good,  and as funny as the guest speaker,  an old wrestling fan himself,  who took us through an earlier form of wrestling,  in his day,  in New Zealand.  You had to be there for it,  dry humour at it's best,  and a story of unabashed violence and toughness that knew no bounds.  He is the grandfather of a young up and coming wrestler,  that could be one of the better ones we have seen.  Only in training yet,  has not been named as a wrestler,  maybe in about 10 years.  Night going well so far.

Some more ceremony,  very important ceremony where some of the great men of this era of wrestling were spoken about,  and great men indeed they are,  guiding people just into the right direction and looking for no gratitude for it.  These are good people,  with strong value sets,  and with plenty of results of just sheer good people everywhere in life.

I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people that seemingly like what I write,  hard to believe I know,  but it was a very pleasant evening to be amongst calm and pleasant people.

Well a few photos after the ceremony and it was time,  tallow tanker was parked outside,  and we couldn't get the pool to inflate.  The Fox,  the Grub and the Baron walked out,  and there was only the NightHawke,  myself (Mr Fatastic) and the Keg remaining.  The Keg looked like a handful and The NightHawke just wasn't prepared for a full on singles match or a handicap match.  The wrestling part of the night was abandoned,  bit like a washed out cricket match (one of those things the Aussie side wishes for these days)  and a group of people headed to the Holiday Inn bar,  for some obviously needed refreshments.

The "Inn Bar" rocked until around midnight, when the last drinks call dictated some decision making processes be entered into.  The group,  comprising The Dreadlocked Dreamliner,  The NightHawke,  Mr Fatastic,  Razor our tour guide and a very smooth man,  and some other hard men,  and their lady wives,  made our way across the road to a bar,  but it was closed.  Casino,  here we come.  Now let me say that midnight is almost getting up time for me,  and it was fascinating to see and learn that so many people are actually still out of bed at this particular sleeping time of the day!!

Into the bowels of the casino we headed,  and again found it interesting.  I reckon that as a guy,  if I wore as few clothes as some of the ladies in there,  not only would I be thrown out,  I would be arrested and asked by the policeman,  that next time I was passing the court house,  I might like to drop in and explain myself.  I am though,  more than prepared to go to these establishments in a nude or near nude state.

The night wore on and our numbers thinned until the party decided to head home.  On the way out of the casino,  with only tour guide and manager Razor and me heading back to "the Inn" on foot,  young Razor decided that a feed was on the go,  at around 3 am or so.  Now I was at getting up time,  and about to have breakfast before I went to bed,  a new experience,  and I am totally up for new experiences every day.

So at 3am,  or so,  there we were,  supping down oysters,  garlic bread,  a big rare steak,  and an all day breakfast,  and it sure was a part of all day!!  Glasses of water and orange juice and we were off back to the Inn for some sleep???? 

Phone ringing at 6am,  and it looked like I was going to be needed at work,  I was just lying there thinking I might try and avoid work today,  slight headache,  and really quite excessively tired.  A coffee in the bath made no difference so I lay down for a a bit longer before checking out and hitting the road.

Work was pretty much a write off for the day,  but we got through it. 

It was a great night,  I am sure everyone enjoyed the ceremony,  was disappointed in the lack of tallow wrestling action,  but believe me, it will happen and soon.

I look forward to the next adventure of a tallow wrestler!!  Soon I hope.

This page written while I listened to "Seven Spanish Angels" by Willie Nelson and Ray Charles and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.