Australian Open

So, Victoria Azarenka  is the new Australian Open champion. Its fascinating to note too, that now the four grand slams are held by players, who have just won their first grand slam tournament. Victoria Azarenka (Australian Open), and during 2011, Li, Na (French Open), Petra Kitrova (Wimbledon), and Sam Stosur (US Open)

Compare this to the men; where if you run the list back from here to 2004, there are only 6 names: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro (US Open 2009), Marat Safin (Aus Open 2005), and Gastón Gaudio (French Open 2004).

Will be interesting to see how the Bryan's go, if they win tonight, I think they will equal the 12 titles won by the Woodies. 

Summer of Cricket

Now the "real cricket" (editors note: test cricket)  has finished until the Kiwi's play South Africa (late March), and the Australia's travel to the West Indies (April-May), its time to collect a few thoughts.

Aside 1: we have a couple of hit and giggle matches, the return of a one-day series, but these are not really real cricket.

• Very impressed with Clarke as captain, a touch more aggressive than Ponting was, and less willing to let the game drag. Whatever his winning percentage, I think he'll be a better captain. The captaincy  also seems to have done wonders with his batting (150+ versus South Africa, the 329* and 210 versus India). 
• Great to see Ponting back in form, and I think there's perhaps a lesson there for the Indian's - both Hussey and Ponting were under pressure, but performed when they needed too, so maybe they should hold-off dropping Dravid, Laxman and Shewag .. 
• The Australian bowling stocks, while needing to be well treated gently are looking good, Siddle's leading the attack well, Pattinson and Cummins look great (and will be fun when they can operate together) as does Harris. It is nice to see Hifly doing well. 
• DRS - I'm on the Indian's side with this one, the technology isn't perfect, so leave it all on the field.
• On paper, it looked like a tight series, but doesn't seem like the Indian batsman have the temperament for Australia, and the bowlers didn't really seem to have the discipline. 
• It will be interesting watching this side build up to the Ashes.
• And in light of the above, the Black-cap's drawn series is looking better and better  ;-)

Aside 2: Love this comment, "adults take their kids to Test Cricket; and kids take their parents to the 20-20". 

Aside 3:  Good luck to the NZ Women, who play for the Rose Bowl trophy against Australia tomorrow. 

Australian Open

Nadal celebrates after beating Lopez

 Thought that I'd post about Melbourne.  We caught some of the fourth  round tennis last weekend -  Victoria Azarenka v Iveta Benesova; Rafael Nadal v Feliciano Lopez, and the pick Li, Na playing Kim Clijsters. 

While both Nadal and Azareka won in straight sets,  Li Na held four match points (during a tie-break) against Clijsters, yet lost that tiebreak, 8-6 and then lost the final set 6-4 (Clijsters held a 4 love lead, so Li Na worked her way back into the match. 

Can't help but feel a touch sad that Clijsters didn't make the final, especially given this is likely to be her last Australian Open.  The final Will be tight tonight, but I do favour Sharapova slightly, given her experience.

 

Melbourne, from our hotel room.

Was glad to see Murray play so well against Djokovic, especially given the Final last year. Murray seems a lot tougher mentally, and had his opportunities to win, even after going down 2-5 in the fifth set.  

From the Australian point of view, while we may have put Stosur under way too much pressure, both Hewitt and Tomic had great tournaments, and are set up beautifully for the year. 

On the Men's side of the tournament, have to say, I'm disappointed Federer didn't make the Final. Although the rivalry the top three players have is  fascinating -- Nadal has an ominous record against Federer; who has an excellent record against Djokovic. Though Nadal leads the head-to-head, Djokovic has beaten Nadal the last 6 times they played; including both the Wimbledon & US Open Finals last year.

In that light, the final is shaping to be a classic.  I also have to say, and surprisingly to me, I'm really enjoying Hewitt in the commentary box, he's a got a great understanding of the players, the game and its history. 

To finish with a brief aside, the Black Caps had there biggest ever test win today!  I'm not sure how many times, one team has lost 20 wickets in one day's play??

Sense and sensibility - library and kindles.

Adele Horin's piece in today's SMH describes a lttle bit of how I feel. I'm not yet ready to give way to the Kindle.  I love going to the library and there's not an equivalent experience in the kindle world. But even as I say that, there are only so many shelves in each bookcase, only so many walls in a room, and only so many rooms in a house, so the day is coming, where the addiction to buying books will stop because there is a limit to the amount of books one can have in one's house.

Yet, in playing with the Kindle, so far, I'm not convinced that its for me. However, while I love the experience of reading a physical book, and the sensations which come with it, a tipping point will come for me when e-books as well as being  lighter, they will also be cheaper and equally accessible. Sense won out with CD's, though I still by the occasional physical CD (special versions, and some which are unavailable),  I'm now buying almost all of my CD's through both i-tunes and the artists website. 

Reading - 2012

Each year, I decide that I'm going to spend more time reading especially this year, since it's National Year of Reading, and my aim this year is to read over 50 books. In January so far, I've read -

O - A Presidential Novel - Anonymous

A little obvious who its about, but was a shame the book didn't reveal more. If you are interested in US politics then rather than reading this book take a few months and work your way through The West Wing. 

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

A historical novel, set during the 60s, about the hired help  - these are my type of novels - historical fiction. 

The Sorrows of an American - Siri Hustvedt

The core of this novel is a letter discovered after the death of the narrator's mother, and the quest to find out their identity.

The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen

Franzen's book is well written, but at the same time, I found very little to like about any of the main characters.

Bruar's Rest - Jes Smith

Didn't really remember too much about this one, it's a story of a women, who is searching for her husband who was missing in action during WWI.

The World Game: The Story of How Football Went Global - Les Murray

Les Murray's love for football is so wonderfully put across in this book. Murray writes about the history of the game, the great teams, his favourite players, and the history of the game in Australia. It rekindled my love of Football. 

Separate kingdoms : stories   Valerie Laken

A series of short stories about human relationships in the US and Russia, the few that stood out was one about a women with a disability, a couple flying to Russia to adopt a child, and a story told from two perspectives, which was quite interesting to read - do you read one at a time, or try and read them in tandem. 

The River

I was listening to some of my older CD's recently, and I was struck by the song - The River by Michael Sweet (formerly the lead singer of Stryper).  It's one of my all-time favourite Christian songs.

If you're hurting, I'll take your pain

If your life is dry and weary, I'll bring the rain

If you're searching, then search no more

If you're drifting on an ocean, I'll be the shore

I see the scars that you hide

I've kept the tears that you've cried, they were not in vain

And every prayer that you've prayed

I have treasured and saved, my love will never change

If you're looking for the river

That runs with healing water

Bring yourself to me

And I will wash you in an endless peace

I'm your Saviour,And I'll save you Tonight

If you're blinded by The darkness, I'll be the light

If you're hopeless, I'll be your faith

If you're lost, I'll Lead the way

from Real, 1998.

2011 in Sport

Couple more highlights from 2011:

The New Zealand Breakers were the first NZ team to win an Australian competition, and in the NRL - the Warriors made their second grand final. 

Via the NZ Herald, here are the must see sports events for 2012, Not surprisingly a few Olympic Events appear.

more on 2011

A couple of standout memories during 2011 from the sports field.  Can't really go passed the Rugby World Cup Final, and the All Blacks 8-7 win against France as the highlight of the year. You also would have to acknowledge the great season of the Queensland Reds too, from last to first.

But, a couple of other standout performances which should be mentioned are:

• Barcelona are the best team watch playing football, and their 3-1 win over Manchester United in the final was something special.  
• Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France. I can take or leave cycling, but Cadel's performance was amazing. 
• Novak Djokovic - his 2011 record ended up about 70-6, and he holds three of the four grand slam trophys, beating Rafa Nadal in two finals, and Andy Murray in the third.
• And on the Cricket Pitch, NZ's two best performances were the win against South Africa in the World Cup Quarter Final, and the victory in Hobart. 
• AFL: I'd give the Sydney Swans a pass mark for the year,  for finishing in the top 6.   Looking forward to next year and seeing how the Suns and Giants do in their second and first years respectively. 

Music 2011...

Taking the time to reconsider the music I've been listening to during the year, and give the top 5 for 2011. A couple which were up there, but can't be included are:

• Sigur Ros - Inni (Live CD + DVD).
• U2 - Achtung Baby (Kindergarden version and the B-Sides Disc, from the 20th Anniversary Edition).
• Derek Ellis - The Reconstruction (EP) - His "Nail-Scarred Hand" is one of my favourite tracks of the year. 
• Andrew Osenga's - Leonard the Lonely Astronaut - Acoustic Session at Sputnik (EP). The short EP previews songs from his new Album, which should be out later this year.
• All Sons & Daughters - Brokenness Aside (EP) and Prone to Wander (EP), they will release a new EP next week, and a full album in March. Both of which I am looking forward too. 
• The Civil Wars - Live @ Eddie's Attic.
• Sleeping at Last are another band which I have been listening to quite a bit (especially their Christmas Collection, which has a beaut version of "Christmas is All Around". The song made famous in Love Actually. Noisetrade now have a sampler available from there website which has songs from their previous albums. The songs, are mostly him singing with a background of  piano & strings.

The 2011 Top 5.
5.  Lisa Hannigan - Passenger 

I think Lisa Hannigan first came to attention through on Damien Rice's album 'O'. Passenger is her second solo album. I'd describe the album as folk. Its easy to listen to. One of my favourite songs on the record is O Sleep, which is a lovely duet. The selling point of the album is Lisa voice. It seems a stronger album that her first record See Saw.

4. Gemma Hayes - Let it Break

There's just something about her music which grabs me. It's such a shame that she doesn't get much airplay. She has a beaut and pure voice, and her lyrics have more depth than what else is out there. Another singer that I'm hoping takes a trip down under. Favourite songs - Shock to the System & Waiting for You (which is on the Janie Jones Soundtrack)

3. Switchfoot - Vice Verses

What is the highlight of this record is hearing Jon Foreman doing different things, rapping on"Selling the News" and "The War Inside" Jon Foreman seeks to capture the polarity of the human experience, and the desire to seize the opportunities life has to offer (see Restless, Afterlife). Looking forward to more from Switchfoot,. Jon Foreman, is one of the best lyricists out there at the moment.

2.  Dan & Lauren Smith - The Revive Project

Written quite a bit about this recently, so the only thing I'll add here is how encouraging the lyrics of the CD are. 

1. Marketa Irglova - Anar

Marketa also was part of the duet The Swell Season, with Glen Hansard, and this is her first solo album. Given that she mostly played second fiddlle to Glen on the Swell Season records, it was great to see her put out her own album. I think what I really love about this CD is the honesty in the lyrics. And hopefully she'll come to Australia to play these songs. But if you need some more, see played a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, and recorded a session with Daytrotter.