Sunday 1st February…..Day 4!!!!

rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits!!!  My Mum always told me to say this every new month read below and find out why!!!

 

 

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“Rabbit rabbit" is a common British superstition. The most common modern version states that a person should say “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit”, “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit”, “rabbits, rabbits, rabbits”, “rabbit, rabbit” or simply “white rabbits” upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the duration of that month.

The exact origin of the superstition is unknown, though it has appeared in print at least as early as 1922:

“Why,” the man in the brown hat laughed at him, “I thought everybody knew ’Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.’ If you say ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit’—three times, just like that—first thing in the morning on the first of the month, even before you say your prayers, you’ll get a present before the end of the month.”

However, some reports place its origins even earlier, into the 1800s. Today it has spread to most of the English-speaking countries of the world, although, like all folklore, determining its exact area of distribution is difficult. This superstition is related to the broader belief in the rabbit or hare being a “lucky” animal, as exhibited in the practice of carrying a rabbit’s foot for luck. Some have also believed it represents jumping into the future and moving ahead with life and happiness.

[Photo of Karl Szmolinsky holding Robert the Flemish Giant via Hoax-Slayer]

 

So I did stay up and watch the tennis match and it was a long game and at first very competitive and then not so……

 

Novak Djokovic, The Canadian Press

Melbourne, Australia - Novak Djokovic captured a men's Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title on Sunday by defeating Andy Murray in the final in Melbourne.

The world No. 1 great secured his fourth Aussie title in five years by handling the sixth-seeded Murray 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0 in 3 hours, 39 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. This was the first time that a men's Aussie final ended with a love set.

It marked Djokovic's eighth career Grand Slam title in 15 major finals. He's also the reigning Wimbledon champ.

Djokovic joined Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi as an eight- time major champ in the Open Era.

The great Djokovic also joined Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era to play in five finals at the Aussie Open. He has won all five of his finals here, including three now against Murray, who also gave way to the Serb in the 2011 and 2013 finals, as well as a semifinal here in 2012.

Djokovic and the now four-time runner-up Murray are the only pair in the Open Era to contest three Aussie Open title tilts.

Djokovic snuck out the ultra-tight 72-minute opening set via tiebreak before Murray returned the favor in a grueling 80-minute second. Both stanzas featured fierce ball striking, lengthy and physical rallies, and gut-busting court coverage.

But the match would take a turn for Djokovic in the third.

After trailing 0-2, he broke an agitated Murray to even the set at 2-all, consolidated the break with a hold and then would simply manage to cruise from there.

The Serbian stalwart won 12 of the final 13 games, including nine in a row to seal the deal in Melbourne. The match came to a close when a weary Murray netted one final backhand.

Djokovic broke Murray a whopping nine times, while the British star settled for five breaks in a losing effort. Murray only managed to win 14 of his 41 second-serve points for a paltry 34 percent.

The mighty Djokovic is now 12-0 versus Murray after winning the first set of their encounters.

"I want to congratulate Andy for a great tournament. Bad luck tonight," Djokovic said. "But most importantly I want to congratulate you and Kim [Sears] on your engagement. I wish you a wonderful wedding and lots of kids."

Djokovic also thanked his coach, Boris Becker, and his entourage: "They sacrifice their lives in order for me to be out here. Without their support, this wouldn't be possible."

A protester was stopped on court by security during the second set, causing a brief delay in play.

Tournament organizers said two people were arrested by police.

"Security responded immediately. Both were quickly removed with minimal disruption to play," tournament organizers said.

Security guards caught one court invader, who was wearing a white shirt with the message "Australia Open for Refugees," near the baseline during a changeover after the seventh game of the second set. The players were surrounded by security staff while stadium officials rushed into action.

A group of other people who had unfurled a large banner with the same message was escorted out of Laver Arena.

Djokovic improved to 16-8 lifetime against his fellow 27-year-old Murray, including 5-2 at Grand Slam events, and the Serb is now 3-2 in their career Grand Slam finals.

Djokovic is also now 5-2 versus Murray in best-of-five-set matches.

Murray had been 5-4 against Djokovic in their overall career finals matchups prior to Sunday.

"It's been probably the most consistent Grand Slam of my career -- I just haven't been able to win it," said Murray after his first major final appearance since back surgery in late 2013.

"We put in a lot of hard work to get back into this position," he added, paying tribute to Amelie Mauresmo and his team. "I'm a little bit closer than I was a few months ago, and I'll continue to work hard to get there.

"I'll try and come back next year and have a different outcome in the final."

Djokovic improved to 49-22 in his overall career finals, while Murray dropped to 31-15, including 2-6 at the majors.

Djokovic now owns 50 career match wins at the Aussie, where only Federer (75-12) and Edberg (56-10) have secured more victories at this hardcourt major in the Open Era.

The amazing Djokovic has won his last 10 matches against fellow Top-10 players.

Djokovic claimed a first-place check worth just over $2.4 million, while Murray settled for $1.2 million as the bridesmaid.

 

So I was in bed by 4.30am and slept till 9am when I got up and decided to go on a hike that Doug gave me directions to and away I went a lovely sunny morning……

This was the soccer pitch at the start of the trail

and the trail then turned to just a track

as you can see I was in thick jungle

I had a strong feeling I was not on the right path but I continued on and came into an open pasture with about 15 cows or bulls in it and they did not look too friendly……I tried to follow the path but the cows were in the way so I skirted over to one side through some bush but then I lost track of the trail…..I stopped to collect my thoughts and decided I was not on the right trail that Doug had told me about…I was in thick jungle and could easily get lost so I decided to make my way back through the pasture and try to find the right track back to the car and that is when it got a little exciting.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a country boy and know nothing about cows, bulls or their traits…….I turned around and started on the path back but there was this one big black cow or bull with big horns giving me the eye…I often pass by cows back in SMA and they don’t bother you and you just walk around them …but this one cow was about 20 feet away and he was mean looking and if I moved to the right he would move with me…I tried to go back the other way and he turned that way too and then suddenly all of the other cows came and I also saw a baby calf….now I will admit at this point I was getting a little tense…it was a big pasture and I needed to get through it…..I started talking to the cows and slowly move around them but they herded up on me and would not let me pass…I then walked a little faster to try to get by and they started to run towards me and now I full blown scared thinking this is some serious mess I have got myself into!!!

I tried again to move quickly to one side and they ran and cut me off the big black thing was in front and close enough I could see snot and spit from his nose and mouth….now I was in panick mode…..I ran towards the gate I could see ahead and they came  after me and I did manage to jump over this gate

and the cows all of them were right behind me….wow!!!!

I waited about ten minutes and realized I was lucky to get out of that field the cows watched me for a while and then moved off and I was able to get back over the fence and back out to where I needed to be to get back…..I missed the trail I took to get in but did find another path that came out a few hundred yards from the car and this was also where I saw this sign..

Just before I got back to the car the heavens opened and the rain came down and the fog moved in and I felt very relieved to be safe because I honestly thought that I was not going to get out of that field alive!!!

Back at the car I found my country music CD of gospel music and put that in the player and a few km later went by this church and said a little prayer of thanks!!!!

I got back to the house relieved and wet  and by now it was just chucking it down cannot tell from these shots how heavy the rain was…

See all the rain on the left.

 

Around 4 o clock it eventually stopped a bit and I was able to get out to the car and went over to Gail and Larry’s and guess what Gail was doing……

Yes three fresh pies!!!!

Dinner was wonderful and we went to friends to watch the end of the supper bowl..I am not a big fan but to me it seemed to be such a foolish play in the last seconds of the game that cost the Seahawks the victory.

I told Larry and Vern about my cow experience and both of them being farm boys laughed and said the cows were not herding me but just following me it cracked them up…to me it was still one of those moments!!!!

A little tired after the last 18 hours so off to bed and will probably dream of yes you guessed it COWS!!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!