I do.

You see I had it too easy.

There I was 42 years old

beautiful wife whose only flaw was that she was the daughter of an ex-collingwood doctor -

two great kids — a boy and a girl...the pieces were falling into place like manna falling from heaven and landing out the happliy-outstretched tongue.

Landed the easiest of easy jobs, good pay...great holidays..plenty of time to write.

the millenium bug had just turned out to be a great excuse for cracking a beautiful bottle of whiskey, lying down on the grass and watching the fireworks...

Then there was Carlton.

Sure we lost in '99 but how about that prelim...and '95 was still a warm glow and 2000, really apart from Kouta going down...

remember this was before the great calamity...

before the flimsy top sheet was pulled away and the sticky remains of those final Elliot years yet to be seen by all—the jumper in the bed staring up at us all, like a headless horse...us screaming disbelievers...oh the end is an ugly thing for us all...

but before then I still had the faith — after all I was there in '68. Danced for the greatest joy in '70 (Jesaulenko you beauty!), was dumfounded in '72, my still alive Da punching me in the arm, his grin bigger than any Cheshire cat...no drugs...just the boys, the bluebaggers...Big Nick and Wallsy, Jezza, Gags and Southby... like stars shining in a boy's colossal sky--ah the world back then.

So there I am, post 2000

And this is where I must take the blame... I agree, you see, to move back to Melbourne and take up residence in that house built by that Collingwood doctor... I tempt fate...unthinkingly...but ignorance is no excuse before the laws of football (unless you play for Essendon* it seems).

I didn't see the voodoo...

worse...

I didn't look. So full of the Carlton belief, so proud, so ready to recite all the flags I had seen, and holding my son up and saying...'We'll go to that ground my boy, we'll go to Princes Park and watch the boys and you'll see, you'll see the force greater than gravity...the hidden force that gives the universe its deep blue mystery...

So we moved

in

to this Collingwood trap

and ran head-first into voodoo magic

head-first into a hullabaloo

and its my fault. I accept the blame...accept it all dear blue brethren.

I took on that house...a house built on collingwood fancies and collingwood whispers...I let the devil in!

The collywobbles have become the bluebuggerups

We have fallen...like a concrete angel perched on a Carlton cathedral, we have fallen...fallen hard and far..cracked the universe and set everything tumbling into this mad universe where Essendon* can cheat but get customary protection...where Sydney can draft whoever they damn well please and no worry about the dollars...where Hawthorn sells more memberships than we do...

We have even lost Princes Park!
It is a madness...a scream that does not stop... we have become that painting and it is all my fault.
Oh I am sorry...I am sorry for my son who has seen so very little in his 20 years...
sorry for the sum of us...a sum that no longer adds up --- we have invented a terrible Carlton zero.

I am sorry

and pray that I can be forgiven and seek a way
to get that devil out of the place and find, once again, my bluebagger haven.

Not a heaven but a place on earth where mighty bluebagger warriors stride the turf once more.

Not this year...probably not the next but every day I tell myself — surely each terrible step does not lead us away from that moment when we return?

So here is my admission, my guilt...my terrible decision...

Adds yours...set this up as a petition to the gods of football... a beseeching...a cry on knees and hands clasped around the sherrin...a simple pray

'Look I get it...I [REDACTED] up...but please...I think you've laughed enough...can't we just get on with it again...'

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

The Lord is our shepherd ...........

You need to move out of that house.

Thanks 3DB nice piece.

Insurance job

_________________
“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

..I blame you too..

_________________
..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Was there ever a more unforgivable sin?

Met my wife on grand final eve 99, all down hill for the blues since then.
Now my daughter is saying she won't go for the blues when she grows up.

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

so its the two of us, we're at fault!

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

You two are married?

_________________
#DonTheStash

Thanks DB. I was wondering what had happened.

_________________
"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

ck you should see the children...

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

well no bloody wonder DB.
Lucky for you I am currently in a little Italian town called Mont Sant Angelo.
Lucky because this mountain town happens to have the only chapel on earth actually concecrated by the Arch Angel Michael himself.
Yes.. no earthly priest needed to bless it.
It would be difficult to get a better scenario for forgiveness you'd reckon.
Anyways M A as he calls himself promised to wipe away all sins and grant wishes in his little cave chapel here.
So..with your blessing DB Will happily have a wee chat with him and also ask if he might lend a hand with our woe begotten team.
Worry no more.

_________________
That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Dannyboy as heartbreaking as it was to read your guilt ridden summary of the past 15 years, it is a great read.
Thankyou for sharing your confession.
May I suggest an exorcism for your residence. To relieve us all from this curse that has befallen our once mighty empire.

Regards
Pedro.

I think I need to move.

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

technically we're life partners

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

technically we're life partners

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

or "good friends"

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

danny I reckon the order of the universe would be restored if you did a bit of stand up at this thing

http://northernbluesfc.com.au/news/345- ... y-out.html

"So Josh Bootsma walks into a pub and the barman says......."

_________________
#DonTheStash

The way things are going I'm waiting for the AFL to decide 'that ball was out', 'Blethem was held', 'Kouta cheated holding the ball in one hand' and, 'that mark was touched!'

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

[quote="dannyboy"] ck you should see the children..

these handsome duds, your?

oh the pain...the pain...

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!