State of Origin Game One 2019 Against all the odds
Against all the odds, Queensland defeated New South Wales in State of Origin Game one 2019 on Wednesday evening.
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Sports betting
The sports betting companies were publishing odds in favour of New South Wales winning game one at Lang Park (aka The Cauldron) on Wednesday.
Against all the odds. It was a “sweet” feeling at the end of the game to know that doubters and non-believers in the Maroon faith would lose money.
The media
The media seemed to be well on side with NSW (aka cockroaches) winning game one on their opponent’s home soil. Everyone seemed to be talking up Brad Fittler and the team. Brad Fittler was boasting about how much better his team was when compared with Kevin Walters and the Queensland team.
In Sydney on game day
I flew in and out of Sydney on Wednesday for a work meeting and the newspapers all seemed to swing to an NSW victory. There was nothing positive written about Queensland. In fact, I read criticism of Kevin Walters as a coach and of Daly Cherry Evans (DCE) as captain.
No fingernails left
State of Origin game one 2019 was a nail biter of a game. In the first half, NSW led 8-0 for most of the half despite the Mighty XXXX Maroons (for North American readers, it’s pronounced mar-OWNS) crossing the try line thrice and each time the video referee disallowed the try. One disallowed try was contentious because of the number of slow-motion replays it took to make a decision. I’ve never been a fan of video refereeing, and I’m sure if the gambling industry wasn’t so involved in sports betting, there would be no need for video refereeing. In my opinion, if a video referee’s decision is required, the playback of the video should be in real time and not slow motion. I also believe there should be a limit of three replays.
Proper football
Professional football (I’m talking real football, i.e., rugby league and not soccer or Australian Rules football or other football codes) is played at breakneck speed. Frame by frame decision making just isn’t appropriate in my opinion.
If you disagree on my position on slow motion replays or my position that rugby league is the greatest team sport (apart from water polo) in the world, let me know in the comments.
Happy birthday Queensland
Queensland Day 2019
It was good waking on Thursday morning and wishing Queensland happy birthday. On Thursday 2019-06-06, Queensland Day marked 160 years for the greatest state in the land.
Why Perth? Why Adelaide?
The next game is in of all places, Perth. I see no point. Rugby League football is not big in WA. Rugby is, AFL is, and soccer is, but not rugby league. I would prefer a so-called neutral game to be held in Melbourne. While Melbourne is dominated by AFL devotees, there is a strong core of rugby league fans there and the NRL has the Melbourne Storm based in Melbourne. I hear in 2020 the aim is to have the so-called neutral game in Adelaide. That makes no sense at all. I’d prefer Darwin. I’d contemplate travelling to Darwin to watch a game. Darwin has more rugby league fans than Adelaide.
What have I watched this week?
Captain Marvel
I don’t know why people objected to this movie. I really enjoyed it. I liked the amount of humour throughout the movie.
It beats me why people objected to the lead character and the actor who played the character. I thought Brie Larson was wonderful.
My favourite character though was Goose the Flerken. I wonder if the name Goose was in any way a homage to Goose from Top Gun.
It was great hearing an Australian accent from Talos (played by Ben Mendelsohn).
Game of Thrones (spoilers)
Season 8
I find it curious that we now have a dichotomy of positions during so-called “water cooler” talk in the office and on social media. I’m hearing and reading so many people claim they’ve never watched an episode of Game of Thrones like it’s a badge of honour.
I think it’s important to respect everyone’s position on what they choose to watch on TV, however, I really like Game of Thrones.
I got sucked in from season one and have been an avid fan ever since.
Because I don’t have a Fox account, I usually wait until the end of a season and purchase the entire season on iTunes and consume the entire season in one long session of TV viewing.
I’m not that bothered by spoilers but I don’t go out of my way to find out what has happened before I get to watch the season.
The final season of Game of Thrones really ended well. I’m so happy that my favourite character, viz., Arya survived and has gone on to explore her universe. It was a bit awkward watching her explore her sexuality with Gendry, only because the character of Arya reminds me a lot of my middle daughter. It was fantastic seeing Arya kill the Dark King with a piece of dragon glass. That moment filled me with joy.
The third episode in season eight, “The Long Night” was really good. Almost fantastic. The main criticism I have though is the faffing about by Dany and Jon on the dragons. They seemed to just fly around a lot with no real purpose. Noting how effective the destructive power of a dragon can be in “The Bells“, those fire-breathing reptiles should have been put to better use to incinerate more wights.
All in all though I’m happy with the ending. Bran the Broken is the king of six of the seven kingdoms. Sansa is Queen of the North. Jon is on the wall as a member of the Night’s Watch. Arya is off exploring the west of Westeros with Needle and hopefully making a new list and killing people who wrong her.
The real question for me now is when do I start a rewatch from season one episode one?
Masterchef Australia
This has been the best week of Masterchef Australia this year. For the first time in eleven years of Masterchef Australia, the contestants, judges, and production crew went to Queensland. God’s own state. Heaven on Earth.
Unfortunately, Wednesday night’s show clashed with the greatest contest of all, State of Origin game one 2019.
It was nice to see liberal use of Moreton Bay bugs and Buderim ginger. It’s a pity the show’s producers, contestants, and judges had no idea that Queensland nuts (three species in the Genus: Macadamia) should have been highlighted too. The nuts were used, but nothing was mentioned of the origin story and the truth behind the Queensland nut.
National Rugby League
Check out what I wrote about this week’s State of Origin game one 2019 at the beginning of this post.
What have I listened to this week?
Bad Blood
I’m listening to the audiobook version of this book about a start-up company which speculated on point of care technology and whose founder has been subject to criminal charges for fraudulent behaviour.
It’s a good reason why we have medical testing accreditation in reputable Australian medical testing laboratories which are managed and led by qualified pathologists and medical laboratory scientists.
What have I eaten and photographed this week?
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.
Sunday
Steamed vegetables and corned beef for Sunday lunch Corned beef, Tomato, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Poppy seeds, Sesame seeds, Cream, Spring onion, Parsley, Carrot, Celery, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Sherry #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #kale 
Leftover cauliflower cheese with pan-fried salmon on wilted kale Salmon, Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard, Peas, Corn, Capsicum #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #salmon #kale #MasterChefAU 
Leftover cauliflower cheese with pan-fried salmon on wilted kale Salmon, Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard, Peas, Corn, Capsicum #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #salmon #kale #MasterChefAU 
Berries and unsweetened yoghurt
Monday
Chinese gooseberry and unsweetened yoghurt 
Pan-fried salmon and avocado with leftover kale, endive, and cabbage mix Salmon, Avocado, Tomato, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Poppy seeds, Sesame seeds, Cream, Spring onion, Parsley, Carrot, Celery, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Sherry #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #salmon #leftovers Someone please tell me what do I call the vegetable thing I cooked. I softened carrot and celery with some chilli paste in a frypan. I then added some vegetable stock with a splash of fish sauce and oyster sauce. I then added the shredded kale, endive, cabbage, and spring onion. As everything softened, I added in sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, crushed peanuts, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds. Tonight I added a handful of grated Coon cheese and put it in the oven. I pan-fried the salmon for 5 minutes on high heat. 
Pan-fried salmon and avocado with leftover kale, endive, and cabbage mix Salmon, Avocado, Tomato, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Poppy seeds, Sesame seeds, Cream, Spring onion, Parsley, Carrot, Celery, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Sherry #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #salmon #leftovers Someone please tell me what do I call the vegetable thing I cooked. I softened carrot and celery with some chilli paste in a frypan. I then added some vegetable stock with a splash of fish sauce and oyster sauce. I then added the shredded kale, endive, cabbage, and spring onion. As everything softened, I added in sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, crushed peanuts, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds. Tonight I added a handful of grated Coon cheese and put it in the oven. I pan-fried the salmon for 5 minutes on high heat. 
Coon cheese, celery, and carrot for lunch
Tuesday
Meat-free and raw. Cabbage, Endive, Kale, Coriander, Avocado, Tomatoes, Lime juice, Mayonnaise, Tomato sauce, and American mustard. #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #raw #meatfree #MasterChefAU I sliced the cabbage, kale, and endive thinly and chopped the coriander. Avocado was smashed and cherry tomatoes were halved. Everything is bound by lime juice, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, and American mustard. 
Bean and basil salad 
Me on Tuesday morning
Wednesday
Me in a Queensland XXXX Maroons shirt 
Leftover sous vide duck with cheesy cauliflower mash in anticipation of #Origin #Qlder Duck, Cauliflower, Olive oil, Coon cheese, Chives, Kale #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #footyfood #duck #MasterChefAU I seared and sliced the duck. I prepared the boiled cauliflower with a stick blender and added olive oil, Coon cheese, and chives 
Qantas terminal Sydney airport
Thursday
Meat-free Cabbage, Kale, Endive, Coriander, Lime juice, Tomatoes, Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, Sesame seeds, Poppy seeds, Almonds, Cream, Carrot, Celery, Chillies, Vegetable stock #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #MasterChefAU I started with the carrot, celery, and chillies first before adding some stock and then adding everything else underlie it was soft. I finished this with cream and let it reduce.
Friday
Peanut Sichuan curry cabbage in coconut cream and lime Peanut paste, Peanuts, Lime zest, Lime juice, Coconut cream, Tomatoes, Chicken, Cabbage, Coriander, Spring onion, Curry powder, Sichuan seasoning, Chillies, Vegetable stock #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #curry #coconutcream I started with cabbage, coriander, tomatoes, and spring onion in a frypan. I added some vegetable stock and then the curry powder, Sichuan seasoning, chillies, peanut paste and peanuts. Cook until the cabbage is soft and then add the lime zest, lime juice, and coconut cream. Cook until the coconut cream is reduced. 
Saturday
Coon cheese and spinach omelet for Saturday breakfast 
Pan-fried garlic prawns 
Cauliflower soup 
Cauliflower soup 
Cauliflower soup with garlic prawns
Yummy Lummy this week
I cooked Old Bay cauliflower soup and garlic butter prawns last night.
On the subject of food, we may be paying more for bacon and ham soon.
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Final thoughts
- Did you watch game one of State of Origin 2019? Were you happy with the result?
- Have you watched Captain Marvel? Did you enjoy it?
- Are you a Game of Thrones fan? Did you enjoy the final season and the final episode?
Congratulations on the State of Origin win. You are now obviously a very happy man.
I was very happy and my fingernails are slowly growing back 😃
Didn’t watch the State of Origin, but congratulations on the Queensland win!
I’ve never seen Game of Thrones and feel like the only person who hasn’t. Maybe one day I’ll give it a whirl – I don’t have Foxtel but now I know I could purchase on iTunes so thanks for the tip.
I do watch Masterchef, but sporadically because I’m also watching the Voice with my son. Thank goodness for Ten-Play! I’ll make sure I catch up on the Queensland episodes to bring back those holiday memories… STILL haven’t caught up with the Nigella Sticky date pudding masterclass.
If you don’t mind drama, intrigue, great cinematography, a little sex, and quite a bit of violence, Game of Thrones is for you.
I’m so happy we live in the day of apps which let us catch up on TV 😃