tales from an ordinary world

1999-09-25

Grand Final day. The city (off the main streets, at least) is a little emptier than usual. It's often a good day to walk around. I remember 2 years ago, walking around St Kilda on grand final day. I'd just been dumped by a girlfriend, and so was spending a fair amount of brainpower rationalizing my feelings and generally just trying to adjust to my rather sudden singledom. Nevertheless, I was still able to enjoy the day - it was fairly sunny, but not completely cloudless. Random windows proudly displayed the St Kilda football club logo, and out on the streets it was calm. After all, most people were indoors, somewhere or other, watching the match.

Today, the sky is a blanket light grey. Hundreds of blue (or blue & white) scarf-wearers file down Flinders St on their way to the match. It's still fairly quiet, though - the noise will come later, after the match. The victors will drunkenly sing their team's song as they wobble through the city or take the trains home. The losers will slink away, hoping they don't get noticed by the winners who'd be eager to taunt them about the scoreboard. Yes, welcome to Grand Final day in Melbourne...