Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Summer songsters & Chilli Nights

This blog is a bit of a catch upon events from the summer and last week

The Video below was taken in the summer on the deck at the Kiwi bar - when a Choir of Dutch menfolk, after a hard days singing decided too imbibe of a few beers and thereafter have an impromptu sing-in - in Latvian !!! You never know who or what might you find at the Kiwi Bar




Last week also saw the Annual Chilli Cook-in competition organised by the American Chamber of Commerce. The event itself is a charity raising event, in this case the Care Mobile of RMHC Latvija.

Now hear I have small grumpy moment.

To attend the event one had topay Ls15 if you were not a member and Ls10 if you were - Now can someone explain to me why you would have a differential price when the aim of the excercise is to raise money for a charity ?? - Why not just a flat fee for all and then you just might get a many more people to attend.

It not just the AmCham only a few weeks ago the BCCL organised a charity event and again had differential pricing - To me it makes no sense. OK for events organised where there is no charitable function.

In any event I did not attend, and if anyone out there is from either of these chambers then that is why I was a no show, alongwith quite a few others.

OK enough grumpyness - some of our village people did indeed attend

How much can you put on a plate ?

How much can you leave on a plate ?
Did he win something ??
He won something by a short neck

And a certificate to prove it !!

And when its all over finish with Margaritas !!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

When is a draw not a Draw ?

Here in the "village" we have over the years developed some weird and wonderful traditions, none more so than that which took place last Saturday. Namely the Aussie Rules Cup final.

In the past we watched this game at Sam's Bar, then De Lacy's, both now just memories from the past. But today the event was being hosted at the Kiwi Bar - now quite what the link is between a New Zealand themed bar and Aussie Rule Football is apart from F.... (Australian - shared owner of said establishment) - but no matter - its the event that counts

Can you believe that the clans gathered at 7.00am in the morning to watch the Aussie Rules final between Collingwood and St. Kilda( And yes I had never heard of them either !). With a crowd of some 100,000 at the match and about 40+ people at the Kiwi Bar, exitement was high - well at least for those who had any idea of the rules.

With U.. ( Australian-Latvian as self appointment cheerleader) supplying the Vegimite and A.... ( Australian-Latvian - master of Latvian souveniers) in charge of the toast onto which the Vegimite was spread, and with beers in hand ( I think they were working on Australian time) - the game was on !.

For my part I did not arrive until just after 9.00am - but with game lasting 100 minutes and divided into four quarters, ( Just one of the strange things about this game) the end was not expected until around 11.00am.

I wont even attempt to explain the scoring system, suffice to say at the end of the 100 minutes it was a 64 : 64 draw ( apparently only the second time in history). SO what to do - extra time ? - Penalty shoot out - NO its Aussie Rules - so we (they) have to do it all over again next weekend.

So no doubt the clan will gather again on Saturday, complete with vegimite and beers, and the question on everyones mind ( at least mine) what happens if it is a draw again ???? for the answer see below


What happens if the grand final replay is also a draw?
Ten minutes of extra time will be played, consisting of two five-minute halves. If the scores are still tied after that period, then another 10 minutes of extra time will be played. There will be a result next Saturday.