Sports: يناير 2012

الثلاثاء، 31 يناير 2012

Bolton vs Chelsea 1-5 Highlights Goals Video

English Premier League 2011-2012

Bolton vs Chelsea 2011

Date : Sunday, 02 October 2011

Time : 13.30 BST (UK time), 14.30 CET and 08.30 EST (USA Eastern)

Venue : Reebok Stadium, Bolton

Final Score : Bolton vs Chelsea 1-5
2' [0 - 1] D. Sturridge
15' [0 - 2] F. Lampard
25' [0 - 3] D. Sturridge
27' [0 - 4] F. Lampard
58' [1 - 5] F. Lampard

Bolton Wanderers will face the blues Chelsea in the game 7 English Premier League season 2011-2012. Bolton vs Chelsea Live Schedule on Sunday, 02 October 2011 13.30 BST (UK time), 14.30 CET and 08.30 EST (USA Eastern) taking place at Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

Owen Coyle's side have suffered five successive league losses since their opening day win at QPR to slump to the foot from the top flight table.

But history is against the Trotters as opponents Chelsea are unbeaten within their last 15 Premier League games against Bolton (winning 12 and drawing three) with the Blues winning the final six consecutively and not conceding in the last four.

Andre Villas-Boas' side get into this clash about the back of the three-match unbeaten run since their 3-1 defeat at Man utd.

Bolton vs Chelsea probable line up :

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Boyata, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Pratley, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Davies, Tuncay.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Mata, Drogba, Anelka.

Bolton vs Chelsea Live Stream on 02 October 2011. If Available, we also will provide Live Score, Result and Highlights Goals Video after the match is over. Watch Bolton vs Chelsea Free Premier League Live coverage broadcast from justin tv, veetle, uusee, sopcats and others format free live internet stream. Enjoy Bolton vs Chelsea Live Stream Online Free - 02 October 2011 2011.

Enjoy Bolton vs Chelsea 1-5 Highlights Goals Video

Source: http://www.futegoal.com/2011/10/bolton-vs-chelsea-live-stream-epl.html

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الاثنين، 30 يناير 2012

Liverpool vs Man Utd Live Stream Online Free 15 October 2011

Liverpool vs Man Utd Live Stream Online Free - 15 October 2011
English Premier League

Liverpool vs Man Utd 2011

Date : Saturday, 15 October 2011

Time : 12.45 BST (UK time), 13.45 CET and 07.45 EST (USA Eastern)

Venue : Anfield Road, Liverpool

Big Match Premier League will face Liverpool againts Manchester United. Liverpool vs Man Utd Live Schedule on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 12.45 BST (UK time), 13.45 CET and 07.45 EST (USA Eastern) taking place at Anfield Road, Liverpool.

Liverpool vs Man Utd Probable Line Ups

Liverpool : Reina, Enrique, Carragher, Kelly, Skrtel, Kuyt, Downing, Lucas, Adam, Suarez, Carroll

Manchester United: De Gea, Fabio, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Young, Rooney, Wellbeck.

Liverpool vs Man Utd Live Stream on 15 October 2011. If Available, we also will provide Live Score, Result and Highlights Goals Video after the match is over. Watch Liverpool vs Man Utd Free Premier League Live coverage broadcast from justin tv, veetle, uusee, sopcats and others format free live internet stream. Enjoy Liverpool vs Man Utd Live Stream Online Free - 15 October 2011 2011.

Link Stream : Liverpool vs Man Utd Live TV Channel

Source: http://www.futegoal.com/2011/10/liverpool-vs-man-utd-live-stream-online.html

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Dock Life

Boots the Cat...living the life at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.

Source: http://www.deepseafishingmiami.outcastcharterfishing.com/2010/10/dock-life.html

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الأحد، 29 يناير 2012

Promotion hunt continues

The unexpected quest for Division One cricket in 2012 continues as Surrey travel to Chelmsford tomorrow to take on Essex. A win with a full quota of bonus points will put us in second spot, any kind of win will make the final week of the season unbearably tense.

Chris Adams has kept faith with the 13 man squad who returned victorious from Northamptonshire, and why change a winning formula? I would expect the same XI to be named:

Hamilton-Brown
Davies
Ramprakash
De Bruyn
Maynard
Roy
Batty
Jordan
Meaker
Linley
Ojha

12th men: Ansari, Edwards

On the batting front the game against Northants was a story of two men, Davies and de Bruyn, leading the line. They both passed 50 in both innings, no other Surrey batsman passed 50 in the match, indeed only one other batsman on either side passed the mark. There were 30s and 40s but nothing substantial - Hamilton-Brown, Ramprakash, Maynard and Roy will not want the same to happen in this game. Maynard in particular will be looking for a score, he only has one 50 in his last 14 visits to the crease and since moving to number five in the batting order in the game against Gloucestershire has only averaged 19. As the game on Sunday against Sussex showed, he's not short of form, he just hasn't found that big score lately.

It takes something exceptional to eclipse a spell of bowling that included four wickets in seven balls, as Meaker's did, but eclipse it is just what Pragyan Ojha did. His return of 6-8 finished off Northants in double quick time and I hope he carries that form into this game, and Meaker too. If Linley takes a wicket in the first innings it'll be 20 consecutive innings in which he's taken a wicket - there's not many superlatives I haven't already used to describe his performances this season. Chris Jordan meanwhile has only taken one in his last seven Championship innings, he last took a wicket against Derbyshire in May, he's bowled 276 deliveries since then. With Meaker, Linley and Ojha in form it's not a big deal, but it would be good to see him back in the wickets. He could also do with some runs, 64 runs in 10 innings is not the return of an allrounder.

Essex have nothing to play for but pride in this game, they sit fifth in the table 16 points behind Gloucestershire, but I don't expect they'll be in any mood to roll over and give us the points. Their last two games have seen a defeat to Kent and a rain affected draw against Derbyshire and their batsmen don't appear to be in the best of form - their last three completed innings totals read 144, 185 and 207. For a side with Owais Shah, James Foster and the power of Ryan ten Doeschate and Graham Napier (remember this?) that's sub-par - so expect a backlash! Watch out for young Adam Wheater too, he's scored two hundreds this year on his way to 785 Championship runs.

They haven't named Maurice Chambers, who had a poor game against us at Whitgift in May, in their squad but three very exciting bowling talents are named - left arm quicks Tymal Mills and Reece Topley and legspinner Tom Craddock. All three have shown plenty of promise this season. There's also the small matter of the leading wicket taker in county cricket this year, David Masters. He is having a remarkable season and comes into this game just 14 wickets short of 100 in 2011.

After consecutive Championship wins in recent weeks, and a Lord's final in the bag, morale among the players should be sky high. A draw or a defeat would not make promotion impossible, but it would make it a damn sight harder and it would return the initiative back to Northants. Let's just do this the easy way and make this game the third win of the four we need to go up.

Source: http://surreycricketblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/promotion-hunt-continues.html

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Clippers 98 - Memphis 91 - A Gritty Home Win

Source: http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/1/27/2751757/clippers-98-memphis-91-a-gritty-home-win

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السبت، 28 يناير 2012

THE DOG DAYS ARE OVER!

If you're hooked on horses, chances are you're a little bit addicted to dogs too. Go to a major event like Badminton Horse Trials on cross country day or a local country show like Hadleigh in Suffolk and you can dog spot nearly every breed going. Most dogs are happy to be out and about with their owners and even though they're not really interested in eventing, or showing, show jumping, or the parading of hounds (well maybe that's a bit more to their taste) the odd one has been known to join in!

So I felt my hackles rise when I was told that the Suffolk Show (June 1&2) had decided to ban dogs this year and in the future. Their reasons being welfare and hygiene. Eight hours is too long, they say, for a dog to be out in warm weather and they want to protect visitors from foul doggie doo's.

Yes, 'poop' is the word as far as I'm concerned! Again the majority are getting penalised for the minority who leave their dogs in cars or don't scoop the poop, and once more we're being 'nannied' and told that we don't know how to look after our own dogs.

I actually choose not to take my dog to a lot of events, and the Suffolk Show looks like it's going to be blessed with hot weather, but as we know with the good old British weather this ain't always the case. Shouldn't the choice about what's best for our dogs be left to us?

Do you take your dog(s) to equestrian events and country shows? Do you think that the Suffolk Show are right to ban dogs or are you barking mad about it? Have a good yap and a 'mutt'er here.

And if your 'unhygienic hound' is feeling a bit down about being ordered to stay at home you could always give him a treat!

Source: http://blog.trotontv.com/2011/05/dog-days-are-over.html

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Lord's here we come!

Surrey continued what is beginning to look like a suspiciously good end to the 2011 season by comprehensively beating Sussex by 71 runs in the shortened CB40 semi-final at the Oval today.

The rain threatened to curtail the day's play completely until it finally relented at about 3pm and play began 45 minutes later with the game cut to 24 overs aside. Earlier in the day Surrey had won the toss and asked to bat first. When they did eventually get going Hamilton-Brown, dropped by the 'keeper early in his innings, helped us off to a fine start. Each batsman that came and went thereafter helped keep the run rate above 9 almost throughout.

It was an outstanding knock of 60 off just 33 balls from Tom Maynard which did the bulk of the damage. Scoring his runs almost exclusively on the leg side he hit four huge sixes, while Davies, Roy and de Bruyn all did their bit to keep the pressure on the Sussex bowlers. Monty Panesar was the only bowler who was able to exert any control over our batsmen, though Chris Liddle did bowl a lot better than his economy rate of almost 8 an over suggests.

In the end Surrey managed 228 off their 24 overs, significantly eclipsing a couple of totals they've managed at the Oval in full 40 over encounters this season. Again Hamilton-Brown opted to open the innings with spin though this time it was Spriegel rather than the captain himself. His faith was rewarded as he had first the dangerous Prior caught at cover, and then he caught Murray Goodwin off his own bowling to set Sussex back early on.

Yasir Arafat also bowled two good overs early on but Ed Joyce remained at the crease, threatening to single handedly make Sussex competitive. Gareth Batty soon accounted for him though, and Joe Gatting soon after. By the time Chris Schofield was introduced into the attack Sussex we under massive run-rate pressure but he nonetheless bowled some good deliveries and ended with 4-22, including the final wicket to fall, that of Monty Panesar for a first ball duck.

It was as comprehensive a victory as we have seen this season, against a very good, albeit slightly short-of-form Sussex side. We now move on to a major domestic final at Lord's against final-specialists Somerset, sure to be a massive test but we really are getting on something of a roll at the moment. I said at the start of the season that the CB40 was probably our best chance of winning something, it hasn't quite happened the way I thought it would, but we are still there!

The ECB have confirmed that England players who are fit and selected will be available for the final, which means Jade Dernbach will play for us. What that means for Chris Tremlett and even Kevin Pietersen I don't know. For now though, let's just focus on the the major positive - Surrey are 80 overs away from a trophy - just to be in the final is a real achievement. The players can be very proud but most of all, take a bow Rory Hamilton-Brown and Chris Adams, I hope you enjoy this!

Source: http://surreycricketblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/lords-here-we-come.html

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الجمعة، 27 يناير 2012

Cut the men in black some slack

I'm not sure that there is a European president, a cabinet minister or a city banker anywhere who is doing a tougher job under more critical scrutiny just now than Premier League referees.

Every weekend there is a catalogue of evidence made up of slow-motion, frame-by-frame replays to prove that the men in black are becoming less adept at applying the laws of the game appropriately. Managers criticise them, players swear at them, fans lambast them and the press hammer them. Even some of their former colleagues supplement their income by joining the throng.

How often have you heard people demand both "common sense" and "consistency" in the same sentence? Have a think about that one.

What is actually meant by a referee using common sense? As far I can see it is suggesting that a referee should see each decision within the context of the game; therefore not necessarily applying the absolute letter of the law. For example, we have all heard that a referee has ruined a game by sending off a player too early for a borderline challenge that he could have punished with a yellow card.

OK, so let's say we allow the referees some flexibility - but then don't expect consistency - because each ref will be applying his "common sense" in a slightly different way.

I get to spend a considerable chunk of my weekends hanging around in tunnels of various football grounds and almost always end up having a chat with the referees as they arrive. What I am never allowed to do, at least on the record, is to chat after the game.

We do often speak afterwards though. Some of the refs will ask you confidentially what you thought about a decision; some have even asked to have another look at a decision on a TV monitor in a quiet room away from the bustle of the tunnel.

Obviously they do not walk off the pitch absolutely convinced that they have got every single call right. What I am absolutely certain about, though, that no referee who has reached the top of their profession has made a call that they cannot defend given what they saw at the time.

The problem is that 10 people will see a decision 10 different ways. Here's an example from Saturday's game between Chelsea and Sunderland. Fernando Torres was booked after going down in the Sunderland box after a challenge by Phil Bardsley.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres was booked for simulation on Saturday - but should he have been given a penalty? Photo: Getty Images

My first reaction, as I saw it in real time, was that it looked like a penalty. Then I saw the replay, and I felt that, although there was contact, Torres was ready to fall if Bardsley gave him anything to fall over. The players' knees collided; the question was who was initiating the contact?

In the press room afterwards one of football's most distinguished newspaper men, Patrick Barclay, said that he felt it was not a penalty but that the yellow card for Torres was unnecessary. On Match of the Day that night, Alan Shearer was absolutely convinced that it should have been a penalty. I am still not certain.

My point is clear. There are three different views on the same incident, all formed by reasonable experienced people and with the benefit of replays; which the referee, Phil Dowd, didn't have.

This could take us into a discussion of video replays. I think I'll leave that for another day, aside from saying that I am not in favour.

I would also not be in favour of referees being allowed to talk to the cameras after the game. If they did they might undermine their authority by having to attempt to defend a clear mistake and if they chose not to talk it would be something that would surely be interpreted as an admission of an error.

They are not perfect, but who is? I do think that their fitness tests could be more rigorous, but I passionately believe that our refs are honest and give decisions based only what they see, or think they see.

On the whole they might make fewer errors in 90 minutes than many of the players they are refereeing. And what about the managers who knock them? How many times have you heard those same managers say they didn't even see a major incident?

Now who needs their eyes testing?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/stevewilson/2012/01/cut_the_men_in_black_some_slac.html

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ANYONE FOR BADMINTON?!

It's Easter weekend, it's Badminton Horse Trials-and it's going to be a HOT one!! Remember, the cross country is on Sunday again this year and if the weather predictions are right don't forget to take some sunscreen, a hat and lots of water!

We also recommend you get yourself the free and fabulous Badminton Horse Trials app which supplies lots of useful info such as rider profiles, timetable, news feed, live results, animated cross country course guide, and shopping village directory to make your Badminton experience even better.

If you want to get a good look at what horses and riders are up against this year then walk the course with course designer Hugh Thomas and rider Sharon Hunt.

Part 1.

Part 2.

If you can't go to Badminton then UK viewers can catch the x-country live on the BBC red button, Sun 24th, from 11.50-5.45pm and on Mon 25th can watch x-country highlights and final show jumping rounds on BBC2 from 1-3pm. Outside the UK you can get live coverage by subscribing to FEITV.

Go to the discussion in Tack Room Tea Room to share all the latest info, and tell us if you're going or TV viewing. What's your favourite day, and who are the horses and riders you most want to see? And having watched the video's where do you fancy watching from? Or will you be spending most of your time in the shopping village?!!

Source: http://blog.trotontv.com/2011/04/anyone-for-badminton.html

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الخميس، 26 يناير 2012

Name That Fish

Answer: Mutton Snapper

Play again?

Answer: Gag Grouper

Another fun (and productive) day of fishing on the OUTCAST! Don't panic, but if you are looking to catch and keep shallow water grouper (gag, black, red, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and tiger) then get out on the ocean before the end of the year; the shallow water grouper fishery in the federal and state waters of the South Atlantic Region will be closed between January and April. We will still fish shallow water spots as there are other species to target at that depth and we really don't mind giving the groupers a chance to...regroup.

Source: http://www.deepseafishingmiami.outcastcharterfishing.com/2010/12/name-that-fish.html

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Who Dat? No question now...Congratulations New Orleans Saints and the Who Dat Nation!

Devoted fans helped the New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl by proudly flying their team flag in the Outcast tuna tower.

Great game, great fans! They brought a little bit of Bourbon Street to Ocean Drive and that was fun for everyone. Let's go have some drive-thru daiquiris...only in New Orleans!

Source: http://www.deepseafishingmiami.outcastcharterfishing.com/2010/02/who-dat-no-question-nowcongratulations.html

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الأربعاء، 25 يناير 2012

ON HORSES FOR HORSES-TROT ON AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 EVENTS!

Loes and Chazbo

I like people with big ideas, especially those who don't just talk about them! How many of us sit around putting the horse world to rights, blah, blah blah, but at the end of the day can just about muster the enthusiasm to support an online petition?

Well, one woman, who has had that big idea and the guts to trot with it, is Loes Knopper. Loes was doing the same thing many of us do, chatting with friends one evening about making a difference to the lives of horses, but rather than roll over, fall asleep and forget about it in the morning, this time her mind was racing and by 3 a.m , she'd decided that now was the time to stop the talking and start the walking. It was then she decided to organise an event, but not any event, something big, something that everyone around the world could get involved in, a symbolic ride around the world in 80 events to raise money for World Horse Welfare. I'll let Loes explain more.....

At Trot ON we're so impressed by her nerve, energy and boundless enthusiasm that we really want to get behind her and support this event.

Loes said, "I really want to make a difference. Horse people are so passionate about horses aren't they, so if we're all so passionate, we should be able to do something about it, right?'

We couldn't agree more! The date for the event is Sept 25th 2011 so lets get going, support On Horses For Horses, and Trot ON around the world in 80 Events.

Join the Trot ON On Horses For Horses group to get more info, get motivated and get involved!

Source: http://blog.trotontv.com/2011/06/on-horses-for-horses-trot-on-around.html

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The brutal bommies

We went fishing with our friends Yuki, Jose and Maki. The weather was good, but the bite was not really hot.

Yuki had expressed a desire to fish among some bommies. For those who do not know what a bommie is. A bommie is a shallow piece of reef with some being close together and some far apart.

Below you can see small reef structures just below the surface, these are bommies. The splash is a popper doing what poppers do, POP!

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

When casting to GTs among bommies you have to change the style of fighting. You have in effect, given the fish and advantage. There are sharp edges everywhere, just waiting to cut your braided line. The fight, once hooked up to a GT, will be brutal at best. You have to keep the GT from getting you around a bommie and that will not be easy. Pound for pound they are one of the hardest fighting fish in the world.

If Yuki wants to fish the bommies, then why not? After all it is really addicting even if it is a bit costly in terms of lost gear.

Yuki and Jose surveying a good spot to cast to.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Looking out over a school of bait with birds that has just moved off of a bommie. Very fishy but no luck to be had here.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Yuki popping amongst the bommies.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Yuki with a really nice coral trout. Just goes to show what you can catch on a bommie.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Here is a quick video of Yuki catching the coral trout and then Yuki being taught a lesson about bommies by a GT.

Yuki did go on to redeem himself, but I feel that the agony of defeat never left him.

Bommies are the realm of heavy tackle and high drags, big hooks and tough leaders.

A nice bluefin trevally.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

And finally a GT, not the behemoth that smoked him but a nice one.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Mr. Maki who has fished before but never for Giant Trevally was ready to go.

Rosie gave him a few instructions before showing him how to cast. On her first demo cast, she fires out a monster cast towards a bommie and as she pulls up the slack and gives the lure a pop, it gets smashed. She sets the hook before handing Mr. Maki the rod.

He puts up a good fight and soon enough we have a nice Job fish in the boat.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Mr. Maki then follows this up with a nice bluefin.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Then he proceeds to land another Job fish.

From Yuki, Jose and Maki

Unfortunately for Jose it was not to be.

We had a great day out and Yuki got to pop amongst the bommies.

Tight lines

Source: http://xstreemfishing.blogspot.com/2011/01/brutal-bommies.html

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الثلاثاء، 24 يناير 2012

Messi: The best is yet to come

Seven years ago, at the start of 2005, I was covering the South American Under-20 Championships in Colombia's coffee-growing region when I came across something that gave me a far bigger buzz than the local produce.

It was a short, shambling 17-year-old with the air of the pigeon-toed runt of the litter. His name was Lionel Messi.

Messi had already been at Barcelona for nearly four years and had played one friendly for the senior side but he was an unknown in Argentina. Yet from the first time that he picked up the ball, it was obvious that he would not remain unknown for very long.

Lionel Messi has now won the Ballon d'Or three times and is still only 24 year old. Photo: Getty

The greatest pleasure in what I do is getting a sneak preview of tomorrow's talents - and in the years I have been doing it, "discovering" Lionel Messi has given me more pleasure than anything else.

First, there is that extraordinary talent. Diego Maradona said of Messi that his control of the ball is so good that he can dribble while watching TV. I would add that he could also change channels, while changing direction at a pace and an angle that leaves defenders feeling dizzy.

There is also his simple and unassuming joy at his own talent, plus the fact that he understands that the game is collective. During the Fifa awards ceremony at which he won a third Ballon d'Or, Barcelona team-mate Xavi commented that Messi is a player who does almost everything in two touches. There is no showboating, no elaborate attempts to humiliate his opponent or play to the crowd.

There is also his body shape, emphasising the universality of football - all shapes and sizes can find a place in the global game. In a cynical age, there is so much that is refreshing about Messi.

Seven years on from my first sighting of him, I am delighted he has won a third successive Ballon d'Or - and just as delighted that he does not seem to regard winning the prize as a special highlight.

He is sufficiently grounded and understands the game well enough to know that, in a team sport, such awards are a consequence rather than an objective.

Three consecutive World Player of the Year awards clearly marks Messi out as the best of his time. But the best of all time? That is much more complicated, a subjective and ultimately frustrating debate.

The greats of the past would have loved to receive the same protection from referees that today's top players take for granted. Judged by contemporary criteria, the punishment handed out to Pele or Maradona would not just be worthy of a red card, it would bring a jail sentence.

Then there is also the issue of the World Cup - the greatest stage for Pele and Maradona. In Messi's defence, it seems clear that club football - and especially the Champions League - has superseded the World Cup as football's main event.

Barcelona are clearly superior to Spain, for example. But, while Messi does not bring his club form into a World Cup, there will always be a question mark against him. Not so much about his ability, more about his temperament.

At Barcelona, he is the brightest cog in a wheel that spins with mechanical precision. With Argentina, the wheel is always threatening to come off its axle. Can Messi flower in less fertile soil? Can he show the leadership to haul his compatriots in the right direction?

As the little man himself would say, he has only just started. He should have at least two World Cups ahead of him to silence the doubters. Plus a decade more in the Champions League.

The first seven years have been the aperitif. I can hardly wait for the main course.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2012/01/messi_the_best_is_yet_to_come.html

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VoliVoli Resort take 2

My how time flies. I have actually not been out on our boat for almost four weeks.

Since my last post the weather turned to crap. I don't mean a little rain and wind, I mean blowing 25 knots for weeks on end and raining like the end of the world. Now I am usually the first to say, fish don't care if it rains, but this weather has been really nasty. We even have "very rough seas" warning put out by the weather people. So, needless to say not a lot of fishing has been done. On top of that I hurt my back,(more of that later).

We did get the chance to go away for a few days as it was Rosies birthday. I booked three nights at Volivoli Resort. I thought it might be romantic if we could do a bit of popper fishing with heavy gear. You know just the two of us and a skipper.

We stayed at Volivoli back in April, you can read about it here.

The owners are the Darling family and they are quite wonderful.

The staff are friendly and make you feel like family. Especially, Jenny, Sheba, Wise, Sasha, Pola, Ben, Bola, Amit, Lela, the night watchman, Puncture and all a few I can't remember their names.

We decided to take the back road to get there. We did this the first time also, only this time we had our own truck not a rental car.

From Volivoli 2

You can see the rod tube sticking out of the back end of the truck. I think we had more fishing gear than anything else.

Only about 15 km is not paved and even that was not bad. The new road is being built full swill and soon it will be a breeze to get to the top end of the island.

From Volivoli 2

It is a very scenic drive of about 3.5 - 4 hours. You go through some very pretty and clean villages.

From Volivoli 2

The life style and pace are just a little bit slower.

From Volivoli 2

Eventually you come out from the interior of the island and of course you are greeted with the sea.

From Volivoli 2

We arrived at the resort a little late to fish so it was time to relax and enjoy with our friends.

In this picture is Rosie and Jenny with a tanoa filled with kava.

From Volivoli 2

Nick's wife and child were in New Zealand so jugs kept him company.

From Volivoli 2

This image is me giving instructions to some of there resort guests on how to mix the kava.

From Volivoli 2

The next day we had to wait for the boats to return as the resort was full of scuba divers. We had a leisurely morning and snapped a few pictures for you all.

From Volivoli 2

The weather was less than stellar.

From Volivoli 2

When the boats finally returned and we got to go out, the weather had turned for the worst. Never mind, we are going fishing. Our captain was new to GT popping, but he new where to take us and I could direct the rest. We had a hell of a session. We landed six fish and raised another six in 1 1/2 hours.

From Volivoli 2

Rosie, first on the board.

From Volivoli 2

As you can see the weather was not very cooperative.

From Volivoli 2

This video shows how tough the these fish are. I am using 80lb braid with 120lb twisted leaders and 12kg of drag. By the end os this session I had pinched my sciatic nerve in my lower back. Although I fished the second day also I have paid a heavy price, as I am still laid up with a bad back.

Our second day out fishing proved to be harder than the first. We woke up early on to be greeted by cyclone type conditions.

From Volivoli 2

By noon Rosie and I decided to head to the bar as the weather was not letting up. Well we all know what happens when you go to the bar at noon, you start drinking. And drink we did until after 3:00 pm, when Nick said, "Look the weather is letting up, let's go fish".

So we did. Only this time it was rougher than before. To be honest, it was too rough for fishing in the boat we were in, but we had a few drinks in us and we wanted to fish.

After pounding our way out to the reefs we managed to land a few fish.