View from the Perch

Issue Seven - 20th May 2006

Greetings Parrot Peers,

With the 2005/06 domestic season now well and truly over, all that remains to do is to imbibe a few ales, embellish on a few tales and ridicule a few males.
That's right, no cricket season would be complete without a perennial post season parrot piss up and we are going to have ours soon:

When: Saturday 17 June 2006 from about 4pm

Where: Slatts' Apartment building - "Amar Gardens", Sukhumvit Soi 2 (right down the end of the soi on the left) Tenth floor.

Dress: clothes please

Like all good cricket clubs, the Parrots will provide food (BBQ) and grog, but if you fancy a special tipple, feel free to bring it along. (I reckon there'll be some vodka too)

Everyone is most welcome and if you want to bring a friend or two, please do so. We'll make sure there is a beer in your hand for the duration or for as long as you can spare.

We will also conduct our version of the Oscars with presentations for Bowling, Batting, Fielding, Player of the year, Parrot of the year, the President's award, Parakeet of the year and the keenly sought after "Galah of the year" (with no DC this year this award is hotter than ever.)

Some of the nominees:

- An ill Strunky refusing to leave the field until finally spewing up around short mid wicket - any hangover stories were quickly doused upon hearing that Strunky spent the next week in hospital and lost 7 kilos - beware of the crab (as me old Mum used to say)

- Kiwi reminding the lads that for the first time ever we'd got through a session without dropping a catch, only to promptly grass the first ball of the next session (and another in the next over!)

- Sledge forgetting his plane ticket and somehow paying 3 times for one ticket to Malaysia

- Raja being unable to stand, let alone walk after a "wee" slammer session

-The Prez being suddenly struck down with cramp and falling so fast and audibly that some of us were dialling for an ambulance (a couple of us were already jacking up wreaths, such was the drama!)

-Slatts rocking up with filthy whites and resulting in extra slammers for Tip

- Rung (Sledge's lovely lady) learning never to offer to wash the cups just prior to a voddy session

- Strunky falling for the old "yeah, it's a rite of passage for all cricketers to drink beer from your your first box"

-Kiwi who after donating said box to Strunky had it returned because "it was too small!!"

Deano for turning up at 9am reeking of booze - "big night Deano?" - "Nah, big flight this morning!" - "Oh"

DC (I know, even when he plays for another team, he just keeps popping up) for matching Strunky's drinking effort with Slatts' box - (yeah, you do the math!)

DC for losing his car - yep losing it, like you do a pair of cheap sunglasses. We awoke the morning after our last game with phone conversations along the lines of: "Have you seen my car?"
"Nah, has it been stolen?"
"No, I just can't remember where I parked it - somewhere around Soi Cowboy I think"
A few of the lads proceeded to the area for a ground search. Three days later he stumbled across it outside one of his more seedier watering holes nicely parked in a corner. His efforts at locating the vehicle were somewhat hindered by him falling asleep in an inebriated state at the Police station whilst checking their lost and found cupboard. A stern lecture from the top cop and everything was back to normal - Classic Currie!

Special overseas mention to Drewy for the state he got himself into on the Wednesday night at Hua Hin - fantastic form mate!

There are a few more tales of woe which we'll relate on the 17th

Our presentation night also doubles as a send off / bon voyage to our esteemed treasurer and Parrot stalwart, Liam "Sledge" Hammer. Sledge is taking a job in Jakarta for a couple of years so Saturday 17th is a double celebration. Expect the "Perch" to announce a cricket tour to Indonesia in the not too distant future. We'll say it all again on Saturday, but cheers for all your work and efforts Sledge.

Sixes

April saw the annual cricket sixes festival throughout the Kingdom. Kicking off in Chiang Mai the Parrots were again well represented with JD, Wally, Steve P, Deano and Dave W slamming fours, sixes and vodkas for various teams. From all reports Wanie and T Tree were our most successful belting the ball to all parts of the oval with regularity.

Tom K, a Parrot original, organised another terrific week at the Dusit resort in Hua Hin which included local Parrots DC, the Prez, Sledge, Nick, Kiwi, Colin D, Mick, the Colonel, Tom Alphabet, Goodchap, Strunky and a red eyed JD. Here we were joined by our overseas avians such as Damo, Greeny, Drew, Neil and Funky Miller who donated one of those "illegal" kookaburra bats to the club. "American Mike Strunk" (as the Bangkok Post referred to him) was the standout Parrot performer hitting the ball a long way ala Barry Bonds minus the steroids. Many thanks to these guys for renewing their memberships with the cricketing kids in Khon Kaen in mind. It was great to see you again all in fine form.

Fledglings

While our performances on the field were a bit hit and miss, the same cannot be said of the lads' efforts in the bedroom! T Tree and Pim celebrated the arrival of little Georgina, DC and Nok and the Rocket and Da's little ones are doing fine while Strunky and Euw plus Nick and Rai have been busy preparing the nest for arrivals in May and August. Fertility abounds at the Siam Cricket Club!

Junior Cricket

Our contributions to the junior cricket programmes in Khon Kaen are progressing steadily. The Prez introduced a "Hit the sign" challenge in Hua Hin which resulted in 10000 baht for the boys and girls. Also many thanks to to all members who have contributed to this worthy cause.

What next?

We have another 20/20 tournament in June and July coming up. Any body wishing to have a game of this shorter version of cricket should drop Kiwi a line.

The annual Cricket /Footy challenge match will be on again this year with the Thailand Tigers Australian Rules Football Club looking to further embarrass us Parrots by defending "the bat" that they won last year - those bloddy aussies can all play cricket it seems.

Because it has been a while since we migrated to Chiang Mai, we will be organising a match with our country cousins over the off season. Always a great trip to the north of Thailand and apparently the new cricket ground is coming along splendidly - all indications point to truly first rate venue.

Slatts has been busy corresponding with some cricketers in Yokohama and it is our ambition to play a game or two in the land of the rising sun sometime in the next few months.

We'll keep you informed of these events a bit later

And finally...

Thanks to all of our sponsors who have been most generous with their time, money, facilities and support in helping us get through our second year. Some say the second year is the true test of a club and our cricket club is standing firm.

Rodney from the Green Parrot Bar and Grill on Soi 33 has again been totally supportive this year and we appreciate his venue, contributions and encouragement greatly.

Global Turf Consulting continue to contribute an awful lot to the Parrots and to cricket throughout Thailand.

The Big Chilli Bangkok's premier magazine for all in the City of Angels


And finally thank you our valued members, for simply without you, there would be no Siam Cricket Club Parrots.

See you on the 17th

Cheers (and come on the Socceroos)

Kiwi