There And Back Again: Oz 2022

Kangaeroo made it back to Oz for a while in 2022.

The circumstances behind the trip weren’t the greatest.

But the time spent Down Under was fruitful and poignant.

Kangaeroo got to catch up with lots of childhood friends.

And deeply explored the places that had played an enormous role during the formative years.

Thanks to an enormously kind and helpful seller on gumtree, Kangaeroo also got to move around outer eastern Melbourne on a Malvern Star!

In many ways, the time spent in Australia was magical and Kangaeroo extends his deepest gratitude to all the friends, family, people, places, critters and creatures that made it that way (even the swooping magpies).

But there was also the realization of coming to a close.

It seems unlikely that Kangaeroo will ever return to his homeland again.

That was an understanding arrived at before heading Down Under, and proved to be a driving motivator to make the most of any opportunity to cherish Australia while there.

It’s fair to say that Kangaeroo pretty much fulfilled the role expected of him (except in his sister’s eyes), and had an extremely enjoyable stay in his homeland.

Thanks to all who made that possible.

Heat map of cycling in and around Melbourne

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    サッカーW杯最終予選:いよいよ日豪ガチンコ対決!

     いよいよ12日オーストラリアのブリスベーン市にてオーストラリア代表と日本代表がサッカー・ワールド・カップ最終予選のガッチンコ対決が行う。  今まで日本とオーストラリアが1968年から始まり18試合のAマッチが行い、いずれも6勝6敗6引き分けとまさにマッチしている相手だ。しかし、点数になると日本が25ゴールを取ったに対してオーストラリアが日豪戦で23回しか相手のネットに入れていない。また、現時点のFIFAランキングでは日本がオーストラリアを抜いてアジア1位となっている。  重要な対決も差がなかなかつけない。2011年アジア・カップ決勝戦では日本がロスタイムで優勝が決まり2007年のアジア・カップ準々決勝でも日本が勝利を収めたが、2006年のワールド・カップはオーストラリアが3-1で日本を破り、1994年のキリン・カップでアウェー・ゴールで豪が日本とフランスを相手に優勝した。(以下のビデオハイライトを参照)  今回の試合ではフォームで見る限り日本が有利としか言えない。香川、永友、本多をはじめ、ヨーロッパの有力チーム選手が多く、平均年齢が30歳を超えるオーストラリアに比べて若さのエネルギーが発揮できるチャンスではないか。  そして、今回の最終予選日本がオマーン・ジョールダン。また、最初の2試合がホームでプレーし、オーストラリアへ行ったら季節が反対にも関わらず熱帯雨林地に近いブリスベーンでは気温や気候が日本とそれほど変わりなく、時差もそれほどではないので最高条件が全部そろっている。  一方、ホームとは言えオーストラリアにとって条件が悪い。先週オマーンでアウェーでの0-0引き分けが約40℃で行い、30歳を超える8人のスターティング・メンバーにとってキツイ。中近東からオーストアリアの東海岸に飛行機を乗らなくては行けないのも厳しく日本代表の上に疲労とも相手にしなければならない。でも、たとえ条件が悪くても日本人選手の質が今回はるかにオーストラリアを越えている。  オーストラリアで試合が行うにしても、考えRooはアウェーの日本が2点差をつけて勝だと予想する。 FIFA Australia vs Japan Head-to-Head Statistics Football Federation Australia Japan Football Association

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