...junior sport should be about fun

My first article for the Footy Almanac looks at the morals behind childrens' sport.

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/morals-v-medals-who-comes-out-on-top/

...I can't wait to find out the winners from the shortlist!

The final review from the shortlist:

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/08/29/a-golden-book-from-dubosarsky/

...about the Winter Road Trip

I spoke to the gorgeous Brooke Finlay of sister outfit Stonefield and the ever-lovely Brooke Addamo a.k.a. Owl Eyes about their Winter Road Trip tour for The Line campaign.

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/08/12/drawing-the-line-with-stonefield/

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/08/12/drawing-the-line-with-owl-eyes/

...how can a 65 year old man know teenage girls?

Bill Condon, one of Australia's favourite authors, has a new book out. Here's my review.

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/08/06/condon-draws-straight-line-to-teenage-hearts/

...surely this will be a winner

I can't praise this book highly enough. Check out my review here:

http://theunderage.com.au/2012/07/23/newton-discovers-secret-to-good-books/

...Stonnington Battle of the Bands is going to be awesome!

The Stonnington FReeZA Battle of the Bands heat is ready to go off this Friday night, July 6th, with bands Saskwatch and last year’s winner Animaux to headline the event.

The all-ages event sees young bands Hot English, South East, Stereoking and Alice Blu battle it out for a place in the Victorian Battle of the Bands final as well as a $1000 recording and mastering package from Birdland Studios, Prahan and a spot on St Kilda Festival’s Push stage. The statewide winner wins the opportunity to play at Pushover festival 2013.

Stonnington FReeZA/Soundslike Productions committee member Nam Truong says ‘Bands like Stonefield started off playing there (at FReeZA events) and now they play at Glastonbury! ... The upcoming ‘Battle of the Bands’ is a great example of what we do.’

The doors of the Malvern Town Hall, on the corner of High Street and Glenferrie Road, Malvern, open at 6pm. Tickets are $15 at the door or available for $10 on www.chapeloffchapel.com.au . For more information contact Soundslike Productions on 8290 7020.

All FReeZA events are fully supervised and smoke, alcohol and drug free.

...about cortisone

After being crunched in a tackle playing open age schoolgirls AFL in April 2011, I hurt my ribs. They ache whilst breathing, doing push ups, lifting heavy stuff, even in situations such as listening to bass-heavy music. I decided to visit the sports doctor. He prescribed  me some anti-inflammatory pain relief gel which didn't help, and now he suggests I visit the hospital and get a cortisone injection. Not knowing much about this treatment, I have done some research.

Cortisone is a type of legal steroid which comes in the form of injection, pill, cream, eye drop and lotion. They are used to reduce inflammation and therefore pain in soft-tissue injuries, inflamed joints, bursitis and arthritis. It works by preventing white blood cells (they fight infections, sickness, bleeding etc) gathering in the affected area. One injection can reduce pain for several months, years or even remove pain forever. Of course there are rare negative side effects: facial flushing, skin colour lightening and soreness. More major side effects are known but I don't want to think about them!

Having an enormous phobia of needles, medical procedures and blood, this procedure makes me feel faint just thinking about it, except I have had enough of this continuous ache. I think I may just have to put my fears behind me, which will be extremely difficult. But hopefully it's possible.