EXORCISING THE BOXING DAY DEMONS....

Time flies. It's rapidly approaching forty years since Spike and I joined forces on the crikit field and we have been firm friends ever since. Along with Dicko, that other moustachio'd marvel from the crikit club who also remains a close and valued friend, during the winter we would dutifully go and sit in the Northern Stand at the Field Of Dreams, aka the mighty MCG, and watch our beloved Melbourne Demons get a flogging every week, a sporting ritual that in one form or another is still practiced by the three of us - and our long suffering families.

Spike takes a well earned rest after we suffer another shellacking

Spike took the masochistic streak one step further than the rest of us and for the last 28 years has been the MFC Team Manager (and now also a  Life Member) - talk about a glutton for punishment!

Two MFC Life Members and another vaquero who should be!!

Anyway, Ceedub and Lyn came to England for Christmas and popped in for a quick stopover at the hacienda where a devilish welcome awaited them. It's been five years and it was really great to see them again.

The lads are still in match condition!

Lyn, Gun Key Forward (filling out Jake Spencer's dacks better than he ever did), Life Member

Note the subtle hacienda identifier on the left - an MFC scarf

There wasn't a lot of time, but we managed to catch up on everything and have a quick turn around the byways of Ealing, past the high street stores and down to the fabled Ealing Studios which are still used today albeit not for quality stuff like the Carry On movies.

Lyn had two things she wished to do - see the Christmas lights (which you now know were spectacular!) and have a spin on the London Eye (something they hadn't yet done on previous visits). First we hop out at Knightsbridge for Lyn to do a bit of bargain hunting in Harrod's.

Even though it's the beginning of the post-Xmas Sale (surely an oxymoron of epic proportions when it comes to Harrod's), being Sunday, it doesn't open until 11:00am and there are hundreds of people waiting for the doors to open. Lyn joins in whilst the intelligent duo go across the road for a coffee and await Lyn's return - with a famous green bag in hand as it so happens.

Next it's a leisurely stroll between Green Park and Piccadilly Circus tube stations and with the weather less than perfect it gave Lyn a chance to some of the lights down the arcades and adorning various premises.

Ai Weiwei's 'Tree' sculpture in the Royal Academy's courtyard

Two stops and we are at The Eye and take in the sights. Cloudy or not, it's still one of the world's great city vistas. With Lyn struggling a little with a painful leg (not ideal for walking) we decide against walking around central London and head home for a spot of Asian fusion for dinner.

And all too soon they were loading the suitcases into the car and heading south towards Cornwall. Short and very sweet, we really did appreciate Spike and Lyn coming to say 'hi', it's been a long time - too long. They did also load us up with some new Demons merchandise, so we're all set for the forthcoming AFL season.

CARNA DEEEES!!!

AND they very kindly brought all the way over from Oz a special delivery of "Auntie Gayle's Famous Christmas Fruit Cake" which has gone down a treat (a big thanks to Gayle - you effortlessly retain the award for 'World's Best Fruitcake').

See you at The 'G' Spike and Lyn, and don't forget to wave to the cameras when we take on the Giants in Round 1!.