ballybraddan

Tears at the end

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:35:10 +0000

I can’t believe it. I really, really can’t. We were so close… I thought that Ziggy’s hoist had won it for us. I mean, he perfected the hoist! Surely that deserves the Championship. We were all so upset. Thank you all for supporting us, and don’t shed a tear, we lost to a great goal. He may be a Rockfort Boy, but he’s still a good old friend, so well done to Dylan. Beacon clapping for him was a moment everyone was glad to see, and swapping jerseys was what did it. Friends again! We may have lost the Championship, but just think, what could we achieve next year? (I’ll let you in on a secret. There’s a few really good hurlers in Fourth Class, and they’ll be able to try out for the team next time. One of them is Beacon’s sister, Fiona. Now there’s a girl who takes her hurling very seriously…..)
Speedy is still being friendly to me, he’s been acting kind of weird. Seany and Gerry were making fun of him, for buying me chocolates. He didn’t buy me chocolates. Why would Speedy buy me chocolates? I suspect he just wanted to be the chocolate eating champeen, and… that is what he said… So, that’s all it was, right? Sam thinks he likes me. But come on! It would be so weird if he did.
I’m actually quite sad the hurling’s over for now. Yes you heard me right! Stick carrying is actually pretty interesting… Oh, what have they done to me? Who knows, I may even try out for the team next year. Ok, maybe not. But still! I miss being assistant coach, who knows what could happen next year. We could still beat Rockfort. There’s us, and there’s them… They may have won the Championship, but it’s not over yet. For now, summer is coming and there will be lots of non stick-carrying adventures for Sam and me, and the gang, and everyone here in Ballybraddan. Thank you all for watching. Tell your friends if you liked it. Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed my blog. See you soon. XXXX

Giants!

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:53:36 +0000

The Bantor wasn’t kidding when he spoke of Carraigrua.. they really are huge! The giant repeats. But thanks to Miss O’Dowd’s training, and her great pointers during the match, and her assistant coaches, Ballybraddan made it through to the final! OK, maybe the stick carriers had a small bit to do with it. It was wonderful! Everyone was hugging. Soc and Hoopy, Snips and Jessica, The Bantor and Miss O’Dowd, me and Speedy… Yes you heard me, Speedy! He got really involved during the match, we even high fived a few times. He gave out water to everyone so they wouldn’t be dehydrated. I had to make sure he gave the water in bottles. Believe it or not, he thought it would be okay, even a good idea, to just burst water balloons over the players. Still he shouted encouragement and support all through the game. We won!!! We won!!
Another highlight of the day was Hanratty and Hawk playing Speedpuck (copyright Beacon and Dylan) (Ahem, Beacon insisted I put that in..). Have they buried the hatchet? They shook hands, it could be a sign! They didn’t play the last point. Do you think they should have? Who do you think would have won? I wonder if they’ll ever play the last one.
It looks like it’s down to Ballybraddan and Rockfort, Beacon and Dylan… the rivals. Will Ballybraddan win the championship? Will we beat the Rockfort Boys? It’s all come down to this… Us…Them…Us…Them… Who’s going to take home the trophy? I really think we’re going to do it. I can’t wait!!!!

Assistant coach

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:56:22 +0000

It’s official, I am the master of the skateboard. I am just too cool! And I was an official assistant coach. When you’re good, you’re good!!! And I’m so modest too. Okay, I don’t really have such a swelled head. It’s just I’m so happy the way it worked out with Miss O’Dowd as coach. She has Ballybraddan really believing we can do it against the Carrigrua giants. Beacon has finally proved he is ready to be captain. We’re all thrilled for him, but he is really sad for Snips and Solo. If we win, Solo will be back for the final, and Snips will get to be assistant coach. Beacon keeps telling the team to “Win this one for Solo! Win this one for Snips!”
Things have really changed around here. Who’d have thought it, me helping the stick carriers. The thing is though, it was actually fun. Even with Speedy as a fellow assistant coach. Speedy and his gang got to throw water balloons, I’ve never seen them so content in school. Of course, I had to join in. I didn’t really want to… OK, I loved it! I really got such a laugh out of drenching Beacon. Will her coaching methods work against Carraigrua though? I’m off to do my coaching duties. I’m so nervous, and I’m only on the sideline. This is the biggest game Ballybraddan have played in over sixty years. Against some of the biggest opponents. Come on guys, and Sam!! Win this one for Ballybraddan! Can we do it? What do you think?

Project night

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:37:13 +0000

It was Project Night in Ballybraddan. I told the story behind our town’s name, the salmon that took 4 men,4 days and 4 nights to land. Aidan helped by drawing great pictures for it. I was really pleased with my project and getting to tell the story to everyone.
Sam’s one about her dad being the Birdman of Ballybraddan was pretty funny. Everyone wants to know about the worm man of Wagga Wagga!! Maybe next year. It was sad when Ziggy cried about Hanratty’s glass case for “The Stick”, but we were all proud of him for telling the truth. He was so nervous, he didn’t even want to do the project that he’d worked so hard on. He saw his apology as being far more important though. Imagine standing on stage, confessing something wrong you did. Do you think he was brave?
But by far the shock of the night would have to be Beacon dancing… Who saw it coming? I certainly didn’t! He was actually really good. Such a surprise! And the Oscar for warm nice moment goes to the Speedy, Seany, Gerry,and Beacon project that led to Hawk presenting Soc with that hurley, (now named..wait for it.. “Hoopy”..) There was more. The Bantor was announcing the new coach. I was thinking, it’s not Beacon, is it Hawk? Or Hanratty? But then he said the name no one thought they’d hear, Miss O’Dowd! I’ve never seen so many jaws hit the floor at once. It was a night of the unexpected that’s for sure! I wonder will she be a good coach? What do you think?

Crattan

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:15:00 +0000

The Crattan boys were so mean! Poor Solo… to think he had to put up with them before, without our help. They played really unfairly, and the ref just let them away with it. The friendly game was a bad idea. No good came out of it. Poor Snips. He’s out for the semi-final. And the final if we make it. The Bantor took Beacon off the team, and then Solo and the Bantor were removed too for getting red cards! There was no way our principal, (The Doc, we call her. Can you figure out why?) was giving in, she was determined. I regret skateboarding in the halls.. The twins say it made her angrier.
Solo had to clean up the mess left outside the school. We were happy to help. And, surprisingly, “we” includes Speedy, Seany and Gerry. I’m sorry but, what? They actually helped! I suppose, any chance Speedy can get to be a “champeen” he’ll take it. Just when things looked like they were improving, the horrible thing happened…I can hardly write it. Poor Hoopy, smashed to pieces. Soc is really upset. He has had Hoopy all his life. He got it as a present when he was a baby. I’m getting sad again thinking about it.
But I do think Speedy did it by accident, how about you? I hope Sam doesn’t add diving into puddles of mud to the list of things she is planning for us to do this summer. She already reckons we’ll be skateboarding to the beach to surf! I’m not boasting, but, believe it or not, I’m actually getting good at skateboarding. Hey, I’m serious. Stop laughing!

Project night preparation

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:18:42 +0000

School Project Night is coming up. Ziggy is working so hard on his, he’s really into it! It’s kind of scary, I’ve never seen him so focused on school work. He’s extremely enthusiastic. He performed some of it for us. Even though I’ve never heard so many “I have seen’s” in one breath, I actually found the tales of the deeds of legendary stick carriers really interesting. Eeeeek!! What’s happening to me? Ziggy really idolises Hanratty. I think he has a plan to get him and Hawk friends again, do you think it will work? He told us about Hawk’s fantastic goal, and it sounds like Hanratty really looks up to Hawk. I wonder if Hawk knows that.
Solo didn’t want to go to the friendly match in Crattan. He told the Bantor and Snips why, and they were fine with it. Beacon was a little less willing to let him back out. We all know Solo’s not afraid of those bullies, and if he didn’t want to go, it was his choice.
In the end Solo changed his mind. I wonder how he will manage playing against his old school. Will he actually meet the gang who bullied him? I really have a bad feeling about Ballybraddan going to Crattan. Maybe I’m overreacting. I hope so.

Rock found!

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:50:56 +0000

Today was one of the strangest days in Ballybraddan since the day Sam dyed her hair orange. There was going to be a huge fight, which we all were trying to stop. But it didn’t happen. Instead everything happened. Hanratty’s Rock was found and returned to its rightful place, Aidan conquered his fear of water, Soc’s injury was healed, Speedy lost his record, and Seany and Gerry actually stood up to Speedy. My head is spinning with the drama of it all. Sam suspected all along that Aidan had some kind of plan. I think she was right. So Soc finally has the Hanratty Rock record. Or does he? I have my suspicions, but I don’t really have any proof. My theory is that Aidan and Soc switched like they did in the sandwich eating contest. If I’m right it means Aidan is the one who did the rock challenge!! Aidan!! Who’d believe it? Nobody, so I better keep my weird theory to myself. Weird day. But a great one. So many things changed but one thing stayed the same, Beacon still really thinks he should be captain. Get over yourself Beacon! I think Snips is a great captain. Do you? And what do you think of my crazy off the wall Soc and Aidan switched theory?

Terminators

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:12:42 +0000

Ballybraddan met the Turrough Terminators again. I felt really bad for Soc, he wasn’t doing as well as usual. The Bantor had a chat with him, I don’t know if it made any difference.
I have to say Solo was pretty amazing. A sideline cut from 70 metres! The look of amazement on everyone’s faces was brilliant. They cheered and cheered for Solo, but Solo was more concerned with praising Ruby for her great effort. That was really nice.
Soc’s been limping, but no one saw him get injured. The Bantor reckons that when Soc gets his confidence back, the limp will disappear. We all planned to get Hawk to start hurling again. Personally, I think it was me telling him to be a stick carrier for Soc that did it.
In non-stick related news, Aidan’s been nursing the eagle from the Hasting’s Tower back to health. He suspects it was Speedy and his crew who hurt it with their slingshots. I can’t imagine they’d do it on purpose though. What do you think? I hope the eagle gets better soon. And I really hope Soc gets his confidence back.

Turrough match

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:06:41 +0000

You’ll be happy to know, it looks like there won’t be any more, in the words of Ziggy, “shiny tracksuit man”. The Bantor will most likely be getting rid of his horrible new tracksuit!
Beacon’s being very irritable. He really has it in for Snips, and even blamed him for the draw with Turrough. Nobody is to blame really, but if it was anyone’s fault it was Beacon’s. He could’ve passed to Snips instead of expecting an impossible shot from poor Sam! Oh would you listen to me, I’m starting to sound interested. I guess it annoyed me when Beacon said I “wouldn’t understand”, just because I don’t carry a stick. That’s hardly fair, I’ve been to every match! I’m pretty sure I’ve got the grasp by now. What do you think about Beacon wanting to be captain? Do you think it’s a good idea? The gang are pretty worried; they don’t really know what to say to him.

Fight

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:12:52 +0000

I can’t believe I had a fight with Sam. Had, past tense. We don’t carry on feuding like some people. I mean I only suggested dying it blonde…well, ok, I dared her. But still, it wasn’t my fault it turned out so…so..hilarious.
I was so mad when she asked Aidan to help her with her project. And she made fun of my “squeaky voice”. I do not have a squeaky voice. Do I? Having a TV crew around was bizarre, and the presenter was sooo annoying. I’m glad me and Sam have made up, I think Beacon should do the same with Dylan. Do you think they should be friends again?
I have a feeling I’m not going to see much of Sam for a while. We won’t be skateboarding that’s for sure! The Bantor has her board safely locked away. Sam’s going to be pretty much a full-time stick carrier as long as Ballybraddan are in the Championship.
There was a more scary sight than Sam’s hair, The Bantor.. in a NEW tracksuit. And slicked back hair! It was so disturbing. I’ll never get used to that. I want the old Bantor back. Him in a white shiny tracksuit is just plain weird!