Diary for Another Idiot Abroad


Half a job England fall short again....

2015-03-02

Well, at least we've remembered how to bat again!

I thought 309 was a decent total, but I've just heard Bumble on the tv re-run saying we would need around 340. Looks like he was right. At least we were treated to a masterclass from Sangakkara, surely one of the best batsmen of a generation. An average of over 40 after more than 400 matches isn't too shabby.

On the down side it doesn't look like our bowlers are good enough for us to beat the stronger sides so I think quarter finals will be our limit. On the plus side the amount of salt on my fish and chips at the ground should prevent any chance of me suffering cramp for the next month.

Sat next to a funny couple as well. Travellers over from England at their first ever cricket match. I was happy to help them decipher a few rules and explain the scoreboard. The guy roared his approval every time bat made contact with ball during England's innings regardless of where the ball went. I wasn't sure about their lunch though. Plums, dates, hard boiled eggs and crisps smothered in that couscous stuff. I think theyre a bit posh. By the interval the novelty of cricket had worn off and they spent the second innings immersed in the Guardian cryptic crossword. Needless to say they didn't ask me for any help with that.

Getting ready to sadly leave Wellington. Seems like I'd only just arrived. Spent yesterday firstly at the Zealandia reserve which has a lot of endangered birds and is a quality place to get away from the traffic and noise of the city. Also visited the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, which is just what it says and was well worth seeing. Have spent some quality time in the bar here at the Cambridge Hotel, where the locals love nothing more than to rub in a win against the Poms. That is until they beat the Aussies in a thriller so I got a brief respite when a couple of gold and green shirts were spotted yesterday.

A fact I learned on my way back is that the green man for pedestrians on the traffic lights in New Zealand is actually a woman. It's in honour of the bird that campaigned to get women the vote. Interesting eh?

Another thing to be aware of is that a two piece meal at KFC comes with a very small drink, but you do get a bread roll and a tub of gravy with a scoop of mashed potato in it. Unfortunately they don't think to mention that it already comes with gravy when you order a gravy to go with your meal. Cheers then! That's something for Toddy and his top knot to be aware of as he'll be arriving in Auckland soon. Have fun there mate.

Got to get up early tomorrow morning for a flight to Melbourne, my final destination before heading home. Sadly the end of the holiday is in sight.