Ok, so the first thing to mention is that I have seen England win cricket matches......it just doesn't seem to happen very often. I'm not taking the blame for some of the dismissals we saw yesterday, Eoin Morgan's especially. However, it has to be said that England at times looked a lot like the team I was watching getting thumped this time last year in Australia and New Zealand in the ODI World Cup. Anyway, a 2-0 lead can be hard to defend, just ask Alex Neil.
There was a little period in the game when we wondered if England were going to surprise us and get an improbable win, but AB de Villiers put paid to that. It was all set for him to score a century in his 200th ODI to win the game and he did. He is just one of those sickening characters who is good at whatever he does. I've even heard that he was the first kid in his class at school to learn to spell his first name.
The day had started well as the potential chaos at our hostel didn't materialise and it was a quiet night. I found out in the morning that the stag party were only here for a few beers and a brai and didn't stay the night. It was just a relief to find out I hadn't gone deaf during the night.
Straight after breakfast we got picked up by our new best mate taxi driver, John from Rwanda, for the trip across to Newlands. It's got to be said that the reputation of being the most iconic cricket ground in the World is totally justified, it is stunning. It would actually be right up there on it's own merit, but with the backdrop of Table Mountain it is surely the best venue by far.
Funny thing when I put the Norwich flag up on the railings in front of a young couple. It turned out that the girl was from Brighton, but had studied at the UEA. I told here that I'd only worked there for 10 years so she had probably graduated before I arrived. She didn't appreciate that, but her boyfriend did. He was less impressed though when we got chatting and she reeled off all of her facts about the UEA. Got the feeling he'd heard them before, more than once. There were another three Norwich fans who came over throughout the day, including a season ticket holder from Windsor and a guy who now lives in Hampshire.
Another highlight was catching up with the Larners, who are also here for a couple of weeks, as they walked around the ground. Had a good chat about our respective travel plans and was very impressed that Richard, Sarah, their son Josh and his mate Jack had hiked up the mountain yesterday.
We also arranged to meet up in the evening and have a meal at the V and A Waterfront. Ro had a restaurant recommended to him by his brother so we thought we'd give it a go. Has to be said the food was superb, but there was a twist. We have had a pretty trouble free holiday so far, without grief from anyone or anything, so we can only assume that the Larners are a magnet for trouble. Firstly one of the many vagrants about, who usually leave you alone if politely asked to, became very waspy and came right over to the table arms swingjng and issuing death threats. Fortunately he eventually moved on, but the respite was only brief.
We started to notice things moving around behind our table and before long we realised there were rats running up and down the beer garden and around the tables. Pretty much the whole of the second course and coffees were spent with everyone's feet off the floor. Obviously it's pretty difficult to tuck your shorts into your socks for protection. The waiter thought it was all hilarious and reassuringly mentioned that there are stacks of them around later on when it gets quiet and that one of them is the size of a rabbit! So that explained why we were the only people eating outside. Anyway, it was still a cracking night spent with very good company. Ro says he's got another recommendation from his brother, so that's something to look forward to....
We moved over to our new digs today, which is the Spring Tide Inn at Sea Point. Another nice place with a friendly host called Earl. He runs it with a lady called Jean, who unbelievably moved here 30 years ago.....from Norwich! On top of that, she had some German guests, who arrived this morning and stay here every couple of years, who had recently been to Norwich and brought here some photos from their time there. I think she was feeling quite nostalgic.
So, according to the Rough Guide to Cape Town, Main Rd in Green Point, the location of our hostel, was 'frequented by drunks, hookers and middle class shoppers creating an edgy mix of sleaze and respectability'. Certainly was something there for the three of us, but can you guess who was into what?
Exciting day planned for tomorrow with a mini safari. Only downside is a very early start and getting up at 5:30am. Where does that leave my seven o'clock plop??