Oz, NZ and Fiji. Buzzing!
 1 week in New Zealand. So 1 week has gone by in Cold New Zealand and it was been a great one. Arrived in NZ from Oz at 2 o'clock met by Sam and Maggie, who looked very sparky for someone who should have been in bed about 4 hours ago. We caught up on the long drive back towards Greta Valley having to wait till the morning to see the sights. After 9 hours sleep I was chucked into a game of rugby for the Div 1 side, which I was probably no way near prepared but very happy to get my hands on the oval shaped ball as I had spent too many months without it. In the morning I met Hugh who would be my Chauffeur for the next month too and from rugby games. But that was not his main job title he was actually the forwards coach for Glenmark/Cheviot, and a good old chap. I wandered into the changing rooms, introduced to everyone as the Pom or Pommy and the name stuck not Tom or Banksy or anything to do with being a ranga. Well the occasional ranga was thrown in there but Pommy Stuck, they are also starting to call me Ed after Ed Sheeran which I am happy with, Not happy when they ask me to do a duet with another guy they call Justin after Biebs. I managed to bag myself 30 minutes on the WING, which was not all bad, but as any good winger does a buzzed around the ball which was very hard work and a sign that even I, whose fitness is usually in peak condition all year round was out of shape. Fortunately me but unfortunately for the team we had some pretty tough defending to do the next 20 minutes which gave me a chance to have a breather. After heroically defending our line we came out victorious 19 points to 7. Post match this was a very sociable even compared to Bishop's Stortford even though there weren't as many supporters. EVERY player from both sides stayed after the game to share a few beers with the opposition team and speeches were made afterwards, which is how it should be done. I had been given some warning by Hugh beforehand that there would be a court session afterwards, so I prepared myself for the worst as being a Pom and it being my first game I expected to get destroyed. So had a few bottle of Speights, which I was able to pay for with my Aussie Dollars which I didn't change up, so I probably lost on a few dollars, and lined my stomach ready for the worst. Turns out it wasn't all that bad the worst thing I had to do was turn my clothes the wrong way round and put my pants on the outside of my trousers. Which was hunky dory as it turns out it wasn't just my first court session so 7 others joined me. I did work out afterwards though that it was a bit more of a challenge to go for a piss, made even worse for myself as I did my belt up every time also. This went long into the night meeting a few guys who remembered Ollie from a couple of years ago and shared a few good nights with him. Sorry through out this I may refer to a lot of people as someone's friend or some/few guys as I am still in the process of remembering everyone's names. After spending a few hours in the new sheds, in court. We headed on the piss, their word for drinking, and hit Cheviot Pub the only pub in town. It was a great atmosphere late on into the night they had the rugby on and all the cheese and onion toasties you can eat. I ate 3 in as few a minutes. We ended up going to Jody's house for a few more hours which was a very nice bachelor pad. Then headed out into the cold to find our way home, that night I went to everyone's house apart from the Copeland's, as I stayed with the Fly half Paige in Gore Bay. Which was a beautiful sight to wake up to even though I got absolutely gazeboed the night before and woke up hanging like Saddam. He took me back home in the morning, were I was welcomed by Reg and treated to a beauty of a cooked breakfast which usually in this state I would not stomach, but not wanting to be rude I manned up and devoured it. That day the girls were at the Amberley Pony Show which Reg and I went to go see. Usually when Reg goes to these events he brings a spot of bad luck, I must have doubled that bad luck as the event for the girls was a bit of a disaster when myself and Reg were watching it. Kate was on Fence Judging duty and Maggie and Hannah's horses were disqualified from the cross country event more embarrassing for Hannah was the fact she had to try a second time on the fence where Kate was judging. So they ended scoring E's that day, so maybe myself and Reg may not got to another one which is also a good excuse. But it was a good way to relax after the night I just had. Reg and I on the way back popped in to see a friend of his from way back and met his friend who was built like a brick shit house. We shared a few beers, with this cheeky bastard and his friend, Reg's words, and headed home for a roast, and reminding Kate and Hannah of the card game shithead. The next week went by swimmingly. Had a tour of the Christchurch which had a lot of vast empty spaces and a city centre closed off which is sad. I managed to get some shopping in for some new boots as I couldn't the forward clobbers Sam had given me for too much longer and found these $50 dollar gems, which had a 30 day money back guarantee which means I can take them back in any condition. So pretty much a free pair of boots, pretty successful shop really. The rest of the week was filled up with leaf clearing, log stacking, driving the quad around with dogs attached to the wheels the whole time, they pretty much are asking to be run over and apparently in the past they have been, which you would think would stop them, and finally some very strange conversations and experiences with Maggie. Long story short she is a very a weird little girl, but great fun as does get the Michael taken out of her by everyone including her family for her height. The next Saturday we were up against Dunsandel, it was a very tough game which I got 80 minutes out of and we came out victors 10-8. Looking like the Glenmark season was turning around. Jessie and I had got tickets for the Canterbury Crusaders game in the evening versus the Blues, and with Jessie having a restricted license, meaning she is not allowed to drive after 10 or carry a passenger it meant I had to drive. This meant I was not allowed to drink with the fella's but I had a entertaining time watching them drink and joke about the Uni girls team who had come to play and were drinking afterwards in fame like gear and licking windows. Which myself, Jinders, Bok and this other guy shared some banter about. Bok is hilarious and maybe a bit too crude to share what we said on this blog, but pretty much questioned their sexuality and what they did in the spare time. Some of you could probably imagine some of the things he said. In the end Jessie her car and risked the $100 dollar fine so I was able to have a few Tuis after the game in the end and at the Crusaders game, were it was embarrassing for the Blues as they were annihilated. Although cold it was a very enjoyable game to watch and looking forward to seeing the Highlanders game in a few weeks time. Hope the weather is turning around back there in the UK. Ready for Dad's beloved cricket season and wish him the best of luck. Hope Rory, Polly, Freddie the best in their exams as well I am sure they will ace them. Will get on the Skype hype soon. Lots of Love Tom. Xxx
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Diary Photos
| 13th May 2012 Maggie Cross Country attempt |
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| 13th May 2012 Hannah Cross Country attempt |
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