The FINAL SHOWDOWN

Woke up at Brad and Pipps in Adam kindly lent bed. Am already nervous, the anticipation is growing and just want tye match to be now! However that cant be as I dont have my onsie...

Lovely family breakie and goodbies, brad dropped me at the ferry in manly. Sat here by myself quietly tapping with my Tonga v Wales match ball from 2003 world cup (thanks Brad!) and taking in for one last time the awesome views of the harbours and bridges la la of Sydney. Home tomorrow - just need to win this blasted match first.

So Brads and Pips have been in Aus for 10 years odd now & have 3 critters, Adam, Ems and Oscar. They all sound Australian and are supporting the 'Quantas' Wannabies (think I got the spelling right), what's worse is Pipps is too!!!!! Come on now play the game, it cant make sense can it???? Ok no trash talk as would be horrible to get too much egg on my face! Thanks for a lovely escape from the tour and see you soon - hopefully within the next 7 years.

Met up with the gang in time to head for our Gullivers bye bye meal in Darling Darling harbour then off for a few beers before back to hotel and coach to the Olympic stadium.
I'm afraid I think this was the poorest stadium we've been to although by far the biggest at 84k ish.

Fri Brad, Pips and family

Wandered round the botanical gardens with Tony.  Awesome views and so quiet as its the middle of winter here!

 Ferry to Manly then OMG met by the Price clan! Had a very pleasant chat with an elder couple on the ferry who were complaijing about sydneys transport system. I thought the Poms were meant to whine....

on the beach - wearing Wilfs top hence the stomach looks big.....

 Brad and Oscar

Adam getting wiped

Oscars rugger practice with the cockatoos.... big and angry and that wasnt the under 7s .

 Evening bbq round the fire, wasnt able to pinch neighbours shed parts.... apparently not the done thing in Australia..... saw the oodies and some real local aussies! No sledging at all!!!

thurs bondi and legends

I stayed on the beach to warn the Japanese whalers not to attack

Harry's pies, so good I had them twice........

Malcolm thinking about dinner at the legends game xxx

wed 3rd Manly

Brief overview. More details later.

Manly by Ferry
Talked with a PE teacher not far off retiring.
few bars
Back to the surrey hills area
Met up with brad, vince , sam and the chaps.
8 Old Sutts in a curry house in Sydney!!!

tues Wilfs Birthday!!!!

Now you wont believe this but for Wilfs birthday we're off on a pub crawl in Sydney, just what's needed after a quiet night last night.....
presently in the Glenmore hotel rooftop terrace awaiting lunch.
the view from the toilet!!!

Mon 1st Jul - Pre Wilf's B'Day

All up freshish.
Wayne managed to slash his face with a razor - err that would be a little nick.

The little pink penguin that appeared with me yesterday is helping.... we're well I hope it's not packed full of drugs.



OK other interesting facts on Australia:

Vodafone is rubbish coverage apparently. Bad to the point that if you go home and there's poor coverage they'll refund you - but at $1 for as long as you like calling home it's pretty bloomin amazing & we're only really staying pretty central so network is fine fine fine.

In Perth there's no competition on utilities. In Melbourne there is and you can save shed loads swapping around.

Broadband/Wi-fi. Aint good at all. Cause the providers stand no chance of making any money if they take on the infrastructure upgrading it's fallen to the government (which ever one that is today), and it's pretty ropey anyways - no BT Infinity here!

Right shutting down now, off to Sydney and another world of fun. We're in the center very near the four seasons & Circlular thingy Quay so that should be really good & with Wilf's Bday, Brad, Pippa family and Vince to catch up with, Sam and Donna, Rugby legends game and a silly test match on Saturday should be a fun packed week.
Laters

Oops, malc just sent these....

Ok so arrived in Sydney we're staying very centrally and looking forward to a great week.

this evening beers on Gullivers, the chaps arranging the tour & also present Steve Thompson, mr Guscott sir and Colin Charvis.

we forgot to eat.....

Sun 30th June - AFL day

Right no more moping around.
Today is meet up with Emily (was Marketing Director at Long Tall Sally before heading back home to Aus), try not to shock her with the mass band of Port Talbot/Sutts chaps and then head to the MCG to watch some AFL (Assie rules).
Now we all know the rules to Aussie rules..... there are none! Well that's not entirely true there are many rules, but no-one actually knows what they really are. Like women and the off side rule........ errr apologies to anyone who might actually know it, but I challenge you!

Ahhh - so I haven't been very good today with the piccies.
Emily took me down to St Kilda beach and we went for a wander before fish and chips looking out to sea. Great to meet up again and put the world to rights & finding more and more our about the differences between UK and Aussietralia. Thanks Em for the tour and lunch, see you soon.

56k people turned up and the MCG was only just over half full, $20 for a ticket pretty impressive and sit anywhere - well anywhere in certain sections, I think....

OK so my piccie taking is getting worse I admit!

Went for a Chinese in Chinatown with Shane Williams - the little Welsh Wizard - he had special fried rice - the rest of the group weren't impressed, errr not by his choice of food as special fried rice is very nice, although I prefer Keema rice but that would be at an Indian.

OK the Singy woman from last night has arrived in the bar so it's defo ni nite time.
Sydney tomorrow and the last leg of the tour.
COME ON THE LIONS!!!