Around The World In 80 Waves

A quick note to congratulate the British and Irish Lions on their first series win in sixteen years. Bring on New Zealand in four years time!

It has been a great tour and particular praise should go to Warren Gatland who has taken a fair bit of stick for some of his selections, however one doesn’t hear much criticism of any of that after the win.

Congratulations too for the captain of the team Sam Warburton, who you can see a picture of here on his way home. I think the snap shows how much the win meant to him.

With so many Welshmen in the squad it bodes well for the next few years for my team too. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the next six nations tournament when I get home and then on to the World Cup in 2015.

After such a successful tour I don’t really want to pick holes in the preparation of Gatland’s coaching team, but had to mention an obvious flaw I have spotted in their training.

I have seen clear evidence of the Lions team going surfing before the first test and further evidence of them satisfying their wave crave before the third test, but no evidence of any surfing before the second test which they lost. I’m just saying…

It is the main event and the whole of the rugby world is looking towards Sydney. There are lions shirts everywhere, in fact so much so you wonder if there are going to be any Australia fans at the game.

Two of my school friends are separately in town and I’m trying to meet up with them before the match because I know how much carnage there will be after the final whistle. Sadly I don’t manage to meet up with Neil, but randomly bump into Emma at a pub on The Rocks before heading to the stadium. We haven’t seen each other since we were teenagers but recognise each other instantly, and catch up over a drink. 

Later on I meet up with my section of the lions support and we head towards the ANZ stadium where the atmosphere is building nicely. Chris had secured some great seats for us and after a few beers the game kicked off.

The lions are doing well but an Australia score late in the first half means things are far from certain whilst we discuss the connotations over a half time beer. However in the second half a team made up largely of Welshmen beats the Wallabies into submission and the game ends in a record victory for the lions. 

The carnival atmosphere had started for the lions fans some time before the final whistle, with every Aussie fan leaving early getting a round of “Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio!” from 30,000 rowdy Brits in the stadium.

It was one of the things I was really hoping to see on my own tour and our own festivities continued well into the night. As you can see things got a bit messy, and I cannot explain why my friend’s wife is sticking her fingers up my nose, whilst I proudly hold the hat I had liberated from one of the fans of our vanquished foes. The rest is a bit of a blur…

The Sydney Opera House, like the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal is one of those buildings which is instantly recognisable all over the world.

You may not be aware that rather than one huge auditorium there are actually many theatres within the structure.

A school friend of my sister who I also know well is in Sydney for a few weeks as part of the production team for the Horrible Histories series.

The Awful Egyptians show has sold out throughout its run and as a consequence Nicola is quite busy during her brief stay in Sydney.

She does however make time to meet up with me, and as Stage Manager can invite me backstage so that I can get an exclusive tour of the Opera House itself.

Here is a picture next to her control station at the side of the stage, from which she controls the video and effects involved in the show.

I feel really privileged having the run of the place and cant resist larking about in the theatre.

This is my one man effort at asking for an encore. I also get to see the green room where all involved in the shows can relax and have a drink.

Sadly Nicola and her friend decide that an early night would be best for them as opposed to enjoying a Friday night out in the city with me which is somewhat disappointing. Not to worry though I will save my energy for the main event tomorrow.

When not venting my spleen about the failings of Windows 8 I have been largely amusing myself in Adam and Rosanna’s house by hanging out with their two lovely Jack Russell terriers called Lily and Spyda.

I invested in a pull toy for the dogs early in my stay which has been a tremendous source of amusement, but I have to give full credit to Spyda for his enthusiasm for ball games. See this video for an idea of how I have spent hours with him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67aNWm_SL6c&feature=youtu.be

In the build up to the deciding test match, a game between Australia and the British and Irish lions was played at the North Sydney Oval close to where I am based. It was an older and fatter version of the main event this week, with the Aussie team being led by David Campese

I persuaded Adam and Romy to come along to the game in a bid to increase the rugby banter in the house in the build up to the final game of the tour.

The game also allowed me the opportunity to catch up with an old flatmate from university, who is out here for the whole tour and visiting family.

Firthy and I were very much in opposite camps during the dark days of Welsh rugby when record losses were an all too frequent occurrence and Will Carling’s England were reaching World Cup finals, all of which meant I had to suffer dogs’ abuse for years. As a consequence it was good to catch up over a few beers and be cheering the same side for once. That the test team for Saturday had already been announced with so many Welsh players in the team was pennies from heaven for me too.

As for the match itself, it immediately became apparent to Adam and Romy that the result was somewhat irrelevant. It was largely another excuse for the lions fans to wear their shirts and sample a few more of the local beverages.

Campo tried a few goose steps much to everyone’s enjoyment and the lions team won the game but the moment of the match was Australia’s try in the corner right in front of us. The Aussie flanker who didn’t look like he had run for anything more than a bus in years had to try and make it down the entire length of the pitch after an unexpected interception. Bless him, he looked like he was running in treacle by the time he reached the try line, but just about managed to stumble over the line in slow motion like a falling tree to score to much applause and laughter from the huge crowd who had turned out for the game.

Chris is up for another surf before the weekend is over, so we go in search of a good wave. The wind seems to have dropped, it has stopped raining (albeit briefly) and we opt for the break at Fairy Bower beach near Manly. It is a gorgeous break where the waves breaking over rocks wrap all the way around the headland and you ride the waves all the way around too.

We have been a bit slow getting started so just have a short period of time before the sun sets and the angry fish go looking for food. It isn’t very crowded and the waves come through pretty regularly.

For one reason or other I haven’t clicked with my new board up until this point but the two of us have a great time here. I catch loads of long snaking rides before the fear of Noah’s gets the better of me. (Noah’s Arks = Sharks in Australia)

This is despite one of the most blatant drop ins I have ever seen by Chris on my wave, who freely admits to it after the fact. These ladies demonstrate that the person nearest the camera should have priority because they are up and riding as well as being nearest the curl. Chris was neither but still barged in. I wouldn’t mind if the view of him doing so was as good as my demonstrators, but it isn’t even close. Bad form.

Apology accepted though and after getting changed in the dark because the sun had actually gone down we go to meet Ben and Kirsty, who is another old friend from London for beers in the Steyne in Manly.

I never found out why but have assumed it was something to do with the lions supporters’ Scottish contiongent, because halfway through the evening there a marching bagpipe band was doing laps of the hotel. Good fun.

I am going to be brief here because the result is a long time passed. Well played Australia. It was another nail biter that could have gone the other way, but it didn’t so congratulations to them.

However for the rest of my days my recollection of this game will be of George North who should have been in the process of being tackled deciding that he would simply pick up the tackler rather deal with being hindered by him, and just run with him as well as the ball.

I’ve never seen anything like it in all the years I’ve been watching rugby. Just Awesome! Here is a clip if you would like to see for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVgc2JVNGaE 

It is the weekend and because like normal people with work commitments he is unable to go surfing during the week my old flat mate from London Chris has picked me up in order to go to the beach.

We check out quite a few breaks in the pouring rain (still without a raincoat! #$%&!!!) and all of them have pretty poor surf conditions, so having exhausted our options we opt for Bilgola Beach where there is some shelter from the wind in the bay.

Whilst we are getting ready I manage to finally get a picture of me with my new board and its lop-sided wax job, which has since been addressed.

The surf is a bit rubbish everywhere today, and Bilgola was really just the best of a bad bunch. the bay itself is pretty cool though and the cliffs at the north end are lined with fantastic houses overlooking the bay.

As you can see I still haven’t attached my camera to the board because other technical issues had been taking up all my time, which means that I don’t have any pictures to share with you of the few waves I caught here.

I have to say I wasn’t all that comfortable whilst in the water at this beach because before getting in we had looked at a number of seals which were relaxing in the designated seal resting area on the beach.

For the whole time I was in the water it struck me that any shark which knows the local area (and they generally do) might think that a beach where tired seals (and therefore an easy meal) can be found might represent a fast food option in the same way McDonald’s does for humans.

I didn’t need too much persuading to get out as a consequence.

Both my hosts in Sydney are lawyers and they run a successful practise specialising in family and employment law north of Sydney in Newport.

I am told that a regular treat for them and their staff is to go for a wonderful meal together, and I am lucky enough to be invited to join them all for a thank you lunch for one of their secretaries who is moving on.

I know a little bit about the law but really the extent of my own experience barely goes beyond reading the exploits of Judge Dredd in the 2000ad comic.

(As an aside on this I bought a great book at Universal Studios in Hollywood, which is a combination of all the stories written which combine Batman and Judge Dredd. it has been posted home but I can’t wait to read ‘Judgement on Gotham’ and others!)

Given this well versed history I was a little nervous that I may be out gunned on the conversation, but I needn’t have worried because everybody was so relaxed. We were at The Tilbury in Woolloomooloo where I couldn’t fault anything. The food, wine and service were all impeccable.

Bit by bit everybody fell by the way side but I had friends still in town so walked up over The Domain to Circular Quay. (Sadly I got soaked in the process due to my raincoat still not having arrived!) I had a great evening with my old flat mate Chris and his wife Rachel who I also know well, which ended in a fantastic Prohibition themed bar in some basement just off George street. Based on how the afternoon had started I felt ready for any raid by the police.

Whilst sight seeing upon arriving in Sydney I saw this glorious open air pool right next to the famous Harbour Bridge and because I enjoy swimming so much I couldn’t resist going for a dip.

The pool is 50 metres long and heated, but I still got a bit of a shock when jumping in because it is salt-water. That is nothing compared to the shock of the price though. Nearly $20 when you add in the optional extras of a shower after swimming and the use of a locker!

Sydney is currently the most expensive city in the world and after a few days here I can see why.

When I first saw the pool I thought I might make use of it frequently but when surfing is free I cant justify that kind of expense even if the setting is majestic.