Rugby - England v All Blacks in Christchurch

As you may all be aware now, I like to go to the odd game of Rugby. On my list of things to do while I am in New Zealand, suprisingly going to an All Blacks game was on the very top of my list. I found out about this game before I came out to New Zealand at the beginning of the year. I have never been to an England game, seen enough of them on the tv though. So this night has received a double tick on my list. So I will now bore you with an indepth "Jaimie" report of the night.
I went to the match with Zoe, and we met up before the game for a wee bite to eat - again using one of my entertainment vouchers. We then made our way to the AMI stadium via bus, with lots of other supports. I was proudly wearing my England top (thanks Si for the amazing xmas gift), surrounded by lots of black tops for the NZ All Blacks. I like the England top as it really stands out - whereas the All Blacks just blends into the back ground.
We collected the tickets at the stadium, by this point of was so totally excited and was in a bit of a tizz woss, I saw this guy come out of the stadium and smiled at him (maybe in a Jaimie I'm slightly manicly excited state) and I got a huge smile back. A few steps later Zoe roared with laughter and said 'do you know who that was'. I was like 'nope'. 'That was an All Black Jaimie'! WOW. Then we looked down and saw my England top on full view and that started me off on a whole giggle fit.
After picking up the tickets, which I would not let Zoe hold, I got my programme. Honest to god, I was nearly being sick with pure excitment. We made our way into the ground. We just wandered into the half way line area and I saw England warming up - well out came the camera. I'm saying to Zoe 'oh look it's Tait... there's Flood.... ooo where's Noon'. A few photo's later we made our way to our seats. I was a bit worried that the seats would be naff, but they where totally ace.
The opening ceremony was someone singing WWII songs, with lots of fire works going off. Then we had the English National Anthem, followed by both New Zealands (Maour and English). Then .....
the Haka......
totally amazing....

So, to war.
Where do I start. What an amazing game. Ok so we didn't win, lost 44-12. But was very pleased that Flood was in the no 10 shirt and also that Tait had been moved from no 13 to no 15, a position that he seemed far more comfortable in. Was odd Jonny, not being there, but great for Flood. Was truely pleased to see Noon playing well. These are all Newcastle Falcon players, so I am slightly bias.
Flood was off after the first half, but he sustained quite a hit during trying stop the All Blacks scoring a try and damaged his shoulder. He was down for a while and kinda looked like he'd been winded, he was bent over on his knees but seemed to be holding his stomach. Shame but great that Barkley then came on.

I screamed like a good en, I was surrounded by All Black fans, but I did our boys proud. At one point Tait had the ball and did a heck of a run down the left side towards the try line. I've never done this before but was screaming "Come on Mathew", appearly over and over and over again. Zoe later said I sounded like a pround or pushy mother. (photo is of Dan Carter kicking a converstion)
I was totally excited for the whole game. But Tait got tackled, I screamed, and my hands went straight to my mouth as I knew it wasn't good. He was down and out. Knocked out. The All Black he had collided with (Richard Kahui) was holding Taits head and calling for help. I felt sick, I seriously thought I was going to be sick. Everyone in the whole stadium was silent. The medic came over and was holding Tait's head. Tait was moving his arms slightly off the ground and moving his legs but totally seemed disorientated. He was down on the ground for quite a while (still had my hands over my mouth). When he finally sat up, the whole stadium took an intake of breath, as teh camera panned in on him, his face was covered in blood. He was buggyed off - thankfully he was sat up not lying down. Phew.
England tried to pick the pace up and I helped with moral by doing my up most to shout and support them. Am still Mrs Doile (Father Ted)though .... COME ON, COME ON or my other shouting phase is STOP THEM.
I am very proud of my boys and as I said at one point when we missed a penilty, much to the amusment of the people around me, 'well done for giving it a go, it's the taking part that counts'.

Night Out and it was Snowing

Am working my way through my Entertainment book (discount vouchers), so Zoe, Gareth and I decided to go out for dinner. Just chose a place in the book and thought - lets go.
We went to a resturant on the other side of town called Ancestral, as it was advertised as having 'private karaoke booths'. So off we troop and wait for the bus in the snow. Once we found the restuaurant, we realised that the karaoke was in Taiwanese only. But we decided to have our dinner there any way. So ordered 3 different dishes, to share. We couldn't find the any alcohol on the menu, so I have a lemon fizzy to drink. The food was really nice with huge portions and was ridiculously cheap. After using the voucher, our dinner only cost us $10 each (about £3-4). Bargain.
Zoe was still up for a sing song, so we went and caught the bus back into town - had stopped snowing. We made our way to The Lemontree, only to find out that it was closed for a private function. As it was cold we went to the bar next door, a good old Irish Bar called Sullivans. We had a few drinks, a chat and a giggle. Then called it a night. Good night was had by all.

Christchurch

Actually got round to taking some photo's of Christchurch city centre. I was meeting Rach for lunch and just happened to have my camera in my bag, so took these. This is one of the Catheral in Catheral Square, right in the centre of Christchurch.

One More of Templeton

Can you believe how he is lying?? Templeton would often sleep like this on the bean bag in front of the fire - oh what it would be like to be a cat .....

My Car

Here is my car - one day it'll be fixed and stop leaking into the passagener footwell.

It's Snowing

This is the only day so far this winter that it has snowed in Christchurch. We just got a light dusting of snow and didn't last too long.

This is a wee church that was next to Marshlands Garden Centre, and looked rather cute with the snow. Zoe and I had gone to the garden centre cafe as the kiwi's are big into breakfast and I am certainly enjoying trying all different cafes that do breakfast.

I had the pancakes with bacon and maple syrup - yumm yumm, Zoe had the eggs benedict which looked lush.

Only went there as had a voucher from my Entertainment book, but think that I shall be going back there at some point. The cakes looked lovely.

Queen's Birthday Weekend

Rugby and Night Out

I was just settling down to a night in, in front of the box, when Jen came in my room and asked me if I fancied going to the game as a ticket had become available - is the Pope Catholic - so bit her hand off and said yes. then she told me I had 18 minutes to get ready and that we might be going out afterwards. I put all my usual layers on, grabbed my Tui hat, high heels and ran out the door.

The game was good, I shouted lots - nothing new there. But surprisingly the Crusaders lost 14 - 26 to the Highlanders. I've seen the Highlanders play in their home ground earlier this year in Dunedin (south of Christchurch). Lots of rivalry between the two teams. I think the Crusaders didn't play so well as they knew they where playing in the semi-final the following week, where as the Highlanders had something to prove.
A rugby game and few Tui's later, time to hit the town.

Luckily Jen had decided not to drink and had driven us to the match. So as we drove into the centre of Christchurch from the stadium, I managed to change my top, remove several layers and put my high heel dancing shoes on. We headed to SOL square and met up with some other people which made 8 of us out. We went to Fat Eddies, a place I like and they had live music on. We managed to find a table and seats for us all and drank a few drinks while nattering. I was drinking Radlers. It's a lager, but kind of tastes like a larger top with a bit of lime - full of calories I am sure but nice enough. I also like Summer Ale which is a light ale, the winter one is yuck and tasted like tar !!

We decided that it was time to go dancing, well we all did have our dancing shoes on. Off we headed to Boogie Nights. Was as cheesy as I thought it would be, but not as tacky - surprisingly. We danced the night away, at least a good few hours, had to burn off the calories of the Radlers. We all left at about 1am as my feet where sore. I couldn't get over the people queuing to get in, and then was told that clubs close about 5am in New Zealand. Mind you that is way past my bed time.

It Really is Autumn Here

I just wanted to take a photo to show you that it really is autumn here.

I woke up, the sun was shining, it was a lovely crisp day so I decided to go for a walk. It was gorgeous in the sunshine, but as soon as you where in the shade it was rather cold. I walked around the streets where I live and the photo of the hills, is the view down my road. You can just about see the district of Cashmere on the hills, rather posh up there.

More Hot Chocolate

I met up with Alison (who i met the first time I was over in NZ) for a hot chocolate and I was totally blown away with what they'd drawn with the chocolate sauce. I just had to be a tourist again and take a photo. After a bit of a natter, we went and looked around the market at the Art Centre in town. I treated myself and bought myself a pair of daggly earrings and then in the art centre went to the bead shop and bought the bits and pieces to make myself a pair of earrings.
It was nice to catch up with Alison but she is very near the end of her Uni studies and had 5 assignments which she needed to start, so where just out for a few hours.