Sunday, January 15, 2012
Arriving to Cape town (Tom.M)
The two hour flight to Cape town wasn't too bad although we were all tired from the early 4:30 am start that day. The best part of the flight was when Table mountain came into view as soon as the plane began the descent. Let me tell you it is pretty big and very flat (hence the name table).
After the flight we passed through the airport and got on to another very nice bus which then took us for a short drive to where we met our host families for the next two nights. Again the team all agrees that our hosts are very welcoming and supplied us with an excellent dinner and breakfast the following morning.
The games today were tough. They were both very physical and mine was certainly more physical than I was used to. This was also the first time many of the development team had played eight minute quarters which was great for fitness and a good learning experience.
AGS 1. : 8
Wynberg 1. : 8
AGS Development side: 4
Wynberg 2. : 11
Tom M
Thanks for the excellent game commentaries
Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for taking the time to describe each game in detail!
You must all be very busy and it's really appreciated back home.
What great experience playing so many different teams. Some fantastic results too!!
Sounds like the boys are pretty committed and playing well as teams.
Enjoy the slightly cooler climate and all the sightseeing!
We look forward to the highlights of Game 4..
Hope you're all having a wonderful time and everyone is fully recovered!!
Hi again to Tom C :)
Lisa
Cape town and Game 3
Arrived in Cape Town last night. Much cooler than Durban. Immediately dropped the boys at Wynberg school where they departed with their billets. Now back at Wynberg on a gorgeous blue sky morning, no humidity and Table Top mountain just sitting there in all it's glory.
Wynberg boys' High School has been estabilished for 170 years and had only 13 headmasters in that time. It is set in a 20 hectare estate with a lot of estabilished trees.
Dev team up first at 10 am. 8 minute quarters in 25 m pool.
Quarter 1 - tough start with some seagulling from the other team netting them 2 of their goals. Score at end 0-3. Our boys however looking together and hopefully will be able to pull back.
Quarter 2 -good quarter boys fought hard and scored 3 goals but other team still very strong. Score at end of quarter 3-5.
Quarter 3 not so good. The 8 minute quarters and the speed of their swimmers is really showing. It just shows how important swimming is in this game. Score at end of quarter 4-10.
Quarter 4 much the same but some good defence. Final score 5-12.
Wynberg boys' High School has been estabilished for 170 years and had only 13 headmasters in that time. It is set in a 20 hectare estate with a lot of estabilished trees.
Dev team up first at 10 am. 8 minute quarters in 25 m pool.
Quarter 1 - tough start with some seagulling from the other team netting them 2 of their goals. Score at end 0-3. Our boys however looking together and hopefully will be able to pull back.
Quarter 2 -good quarter boys fought hard and scored 3 goals but other team still very strong. Score at end of quarter 3-5.
Quarter 3 not so good. The 8 minute quarters and the speed of their swimmers is really showing. It just shows how important swimming is in this game. Score at end of quarter 4-10.
Quarter 4 much the same but some good defence. Final score 5-12.
Game 3 Prem team . Boys played exceptionally well. Defence was fabulous and we scored the first goal. They then scored a couple so the score at the end of the first quarter was 2-3.
Second quarter brilliant defence by both teams kept the score down to 1 each in that quarter.
Third quarter we clawed our way back with great team work and some brilliant steals. Score at end of third quarter 5 all.
Fourth quarter still no signs of tiring and lots of swimming up and down the pool. Score yoyoed with final score being an 8 all draw. Great game from both teams.
We would have to comment that the level of refereeing has been fantastic and that makes a huge difference.
The Parents
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Ephraim
Ephraim was one of our three safari guides. He has been guiding at Hluhluwe for 4 years but worked at two other parks before this. His father worked at Hluhluwe for 35 years though, mainly doing walking tours, so Ephraim spent hours and hours with his father training for the job he does today. Ephraim seemed to us know everything about every animal, bird and plant we saw on the trip. (He didn't know what water polo was though.)
Ephraim has three boys aged 9, 6, and 3. The second one's name is Surprise. He said he was named by his cousin, who didn't understand what babies were and said he was a surprise.
Ephraim's wife-to-be lives in Durban because she is studying. Their three children live with an aunt nearby. Ephraim lives 2km from Hilltop where we stayed and works 7 days a week - usually 3 weeks on and one week off, but sometimes six weeks in a row. He said this family arrangement was not unusual but he hoped to one day have enough money to be able to live together with his family.
It was another reminder of what privileged lives we live in New Zealand.
Bill
Ephraim has three boys aged 9, 6, and 3. The second one's name is Surprise. He said he was named by his cousin, who didn't understand what babies were and said he was a surprise.
Ephraim's wife-to-be lives in Durban because she is studying. Their three children live with an aunt nearby. Ephraim lives 2km from Hilltop where we stayed and works 7 days a week - usually 3 weeks on and one week off, but sometimes six weeks in a row. He said this family arrangement was not unusual but he hoped to one day have enough money to be able to live together with his family.
It was another reminder of what privileged lives we live in New Zealand.
Bill
Goodbye Durban,Goodbye safari
We are on the bus heading - a few hours away to the airport ready to fly to Cape Town.
The trip is going well - the kids have had a little down time, not much, and the parents the same. Highlights: the Waterpolo and the pride of lions we saw on the night safari night.
The safari park was amazing. We entered it in the bus and immediately saw zebras and giraffes. The place we stayed, Hilltop, was not unsurprisingly on a hilltop with panoramic views and very cool units like African huts around the site, but quite luxurious. Signs on the wall warning against leaving the door open in case the baboons and monkeys come in and take things.
The night safari involved a 3 hour drive in an open jeep- see pictures. Initially we saw buffalo - in our case a single male who according to our guide Ephraim - would be grumpy as he would have been turfed out of the herd and would now have no breeding rights and forced to live alone. Then came the elephants,impala,nyala,weaver birds,dung beetles( the male pushing a huge ball of rhino dung and the female perched on top - yah for women's lib!). Next the rhinos,warthogs and a break for a cold drink. Night had then fallen and we commenced driving with lights, eyes peeled for the reflection of the animals' eyes. Then the highlight: first a single lioness and then 5 lions walking up the road, lopping in a very cat like fashion even lying in the road way. That arrogant way that only cats can do. We all got up close. Apparently they do not always see lions, sometimes only every 3-4 weeks. So lucky.
The early morning safari was equally as good although most of the boys had a bit of a sleep during it ( not just Pete). Things easier to spot but no lions. Could see the tracks where they had walked last night. Lots of birdlife including an odd bird with long tail feathers making it very awkward to fly. The males grow these long tail feathers during the breeding season which fall out when they mate. They sure looked awkward for flying- what we do for love!
Enough of the travel blog. We continue to be very impressed with your boys. It has been a privilege to travel with them
Jane
Friday, January 13, 2012
Nic Cammell's Blog
We are heading to the Hluhluwe game reserve now, and I am hoping to see some cool animals here. There is apparently a relatively large population of rhinos, both white and black so hopefully we will see some of them. The billeting was a really fun and interesting experience as I have never been billeted before. My family that i stayed with were absolutely lovely looking forward to being billeted in Cape Town. We just saw some big giraffes and about 20 or so zebra,Ii'm getting keen, Big 5 here we come!!
Random ramblings
Amongst the very first lessons of don't get burnt and smother yourself in sunscreen, South Africa has taught us many things. Firstly we are well off in comparison, not all people even get food or the means to build a house. As well as that, SA is full of many kinds of People, Africans, British, Greeks and kiwis. For instance I was lucky enough to have a civilised dinner with an ex professional gambler and the winner of the Ms Hooters SA, then walked out with my host, who claimed that the very expensive restaurant was average and that I would see much better women in cape town (lucky me I get to see both?). >:D
Secondly, their money system is problematic, I mean, who wants 5R cents, it probably costs more to produce and is about 1/120th of $1, very annoying to carry as well as use. In most countries I go "oo a coin on the road I want it!" with 5R cents I'm the one who puts them on the road.
At first I was unwilling to write these useless ramblings, but since I have verbal diahorrea most of the time, it is very fulfilling to badger someone once again instead of being that little twat who complains about sunburn all the time to the staff.
Toby
Chests Blog (Henry)
The last few days in Durban spent with our host family were amazing. Wyatt and I had our own sleep out which was pretty cool. Yesterday in the morning our host family drove us up to a dam about 30 minutes north of Durban. The scenery changed from houses to little huts, but eventually we got to a glassy, flat lake with zebras roaming wild. We spent the next few hours biscuiting and I attempted to water ski.. Too bad I was too big for the 30 horsepower motor to pull me out. We slept most of the afternoon in order to have energy for the evenings games where the Prems tied 4 all with Clifton. The game itself was good but we did have a few opportunities to grasp the win. We then feasted on some sheep after the game which was a good feed. We're currently on the bus to the game park, and the further we drive the hotter it's getting. We're all training hard and having a fantastic time.
Missing the family..... Lol JK
SA
Hey reuben it kiheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hope you having fun in south Africa and having a good time, and you beta win or ill smash you J. Hi its Louis South Africa as much as we did hope you are enjoying your water polo and see you when you get back.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Game 2 (Prem Team)
The sun is slowly sinking, with a gentle breeze keeping things comfortable here at Clifton High School. Sorry folks, but the weather here is a millions times better than at home. (Had to rub it in.) On that breeze is a hint of the lambs and chickens, roasting on spits, which we will be having afterwards as part of a braai (barbecue).
The team are perhaps not in the best of shape, with Peter on the bench, and some less spectacular Delhi belly amongst some of the others. Not to mention the effects of a day at the beach for many. Billeting has left the boys cheerful and chirpy. Jack is playing up today.
Bill and Ben, the bar support crew, watch like hawks from their stools. The Toad watches like a toad.
Q 1: Mayan swims off for a quarter which sees our boys 2:1 up. Flash Harry saved a 5 metre. A good start against a good team.
Q 2: Jack swims at the start of the second, a very intense quarter, with a lot of attack and counter attack. 3:2 down at half time.
Q 3: Phillip swims off, but these Clifton boys are very fast and strong, not to mention comfortable in their home pool. Clifton have also put a fresh goalie in the water. 4:3 down. Maybe some time outs from James coming up?
Q 4: Reuben swims off this time. More fierce attack and defence. James calls time out with a cunning plan. An equalising goal keeps the pressure on both teams, with more fearsome defending at both ends of the pool. The final whistle blows: 4 all. A fair score reflecting how tough the game has been. Now it is time for some speeches and photos, and a braai.
The team are perhaps not in the best of shape, with Peter on the bench, and some less spectacular Delhi belly amongst some of the others. Not to mention the effects of a day at the beach for many. Billeting has left the boys cheerful and chirpy. Jack is playing up today.
Bill and Ben, the bar support crew, watch like hawks from their stools. The Toad watches like a toad.
Q 1: Mayan swims off for a quarter which sees our boys 2:1 up. Flash Harry saved a 5 metre. A good start against a good team.
Q 2: Jack swims at the start of the second, a very intense quarter, with a lot of attack and counter attack. 3:2 down at half time.
Q 3: Phillip swims off, but these Clifton boys are very fast and strong, not to mention comfortable in their home pool. Clifton have also put a fresh goalie in the water. 4:3 down. Maybe some time outs from James coming up?
Q 4: Reuben swims off this time. More fierce attack and defence. James calls time out with a cunning plan. An equalising goal keeps the pressure on both teams, with more fearsome defending at both ends of the pool. The final whistle blows: 4 all. A fair score reflecting how tough the game has been. Now it is time for some speeches and photos, and a braai.
Deryn & Jane & Rob
Game 2 (Dev Team)
In the sunshine of yet another perfect hot Durban day, we are again watching the awesome Dev team play. 7 minute quarters in 30m pool - they will be fit when they get back.
They are playing Durban High School first team.
Quarter 1 started slowly, score line at end of quarter 2-4, refereeing tough but fair and a couple of exclusions led to some goals for the opposition.
Q2 much better and they found their feet. Score at the end 5-4 including a great 5 m both drawn and scored by Nic Cammell.
Q3 was a continued fight, again exclusions being one of the down falls. They are now finding it tough with the 7 minute quarters. James however remains calm with the score at 6-7.
Q4 and the tiredness has set in. However they kept on in what is a tougher game than yesterday's. Goals kept on coming. Final score 8-10.
They are playing Durban High School first team.
Quarter 1 started slowly, score line at end of quarter 2-4, refereeing tough but fair and a couple of exclusions led to some goals for the opposition.
Q2 much better and they found their feet. Score at the end 5-4 including a great 5 m both drawn and scored by Nic Cammell.
Q3 was a continued fight, again exclusions being one of the down falls. They are now finding it tough with the 7 minute quarters. James however remains calm with the score at 6-7.
Q4 and the tiredness has set in. However they kept on in what is a tougher game than yesterday's. Goals kept on coming. Final score 8-10.
Jane, Deryn, Rob
Billeting - First Impressions
Games are finished and we line up to hand over our swap t-shirts and finally find out how we were to be billeted. The Clifton coach calls forward his players one by one, calling out the number of billets they would take. After each of these, Mr Skeen calls up the boy or boys who would be going with them.
I was left until the end, when a Clifton boy, John, came forward and said he was taking two, but could accommodate a third. The final three, Nick Godfrey, Max, and myself, went with him. We grabbed our suitcases and went to pile into their van.
From there we travelled through to their home, an impressive place behind a wall, like most of the more well-off neighbourhoods' houses. Their four dogs rushed out to meet us and we were introduced to their dogs and our new host family. We then were taken to our rooms and given a minute to settle in before dinner, a BBQ.
I was left until the end, when a Clifton boy, John, came forward and said he was taking two, but could accommodate a third. The final three, Nick Godfrey, Max, and myself, went with him. We grabbed our suitcases and went to pile into their van.
From there we travelled through to their home, an impressive place behind a wall, like most of the more well-off neighbourhoods' houses. Their four dogs rushed out to meet us and we were introduced to their dogs and our new host family. We then were taken to our rooms and given a minute to settle in before dinner, a BBQ.
Mac
How To Be A Poor Guest
Following our game against the club team last night, each boy was assigned to a host family in singles, doubles or in one case a trio. I was assigned to the May family who welcomed me warmly into their home. Gareth even moved into his brother's room so I could have a room to myself for the night. When dinner was offered to me I asked to be excused to my room as I wasn't feeling too well. After retiring to my host's chamber, I promptly ran out and narrowly missed their toilet with some delicious projectile vomit. All four of the Mays then checked I was ok, offered me medicine, water and anything else I could want. I of course waited for everyone to fall asleep, only to vomit all over my host's bed, and made extra sure to wake up everyone in the household in the process. Again, they helped me change all my bedding, got me water, offered me a shower and gave me some pain killers.
Moral of the story is, if you ever travel to South Africa and stay with a host family, feel free to vomit in the most inconvenient of places. For some reason, when you do they remain helpful, kind and accommodating people.
Pete Burrell
First game/First night with billets
Our first game against a Durban club team,which was full of older players. One of those players just happened to be the south african men's captain! We were behind the whole game due to our lack of offence and poor covering. The score at the end was around 11-5. Afterwards we went with our billets. So far my family has been very hospitable and I get along with them. What I am liking most about is the heat and how everything is so cheap.
Miss you Mum,Dad and Kate
Ben
Voos
Voos is our bus driver in Durban. He drives buses all over South Africa, often taking tour groups like ours, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time. He has been driving buses for 32 years, since he was 21.
Voos is an Indian who lives in Durban (Durban has an Indian population of more than a million). He has five adult children, one of whom is an epileptic. Even though he was born in South Africa (and his parents were born in South Africa) Voos supports the Indian cricket team, not the South African one.
We are the most famous water polo team Voos has ever driven around but he has had some other top international sportsmen. He looked after the Chennai SuperKings when the Indian IPL was played in South Africa one year. That team was coached by Stephen Fleming and included Mahindra Dhoni, VVS Laxman and Doug Bollinger. And he drove the Algerian football team in the soccer World Cup in 2010 and the Egyptian team in the Confederations Cup.
The Indian billionaire owner of the Chennai SuperKings thought Voos was such a cool driver that he sacked his BMW chauffeur and hired Voos to drive him in his 7 seater bus. So when the billionaire flew to Jo'burg or Port Elizabeth for a weekend, he paid Voos to drive his 7 seater there, empty, just so he could drive the owner around.
We're very lucky to have Voos!
Bill
Fantastic effort!
Hi All
We have been waiting with great expectation for your first game and the results certainly didn't disappoint - congratulations to you all. We know that James has been working you hard and is preparing you well to compete against some very competitive South African sides. It sounds like the Prem Team played exceptionally well to get the goals they did - well done! We are very proud of the younger boys as the training has obviously been stepped up a notch and then some (according to Reuben it's 10 times harder than the final day of swim camp - well done James!) and with the added heat to get a win first up is very exciting. Thank you Derryn, Rob and Jane for your report on the games - we are looking forward to hearing more. Tuning into the blog is the first thing we do when we get up in the morning and the last thing we look at before going to bed and are thrilled each time to see what the boys have been up to. Congratulations Reuben on your swim ups and your first international goal we are very proud of you! Love to you all.
Ann, Ken, Ariana, Ollie and Molly ("meow")
PS: Enjoy the sunshine you are experiencing as we are still not seeing much back here.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Game One (Prem Game)
Under flood lights, in the magnificent Clifton pool, the AGS premier team swam off against an intimidating club side. The opposition was made of three national level players, some big men with more than a couple of tats, and some fearless women. We were scared just watching.
This game didn't go quite so well to plan.
However, James will be happy with the effort and commitment. Eight minute quarters leave a lot of time for a lot of game and he used that to try different combinations and let the boys get back to playing, after what have been some seriously tough training sessions.
Captain Harry and his band of men went down 11:4 against a bigger, older and more experienced side (made up of 15 players!) Goals were scored by Lachie (2), Henry "The Chest" and Ben. Harry showed himself once again to be a fabulous goalie. Everybody got out there and gave their first game a good crack. And they had fun.
This game didn't go quite so well to plan.
However, James will be happy with the effort and commitment. Eight minute quarters leave a lot of time for a lot of game and he used that to try different combinations and let the boys get back to playing, after what have been some seriously tough training sessions.
Captain Harry and his band of men went down 11:4 against a bigger, older and more experienced side (made up of 15 players!) Goals were scored by Lachie (2), Henry "The Chest" and Ben. Harry showed himself once again to be a fabulous goalie. Everybody got out there and gave their first game a good crack. And they had fun.
Now, they are off to be billeted by their host families, and experience some South African family hospitality.
Ben Skeen managed to thoroughly enjoy the occasion, from the comfort of the poolside bar. However, he seemed to remain mystified. "Where were the horses?"
Rob, Jane & Deryn
Game 1 (Dev Team)
The Development guys have just played our very first game. And it was a great game.
As the sun was going down, and the temperature was dropping into the mid twenties, our guys hit the water in earnest for the first time.
Playing in a full sized pool, (30m) in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, Toby won the first swim off, and the game got exciting from there. By the end of the first quarter, our boys were 1 nil down, perhaps a little tired after a 2 1/2 hour training session earlier today. But by half time, we were 2:1 up, and this didn't change until the fourth quarter.
At full time, the score was 4:2 to us. Goals were scored by Tom M and Reuben S, Harry and Toby. Reuben S won 2 swim offs and there were a couple of great steals from Jack. The team played with brains and effort, and really did play as a team. A great first effort.
As the sun was going down, and the temperature was dropping into the mid twenties, our guys hit the water in earnest for the first time.
Playing in a full sized pool, (30m) in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, Toby won the first swim off, and the game got exciting from there. By the end of the first quarter, our boys were 1 nil down, perhaps a little tired after a 2 1/2 hour training session earlier today. But by half time, we were 2:1 up, and this didn't change until the fourth quarter.
At full time, the score was 4:2 to us. Goals were scored by Tom M and Reuben S, Harry and Toby. Reuben S won 2 swim offs and there were a couple of great steals from Jack. The team played with brains and effort, and really did play as a team. A great first effort.
Rob, Jane, & Deryn
Samosas
Hi all. I forwarded the blog address to one of our big buyers, who then sent it out to all her buyers. They are all now watching you....and wanting more samosas!
Ruth
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tidbits
Above is a photo of where we have been staying, it doesn't look that flash but has been perfectly adequate for our needs, the rooms are big and as you know breakfast amazing.
We have just eaten for the third time at Joe Cools, everybody having something different again. It has been very pleasant sitting not far from the beach on a lovely cool evening. Today has been our hottest one so far and I have great admiration for the boys who trained for 2 hours this afternoon while the rest of us felt drained by the heat.
The boys have been kept occupied almost all of the time and any downtime they have had has been well utilized. They have all learnt to be at the right place at the appropriate time in the correct attire or else they have to deal with the small consequence of being the parents helper for the day, not that that is very strenuous at all.
Everything is going well here and everybody appears happy. All are primed for their first games tomorrow.
Hope the weather starts to improve for you,
Deryn
Four Wise Men
Hello Everyone
Just back from a soggy 4 days camping and so great to catch up on your travels so far - It looks SOOO fantastic, you boys have really done those turbo's proud.
At least it looks like it's summer somewhere - feeling very envious.
South African are notoriously competitive - are you sure those monkeys watching the training weren't spies?
Nick - Hope you are adjusting to the early starts! Looking forward to your blog entry...
At least it looks like it's summer somewhere - feeling very envious.
South African are notoriously competitive - are you sure those monkeys watching the training weren't spies?
Nick - Hope you are adjusting to the early starts! Looking forward to your blog entry...
Good luck for the first game - it must be soon.
love Sarah, Todd, Sophie, Izzy and Will
Awesomeness (Nick G)
Sweet time yesterday (January 9th), visit to the southern hemisphere's biggest mall, got all my presents for friends and family and a heap of pics. UShaka marine world was pretty awesome, sort of a mix between sea world and wet'and'wild. Of course, as a tour tradition, we all went in speedos, and got the worst wedgies as we went down the tallest and fastest slide in Africa. Sitting in the bus now waiting to get into the sharks board tour, should be fun.
Missing friends and family
Nick G
Monday, January 9, 2012
Northland News
Wow, what a fabulous time you guys are having. We were impressed by the wonderful pool facility at Clifton. We are jealous of your blue skys and maybe even your heat. It may have been sunny in Auckland yesterday but it was very average in Northland.
Love reading the blogs - keep up the great work.
News from NZ. The Phoenix lost, the Breakers won and the Rena split in two.
Karen, Alan & Hugh McMurtry
PS Tom, can you please stand in the front of the next group photo so we can see you are on this tour!!!
Thank you Sarah
It may be only day three of the tour but one thing is already a guaranteed success - the gear.
Sarah, you have done a great job.
The gear bags have been perfect and travelled well (no handle malfunctions). The polos, shorts, t-shirts, caps and singlets have been worn with pride, looked great on the boys, and attracted lots of interest from people asking about the tour. The slides are getting daily use. And there seems to be only one word from the boys to describe the logo - “Mean!”
All added to by the turbo speedos, which Jane sourced, which have been a big hit not only at uShaka Marine World as Akira blogged, but also in the pool at Clifton.
The gear has already grabbed the attention of one notable passerby. I was accosted in the hotel lobby and asked to come and meet a person who was interested in waterpolo. When I did, he turned out to be the man who has written the history of South African waterpolo, coached the Durban High School team here for 25yrs, and knows everybody in South African waterpolo and many in New Zealand (waterpolo and rugby). And he very much wanted a t-shirt. We are meeting him later in the week for a longer discussion.
Well done Sarah for making the tour gear something for us all to be proud of.
Cheers, Bill.
Reuben's Blog
Hey,
We had a cool day at the mall- people brought lots of stuff and the mall was crazy big. Macas (mac Donald's) is so cheap; I got a big mac combo for $4!!!
We went to uShaka and had a crazy day at the slides, going on SAs biggest slide! I brought really cool gifts for my family. Oh and they had the best lollie store ever :)
Reuben Speirs
Akira's blog
Hello everyone
Had the best afternoon so far :) , had a great time looking at the mall for some clothes and shoes and even more fun at the uShaka Marine World rocking the speedos with the boys. I had lots of fun at the theme park; the slides were alright (could of been better) but still it was fun hanging out with the boys in speedos! I hope there are more opportunities like this throughout our trip which would be great.
Had the best afternoon so far :) , had a great time looking at the mall for some clothes and shoes and even more fun at the uShaka Marine World rocking the speedos with the boys. I had lots of fun at the theme park; the slides were alright (could of been better) but still it was fun hanging out with the boys in speedos! I hope there are more opportunities like this throughout our trip which would be great.
Akira
Mean time at the Mall
Hi It's Jack
After a hard training we all went to the mall. It was really big and there was heaps of shops. All the stuff was cheap so everyone went shopping for an hour and a half and purchased lots of random items. Now we are going to the water park.
South Africa is really fun everybody is enjoying themselves. The weather is really hot. It is nice to be in the pool all the time because it keeps us cool.
Jack Dymond
SA Tour- Jeff
3 days down and everyone is already in love. The days start early around 7am but earlier for some due to jet lag. Every day is action packed and leaves the team and staff waiting for the following day. Last night we went back to Joe Cools a restaurant on the beach. It was an eventful night with early entertainment by a street performer forcing his body into crazy positions, followed by a nice South African girl dancing on our table. As the night went on Joe Cools turned into the place to be on the East Coast and we had a stint on the dance floor with some legit girls. Anyway the trip has been amazing so far and I don't think anyone will want to leave.
Jeff
Jeff
Venue of the Football World Cup in Durban
Thanks for all the photos and fantastic stories of your trip
Thanks Ben for getting the blog site up and running so quickly - even with photos!
It is wonderful to find something new to look at and read about so regularly and helps
us feel part of your trip somehow - would love to be soaking up some of that sun right now!
Thanks Jane and Rob for your kind and informative words. We are so lucky the boys are in such good hands.
Thanks boys for your thoughts on the trip so far. You've done a great job!
It is wonderful to find something new to look at and read about so regularly and helps
us feel part of your trip somehow - would love to be soaking up some of that sun right now!
Thanks Jane and Rob for your kind and informative words. We are so lucky the boys are in such good hands.
Thanks boys for your thoughts on the trip so far. You've done a great job!
Hope you are all feeling ok in the heat and you can sleep!
Hi to Tom :)
Lisa, Ian, Ella and Katie
Excellent Tourists
Firstly we would like to say how fabulous your boys have been. We have not had any complaining or whinging. They have sucked up international plane flights, relocation to a new place and training like old hands. They even accepted the issued pegs to wash their own underpants with good grace. It will remain to be seen how many get washed!
Durban wow. What a city of contrast. From the hotel window it looks like the Gold Coast but it is so not. The beach is beautiful but loads of rubbish and the Africans gather in LARGE groups to " swim ". This consists of standing ankle deep in the water and jumping every wave. About 200 to 300 in one small section of the beach.
The area around the school is posh; large houses - gated and occasional there is a security guard. Yet, one street back from the hotel people are sleeping on the street. Hard not to notice the contrast and boys certainly have commented. As non African faces walking up and down on the waterfront, we are clearly the minority group.
The food is going well. Great big buffet breakfast at hotel - the works- absolutely no complaints there. Lunches and snacks from the supermarket are working well (gluten free food even in the posh supermarket is not available but I think he has had plenty to eat Sarah and Todd) and dinner been great and pure entertainment (I will leave the boys to explain that!).
Well it is 5am here and we are awake! Big day today with training, the Mall and then Marine World so we will sign off now, but be reassured they are all behaving well, are safe and seem very happy. All are mixing well as a group and you can be proud of them - we are.
Jane and Rob.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Trip Blog
Hi guys
It's great! We wake to a beautiful morning on Waiheke (no rain today), and the first thing we do is check the blog. Great to see your photos and comments. Keep it up!
Miss you Toby
Jim & Ruth
Harry Whateley
The team has settled in nicely and the hotel we are staying at is right next to the beach. The sun is baking it down so quite a lot of us are getting speedo tans. The trainings have been pretty tough and I'm quite sure most of us are feeling the six weeks off. We have found a restaurant about 400m up the beach which is really nice so I think we are going to go there most nights, and the breakfast is a buffet at the hotel which I could used to. Missing everyone back home. To recolourfulmind claudia, colourful.
Harry W
Harry W
Anton's blog
We are currently in our second day. The weather is humid and hot, however we are dressed for it. The gruelling 14 hour flight from Sydney to Joburg involved little sleep for most. The wide variety of entertainment on the inflight screens catered for us nicely. I am looking forward to the Ushaka Marine World which will be a nice change from the intense trainings which James has been providing. The markets across the road have cheap stuff and offer a chance to practice my skills in negotiating- haven't found presents for anyone yet however.
Anton Elliot
Harry Flood's blog
The team is traveling well, everyone is hanging out and mingling with not just their friends but with everyone else. The rooms at the hotel have been chosen by the staff so that we are rooming with people we don't know so well and it's a great way to bond with boys we otherwise wouldn't.
Today is the second day of training. James is working us hard with mostly swim sets and leg sets. The weather is so hot it's a bit silly; we are just about restricted to our air-conditioned room due to the heat. Yesterday on the way to our second training we saw about 15 monkeys just on the side of the road, some even watched us train.
At the bottom of our hotel are a bunch of small street markets selling lots of cheap stuff. It's a good place to practice bargaining. We are having a great time, South Africa is amazing.
Love you Mum, Dad and Maddy
Harry Flood
Thank you
Thank you for your patience!!! We are now live with a data connection to the Team iPad and look forward to updating you on a regular basis about our travels and experiences.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
Frustrations
Hi all,
Sincere apologies- we are having significant issues with technology here in SA. Please keep checking back in, as we are going to crack these problems in the next 12 hours (fingers crossed). Then we promise to bring you photos and accounts from the boys themselves.
NB: the buying of sim cards is currently not an option for the boys either.
Ben
Sincere apologies- we are having significant issues with technology here in SA. Please keep checking back in, as we are going to crack these problems in the next 12 hours (fingers crossed). Then we promise to bring you photos and accounts from the boys themselves.
NB: the buying of sim cards is currently not an option for the boys either.
Ben
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Well done!
Hi All
Jet lagged bodies they may be but what a way to become jet lagged ... an experience of a lifetime. Looking forward to hearing more and well done on getting everyone to bed!
Ann, Ken, Ariana and Ollie
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Tired but Alive
Hi all,
Just a quick note to mention we arrived safely earlier this evening. The boys are knackered, but fast asleep as of an hour ago (10pm SA Time).
Burgers for dinner, so little to complain of on that front.
Up and about at 7:45am in the morning to get breakfast and some sort of a routine into their jet lagged bodies.
All happy campers.
Ben
Blog site
Dear Ben,
Hope your trip to Johannesburg not too taxing? And no one lost any cameras in their bags? ( I lost a camera putting it in my bag and the bag handlers just stole it!!!!)
I don't seem to be able to access the blog site . Is it up and running or is it different to below ?Please can you advise ?
http://agswaterpolo2012.blogspot.com/
Robin
Sent from my iPad
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