A night to remember

By the time I finally headed to my room at 1 am this morning it felt too hard to write a blog. However here is my recap of yesterday. The day was warm and sunny and started with the hotel serving Champagne for Breakfast in anticipation of a win. Champagne is not for me at most times let alone breakfast so I passed that by. Eat your heart our nieces I know if you had been here you would have fought over my glass! Armed with my Twickenham radio, my camera and water set off in the bus at 10:15 am for the 4 pm match. Always seemed so early to head out and I could have opted out of the transfer bus and taken the Tube but the company on the bus is always good gun and it saves watching overfull trains flying past your station. Arrived at the ground just before 1 pm and this time the gates were open so it was good to get inside to the stadium and enjoy all the pre-match entertainment from didgeridoos to Maori haka groups. By the tine found some lunch the stadium itself was open so it was off to find my seat and enjoy watching the warm up sessions and being entertained by the band of the Welsh Guards. I recall in 2007 that the All Blacks did not enter into a serious warm up session but just stood around chatting. In this tournament the All Blacks have been all intense in their warm ups and there is plenty to see. All over the field Dan Carter is practising goal kicks and line kicks while the forwards take each on in what appears to be ferocious tackles. Before long the serious business began. Lots of All Black support in the stadium and it is surprising to hear how many English folk have learnt our national anthem and sing it with more gusto that we New Zealanders. The formalities over it was time for the match to begin. Because this was the final one always has to be nervous but there is something about this All Black team that gives you the confidence that they have a plan and a the match under control. I think that of the three All Black matches someone has been in the sin bin but somehow we survive that period. Once the match was over stayed for the presentations and watch the international media vying for photos of the All Blacks. Finally got back to the bus around 7:30 local time and we headed back to the hotel around 8 pm getting back just after 10 pm. On arrival back at the hotel the hotel staff were waiting with the Champagne and then the plan was to head up to the rooftop bar for after match drinks. I decided as I hadn't eaten for over 10 hours I should grab some food from the bar to ensure the wine didn't rush to the head. I went upstairs until around 1 am and if was a great atmosphere - New Zealanders not drinking excessively but all sharing their special moments of the game. Apparently the after match drinks didn't finish until 7:30 so there are a few sore heads around today. Headed down to breakfast around 9 am and champagne was again on the breakfast menu. The hotel has really entered into the spirit of their guests. Today was a time to get the case into order in readiness for the train trip to Manchester tomorrow. Such a nice day decided to head to Covent Gardens for perhaps a Sunday Eggs Benedict. By the time I found somewhere to eat breakfast was off so I had to choose Salmon Fish cakes as an alternative. It wasn't too many years ago that English food was considered to be the pits but I do not think that is the case any longer. I have had some really tasty meals here elegantly presented and very enjoyable. Later on to day it is farewell drinks for the group and then everyone heads off. It looks like around 80% of the group are heading back to NZ tomorrow with some like me planning something different. I head off to Euston in the morning and will be at John

and Nikki's just after 1 pm. Looking forward to that and John has saved a replay of the match and after match review so I can watch the match again without all the tension of being there on the day.