rygbi mewn cymru

so i went to wales to watch the all blacks on saturday. when i got there my camera ran out of batteries so anne took lots of cool photos. it was a pity to go and not see the haka, but you know what was more disappointing? everyone, welsh and nz, booing. it was actually sad, and a really immature response to the absence of the haka. sure, i wanted to see it, but man, when we were at the match and nothing was said, even i could realise that if the haka wasn't being performed, it was for a good reason. i was disappointed that the nz fans couldn't see that booing their team was really poor sportsmanship. the welsh asked for their anthem to be last. the all blacks didn't want to do the haka between anthems, so did it at another time. they could have been disrespectful to the welsh, and to the memory of the welsh official guy who we just had a minutes silence for, and still do the haka last but they didn't. that was a sensible move. everyone moaning should realise that the game of rugby was still awesome!
so yea, enough of my rant about taking a high ethical ground over the haka controversy. the trip to cardiff wasn't spoilt by this. the trip on the bus was heaps of fun, and cardiff is such a pretty, friendly and fun town! all the shops are in like little arcades, and they were all strung up with christmas lights. it was cold, but that seemed to add to the atmosphere. there's a castle, and next to that this concrete bridge with stone animals sitting on top of it! it was cute. the river was grey, and the little houses all english, all stuck together. there were so many people around, but the rivalry was good natured. the staff in shops and cafes were just as accommodating as the punters walking the streets, which made such a nice change from the isolated and unfriendly people working and living in london. the millennium stadium was incredible, we got to our seats quite early and it was so cool to see all the seats fill up! the bull, which seemed to be some symbol to the welsh, was walked out onto the field at one point before the game and then, grossly, it shat on the field. gross! the four guys escorting it around stood over the crap for a while, debating what they should do. they ended up throwing some buckets of brown water over it. i watched carefully but none of the players slid in it at all.
i had a pretty good seat, at some points i had to alternate looking at the big screen and then the field, as it was hard to see them down the opposite ends. but not complaining it was still fun. probably the worst part was that nowhere in the stadium sold hot chips and anne and i were planning to eat them during the second half. how ridiculous is that, no hot chips?
so we got them after the game, at tony's fish and chip shop, on what they call chippy lane. that's how many fish and chip shops are on that street, they nicknamed it that. funny!
after the game we got our chips and it was a long drive back to london!
and to those who know him, guess who i saw in this souvenir shop in cardiff!! chris o'malley! funny eh! it was so crazy, but so cool. he went to see tom play water polo at the world champs in holland, which would have been cool, and he's living in london so will see him at some stage probably! he asked about everyone, jono, ash, etc. he says hi!
also went to gbk for dinner last night, crystal i thought you would be jealous, i went to the one near notting hill, and i had the kiwiburger again! it was really yummy. didn't have a milkshake though, might have one next time!
so people who went to U2, did you have a neat time? natalie, ashton, everyone? happy times? i thought about you there while i was at work on friday.
so what's josie got going on this week? she wants to finish her book, she is reading the sea, the sea by iris murdoch, so that she can start reading her latest purchase, the new thomas pynchon, she is going swimming tonight and then again one night in the week, she is also going ice skating on thursday afternoon yay!, and next saturday night she's going to school disco which should be a crazy laugh. josie is also looking forward to coming back to nz - it is dark now, at 4.32pm, and it was dark when i walked to the tube this morning at 7.40am. look out new plymouth! i'm going attack you and your sunshine for all you're worth.
if you're unnerved by me speaking about myself in third person, it's because my job is so boring and i sit here, quietly going insane........it's hard work, saving people from addiction.
there will be photos soon hopefully! cool!