Jersey Softball at the European Championships 2008

Player Stats...

2008-07-14T01:17:00.004+01:00

Here's the player statistics for the Jersey team over the course of the tournament.

Yellow Car

2008-07-14T00:51:00.001+01:00

Yellow Car
Originally uploaded by tvvilight

YELLOW CAAAAAAAR!

Photos 1...

2008-07-14T00:07:00.001+01:00

Here for your viewing [dis]pleasure are some selected photos so far.

Jersey team, European Championships 2008...

Andy forgets to put his make-up on...

Roomies!

Hedley - team mascot extraordinaire!

John loves looking after Hedley...

Warming up...our anti perspirant!

Go teeeeeeeeeam!

G floats when she throws!

Fair or Foul?!

Good cover!

Big batter, ickle batter...

The laydees corner! (Meeeee-ow!)

RRRAAAAAHHHHHH!!...

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it. Vogue!

Headley was out there supporting at all times... Go the reds!

Id demonstrates the ankle breaker...

The last photo Tels ever took...
(This ball only just missed him!)

Oooo - go away, nasty buzzy ball! Leave me alone! Squeal!

Sarah about to crack it one and Sean and Lynn decide to do some bat aerobics...

Incoming!...

Team line up prior to the Czech match...

Too much Red Bull.....gives you wings!...

Our first victory! Whoooooo!

Andy takes a spectacular catch against Slovenia...

Why do I get the feeling that my new nickname is going to be stumpy?!...

What happens next?! - The millisecond before Sean's big crash...

Id with his 'cracking one out' face...

The face must have worked though - he pulled! SAFE!
(By the way, the boys lurrrrved those Slovenian girls' shorts...and they all had them!)

The scary looking Slovenian...

Awwwww! Team youngster!

John, put the tongue away!!

Tel's normal everyday face....and he looks a bit Nazi!...

Stretch Jules....STRRRRRRETCH!

She's so dangerous she has to wear a head cage...

Go Birthday Boy!

SLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!!...

Tel's mate Mr. Glove gives the outfield advice... Bleep! Bleep!

Sarah retracts her legs to make a low catch...

The run of the 50ft woman...

Sean's prototype skipping throw...

Kerpow!! One out!

Zap! Penang! Two Out!...Rookies take note - that's how to tag someone out!

So close!!

G explains, using props, a large part of the plot of Debbie does the Euros...

If you don't behave we crucify you with a bat! Terrifying!...

John! Tongue! - Told you once already!

I'll never join the dark side! Wooooough!

A happy ending!

When you've played this hard....you have to 'refresh' hard too!

Unfortunately though there's the morning after...

Quotes of the trip...

2008-07-13T23:20:00.000+01:00

This post is a compilation of all the quotes taken from various people during the trip...

1) "Just go and ask at reception and they'll give you one!" - JP talking about towels....what else!
2) "I'm a bit afraid with Phil on top of me." - Garry talking about his obvious liking to the room arrangements.
3) "I wish I was a cow, then I could just snack on the grass here." - ID, talking about the catering arrangements at the sports centre.
4) " 'ere, pull this!" - ID to Andy (room mates) offering some of his dessert....and nothing else you feelthy people!
5) "I don't like straight ones!" - Micky talking about....err......a pool shot.
6) Garry - "Lobsters good, but my favourite is Alaskan King Crab", to which Giselle responded "Where's that from then?"
7) "Sucking the bone is the best bit." - Sean talking about food.....yea...
8) "What goes on in the changing room, stays in the changing room." - Garry, talking about...errr....stuff that went on in the changing room after the second game!
9) "Tels got his out and it's very impressive." - Sarah Cann.
10) "Where's my sunglasses?" - G trying to find her sunglasses that she was actually wearing at the time!
11) "John was rubbing himself up as I went." - Tels admitting what goes on in room 112.
12) “Ooo – I’m going to have to open my flaps.” – G, warning the world what she is about to do…open the legs of her tracksuit bottoms!
13) “There’s a hole!” – Sarah Caan whilst bringing the tray of team teas.
14) “Is this cream Anti aging?” – Garry in response to DT saying that he had a glob of white magic cream on his hand.
15) “Was that your crack?” - Phil commenting on a noise coming from G heard during pre game warm up!
16) "I have one in my mouth." - G (again!), talking about Mintos we hope!
17) "I figured out how it works, ha ha!" - Andy learns how to make the bangy things bang.
18) "We'll let you practice on us for half price." - G decides it time for a summer sale and gives us away to alcoholic science for half price in TGI Fridays.
19) "Let me introduce the 8th member..." - said Phil as he stood just in a towel striking a pose just seconds before he......pointed to the face we made out sock, banana, paper balls & a cap!

More to come as they happen...

Match 9: Ireland vs Jersey

2008-07-12T14:37:00.006+01:00

The goal Sean had for the team was to make it through to Saturday's play and a semi final - so we'd already done that. Taking the Ireland scalp would be our bonus! We'd already played them twice and been beaten, but we had improved in the second game, and fancied this one.

The Irish got a lead early on with a couple of runs in the first, after which they shut out Jersey. The second was a complete shut out by both teams. Then came an inspired period of play over the next three innings where we hit back at them and scored 5 runs, but we were always a run behind.

Ireland had started with a team with a number of reserve players and were forced to substitute starters back into the lineup in a late bid to stave us off.

The most controversial moment of the game was an infield fly which some of the players appeared not to have heard the call, and confusion reigned as the action was hectic. The ball went up, the call was made (1st out), the catch was fumbled, the Irish ran the bases anyway, Jersey recovered the ball to third, the tag on third wasn't taken, the ball was put to two, out number 2, runner from third gets home! ...See - I told you it was hectic.

Ireland took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth and then held their breath as we loaded the bases with two out in the top of the sixth, but nothing came of it. Unfortunately in the seventh we went down tamely.

In the end, that one run was all that separated the two sides in an awesome match that both sides enjoyed immensely, and was Jersey's best match of the tournament by far, and will be the one that people remember us for.

Final score: Ireland 6 - 5 Jersey.

Match 8: Jersey vs GB

2008-07-12T03:06:00.000+01:00

The final match of the day for Jersey starts with another bout of heavy rain as black clouds gathered once again. After a promising start with jersey getting 2 outs for only 3 runs in, GB mounted a batting bonanza and ended up scoring 12.

It was a tale of two contrasts: GB putting on a show of batting the likes of which we’ve never faced before with bomb after bomb through infield and over into outfield with a few home runs sprinkled in. Jersey on the other hand couldn’t quite break out with their batting and never quite reached the finish line.

The play which cost Jersey the whole game was a home run over Phil Bouchard when the GB first base girl hit a missile which easily sailed over him. Beaten by a girl!!

Toward the end of the match, Birthday boy Le Maistre was cruelly denied what would have been Jersey’s first run when G was controversially called out on first after we’d got the bases loaded and Garry was on third. Even a couple of the GB guys said it was harsh!

Final Score: Jersey 0 – GB …errr…..I’ve lost count…36 I think!

Match 7: Czech Republic vs Jersey

2008-07-12T02:40:00.002+01:00

Always going to be a tough match against these guys as they have some very capable looking players with fantastic speed, good gloves and fantastically strong arms throughout the team. Yet…for half an inning Jersey held a commanding 1-0 lead, compliments of a Tels score batted in by yours truly, the blog-meister general - Id!

The Czechs made a convincing comeback though and both their females and males managed to pick the gaps in the outfield several times with almost surgical precision. They continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over nicely whilst Jersey couldn’t quite capitalise on their loaded bases, which they achieved several times, to bring any more runs in.

At one stage, Phil took charge of the play, steaming in from Right Centre yelling wildly at Tels for a quick ball to second. Tels, with rapier like reactions, inexplicably shot the ball straight over him into…the space where Phil had just hurtled in from!

The action highlight of the match was a spectacular diving catch by the Czech second base man at full stretch with the ball half hanging out of the top of the glove.

Final Score: Czech Republic 17 – 1 Jersey.

Match 6: Jersey vs Ireland

2008-07-12T02:34:00.002+01:00

The Jersey team had to rush over from their first match of the day for the return clash with the Irish. We started well exchanging runs for the first few innings with the Irish just pulling ahead.

The Irish were helped by Jersey losing their composure somewhat with an unusual number of fielding errors, most notably from Sean and JP...and G…and Tels…and Andy…and Lynn…and Sarah…and Julie…and Micky…and Phil….and Garry…and Sarah M… and Id…In all a fantastic team effort!! (At least everyone gets a mention in this write up!)

Part way through, Micky G had an unfortunate clash with a fly ball and had to be subbed out, but was ok – just a bit of ‘botox lip’!

The Irish continued to be stronger with the bat, managing to thwart Jersey and keep their run tally under control, to draw ahead and claim their second victory.

Final score: Jersey 5 – 28 Ireland

Match 5: Slovenia vs Jersey

2008-07-12T01:47:00.005+01:00

The rematch of the previous days final encounter for the day, and Slovenia were after it and fielded their best side. Jersey were slow to start and very noisy and lively Slovenia managed to limit them severely in the first few innings whilst running in 5. Jersey then started to strike back with a good innings to level the scores.

There were a number of incidents in the game involving injuries, including a spectacular clash running in a home run between Sean and their very brave female catcher. We have it on film and still wince every time we’ve watched it! Both were ok, although they were down on the ground for a few minutes. It was worth those 4 runs Sean – and will probably be an ‘action highlight’ in the tournament review video!

In the end though Jersey found their form and started to take charge to repeat yesterday’s victory and get another game under their belt.

Garry enjoyed playing the Slovenians...or were they playing with him?!

Final score: Slovenia 8 – 21 Jersey.

The walking Wounded…

2008-07-12T01:47:00.001+01:00

Today has been a testing day for all of the team. The previous day was the first day of play and everyone was fresh to start with. As we got through the matches we started seeing some cracks in the paintwork and a few injuries creeping in (See Phil’s quote re Cracks). Overnight always gives a little respite and soothes some of the aches and pains, but today we had more casualties and at one stage appeared to have the whole of the physio and chiropractic just to our team!!! We are all just about still in action though and still soldiering on – good work team!

The injury roster currently stand at:
JP – ankle turn running through first and groin strain. Also took a fast ball to the hand but still managed to get the out.
Jules (nicknamed “the groin” by the medics) – Groin strain + quad strain..
Garry – Slight knee twist from sliding in on second, shoulder bruising from diving back onto third.
DT – Slight calf pull.
Micky – Got a ball in the mouth off the glove giving swollen lip, and got a fly ball on the thumb and is going to get it X-rayed.
Sarah C – Sore bum!
G – Shoulder and elbow discomfort – well she has being putting her all in wanging back all those outfield bombs!
Phil – Dented pride as one of the GB girls hit a home run over him!
Tels – Stomach cramps from not having eaten yet tonight!!

Happy Bidet!

2008-07-12T01:46:00.001+01:00

Today (Friday) we have a birthday in the team. Garry Le Maistre is &*%(* today. Did you not hear that? I said “$&(*&$£” Still not got it? Oh well, tough! (He’s 51!)
Coincidentally we also had some stats from the tournament organisers and it also happens that Jersey have the oldest player in the tournament as well…..guess who…..GARRY!! I’m sure by the end of the day he’ll be sick of hearing yet another rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ from yet another bunch of strangers! So far we’ve got a bus singing, a couple of teams and a pub full of people!

Happy Birthday mate from all the team, and I hope you’re having a good week.

Match 4: Jersey vs. Slovenia

2008-07-10T20:00:00.000+01:00

For the last game of the day, Slovenia were once again an unknown for Jersey. Having found some form with the bat at the end of the previous game, Jersey were looking to forge ahead early and give everything in this game.

Jersey's defence found sublime form and kept the Slovenians scoreless for the first 3 innings, all the while consistently scoring and building pressure on their Slovenia's defence. The Slovenians managed to hit back though finding some batting form and forcing some fielding errors from Jersey to score a number of runs in the next 3 innings. Jersey responded magnificently though batting through the order to bring home 8 runs in the fifth innings ensuring Jersey's first win at the European Championships.
Whoooo! Whooo!

Match 3: Ireland vs. Jersey

2008-07-10T19:50:00.000+01:00

Jersey and Ireland have had previous encounters, but none so fun and jovial as the encounter at the Quayside public house the night before this game. Jersey won "Killer" on the pool tables, thanks to Julie Sangan, and as such held the upper hand coming into this ‘clash of the sociables’.

The upper hand was rendered null and void when Ireland took the lead with consistent run scoring and proceeded to shut out Jersey in the first 4 innings. Roles then switched when Jersey came good and their runners were being brought home while Jersey's defence were shutting out Ireland's batters. But it was all too late for Jersey as the Irish got to inning 7 with a commanding lead which Jersey had little chance to close up.

Match 2: Jersey vs Czech Republic

2008-07-10T12:05:00.004+01:00

The draw has pitted us against the Czech republic next, so we're playing the two favourite teams in our first two matches!
The Czechs started well and managed to score well whilst shutting us out. We then upped our game and managed to shut them out for two innings ourselves, keeping the score down to 7 - 0.
Phil Bouchard took a couple of spectacular catches at right centre, a few millimetres off the ground, the other at full stretch and full flight in the air.

The rain then started and we struggled in the slippery conditions, whereas the Czechs took it more in their stride.

Final score: Jersey 0 - 21 Czech Republic.

Match 1: GB vs Jersey

2008-07-10T11:59:00.002+01:00

Our first match and against the defending champions, what a way to start!
Jersey took a little while to settle, but then started playing well. We had been warned about a number of big hitters in the GB team, but we did not allowed them to intimidate us. We produced some good plays and limited them in the batting, but couldn't find enough with the bat ourselves to keep up.
Final score: GB 25 - 1 Jersey.

Day 2, Wednesday: The Land of the Liquid Sunshine...

2008-07-09T23:47:00.001+01:00

I didn't sleep well overnight. I kept waking up and was getting too hot during the night. Sean and I had arranged to rendezvous at 07:30 to take a trip to Asda to get supplies, so I was up just after 07:00. What's the weather like? Well.....it couldn't rain any more if it tried! I looked up at the clouds and thought I saw one of them with face creased up with effort pushing out as much rain as it could. Lovely!

Anyhow, Sean appeared promptly and we waded down to Asda. When we got there it was well and truly closed and would be for a further 20 minutes as it didn't open until 8. Great start to the day. We decided to wait it out. A quick whizz around the aisles later stocked up with bananas, milk, Jaffa cakes, oaty cereal bars and other good stuff, and a second raiding party of smart Jersey uniforms appear at the tills. We're keen if nothing else!

We got back, got our bags and then waited for the coach to the sports centre which took a while to arrive, so in the meantime it's milk and croissants eaten on the pavement. The rain is bucketing down and I think of lot of us are wondering what's going to happen - are we going to play in this? We get in the changing rooms, and I go and deal with my nerves in the small room. This is the sort of time Imodium comes in handy, luckily I brought some! My preparatory planning is just too good!

News arrives that the pitches are waterlogged and we won't be playing for a bit. So we all go up into the bar area, commandeer a table for the team, and set up camp for the day. It seems it may actually be the whole day as well as looking on the Meteox web site the radar shows rain in a large band coming in and looking endless. We have an announcement and are introduced to 4 girls who are studying at the chiropractic college and are here this weekend to give free massages. Orgh - is that my old ankle strain coming on again? Must get that seen to...the pain is right to the very top of my leg...

The rain keeps coming and coming. It's like when we had rainy days at school and had to stay in and go in the hall and play our wet weather games. I've always been naff at card games...
The GB guys are out in it though, taking some coaching session with some groups of school children who have come down. They appear to be having fun, but return soaked to the skin as their Kukri tops aren't the waterproof ones like the Jersey team's. It's like some freaky wet T-shirt competition as they peel off their layers!
Some sports news just in.... Tels and Andy managed a couple of birdies and a hole in one!! (on Beer Golf on Facebook!).

In all the boredom and restlessness, some of us get talking to a couple of the Irish team. We find out about each others softballing jurisdictions and they mention that they were part of the team that went to the Ad World Series in Las Vagas last year and are going to the Phoenix one this year.

Anyway, provisional plans come and go, and in the end we get a final announcement that if it doesn't clear up by 3pm then the day is called off. Looking on Meteox again I can immediately see how this is going to go!
3pm arrives and the day has been cancelled. This means we're up ultra early tomorrow and facing GB in the new schedule starting at 08:30. This is a better draw for us because although we were due to play them today anyway, it would have been our second game of the day and only their first so they'd be fresh, so it brings things our way a little tiny bit.

So we go back to the hotel, change into civvies and hit the nearby shopping park to pick up a few things, like some proper footwear for me - i've been in my beach sandals all day as I didn't bring my trainers. After getting back to the hotel, we head out for a bite to eat. Meeting in the Ibis hotel opposite, we stumble on a battle of the titans over the scrabble board with Tels vs Andy in full literary fury. Andy was lacking his previous flair and so we didn't learn how to play 'shaft' and 'Sheep' together to get a triple word score! Tels play of the day was a 75 pointer in the form of the word 'loiters'.
Our earlier liaison with the Irish revealed their favourite watering hole and an invite down there, so we decide to find that and eat there. On finding the place we see there are pool tables and don't waste any time cueing up. We order food as well, and Sean manages to eat a bit of his bone (!) which appears to be taking it's time to get to his stomach. Tels looked at bit concerned at one stage as Sean didn't look comfortable, but not half as uncomfortable as when Tels asked if Sean needed him to do the Hind Lick manoeuvre to clear it....or should that be Heimlich manoeuvre?

After dinner we hit the pool table again, and after some negotiating end up in a full on game of killer pool, with Jersey vs Ireland and two of the softball blus presiding over proceedings! After about an hour of play Jersey Julie comes out winner after some foul hand ball plays from the fuzzy haired Irish geezer! Nice one Jules!

So, here's where we're at now. I'm just about to hit the sack ready for tomorrow's play that starts early. The weather report on the telly has just said something about a months rain in the last 48 hours, so we appear to be well and truly in the land of the Liquid Sunshine!! I'm not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. The organisation is hopeful that we'll be playing, but after the drowning that the pitches have had today and without some remedial action to try to drain them and dry them out I'm not so sure we'll be starting as early as we think we are. I've just checked out of the window and the rain looks like it has stopped!!! Yessss! There may be hope yet. I'll keep you posted.

Good night!

Day 1, Tuesday: Settling in...

2008-07-08T23:59:00.000+01:00

We begin our story proper in Jersey...and it's not raining. Take note, because that detail may become important as the week goes on...

We all met at the airport for 2pm as Captain Sean had requested....hang on....where's JP? At least he's consistent I guess - late again! In the end he turns up, but the penance the team decide he must serve is severe - to have to look after Hedley, the teams teddy mascot. So for the rest of the day he gets....."I think Hedley wants to meet the plane pilot John"...."Hedley needs the toilet John."......"John, Hedley's glass is empty." It's going to be a long week for John I think!

So, onto the plane, and the first real mischief of the trip. G puts her passport in her back pocket, ID appears to have very light fingers, and in no time at all the passport is no longer in her possession. As Sean said many times - no passport, no play - so this could turn fairly serious...and very funny. By the time we'd collected our bags G was in full fluster and not happy. She went to check in the toilets that it had not just dropped out of her pocket and by the time she was back it had magically re-appeared in her bag again. After being shopped immediately by Andy, Id now walks at the back of the gang for fear of reprisal!

From airport we were taken straight to the Sports centre, for a recce and an hours training. The session goes well with no injuries or issues and everyone loosens up nicely. A biiiig mistake was made though: Somehow, whilst going for a ball, Id managed to call it as "Dave's". Now anyone who knows Id knows he's called Id for a reason - namely because despises being called 'Dave'. The guys immediately picked up on it, so that's it now, a week of ridicule!

When we got back into the sports centre, nicely damp as it had just started to rain yet again, we went up to the bar to unwind and wait for the transport to the hotel. While we were up there Spotlight was on the telly and they had a feature on the Championchips - cool! Then the weather report - hot and sunny....unfortunately that's sarcasm and the biggest band of rain we've seen for weeks is approaching fast. Great!
We sorted out our anthem too. We're using the new Jersey anthem, so we got a special delivery from ESC of a copy of it, just for us, that doesn't have the singing on it. Privileged!

Next thing was to get to the hotel and find out what home for the next 5 days is like. It's the Etap hotel and it's pretty basic, which is fine by me, as all we're basically going to be doing is sleeping and washing in it. Each room sleeps 3, although we're only 2 to a room, with a double bed and a single bunk across and above it. Luckily for me, Andy is a bit shorter than me and wanted the bunk, otherwise I'd have been uncomfortable as the bunk has a wall at one end and a nasty looking footboard and would no way accomodate my height without feet dangling out. As we're getting ready to go out and eat, I almost poke my eye out on a coat hanger that I'd put in my rain jacket and forgotten about, and then when I pull the jacket back over my head I've got coat hanger in my face. Oh, how Andy laughed!

We scramble over to TGI Fridays to eat. This is where the quotes board is born, with plenty of people saying stuff that they might come to regret later. We'll be posting as many of these as we can over the week in a separate post which will grow and grow, so look out for that.
Sean and Tels returned from the team registration meeting just then, and one of the bats was disallowed (Garry's) and we heard we might have an issue with a couple of the team wearing long pants whilst the rest wear shorts. Teams get a fine if they don't all wear identical kit. The fine is a hefty 1 Euro - I think we can ride that one out!
And here's where the first 'Dave' jibe kicked in for me. Anyone who's familiar with TGI Fridays will know what a pallava they make if someone has a birthday - and how embarrasing it is for the victim! Apparently though it was my birthday last night and, of course, I'm called Dave! Clean words failed me at that moment!

After eats, it's back to the hotel where we bump into one of the umpires who helps us find a way of being allowed long and short pants. A game of scrabble then ensued with Sean apparently cheating like there was no tomorrow. Has anyone else heard of 'QI' or 'Apol' - well everyone else thought Sean was cheating as well. No such problem with Andy though with classic English literature such as 'Fist' and 'Lube'!

Meanwhile back at the room I was cooking up my own pre emptive strike to counter Andy's famous rear end offensives. To prepare this dish, just take one pair of well used softball boots which have got a bit wet during the day and a portable hairdryer. Put the hair dryer on full blast and toast the boots for about 5 minutes each side to dry them off and release the 'distinctive' aroma. I've never seen such a sight before. Andy returned from Scrabble, opened the door, took two steps inside, looked like he'd been physically hit in the face and cowered back out into the corridor!! Obviously I'd got immune to the aroma as it built up, but poor Andy got the full recipe and nostril overload. So funny!

We're ready to go!

2008-07-07T23:53:00.002+01:00

Well, it's the night before the biggest adventure yet for Jersey Softball, and I don't know about the others but I'm feeling really excited about this. I'm one of those that hasn't been to anything too high level like World Series before, I've just done stuff like the Inter Insulars, so I'm expecting to be a bit of a little fish in a big pond for this one!

A little about your faithful blogger (me!) might be in order at this point, to set the scene and explain myself and my ways a little. I've been playing softball for about 9 years and represented the island several times, but it's not my number one sport! That title goes to my shooting which I've done for years, coming 2nd in the British Championship one year and competing at five Island Games (winning at least one medal in every one) and in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne against world class shooters. So I suppose what I bring to the team is the experience of big competition and my trademark mental analysis and intense focus, albeit in a very different style of sport.

Anyway back to the softball! I'm approaching this as I do with my shooting, which is that I mentally prepare for the contest ahead in as much detail as I dare. Stuff like setting goals, managing my expectations of myself and the team, making plans for 'what if's, deciding how I can make positive contributions to the team, analysing who we have and what the team dynamic will likely be. It's nice to think about these things and visualise them ahead of time, making them more familiar and taking away the fear of the unknowns. Less fear equals less nerves! God knows what the others are doing to prepare though! I think I'm probably way more methodical than them and take things more seriously, whereas I think they're more easy going, but then again that's what I've trained to do as a shooter so it comes as habit now. Maybe Andy is virtually horizontal, as usual, and having a smoke whilst ensuring his stubble is just right for the week? He's probably the other end of the spectrum than me, but we're room mates for this week which will be a laugh I'm sure.

I'm now sat here writing this with a quiet excitement that I've not felt for a while. Everything is slotting into place: The kit is here, it fits (quite an achievement with me) and looks great; We had our last training session on Sunday and that went very well indeed; Sean's sent the final email (Yes - I'll remember my passport!) and it's simply a matter of 1 sleep and several hours to go before we have to be at the airport. So close I can't wait!

I just checked out the weather for the coming days and it's looking fantastic: Rain, rainy showers, followed by sunny rainy bits and then precipitation followed by drizzle, then a downpour and finally some falling moisture. In other words WET! Good old British summer! Anyway, whatever happens the show goes on, but I may have to pack some alternative items like my poncho and perhaps my portable hair dryer...no not for my hair but for drying clothes and boots!

Well, it's definately time to get to bed so I can get up early tomorrow and get my stuff done - like packing!
And yes.....must remember passport! Night!