Like True Blue Aussies that we are, the first OZ game of the Rugby World Cup had us both glued to the TV. Yvonne was decked out in her Australian coloured T-Shirt suitable inscribed with the words “Rugby Girl” as she was the chief cheer girl. (The only cheer girl). Cheering on the boys in green and gold with the occasional boo to the other mob (Italy), a wonderful time was had. Just wish we had a XXXX to make it even better.

Before we left Australia we planned to see a county limited over cricket match while we were over here. Hampshire’s field, the Rose Bowl, was about an hour away near Southampton and as our own “Warnie” just happens to be captain, this was the game we would go to. We watched the weather closely in the days leading up to the match and the weather gods have been extremely kind to us so far this trip and the day was fine and sunny. As we paid out our entry fee of £26 and walked inside, it was interesting that bags and coolers were not inspected and you were permitted to take in 4 cans of lager or 2 bottles of wine. Indeed just about everybody bought their own bottles of wine, glasses and food and it was just like a picnic in the park. We saw four people in the member’s car park sitting at their folding table and enjoying their picnic lunch before the start of the match much like people do at the Melbourne Cup.

We found ourselves a seat with a good view and had settled for only a few minutes when the Princess said: “Oi – there’s seats over there in the shade”. So off we trapes, great seats and again just settled down awaiting the games start in 10 minutes when we decided to get some lunch. So off we go and when we returned most of the seats around us were taken by people all wearing name tags around their necks. We checked with a nearby spectator who told us we were seated in the “Members Only” area so off again. No sooner had we settled in our new possie when a group of 4 or 5 young Aussies arrived. They had their Australian flags draped over the fence but had to remove them later so they wore them around themselves instead. They provided as much entertainment for us all as the cricketers on the field. Fueled by rum in a bottle that was added to bottles of Coke, chatting up the English girls, calling out humorous comments to the players and other spectators.

They did have competition from a group of about twenty Warnie look-a-likes, complete with gold shirts and blonde wigs. They added more to the Aussie party atmosphere with their cheering and songs. Needles to say we had a great day. Warne got a few wickets and some runs and is extremely well liked here. Our “team”, Warnies mob, scraped home against Gloucester with lots of runs scored and lots of fun. Yvonne said afterwards that the atmosphere sure would have been quite a dull if it had not been for the Australians in the crowd.