Day 1 Bowls and Shopping practise

Today was another early start as our body clocks are still on Melbourne time, so 3am in Belfast is 12pm lunchtime in Melbourne.  Team players had to be on bus at 9am to go to Belmont Bowling Club for official practice. Colene stayed in bed and had a lovely morning with a late breakfast and gym session. She gave the swim a miss as there were too many boats on the river.

The team arrived at the Belmont Club and the street-scape was beautiful. Everyone was amazed at how green the greens were. Ireland does have a special green. The speed of the green was equally as dark, the slowest green that anyone had been on.   After many ends and delivery alterations players started to get the weight and line.

Practice finished and there were 2 buses waiting to take the players back to the hotel. 2 choices 1/catch the first bus and get back early or 2/catch the 2nd bus and have a pint or 2. We are Aussies.... Michael and Brian Lockyer( another Aussie player) enjoyed their first Guinness, a pint of course. The cost 2 pound 90 pee. Approx $5.50. They had just begun to enjoy their 2nd pint when they were told they had to board the bus immediately. Michael and Brian had the honour of being the first international players who had to scull their  pint of beer.

On return to the hotel and getting his wifi back up and working Michael found a curious message "an overseas amount for $255 had been declined"..... Colene as usual played her ace card. "Well the clothes were on Sale" and of course they were for the grandchildren......... Off they set to collect the earlier purchases.

The Irish here are lovely people, so polite and courteous.  They are always prepared for a shower of rain. There is just one thing that is hard to handle...... You can't bloody understand a word they say.

Colene and Michael headed back to their room because on Colene's watch it had somehow turned to wine o'clock. At dinner they were able to practise their signing with the other players and their wives. The Australian team members and their wags are a great bunch of people.There was lots of laughs and and jokes.  After dinner Michael attended a team meeting and Colene went off to bed.

Michael's body clock isstill having a hard time resetting itself whereas Colene's clock has lost its alarm button.

The opening ceremony is on today Sunday and then more practice in the afternoon.

Go Aussies Go.