Half A World Away

Oh My God!  I have actually done it.  I’m half way to achieving one my goals I set myself for the year.  Yes I have booked to go on the British Lions Tour of Australia.  I cant believe its now booked.  I’m still pinching myself!

The tour of Australia will be a trip of a lifetime.  It will be the first time I have seen a sporting event overseas of this magnitude.  Watching the British Lions play will be a fantastic experience and I cant wait to saviour the atmosphere.  The British Lions will be well supported with Lions supporters in good voice.  Additionally, I get to see Australia and spend quality time in three of their largest cities:

Click on Brisbane,    

Click on Melbourne,

Click on Sydney

Of course being in Australia in June and July I will be there in the middle of winter.  Surely it can’t be as cold as here in UK.  Can it?

I feel very fortunate to be going on such a wonderful trip but it wasn’t an easy decision.  I spent so much time agonizing as to whether to go or not. My mind has been mulling this over and over. It’s a lot of money!  What about the kids?  Will they be alright?  Shouldn’t I be taking the kids on holiday? Could I go somewhere else instead? Will anyone else want to join me?  All these questions and more kept bouncing around my mind.

In the end I just thought “sod it! I have had a really hard time over the past two years I deserve it!”  Therefore, so long as someone else was prepared to come there would be no stopping me!

There will be some organizing and planning to do.  I would have to sort Georgina and Joe out before I go.  Georgina and her boyfriend are going to Fuerteventura for a week whilst I am away.  Joe will have to fend for himself but I will ensure there are people around to keep an eye on him.  The day after I return Joe is going on holiday with his mates so ensuring he has packed and got everything ready will be a challenge.

The only other issue was finding someone to travel with me.  Thankfully my long time cricketing mate Tony Rice, “Ricey”, jumped at the chance.  I have known “Ricey” for 25 years having played cricket together and we are good friends. However, I am really dis-organised and he has OCD. These two traits will make life interesting.  John Golder who has shared a room with Ricey on many cricket tours has already advised me what to do:  “take the lid off Ricey’s toothpaste and throw it out of the window”.  Thanks John, I will let you know if it works.   One thing is for sure we both know how to have a good time and are really excited about going to Australia. 

The itinerary is follows:

19^th June        Depart London Heathrow 22:15 Flying Emirates

20^th June        Arrive Dubai 08:05   

                        Depart Dubai 10:25

21^st June         Arrive Brisbane 06:40

22^nd June        1^st Test Australia v British Lions, Brisbane

25^th June        Melbourne Rebels v British Lions, Melbourne

29^th June        2^nd Test Australia v British Lions, Melbourne

6^th July            3^rd Test Australia v British Lions, Sydney

7^th July            Depart Sydney 21:10

8^th July            Arrive Dubai 05:40

                          Depart Dubai 07:45

                          Arrive London Heathrow 12:15

The 19^th June cannot come quick enough!