Frankie MacKay - Diary 4
Members of the White Ferns will give provide diary entries during the Rose Bowl in Australia and 2011 Quad series in England.
As I write this diary entry we are yet again on the road, this time travelling with the English girls to our next hotel and also down to the ground we will be playing at tomorrow. Travelling with another team can be a bit difficult at times but now we have taken control of the music and mic with DJ Marty Marty in charge the trips seem to be going much quicker.
A lot has gone on here since the last diary entry. Unfortunately the T20 competition ended disappointingly for us with a loss and subsequently a fourth place finish. Also it was the end of the tour for Lea Tahuhu and Amy Satterthwaite who we greatly miss. This though meant the call up for Janet Brehaut who, with only a few hours to pack her suitcase and make her flight, has done well to not only bring everything she needed but also come into the team and perform straight away.
We were lucky enough to play a game at Clifton college which looked like it was straight from a scene in Harry Potter. It was quite surreal playing a game at the foot of a gorgeous old castle turned school. Then when we got to derby we were staying right next to the ground so you could sit in your hotel room and watch the games of cricket being played below you. Who needs sky tv when you can just watch out your hotel room window! The gym/health centre next door was also seriously impressive, with all new equipment, vibration training machines (which aren’t that good for the self-confidence as you can even feel the skin on the back of your hands shake) and a great pool complex which was well used by all.
It has also been good to be staying at places for longer than a night so the girls can unpack their suitcases, make themselves at home and fit in some much needed shopping at the local mall. We have also had the chance to spend an afternoon in London, which included some more shopping and tourist things. A small group of us decided that when we couldn’t get tickets to a show that night we would instead go to the movies. It’s the first and last time we will go to the movies in the west end as 13.50 was a little pricey for us. At the time it seemed reasonable but when we changed that back to NZD we realised how expensive our evening out had been! But evening of the tour so far must go to Nathan “Dave” King. He found us a fantastic place for dinner and it was definitely meal of the tour so far and I cant see it being beaten. Suze’s Bar was absolutely fantastic and I would recommend it to everyone, especially if you are over here and craving a bit of a kiwi taste. Mussels, salt and pepper squid, steak, lamb, nz beers on tap, and to die for desserts, you couldn’t ask for more really!
Tomorrow we play our final game vs India, unfortunately playing off for 3rd and 4th. Although it has been disappointing not to make either final the girls are ready to end the tour on a high with a win tomorrow for Sara McGlashan’s 100th game. She has been a fantastic player for the White Ferns over the years and definitely deserves to celebrate the milestone with a win.
That’s all from me for now.
Thanks for your support over the tour!!
Frankie
