ISOLATION: DAY THIRTEEN -

I woke at five, with the usual mix of anticipation and dread that is the prelude of any Wales v All Blacks game. Much has been made of the players missing from the Welsh side and I hate the fact that the English clubs get to thumb their noses at Welsh rugby by not releasing key Welsh Players. But I guess that's what happens if you have a Rugby Union which is bordering on bankrupt and players have to play elsewhere to make a living? Maybe it is time to get sponsored by an oil company? 😏

This was not a bad side on paper with some exciting new Welsh talent on display. Wales certainly missed Dan Biggar at ten but I don't know that Liam Williams would have done any more than Johnny McNichol at fifteen? He had an outstanding game. Ken Owens up front, especially throwing into the line out, would have maybe helped but he was a late injury withdrawal, so we don't even get to blame the English for his absence. 

The Welsh back row, particularly before Moriarty left, played very well, Wainwright and young Bash'em(!) did not look out of place out there. Alun Wynn left a big hole behind. The NZ commentators reckon he is a robot anyway! "Why don't they just didn't bolt another arm on him and send him back out there?"

And sure, the ref made a couple of interesting calls - that  penalty against Josh Adams for jumping too high was ridiculous - and led to a score.

But the truth is you can't make that many mistakes at that level and expect to win. Oh! And New Zealand had better, fitter, faster players than Wales!   At least the commentators over here have been kind enough to call it a "second string" Welsh team.

After that early start the day dragged on a little and this was not helped at all by the fact that, unknown to me,  my watch was still on UK time. That was fine until the UK clocks went back overnight. We were due an exercise session at 3pm so I couldn't understand why there were doors were being opened and voices in the corridor at 2pm. I checked my schedule sheet and was about to dash out and tell them they were all wrong, until the penny dropped and I grabbed my key and followed the crowd.

It was a sunny but blustery afternoon in the yard, typical Canterbury Nor'Wester. From my window it did look very windy and I was only wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Local knowledge - I knew it was NW! It was quite funny to see my Italian colleagues, who were mainly dressed in wooly hats and padded arctic jackets rapidly removing clothing once they had stepped outside! IT was probably 22C in the shade. There was a general sense of euphoria in the yard this afternoon - less than 24 hours left! I farewelled a few folk whom I had chatted with over the last two weeks, we all have differing departure times so probably won't see each other again. I should be released around 2.30pm and Chris has very kindly arranged to deliver my car about then. My first act upon venturing forth? I have to go and get a new NZ Driving Licence as I have noticed that mine expired two months ago! This will include a quirky little eye test which I hope I pass, otherwise I will be stranded!

The response to the Playlist has been stupendous and it has taken me quite some time this morning to organise the draw! The two artists concerned were:

• Sandy Denny, who as well as getting here own slot, was playing with Fairport Convention on the last track
• and Bob Dylan (of course) who wrote the song 'Don't fall apart on me tonight' as well as his own performance

And the winner of a bottle of wine is......... my very good friend and fellow music freak:

 Bev Walls!

And as she is currently holding a case of wine that I ordered from isolation,  it should not be too difficult for her to claim her prize. I look forward to sharing it with you Bev! Thanks everyone else for all your interest!

So, as I conclude today's post there are exactly two hours left. I have a little packing to do, lunch to eat and then......I'm out of here. I shall make a sign off post tomorrow,  just to confirm that they did actually let me out. I am ready for this!