Rugby or a rave???

Well we have finally finished the deck and it's looking very nice and inviting. The last couple of days have been busy drilling, cutting, staining and fitting bits of wood but it's all come together now and looks lovely. We have all worked hard on it and Sam looked hilarious in a pair of bright orange workmans overalls, but has got on brilliantly with the drill and has passed his apprenticeship in carpentry.

On an evening we have been really tired and have been going to the RSL for tea. Every town in Oz has an RSL (returned Services something or other) you have to show your passport when you go in and you aren't aloud to wear flip flops but that aside the serve amazing food and it's pretty cheap. We can get a three course meal for $17 (£11 ish)and for Sydney that's pretty good. The RSL's are like social clubs as Sydney doesn't have nearly as many pubs as the UK. After the food we came home last night and Sam was forced to watch the Royal Wedding but actually I think he enjoyed it and it was great to see London in all it's glory.

Today we worked on the deck and then we jumped in the van and headed off to try and catch a Super 14's rugby match which was being played at the stadium in Sydney. First we went and found food and in true traveller style ate it in the front of the van down a side road. Sam munching a KFC and me and Will a Pad Thai, then we drove to the match. It was super busy and all the car parking was full but eventually we found a spot along a side road. Will made us practically run to the stadium which was not fun on a bellyfull of Pad Thai. The road was filled with people and some of them seemed strangely young and drunk to be going to a rugby match but we thought perhaps that's what the young folk in Sydney do of a Saturday. We found the stall selling tickets and ran up to it, 'Do you have any tickets left' asked Will, 'Um yes,' said the girl looking slightly confused, 'Great we'll have three please' said Will desperate to get in, 'are you sure?' asked the girl, eyeing Sam suspiciously. 'Yes, three tickets for the rugby,' shouted Will growing more agitated by the second...'Oh the rugby, that's about 100m up the road. These are tickets for Creamlands.' For those of you who don't know Cream Lands is a huge rave which started in Liverpool and now tours the world. I can't believe we nearly bought tickets for a bloody outdoor rave with Sam. We wandered up the street, past the blue flashing lights and the heavy base, past the young girls with their short skirts and the guys with their day glow sticks and into the welcoming, family friendly atmosphere of the rugby stadium, never have I been so pleased to be at a rugby match.

The game was good (I think) I can't tell you who played, something like the Woolamoos and the Rebels. The Rebels lost. The atmosphere in the stadium was pretty subdued but it was nice to be there and Sam enjoyed himself (although he would have had loads more fun at Creamlands but we may have lost Will for a few days!!) So after a lovely evening we headed home and of course got lost and took in a late night tour of the botanical gardens before we stumbled onto the right road and drove home.

Tomorrow we are going to watch Much Ado About Nothing at the Sydney Opera House as part of Sam's English work as the next topic is Shakespeare. It's a hard life travelling the world at 13.

Picture above Sam at a famous surf spot called Snapper Rocks.