AB tour diary Days 4-5 in London, Lille 8-9 November 2014

All Black Dairy Days 4 and 5 2014

Day 4 was Saturday November 8 2014.

Our tour buses were scheduled to leave the hotel at midday. Your wise old correspondent thought this would be too late for an arrival at Twickenham at a reasonable hour, especially with a packed attendance expected. So we left at 11.30am. And then arrived at the famous ground far too early!

It was no matter as everyone in our two travelling groups were really 'amped' for being at the ground and taking in the atmosphere.

After a really impressive buildup of anthems, singing and the moment's silence the game itself started out in dry weather. In the end it really hosed down such as I have never seen before at Twickenham. Luckily our seats were high enough to be clear of the storm.

Afterwards to move the Quinn and Loveridge supporters groups through the departing hoards was a bit of an issue, especially as the rain continued. But it was the good humour of our people (the All Blacks having won the game really helps) and the rain storm which also assisted the people to hurry to the bus park. Nevertheless one of our party of nearly 80 people got separated from the 'bunch' and as he was from my tour old muggins had to go back through the rain to find him.

Fortunately with some wet weather pants found at the bottom of my kit and a cell phone our misplaced bloke was quickly located. He had just followed the wrong group coming out of the ground. With everyone dressed in similar parka's and plastic who could blame him really. Then we travelled back to the hotel with a gentle buzz of satisfaction in the bus at the smoothness of the day's arrangements - not to mention the result of the game.

In the evening a few drinks 'went west' in celebration of the victory. There's something about wee New Zealand beating the 'Mother Country' which still lingers warmly in the minds of Kiwis. That feeling, which dates back to the first win in 1905, certainly made the beer taste sweeter tonight.

Day 5 was Sunday November 9 2014.

Up early today at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel and this time it was our two travelling groups to be on the coaches for a short ride to St Pancreas Station. Today we are riding to France on the Eurostar train service. We are headed to Lille in the north. The ride on Eurostar was as smooth as silk, a pleasure to be on board in fact.

We are heading to France to be here ahead of the Commemorations tomorrow of the start of WWI. Our presence here will be particularly poignant having seen the poppies at the Tower of London the other day. Tomorrow we will have just a glimpse of how the French nation will reflect on the same war's beginning.

In Lille we are staying at the Mercure Hotel and while it is modern and well-appointed, right next to the main 'Grande Place' there has been some merriment expressed by our people at the size of the rooms. The words 'tres petite' come to mind!

We are here for two nights. After our visit to the war sites tomorrow we will be in Paris by nightfall.

It's a good tour we are having with nice Kiwi people on board.
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