FINAL PRACTICES 15th January 2008

Tomorrow, we play an earlier game than we are used to, so our early nights from jet-lag will come in handy. Not much happened today that was any different form the last few days: We ate, we trained; we ate, we killed time; we ate, and then we went back to bed. These are our usual exciting times as a Tournament nears its start.

There was one new experience though. In the afternoon, I did go for a walk with Mel. I can't say that there was anything very special about this excursion, except perhaps that we survived. I was out looking for some postcards to send home, and miraculously, we found some. Unfortunately, I was unable to buy them as I could not manage to force my way to the front of the line. I definitely need pointier elbows.

Remembering the old saying about "When in France, do as the French do," Mel and I managed to do like the Chinese locals, and we succeeded in crossing a six lane highway. We did really well. However, it was on the sidewalk that things got much more dangerous. I was merrily walking along, talking Mel's head off, when she grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the way of a large truck coming right at us. I guess he needed to go that way and he wasn't letting anything, nor anyone, get in his way. Thank goodness I have good friends to pay attention when I am not.

Later, back at the hotel, we heard that Erin, Martina, and Amy V also had an interesting walk. They came across a garden in the middle of nowhere and decided to have a look around. Inside the garden were a little Chinese boy and his mother. The thee Canadians thought he was cute so they started to talk to him. They tried waving and smiling to make him laugh. Unfortunately, all he did was start crying. When the little guy ran off to his mother, he left a little trail of water behind in his wake. These three Canadian goons had frightened him so badly that he had peed himself. I suppose it's really not that surprising when I think about it. The three of them really are scary.