To kill time Amy, Erin and I did our usual trek, and headed down to the mall to get coffees. Of course, this was another pretty sound idea, until you think of all the people out and about talking about THE GAME!! We almost overheard the result and the scores on a number of occasions, but thank goodness for Erin doing distracting dances to keep our focus away from the result!!!!

The game was an important one for me for several reasons: (i) I love Ryan Giggs and always want him to win; (ii) Amy loves Scholes and I agree with her in wanting him to do well as he missed the last final in 1999; and, (iii) the most important reason of all, I had a bet riding on the game with Tank. For all those who saw the final, it was a great game, and it had a bit of everything in it. I was excited to start my day off in a great mood, with my chosen team winning and a little extra dosh in my pocket.

Today was tourist day. We were late boarding the bus for our little outing, but no one seemed to care very much. We were on our way down to Sydney's old harbour for a little sightseeing. Jill, our liaison and former Australian national team player has been with us all the trip and she acted as our tour guide while we were there. This is not an easy task. I took WAYYY too many pictures of the Sydney Opera House, but and unlike the White House in Washington DC, it really lives up to expectations. We took the usual leaping pictures in front of it, and too bad Amy Walsh and Diana aren't here to do their gnomes away from homes shots. These would have been pretty cool in front of the building.

We managed a few photos too of Sydney harbor bridge and the Australian navy ships across the bay at Woollomolloo.

After this start to the tour, we headed to the Sydney Zoo. Brit, as well as a few others, had been clamoring on and on about getting to see a kangaroo. Now, as you will guess, we are unfortunately, no where near any wild kangaroos nor any outback where we are staying. I won't mention the giant kangaroo cull that is taking place not too far away from us. Anyway, Management did their best, and they found some caged Roos for us to gawk at. I really enjoyed myself there.

Probably my favorites were the Koalas, which I loved.

However, the best part, and maybe the worst as well, was getting a python draped around my neck. I am not a "snake person, " and I felt very brave for doing this. Unfortunately the snake was put on my bare skin around my neck and the cold, slithery feeling gave me the major shivers. Even once the zoo guy had taken the snake off, I could still feel it on the back of my neck---- yyahhdsfclhsb!!!

Because of my exploit though, I think I might be KK's new hero. She was very impressed with me. We had a good time looking at the spiders, lizards, ants, dangerous cassawara birds and various creepy crawly Australian dangers!

Returning to the hotel, we left for training at 3:13pm in the afternoon. We were all feeling pretty tired from a morning of walking. Tomorrow is game day though, so the session was lighter than usual, thank goodness. We kept the practice sharp and everyone looked good.

Now it is 8:10pm at night, and I am good and ready for bed. I shall try hard to stay up till about 9:00pm though. What a rebel I am. 'Night.