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Published: March 13th 2006
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Bwian's Disciples
Making our presence felt from the very back row... Wow, it’s been so long since I managed to do one of these - you must have thought we were dead or in prison. Luckily, neither of these is the case - we've just been very busy especially with first my Mum & Dad and now Jo-Ann's Mum visiting us. More of that later....
Apologies in advance for those of you who were hoping for dramatic photos of New Zealand scenery....sorry to disappoint you!!
I'm now casting my mind back 5 weeks to the New Zealand leg of the IRB Rugby Sevens Circuit which is held every year in Wellington. For some reason it has grown over the years to be a massive fancy dress party with about 60% of the crowd dressed up. Although there's about 50 games to watch over the 2 days of the tournament, most of the best action is crown-related and the saying is 'if you're bored, you can always watch the rugby'.
There was six of us and taking on board the advice of Sevens veterans that you have to have a theme if you're going as a group we decided on a Life of Brian theme - fans of the legendary
Gutted.....!
Disciples Jo-Ann & Weedge show their disappointment at Scotland's narrow defeat to the Auld Enemy Monty Python film may well enjoy the photos of us and some of the anecdotes in this blog. For the rest of you, it'll be a case of 'what the hell'???
I won't go into much detail as I can't remember most of it (possibly ale-related) but suffice to say they were two of the best days out of all time for me! I really do believe that there's no other city in the world that could put on such a ridiculously magnificent event and its kind of ironic in the country where Rugby is really treated as the be all and end all of everything and basically makes the world go round, that its biggest annual rugby event is one where it doesn't matter what’s going on on the pitch.... its all about the carnage in the stands and in the stadium concourse!
Going as the People's Front of Judea/Brian's Disciples, we thought we'd lose count of the number of people coming up to us and asking us expectantly if we were the Judean People's Front or trying to sell us Otter's Noses. However, most people just asked us what was with the jandal on the stick
Baby-face from our row
I should send this to his mother.... (that's what they call sandals or flip-flops down here) or asked us to cure them (they thought I was Jesus). Clearly, a major nationwide Python education programme is required in New Zealand so I'll be writing to the Education Minister forthwith in this regard.
There were a couple of shining lights though, especially the approx 9 year old kid who approached us on his skateboard as we made our way in full PFJ regalia to the stadium for day 2. We expected him to say something insolent or just laugh at us, but instead he shouted 'He's a very naughty boy!' in a Brian's Mum type way as he flew past us!! The Python fans among you will be heartily amused but the rest of you will be like whatever....however for us, it was a real breakthrough and an example of fine 21st century parenting in action.
A further highlight was meeting some fellow Life of Brian theme-sters on a wee wander through the concourse. I'm sure you'll agree from the photo of us with them that our outfits were infinitely superior to theirs although the kid with them looked legendary with his false beard on....again, outstanding parenting.
A classic moment was during a break between games they had a Freddie Mercury impersonator down by our exit blasting out Bohemian Rhapsody and this was shown on the big screen to all 35,000 people. I'd had a few by this stage so decided it was time to attention seek and charged down the steps determined to get myself on the telly. The rest of the PFJ were trying to get photos of the big screen but they couldn't stop laughing as all they could see was 'Freddie' and this yellow sandal (no, its a shoe!) bouncing around behind his head for the whole song. I guess you had to be there....and be vewy, vewy dwunk.
Saturday is always the big night out so we headed straight home on Friday night after the last game to conserve energy (and cash) for the next day. On Saturday after staying around to watch Fiji beat South Africa in the Final in extra time with a 'golden try' (yes, we did watch some rugby) we headed out on the lash in full PFJ outfits. We boogied to the dodgy live band in The Feathers and then pushed ourselves over the edge
Don't fancy yours much
After a few beers, mistakes can be made! in the Hotel Bristol in Cuba Street. It was from the latter that we rang Andy Johnston and gibbered a load of unintelligible crap to him - great to speak to you, AJ!
After way too much lager, we realised we needed food so head to the best Kebab gaff in town. I was a bit nervous about the whole affair - after all, the last time I had a kebab it re-appeared on a Fountainbridge pavement shortly afterwards (I'm sure Messrs Birrell and Arthur recall that unpleasant incident). However, Kiwi kebabs are the business and it was probably the best 'buckled' food I've ever had and undoubtedly saved me from a terrible hangover.
What a great time we had and hats off to the 20,000 or so who made the effort to get dressed up - there were so many amazing outfits on display from KISS to Spongebob to Leprechauns to Bravehearts to Coppers to Nurses (hubba hubba) to Smurfs and just hundreds of the Hoff! Roll on the 2007 Sevens!!
The next blog will feature my Mum & Dad's visit and the Wellington leg of the Volvo Ocean Race - bet you can't wait! Hmmmm....
Cheerio and remember, the sewer has recently been re-tiled so terrorists careful with those weapons!
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graeme that is called graeme
non-member comment
ithe romans may have given us taxes, but .......
.... i feel as if i can say with some authority that, despite what this blog says, the sevens are not part of the IRD ('inland revenue department') circuit ....... the IRB ('international rugby board') did, however, put on a splendid show!