Onwards to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown (home of Bungee jumps / Sky diving). Unfortunately, after 4 attempts, conditions have not been right for a sky dive, and we have not had a jump yet. We haven't done the bungee either!

Yesterday, we went to a rugby game in Dunedin at "The house of pain" where the local team Otago beat the "Dirty northern bastards" Auckland in the last minute, much to the locals relief, and to our livers horror. A mass piss up ensues in a local bar called Guardies, but we are not in late, as we cannot stand up after about 10 o'clock. That as they say is that.

I'm afraid, as we say goodbye to most of our Kiwi bus companions for the last 2 weeks. E-mail addresses are exchanged, and we pick up a few contacts for Australia. All in all, I'd say that we are having a crap time, and wish we were back at work in Nottingham with all of you. We still have a couple of weeks in New Zealand, so look out for more from the boys before we get to OZ.

Keep the football updates coming, but also some news from your lives, we could always do with a laugh down here……..

Must go, I think I can hear a Wolves fan calling.

1st October, 2001.

We are not amused!
I'm sure the gods are trying to tell us something about our sky dives, as their sense of timing is getting quite funny. You guys probably don't know this but despite stories to the contrary, we've been trying to get a jump for the last 2 weeks without success.

Today - Attempt No. 6 - Queenstown - Again ! Result - No jump !!!

We are getting closer though. Today we actually got on the bus, got to the airfield, saw the other people on the bus jump, walked into the hangar, weighed ourselves (bit of a shock that, who said travelling would help us lose weight?), signed our lives away.....and were told it was too windy!

Some German bird was half an hour late for the bus, which actually cost us the jump, so that's one more reason to hate the bastards! We are now on attempt no 7, scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. I have pointed out to Rich that between us, the first of us to jump tomorrow will actually be on attempt 13, so I'll let him have the honour.

It was probably for the best today, as we did not retire to our beds until 5 this morning after a 3 way tug of war (me, Rich and a guy called Steve) over a stunning 37 year old Australian millionairess (honest). Steve got in there first, but a trip to the bar cost him dear as Rich swooped. I sat back and watched in amazement as Steve threatened to do all sorts to Rich with his big knife back at the hostel, it really was very funny. Time, though, as they say will tell, as yours truly was the only one who actually got his tongue down her throat. Now it's me who may be on the receiving end of Steve's wrath. We are at present playing a very dangerous game. If the sky dive doesn't finish us off, them I'm pretty sure Steve will.

Nick & Rich (jump virgins).

3rd October, 2001.

So yesterday the boy wonder and myself finally did it (after six cancellations due to high winds.) We jumped out of a plane at 12000 feet, fell in freefall at terminal velocity for 45 seconds before floating gracefully (well sort of!) towards the green valley between the lake and the snow capped mountains. If you are considering doing one of these I would recommend having someone strapped to you who knows which cords to pull and when to pull them. Nick described it as 'the best thing he's ever done' and that wouldn't be far off my conclusion, although getting on a plane to the far side of the world in the first place might hold that title for me !

PS If you receive an email from Nick claiming to have snogged an Australian millionairess please ignore it. He can't prove it so it couldn't have happened could it?!!!

6th October, 2001. (England v Greece)

Saw the game this morning at 2am in a bar in Christchurch. It was not a pleasant feeling as we had no clue how the Germany game was going on. We only realised we were through by the players reactions to Beckham's goal, then we went a bit mental! Unfortunately, we couldn't find any Germans totake the piss out of, which would have topped it off. Never mind.

Good set of results for a change. I noticed on the Owngoals site that the Ones are next to bottom, I can't understand why, I gave them such an easy start to the season, didn't I ?

It's goodbye New Zealand, as sadly we fly to Melbourne this afternoon. We should be in Oz for the next 3 months, where the weather is expected to be in the 30's all the time ( and no rain ). I expect you're all starting to freeze your nuts off aren't you ? Nick / Rich (nicely warm and dry)