Simon got a nice dose of gout for his birthday so he's been hobbling around for the past few days. We had a bit of a get together with the photographers and journalists here on Saturday night which was fun. Simon didn't know about it until he turned up but about 20 other media were on hand at Chicken Corner for some cheap beers and chicken.
Everyone sang Happy Birthday and basically embarrassed him a lot, which is what you get when you try to ignore your own birthday! I told everyone he didn't have a 40th party so they were more than happy to pretend he was only just turning 40. Cheapest 40th shout anyone could have really with $2 beers.
Chicken Corner is the name we've given this funny little collection of chicken/fish/pork sellers on an intersection of a busy road that I mentioned in the last blog.
Its quite weird to be sitting there by the road side eating chicken cooked in a 44 gallon drum, but when in Rome.... (at least they don't serve dolphin.)
We've since found out that the locals call the area Wall St because its set up in front of about 4 four big banks.
Pictures to come.... hopefully soon.
On Sunday night Simon and I went to a fancy restaurant for his birthday treat, at a boutique hotel resort called LaLuna. Its very Balinese looking but the food is authentic Italian. Mick Jagger's ex Jerry Hall apparently owns some of it and to stay there costs about $750 a night! The food was suberb and will rate as one of the best meals I've had here. Possibly even more memorable than the hotdog stand we found at Antigua's airport that we went out to almost every day! Hotdogs for $2, man they were delicious.
In the past two days we've been out to the Kiwi training sessions at Le Sargesse which is about 30 minutes away. Driving there takes us through the little villages that were pretty much wrecked by the hurricane. Its amazing to see some of them because they are little more than splinters of wood hanging together, yet people are still living in them!!
One place in particular has the entire middle missing, just the two ends of the house are left with a kitchen in one end and a bed in the other. Nothing but fresh air in between!!
We have taken some pictures but the gout-ridden photographer has not been in much of a mood to do anything other than work and then put his foot in the water to ease the pain, so getting the pix onto the blog is taking a back seat sorry! Maybe later...
I forgot to say that we have been moved out of our hell hole accommodation at the University, which we all started calling the Penitentiary. Bit of a leap up, we've moved to the Rex Resort which is the five star place where all the teams are staying. As I've been writing this, the Aussie team members have been sitting on the chairs around me waiting for their bus to take them to training. Sadly, after all this time on tour, I only recognise Glenn McGrath. You'd think I'd know who's who by now.... Never mind. I know all the Kiwi players so thats the main thing.
Anyway this resort is a step in terms of a better bed, real sheets instead of paper one, the shower doesn't turn into a bath up to your knees, and there is a TV. Still no fridge but you can hire them from reception. Weird, must be a Grenadian thing! You also have to hire a TV remote which isn't such a bad thing by the looks of the lazy fat Americans staying here. They could all do with the exercise!
The pool is a godsend and the beach is ok although not as good as the one near the Penitentiary. Breakfast is part of the accommodation deal (for Simon) which is good for our bank balance!
The view from our room is a grassy knoll with the occasional armed guard patrolling past.
So it is better in most ways but of course everything is better when you'r not violently ill as I was at the Penitentiary. I think I drank too much local water so I won't be doing that again!!!
