San Diego USA

We’re off again –

Golden Oldies strike again.

The trip was long – twenty four hours from home to our hotel – the Scant Comfort Inn Zoo, San Diego. Yes it’s pretty basic. It looked a bit better after a sleep.

We had our grandson, Ben, staying with us the week before we left and he was very excited to be going home to Auckland on the plane with us and Aunty Lynda as we set out on the first leg of our trip. He had been a really good boy. He even came to bowls with us which has to be “boring” for any six year old boy, not that he said that once in the entire week! Leo, our dog, also had one of his mysterious downer days. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong so we’re hoping he’ll come right.

Yes the trip was a bit of a challenge. I was sure I’d sleep, but no. I saw a couple of reasonable movies though. The food wasn’t bad either.

So the reason for the trip is the Golden Oldies International Netball Festival. It is held every two years since 1984 and until recently was sponsored by Air New Zealand but has been taken over by another crowd who’s name escapes me right now, and most of the time to be honest. My daughter  Lynda and I make it a holiday together with some extreme (especially for me) exercise. Because it’s such a long way to come Hoppy decided to tag along too, so the three of us have the “Kiddies Suite” at this particular Comfort (?) Inn, ComfortinnzooNorth – how appropriate, and we are continuing on to Florida. Lynda is heading back home to relieve her busy husband and catch up on her seemingly endlessly busy work. Retirement has some benefits!!

The first official happening was the Parade of Nations. This was held at Seaworld. We all assembled in our countries in the carpark before parading through the park in our “dress-ups”. Countries represented are – New Zealand 26 teams; Australia 13; Canada 1; USA 2; St. Vincent Grenadine 2; South Africa 1; Vanuatu 1; Fiji 1; Cook Islands 6; Barbados 1;  over 500 players in all. We are Dom’s Devils (to my consternation) and number 23 – some Aussies have been allowed to join us.Our fancy dress was as penguins being Seaworld and us from the South. We looked great but the waddle we had to do played merry… with some of my muscles! After the parade we had an exclusive performance by Orcas – so beautiful. No so beautiful was the sickly sweet accompanying video screening however…………. After the show we dinner,  drinks and dancing before off to the motel to rest-up for tomorrows hard out netball games.