What a fantastic tour - LWTL started our tour in Durban on Christmas Eve. The rain was bucketing down but that did not dampen spirits, all the talk at the tour welcome drinks was about the cricket and how England would fair at Kingsmead in 2 days time. Everything from team selection to whether the ball would swing with the humidity…there was a buzz at the Hilton Hotel with all the press and media swarming the place. Was great to see all the Proteas at the hotel, not to mention “Wags” who took a fancy to my 2 and a half year old Callum…wasnt all bad having to rescue him from the sea of blonde. Someone who I am sure didnt appreciate Callums smile and blue eyes was “Beefy” Ian Botham who had the room right next to us on the 11th floor, no doubt he had a few sleepless nights with a young boy crying 10 feet away. The LWTL tour group had a fantastic dinner at one of Durban institutions…The Butcher Boys, wow what a steak, the first of many in my carnivorous journey through South Africa. Christmas day was spent at the Boathouse Hotel 40 minutes up the coast from Durban, what a great setting on the Indian Ocean with the sound of the waves in the background.
The Kingsmead test was a great win for the England cricket team, with Cook and Bell avoiding any further scrutiny with great knocks and setting the platform for then bowlers to scittle out the Proteas on day 4.
We then headed down to Cape Town where the weather and atmosphere was superb - I met the rest of the LWTL tour party who came out on our 1 test tour. We used 3 hotels in Cape Town, The Grand Daddy, The City Lodge Waterfront and the Cullinan. All 3 were very hospitable and the breakfasts were great to set us up for the day.
New Years Eve was at 5Flies Restaurant and the food, setting and company was first class - just a terrific way to see in 2010.
Clients had full day Cape Peninsula tour on the 2nd January which took in all the beautifull places in Cape Town on one of the most perfect days I can remember - some forgot the factor 50…
The Newlands Test was one for the history books, it ebbed and flowed with SA being in trouble on the first morning to being in total control on day 3 with a terrific know from Graeme Smith and some fierce fasdt bowling by Morkel and Steyn. It seemed a victory was certain but Collingwood, Bell and the unlikely hero Graham Onions had other ideas and managed to see through the last 5 overs to produce a fabulous draw…
Our finale dinner was upstairs at Quay 4 restaurant on the Waterfront and the mood was one of excitement and relief after England hung on so bravely, it was brilliant to see the friendships that had formed over just a few weeks and the comradery that sports tours provide. I am sure most will keep in touch for years to come and meet again somewhere else in the world - hopefully the ashes if finances allow.
On a personal note the group was an absolute pleasure to host, it was a little tricky being a South African not to get too excited when an England wicket fell but the banter and jeering was all in good fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Heres to the Ashes tour at the end of the year, if England show as much grit and determination down under they stand a great chance of bringing the urn back to English soil.
Brett
