I wake early as I'm supposed to do a 12km run with a decent hill. Ha. Don't like my chances in this humidity. The girls decide to join me for a walk. We head up towards Fort Canning Park which is just across the road from our hotel.
It's really steamy this morning and we're knackered just from trudging up the steps to the park. It's a decent hill. I set off for the run, leaving the girls to their walk. The park has some coolish spots underneath the tree canopy, but it's undulating and I'm struggling. I run a lap of the park which is about 2.5kms, then decide to head down to the quays for the remainder. At the 4km mark I've had enough, I'm a sweaty sweatbox. I spend the next couple of kms interspersing walking with slowww jogging.
It's nice to have a closer look at the quays. Singapore doesn't seem to be an early riser, it's 8am and the streets are pretty empty. After 9kms of running/walking I get back to the hotel, surely the running exchange rate is SG9kms to AUS12kms.
It's semi final day at the netball, Jamaica v Australia and England v New Zealand, as well as some of the lower ranked games. Australia's form wasn't good last night and I'm nervous. Vin and Mel head off for a day of sightseeing but I potter around and get my blog organised. A few of the forum freaks are meeting at 2.00pm. By the time I get organised I decide it's easier to get a taxi to the stadium (www.lazytraveller.gov.au) and I arrive in time to meet the gang - Curlz, swifts rule, Guz and daughter, Fergus, Lurch, Netball Tragic, rossie, RSI and daughter. We're all wearing the #blingiton tshirts so we have no trouble finding each other.
Soon we're deep in conversation about last nights games and our fears for the semi. Although I'm nervous, I think we'll get past Jamaica. I figure last night was a one-off flat game before the serious stuff starts. You never know what you're going to get against Jamaica, sometimes they pull out a fantastic game and other times they crumble easily.
Their captain, Simone Forbes, was banned from the WCs for taking an illegal substance. She apparently took clomid, a fertility drug. Can't see how that would be performance enhancing. It's really sad that she's out because she's one of the best GAs in the world, has been around forever, and the Jammies are significantly weaker without her. After she got banned she announced her retirement, which is a huge loss for Jamaica, and will make our job much easier today.
The fellow freaks and I take some group photos and Julie Fitzgerald (former NSW Swifts coach) has the misfortune of walking past, so I accost her for a photo. She's great about it but slightly unnerved by the attention and bolts straight after the photo. It's great to catch up with everyone. We disperse to find seats. Again the seats are unallocated so it's pot luck. Lurch and Netball Tragic have been here all day watching the earlier games and they scout out a plum spot for me, four rows back from the front, behind one of the player benches, in the middle of the rabid aussie section. Perfect! I'm excited!
Mel and Vin arrive just in time for the England v New Zealand match. The first quarter is tight and tense, but in the second quarter England predictably begins to crumble under the pressure, enough for NZ to take a 5 goal lead at half time. The coach of England, aussie Sue Hawkins, makes a myriad of questionable positional changes throughout the game and NZ suddenly have an unassailable lead.
It's disappointing to see England fold, as over the last few years the quality of their players has really improved, but they just haven't had the mental toughness to hold it together against NZ and Australia when it really counts. They've talked it up in the lead up to the tournament, but they've failed to deliver and again find themselves in the bronze medal playoff after a 15 goal loss.
NZ are through to the gold medal playoff and their form is looking very ominous. They look clinical and very strong, and the kiwi crowd is going off, brimming with confidence. We're right behind the kiwi bench and the players and coaching staff look extremely pleased with themselves and rightly so.
It's time for the aussies and jammies to come out. Another contraband vodka settles the nerves. The starting lineups are revealed and Jamaica has gone with their two freakishly tall shooters, which means Romelda Aiken, best shooter in the ANZ Championship this year, is relegated to GA, her non-preferred position. Good. The further away from the post she is, the happier I am. I turn to Netball Tragic and give the thumbs up. We're gonna be fine.
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