this will be a very structured post

pls do read my reflections on Cromwell after this and the posts after that as u do as a blog reader :)

anyway i should mention the timeline of my tour of Cromwell, Wanaka, Queenstown and Mount Cook:

Sunday, Nov 13
Arrived in Cromwell/Bannockburn

Saturday-Sunday, Nov 19-20
Drive to Queenstown to catch England v ABs at 3.30 in the morning
Sleep at Frankton Arm.. Freeload #1
First ever time in a Catholic church..

Friday, Nov 25
Angry moment with "tapener" at Avalon vineyard

Saturday, Nov 26
Work at other guy's vineyard under Mount Rosa
Climb up Mount Rosa with all the other guys
Climb down Mount Rosa with Jess, Mike Willis, Reeves, Joe Naki and Kat

Sunday, Nov 27
What a day for New Zealand rugby.. league and union
First service at Cromwell Presby..
Thrash Cromwell VI at touch..

Saturday/Sunday, Dec 3-4
Jacqui's baptism at Lowburn
Drive up to Wanaka.
Jared Clow beaches car on the banks of Matatuki River
Subsequent freeload #2 on banks of Matatuki River
Attend Wanaka Anglican Church
Walk 3-hour Rob Roy Glacier
Chris McDonald arrives

Saturday, Dec 10
Spend day in Queenstown/Arrowtown
Dance party aka ball at the Mullers

Sunday, Dec 11
Jump off Cromwell bridge

Tuesday, Dec 13
The Bannockburn rock is the cool place

Thursday, Dec 15
Last day of work at Avalon
Very emotional bye-byes
Drove to Lake Tekapo
Sleep at Lake Tekapo.. Freeload #3

Friday, Dec 16
Freeload #3 costs us $13 and almost $500 fine for fire
Mount Cook
Less emotional bye-byes
Drove home to Dunners :(

anyway, since i'm a sporty person.. here are my top 10 sporting highlights of 2005.. and my word, 2005 has got to be the greatest sporting year i've ever had.. never have had so much success when it comes to the teams i support.. what an incredible year, and certainly emotionally draining..

10.Sydney Swans win a thriller of an AFL Grand Final

9.All Blacks thrashing the British & Irish Lions

8.Chelsea winning the Premiership

7.All Blacks beating the Boks in epic at the Brook

6.Edgsbaston 05.. England win by 2 runs

5.Wests Tigers winning the NRL Grand Final

4.West Brom staying up on the final day

3.The removal of the bails at the Oval to signal the return of the Ashes to England

2.Kiwis beat the Kangaroos in Tri Nations Final

1.All Blacks beating England to effectively clinch the Grand Slam

other moments that have made me smile..

Wales winning the Grand Slam, Liverpool coming for 3-0 down at halftime to win the European Cup Final, Sydney Swans beating Geelong in the last moments of their elimination final, Australia making World Cup Finals in dramatic style, Michael Campbell winning the US Open, Silver Ferns kicking the Aussies in the netball twice, Blackcaps scoring 300 plus in two games against Aussies in the cricket, New Zealand Maori beating the Lions in Hamilton..

2005... what a year for sport.. may there be more.. or even if there isn't, may there be more at the right time, ie. 2007 World Cup Final in Paris, All Blacks v France..