The Samoan Touch

Hi all

It's been a while since I last posted (sounds like a confession?!!). Normal life has taken a hold. We haven't been away or done anything different or exciting (other than living in Samoa ;-)) Actually I have been playing a bit of Touch Rugby in the last few weeks. There have been tournaments each weekend with 3 games of half an hour each. Somehow I have managed to stumble into Touch at the very end of the season and have been caught up with the top 8 teams in the league!! Anyway they welcomed me but then swiftly plonked me out on the wing where I could do the least damage. I have been fast trying to learn the Jordan, Bounce, Save, Noodle and the Helmet (which all have other names as well just to confuse matters more). After much perseverence I think I have mastered the Jordan which is the main move for the team so at least that is something. It has been heaps of fun and now I have some contacts for next year's season which starts in February. Good fitness build up for netball.

Touch gets played rain or shine (there is no hail here!) but when it rains it really rains. I have had 2 weekends of being soaked through to the skin now with rain dripping off my nose and hair and running into my mouth. Last weekend I had to wring out my top on the field to try and lose some weight from it! Apparently I have "tries in there" and I have been trying hard but so far my only chance was in the middle of a torrential down pour and as hard as I tried I just couldn't pull in the spinning bullet that was thrown to me so it went plop through my arms and dribbled over the try line (yes I was that close!!) Very frustrating and annoying.

Nothing like a bit of Samoan touch in the pouring rain that fast turns into humid heat with bugs flying everywhere and eating mangos picked fresh off the trees, peeled by hand and eaten on the side line with mango juice running down your arms!!