Awake in Anticipation

Howzit Team

Dreams can come true...let's make it a 3rd Bokke!

It's amazing that no matter how big an event is - whether it's saying a speech before a crowd, or facing up to the first ball of a cricket match, the night before you becomes sleepless, and all you can think about is what lies ahead. This time around, this is no cricket match, and it's definitely not a gala dinner. This is the World Cup baby! This is something people dream about doing. This is something people dream about seeing. This is something that makes people dream so much they can't even sleep.  And that's exactly what has happened to me! The anticipation is getting me so psyched up, and even though we have two days of travelling ahead of us, I don't think there's anything else in the world I'd rather be doing or seeing.

I've been lacking inspiration of late, just mainly because I've been working so hard in getting everything up to date at work, and of course the drinking that comes in between. But I've kept the old trusty camera by my side, so after three weeks since my last video, I am going to be a compiling a 3 week montage into a 5 minute vid, that will hopefully cover the full build up to this epic journey. The video will feature soon!

I'm really looking forward to our first stop in Dubai, as that is where the purchase of my first video camera is gonna be made, and the rest of the trip will be done in HD baby! Currently I've been using an old digital camera that I got for my 21st birthday, and which I managed to fix with a vacuum cleaner (believe it...because it's true!). So the quality might not be as good, but it's enough to cover the just of what we've been getting up to.

Sassy - Don't Stop Believin' 

The one person we haven't divulged into any shenanigans of has been Sassy, who asked me why we haven't brought up any stories regarding him! I have managed to take any photos of him passed out around a toilet, or getting his hair died, but after Saturday night's perfomance of him and Bugsy at Gazza's house, and some epic renditions of Journey's - Don't Stop Believin',  I suspect that we'll get more than we bargained for when we eventually get across to the land of the long white cloud. Watch this space!

Well for those of you that can't stand a youtube video chowing all your bandwith, let me cover the last 3 weeks events into this blog entry.  We left you off last after an epic cricket weekend with the boys, that saw me passed out next to a toilet.  I reminded everyone that this put Danger into a good mood. Such a good mood that he followed up my exploits by passing out in his car at the club, and woke up the next morning in a dusty parking lot. And just a reminder, Mrs. Sassy was still at the club...awake...and drinking! Yeah buddy! One free night of drinking is heading my way in Wellington!

You've been warned Bobo

That was followed up by watching the semi-finals of the Murray Cup at Crusaders - the annual knockout club rugby competition that is held every year. I headed down there with Danger, Knighty (remember him from the video - you can put your house on the Bokke to beat the Wallabies - champion!), Wardo, "Morne Steyn" (dead ringer), Ash, and the rest of the team. Our mate Sandro was playing in the semi-final, and even though he showed a great perfomance against his opposite number (Gcobani Bobo - yes the former Springbok), it wasn't enough to get them through to the final.

I did however manage to catch up with him and the rugby boys after the game to capture a few of their views as the RWC tournament edges ever closer. As usual after a few beers - team lineups, play selections, and whether Butch "No Arms" James or Morne "Kaaren't Miss" Steyn should be SA's starting flyhalf - the end of the day assumption was that the Bokke are strong enough to pull off yet another RWC crown, and show the world how we can really step up to the plate.

Our George sponsored hoodies! Yes please!

Other than that we have just been doing the basic prep in getting ourselves ready for the trip. Big thanks must go to SportsFusion who we organised all our Springbok supporters kit. Big massive weather protective bomber jackets were definitely the buy of the season, and thanks again to the George for organizing us sponsored hoodies. I believe that Danger is going to get more than what he bargained for when we hit the pubs in New Zealand, because there's nothing like having "Danger" written just above your backside (yes - the names were placed at the bottom of the jersey - obviously it's there to warn all those Maori birds!).

Streaks is back baby!!!

Also thanks to Wildri, who revived Streaks back to his golden ways, with one epic hair appointment. A whole lot of sunshine, and epic awesomeness got blasted in to the man's locks, and he is now ready for his kiwi adventure!

Just want to say thanks for all the support that I have been getting from everyone with regards to the blog and the Youtube video! There's nothing like getting nagged by your friends, family, extended family, and complete strangers, on how they can't wait for the next entry! A big shout out must go to Mr Sassy's brother-in-law's sister, who will be welcoming us in Auckland (yes I'm still trying to work that one out) - as well as to Big Wes (a veteran of three Rugby World Cups) who has been telling us stories through many a serving of Jagerbombs and Captain Morgan, how the RWC is an experience like no other. It's not surprising that one of his stories included the Boks win over France in the 1995 RWC Semi-final, which he attended! Really hoping this trip lives up to all the glory of RWC's past, as I really feel this will be a trip of a lifetime.

Streaks, Danger, Bugsy and Big Wes - Yes...epic!

Anyways the next time you hear from me, I am likely to be in sitting in the airport in the Middle East, playing with my new camera toy, as we wait 5 hours for our 14 hour connecting flight to New Zealand via Australia.  Looking forward to having you guys on this journey with us, and make sure you keep a look out for us in the crowd! I will be keeping everyone updated on Twitter - so make sure you follow me @DevinH21 today.

Cheers
Streaks

Let the Documenting Begin!

Hello RWC Team

My name is Devin "Streaks" Heffer and this is my blog on our road to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.   We are travelling halfway across the world to support the defending champions, the Springboks, in their pursuit of a record 3rd Rugby World Cup. We leave for our journey from South Africa on the 7th of September, the 1st RWC 2011 game kicks off on the 9th, and our first match is that against Wales on the 11th (September 11th treat us well!).  The match tickets are booked, the airfares are paid, and the rental car (an old station wagon with GPS...yes please!) has been booked for our epic journey.

The World Cup winning Springboks from France 2007

 The best part of this trip is that I'm not going at it alone. It will be the awesome foursome from Durban, South Africa, of Jared aka "Sassy", his new wife and my sister Shelley "aka Mrs. Sassy", and the oldest but craziest member of our group "Danger" Dave!  Sassy and Mrs. Sassy are newly weds, and this trip makes up part of their honeymoon.  Unfortunately Danger and myself have invited ourselves over for the ride!  Expect much debate, much debacle, and much debauchery from this bunch.  Danger already knows he doesn't stand a chance against Streaksy (the bets between us are something quite remarkable, and will be noted here!).

Sassy and Mrs. Sassy - the newly weds!

Streaks and Danger - Wellington watch out!

This trip has been said it is not for the faint hearted, and a 37 hour trip from Durban to Wellington lies ahead of us. 37 hours!? Yip that's right.  Unfortunately we were a bit slow on the booking of flights, and instead of going via Perth to Auckland, we are now going Durban -> Dubai -> Brisbane -> Auckland and then a 9 and half hour drive from Auckland to Wellington!  Yet it's all part of the adventure, and gives us more time to document all the happenings and events of this epic trip.  I've already been warned that flying with Danger is like flying with a real life drunken circus.  28 hours of flying means that Danger could endure 3 hangovers before we've even landed in Auckland.  I wonder if they sell booze in Dubai!?

Anyways, if you are going to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, or if you are going to be supporting your favorite team from home, then follow this blog to keep up to date with all the preparation, the anticipation, and the enjoyment of this year's rugby spectacular.

This is our road to RWC 2011!

P.S. From the time of this post, there are 24 days to the start of RWC 2011!