MandyMcGregor.co.nz

13, Mar, 2010

We had to get up super early and catch the 7am bus to the stadium, and then Steph, Anne and myself did some practise while the Compound Women warmed up for their match. The shoot-off for gold medal match and bronze medal match were decided pretty swiftly, with Nichola Simpson and Tracey McGowan seeded for the bronze. Lucy O'Sullivan from Jersey went into the Gold Medal match against the Indian that knocked Steph out a few rounds earlier.

It was good tight competition, and Lucy came up on top for the Gold, and Nichola for the bronze. The wind had completely died away at the start and so conditions were pretty good, and there was some good shooting. Anne, Steph and I made the most of the time we had together & did some more practise, which was great, and then we headed back to the hotel for lunch. Let me rephrase - back to the hotel to get changed, then over to McDonalds. I dont know what was different about McD's this time but it was jam packed with people, you could hardly move.  In India we found that if you were in the company of non-indians even for a split second, it would be likely that they would ask you where you were from.  Entering McDs wasnt a good experience with all those people in there, all I could think about was that it would be a perfect time to blow it up! Crazy huh. Maybe it had something to do with the Hockey Final on that night. So we ate & got out of there and then ventured across the road, dodging the showecleaner guy, the young kids trying to sell you something, the police, cars and people (we are old hands at Indian road crossings now!) and had a look thru the shops.

All the shops arr roller-door type, inset into the building, lon and skinny. There were probably 50 shops in a small small space, and every pne selling pretty much the same thing. Either Pashminas and Saris or souvenirs.  There is a security guard wandering up and down, and on the roadside people selling wooden snakes that move, backgammon boards, chess, hats, pens, anything you can think of.  One guy Steph asked him how much, and that was it. DO you think he would leave us alone after that? The security guard (female) came up to him and smacked him on the head initially, just jokingly, but having someone hassle you for over 30 mins while you walk in and out of shops really wound me up.  I was ready to hit him!  We went past the last shop on his block, and then to the next one, and suddenly he was gone - there must be some street rules about only 'doing' your block, which was a huge relief to both of us.

Sick of the hassling and the people, we crossed back to the Emporium we went to the other day, and took a more leisurely look around. You arent hassled at all in there, and you dont get to barter either, but it was good.  Bought a couple of little things for my nieces and nephews, and back to the hotel to get ready for the banquet.

Banquet kicked off at 7.30pm out in the open air (still in the confines of the hotel). There was curry for India, naans being cooked while we stood there, an indian band playing, and all the assistants that looked after us for the week were there also. Plenty of alcohol, dancing and getting to know the other teams, and making new friends. Sometimes it would be nice for them to have something at the start as well, so you dont wait til the end of the tournament to really get to know people.  It was fun. All the assistants wanted our pictures taken with them, autographs, and one asked if he can take me home to meet his mother! It was funny as anything.  We had to get up for the 3am bus to the airport so that wasnt fun, just a few hours sleep.