Debs Blog

Hi all

Well the frustration and disappointment in how the games has gone for my girls just went out the window last night!!!!

Still gutted for them but can't change that - by the way we are playing for 11th and 12th - forgot there are no cross overs in the bottom 6 - sucks but that is how it goes - we play Argentina in pool tomorrow at 8.30pm and then we play South Africa on Friday. The girls have poured their hearts and souls into this campaign and have given up a lot along the way - they are still one of the top 12 teams in the worls and totally deserve to be here - along the way they have played some bloody good hockey and in the first few games the result could have gone their way - welcome to the world of sport!!!! I am very proud of what they have achieved and very honoured to be part of such an amazing team - representing your country at an olympics (even as management!!) is so totally incredible and is something that no-one can ever appreciate (unless of course you have done it as well!!!) or take away from us.

Thanks to those of you that have been so supportive along the way and kept everything in prespective - it certainly has helped and it is like having you around the corner to chat to what things get tough!!! Geoff your txts are awesome and thanks for sending the hug came thru at a good time - love you babe!! Andrew you have said it like it is and I love it - great getting your emails - think I have heard form you more since I have been here then normal!!! Amy keep on keeping on - you are great kid and thanks for looking after Dad and Floss!! There are heaps of others too but family comes first - will have a wee wine with everyone else when I get home - C\Kath and Linda hope you have set a time and place!! John and Helen hope the move goes well and have an awesome time in Aus - your support is huge.

Anyway back to what i started to say - wow didn't NZ do well last night - I even got to hold Hayden's (cycling) and Vals medals - awesome - we welcomed them both back (Hayden at 11 and Val in the wee hours!!) in typical kiwi fashion with a haka and bubbly what more could a person ask for!!! The rowers are out at their base but didn't stop everyone from celebrating!! Wasn't the twins race a nail biter!!! Poor Mahe did so well - he had had a virus in the lead up and had to be taken from his boat after the race by medical staff and hooked up to drip b4 and again after the medal presentatation - kiwis rock!!!

We were all glued to the TV in the "bro town" lounge yelling and screaming like we were there - was totally crazy!! I sometimes forget that we are also part of a bigger team and we can celebrate everyone else's successes - the athletes themselves certainly let us - Val was great. The media had a frenzy yeaterday - NZ is finally medalling and 14th on the medal table - yehaaaaaaaaaaaaa

We head off to support the hockey men tonight who have a very good chance of finishing top four - very exciting and will be a great motivation to the girls to just get out there and do it for the last two games.

To top it all off in the middle of total chaos and celebration the All blacks won - what a day!!!!!

Love to all

Deb

xx