Day 7 - Looking for GOLD

Our mornings have been quite relaxed which has been great to keep the routine and normality. Today's game was earlier again this morning so we had less time to fill in between breakfast and the game.
Making sure the uniforms are dry has become one of my biggest overnight stresses. I crank the air conditioning, and basically sweat it out till the morning. Fortunately this tactic has worked.
After breakfast clean up is done, I set up a sandwich station for lunch in preparation for the afternoon we had planned. We were trying to save time by eating lunch on the way home from the game so we could have a quicker turnaround at home.
We arrived to see the state wheelchair basketball teams. It's hard not to be inspired when you watch. I'd love to see some more, and think that it would be great to come back and support NSW in another game before the week's out.
The game is one that is a little more predictable as we are playing the Northern Territory. We respect this team for their tenacity and the way that they conduct themselves and never give up.
It was an entertaining game to watch with a lot of equal time on the court. I felt part of the game today. I had to chase down a loose ball, and use my 'lightning fast reflexes' to catch a ball that came right at my head.
Our win puts us in the Quarter Finals !!!! Yahoo!

 The game ended with a large scoreline difference but the NT team took it all in their stride and were extremely gracious in defeat. A lot of players could learn a lot from them.
The coaches and us part ways as they go off to scout for the rest of the day. The girls eat their lunch on the way home and they do recovery before getting ready to head out. I know the hoodies that I arranged for them have NSW Country PRIDE, and never a truer word was spoken. As the girls came out of their cabins they are all in NSW gear, proud to wear their polos and as it was an unseasonably warm day they all fished out Basketball NSW shorts from a variety of camps, and representative opportunities. They looked great, so we loaded up the bus and headed for Sovereign Hill, a period setting tourist attraction set in the gold rush times of old. All staff are actors and are in period costumes, and you feel like you've taken a step onto an old western.
The girls are truly hilarious as they walk in and set their eyes on the place, and one said 'is this what it looked like? I could NOT have lived back then, show me the Wifi'. Ahhhhh kids these days.
They headed off to the gold panning, as many thought that they would find their 'gold'.
Funnily enough their uniforms are attracting attention with a number of people wanting to have their pictures taken with them.

The girls didn't find the gold they were seeking, so resigned themselves to the fact that they would need to pursue another type of gold.....on the court.
They got to dip candles, sit in an old church and watch a gold bar being poured. All lots of fun. I wondered whether the Lord's Prayer they recited in the old church was to bring some devine intervention to the remaining games.

They grew tired quickly so we headed home so the girls could have some down time before dinner and I could go and grab some ingredients for dinner as the girls were keen for some Mexican. While I was shopping they challenged some of the WA boys teams to some ping pong, as we have the whole state's teams here sharing the park with us too.
Once again I have a few visitors wanting to help with dinner, so I put them to work chopping and preparing, and dinner is ready in no time at all. They girls decide to head up to the rec room to watch a movie, while I clean up after dinner.
The coaches finally come home and are famished. I've kept them some dinner so while they arrive home the girls all start to filter into the room and I listen to stories and enjoy the company. Our head coach headed back to pick up a plate from his room, only to return moments later asking for help from the AC. It appears that 3 huntsman spiders have appeared above the door, and has a fear of them. I totally understand the fear of spiders. I have been known to jump a mile just knowing they are being spoken about. I believe that our very own Abbey George happily killed it. She is so brave. Our AC also obliged by doing the washing up for me too. Legendary, because that's a job I very much dislike.
I pick up some supplies for the morning and the coaches and some of the team watch some tape from the games of the opposition we have tomorrow. I decide to have an early night and turn off the lights to finish this blog then off to bed for our big day tomorrow. Bring it on!!!