Wales and back in a day was well worth it!

I survived the epic journey to Wales and back on Saturday – leaving home at 5am and returning around midnight.

A late bus departure from Oxford had me sweating I'd miss my coach in London. Frantic text to my mate Heather - bus isn't here yet. Roadworks just outside Shepherd's Bush - more texting. 10 minutes after our scheduled departure time, bus still hadn't turned up, but I had. I was home and hosed. We got away at 7am with more than 4 hours on the road ahead of us.

Arriving in Cardiff, an entire street had been closed beside the town hall so that dozens of buses could discharge their contents. I haven't seen so many Aussies in one place since I left Melbourne in February - and all those broad accents took some readjusting to! Time to break out the aussie flags, worn superman style (we kept our undies on the inside though!)Wandered towards the stadium through streets teaming with people in Red and White or Green and Gold, to find a pub and a bite to eat. It wasn't hard - Cardiff is a friendly little city with loads of good quality, affordable cafes - I don't know the name of the place that does such lovely banana and Baileys milkshakes, but it's just opposite the castle and I liked their style!

Arrived at the ground with loads of time to spare - disaster, no cider. So I drank brains. Sorry, that should be Brains - a cardiff brew that sponsors the welsh rugby team. There's something incongruos about seeing their logo emblazoned across the massive chest of a forward with no neck.. Brains? Yeah, right. Now I'm no beer drinker, but I managed a pint and a half by full time (although the ciders on the castle lawn after the match were even better!).

So, the Aussies played well in the first half, got totally undisciplined in the second, giving away too many penalties and had 2 blokes in the sinbin with 10 mins to go – grrr. They still won, 32-20, but will have to tidy up against the better teams.

But what really made my heart race was the singing. Welsh people are born to music. The sound as their rugby songs fill the stadium is enough to make your spirit soar and your belly shudder – rising, rich and lovely with the power of a tide, so powerful you can feel the sounds in the air. And melodic. This is no amusing English soccer chants - I swear there were harmonies.

It certainly beats hell out of ‘Aussie aussie aussie, oi oi oi!”