Surrey Storm Netball

Via this blog, you can get an insight into the team's preparations and progress over the next fews weeks

T's blog starts after arriving in Aukland with the girls earlier this week...

Well after a 28 hour trip and what felt like an eternity we finally made it to New Zealand! I always forget what a long trip it is. After passing out for the first leg I spent the next twelve hours awake and cramped in economy (oh to be a professional!) watching all my team mates sleep. Thank god for my iPad2 and angry birds, addictive gaming.

I was more than happy to touch down in to Auckland, I absolutely love it here and it's been too long since my last visit. It's a very cool city on the water, with some amazing views and people. There is also another bonus to being here right now... the Rugby World Cup. They have not surprisingly gone mad for it. The airport was kitted out like a pitch and there are flags, pictures and adverts everywhere. It's mental. I was wondering if netball could ever get that big?

Anyway we took a short drive (and a little nap) out to a place called Takapuna, which is just south of Auckland and where we're staying until our first game. I've stayed here a few times, and it's awesome. Cool little coffee shops and an amazing beach - my dream house sits on Takapuna Beach overlooking the water (see pictures). It's worth about £3million...I think it's a little out of my netball budget. But a girl can dream. The hotel has it perks too in the form of the French Rugby team. We tried to get some inside information to pass on to the English, but we couldnt understand them!

Jet lag has hit the squad pretty hard. For some it's their first long haul flight and it takes it's toll. Last night we had to stay awake until 9.00pm (no mean feat!) so our team meeting turned in to a Nintendo Wii party. I led the way with a high score and winning dance performance to Madonna on 'Just Dance' to prove that I may be old but I've still got the moves!

After Sasca took us further ahead with a flawless 'Jitterbug' routine we were on task for a group 3 win. However we bombed out in the Wii bowling due to Jo Harten and her cack handedness. Our group had to bowl left handed, which cost us. We took a silver and dreamed of what could have been. Still I slept well that night.

Our first full day was pretty relaxed and it was nice to wake up feeling human again. We started the day with some prehab in the gym. As we prehab every day we like to keep it interesting. Emma Dovey has taken over the role of Eboni and is fast becoming the easy target for our game of prehab 'SPOT'. She lost once again, and as punishment got to stand at the wall whilst we threw a flying torpedo at her. Some teams get drunk and throw dwarves, others play SPOT - it's whatever makes you happy.

We had some time off before lunch and so, Rach, Sara and I headed down to the beach for a wander. On the way back we passed a cake stall, so i treated us all to a chocolate cupcake. Just as we were tucking in the lady says 'good luck on Monday girls'. You forget everyone over here knows about netball, which means I can't go sneaking around eating cakes. Busted. Some of the other girls got asked for autographs in the shopping mall. It's just so different here.

In other news Sky have been down to interview us and Ama Agebeze has arrived! So good to have her back with us, it's also nice to add another oldie to the group - I was beginning to feel like the odd one out. We also had our first training session which is always interesting. Balance and co-ordination are never great when you've just flown, but we got the ball moving and had a little blow out. Monday's game will come around very quickly, Anyway I have a full day of training and promos tomorrow so I'm off to bed. Enjoy the heatwave, and think of us wrapped up!