World Cup Final 2010 - I was there - the Report! (very very long)

OK, so I've blogged about the book I took with me, but I also took my partner, of course. Someone told him how lucky he was that his missus had won him a trip, when in fact I watch more football than he does! Anyway, on to the trip itself. It was won from an entry form in the Sony Centre in Haverfordwest, the word 'Win' having been spotted from across the road. So, on that rainy day during our Welsh holiday, the Sony Centre, with its heating on and its luvly display of tellies and all manner of goodies provided a bit of shelter from the March weather. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd actually win. A trip to the World Cup final in South Africa - gobsmacked.

From the start the Sony people (and their marketing company) have been great. I should have realised how good it would be when, while browsing for parkatmyhouse places near Gatwick, I got an email telling me what time the driver would pick us up to take us to the airport. At that stage I wanted to know every single detail about the trip but it was obviously all still being sorted, so I was on pins for a few weeks!

I shall start with the bad points to get them out of the way. They were bad points for me, specifically, but I'd like to get the moan over and done with. If it makes me appear ungrateful, then I'm sorry, but I still have to say. First of all, the entry form terms & conditions and the letter informing me of the win said 5 nights full board, but it turned out to be 3. I had mentioned when I filled the form in that if it had been any less time in South Africa, I probably wouldn't have entered due to the length of the flight. I've only ever done one long flight before, to Vegas, but that was during the day and was less hours than the SA flight. This was a night flight, so you expect to sleep. I didn't, couldn't. Once I'd stopped reading (see previous blog post, book worth buying!), I shifted to lots of different positions, including sitting on the floor with my head on the seat. Nothing worked, nothing at all. My leg, which is still a slight problem due to nerve damage from Lyme, just wanted to be straight and there really wasn't anywhere it could go. So, bad point number 1 was that I had hoped the flight would be comfortable, especially after looking at pics of the airline company's planes, with their mega comfy seats and stuff. Sadly not. We all had 2 seats each, admittedly, but that didn't actually help as much as it probably sounds like it should have!

Secondly, Jo'burg is a bit high up. It dawned on us by day 2 that the horrible blocked nose/sinus and nosebleeds were due to the high altitude. Hadn't considered that, in fact I've found out more about Johannesburg since I got back! No-one else in the group seemed to have a problem with it, not really sure why. Not really a moan, just an observation that this was probably why we both felt a bit under par.

Thirdly, we were, at very short notice on the final night, taken out for dinner to a different place other than the hotel we were staying. It was a grand place, very impressive, but we'd been out all day at a safari, had started to pack when we got back and I was still in the same clothes. It didn't matter too much, I didn't smell:-) When I realised we were actually leaving the building, I ran back up to get my jacket. The restaurant was absolutely bloody freezing, so I ended up sitting in my jacket for most of the meal. Everyone was commenting on it, shivering through the meal , but then by the time we all got back and were asked how it went they 'couldn't fault it' and 'everything was perfect'. Am I impolite to point out small failings even though I'm not paying for them myself? That's just my way, I suppose, if there's something I'm not totally happy with then I'm not going to blatantly lie, I'd rather say nothing. I didn't say anything at the time, because by now people were thinking of us as ungrateful sods, I'm sure.

OK, moans over....

On each set of plane seats was a little pack with Sony on them, containing a small pillow, blanket and inflatable neck cushion, all with the Sony logo. Nice touch. We thought that was it, then they came round with another bag, packed with ... wait for it - noise-cancelling headphones, a PSP, several films and games, some CDs (incl AC/DC - result), a lovely pack of sprays, etc. all designed to make you more comfortable (there wasn't one called 'knock her on the head to send her to sleep', I'm afraid). We were stunned, what a fantastic package! And it was each, not just between us.

Oh, I forgot another moan, sorry, they served cold tea and lukewarm coffee on the plane. Anyway, never mind, I just drank more Coke during the break than I ever have.

On arrival at the airport we were met by people holding up Sony plaques. It was a bit chaotic because a lot of people arrived at the same time and we were actually in a separate group to other Sony people. Eventually we were escorted across to the hotel (200 yds at the most), ushered into a room with a welcome drink available, checked in and went off to our room. Oh, and another gift, a beautifully presented ostrich leather (?) writing pad holder thingy.

I'm not sure what the star rating is for the hotel but it was very luxurious, massive bed, kettle (I had checked beforehand that there was one, otherwise I would have taken my own. I always, without fail, take tea bags wherever I go), coffee maker, lovely tiled bathroom/wetroom. Really really nice. Although it felt like it was the end of the day because I hadn't slept, we then went for breakfast, which was excellent. The staff were very helpful and friendly and we were very well looked after.

I won't go into what we ate or anything, but the food was mostly very good. and the service couldn't be faulted.

We had 2 hosts for the duration, Steve and Mike, who were also 'working' so we didn't see them a lot, but they were at the other end of a phone if we had needed them and they were really nice. The people in our group (of 5 couples) saw a bit more of them because they spent more time in the bar at night:-) They don't have bitter or stout in South Africa, it seems, and I don't like spirits or wine, so, again, more Coke for me.

We slept for a big part of the first day so we'd be ok for match day, which duly arrived the following morning. We were intending getting the train into Sandton (an up-market Lakeside) but they took some time getting and sorting the match tickets so we weren't really able to. No matter, we don't like shopping anyway. The time came to be taken to the match and we got on to the coach to the sound of a few vuvuzelas and various people dressed in silly orange or red costumes for their teams. I had a dilemma, who should I root for? Some people were choosing the country they'd chosen in the sweepstakes at work, but I'd had Brazil. I had to plump for Holland, being our closest neighbours and the fact I like visiting their country.

On arrival at the stadium, with the momentous feeling that we were actually going to watch a world cup final dawning on us, we were escorted to the Sony hospitality suite. I haven't got enough superlatives to describe it, it's the sort of thing you'd expect to be laid on for the Royal Family or something! Sinking into a massive white leather settee with a large plateful of scrumptious cakes, I thought 'it really can't get any better than this'.

On the way out to get into the stadium itself we were told to collect our Sony goody bags! What? More? We'll need to buy another case to take it all home!? This contained a special edition programme which I wouldn't part with for the world (and I actually managed to blag a couple more for my sons) Also a colourful fleece blanket, seat pad and hand warmer pack. Most of it being limited edition WC 2010 stuff, yet I noticed some people left theirs behind when they left the stadium! Presumably they're on ebay by now.

I struggle to describe the feeling I got when we took our seats in the stadium. It was that sort of 'pinch me' feeling more than any other previous 'pinch me' moment in my life. The ceremony was better than I expected and the match didn't appear quite as dull to us as it seems to have done to people watching on telly at home. OK, it took a long time for one of them to get a goal, and it was the wrong team who did, but they were yards away from us and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic. As time went on, we were actually thinking that penalties would add a very exciting touch to the end, but it wasn't to be. Spain were deserving winners, Holland weren't attacking enough no matter how much we willed them to.

Oh, and now I've seen a man on the back of a car in a stadium and it was confirmed on the big screen - it was only Nelson flippin Mandela himself. Even with my glasses I couldn't actually make him out from all the people around him, plus his back was to us most of the time, so I took a photo of him on the screen!

After the match we went back to the hospitality suite to wait for the call to go to the coach. Still masses of food and drink available, so eating yet another cake at getting on for midnight just had to be done....

On the Monday we were taken to a Rhino and Lion safari park about an hour away. This one http://www.rhinolion.co.za/newsite/default.asp It's on this sort of trip that I wish my photography skills were a bit better, even with such subjects as we saw there, they still look like holiday snaps! Anyway, it was a lovely day, a bit cold but that didn't really matter.

The following day we did venture out to Sandton and we didn't buy anything, we never do! Throughout the whole trip we seemed to have our backs watched, which was a little strange, including being followed to the loo in the restarant!

The return trip home the following day was basically the reverse of the one out, except the coffee was a bit warmer! The taxi driver was there to meet us and we got home about 10am on Weds 14th. The comfy leather seats of the Merc were very welcoming! Knackered, indescribably knackered, but that's what you get from an experience of a lifetime.

As I was walking through town to get some lunch today I was looking at people, thinking 'don't you know I've been to the World Cup final?'

I've already forgotten the fact I was so tired that my eyes were streaming with tears and I swore to myself I would never ever ever go on a long flight again in my life.

Brazil next then, well I gotta try...... but I think Sony would probably put my name back in the hat after appearing ungrateful that we didn't get massage chairs to ourselves during the flights:-)

Thank you Sony, thank you, thank you, thank you.