Salmon parcels

We went to a rugby match on Saturday night to watch the local team play one from Auckland. The locals are called the Crusaders and there is always a certain amount of theatre attached to their game.

First up The Black Knight comes into the stadium through castle gates on his black horse to the strains of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Stirring stuff. Then another group of horsemen, dressed as crusaders, circle the ground, saluting each section of the crowd to a haunting Vangelis number. Enough to stir the blood of even a northerner like myself.

There are fireworks at half-time and every time the local team boosts its score, the torches on the castle wall whoosh higher .

One of the great things about attending these matches is the wonderful family atmosphere. The local rugby organisation has a "Take a kid to footy" promotion with discounted family tickets and vouchers for eats and drinks along the way.

The kids love the pageantry and drama and really seem to enjoy their footy, though for some the night might seem a little long.

I was watching a group in front of me the other night. One lad was scouring the crowd with Dad's binoculars, no doubt looking for his mate. A little girl was busily drawing in a book (smart Mum who packed the book and pencils!) and then there were the friendly sibling scraps. I noted no fewer than five little family pairs wrestling, clothes pulling, head whacking and generally playing like young cubs. All a part of the evening's activity.

I can remember when our lads were small and they just had to attend the big cricket matches. Their kit for the day included cricket bat and ball, autograph book and money for the regulation burger and chips lunch. Did they watch the cricket? No. After getting the autographs of all the boundary fielders (who would obligingly sign books between balls), they would disappear off down the side of one of the stands where they would bat and bowl to their heart's content all afternoon.

Kids seem happy to soak up the atmosphere. The actual game is coincidental.

Part of the fun in attending last Saturday's match for us was the dinner and drinks in one of the corporate facilities in a new stand at the stadium. It's also nice to have a break from cooking at home, though I did take a run out to the salmon farm the other day for more supplies.

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