h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the advantages of the particular timing of my visit to New Zealand is that fact that the British and Irish Lions are on tour here. Now, I'm no expert on rugby - in fact it'd be fair to say that I spend a fair amount of the game wondering exactly what the referee is blowing his whistle for - but I do enjoy watching the game. More so since being here where rugby is massive, and it's as good a social opportunity as you're likely to get.

So, when the Lions came to Wellington, I ensured I had a ticket. My mate John came up from Christchurch and we went along to the Westpac stadium, affectionately known as 'the cake tin' for reasons that are obvious from a cursory glance and settled in for a quality game of rugger.

As at home, there was no segregation of fans and we found oursleves in a sea of Wellingtonians - they were all splendid folks and a good hearted banter went both ways all through the match. The final score suggested that the Lions won by quite a margin - I would suggest that their victory was slightly harder won than that. It's also politic to note that the Wellington Lions (confusing or what?) had several key players safely tucked up in bed in preparation for their appearance against Britain's finest as part of the All Blacks next week.

Then it was off into town, where the visiting 'barmy army' were having a rare old time down Courtenay place. The atmosphere was brilliant and I couldn't help but compare it with the tense, nervous air around Glasgow when a big football game is being played there. Fans in all colours of jerseys were laughing and drinking together, and it seemed that only the beer was claiming casualties.

One of my haunts is the 'Welsh Dragon' bar - a home from home for celts of all varieties that's also fairly hospitable to the English and the Kiwi . Resident singer/strummer provided our singsong with a little structure, although I'm not too sure about his slightly alternative version of 'swing low', which featured the insertion of chariots in some decidedly unnarural places....

Anyhoo, 3am came around alarmingly quickly, but not as quickly as 9am, when I had to get my sorry hungover ass into work. It's been thankfully slow so far (think the whole city's in a bit of fuzz) but I was grateful of coffee when I got in.

Go Lions!

Go Lion's is nicely neutral

I was wondering if there was a bookie that would take a very vague bet on 'the lions' winning.....