Dear diary,

So we have been in the Cook Islands for over a week, with three from three pretty convincing wins. We are starting to develop a bit of a routine now.

We wake up to the sounds of the roosters crowing. We then slowly but surely make our way to breakfast, where the early risers are much too chirpy for the time of morning and those that would prefer a few extra hours sleep converse to each other through a series of grunts. But don’t be too alarmed. Once we get a bit of food into us it doesn’t take long for everyone to be on the same level of chirpiness.

Well at least a level of chirpiness that is required once we board the bus to our morning training session. Every morning, our bus driver greets us with an “AUSSIE. AUSSIE, AUSSIE!” which we respond with an “OI! OI! OI!”.

After our morning training session, we usually would have a pool recovery session, where Steve (our physio) takes charge.

All we’re saying is lucky we’re not a swimming team. Cbass (Caity Bassett) was not impressed when asked to do a series of duck dives up and down the pool. Again princess goalers don’t cope well when their hair gets a bit wet.

So for about 15 minutes , 12 girls splash around like drowning rats. Once Steve has had enough of a laugh at our stupidity we are allowed out and we all claim how recovered we now feel.

The afternoon is usually time for a bit of downtime in preparation for the match or maybe parent time or sometimes we might have a little look at how other teams are playing.

We went and watched New Zealand play Trinidad and Tobago. New Zealand looked the goods and there is the potential to be a very interesting match if we meet them in the finals.

Then the hard-core game preparation begins. Each team member has her own routine. Whether it’s very strict regime or maybe more superstitious or maybe a bit more chilled and relaxed. Some people have their Ipod attached to their ears, with the pump up playlist blaring; some like a bit of RnB booty shaking tunes (Scrofty) while others opt for the country music and prefer the likes of Paul Brant and Taylor Swift, cough, Shez (Laura Scherian).

Others might start a game of “one bounce” game we invented, where u kick a netball around and you’re only allowed one bounce. A double bounce and you lose. So we lose at this game most of the time. So soccer and swimming are apparently not our things.

So that just about brings us to game time … and so far we have proven that netball is definitely a bit more of our thing.

Our game on Thursday against Botswana showed relentless and ruthless netball. Particular mention should go to TC (Tegan Caldwell) where she proved that the colour of her hair is not the only thing fiery about her.

She combined with all goalers throughout the course of the game to (between them) shoot over 90 goals. AWESOME!

After the game we are all a little bit exhausted so after ice baths and a quick dinner, and sometimes a little bit a bit of a booty shake ,it’s time for bed, where we are kept awake by the lovely lullaby of the Cook Islands nightlife, where loud games of bingo and karaoke sessions seem to be the thing to do (AND IIIIIIIIIIIIII-E-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WILL ALWAYSSSSSS LOOOOOOOVE YOOOOOOOUUUU … unfortunately not many of the singers have the voice of Whitney).

This morning we were lucky enough to visit our adoptive school, St Joseph’s Primary. We were greeted like rock stars with a parade of traditional Cook lsands drumming and hip shaking.

We were welcomed to the school with gifts of leis, paraus (sarongs), flowers and shell necklaces. All the kids wore Australian t-shirts. Each grade introduced their two favourite players to the rest of the school and then preceded to entertain us with a prepared musical item.

We felt spoilt and some of us even had tears in our eyes. We felt a little outdone with the musical item we prepared: a rendition of “Give me a home amongst the gum trees”, actions and all.

We were so lucky to have St Joseph`s as our adoptive school.

Some of us are planning on adopting the preschoolers to take home, to give us dance lessons, because they can booty shake better then us before they can walk. Although Gilly (Andrea Gilmore), could give them a run for their money … on a good day.

That’s all for now … Kia Orana!

Shae and Amy!!!