Long plane journeys
As professional rugby players, we get four to five weeks off a year and you invariably try and get to far-flung destinations, in my case Malaysia, when the summer comes around. I lived out there for two years and have family and friends who put me up, so I get a holiday in a beautiful part of the world on the cheap. What infuriates me though is the 14 to 16 hours it takes to get there. I can never get comfy and end up with backache by the time we land. Hopefully they can invent faster planes in the future.
TRP verdict: Sorry you’re going to have to Kuala Lumpar it.
Infused tea bags
I don’t understand why we have felt the need to tamper with what was already a beautiful thing in the first place by adding all sorts of strange flavours. A splash of milk and one sugar, you can’t go wrong with that. I find it upsetting on all levels when I see someone put the milk in the mug at the same time as the bag.
TRP verdict: They’re not my cup of tea, either. You’re in.
Winter darkness
When I lived in Malaysia you got a very consistent sunrise and sunset, from 7am to 7pm every day. But here the darkness descends as early as 3.30 in deep mid-winter. Driving to work in the dark and returning home in the dark is no fun at all, it scuppers all your plans. Add the cold to that and I don’t find this time of year much fun, but the shorts and flip flops never leave me!
TRP verdict: Come on sunshine, no need to be so gloomy!
