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AUSTRIA DIARY - DAY 3

Posted on: Tue 27 Jul 2010

Songs of Praise - A day of ditties

By Paul Chialton in Bad Bleiberg

The hills were alive with the sound of music today, and what better way to start it than with a jazz instrumental of 'you are my sunshine', playing from the hotel bar. Quite apt given its occupants who prepared for their first match of the tour.

But all is not well in the media camp I'm afraid to report! A total lack of respect for the glorious weather we're experiencing has resulted in a fine pair of chapped lips for he who provides you with the latest Alpine news. Going through the pain barrier ladies and gentlemen!

BAD MACS... McCarthy & McArthur sit down to talk to Latics Player in Bad Bleiberg. See this interview exclusively on Latics Player. [Click Here] for details.

With personal injuries amounting however a sit-down chat with the squad's James' is immediately followed by a jaunt into nearby Villach in pursuit of a birthday cake, albeit a day late, for Hugo Rodallega.

Now the media team are always well prepared for sat-nav-free travel, scaling the length of breadth of the country week-in week-out with not one hiccup. And so when our Austrian guide decided to join us the feeling of confidence exponentially increased!

But her opening gambit of 'I don't really know the way', shattered the mood completely.

But I wouldn't be here writing this had both legs not been successful. We even had time to take in the wonders of Villach.

Back to camp and after their confident 4-1 victory over NK Rudar dinner beckoned, and for the media team it couldn't have come at a better time.

The t-shirt and shorts combo began as a good idea before Mr Sun got his hat on and did one, leaving us all in a very sorry, cold state!

Matter it did not as another serving of five-star grub warmed the cockles and fired up the lungs just in time for the entire squad to belt out a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' to Hugo, shortly followed by dumfounded looks at the Colombian's disproportionate distribution of said cake!

In came the coffees to round off another eventful day, but not before our cameraman helped Graeme Jones research the lyrics to Billy Joel's classic 'She's More Than A Woman To Me'.

Latics' Assistant Manager can sleep easy now, unlike yours truly who's still looking for relief for his lip injury!