Day Out

Finland v Wales

Rob Stock goes to Helsinki for Finland v Wales - and leaks his diary EXCLUSIVELY to Red Passion

Click here for part one and here for part two

PART 3 - SUNDAY

After Wales' fine victory we were all in fine spirits. After a good little lie-in, we strolled down to breakfast where we met plenty of fellow Welsh supporters. We took full advantage of the 'eat all you can' buffet breakfast.

After breakfast we were pleased to hear that the bus to the airport stopped on the next street to the hotel, saving a 40-minute walk with luggage to the city centre. If only we had known this on the way in! We didn't need to be at the airport until 3pm, so I went for a walk around the local park while the other two went back to bed for some more (much needed) beauty sleep. The park was quite small but very green and peaceful. I just sat on a bench and re-lived the game through my mind! After about an hour of quiet contemplation it was time to go for the bus. We checked out, and said our goodbyes to the very friendly and extremely pretty Finnish receptionist.

At the airport we chatted with many fellow Welsh fans in check-in. The plane departed just half an hour late. I don't know why but they always make me nervous. The free alcohol that the excellent SAS offered calmed me down, and we developed a cunning way of getting extra drinks. Take a bottle, hide it, wait for another steward to come past, take another, and so on until I wasn't nervous.

After safely arriving at Heathrow and collecting our luggage, we had the task of facing the Underground. I'd never been on it before. You meet some strange people on it, and although you're meant to stare directly ahead, not looking at anyone, I couldn't help but notice a guy who started playing his pipe. Everyone simply ignored him as if it was a normal occurrence and he failed in his efforts to make any money. 

And so for the trickiest part of journey. The train. Why is it too much to ask for a train up north - or indeed anywhere - on a Sunday evening? Of course, a simple train journey to Birmingham was impossible. We had to catch a train to Hemel Hempstead, then a bus to Milton Keynes and then another train to Birmingham. Crazy. 
I arrived home at 2am in the morning, completely exhausted. But the trip to Finland will be one I'll never forget. It's definitely going to be one to tell the grandchildren about.

Next up is Italy!