Aga turns up the heat in Port Elizabeth

Ragheb Aga writes the second blog from the Port Elizabeth Academy covering the weekend's activities.

Friday evening. The Steak House (BroadWalk). 1st team meal. 1st opportunity for Social Chairmen Matthew Machan and Craig Smith to hand out ‘fines’ to the boys incurred during the week for anything and everything perceived to be ‘fineable’ (obviously at the discretion of the Social Chairmen). Jordon Rollings and Richard Dexter were comfortably the most fined, or if you care to look at it another way, they committed the most ridiculous/hilarious/idiotic/amusing...crimes.

Saturday started at 9am, leaving for the SeaView Lion Farm which Davo kindly organised for us. We saw various game including giraffe. However, the highlights were the huge Lions (including White Lions) and Tigers (including 3 week old cubs!). Some of the boys paid extra to be inside with the young lions and take photos standing, sitting, holding or stroking these 7month old immature beasts! The guide who accompanied the boys explained that through natural selection, the weakest of the bunch ‘the weak link’ is usually picked on. Dexter, 18, and 70Kgs obviously emanates these unfortunate qualities, and received several growls and one cub even pulled him to the ground by his shorts! Anyway, big thanks to Davo for what is simply a very African experience.

Sunday was geared round a ridiculously sumptuous poolside Braii, which the hotel kindly organised for us and relaxation before the week ahead. There was an 11am poolside stretching session. At the end of our stretching and before the braii was an opportunity for the boys to flex by the pool and get some colour in the midday sun. Unfortunately, Melman (Jordon Rollings), without any suncream and an ipod in his ears fell asleep for about an hour. The bloke is now just shy of a lobster colour. The braii was top draw! Needless to say, there was the inevitable mid afternoon sleep, proceeding which, a few boys went down to the beach to body surf a few of the decent waves of ‘Shark Point Pier’.