Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Kev B]

Loved catching up with your Vegas exploits Tikay. I love the Grand Lux, think the quality is excellent for the money compared to some places.

[Supernova]

Books!

I hope you enjoy them all Tony.

I go through phases I must admit, during my longer than expected stay in hospital last year the only thing that kept me sane was Audible. I've just finished 1971 the year that music changed everything, before that I read Dave Grohl's autobiography. I'm currently listening to the 2nd  Wolf Hall book on Audible and one of Richard Osman's books at the same time.

The Eagles book you have was written by Mick Wall. He started of writing in Sounds in the 1970's and has written about quite a few bands, managers etc including one on Marillion.

Don Henley was famously asked in an interview about when the band would play together again, to which he responded "when Hell freezes over". When I lived down south, we all scrambled for tickets to see the Eagles at Twickers on that very tour.

They are due to start The Long Goodbye farewell tour next month.

Funny how things turnout!

[celtic]

Books!

I hope you enjoy them all Tony.

I go through phases I must admit, during my longer than expected stay in hospital last year the only thing that kept me sane was Audible. I've just finished 1971 the year that music changed everything, before that I read Dave Grohl's autobiography. I'm currently listening to the 2nd  Wolf Hall book on Audible and one of Richard Osman's books at the same time.

The Eagles book you have was written by Mick Wall. He started of writing in Sounds in the 1970's and has written about quite a few bands, managers etc including one on Marillion.

Don Henley was famously asked in an interview about when the band would play together again, to which he responded "when Hell freezes over". When I lived down south, we all scrambled for tickets to see the Eagles at Twickers on that very tour.

They are due to start The Long Goodbye farewell tour next month.

Funny how things turnout!

I saw The Eagles at Twickenham. I would estimate 25% of the crowd left (inc myself) after Hotel California.

[RED-DOG]

I thought you could never leave...

[celtic]

I thought you could never leave...

badum tss

 

[booder]

WP

[Kev B]

I thought you could never leave...

😁😁😁

[Supernova]

I thought you could never leave...

 

[tikay]

Hi.

Well it's just over a week since I got back & it's been a very testing time one way & another.

Jet Lag does not usually affect me, but I've been totally fatigued since I got back.

I also had some computer problems which messed with my mind more than they should have done. With my work, i like everything to be "just so" & so I did not handle the problem too well, behaving like a spoilt kid who can't get his own way. Eventually, after two trips to Sky HQ in Leeds & God knows how many Slack convos with various tech teams at Sky HQ I got sorted on Monday. So after a stressful week, partly self-induced, I could settle down a bit from Tuesday onwards.

I am grateful for all the thread replies, & I'll get round to replying to some as soon as time permits.

Meanwhile, something rather surprising & very very pleasing happened yesterday...

[tikay]

I suddenly decided yesterday afternoon, on a complete whim, to go play 18 holes of golf.

Breadsall Priory Moorland Course was fully booked for a Corporate Golf Day so I decided to make my debut on the Priory Course. I never booked, just drove across mid-afternoon, arriving at around 4.20pm & managed to find a 4.40pm slot.

Playing as a 1 ball is always a problem, as most sensible folks play in groups of 2, 3 or 4, but Billy No Mates here always plays solo, plus I'm a little nervous about playing with better players, & to be fair, everyone is better than me.

I got "waved through" (as is the standard custom & etiquette) several times. That means driving off in front of a group of strangers, which in itself is an ordeal, as I don't want to embarrass myself more than I have to.  

So approaching the 8th tee, there was a 3 ball on the Tee. As always, I hung back in my buggy, as it seems bad form to be right up their arse & seemingly pressurising them to let me through.

Suddenly, a very elderly looking chap gives me the "come on mate, play through" signal, so I nervously drive up to the tee, dreading my tee shot which i just know I'll duff. And as I get to the tee I suddenly realise I know two of them very well indeed but I've not seen or spoken to either for years.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

So it turns out the elderly looking chap was Jamie Moult, aka bookiebasher, & the portly looking younger chap was Neil Giblin, aka JAKALLY. Here's the three of us after convening in The Three Horseshoes post-round. (I never knew the other chap who, as it happens, was much the nicest of the three).

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

I mean, what were the chances of that?

Since I took up golf again, I've only played "solo" as I don't really have any golf mates, I'm not a Member anywhere, & I was not really good enough to play with proper golf sorts. I did have an invite from Ralph (Karabiner) to play in a Golf Day at Wollaton but it was the day i flew home from Vegas so I had to decline.

Soon as we all recognised each other, Moulty & Mr Giblin insisted I join them, so off we went.

And as it happens, I could not have wished to have my maiden round in company with a bunch of nicer, more friendly & wholly understanding guys.

And to top it off, I played - by my miserable standards - the best I have - by far - since I resumed playing. I pretty much hit every shot reasonably clean, with just 2 duffs that I can recall. Longer than I've ever hit the ball, although the direction was somewhat wayward & seemingly random. No hooks or slices, but just going in unpredictable directions, including OOB. But generally, very very pleased with how I hit the ball.

As it happens, we - Moulty, Mr Giblin & Trevor (typhoon) were already negotiating a date for a 4 ball at Breadsall next month. In addition, Mr Giblin invited me for a round at Mickleover, where he's a Member, & Moulty said he'd invite me to join his crew whenever there's a spare slot. So suddenly I have some friends to play golf with. Playing as a 1 ball is a right pain, as you are forever waiting behind 4 balls, so that's pleased me no end.

Course, we never stopped nattering, catching up on what we have all been doing with ourselves all these years. Not going to talk out of school but we discussed almost everyone & everything blonde-related.

I don't plan to play through the winter, too cold for me these days, but I've still got a few months before that, & I'm chuffed to bits to have broken the ice & played in company, &, quite possibly, I have a few rounds coming up.

Moulty - who looks well for an 80 year old - wants me to join in their golf gambling, sort of £5 front 9, £5 back nine, that sort of thing. Said I could play off 25, but I'm sure he meant 35. Negotiations continue.

Reading that back it all seems a bit gushy, but i was absolutely buzzing & not a little emotional tbh.

Thanks lads, I was proper made up.

[StuartHopkin]

Lovely story Mr T

You be careful though, you will get a reputation hanging around with people like Ralph and Mr Giblin!

[nirvana]

Very pleased to read that.

It's very odd how we behave even in our autumn days when we are notionally wiser etc.

Considering the career you've had and the fact that most people like you, it's amazing something holds you back from initiating something like this - anyway, great that this happy on course collision happened.

[Supernova]

So it turns out the elderly looking chap was Jamie Moult, aka bookiebasher, & the portly looking younger chap was Neil Giblin, aka JAKALLY. Here's the three of us after convening in The Three Horseshoes post-round. (I never knew the other chap who, as it happens, was much the nicest of the three).

Click to see full-size image.

Wow!

Jakally is looking very well. I really would like to have a chat with him, I owe him that and more.

xXx