Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

I am quite behind on Blonde, are you home yet?

Me too!

I'm trying to catch up now. I got home on Tuesday afternoon, though horrific traffic on the M25 & M1 meant it took 5 hours from Gatters to get home. I've done a Show & a PTP night since then, & I'm almost back up to speed now.

I read Reece's Diary this afternoon - wow, what a battle that boy has, & you, too. Inspirational to all of us.

[tikay]

Tom's Dad passed away, as you know.

The Thread about him on the Lounge included over 70 people who found a few seconds to mark his Passing. You've no idea how much that meant to Tom, likewise the fact that it was such a wonderful Funeral.

Of those 70 people who spared a few seconds, how many had met Tom's Dad? None, I fancy. Proper respect that.

Tom's Dad rarely Posted, but he read everything, every day. That's why, when he fell sick around Christmas, Tom never mentioned it on Forum, though it weighed heavily. Stupidly, I mentioned it on here once, & Tom, gently, asked if I would remove it. I felt so bad at my stupidity.

The course of the illness over the last 6 months was just horrible. Lots of hope, lots of setbacks, but eventually, it was inevitable, & I for one hoped the end  would be peaceful, & quick. You can only imagine the torment Tom, & his brothers & family, all suffered.

There are no words of comfort I can give to Tom, he's been here before. He  looks like he's coping well, & he is. But he's hurting so much, you'll never know.

Oh to be one-hundredth the man Tom is. I've never met a bigger, stronger, wiser man. He's my touchstone, & my guiding light in life, as to what's right & what's not. I really don't know what I'd do if he were not around. I pester him almost daily with phone calls, & he always has time for me.

It's only when we meet adversity that we see the real strength of character in any person.

I don't know where I'm going with this Post, but I know I wanted to say a few things, & now I have. Said badly, but said. There, I can move on now.

[tikay]

Lady Ga-Ga?

What's all the fuss about her. Her exact claim to fame is what?

I met Nelly in Vegas. No plaster, & no social skills. His bodyguard was as big & good-looking as Vinni, but he was well scary.

DMX appeared at "PURE" in Ceasars Palace one night, & three thousand young girls queued round the block to get in. He never had his pit-bulls with him, let's assume they were in aggro-training if the word on the street is correct. Strange how these days notoriety attracts girls, & adulation.

[Longy]

Are you watching the open or the Ashes today or neither, Tikay? I am sure they never used to be on the same weekend, there wasn't this lack of organistation when the BBC used to show both.

[The_nun]

Oh to be one-hundredth the man Tom is. I've never met a bigger, stronger, wiser man. He's my touchstone, & my guiding light in life, as to what's right & what's not. I really don't know what I'd do if he were not around. I pester him almost daily with phone calls, & he always has time for me.

For me too Tony. Your words are perfect.

[tikay]

Are you watching the open or the Ashes today or neither, Tikay? I am sure they never used to be on the same weekend, there wasn't this lack of organistation when the BBC used to show both.

Lol, yeah, shocking planning!

It has to be The Open, & yes, I am.

For covering that alone, the Licence Fee is great value.

The coverage is astonishingly good. I can't begin to imagine how complex the operation is, how many cameras, etc. I went to the Centenary Open, at St Andrews (Woods never hit a bunker in 4 rounds!), but the TV Coverage is the absolute bizz. I've played Turnberry - "played" is a loose description, & the views are bringing me back such wonderful memories.

It's so strange, this knocking society we live in. Nobody praises excellence, but the merest failure, & all the usual suspects are hollering & screaming, all those who have never tried to organise anything get on their effing soapboxes.

The - my - TV Highlight of the year, & Moment of Sporting Wonder, too, was Tom Watson's opening round. He won The Open, on that very course, 32 years ago - before most blondes were born. (He won FIVE Opens I think!). He's had both hips replaced - 1 only last year. He just strokes the ball, thinks his way round. And he's a true Ambassador of Golf, with Links Golf at the very top of his list.

In his prime, he & Nicklaus, Player too, were giants of the game. I was always a Watson man, & never had much time for Nicklaus. I'm so thrilled to see Watson nail another great round. He's 59!

[tikay]

Oh to be one-hundredth the man Tom is. I've never met a bigger, stronger, wiser man. He's my touchstone, & my guiding light in life, as to what's right & what's not. I really don't know what I'd do if he were not around. I pester him almost daily with phone calls, & he always has time for me.

For me too Tony. Your words are perfect.

And so are his. Few know how much he does to support you, & Reece, & many others, when times are tough.

He's had such a tough life, too. Discriminatioin, racism, "no Gypsies", the loss of a young son, but he never moans, & has time for everyone.

The ultimate man, & my hero, & I am not embarrassed to say so. We should not be afraid to laud those we so respect in life.

[tikay]

Imagine this moral dilemma.

You own a Funeral Director's business. In Wootton Bassett, right by RAF Lyneham.

8 soldiers get killed in Afghanistan.

What do you think?

[tikay]

Almost 3,000 souls lost their lives in 9/11. Do you remember the amount of media coverage?

Twp days ago, it was widely reported that the worst-case scenario as to the death toll for Swine Flu in GB was 65,000. 20 odd times more than 9/11.

Today, three redtops speculated on who will raise MJ's children, & 2 commented on Andre & Price/Jordan. Such a worry, that poor Jordan.

[tikay]

We travelled "Premium Economy" to & from Vegas. It was wonderful, all that leg room, & nice cupboards to stow personal gumf in. I loved it.

It was "upstairs" in the Virgin 747. It's impossible to describe the miracle of how a 747 flies - they are so, so big. The manifest outbound was 474, 450 on the return flight.

On the Outbound, we had some trouble. A female Member of our Party got harassed & harangued by some young drunken yobs. (I was sleeping peacefully a few seats away, sigh). So the Police got on Board at McCarron, whilst we all waited, & them there Yankee Police don't mess about, the kids got escorted off the 'plane, & Virgin Banned them from ever flying Virgin again - thus no return flight, & the loss of a few bob. Good. But throughout the Flight, I gather, the drunken tossers were still being served alcohol. How much sense does that make?

Our party had to be escorted away from McCarron by the Police, as the kids fancied some afters.

Folks that can't hold alcohol taint my liife, they really do.

[WarBwastard]

Imagine this moral dilemma.

You own a Funeral Director's business. In Wootton Bassett, right by RAF Lyneham.

8 soldiers get killed in Afghanistan.

What do you think?

Flown into Lyneham, but not buried there. Most of them are flown into Brize Norton where I live, but I think they use Lyneham too now as the Coroner here can't cope.  Very depressing.

[tikay]

Imagine this moral dilemma.

You own a Funeral Director's business. In Wootton Bassett, right by RAF Lyneham.

8 soldiers get killed in Afghanistan.

What do you think?

Flown into Lyneham, but not buried there. Most of them are flown into Brize Norton where I live, but I think they use Lyneham too now as the Coroner here can't cope.  Very depressing.

Well yes, but what does the Funeral Director think, when 8 young men get killed doing their Duty for our Country, & he's just scooped an 8 body haul of business?

[tikay]

I've always travelled First Class on Trains. I think it's because I can, I'm not really sure, but I always have. I have no shame about it, I work hard, & it's my treat. I never give a moment's thought to those crammed in "Standard".

On Air-Travel, I've never been able to afford First-Class, or Business class, so I loved the Premium Economy treat.

When we disembarked at Gatters, we - the Upstairs hoity-toity - got let off first. As we descended the stairs, we could see all the "regular" Passengers, who'd been crammed in their tiny seats for 10 hours, with no leg-room, watching us, unable to get off until we'd made our way off. I saw them, & averted my eyes, I felt a bit embarrassed, & wondered how they saw us. It burned itself into my mind.

We then stood in a long queue for Passport control. Even longer for those not "upstairs".....

Next to me in the queue were Annette Oberstad & Steve Davis, so the time went by quickly, chatting about this & that. (Steve is a hero of mine, he conducts himself so well in life).

Suddenly, we heard some kerfuffle behind us.

A Stewardess was leading a man - who I'd been chatting to days earlier - by the arm, "make way, make way". She led him to the front of the queue, & he got whisked through in seconds, & a "powered kart" was waiting for him the other side.

He was a footballer. He retired from playing for Colchester Utd over a year ago, & is currently in talks - allegedly - with Beckenham Town. BIG footballer, then. I looked at him & then realised how those folks looked at me as we descended from the Upper Cabin of the 747.

So many moral dilemmas in life.

[Ironside]

Imagine this moral dilemma.

You own a Funeral Director's business. In Wootton Bassett, right by RAF Lyneham.

8 soldiers get killed in Afghanistan.

What do you think?

Flown into Lyneham, but not buried there. Most of them are flown into Brize Norton where I live, but I think they use Lyneham too now as the Coroner here can't cope.  Very depressing.

Well yes, but what does the Funeral Director think, when 8 young men get killed doing their Duty for our Country, & he's just scooped an 8 body haul of business?

the funeral director doesnt get any buisness from it most are escorted to there homes where there local funeral directors take over

[Simon Galloway]

When we disembarked at Gatters,
We then stood in a long queue for Passport control.

OTOH I am surpirsed that a seasoned traveller like you doesn't have the full repetoire of time saving concepts in the bag.  On the other, I suppose it involves technology (not that you have to do anything for your part) so you may be 15 years or so on the uptake...

Next time you fly, pop into the IRIS recognition centre 20 mins before boarding and register.  On the way back, rather than stand in Q with the unwashed from economy, you simply walk up to the auto gates on the left hand end of passport control, totally empty.  You walk up, the auto gates clamp onto your mince pies and the gates open - you wave to the crowd as you go through.