Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[celtic]

When you get a minute, can you post the story about getting up during the night and going down for a drink ( i think) at the rio? Plenty of people may have missed it, thanks to pelham boy i got to read about it last night. Mr Bean would have been proud imo.

[tikay]

When you get a minute, can you post the story about getting up during the night and going down for a drink ( i think) at the rio? Plenty of people may have missed it, thanks to pelham boy i got to read about it last night. Mr Bean would have been proud imo.

Lol, you must mean "Angst in my Pants"!

It was penned whilst in Vegas.

[tikay]

If you have not already done so, do try & put the talking book of "Lake Wobegon Days" on your Bucket List.

Garrison Keillor narrates splendidly this tale of a small, fictional, MidWest town, in Minnesota.

It's just a bunch of anecdotes really, but it's acutely observational.

One such tale involved a couple married 52 years. The wife never stopped nagging, the hubbie was hen-pecked. They had a long drive one day, & stopped off for a natural break at a roadside gas-station & Diner. (Get the American lingo).

"Do you wanna use the Restooms?" he says to her as he exits the car. "No, I'll stay here" she says.

Some confusion arises, she decides to go buy some Apple Pie from the Diner, he gets back in the car & absent-mindedly drives off without noticing she was not there. One thing leads to another, & it's 5 hours before they are re-united.

And the piece eventually ends, "How DO these things happen? Nobody knows".

And some things do take some explaining. Usually, it's a juxtaposition of unforseeable circumstances.

Which brings me to pants. Bear with me, please. Almost literally, as it will transpire.

Pants are pants, right? We all know what pants are.

We also know that the Americans, in their attempt to ruin our wonderful language, insist on changing names. Pavement becomes sidewalk, car bonnet becomes hood, lift becomes elevator, & milk becomes cream. (And coffee becomes carfee, but that's beside the point).

Now, I've lived alone for 30 years, just me & the cat. So I act accordingly indoors. Never close the toilet door, rarely open the curtains, & walk about in my pants. Why not, it's comfy?

So there, the scene is set.

I retire to my room last night, get myself comfy, & spend a few hours happily blogging.

After finishing, I fancy a coffee before bed, so I had to go downstairs to fetch it, at 3am.

It was only when I got in the Lift - sorry - Elevator - &, as is everyone's custom, admired my fine physique in the floor to ceiling mirror, that I realised to my horror that I was in my pants. T-Shirt & pants. And socks. (I'm British, I wear socks, always).

OMG.

The lift reached the ground floor, & I quickly pushed the "8" button, & the doors closed, & back up I went. I spared the mirror this time.

Phew, that was a close shave.

I hurriedly made my way back along the Corridor to 8012, & only then did the full horror dawn on me. Room Key? In my Trousers. In the Room. This can't be happening.

Don't panic, think. YES! There's a telephone in the Lift Lobby along the corridor.

Pulling my T-shirt down, & my socks up - there was still a considerable gap between the two - I made my way back to the Lobby, & yes, there was the 'phone. Saved.

I Dial 9, & there was a good deal of that dreadful "press button that for this, & this for that", but in the end, I got there.

"My name's Kendall, Room 8012, I've locked my key in my Room, can you send Security up to open it please?".

"You need to come to Reception Sir".

"Thats a little awkward Maam. I'm only wearing, err, pants."

"That's fine Mr Kendall, you don't need a shirt".

"No, I mean UNDERpants, I'm only wearing UNDERpants".

"UNDERpants?"

"Yes, UNDERpants".

"Why is that Sir?"

"Well, it's hard to explain. Just send Security up please".

"There may be a small fee Sir".

"Fine"

"No, a fee, not a Fine"

"Yes, yes, just send him up. Please".

10 minute later - it seemed like an hour, cowering in an alcove in the Corridor to evade the stares of passing couples winding their way to their rooms - Security arrived.

He looked me up & down, as you would. More down than up & down, I sensed, but one can understand his curiosity. It was the socks I think.

"Name?"

"Kendall, I feel a little silly".

I just KNOW he was thinking "feel silly Sir? - you LOOK silly", but Americans are nothing if not polite.

And then he said the dumbest thing.

"Before I can open the door, I need some ID Sir" he said, holding out his hand expectantly.

I'm still not entirely sure what he expected me to put in it.

How do these things happen?

[Claw75]

Splendid embarrasing lift anecdote. I think you may just have topped Dingdell there!

[Laxie]

If nothing else, it's now 100% understandable how ye have become such good friends.

[nirvana]

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.

FWIW, next time you're there - pop down to the airport early on the day of your flight and upgrade for £1199 to upper class. It's a bargain imo. Travelling out to the US is a breeze in any cabin I think, travelling back - well it just has to be Upper daaaaahling !

[The Camel]

Tikay, could you name your top 10 golfers of all-time?

Either as a list of your favs or by ability

I'll try. Favourites, really, not ability.

In no particular order.....

Henry Longhurst

Peter Alliss

Tom Watson

Gary Player

Seve

Tiger

Henry Cotton

Sam Snead

Harry Vardon

Olazabal

I'm sure I've forgotten a few, but that's my first stab.

Arnold Palmer is a shockling ommission imo.

[Simon Galloway]

Arnold Palmer is a shockling ommission imo.

From a favourites list?  Why?

If it was an ability list, I would have thought Niklaus would have a squeak, but for favs, each to their own..

[littlemissC]

i went to meet Tony at Nottingham train station last night and this pulled up as we were leaving.there were alot of people waiting and lots of photos being taken.i was really shocked by how many carridges it was pulling,more than any other train in the station

thought you might appreciate it Tikay

[littlemissC]

another one

[littlemissC]

think this might be it

THE last remaining Great
Central Railway (GCR)
steam locomotive in the
world still in steam will be
coming to the Nottingham
Transport Heritage Centre
(NTHC) at Ruddington for
the July Gala on Saturday,
July 11, when the centre’s
new 200m long Platform
No. 1 will be officially
opened by the Rt Hon
Kenneth Clarke MP.
Performing the official
opening ceremony at 2pm
with Mr Clarke will be His
Hon Edgar Fay QC, son
of the only GCR General
Manager, Sir Sam Fay.
Celebrations to open
the new platform will
include the ex-GCR Class
04 Robinson 2-8-0 tender
locomotive No. 63601,
Great Central Railway locomotive
to be star attraction at Transport
Heritage Centre gala
Saturday, July 11. 2pm
courtesy of the National
Railway Museum in York
and the GCR custodians at
Loughborough, and with
the help of David Clarke
Railway Trust.
The locomotive is
scheduled for a ten-day visit
and will operate on July
11/12 and 18/19 from the
new platform at NTHC
and over over nine miles
of GCR track to the Brush
Works at Loughborough.
NTHC Director Alan
Kemp said: “Platform No.
1 is a massive effort over a
six year period by GCRN
volunteers led by Project
Director Peter Wilson.
It has been funded by
donations from volunteers
and through the LNER GC
Heritage Trust and Main
Line Steam Trust, which
has invested more than
£75,000 into a high quality
facility that transforms our
railway operations.
He continued: “This is
a major achievement. Our
visiting public deserves
improved facilities.
However, this is only Phase
One of our station project
and we are now raising
funds for a new terminus
building to go with it.”
Former GCR footplate
man Arthur Barber said:
“This is a big homecoming
for the Class 04 locomotive.
All GCR enthusiasts will
be thrilled to see this old
locomotive – built in 1912
– on this preserved line, and
we expect to see Kenneth
Clarke in the driving seat!”

[Snatiramas]

I loved watching Seve..........natural ability overcame scientific approach with every shot.........a bit like Nastase at tennis

[Kev B]

I loved watching Seve..........natural ability overcame scientific approach with every shot.........a bit like Nastase at tennis

+1 his short game is the best I've ever seen.

[Royal Flush]

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.

FWIW, next time you're there - pop down to the airport early on the day of your flight and upgrade for £1199 to upper class. It's a bargain imo. Travelling out to the US is a breeze in any cabin I think, travelling back - well it just has to be Upper daaaaahling !

+1 it was £1599 from vegas though

[Woodsey]

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.

FWIW, next time you're there - pop down to the airport early on the day of your flight and upgrade for £1199 to upper class. It's a bargain imo. Travelling out to the US is a breeze in any cabin I think, travelling back - well it just has to be Upper daaaaahling !

+1 it was £1599 from vegas though

$900 with BMI to Man, well worth it done it a couple of times. $250 to premium econ done that as well.