Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Well, Mx sorted the tickets out yesterday so today I've done the deed and handed my notice in at work. I leave on the 4th September. I feel not one jot of regret or worry, in fact I feel quite exhilarated by it all. Right, so my itinerary is :-

14th Sept 2003 London - New York
30th January 2004 Vancover - Hawaii
15th February 2004 Hawaii - Fiji
21st February 2004 Fiji - New Zealand (Auckland)
21st April 2004 New Zealand (Christchurch) - Australia (Melbourne)
21st May 2004 Australia (Perth) - Singapore
1st June 2004 Singapore - London

and all that for the princely sum of £1503.00, incl. taxes and insurance. Roll on September the 4th.

Arrangements for the leaving do are:-

6pm in the Oatsheaf
8pm in the Gulshan
11pm in Jaxx (via numerous pubs)

All welcome, but you might like to give me ideas of numbers for the Gulshan.

Monday, July 21, 2003

For the first Sunday in months I woke without a hangover, so decided to do the decent thing and clear my Mum and Dad's dining room and do a Car Boot Sale. I managed to raise the grand total of £86, which didn't cover Friday night but I'm still not complaining. I have discovered people really don't want to pay for anything. My entire Only fools and horses collection of videos went for about £25 which is an absolute steal. Still there no good to me, because I didn't get the VCR. I had so many conversations with people quibbling over paying 50p for something and 9 times out 10 they didn't buy it anyway. Still at least it's done and the rest of my stuff can go up the charity shop and my Mum and Dad can have there dining room back.

Monday, July 14, 2003

Phew ................... and breathe, I'll explain all later after another busy weekend.

So on Sunday, I left Mx's house and headed, on the train, for East Grinstead, where my folks picked me up to head to my Dad's Uncle's 80th birthday. I'm sure most of you (if there are any of you) have switched off by now, but bear with me here. Basically my Grandad had about 9 brothers and 3 sisters, I forget the actual figures, but there were lots. This party must have had the biggest gathering of the Reeves clan ever. In all, I suppose there were 14 of us who had been born a Reeves and most of us had never met before. Most of you who know me realise that I'm not the best at staying in touch, but that's coz i'm a Reeves. I think I'm over that now.

The Reeves Clan


(left to Right) We've got Cathy, Michelle, Sam, Bridget, Paul, Daryl, David, Gordon, Ken Snr. (B Day Boy), ???, Ken Jnr., Me, Me Dad, Auntie Bobbie.


It was really nice to meet relations I'd never met and some I didn't even know I had. As it turns out my Dad's cousin lives in Aspen, Colorado and has invited Mx and I to stay. As a bonus he arranges skiing and other activities so I know Mx will be in her element (and me to be honest). Blatant advertising www.wildernessways.com . I also met a 2nd cousin who has just returned from 2 years in Dallas and she gave me some tips and some contacts out there.

Anyway it was the end of another long, but tiring weekend.
Me and Mx

 photo menstu.jpg

I think we're gonna get on just fine.


On Saturday I went and met Mx, my travelling companion for our trip across America. We had a lovely chilled day in the garden and at the tennis club and both blatantly caught the sun. Met Nigel (the boyfriend), who's nice and he rustled up some cracking scoff. Also met the dog (burton), who is by far the biggest German Shepherd that I've ever come across. I've seen smaller shire horses and I'm sure I'd seen Frankie Dettori was riding Burton in the 3.45 at Ascot. Anyhow I don't normally have a problem with dogs, but on entering the house, Burton went straight for my bollocks. He actually nipped my jeans, which caused me slight consternation. However even by the end of the day I think he'd grown to put up (not like) me.

The trip itinery has changed slightly, basically Mx butchered it, but at least we are going to Florida. I'm quite happy with that, as long as we both get to see what we want to see, which in the main is the same. So Mx is left with the task this week of sorting out the tickets and arranging the visas. We did agree on a leaving date which will be the 15th September. Can't come soon enough for me, but we've got loads to sort out.

Sunday, July 13, 2003

Went to Thorpe Park for the day. Been years since I've been there. On the whole it was a good day out, although we could have picked a better day as there were too many kids (yuck) and the queues were long and hot. The rush of adrenaline on the Detonator was absolutely astounding. Basically it takes you 100ft in the air and shoots you back down to earth creating 5.5g's leaving your stomach at the top.

Especially for Stivsy


Saw this in one of them machines and thought of you, Johny Vegas.



Just before the 4d film......


and yes we all had to look like twats, but the film effects were very good.



After Thorpe Park, I'd arranged meet Stan.

In my defence I'd been out playing all day at Thorpe Park, when I obviously caught the sun. I only got in at 7.00 for a quick turnaround to meet Tango down the Links at 8.00 for a quick drink. As we all know it's never quite that simple and one pint leads to another and then that leads to a double G&T's and then onto double JD's and suddenly you end up in Jaxx, dancing and looking like a twat.

Monday, July 07, 2003

Afternoon all. I've just about managed to scrape myself off the ceiling after the weekend's festivities. Had a fantastic Friday, belly laughs all the way.

It all started on when a small but select band of brothers (and sisters) made the annual voyage to Dover for DYRMS's Grand Day. A drive to Woking to pick Stan up, which took me through all my old 'Manors' in Mytchett, past Holly Lodge (my middle school before DYRMS), past Grayswood Drive (my home for many years) and Keogh Barracks and Ash Rangers.

Anyhow enough of that sentimental old clap trap and lets get on to the fun stuff. Met Stan at Woking station looking tanned. It wasn't until closer inspection that I noticed the tell tale brown marks on his elbows and between his fingers and that he smelt of coconut. He'd been tangoed by his missus the night before. Cracked me up, no end.


The 80's had taken it's toll on Stan


Had a great drive down, listening to Morrisey (you'll only understand if you're a Dukie).


Suedehead

Why do you come here ?
And why, why do you hang around ?
I'm so sorry, oh ...
I'm so sorry, oh, oh ...

Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me ?
When you know, oh
Why do you come ?
Why do you telephone ? ahur...
And why, why send me silly notes ?
I'm so sorry
I'm so sorry, oh ...


Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me ?
When you know, oh
Why do you come ?
It was because
Everything that I did
I wrote it down
On the wall


You had to sneak into my room
just to read my diary
"oh, it was just to see, just to see"
(all the things you knew I'd written about you...)
And oh so many illustrations
Oh, but
I'm so very sickened
Oh, I am so sickened now


Still, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
Ah ...
Still, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
A good lay, ah ...
Oh, it was a good lay
It was a good lay
It was a good lay
Oh, it was a good lay
Good lay, good lay
Oh
Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
Good lay, oh


Thankyou.



Managed to make the Swingate for 10.45 AM. Nothing like an early start. Met a few older boys and Stan's boss Steve, Conehead arrived, Bruce and Kevl, Rachel C and Curly Wurly (full explanation can be given if required) were all there to enjoy the pub lunch. A quick change in the toilets and off to the school for the parade. The parade seems to become more and more understated as the years go by and when considering it was the 200th anniversary and new drums and colours were being presented the turnout was less than expected. The band were on top form, but I still can't get over the amount of kids who wipe there faces with white gloves on, the selection of water and minibus that collects them when they faint. We had it much harder in our day, or did we????


The meet up looking smart @ this stage


It was nice to catch up with Chris Winter, Nick Dillion-White and Gerard Thompson (the only 4 from our year) and I'm glad we all agreed that all we learnt from our 4th form German Exchange was how to say 'Tie me to a bed and whip me' auf deutsch. After the parade we headed for the Champagne Tent, well at only £3.00 a bottle it's rude not to. By this time Hx had turned up and somehow she restrained her urge to hurt me.


The shirt looking great with HX & Curly



We left the school at 5.30 and headed for the hotel to check in and have a quick change having filled the bath with alcohol for the after club room party. The six of us (Bruce, Tango, Hx, Coney, CurlyWurly and Me) were in the 'The Light of India' for 6.30. 5 large Kingfishers, Mate and a Light Ale (for Bruce, well he is old). We were fed and watered in no time and in the Castle (an old haunt) early doors. It was nice to meet up with Pete Sampson and Wife and Terry Porter (2 old teachers, who have been at the school for years) in the pub. They confirmed that the school has changed significantly (well its got girls now), but then again change isn't always a bad thing. After a few jars in the Castle we headed for the Brit, which as ever was absolutley heaving with younger Dukies.


The 2nd shirt change of the evening - Pimpology @ it's best


11.00 O'clock and we could hear 'Nuage' calling. In there we hit the dance floor and didn't stop. We were near the Dover gay scene, which consisted of 1 definate lesbian and 3 young girls she was trying to convert. The Conversion tour 2003 began, with Hx at the helm. Marilyn Monroe was also in the club, although on closer inspection of the photos in the morning, I can confirm that it's definately not her.



This is not Marilyn not even the gender bender one from the 80's


Left the club at 2 and retired to Tango's room for further drinking until 6 am.


The remains of the rock n roll rider from the room


After getting to sleep at 6am the only sensible thing to do was get up at 8.30. You don't have any choice in Dover, with the f***ing seagulls and lorries steaming past the windows. I headed for town and stopped off in the internet cafe for a quick forum update (I had to get the first dig in about Stan being Tangoed). Dover Town Centre doesn't change much, sure there's a few more immigrants, but they've got a great JJB Sports and I picked up some quality fridge magnets for Eastwood (chin up, matey!).


The tourism industry is apparently still alive


Got back to the hotel feeling strangely fresh and sat in reception with Bruce. I finally woke up Hx, Curly Wurly and Tango at 9.45, just late enough for them to miss their breakfast. They eventually made it downstairs where we paid up and headed for a greasy cafe for a proper breakfast. This was the funniest 2 hours of the weekend as we recalled stories of the past and the previous days exploits. My sides are still hurting. Curly wurly was the first to leave as he made the long trek back to Manchester, rather him than me. The rest of us headed for Coney's house for a wind down cup of coffee, before the journey back.


The day after the night B4


Eventually arrived home at 5 pm to be told I was being picked up at 6.30 for a jolly in Windsor. I wasn't on a top buzz as i was a little jaded. I still had a nice night in a new town (not sure I'd go back) and didn't get home till 1.30.

To top off a terrific weekend i still had Sunday free.

Thursday, July 03, 2003

Grand Day tomorrow, looking forward to it. Should be another good day and night.