:( I managed to photograph the former. Piccies on http://welcome.to.toonarmy

What can I say, that hasn't been said already ? In the words of AS - "the sooner they pull this place down the better". :(

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Answers

What a weekend!

Set off from Toon on Saturday morning for the long drive to Lahndaan. Quite uneventful journey, except for the constant steam of cars, busses and min-vans exhibiting Toon colours. Arrived at Hotel Dougal ahead of schedule to find Dougal and Ciara already well into the first bottle of wine. Went to the pub in time to watch the National, and then back to Hotel Dougal via the offy to get in supplies for the next arrivals.

We were joined by Steph, Dr Bill, Sofie and Rik, making his first appearance in the Bid Smerk. Jonno briefly put in an appearance with Tara and we headed off for a quiet evening at Evergreens. Emerging from Covent Garden tube station, you could tell the Geirdies were in town. Toon chants coming from every direction. This was the stuff. Stand still and drink in the atmosphere. But not for too long - lack of liquid refreshment already beginning to make itself known. And so to Evergreens. Susie Brown Ale had organised a party. Toon colours all over the bar, and even in the gents netty. She gets everywhere does wor Susie.

Evergreens was full of the aforementioned BBSers, along with many London Mags. Nice to make new acquaintances and to re-acquaint with others like DSS, Donna, Lady Tynedale, Min, Bobby and far to many others to mention by name, plus some bloke who greeted me with "You were the guy who gave me a lift fron Runcorn to Tranmere". Ah - the memories were starting to come back.

The rest of thje evening was spent just having a real good Geordie neet oot and after we were eventually persuaded to leave, it was off to Trafalgar Square. It was ever so nice to see that they'd even brought Grey's Monument doon for the weekend. It obviously worked as the place was full of Geirdies. But nee waata in the fountains. It didn't take much encoiuragement to join the throngs on the monument. Well, apart from Dougal who steadfastly refused to climb the dizzy heights to the base of the plinth. That was until some extremely helpful guy just manhandled her up. Ooh, flooods. Lot's of signing, lots of dancing, and lots of shirts waved in the air. And then we saw the first of many unexpected BBSers. Not a surprise that he was there, but to find Dommyboy standing next to me was quite a surprise. It's a small world, and would get even smaller on Sunday.

Sunday dawned bright a we dined in one of Camden's less attractive eating houses. But at #2:80 a heed for a full brekky, it did the trick of lining the belly for the liquid intake soon (so we thought) to come. Then it started to go pear-shaped. Well, strictly speaking it started to go pear-shaped whan I realised I had forgotten to pack my lucky B&W boxers. The phone rang and it was Grant, sounding a bit stressed. He was in the Post Officeand had just been invited tio leave by the landlord. Not that he was misbehaving, but being the only one in B&W he was a bit conspicuous in a pub decked opt waal to waal in blue. Hmm - Dr Bill had arranged to meet Dunx in there to hand over his ticket. But neebody knaad what Dunz looks like. Grant called back, having met Gav and they established base camp at The Greyhound a bit closer to Wembley Stadium. Unfortunately, it wasn't yet open and they had to resort to the local offy.

Our party was joined by Susie Brown Ale and Jonno and we decided to head for the Post Office as pre-arranged, hoping to find Dunx in the area. "He's tall and wears a B&W shirt with Big Dunc on the back. He'll be looking oot for a ticket." said Dr Bill. Clerarly, there'd be nee problem finding him, then! We were turfed off the train a few stops before Wembley Central and had to waitr for the next. Bizzare logic. The train was running late so they made us later by telling us to wait for the next one. Hmm. Then the world got smaller. There we were waiting on the platform and who should we see but Val and Fifties Fan. They were on their way to the Post Office to collect their tickets as well. Bliddy Hell. All the way from Hong Kong and they might not nmeet up with their tickets. I think it was all a conspiracy by Cellnet/Orange/One-2-One. They certainly made a few bob that day!

Wembley High St was awash with bue as we got close to the Post Office. No sign of Dunx so we proceeded to the Greyhound, looking at all shirts for the name "Big Dunc" but none was seen. Finally met Gav and Grant, who had been diligently managing a dwindling stock of beer cans and offered great sustainance to the parched few. Managed to lose the rest of wor crew, but eventually found them and they had found Dunx! Our party was almost complete. Min turned up walkinmg away from the stadium and he met up with G&G. Unfortunately, Bobby went missing in action and his ticket had to be disposed of. I hope he's aalreet.

The match is chronicled elsewhere so I won't bother with that. But the atmoshere was electric. Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Mind you - I was disappointed with Wembley - both the stadium and Wembley Way. It is very, very tatty. We spent a long time on Wembley Way trying to get back to the tube. The great atmoshpere continued, even tho we'd lost. The mounted coppers took a lot of stick but it was all in good spirit. Lot's of spontaneaou Geordie humor. Tremendous. We met Steph at Trafalgar Square and headed for the pub, only to be greeted with "no colours". Bugger. Eventually found a small place (The Harp??) which had some B&Ws in and we settled down for what started as pretty miserable pint (well, at least for me). After all the euphoria, the realisation started to hit me. Min arrived and SBA left. The beer started to take effect and I started to chill.

Final stop of the night was Evergreens for a return visit. Not so many as the previous night, but a fabulous atmosphere. Beer, music, dancing, humour, beer, music, dancing and more humour. Just what was needed. What a great place. Thanks Susie for organising it all and to Dougal for the floor space.

Back to Hotel Dougal and just before dawn, Softie and Dr Bill made there way to the station. I crept oot a bit later before the wardens booked me for parking and headed for the Lahndaan orifice where I have done sod all (so what's new?) apart from drink coffee. At least the throat is starting to work again thankfully as I have a meeting this afternoon. A canny weekend. Even the footy was good. Only the result wasn't.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

nice one Screach just about covered it there then ... ill tell you what there were a few pretty pasty looking faces on the train on Sunday morning and outside the pubs .. i fancy we drank London dry .. i knaa that the amount of beer i consumed over the past 2 days is enough or a month .. i feel like i need a holiday after that weekend . Oh yes im going on one on Thursday , but not before i go to West Ham , its a hard life supporting the Toon .

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

+++MIA REPORTING IN+++DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES WELL WITHIN MY CAPACITY TO AVOID HAD TO CALL OFF TRIP+++WILL MAKE AMENDS BY CHEERING TOON AT UPTON PARK+++

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Been down for the w/e with the family. Was putting them back on the train North at Midday. The bairns had been counting B&W shirts on the way to KX. An opportunity for some big counting arrived in the form of an ancient diesel from Newcastle, "let's wait here for a minute" I said. The train doors opened and the noise of "Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle" boomed out. The bairns stood there opened mouthed as the B&W noise poured out and the 6ft hairy blokes dressed as women and the Gorilla went by. Fantastic, I could feel the bairns blood turn more black and white than it already is. Win or lose we still try and enjoy ourselves - I like that mentality. Also impressed at the Toon Army applauding the victorious but inferior team in blue off the pitch, equally impressed by the Chelsea players acknowledgement of that fact as the approached the tunnel. In fact they acknowledged us more than the Newcastle players.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

"Oi! Pinurchio! You heard that one, didn't ya? Bastad."

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Softie.........not to mention the horse's discerning attiude toward sexual partners!

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000