Having made the decision to mark ITK's passing with a gathering of Sydney based Mags, we all trooped down to the Henry the 9th pub in the Hilton. The beer was flowing and everyone was on good form. We even forgave Andy Abbey for thinking we were there to celebrate Ken Murrey's birthday (get thee onto the bbs). All the lads and lasses were in attendance...

Loony Toon (Seymour Weiner)
Tynedale Man (Roger Hill)
Mrs Tynedale (Sue Herdman)
Muzza in Oz (Ken Murrey)
Andy Abbey
Sting (Grant Murrey)
Mrs Sting (Caroline)
Nick Raphael (me)
Mrs Nick Raphael (not yet)

Once a few more beers were sunk, we considered ourselves more than capable of putting in a strong performance in the pub quiz. The fact that it was free wasn't a consideration. All we needed was a team name - we thought 'In The Know' would be appropriate. The quiz master was a sarky bugger from Watford with a poor grasp of consonants. Questions such as 'ew ad an it wi this' resulted in much heckling from the congregation. More beer and questions flowed and we were confidant that we were contenders. Andy Abbeys poor taste in music was scoring us points. Between rounds there were prizes up for grabs. And what's this? A singing competition? What song? The Monkeys, Sleepy Jean!!! Well, you can imagine... We were somewhat vocal on our opinion of a certain primate and his merry men. Next was a dancing competition. Now luckily for us, Sting had given us all dancing lessons in a previous pissup. I was doing the 'digging the road' move, Sting opted for the traditional 'walking home with heavy shopping' move and Loony was sporting a more free style manoeuvre popular with today’s youth. YMCA was the predictable song of choice. I hate the way you have to concentrate on your spelling. We won a bottle of wine for our gyrating about like plonkers. If I'm any judge, it was Stings switch from 'heavy shopping' to the 'dealing cards' dance that won the day.
After yet more drinking, the final standings were announced. We were all confidant of a decent finish to the season. A top three finish was expected due to our combined intellect which seemed to blossom and grow during the quiz. And with our team name and Ken watching over us we came in an miserable 7th out of 10. Clearly Ken was too busy chatting to Wor Jacky to lend a hand to his old mates. Or maybe we were shite.

At the end of the evening we all raised our glasses to dear Ken and sang Blaydon Races to his memory. I had a fantastic night and when the days comes for me to meet Wor Jacky, I hope my friends have as good a night. A celebration of the person is far better than grief.

So here we are in Sydney. I've got a killer hangover and word is out that Sting has the trots. We're all looking forward to getting together tomorrow for a barbie and drinkypoos round at Stings.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Answers

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-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Great report Nicky. Now I know why I woke up this morning merrily humming the Peter Reid song to myself! Though I have absolutely no memory of how I came to acquire the nickname of Weener at some stage of proceedings - I'm sure I managed to keep me troosas on through the evening. Please say I did? Speaking of embarassment, if reports on the Sydney newswires are correct then Sting did indeed wake up in soiled sheets this morning. Just to rub it in (and I don't mean into the sheets) some of us didn't even have a hangover haha. Just avoid the expensive boutique brands next time mate. Especially when I'm paying OK? Nevertheless, it was still a shock to discover I'd been booked in for a 9 o'clock appointment this morning. To be fair, far more of a shock for the other poor sod than for me, not least as he sat their trying to identify my personal brand of skin fragrance - also known as Eau de Guinness. Anyway, back to the night's events there were some tremendous team names entered in the quiz - not least "Rumpled Foreskin" and my own favourite "Sigourney's Beaver". Though none had the same poignancy of our own "In the Know". The sad cockney git of a quizmeister actually seemed to find the patter from our corner amusing, suggesting either a dodgy sense of humour on his part (doubtless true) but more I think the fact he couldn't understand a word of what we were slinging at him. Meantime his floozy of an assistant got her own back for Watford Gap and South by proceeding to dock points off our score at every conceivable opportunity. Which was why we ended up coming in 7th out of 10, albeit only 8 points separating us from the winners. I'll let you be the judge ladies and gentlemen whether that was reason enough for one of 'Appy 'Arry's party mix CDs to mysteriously find its way into Sting's bag at some stage of the evening. Anyway, I for one can't wait for numerous renditions of Kylie's Locomotion at his and Caroline's party this Saturday night oh yes. All in all it was a great night - and hopefully a fitting tribute to a top man. It's good to think that one or two of you will be at the funeral next Friday - sort of ambassadors on behalf of the rest of the bbs that can't be there. If you get the chance look out for the modest bunch of daffs being sent over from Oz thanks.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Well done that team from Oz, guys and gals I salute you

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Yup well done lads n lasses....

Sting, I've telt ye a 100 times not to go out drinking without your incontinence pants on!

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Great reports of what sounds like having been a fitting celebration of the life of a dear friend. Well done gang.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

A fitting tribute to our mate. We have often been found drunken, losers and getting into scrapes :-)

London posse fancy something similar?

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Sounds like a good idea to me....one night next week?

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

London night out for wor Ken is good for me next week too.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001

Got to be bank holiday Monday!? Or Tuesday would be good for me :-)

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001