Hi honies, I'm home ! Yep, the 'significantlybetterhalf' (Breda) and myself have made it back to Sydney in one piece after the most fantastically unforgettable six and a half months away.

It perhaps goes without saying that travelling in South America was a completely unbelievable experience. Our month in Spain and three weeks in Ireland that followed proved a perfect antidote - you know, essentials like learning how to eat (and drink) well again, as opposed to living the squalid life of a backpacker !

But getting to be in the UK during December, with most of that time at home in Newcastle, Durham and Northumberland, made the whole trip for me without a shadow of a doubt! You forget just how beautiful Edwin's Kingdom is, and after only managing to see two matches in the past four and a half years it was always going to be hugely emotional getting to follow the lads again. Especially at away games, where it's really at (well for me at least).

But nobody could have predicted the elation of those results and performances could they ?? From taking Breda to her first ever away game (Charlton) and almost seeing us achieve that elusive London win, to the hysteria that was Highbury (from the vantage point that was the Hare & Hounds in Allendale), to gleefully losing the front of both shins pogoing Pit Bill around the away end at Elland Road, to the steady efficiency exhibited by the lads against Blackburn and Boro, to the pain & pleasure combined of watching the Chelsea game from padded seats in the Platinum Club library.

Nobody but nobody could have had a better Christmas than I did and - he said, finally coming to some sort of a point - just about all of it was down to the magnificence that is this BBS and the generosity of you, its fine inhabitants.

In Barcelona it was most excellent to spend a few days with Swift, our very own purveyor of hansom cabs and local bars off the Ramblas. Likewise it was also grand to meet Kegsy, albeit for just the one pleasurable evening, and drain a beer keg (hence the nickname?!) kindly placed on the table of our first Japanese-style pub. Watching the action from Old Trafford ultimately proved to be an anticlimax, but not the rendezvous with our man in Tokyo.

A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to folk who fixed me up with a date in heaven (ie. match tickets at face value). Stand up and take a bow Messers Mysterious (Terry), Twoshoes (Tony) & the Stealth-Screacher. Without you all coming up trumps, none of all this would've been possible (I'm getting very Oscars-style dewy-eyed now)! Also to DSS (Dave) for fixing a mate up for Charlton, ta mate.

As to hanging out with bbs-ers before some of the games - thus preventing Norman-nee mates from putting in an appearance - sadly it was an all-too-brief reacquaintance with Gav, likewise a shame that I only had time for a quick word with Scratchy & Terry down in London.

And what can you say that hasn't already been said about the ever-impressive Strawberry regulars - Pit Bill, Jonno, Dougal, Steph, Softie & Susie (with apologies to any I've missed)? As always, I can only hope that next time I have much longer to stick around for a proper yarn. It was great to meet you Steve T, not least as I missed out on the pleasure while in Barca - congrats again on the engagement. And of course it was a privilege to finally meet America's No.1 fan Ciara - again, it was way too brief, but hopefully for longer next time when we're both across our respective puddles eh?

And finally (phew) it was a big pity that on this trip over I didn’t get to see all you other NE-based stalwarts of this BBS - Bobby, Dr.Bill, Cliff, Buff, Macbeth etc. etc. (way too many to name). Ditto you Clarky "There'swaytoomuchsnowforLeedstogoaheadsurely" ;O))

Next time eh lads'n lasses ? I certainly hope so. Unless of course anyone fancies a visit out to see the Sydney posse sooner ?!

Without doubt this BBS is something to cherish. GEORDIES HERE, GEORDIES THERE, GEORDIES EVERYFECKINWHERE ...

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

Aussie Purring

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Fancy a pint? What's your number?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I'm sorry, do I know you ?

;OD

Gissaring on 9399 5439 I think it is Nick

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

It was great to meet you LT. Next time your in town or I'm over in OZ (hopefully next Christmas) we'll hopefully be able to have a few more kegs. Glad you made it back in one piece.

The nickname doesn't come from kegs of beer unfortunately, just a friend at University who decided to bastardize my family name.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

A bit concerned to hear that you and Breda made it back to Oz in one piece. I hadn't realised the airlines were turning a blind eye to that sort of thing these days. Seems they'll allow anything to keep passenger numbers up!

Great to see you, tho I have my doubts about your 'significantlybetterhalf'. Does she exist? Has anyone ever met her on Loony's travels or is "Breda" just a figment of the man's imagination to stop him going insae on his travels (clearly didn't work then).

As for the next time - well, I'm toying with the idea of a holiday with a difference and Oz is a place under consideration. One of these days, mebbes.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

My pleasure, glad to be of service & pleased you saw witnessed a decent month of football.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Great to finally meet you, LT! Glad you both got home safely. I really enjoyed reading your diaries of the trip. Hope the re- adjustment to 'real life' isn't too difficult. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Loony
Have you found my bliddy geps yet, tucked down the back of your vest, mebbe ?

Come to think of it, I seem to remember you in quite an advanced state of undress round about the 4th at Leeds, so down the back of your vest is probably the wrong place to look. The mind boggles over where else they might have ended up.

The pneumonia incubation period is round about three weeks, so keep well wrapped up just in case.

An absolute pleasure making your aquaintance again, young man, but I still think it's a helluva way to come just to nick a chap's spectacles. You bliddy ozzies. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I'm really sorry I missed you LT. I'm still irritated that I missed the Leeds game, but the road and weather conditions between Tynemouth and the Toon were so bad that morning - not to mention the dreadful general standard of bad weather driving - I simply decided it wasn't worth the risk.

Of course, I regretted my decision within 30 minutes, and for some reason never thought about dashing down the Central Stn. and trying to catch a train.

It wouldn't have been so bad if we'd got beaten, or if it hadn't been an absolute cracker of a game. Oh well, I've simply put it down to experience.

Glad you and Breda made it home safely.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Pleasure likewise LT. It was a pity that I couldn't have seen you here in Barca but the god of hangovers was demanding sacrifices...

Pleased you enjoyed yourself though. It's always good to be back in Toon...

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002