Changing of the Guard

The day panned out rather differently to how it had been planed a few weeks ago.  The original expectation  had been built around an intended visit to the south coast for the 18th birthday of Film maker (one of the few I know to share my birthday). Film maker is Notoplip's nephew (his sister's son).

I have rarely met the film maker but am more familiar with his mum and dad (the Carpenters) and his elder sister "coat red".

This all pans back to 1991, which was the year that I met Notoplip, Billy the Fish, D.A. Decorator,  Rusty Pipes and Naked Diva.

Having already taken a holiday with theses chaps in early July of this year, Rusty Pipes dropped out of a holiday to Ibiza at the last minute and Notoplip persuaded me to jump into his shoes at short notice.

Apart from being a lads' holiday many of Notoplip's and Mr Carpenter's family were there as this is when the Carpenter's were married, at a church on top of a hill inland in Ibiza.  I remember that it was a glorious day, not one to be "suited and booted" but we did so and donned the obligatory shades making the lads look like extras from the Sopranos.

Notoplip and I had been sharing a house for about a month and his eldest daughter (then about four, I think) was a regular visitor.  The Carpenter's eldest (Coat Red) was of a similar age and this was the oddest of holiday's in that we all managed to combine riotous night life with family time around the pool with the kids.

Whilst I am not overly short, I am when put into context against most of this group of chaps and I was given the nickname "Little man", which still sticks with Notoplip's daughter "Ice Cube" and Coat Red. As do the jokes about "careful or little man will fall down the plug hole".  Ice Cube is so called because of an event when I joined her and Notoplip on their Ibizan holiday about eight years later....

Having returned from a night out on my own (which is never on your own in Ibiza - I met someone that night who I still keep in touch with), I settled down on the sofa at 8am to try and grab some sleep.  My entrance disturbed Ice Cube who thought it would be a great idea to stand over me and drip an ice cube on my head for what seemed to be an eternity.  In reality it was probably about 20 minutes.  She was determined to provoke a reaction and I was determined not to give one in the moment.  I was exhausted from a night of the high life and only now that she has been a regular clubber herself does she appreciate quite what she put me through.  Very funny.

The last time I saw the Carpenter's and they now fuller family was in the year of Notoplip's 40th, some four years ago, when we all went to a well known family themed resort to celebrate his birthday.  There was no Film maker present but I was able to catch up with the Carpenter's who I see very infrequently. It is their 20th anniversay next year, so who knows, we may be in a fit shape to make the journey then.

My lack of fitness for the trip was apparent earlier in the week, hence the Friday departure of the kids to North Wales and my mother's visit here to provide cover for Kitten.

So yesterday's intended trip was replaced by an amble around the shopping centre and stroll by the river Thames with my mother, sister and brother-in-law.  I felt washed out after the stroll.  In fact I felt washed out whilst I was walking.  It was one foot in front of the other stuff.  I guess that must be what it feels like to have M.E. (also known as yuppie flu) or some other energy debilitating illness

Despite the travails of the body, my mind was in a good frame and I was being well looked after by my mother who departed in the evening leaving me relaxed in the company of a gripping Tri-nations rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand.  This was followed by the second half of the Premiership match between Wigan and Chelsea, so I was somewhat in "Bloke Heaven". 

No sooner had I put a saucer of milk outside the front door than the purring Kitten arrived home from North Wales.  Timed impeccably, though without purpose, to let me see the end of the game.

On a final note; Happy Birthday to the Film Maker.