I can’t believe it’s not drunk!!!  PHOTOS

As we were off to the wilds of Devon, we ducked out on the scooter option, and instead opted for the luxury of the Jimmy Jazz driven taxi. Now as JJ is a taxi driver, finding something as obvious as the M6 should’ve been a breeze but oh no, short cuts all round, and lots of countryside to admire on the way to the M5!  And that was the second daft thing that JJ did at the weekend, the first was to publicly challenge the Alliance girls to an alcohol-a-thon!!

The journey there was mostly uneventful, JJ displaying a huge range of musical tastes, and at this point I would like to say that none of us were singing along to the Carpenters, but I can’t as several of us were.  This was my first Woolacombe rally and I have to say I was impressed with the site and organisation, clearly a lot of hard work had gone in to making it the success it was.

Having sorted out our berths in the chalet, we set off on the first leg of the beer challenge, the Alliance being late due to something called work – not sure what that’s got to do with Fridays though!  By the time they arrived, I was mostly gassed, but as I was playing mine host had to go and find them and the chalet – noted major problem with holiday camp runs, once you’ve seen one chalet, you’ve seen them all, but eventually found ours, the girls did a quite bit of stretching and preening, and we went out for more beer – some of us needing it much less than others!  I’m told that ‘I can’t believe it’s not King Kurt’ played a stunning set, but although almost there in body, somewhere a long way away with the mind.  But cheers to Angel for doing her best to sober me up by hurling blue WKD all over me – had huge fright the next morning when I saw my white Fred Perry with a blue tinge, thought my hair had run!  And special mention to Brady for bringing the Alliance girls back into the alcohol challenge by demolishing a pint of voddie and coke in less time than it took for Dunney to run after his lord and mistress…

Saturday morning saw the Taxi-lead Alliance crew doing a sterling job of making brekkies for all who could handle it, note to Rita and Kel, that’s how you make a breakfast, inside 3 hours, and that people can eat!!  The day time was spent wandering among the stalls, and being alarmed by the ever-increasing prices for imports, but if people are paying the prices, dealers will keep on charging them…after an excellent mutual lunch, went back for customary power nap, only to find that I’d been locked in the chalet, so had to decant through bedroom window, funny getting out, but climbing back in later when pissed was hilarious!

The hypnosis was superb – not seen that before, and the two guys giggling at the Martian joke were fantastic, even if one was from Venus (?).  JJ then smoked us all out of the chalet by strategically placing his bar-b-q just where the wind would blow all the smoke in.  But as I’m not one to complain, I won’t mention it, other than to say thanks JJ, it was a superb effort mate, and just right.  Also had the cake cutting for the ii peeps who were celebrating being another year older [Beeb and Ju] or going into the next decade [me – 30 sounds very strange when you’ve just left your 20s, but believe me 40 is a whole new ball game!]

Saturday night had Buster and the boys blasting away.  Haven’t seen them for a long time as usually too pissed or in the Northern room when they are on, but have to say they were excellent, great showmanship and entertainment.  Shell again showed her nervous tic and threw beer all over people again…as the witching hour was fast approaching, chilled out and waited to be 40, the event came and went, and I was still alive, so there is life in the old dog yet, though didn’t stay out too late as didn’t want to push things.  AVT had a record played for me at 12-20, as he explained to the DJ that I’d be gone before the finish at 2-00, how right you were mate, in fact I was conspicuous by my absence at 12-20, never mind 2-00.  Dad came in and played a quick game of dead seals when the rest of the crew came back, which was very thoughtful of him, and maintained a long-standing tradition.  Finally crashed out some time later having opened some special birthday presents and juggling with my balls.

I’m sure that our chalet must’ve been haunted as we all heard a banshee in the night….it all got far too scary for Mini-Cab who had to find a room full of blokes to crash out with. 

Sunday was the usual near-death early morning experience.  Managed to find AVT a copy of the Non-League football news, which as a Derby fan, he’ll be able top use as a reference point in a couple of years.  Said I wouldn’t mention footie in the write-up, but as I’ve only talked about Derby, I believe that I’m safe.  More Alliance brekkie fodder and piss taking all round before we cleared up, said fond farewells and went back to whence we came.

Another fantastic weekend, given that I was going to hit 40 at some time, I can’t think of a better bunch to have done it with.  And a final comment re the JJ drinking challenge…most of us had settled for an honourable draw, but then Mini-Cab scored a cracking own goal by missing chair when trying to sit down, thereby handing victory to the boys!!

Thanks all for a top weekend!!  I-Spy