(no subject)
I have decided it is high time I try to keep this journal again, its not that I don't have enough in my life to write about, it is just I do not have the time to sit down and do it.
So to start I thought I would post my report on Richard's visit here back in August. Most of you will have probably read it else where as I posted it in other places, if so move on with my blessing, if not I hope you enjoy.
Date created 7th September 2006
Date of event 27th August 2006
Ok I have waited and waited for ALIBONGO and gillyp to put up their piece about what happened at the golf, because I know their report will be the best of all. They were there for all three days and got closest to Richard, plus gillyp is a far better writer than me of these things. But so far they are to busy and want to put it up as a completed thing and not a bit at a time.
I can’t wait any longer, I had such a fantastic time, I just have to share.
It all started Saturday,well no actually it all started when I found out that Richard was coming to South Wales to play golf and it just so happened that some weeks earlier I had booked a holiday in South Wales for the family, how luck could I get. I had hoped there was a chance I could get there for Saturday afternoon, but as I feared real life interfered and when I found myself driving past the sign for the tournament at about six pm, I decided to give ALIBONGO a call (her name is first on my dial up list) and see how they got on. Well all I can say is I think that is one of the longest phone conversations I have ever had with her. She was over the moon and bubbling with joy, at how much time and contact they had had with Richard, how great he was, how they were ignoring all other stars and generally what a great time they had had. But I will leave that for them to tell, when they put their report out. Suffice to say, I was very jealous and thought the next day could not be a patch on that.
Saturday dawned and I got up bright and early, because although I was in South Wales on holiday it was still an hour and a half drive back to the golf. The idea was gillyp and ALIBONGO were getting there ridiculously early because they were only 5 minutes away. The gates opened at ten and I intended to get there about nine thirty so I could be near the front of the queue and hopefully find our forward ambassadors. I arrived on time but there was not a sign of them Another quick phone call and I discover they are still deep in conversation with their B&B hostess, but they promise they will be with me in ten minutes. Quarter of an hour later, no sign of them, but I spot another face I recognised, Rae had just arrived. Rae joins me while we stand and wait and after about half an hour they turn up, they had got lost (on a five minute drive!!!!!), I think they must have been distracted by something, by which time the gates have already opened. It really didn’t matter though as the crowds were not enormous.
We wondered onto the golf course area and ALIBONGO and gillyp took us straight away to the area where the players were supposed to come out and practice. Each player had a small pile of balls waiting for them by their name plate and fans gathered adjacent to their favourite star, fortunately the space opposite Richards name was still free so we set up camp. And waited and waited and waited, everyone else was turning up one by one and the balls were going down, but no Richard. Gerri turned up with her husband Ray and joined us in our waiting. Chris Evans went by and I had promised the other I would not be rude to him, so I stuck out my programme and he signed it (damn!) Then Ronan Ketting came along with his own pen, I had promised my daughter I would get him, and ALIBONGO started the day how she meant to go on and said to him “I like a man who comes prepared” , meaning his pen, but he gave her a very funny amused look. Then we waited some more, amid comments that we hoped no one else would play with Richards balls because they had the day before, but finally along he comes and the real fun begins.
He went straight to knocking his balls around, and we noticed, the USA team were wearing remarkably see through trousers, funny how we only just spotted that, and we had a very good view of his knock about, he was also doing some strange stretching exercises that he continued to do all day. I tried to catch some of them on camera but his bag or people kept getting in the way and we were trying hard not to be too intrusive with the cameras, because the tickets had said no cameras. After too short a while he finished, he had his match to go to, and for a minute I thought he was just going to wonder off, but we called over to him, and when I called out could he please come over as some of us only had the one day to see him, he seemed to recognise gillyp and ALIBONGO from the day before and came straight over and grabbed my hand, really held it tight just like Blair in Switchman. What happened after that is a little hazy, but we were asking how he was enjoying himself, and he asked were I was from, them the conversation got on to the lovely weather and I made the comment, the only problem with that is it meant we didn’t get to see his beautiful eyes. The glasses were off in a second and I very hurriedly took a picture (not the best in the world as it was into the sun), but he was looking directly at me so who cares. Then we asked for his autograph and all hell broke lose, up to then we had virtually been on our own, but as soon as people spotted a star signing autographs the crowds descended and I suddenly found myself crushed against the fence. He didn’t stay long after that.
Our next sighting was the golf match, he was teamed with Jane Seymour (she was playing for the USA) and he started of with a reasonable shot. They actually won the first hole even though both teams took an equal number of shots, because of the handicap system. We then followed him round the course for the rest of the day in a dream world of Richard Burgi, and as there were not so many people following his group we could not only get close to him, but he also looked out for us and would make comments about his golf, which was erratic. He was always praising Jane and cheering her along, but I did not notice it the other way round, in fact it was almost the opposite, but she was a no better player, in fact with the exception of one or two shoots her putting was worse, I am afraid she has gone down in my estimation. She just had the advantage of teeing off closer as a woman, which meant her first shoot counted more often. And those trees kept jumping on front of Richards shoots.
Some of Richard’s shots were very good, but the majority were not, he was making all the classic mistakes of someone with potential, but not enough practice. Just over half way it was beginning to get to him, he was getting frustrated with his game, but still kept smiling, but when ALIBONGO suggested that what he needed was a cuddle he jumped at the chance and then pointed out he had two arms, so I jumped at the chance. Not to be left out gillyp joined ALIBONGO and he hugged us all the way to the next tee, even trying to get us to take his weight up the hill (he is not light), one of the camera crew offered to take our picture with my camera and needless to say that is the most precious picture of the day. He said he wanted to draw some luck from us, and he did do better at the next hole.
We followed him around for the rest of the day, and he continued to look out for us and chat to us and the crowd, he is an entertainer, and very touchy feely with the other players and his caddy. But unfortunately like all great things the day had to end. They disappeared into the club house and although I got a couple of pictures of him on the balcony, I had to head home before he appeared again.
The conclusion of the day, my face got sun burnt, we did a lot of walking, but it was worth every minute, he is a lovely man, I am so glad I went, I wish I could have been there all three days. He said he will try to come again next year, but I will not hold my breath. I will however hold onto some wonderful memories and my pictures of the day.
So to start I thought I would post my report on Richard's visit here back in August. Most of you will have probably read it else where as I posted it in other places, if so move on with my blessing, if not I hope you enjoy.
Date created 7th September 2006
Date of event 27th August 2006
Ok I have waited and waited for ALIBONGO and gillyp to put up their piece about what happened at the golf, because I know their report will be the best of all. They were there for all three days and got closest to Richard, plus gillyp is a far better writer than me of these things. But so far they are to busy and want to put it up as a completed thing and not a bit at a time.
I can’t wait any longer, I had such a fantastic time, I just have to share.
It all started Saturday,well no actually it all started when I found out that Richard was coming to South Wales to play golf and it just so happened that some weeks earlier I had booked a holiday in South Wales for the family, how luck could I get. I had hoped there was a chance I could get there for Saturday afternoon, but as I feared real life interfered and when I found myself driving past the sign for the tournament at about six pm, I decided to give ALIBONGO a call (her name is first on my dial up list) and see how they got on. Well all I can say is I think that is one of the longest phone conversations I have ever had with her. She was over the moon and bubbling with joy, at how much time and contact they had had with Richard, how great he was, how they were ignoring all other stars and generally what a great time they had had. But I will leave that for them to tell, when they put their report out. Suffice to say, I was very jealous and thought the next day could not be a patch on that.
Saturday dawned and I got up bright and early, because although I was in South Wales on holiday it was still an hour and a half drive back to the golf. The idea was gillyp and ALIBONGO were getting there ridiculously early because they were only 5 minutes away. The gates opened at ten and I intended to get there about nine thirty so I could be near the front of the queue and hopefully find our forward ambassadors. I arrived on time but there was not a sign of them Another quick phone call and I discover they are still deep in conversation with their B&B hostess, but they promise they will be with me in ten minutes. Quarter of an hour later, no sign of them, but I spot another face I recognised, Rae had just arrived. Rae joins me while we stand and wait and after about half an hour they turn up, they had got lost (on a five minute drive!!!!!), I think they must have been distracted by something, by which time the gates have already opened. It really didn’t matter though as the crowds were not enormous.
We wondered onto the golf course area and ALIBONGO and gillyp took us straight away to the area where the players were supposed to come out and practice. Each player had a small pile of balls waiting for them by their name plate and fans gathered adjacent to their favourite star, fortunately the space opposite Richards name was still free so we set up camp. And waited and waited and waited, everyone else was turning up one by one and the balls were going down, but no Richard. Gerri turned up with her husband Ray and joined us in our waiting. Chris Evans went by and I had promised the other I would not be rude to him, so I stuck out my programme and he signed it (damn!) Then Ronan Ketting came along with his own pen, I had promised my daughter I would get him, and ALIBONGO started the day how she meant to go on and said to him “I like a man who comes prepared” , meaning his pen, but he gave her a very funny amused look. Then we waited some more, amid comments that we hoped no one else would play with Richards balls because they had the day before, but finally along he comes and the real fun begins.
He went straight to knocking his balls around, and we noticed, the USA team were wearing remarkably see through trousers, funny how we only just spotted that, and we had a very good view of his knock about, he was also doing some strange stretching exercises that he continued to do all day. I tried to catch some of them on camera but his bag or people kept getting in the way and we were trying hard not to be too intrusive with the cameras, because the tickets had said no cameras. After too short a while he finished, he had his match to go to, and for a minute I thought he was just going to wonder off, but we called over to him, and when I called out could he please come over as some of us only had the one day to see him, he seemed to recognise gillyp and ALIBONGO from the day before and came straight over and grabbed my hand, really held it tight just like Blair in Switchman. What happened after that is a little hazy, but we were asking how he was enjoying himself, and he asked were I was from, them the conversation got on to the lovely weather and I made the comment, the only problem with that is it meant we didn’t get to see his beautiful eyes. The glasses were off in a second and I very hurriedly took a picture (not the best in the world as it was into the sun), but he was looking directly at me so who cares. Then we asked for his autograph and all hell broke lose, up to then we had virtually been on our own, but as soon as people spotted a star signing autographs the crowds descended and I suddenly found myself crushed against the fence. He didn’t stay long after that.
Our next sighting was the golf match, he was teamed with Jane Seymour (she was playing for the USA) and he started of with a reasonable shot. They actually won the first hole even though both teams took an equal number of shots, because of the handicap system. We then followed him round the course for the rest of the day in a dream world of Richard Burgi, and as there were not so many people following his group we could not only get close to him, but he also looked out for us and would make comments about his golf, which was erratic. He was always praising Jane and cheering her along, but I did not notice it the other way round, in fact it was almost the opposite, but she was a no better player, in fact with the exception of one or two shoots her putting was worse, I am afraid she has gone down in my estimation. She just had the advantage of teeing off closer as a woman, which meant her first shoot counted more often. And those trees kept jumping on front of Richards shoots.
Some of Richard’s shots were very good, but the majority were not, he was making all the classic mistakes of someone with potential, but not enough practice. Just over half way it was beginning to get to him, he was getting frustrated with his game, but still kept smiling, but when ALIBONGO suggested that what he needed was a cuddle he jumped at the chance and then pointed out he had two arms, so I jumped at the chance. Not to be left out gillyp joined ALIBONGO and he hugged us all the way to the next tee, even trying to get us to take his weight up the hill (he is not light), one of the camera crew offered to take our picture with my camera and needless to say that is the most precious picture of the day. He said he wanted to draw some luck from us, and he did do better at the next hole.
We followed him around for the rest of the day, and he continued to look out for us and chat to us and the crowd, he is an entertainer, and very touchy feely with the other players and his caddy. But unfortunately like all great things the day had to end. They disappeared into the club house and although I got a couple of pictures of him on the balcony, I had to head home before he appeared again.
The conclusion of the day, my face got sun burnt, we did a lot of walking, but it was worth every minute, he is a lovely man, I am so glad I went, I wish I could have been there all three days. He said he will try to come again next year, but I will not hold my breath. I will however hold onto some wonderful memories and my pictures of the day.