Alpine trip, another one
Discussion
Hi guys. Thank you to all the people who've asked me to blog this nonsense again. I'm always surprised and appreciative of the interest it generates. I might be running out of steam but we'll see what happens.
I've already been out here for the best part of a week so I'll do a brief résumé of what's happened (not much) and go from there.
As I write this I'm currently on another thread discussing the passing of Groundeffect which occurred a while ago. I knew him personally and he was a lovely guy. We've all lost loved ones and friends but I thought I'd like to dedicate this trip to people I've known and lost on PH. Scott, Swerni, JAYB and Russell.
I'm sorry this is starting on a sombre note but I'm a bit maudling this evening and I would like to give recognition to the people who've passed.
If you could suffer some self indulgence for a while I'd like to talk about Russell, who many reading this thread may not know.
His PH name was Driving me nuts. Anyone who read even one post by him would know immediately what a wonderful, caring and selfless person he was. He spent hours of his time on here helping complete strangers, talking them through their problems and worries, always balanced, thoughtful and open. I used to read his posts in awe and wonder how somebody could be so giving and caring while I b
hed and moaned about trivial st.
One terrible day he posted that his partner, Lily, was in a hospice suffering cancer and they would be grateful if a PH'er with a loud car would come down and take her out for a blast.
In true PH style a whole fleet of us turned up (many of those wonderful people, if not most of them are not posting here anymore) in a myriad of different and very noisy cars. She was a lovely person and a hoon was quickly arranged where she was dashed off at breakneck speed through some local tunnels with everybody in tow thrashing the piston rings out of our cars.
Lily sadly passed shortly after that and Russel was left alone to deal with his grief.
I understand that loss a lot more clearly now but at the time I was unsure how I could help. We started to text and phone each other ever more regularly and eventually I would go down to his place in Brighton and spend the weekend there, talking all night, drinking, laughing and, very often, crying.
We started to go out at weekends, visiting race meets and car shows and driving for miles just for the hell of it. At times he would need me to pull over and he would suffer the most awful breakdowns right there in a car park somewhere while I sat by impotently, trying to comfort this poor, broken man.
We had many good times together which I am eternally grateful for and he eventually met a new lady.
The wedding was arranged and to my utter disbelief he asked me to be his best man.
I was stunned by this but also terrified. For all my bullst and bluster on these threads I am painfully shy and cannot deal with standing and facing people, had it been anyone else in the world I would have explained to him that while I was massively honoured it wasn't something I could do.
But this was Russell, the man I most respected over anyone else, I could not refuse.
So the wedding day arrived. Shal, my wonderful partner, had made sure I looked the part, had arranged everything and helped me write the speech (we spent weeks on it and it was very good!)
Russell was bursting with pride and it was such a privilege to see my friend who had suffered so much looking happy and fulfilled. We spent all day going over the minutia of the arrangements and then the service began.
He looked amazing, he looked healed.
Then it came to my speech. I was fking terrified. My legs were like jelly and I was sweating and I could barely stand. To my utter horror and eternal shame I stood in front of the crowd, made a weak joke and then fell to pieces, I couldn't do it, I couldn't fking do it. Just a simple speech to celebrate my friends wonderful day and I failed him completely.
And what did he do? On this most important day for him and his new wife?
He saw my distress, left the side of his bride and came to me and hugged me. He held me in front of that whole room while I blathered that I was sorry and I let him down and he just whispered "it's okay, it's okay"
I'm crying my fking eyes out writing this.
He was the most beautiful man I've ever known.
He began his new life and tragically suffered heart issues before he could enjoy the happiness he so richly deserved. I don't want to go deeply into it here but he passed from a massive heart attack and the world, and PH, lost a truely unique and decent human being.
PH is a great community even if we bicker amongst ourselves at times but I think it's very important that people like Russell are remembered.
Much to my surprise I don't possess a single photo of Russ, if somebody here does I would really appreciate it if you would post it in this thread.
He really was a one off and I often think of him when I make poor decisions or act like a, because he always did the right thing, he was always there with the right words.
Shine on mate.
I've already been out here for the best part of a week so I'll do a brief résumé of what's happened (not much) and go from there.
As I write this I'm currently on another thread discussing the passing of Groundeffect which occurred a while ago. I knew him personally and he was a lovely guy. We've all lost loved ones and friends but I thought I'd like to dedicate this trip to people I've known and lost on PH. Scott, Swerni, JAYB and Russell.
I'm sorry this is starting on a sombre note but I'm a bit maudling this evening and I would like to give recognition to the people who've passed.
If you could suffer some self indulgence for a while I'd like to talk about Russell, who many reading this thread may not know.
His PH name was Driving me nuts. Anyone who read even one post by him would know immediately what a wonderful, caring and selfless person he was. He spent hours of his time on here helping complete strangers, talking them through their problems and worries, always balanced, thoughtful and open. I used to read his posts in awe and wonder how somebody could be so giving and caring while I b
hed and moaned about trivial st. One terrible day he posted that his partner, Lily, was in a hospice suffering cancer and they would be grateful if a PH'er with a loud car would come down and take her out for a blast.
In true PH style a whole fleet of us turned up (many of those wonderful people, if not most of them are not posting here anymore) in a myriad of different and very noisy cars. She was a lovely person and a hoon was quickly arranged where she was dashed off at breakneck speed through some local tunnels with everybody in tow thrashing the piston rings out of our cars.
Lily sadly passed shortly after that and Russel was left alone to deal with his grief.
I understand that loss a lot more clearly now but at the time I was unsure how I could help. We started to text and phone each other ever more regularly and eventually I would go down to his place in Brighton and spend the weekend there, talking all night, drinking, laughing and, very often, crying.
We started to go out at weekends, visiting race meets and car shows and driving for miles just for the hell of it. At times he would need me to pull over and he would suffer the most awful breakdowns right there in a car park somewhere while I sat by impotently, trying to comfort this poor, broken man.
We had many good times together which I am eternally grateful for and he eventually met a new lady.
The wedding was arranged and to my utter disbelief he asked me to be his best man.
I was stunned by this but also terrified. For all my bulls
t and bluster on these threads I am painfully shy and cannot deal with standing and facing people, had it been anyone else in the world I would have explained to him that while I was massively honoured it wasn't something I could do. But this was Russell, the man I most respected over anyone else, I could not refuse.
So the wedding day arrived. Shal, my wonderful partner, had made sure I looked the part, had arranged everything and helped me write the speech (we spent weeks on it and it was very good!)
Russell was bursting with pride and it was such a privilege to see my friend who had suffered so much looking happy and fulfilled. We spent all day going over the minutia of the arrangements and then the service began.
He looked amazing, he looked healed.
Then it came to my speech. I was f
king terrified. My legs were like jelly and I was sweating and I could barely stand. To my utter horror and eternal shame I stood in front of the crowd, made a weak joke and then fell to pieces, I couldn't do it, I couldn't fking do it. Just a simple speech to celebrate my friends wonderful day and I failed him completely. And what did he do? On this most important day for him and his new wife?
He saw my distress, left the side of his bride and came to me and hugged me. He held me in front of that whole room while I blathered that I was sorry and I let him down and he just whispered "it's okay, it's okay"
I'm crying my f
king eyes out writing this. He was the most beautiful man I've ever known.
He began his new life and tragically suffered heart issues before he could enjoy the happiness he so richly deserved. I don't want to go deeply into it here but he passed from a massive heart attack and the world, and PH, lost a truely unique and decent human being.
PH is a great community even if we bicker amongst ourselves at times but I think it's very important that people like Russell are remembered.
Much to my surprise I don't possess a single photo of Russ, if somebody here does I would really appreciate it if you would post it in this thread.
He really was a one off and I often think of him when I make poor decisions or act like a
, because he always did the right thing, he was always there with the right words. Shine on mate.
Edited by br d on Thursday 26th June 20:18
Should’ve read your post first. Well written and clearly from the heart.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Edited by 57Ford on Thursday 26th June 20:25
57Ford said:
Should ve read your post first. Well written and clearly from the heart.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Thank you, that's perfect advice. You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Edited by 57Ford on Thursday 26th June 20:25
I've got myself into a state, tomorrow is a new start, as it always is.
Okay let's have a bash, I'm a week behind but I won't bore everyone (any more than usual!) with too much minutia.
First my mental state, I'm going to get this out of the way and then spare you any more of it. It has been a bit messed up this week, hence the very emotional first post.
Just before I came out here it was Shal's 50th, this was very hard. All her friends have been celebrating their 50ths this year and Shal was the youngest so there have been mixed emotions. Her friends and sister had a dinner for her on the Saturday before I left on the trip, I went for a short while to say hello to everyone but found it difficult. I was also due to get up at 1am so I thought it best just get to bed. I didn't sleep a wink and duly got up at 1 to start down here.
As an aside I've been told for the last 4 years by friends, family and my doctors that I needed to speak to someone, my behaviour can be erratic at times and as I live alone and have no kids to talk to I often don't speak to anyone. I'm clearly carrying s
t that I haven't dealt with but because I'm a bloke of a certain age I've always shrugged that off. fk that, I don't need anyone in my head. You know the drill. After some particularly difficult times this year I finally caved and am now seeing a therapist.
Been 5 times, it's truly awful because it forces you to talk. I don't feel any different yet but I think it is a good thing on balance.
And now we can combine my fragile emotional state with my usual stupidity. I used to do regular water fasting, I enjoy it and I am convinced of the health benifits that all the nutters on YouTube talk about but I hadn't done one for ages. So I started one on Friday before I came out.
I had weighed myself on Thursday and was amazed to see 12 stone 10! The heaviest I'd ever been in my life before was 12, 5 and I should really be mid eleven. So 12, 10 is really fat f
kery territory.So the fasting is a win win, I decided to do a 72 hour one. That's not particularly severe, I've done 134 hours before so it didn't seem a big deal.
But then I didn't sleep Saturday night and started the long journey down to Annecy.
So by the time I was coming down through France I've had no calories for 40 odd hours and no sleep for about 30! I was totally f
ked! Could barely stay awake and kept twitching and zoning out.Stopped every hour at those little pull offs but it was blisteringly hot and I couldn't fall asleep.
Basically drove down in 1 hour hops with the roof down, the AC on full and the music as loud as I could get it!
The total journey took 16 hours and I was a zombie when I got there. Crashed straight out but had a bizarre night shaking and twitching! It was proper straightjacket stuff!
Realised in the morning I had to eat so I fell short of the 72 hours which pissed me off.
So the next couple of days I was weird and spacey hence the very heartfelt first post. My apologies.
I've settled now and feel normal again.
I realise this is all massively self indulgent b
ks but I always try to be honest and you've only yourselves to blame because I wasn't going to do it this year but many people have asked me to.So you get what you get. It's your fault.
The hotel in Annecy was okay, not great though. Bit of attitude from one of the girls behind the reception.
I asked where the gym was, she gave me directions which I followed and they led to a dead end round the back of the hotel. I went back and explained as nice as pie that I hadn't found it. She said, very curtley "No no, through the garden, down the stairs, the stairs! "
WELL YOU DIDN'T SAY ANY OF THAT THE FIRST TIME DID YOU!
I didn't say that out loud of course but you know when you have to slowly count to ten in your head to stop you throwing a chair off the balcony! Perhaps you don't!
Beautiful views though.
A couple from up north arrived when I did and I'm ashamed to say I don't know what their car is, a 458?
That's the only pic I got.
The next day a couple of guys arrived in a lambo, didn't get a pic but fk me it made a racket!
They must have had an after market exhaust that no doubt sounded great howling along at a 100mph but ticking over it was bloody awful. They set about moving tables and stuff so they could park it at an angle - blocking everybody else in - right in front of the hotel and then took a zillion pics and vids of themselves sitting on it, in it, standing by it and revving it up. Real fking cringe stuff.
I asked where the gym was, she gave me directions which I followed and they led to a dead end round the back of the hotel. I went back and explained as nice as pie that I hadn't found it. She said, very curtley "No no, through the garden, down the stairs, the stairs! "
WELL YOU DIDN'T SAY ANY OF THAT THE FIRST TIME DID YOU!
I didn't say that out loud of course but you know when you have to slowly count to ten in your head to stop you throwing a chair off the balcony! Perhaps you don't!
Beautiful views though.
A couple from up north arrived when I did and I'm ashamed to say I don't know what their car is, a 458?
That's the only pic I got.
The next day a couple of guys arrived in a lambo, didn't get a pic but f
k me it made a racket!They must have had an after market exhaust that no doubt sounded great howling along at a 100mph but ticking over it was bloody awful. They set about moving tables and stuff so they could park it at an angle - blocking everybody else in - right in front of the hotel and then took a zillion pics and vids of themselves sitting on it, in it, standing by it and revving it up. Real f
king cringe stuff. Went out for some nice early boarding rides along the lake and into town. Lovely parks.
These posh hotels always have luxury pillows which are frankly useless. They're made of fking goose farts or something.
The second you actually lay on them the flatten completely, and they're all weird shapes and sizes and you can never get comfortable.
I can't sleep with these things so I went hunting for something workable. I found these in the top of the wardrobe.
These are bags that have spare blankets in them.
A couple of them on the bed, proper hard for your head, problem solved!
These posh hotels always have luxury pillows which are frankly useless. They're made of f
king goose farts or something.The second you actually lay on them the flatten completely, and they're all weird shapes and sizes and you can never get comfortable.
I can't sleep with these things so I went hunting for something workable. I found these in the top of the wardrobe.
These are bags that have spare blankets in them.
A couple of them on the bed, proper hard for your head, problem solved!
I know this is a pretty ugly car from the front:
I'm resigned to it.
But what the actual fk does this look like:
I love BMW's but that's gopping.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Can't recall seeing that before, a victory for feminist rights or condescending patriarchy?
Poster in the room:
Look at the weird snow patterns on the soles of his boots:
A poster in the hallway:
I'm resigned to it.
But what the actual f
k does this look like:I love BMW's but that's gopping.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Can't recall seeing that before, a victory for feminist rights or condescending patriarchy?
Poster in the room:
Look at the weird snow patterns on the soles of his boots:
A poster in the hallway:
Grateful to see another thread. Proper petrolhead stuff - rather more edifying than revving the nuts off a hired Lambo in front of a cafe for Instagram..... You work bloody hard to be able to buy an epic car. When you find the right one - which you obviously have with your McLarens - using it the way you want is a reminder of what all that effort brought about. A reminder, rather than a reward or self-indulgence. It's a sort of visceral therapy, too. Talking to people is fine (by fine, I obviously mean hellishly awful), but keeping in touch with other senses is part of the job too.
Oh I forgot this!
Back in February I ordered an MX5 Homara, I even ordered it in same colour as the Mac, how twee is that!
It's a softop with this little chuck over roof, lovely little thing. I bought it as a balance for the McLaren. The Mac is absolutely brutal and will stop your heart everytime you floor it which is great and all but it's hard to find the right place and time to do that, especially in Essex. So I figured I needed something to complement all that power and adrenaline. I watched a thousand vids and the MX5 seemed the perfect thing, great fun, chuckable, small, doesn't need high speed to be fun, perfect for the lanes in my area.
Obviously I wanted it for summer and the dealer "promised" me it would be here for late March.
It didn't come. I've basically had 4 months of stories, excuses and obfuscation. I'd giving up on it really and was ready to pull my deposit but I just left it anyway and didn't think about it.
So of course, I'd been out here 2 days and they ring and say it's coming! fkers!
When I was at the dealership ordering it there where a couple of guys in the car park washing the cars with buckets full of dirty water, no way am I leaving it standing there for a month.
So I'm getting my personal assistant to pick it up next week. I've put her on the insurance and she's going to keep it at her place. She's got a 6 year old daughter and they are planning summer trips out and stuff which I think is brilliant! The kid will love it!
I'll get her to send a pic when she gets it.
Back in February I ordered an MX5 Homara, I even ordered it in same colour as the Mac, how twee is that!
It's a softop with this little chuck over roof, lovely little thing. I bought it as a balance for the McLaren. The Mac is absolutely brutal and will stop your heart everytime you floor it which is great and all but it's hard to find the right place and time to do that, especially in Essex. So I figured I needed something to complement all that power and adrenaline. I watched a thousand vids and the MX5 seemed the perfect thing, great fun, chuckable, small, doesn't need high speed to be fun, perfect for the lanes in my area.
Obviously I wanted it for summer and the dealer "promised" me it would be here for late March.
It didn't come. I've basically had 4 months of stories, excuses and obfuscation. I'd giving up on it really and was ready to pull my deposit but I just left it anyway and didn't think about it.
So of course, I'd been out here 2 days and they ring and say it's coming! f
kers! When I was at the dealership ordering it there where a couple of guys in the car park washing the cars with buckets full of dirty water, no way am I leaving it standing there for a month.
So I'm getting my personal assistant to pick it up next week. I've put her on the insurance and she's going to keep it at her place. She's got a 6 year old daughter and they are planning summer trips out and stuff which I think is brilliant! The kid will love it!
I'll get her to send a pic when she gets it.
Edited by br d on Saturday 28th June 19:28
I bought this:
I have absolutely no clue how to use it.
Got this to go with it:
Can't get that to connect to it yet, got to sort that.
And I've bought this:
I've got a thing that sticks on the car and you can mount the camera on it too.
So the plan I had was to get footage of driving along, then pulling up somewhere, then riding off on the board. Aerial shots, ground shots, all that, then coming back to the car. Then edit it all together and make one of those lying, fraudulent videos where you pretend it all happened at once. Stick some music over it, lovely old job.
I think it's safe to say that is clearly beyond me. I usually do some crappy phone vids and upload them to this thread but I can't even make that work this time, the YouTube upload screen doesn't fit on my phone screen, don't know what's going on there. I'm going to need a laptop.
Can anyone recommend good software for stitching all this stuff together on a laptop?
I have absolutely no clue how to use it.
Got this to go with it:
Can't get that to connect to it yet, got to sort that.
And I've bought this:
I've got a thing that sticks on the car and you can mount the camera on it too.
So the plan I had was to get footage of driving along, then pulling up somewhere, then riding off on the board. Aerial shots, ground shots, all that, then coming back to the car. Then edit it all together and make one of those lying, fraudulent videos where you pretend it all happened at once. Stick some music over it, lovely old job.
I think it's safe to say that is clearly beyond me. I usually do some crappy phone vids and upload them to this thread but I can't even make that work this time, the YouTube upload screen doesn't fit on my phone screen, don't know what's going on there. I'm going to need a laptop.
Can anyone recommend good software for stitching all this stuff together on a laptop?
Great to see another trip Brad, even though your opener was very sombre .
I remember the thread with Lily and the cars, I never met
Lily or Russ but you can get a sense of a persons character even through words on a screen
Stay safe and enjoy the trip ..
I remember the thread with Lily and the cars, I never met
Lily or Russ but you can get a sense of a persons character even through words on a screen
Stay safe and enjoy the trip ..
Edited by Turn7 on Saturday 28th June 20:58
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff