Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: TwilightOdyssey on August 14, 2007, 02:27:38 AM
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It has taken me forever to get around to organizing and resizing the pictures from my last trip to the England. That trip encompassed one day in London, all of LGS, the British Steel Festival, and 3 days in northern England.
First off, this thread is going to get lengthy. I visited many places and it's all pretty well documented.
Second, this thread is going to take a while for me to post everything. My life is incredibly busy and I'm going to have to do this piecemeal. However, I felt it was high time I got down to business and posted about this, especially with all this talk about forum drink ups.
Third, this was perhaps the best vacation I've ever taken. I had many companions at various times in my adventures, but the constants were forum members Davey and PhilKing. We got to spend time with lots of forum members, notably Afghan Dave, Feline Guitars, Tim, Johnny Mac, and Brow. If I've forgotten anyone, I apologize. I owe a huge debt of thanks to Phil for putting the intinerary together and serving as an excellent tour guide. Davey gets kudos for being able to put up with me for a week in close confinement, which can try anyone's soul.
Anyway, enough preamble. Let's get down to it!
DAY 1
I arrived two days prior to LGS, in the early evening. This did not prevent London from once again refusing to serve me food at the respectable hour of 9PM!!! Aggrevating!!
Anyway, the trip really started on the Thursday prior to LGS, with Davey and I heading off to London Tower from City Airport and it ended up way out of control thanks to Afghan Dave! But, I'm getting ahead of myself ...
After a quick bite of breakfast, Davey and I headed down to London Tower, where we spent the better part of 4 hours looking around. I would go back to the Tower in a heartbeat, as there are still some things I want to explore, and I found it a fantastic site. The building is positively thrumming with the energy of all the history and blood that's been spilled both inside and outside the battlement. A fantastic place to chill out with a book or catch up on your history.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/WhiteTower2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/WhiteTower1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerBattlement.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerBattlement.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerArmoury4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerArmoury3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerArmoury2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/LondonTowerArmoury1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/DaveyLondonTower.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/BenLondonTower.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Tower%202007/ArrowSlit.jpg)
Both Davey and I wanted to stay at the Tower, but we were both starving and had wored up a powerful thirst. :)
So, we retired to Witherspoons for a beer tasting.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/Witherspoons.jpg)
That was a perfect intermission for the next phase of the day --- London Dungeon!
(To Be Continued)
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I can't wait to see these pictures dude!
Remember meeting this guy?
(http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/prince_roosevelt.jpg)
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I'd forgotten all about that...
I love hearing people talk about visiting england, it helps me appreciate it a lot more and i miss a lot of the obvious stuff just 'cause im used to it.
The first post has beer content, going well allready!
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Looking good Ben. I used to work right by the Tower and never once went inside-though I'd been a few times when I was growing up (they were still building it he he). I couldn't get to LGS this year as I was in the USA but I look forward to hearing more of your trip.
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Heh I only live one DLR stop past Londin city airport, and also used to regularly work overlooking the tower (way back in the 90s).
I only actually managed to visit the tower about 2 years ago.
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surely we need some tasting notes on the beer!!
great pics - keep em coming!!
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Next time insist that they take you to a proper pub :lol:
Glad you enjoyed Blighty dude.
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Looking good Ben. I used to work right by the Tower and never once went inside-though I'd been a few times when I was growing up (they were still building it he he). I couldn't get to LGS this year as I was in the USA but I look forward to hearing more of your trip.
I used to work in Trinity Square and was in the Tower so many times I lost count! Everytime we would have someone over from the States I was the tour guide!
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Davey gets kudos for being able to put up with me for a week in close confinement, which can try anyone's soul.
huh? put up with you? i had a blast man.. so i got no idea wth you're on about :D
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I can't wait to see these pictures dude!
Remember meeting this guy?
(http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/prince_roosevelt.jpg)
I'm getting there! Don't interrupt grandma when she's tellin her stories!! PDT_008
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Next time insist that they take you to a proper pub :lol:
Stay tuned! There's lots more beer coming up!
And Witherspoons has some great real ales!!
Try living in NYC some time, where you 1 in 30 bars have passable Guinness!!
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surely we need some tasting notes on the beer!!
I have em! I will post more about the beers in my next update. (I have the tasting notes at home)
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just smack 'em on the head .. verbal abuse doesnt work.. if it gets out of controll, just send em to principal mullins :D
i still got the cd on my desk dave.. that computer cr@p out left me without a single penny to my name ... recovering though
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sweet! nice pics too. I always enjoy London...
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I can't wait to see these pictures dude!
Remember meeting this guy?
(http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/prince_roosevelt.jpg)
How could he forget Vince the Princess :lol:
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How could he forget Vince the Princess :lol:
i got a rather incriminating picture of Ben from that evening.. i wonder if he'll post it.
we gotta do that whole trip again some day. with more evenings left for drinking
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Let's not bias anyone towards my friend, Vince, until they've seen and heard all the evidence!! Coming Soon!
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Did you see the wooden block and big axe they used to chop peoples heads off in the Tower?! :lol: Apparently they were used!
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that we did :)
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The two things I really enjoyed about the Tower were the ravens and just standing in the place where so many notable things occurred.
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and you almost dropping the camera during the reenactment on the battlement :roll:
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and you almost dropping the camera during the reenactment on the battlement :roll:
The famous flinch! PDT_008
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DAY 1, PART II
So, after our pitstop at Witherspoons (beer tasting and ale list forthcoming, Wez) Davey and I walked across the London Bridge. Our next destination was the London Dungeon, and not a moment too soon as it started pissing rain!!
My impression of the Dungeon ... LAME!!! It might be scary for a 10 year old, but aside from that, it was extremely stupid and juvenile ... so, yeah, we had some fun! :roll: The room of mirrors was pretty cool, however.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/DungeonFront.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/Doorway.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/Statue.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/Skulls.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/IronMaiden.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/DaveyGargoyle.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/London%20Dungeon%202007/BenGargoyle.jpg)
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if you wanted to be scared you should have gone to that exhibition at Madam Tussauds ( i have no idea if it was on when you were over here), but they mixed in real actors with the waxworks in the chamber of horrors, and it was bloody creepy. There were fully grown men refusing to walk around the next corner, and women of all ages in tears :twisted: It rocked. I accidentally hit some woman that came at me with a knife though...
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if you wanted to be scared you should have gone to that exhibition at Madam Tussauds ( i have no idea if it was on when you were over here), but they mixed in real actors with the waxworks in the chamber of horrors, and it was bloody creepy. There were fully grown men refusing to walk around the next corner, and women of all ages in tears :twisted: It rocked. I accidentally hit some woman that came at me with a knife though...
lol i've seen videos of that, looks so funny and everyone gets shite scared. :lol:
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The Jack The Ripper tours around Whitechapel are supposed to be good, with actors jumping out on you!
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DAY 1, PART III
The hour is o-dark-hundred, and a very very drunk yours truly is RUNNING across the street from a bar to get a fried chicken sandwich for some totally unknown reason. But, I'm getting ahead of myself -- > Cut to several hours prior to this event:
... After the intense rain storm, Davey and I headed over to The Black Friar (pub) in the Black Friar (neighbourhood). Kind of disappointing meal and that pub reinforced my dislike for Timothy Taylor Landlord ale. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/TheBlackFriar.jpg)
Still, it's an interesting pub due to its location, history, and the interior artwork and marble bars!
After a bit of food and drink, we met up with Afghan Dave. And that's when our adventure really took a turn ... :)
We were originally going to do a kind of historic pub crawl. After discussing how to break into Afghan's old office to steal some precious artwork, we headed up Fleet Street to The Cheshire Cheese. Great pub! I absolutely loved the subterranean feel of the place, full of little nooks, low ceilings, and wall to wall people. Reminded me of New York! After 3 pints of Samuel Smith's, we accidently ran into Phil King who was drinking just one floor down from us! How we missed Phil, I'll never know, though I'll guess beer had something to do with it. ;)
After some discussion, the picture Afghan Dave painted of his local pub where his friends hang out for a spot of beer and karaoke sounded like a lot of fun. There was one string attached, however: If we went, we must sing karaoke. I figured I would say yes and then "forget" all about it. PDT_008.
After what seemed like a train ride to the wilds of god knows where, and then a bus ride, we arrived at the pub and met Afghan's friends, Tristain and another dude whose name escapes me at the moment.
What followed were 5 hrs or so of very heavy drinking. I stuck with Guinness, which was very fresh and well-poured. I have no idea how many pints we drank, but I'm going to guess 8 or so to be on the safe side. It was a lot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/AfghanDave3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/AfghanDave2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/AfghanDave1.jpg)
The night wore on, and we got drunker and drunker.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/AfghanDaveDavey.jpg)
At one point, this rather large party arrived consisting of VINCE, and his entourage of, for lack of a better term, fag hags.
Now, a few words about Vince:
He looks like Prince
He acts like Prince
He dances like Prince
And he sings like Prince. This guy can karaoke like a mofo!!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/Vince2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/Vince1.jpg)
Needless to say, we had no end of fun mocking poor Vince. Challenges were raised as to who would have the balls to ask Vince to dance with them.
Eventually, it was our host, Afghan who walked over to Vince and had a chat with him. Vince turned out to be a very nice, guy, who isn't shy of the camera, as you can see. He was stoked to hear there was a New Yorker in the place, and we even posed for a picture together (TO style, of course):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/BenVince.jpg)
So, now we finally get kicked out of the bar. It's o-dark-hundred hours, and there is no way in hell we're going to be able to get back to City Airport. Fortunately, we found a great cabbie who drove us back for 35 quid, I think. So, chicken sandwich in hand, we pile in for the long ride back.
And to think, LGS was about to start in a few hours ... (To be continued)
ps: I'm convinced that the chicken sandwich saved my life that night.
pps: Yes, I did end up singing karaoke. Two songs, actually, but they were both team efforts. Lot of fun, if truth be told.
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DAY 1, PART III
that pub reinforced my dislike for Timothy Taylor Landlord ale. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
I thought exactly the same until I stayed in a small inn in the village of Haworth near Keighley (where Timothy Taylor is brewed) and oh my god it was the sweet nectar of the Gods! It just doesn't travel well.
I'm quite fond of the design of the Black Friar too.
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DAY 1, PART III
that pub reinforced my dislike for Timothy Taylor Landlord ale. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
its one of my favorites, really needs to be drunk in quantity though!
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DAY 1, PART III
that pub reinforced my dislike for Timothy Taylor Landlord ale. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
I used to drink a lot of Timmy Taylors in my youth - but I was down the road from the brewery in Bingley. More recently when I've had it I was less impressed, perhaps it takes a lot of looking after. I usually stick with Sam Smiths or Tetleys in Yorkshire - or Black Sheep if they have it.
So, now we finally get kicked out of the bar. It's o-dark-hundred hours, and there is no way in hell we're going to be able to get back to City Airport. Fortunately, we found a great cabbie who drove us back for 35 quid, I think. So, chicken sandwich in hand, we pile in for the long ride back.
There was only one problem with the cabbie - the guy didn't know the way to City Airport (needless to say this was not a black cab)! Luckily I was in the front and nowhere near as drunk as I should have been and was able to give directions. Wait until Ben tells you about the long walk to LGS the next morning........
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I agree the Black Friar is rubbish - its my quick pint stop before I take the train home - It smells, the staff are inefficient and its expensive. So there.
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i havnt actually had a pint of landlard in a pub for about 7-8 years so it could be worse than i remember. I have had the odd bottle of it and thats ok but its never the same anyway
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Awesome thread. I work 15 mins walk from that pub and cycle through Blackfriars every day.
I prefer London Pride to Timmy Taylors. Although of late I've developed a bit of a thirst for perry.
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Awesome thread. I work 15 mins walk from that pub and cycle through Blackfriars every day.
Thanx, Ted.
There's still lots more to tell, so stay tuned!
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Oh, I almost forgot to post this picture, it's my favourite one from that evening.
I don't know how I the camera did it, but it perfectly captured how things actually looked by the end of that evening PDT_008
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/UK%20Misc%202007/DrunkenTable.jpg)
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no no man.. the camera did capture it pretty well... it just shows, how fuzzy our eyesight was hehe.
yea, next morning it was a bit: 'when's the quiet period gonna start?? >.<'
i think after some talk and calculation with phil, we came to the conclusion, that it was in the vicinity of 15 to 17 pints total for you & me. the other lightweights joined, when we had 3 or 4 already down. it all ended with me sleeping in the bathtub at 8 in the morning lol.
when are we doing this again?
:D
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My thoughts exactley, when are you doing it again? I cant hold me beer to save me life - but it sounds like a laugh!
I remember meeting Afghan Dave at LGS...thats about it
Andy!
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Yeah, count me in for next time too! :twisted:
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i havnt actually had a pint of landlard in a pub for about 7-8 years so it could be worse than i remember. I have had the odd bottle of it and thats ok but its never the same anyway
I guess as you are in the brewing capital of the midlands you don't need to drink anything but local ales (mind you weren't Ind Coope and Bass from Burton on Trent - I seem to remember that it was the home of Double Diamond - the beer that starts off where most beers end up [CAMRA ad]!!!)
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ind coope, bass and marstons. they still brew here but ind coope is now part of the spirt group and bass sold out to coors.
We used to have the 'world famous bass musuem of brewing' - now we have the 'coors visitor centre'. and instead of every wall in burton having a big red triangle- the first ever trademark and part of our local heritage, coors have replaced them all with their logo... you would think that they could have left the bass logo somehwere since they still make the stuff!!!
Burton bridge is still making stuff for a few pubs though and thats always good.
we have good water here, so good that other breweries 'Burtonise' their water before brewing!!!
we used to have Branston pickle but they have gone elsewhere but we still have marmite because its a by-product of the brewing process.
Burton smells quite bad somedays and absolutely heavenly on others - but it always smells!!!
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i havnt actually had a pint of landlard in a pub for about 7-8 years so it could be worse than i remember. I have had the odd bottle of it and thats ok but its never the same anyway
I guess as you are in the brewing capital of the midlands you don't need to drink anything but local ales (mind you weren't Ind Coope and Bass from Burton on Trent - I seem to remember that it was the home of Double Diamond - the beer that starts off where most beers end up [CAMRA ad]!!!)
The toilet?
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Anyone here tried Pot Belly ale?
It's made in my hometown and it's great - Crazy Days knocks yer head off.....
...although Made in England was on of their best brews!
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i havnt actually had a pint of landlard in a pub for about 7-8 years so it could be worse than i remember. I have had the odd bottle of it and thats ok but its never the same anyway
I guess as you are in the brewing capital of the midlands you don't need to drink anything but local ales (mind you weren't Ind Coope and Bass from Burton on Trent - I seem to remember that it was the home of Double Diamond - the beer that starts off where most beers end up [CAMRA ad]!!!)
The toilet?
lmao!
Don't think that's what he meant :p
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i havnt actually had a pint of landlard in a pub for about 7-8 years so it could be worse than i remember. I have had the odd bottle of it and thats ok but its never the same anyway
I guess as you are in the brewing capital of the midlands you don't need to drink anything but local ales (mind you weren't Ind Coope and Bass from Burton on Trent - I seem to remember that it was the home of Double Diamond - the beer that starts off where most beers end up [CAMRA ad]!!!)
The toilet?
The original ad was because it was designed to be sold in a can, of course CAMRA made it a urinal!!
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Wasn't Double Diamond made in Romford? I remember drinking it as a 15 year old - that and London Pride, the curse of which I now wear around my belly.
I also got seriously into the vile Ind Coope Long Life when I was a student (it was always on offer - but I actually got to quite like it.)
My grandfather was a brewer - at the illustrious Suffolk brewery of Greene King - and in honour of his life (he died last year) I invite you all you all to neck a few pints of the venerable and holy Abbot Ale.
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Looks like you fellas had a pretty good time! Beer + Guitars = heaven :)
I must say I'm very fond of beer and I've tried a lot of them, my fave has to be old perculiar "the legend" if you can get some try it.
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I'm very much an Adnams man (well, when I fit it in around my Kronenbourg and whiskey - not together) intake.
My wife likes ales that put hairs on your chest (real dark ones) - she hasn't got a hairy chest BTW and I like the girly light ones that taste of summer.
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Wasn't Double Diamond made in Romford? I remember drinking it as a 15 year old - that and London Pride, the curse of which I now wear around my belly.
I also got seriously into the vile Ind Coope Long Life when I was a student (it was always on offer - but I actually got to quite like it.)
My grandfather was a brewer - at the illustrious Suffolk brewery of Greene King - and in honour of his life (he died last year) I invite you all you all to neck a few pints of the venerable and holy Abbot Ale.
John Bull Bitter was brewed in Romford by The Romford Brewing Company, which had the Bitter End pub next to it. Not sure if they made DD though. I used to like Long Life too, you could get it on draught in the 80's too!
I went to the Glasonwick beer festival in June had loads of nice beers and some seriously nice perry too!
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Oh yeah - that's the one: the adverts from the same era all merged in my mind - DD was brewed in Burton.
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just a bit before my time, i remember the logo in pubs but not drinking it!!
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LGS pics to be posted tonight!!
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Sorry, bloody in laws showed up on Sunday and ruined any chance I had for updating the thread!
Anyway, needless to say, I was definitely worse for wear on the 1st day of LGS. Here is a random selection of pictures from the show. I spent most of my time at the BK booth helping out where I could. As you will see from the pics, the booth was JUMPING!! Didn't have much time to snap more pics, unfortunately -- Friday I was totally hung over, and Saturday was too busy. Sunday I just didn't feel like it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/TransparentHiWatt.jpg)
TIM MILLS ON THE RIGHT:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Tim-1.jpg)
RAY ON THE LEFT, PHILKING ON THE RIGHT:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/RayPhil.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/PriestV.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Pickups.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/HiWattWho.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Feline4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Feline3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Feline2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Feline1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/Davey.jpg)
CHRIS on the left:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/ChrisBen.jpg)
JOHN in the middle, with the glasses on his head:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/BKBoothMadness.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/TwilightOdyssey/LGS%202007/BenWithBreasts.jpg)
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LGS looks great - gonna have to try and make it this year i think
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Great pics Ben!
Did you ever get to try out that Perspex HiWatt?
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Sorry, bloody in laws showed up on Sunday and ruined any chance I had for updating the thread!
Anyway, needless to say, I was definitely worse for wear on the 1st day of LGS. Here is a random selection of pictures from the show. I spent most of my time at the BK booth helping out where I could. As you will see from the pics, the booth was JUMPING!! Didn't have much time to snap more pics, unfortunately -- Friday I was totally hung over, and Saturday was too busy. Sunday I just didn't feel like it.
So which of the guys in the photo's work at BKP? I want to see who the BKP crew are!
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So which of the guys in the photo's work at BKP? I want to see who the BKP crew are!
I added captions to point em out.
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Did you ever get to try out that Perspex HiWatt?
Nope, just looked at it. I really didn't like the look of it, but the it is interesting. I would use 4 of em as legs on a coffee table, though. THAT would be cool!!
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wow davey has changed alot since taking the photo for his avatar....
Its amazing how you get a mental picture of people through reading posts and then when you see a photo it just contradics every preconception you have.
I picyured you quite differently to what your photos are ben.
looks like a good trip though. Cool thread.
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I've just realised.
At your time of visiting London - I was the other side of Tower Bridge with my missus at a Travel Lodge. We walked past the Tower everyday to get to the tube station....
I'm not suprised if we had walked right into you!
Andy!