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30 HALF MARATHONS IN 30 DAYS

It’s November and these days that means one thing……..Movember. I remember 2 years ago when the boys at my local skate shop City Surf started growing moustaches and i thought “why the fuck are you all rocking ropey moustaches” to which they answered “were supporting Movember”. I remember thinking that sounds like fun so agreed to do it the following year with Dainton in 2010. It was a good laugh and at the same time we raised some cash for a good cause whilst the 2 of us looked like right dodgy geezers compleate with a furry top lip.

 

This year however myself and my brother Trigg decided to do it but add another challenge into the game. We decided to run 30 half marathons in the 30 days of Movember and on the last day we were to rock the 118-118 outfits and run round Cardiff City centre like it. Now, it all sounds like a good idea when you sit there over a pint talking of it but when you actually put it into practice of your daily lives you then utter the words “what have i said” and believe you me the two of us did it on a few occasions.

 

3 days before we were to start our mission i had to go to Ireland to enter the Dublin full marathon, something i booked a few months before and a marathon i didn’t want to pull out of as i wanted to visit friends i haven’t seen in a while plus we were hooking up with a load of the Ibiza Irish crew for a little reunion so i flew out on the Saturday with Swanseas finest Doyle. I flew on the Saturday so i could have my party that night with all the Irish peeps and rest on the Sunday ready for the marathon on the Monday……………but!!!!!!!!!!!. I was once again kidding myself as i knew that wasn’t going to happen at all. We did the usual and ended up going to Zulu tattoo to see Sean and when that happens its fucking fireworks all the way. Sean’s a south African Tattooist and a top top man who can out party anyone i know so it was danger hanging out with him when i knew i had a full marathon to run but i love hanging out with him man he’s a train wreck and i love it. I had our welsh train wreck with me Doyley along with all the Irish clan and the party went right off. One thing led to another and the lack of sleep was a major factor but everyone had fun.

 

Sunday night the night before the marathon and im trying to fill my body with pasta and drinking as much water as possible so i don’t collapse on mile 5 of dehydration, i’m surrounded by everyone glugging magners and bulmers so i decided to get some sleep as i was up at 6 ready to get to the start line in time. I made it and i’m ready to run although a bit tired but i’ve been worse and i was on my mission to beat my marathon time of 4 hours and 21 mins. I started well and i was feeling good considering but as i hit 20 miles i hit a brick wall and i was in agony but kept trucking. I managed at one point to catch up with the 4 hour pacemakers and got exited at the thought of finishing it in 4 hours, that lasted about 20 mins until i hit that brick wall, then i just watched those pacemaker balloons disappear into the distance. As i got about 2 miles away from the finish the heavens opened and when i say rain i mean a monsoon which soaked me from head to toe. I crossed the line in 4 hours and 10 mins beating my time by 11 mins which i was really happy about. the only problem was i then went into shock and started shaking uncontrollably with cold due to the weather but i couldn’t find Ciara & Sean. It was that moment in life when you just want the floor to swallow you up and be done with it, i was that bad. I managed to find Ciara and Sean (Buttsy & Doyle were boozing at a local pub) and they both took me to a skate shop (forgotten the name) and Sean bought me a whole new outfit i.e shoes, jeans, t’shirt, hoodie etc and i felt like a new man. thanks so much to Ciara, Sean and the skate shop for looking after me it means a lot. From the skate shop we then went to Zulu for some hot soup then i jumped into the taxi with Doyle and made our way to the airport and jumped onto the plane, destination Cardiff.

 

We land in Cardiff and my legs have gone as stiff as a board and i’m just wiped out with tiredness but i couldn’t rest yet as Daint, Aid and our dj Rob were on their way to pick me up from the airport to head to Bournemouth for a PvsD gig. To make matters worse the tour van was having a service so i had to squeeze 3 of us in the back of a car after running 26 miles and sleeping about 5 hours in 3 days hahaha “Sleep when you’re dead”. Arrive in Bournemouth feeling like a 60 year old, tip a litre of vodka down my neck, get on stage, go mental, sit in car and party in it for the journey home. As myself and Doyle get to my house at 7am we carried on drinking for a bit till my body shut down………BED.

 

I wake the next day to a phone call off Trigg reminding me that today we start our 30 half marathons in 30 days for Movember and i really didn’t want to entertain it as i was finding it hard to even walk down my stairs after the onslaught of Dublin but i said i would do it and thats what we set out to do so i stretched as much as i could and went running. Before hitting the road mind i went to the shop to buy a load of ice as i knew when i came in from my 13 miles i would definitely need an ice bath to rid my legs of the lactic acid build up in my legs, something i knew i would have to do for at least a week before my legs could get back to anything resembling normality. If there is anyone out there that enjoys running marathons you’ll understand and know what i’m talking about. I get in from my first half marathon and i’m in agony but then i jumped into the ice bath for 15 mins until my manhood looked something like a button mushroom.

 

I have to take my hat off to Trigg as he has a full time teaching job and a family so he had to fit in his runs in with his busy schedule every day, not an easy task at all. for the first week of running we were averaging just over 2 hours but as the weeks went by we got quicker and quicker and you would think it’d get easier but it didn’t. It’s quite a novelty to start with which makes it quite exiting but after 2 weeks of running half marathons every day it becomes quit hard dedicating at least 2 hours a day to running especially when your nike plus mileometer has packed in (this happened to Trigg) and you have to do the same course day in day out as you know that run adds up to 13 miles. I was lucky as my nike plus GPS watch worked apart from a few occasions when i forgot to charge it etc. As we counted down the days and logged in our miles then so our moustaches got bigger and bigger, Trigg going for the Handlebar and myself going for the bum fluff top lip one due to not being able to grow a manly beard. Some days were better than others but some days we just didn’t want to go out at all due to partying the night before and the lack of sleep but as soon as you get your arse off the sofa and started running then your adrenalin would kick in and you were off. Due to my gigging schedule i found myself running around roath park lake at silly times in the night and once i woke at 4am to get one run over and done with as i was off to skegness at 7am for a gig with a 2pm stage time. Seeing party heads walking home whilst i was running felt rather strange let me tell you and i’m sure they looked at me and thought “what the fuck is that weirdo doing at this time running”. Come the 29th of November we had ran 29 half marathons with a distance of 377 miles and quite a few pounds in weight lost but the next day was to be our last.

 

Day 30 and we had our 118-118 outfits ready and out we went on the streets of Cardiff to the sound of car horns beeping and tooting and shouts of “i’ve got your number”. We put a few smiles on peoples faces that day which was nice and we arrived back at Triggs house after running 390 miles in 30 days, mission compleate.

 

All in all we managed to raise close to £800 for mens health. thanks to all that donated and supported us it means a lot. If you haven’t donated but would like to you can here www.mobro.co/pritchards

 

the 2 of us are now working on our next challenge for 2012 so keep eye’s peeled as its a monster.

 

pritch

 

SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD

 

CARDIFF HALF MARATHON

Sunday October 16th was the date for this years Cardiff half marathon. I first entered this marathon when i was just 15 years old and the reason i did????? All because my mother said that if myself and my brother entered she’d buy us top of the range Hi-Tec silver shadows. Take it from me Silver Shadows at the time were the dogs bollox and considering we were relatively poor and didn’t have much the thought of going to school in these trainers blew me away. Like most things back then you had to earn what you wanted and to run the Cardiff half for a pair of trainers was a good deal in my eye’s. My mother kept her promise and i started training in my silver shadows. The day came and i ran it in 2:08.36 and those were the days before the onslaught of partying, my quickest time for a half marathon is 1:37.00 which i achieved this year at silverstone.

15 YEARS OF AGE, ROCKING MY SILVER SHADOWS HAHA

Over 15 years later and i decided to run the Cardiff half again getting a time of 1:42.00 which i was more than happy with considering it was my first time back after all those years. Ever since i’ve entered the marathon every year and for the last 3 of them i haven’t been sober for one. The problem is that the marathon always falls in the middle of the students freshers party’s so myself and Daint are booked for gigs. I remember we had a gig in Plymouth 3 years ago on the saturday night and after drinking a whole bottle of Jack Daniels and partying in the van all the way home by the time i got to bed i only had 2 hours sleep and had to go and run. 2 years ago we weren’t booked for a gig but did the mistake of going for a quiet beer in Cardiff which ended up being one big house party. I went straight from the party into my house to change and got to the start line humming of booze pissed as a fart with no sleep. My mother came down to support me and couldn’t believe the mess i was in so i had a clip across the head, in her words “your never to old for a slap”. 2 hours and 20 min’s later i could see the finish but like hell was i feeling well. I don’t know if it was the excitement of seeing the finish or just the pure fact i was marinated in booze but i puked all over the place just 20 meters from the finish line. Everyone thought i did it on purpose but believe me i didnt.

 

After 2 years of putting myself through hell doing the marathon you’d think i’d learn my lesson but ooooooooooh nooooooooo turnip features here decided that if i went out for a drink friday i could chill saturday night before the race………….WRONG. I went out then ended up at a house party in which i stayed at for the whole of friday night, saturday day and night until it was time to run the marathon on the sunday with not even a wink of sleep. I was in all manner of trouble and in one fucking state let me tell you. If i thought the clip around my ear hole off my mother was something last year then this year (2010) i had a right belt and in front of everyone. I started and surprisingly didn’t feel to bad but it went in waves, one min i’d be fine the next felt like shit. All in all it was a tough marathon so i didn’t half have a shock when i saw the finish line and my time was 1 hour 50 min, 8 mins from my best time ever at the Cardiff half. I think that was the point when i decided i was Batman haha.

 

Anyway, it’s 2011 and ive decided to do the Cardiff half once again and i promised myself this year that i wouldn’t go out which was a hard decision considering it was the Wales vs France rugby world cup match. For once i managed to stay which was a good bet really as this year i decided to do it in full fire man outfit. As some of you may know i’ve done a lot on the treadmill dressed in full fire kit compleate with oxogen tank over my shoulders for the Atlantic Dash boys and Ty-Hafan hospice but this time i decided to wear the steel toecap boots and not trainers. All in all the outfit came to about 40 kilos and as i arrived ready for the start i could really feel the weight. 5 minute’s before the gun goes and the clouds clear and the sun comes out, normally it would be welcome but for once with what i was wearing it wasn’t. 2 miles into the run and im in a state, my brother trigg who is running with me (if it wasn’t for my bro i don’t think i would have finished, he really did look after me and kept me hydrated as i was loosing a lot of fluid and over heating) took one look at me and said “your fucked aren’t you??” to which i replied “yes” and all he did was laugh. I saw the funny side too but all i could think about was “fuck, i have another 10 miles to go”. The boots made one hell of a difference and the blisters at the end proved it. Even though it took me by surprise i loved it. It really made crossing that line with a time of 3 hours and 29 minutes feel even better. I woke on monday and my legs felt foreign along with my hamstrings which still are screwed today. I better start my recovery as im off to Dublin next weekend to do the dublin full marathon for the first time and looking forward to it.

 

The Cardiff Half marathon will be on channel 4 at 7am on November 27th and S4C this saturday at 6.25pm

 

IBIZA BOOK

As you all know i’ve spent the majority of my summer going back and forth to ibiza. Why??? simple, cause i just love the place if you didn’t already know. I always make an effort to visit at least once a year but this year i managed to go 5 times. Fitting the island in 5 times was no easy task let me tell you especially when i had gigs in Corfu, Magaluf and all over the Uk in-between. Some times i’d have to jump on 3 planes just to get to my destination and many flights bought and lost due to last minute gigs but thats the price i was willing to pay just to get to “that” island even if it was just for 2 days.

 

I’ve put myself in these traveling situations for about 8 years all to taste the fun, mayhem, carnage, chaos, party’s, sunsets, beaches, people, food (even if i only manage 1 spaghetti Bolognese a week) hedonism and a good taste of that rock’n’roll the island has to offer. It’s these things that bring me back to the island year in year out. Over those 8 years i have seen and done many things all having their own unique story. A lot of these story’s are based on excess but hey, thats why i go to ibiza……………to loose my mind and live life.

 

For years people have e mailed me, twitted me, facebooked me and told me “You should write a book”. Believe me i have thought the same for many years and have always wanted to, but to write a book properly i would need a good 4 months away from work and any distraction to get it done properly and in my job thats impossible.

last year one of “those” tweets came off a guy called stuart Griffiths (his twitter is @StuGriffstar follow him all) who told me i should write a book. He had already written a book called Ibiza Rocked of his experience on the island as a holiday rep. You can buy it via this web site www.ibizarocked.com he asked me if i would like a copy and if i would review it for him which i happily did. It’s a great book with a great story if very sad, buy it.

 

We hooked up and had a chat about writing a book together about my love for ibiza, how i always wanted to go to the island, my first visit up until the present day along with all the stories, parties and the excess that came with it along with loosing my mind on quite a few occasions, the women, the clubs, Dj’s, Dirty Sanchez & Pritchard vs Dainton gigs and even a run in with the Russian Mafia. A no holes barred book about my story of Ibiza with all the trimmings. To tell you the truth i’m finding it very hard remembering it all for obvious reasons but i’m slowly gathering info by hooking up with friends i have been with over the years to remind me. Do you have a story of me in Ibiza??? photos??? out of interest would you be interested in reading this kind of book??? if so, what format would you buy it in?? electronic i.e kindle/ipad or paper back???

 

myself and stuart are really interested in your feedback. if you would like to help towards this book or have any answers to the questions i’ve asked please e mail :

 

pritchardswyd@mac.com or stuart@ibizarocked.com

 

We will spend the whole winter writting this book and it will be ready for release late spring 2012 ready to kick off the new Ibiza season. Expect a banging launch party in the Uk and of course in Ibiza.

 

lets put pen to paper

 

PRITCHARD

 

S.W.Y.D

 

IRONMAN UK 2011

It’s been a long 9 months since i decided that i was going to do the IRONMAN challenge. Nov/Dec to be precise when my friend Buttsy e mailed me the youtube link about Rick & Dick hoyt. I’ve dreamt of doing the Ironman for many years but wasn’t in no fit state to do it really so it was just something that was put into the back of my mind but it was always there knocking. A lot of people have said why all this keep fit?? why marathons?? Why Ironman??. The answer to that is simple, i saw myself going down a road that was slowly fucking me up and i started bloating out, looking pale and generally looked ill from doing to much of everything. Don’t get me wrong, the reason i looked like that is because i was having the time of my life and grabbing life by the balls and draining it of what i could get, but at the same time it wasn’t doing me any favors. I was basically grabbing all the “bad” bits of life and not clutching some of the good. I remember seeing old footage from Sanchez and decided to do something about it so i joined a gym about 4 years ago. i’ve been a skateboarder all my life so have always been physically fit & looked healthy so when you see yourself in that state its a bit of a shock.

WITH MY GOODIE BAG

I’m a man who really loves a good party so i didn’t want to give that up completely so i found a balance in life where i could do the both train and party and it seems to work well. I did my second cardiff half marathon in 2007 (my first one was when i was 15 years old) and so i carried on doing them every year after that plus i will do it again this year but i’m thinking of running it backwards this year to make it more of a challenge for me. After doing 3 cardiff half marathons i really wanted to do a full 26.2 mile marathon and the samaritains helped me get a place in the virgin london marathon in 2010. In 2009 my friend matthew ryan said he was going to run the length of the country from john o’groats to lands end at the end of may 2010 so i asked if i could join him and he kindly agreed. To run 900 miles i had a lot of training to do so it was perfect timing for me to run the London marathon a month before we headed up to john o’groats to run the country. I found running the london marathon tough but i managed it with a time of 4 hours and 22 mins. Running John O’Groats to lands end took us 30 days with an average of 34 miles a day to compleate.

PARKING MY BIKE UP FOR THE NIGHT

After all that running i was now physically fit enough to do something bigger plus i wanted to set myself a challenge for 2011 and thats when Buttsy sent me that youtube vid of Dick & Rick Hoyt doing the Ironman and it inspired me that much i decided to sign up. If a father can swim, cycle and push his disabled son all that distance then there is hoe for me. The Ironman was now in my sights and i was exited. I literally picked up my computer and typed ironman into google and the first one to come up was the bolton ironman for july 31st so i clicked on the web site, out with my bank card and i booked it. After booking it i decided to call around to see if anyone was interested in joining me to put a SWYD team together and the following people said yes………my brother trigg, Alex Symonds and Nathan Allen. We decided to do it for Ty-Hafan hospice which is a great south Wales charity that looks after life limited children and their family’s. Myself and Alex went to visit the hospice a few weeks ago to see the work they do for these children and it really is amazing and not only do they help the children but they are there for the family too. It was nice to meet some of the children and have a chat to the familys to whilst we were at the hospice. It really hits home when you visit these places and realise how lucky you are and how much they rely on donations to keep this great work up hence doing such events like Ironman. Dont forget you can still donate at www.justgiving.com/swyd-ironman and you can visit Ty-Hafan’s web site here www.tyhafan.org

ME AND ALEX AT TY-HAFAN

Team sorted and all we had to do now was put the training in. We had 9 months to do as much as we could and i knew that the closer it got to the summer for me the less training i could put in due to work/gigs etc as its a busy time of year. I also had to get all the equipment to do this challenge but luckily i had a phone call of Olympic gold medalist Geraint Thomas’s agent Gayle saying that Geraint heard that i was doing the Ironman and he wanted to help being a Cardiff boy himself. All our worry’s were put aside as Gayle sorted everything out when it came to all things “bike”. Fair play she was absolutely brilliant and we are very grateful of her help. From having nothing to having the best of everything and it helped a great deal and to top it off we got to spend a day riding with Geraint Thomas and got to meet all the guy’s who sponsored us and had a great day.

THE 4 OF US THE NIGHT BEFORE

My weakest part of the Ironman would be the bike part as i haven’t really ridden bikes for long distances before. I was fine when it came to swimming and running but i really needed to put the hours in on the bike which is why i decided to ride from John O’Groats to Lands End with Alex. I don’t think i could have got better training than riding 1,125 miles from the top of the country to the bottom. With as much training under my belt as i could do the summer came and it was party/work/gig time for me so i spent the month before ironman in Ibiza, Magaluf, Kavos, Portugal and various nightclubs over the Uk. It’s not really a good idea to be drinking heavily staying up all night and all hours before doing an ironman but i had no choice. When i say that of course i had choice, i could have not drank did my work and gone to bed early but that just aint me and at the end of the day the event is called IRONMAN not playschool. Its the challenge i set myself and i was gonna do it properly. You will never know what your body/mind is capable of doing unless you push it as far as you can go, its there to be punished. Pain is temporay.

THE LAKE

July 30th and its the day before the big day, it was only 3 days ago that i was in Magaluf doing a PVSD gig with Daint in which i ended up at the BCM mansion naked pool party drinking like some kind of fool and missing my plane knowing in my mind i had a big task ahead of me but thats just typical of me, fun first worry second.

Myself and my brother drive up at 6am as we had to register by 1am. Nathan came up the day before and went to what they call the pasta party to meet up with a few people and check out the course in time for the big day. Alex was coming up with his mother the same day as myself and Trigg. We arrived at 9am checked into our hotel and headed down to sign in and set our bike up in the bike parking bit and put our running shoes up in the school ready for the marathon. If you have never done a triathlon before it can be very confusing trust me. If it wasn’t for nathan myself & Trigg would have been lost but then if it wasn’t for me and Trigg alex would have been lost, team effort right there. When you sign in you receive 3 colored bags, blue was for you bike stuff i.e bike shoes, socks, nutrition etc. Red is for your running gear and white is for the clothes you came in. You leave these bags in the designated areas so on the day its all set up and ready to rock. So as you can imaging if its your first triathlon it can get quite confusing but it does work like clockwork.

 

5pm and we all have to go to bolton Fc’s football ground for a de-brief of what was to happen on ironman day. 1,500 athlete’s more than half of us were first time ironman entrants so i goes to show how popular this event is getting. After hearing the rules it was time to head back to our hotel fill up with food, preferably pasta but myself and my Trigg had a huge mixed grill.  I was fast asleep by 8pm as we had to be up at 2.30am to get sorted before the lake start.

1,500 IRONMEN ATHLETES AWAITING DE-BRIEF

My alarm goes off and it just seems really weird to me being up at 2.30am on a sunday morning when normally i’m just getting stuck into clubbing at this time but i can tell you now that the thought of clubbing was far far away in my thoughts, i’ve spent 9 months thinking and training for this day and my stomach is doing summersaults with butterflies. I’ve got everything ready and i sit there on my bed eating some pasta filling up on carbs until Trigg knocks on the door and off we went to catch our bus to the lake and bike start. We arrive and its quite a chilly morning and all i can think about is bobbing up and down in that cold lake for half an hour before the start pistol goes. The place is full to the brim with Ironmen contestants getting last min things sorted, wetsuits getting put on and all walking in the direction of the lake. Myself, Trigg, alex and Nathan wait for as long as possible before we hit the water to save loosing energy treading water before the start and generally hold off from entering that lake till the last minute then all of a sudden we hear loud clapping off everyone and its team true spirit coming through the crowd. Team true spirit are a team made up of amputee soldiers who have been injured in duty fighting for our country in afghanistan. One of the team Joe is a double amputee and has lost his both legs and is being carried on the shoulders of one of his team mates. Seeing this puts me into quite an emotional state, fair play to him and his team all refusing to give up no matter what the situation and there’s us worrying about getting into a cold lake???? sort it out. After seeing this that lake and my attitude quickly changed and in i went, stop being a fart after all this is Ironman not a ballet class. It should be a lesson to all of you out there reading this and saying to yourselfs “i could never do ironman” if Joe can do it with his both legs missing im sure you could too. if you put your mind to anything you CAN do it. Our bodys are here to be pushed to their limits, if you never push your body you’ll never know what you are capable of.

GOT IT. OH YEH

Im in and quite surprised at how warmish the water is. There are now 1,500 people bobbing up and down in a lake waiting to go and BANG off we all went. It was swimming carnage, fighting for a decent place whilst a hand hits one foot another hits your other foot and the someones foot kicks you in the face its like a swimming rugby scrum. After about a mile of swimming it calms down a little but you still have to be careful and especially careful of the ones doing breast stroke because one of their feet in your face will break your nose or give you a shinning black eye. I’m really enjoying the swim and daydreaming away then i see the swim finish in the distance and get grabbed out of the pool ready for my bike. I’m a bit all over the shop after coming out of the lake hence the sheer amount of helpers making sure you don’t fall over fucking yourself on your way to the bike.

 

Wetsuit off and grab all my bike stuff from my blue bag and replace it with my wetsuit. I have my tri suit on underneath my wetsuit which was made for us by www.maxgear.co.uk so all i had to do was put my bike shoe’s on and helmet and grab my bike and hit the road for my 112 mile bike ride. Before i jump on my bike i hear this woman shouting and screaming at the top of her voice and i look up and its my mother who has come up with my father and little brother who i live with to give me some support. Talking of support i couldn’t believe how many Sanchez fans came and supported me it was unreal and very nice of you all, thank you it really did help.

DONT FORGET YOUR SUNCREAM NEXT TIME TRIGG

The bike started off really well but i knew deep down that once i put some miles in it was going to hurt. I’ve heard a lot about “the hill” and i was waiting to hit that thing up and before i knew it there it was in the distance this great big, steep juicy hill that i had to get to the top of. You have to do the bike course 3 times so i knew attacking the hill first time round would be fine but come second and definitely third time would be close to finishing me off and i wasn’t wrong. I hit the 80 mile mark pretty comfortably but i started slowing up and feeling every bit of this ironman, i’m in agony and in need of food. I’ve eaten so many bananas from the feeding stations i feel like a monkey and sipped energy drinks whilst keeping up my hydration with water but i’m feeling it all. I start eating raisins, flapjacks that i have on my bike, energy bars but i try to keep all my nutrition from natural sources as i cant be doing with shoving all that sweet shit into my system and feeling sick. The flapjacks work and i get a welcomed boost but it doesn’t last for long and i’m struggling again. My mind is racing with thoughts of “am i going to do this”, “what if i dont” “how am i gonna run 26 miles after this” blah blah blah then i hit “The Hill” for my 3rd lap and i almost never entertained it. Time for some kick arse shouting and talking to myself time because there is no way am i getting off my bike to walk “The Hill” the shouting works and i get to the top of that hill, before i know it i break down tears strolling down my face and pure adrenaline pumping around my body, reminders of why i’m doing this challenge racing through my mind, there are many personal reasons. The whole situation gave me a huge boost to finish those last few miles of the bike and into the school for the marathon.

 

Getting off a bike after 112 miles can be quite a comical scene, your legs have had it and as soon as you put your feet on the floor it becomes very alien and i wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people just collapsed. I waddle into the school gym hall resembling the walk of John Wayne whilst my arse looks like dale Wintons had a go on it, find my bag and slowly but surely put my trainers on and stretch whilst filling myself up with a mixture of seeds and nuts for energy. I hit the road and i’m not really running properly i’m just shuffling from side to side for about 4 miles until i then get a good pace on. Running through very affluent districts of Bolton admiring the lovely houses and getting some great support from the locals who are all out on their front lawns cheering us all along. I do like running it’s great and a perfect time for me to go into my own little world and daydream away which i’m very good at. There are no headphones allowed which i totally agree with as there are streets lined with supporters so why would you want music?? plus you get to chat to many of the contestants on your travels. All was going well then my arse/stomach started talking to me and gave me the nod that it wanted a great release but there was nowhere to go. I’m holding it in for as long as possible but its now painful and i’m close to shitting myself. I’m too scared to fart just incase but then in the distance i see some portaloos and i ran in and released, the feeling was great but there was no toilet paper so up with my tri suit and off i went.

 

Like the bike course the run is the same, you have to run the same circuit 3 times receiving a band at the top which you put on your wrist. As soon as you have 3 bands you can make your way to the finish line. 20 miles into the run and all i can tell myself is “one foot in front of the other and dont give up” i cant explain the pain i’m feeling by now but in a weird way its enjoyable. I received my 3rd band and i knew i was literally half an hour away from being crowned ironman and the excitement was unreal. All that training and i was almost there. I cant explain the feeling my body was going through but i was liking it a lot, i had a spring in my step a smile on my face that no one could have wiped off if they tried. I came into Bolton city centre and the closer i got to the city hall where the finish line was the more my adrenalin was pumping, i could see my Mam, Dad, 2 brothers Aled and Trigg (Trigg had finished with a great time of 12.43min which is amazing considering a few years ago he never did any form of exercise) nathan allen (finished in 10.17min and was 73rd which is unbelievable) all shouting for me then over the microphone i heard the words i’ve been waiting to hear when i first decided to do this challenge and they were “MATHEW PRITCHARD, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN” i went mental then crossed the line to receive my medal which now takes pride of place in my living room.

4 HAPPY IRONMEN

To sum up my ironman experience it was one of the most life challenging things i’ve ever done and something i’ll never forget. From start to finish i enjoyed every minute of it. will i be doing another??? of course i will, i cant wait to do it again.

 

thanks to the following people who made it possible. my brother Trigg, Alex Symonds, Nathan Allen, Gayle from seren pr, Geraint Thomas, Todays Cyclist, Maxgear, Dolan bikes. and anyone i forgot your all ace.

THE MEDAL

My next challenge is called ‘One man, one mission, one party’. starting in john o’groats i want to rollerskate to lands end, run from lands end to Dover, row the channel, Skateboard from Calais to Paris and then cycle from Paris to Barcelona and jump on the ferry to Ibiza and party.

 

Go and set yourself a goal next year and suprise yourself’s. it’s a lot of fun

 

Pritchard

 

Sleep when you’re dead

 

KAVOS, IBIZA, NEWQUAY, IBIZA

BOOMBOX ON TOUR. EVEN HAD HER OWN SEAT ON THE FLIGHT TO IBIZA. SHE'S COSTING ME A FORTUNE

I’m currently sitting on my bed in my portugal apartment in Albuefeira with my balcony door open watching the world go by with a gentle breeze flowing through my room. It’s very peaceful and im really enjoying it. It’s currently 12am and just been picked up by our driver and driven through all the bars/clubs & restaurants full of holiday makers all in that party spirit. There’s nothing more that i love than to see a load of people out & about smiling and enjoying themselves it gives you that feel good vibe, its what life is all about. I would really love to go out and join them but i’ve been on the party train for a good 9 days solid now and i have a lot to do especially as i have the ironman in 12 days time and in those 12 days i have nothing but traveling and gigging to do so one days rest is not much to ask really. I’m sure if you did your research you’ll find that i don’t think there has ever been an ironman entrant that has prepared for an ironman by going to Ibiza for a whole week partying before the race ha. I like to look at it as making the challenge an even bigger one than it already is. It’s far from a cleaver thing to do but hey, i’ve never done things by the book. Anyway, find below my story/feelings on my recent trip to Kavos, Ibiza, Newquay, Ibiza, Portugal and home again.

ANOTHER FANTASTIC IBIZAN SUNSET, SOMETHING I COULD WATCH EVERY DAY

I can see a crazy crazy week ahead but a very good crazy week at that. It’s summer time for fuck sake and like hell am i gonna sit on my arse and not enjoy it and be one of “them” who moan when it’s passed and not done anything. I have far to much to see and do, new friends to make, story’s to tell and photos to be taken which will all end up on here for me to share with you.

CHILLING IN THE KAVOS SUN. BEHIND ME IS THE MAINLAND. I WANT TO SWIM THE DISTANCE SOME DAY, 15 MILES AWAY.

Im off for round 2 of Kavos 2011 and were leaving it quite late. Friday night and leaving my house to get to the Gatwic travel tavern aka travelodge for 2am. were flying at 6am so thats only giving us 3 hours sleep, ah well. Easyjet it is for the 3 hour flight to Corfu. I like Easyjet it’s my fave low cost airline, Ryanair on the other hand are a bunch of C*NTS.  There is one thing i hate about Easyjet and thats the “speedy boarding” as it really is hopeless when most of the plane decides to do the same bloody thing.

 

We land into a very hot & humid Corfu airport and im stoked, love the heat. It’s an hour transfer from airport to Kavos but its always an interesting one as our taxi driver we always have is a raving lunatic and spends most of his time shouting “MALACA” which is wanker in greek. I swear every car on the road in his eye’s is the enemy but he can carry on as it provides us with quality entertainment. We arrive outside our hotel and get greeted by the promotor and boss man Jerry. He’s from miami but has spent most of his life in Greece. Room keys grabbed and before you know it im sitting poolside with our dj rob naked at Spiro’s bar. I opted out of boozing as i really have to put some sort of training in for ironman so every opportunity i have in between partying i grab by the bollox and get on with it so today i decided to go for a big swim in the Med. The med is lovely and warm so i spent most of the day in it swimming back and forth out to a floating jetty about half a mile out. Daint came and joined us a bit later on then we sat down for a beer to swill the extremely salty taste of the Med out of my mouth.

BEST BAR MAN IN KAVOS AT ROCKYS BAR

Shit, showered and trimmed my face and off we went for food at the tex mex restaurant the Drunken Squid. From being on the island so many times this is our fave restaurant in Kavos although the fish restaurant just outside of Kavos is the dogs dangly bits but thats a bit of a mission so we only go there every once in a while. Fresh seafood whilst sitting at a table on the beach watching the sun set is quite magical. Watching the sun rise & set is one of the most magical things life has to offer, so so good and its something i never tire of especially when you have a great tune playing in the background……….bliss.

Food done, i think i can remember having a chilli washed down with a strawberry daiquiri haha such a posh git. Chill, hotel bar then to say hi to dj madfucker (if you’ve been to Kavos you’ll know) down a pint of red wine because he told me too then walk to the gig through the streets of Kavos with people asking for photos whilst im literally on the verge of decorating their shiny new holiday clothes RED. Be warned, you go to madfuckers at your own risk but thats why i love the place. I’m back stage or should i say Jerry’s tattoo shop and the crowds are lining the streets waiting to get into the gig but we let only 2 guy’s in as they said earlier that they wanted a tattoo and were massive fans of Dirty Sanchez. They said that me & Daint could have a choice of what we wanted to tattoo on them so you can imaging what was going through our minds. i decided to tattoo “I LOVE PRITCHARD” on the dude’s cock haha, keep in mind this guy has never had a tattoo. Daint decided to tattoo “SLAYER” on the other guy’s foot. As you can imaging, the whole event of tattooing these dudes was hilarious but they both did really well and earn t themselves free tickets to our gig which was literally starting. All we could hear was our intro tune coming over the speakers so the 2 of us rushed like men possessed to get on that stage. The club was rammed and the gig fucking rocked, fair play to ‘Venue’ nightclub Kavos its always a good gig for us and never have we had a bad one.

SYMONDS OUTSIDE CAFE DEL MAR

Gig finished and all i wanted to do was get bang on it and party in Kavos but another island was calling and that island is IBIZA. I could hardly contain my excitement as your all well aware by now i love the place but before i could enjoy any kind of party i had the mission of getting there first and that mission started right now. I just had enough time to get back to my hotel to pack my bags and then i waited on the hotel stairs for my 5am taxi. 5.15am and still no sign of the taxi so by now i’m shitting it big time. My flight leaves at 7am to athens and it takes an hour to get to the airport which will make airport arrival time 6.15 and the desk closes 45 min before flight. Oh yeh, along with the fear of missing my flight i’m also head to toe full of anger with the taxi driver. Anyone responsible for missing my flight to ibiza should be hung in my eye’s. Anyway, all was ok in the end just about mind as tour manager aid phoned a replacement taxi and i literally told him to treat the roads like Silverstone race course and that he had permission to drive like lewis hamilton till we arrived and he obliged. I arrived at the desk with seconds to spare and my heart in my mouth, this time not because i almost missed my flight but from the taxi drivers driving………jesus.

IBIZA ROCKS HOTEL CROWD

Destination Athens, change at Athens for Barcelona. I arrive in Barcelona with a 5 hour wait for my last flight to Ibiza so have a lot of time on my hands to do at least something but find myself surfing the internet on my phone until i realize my battery’s about to go which i’ll need when i get top Ibiza so i spend the next few hours people watching. Let me tell you something, traveling on your own is a big deal (not to some) and i am one of those people that many years ago the thought of going to airports on my own and jumping on planes terrified me. I used to be so nervous and i didn’t know why. Even till not that long ago i used to find it terrifying as i always traveled with someone and always had someone to talk to. These days ive got to that point where im actually comfortable flying anywhere in the world and actually enjoy being with just myself. I think years of seeing so many airports and traveling that often really has boosted my lonely traveler confidence. Meeting new people is another bonus of traveling on your own and quite exiting as you bump into all sorts of characters. Some good and some damn boring but thats the gamble.

 

After people watching for hours and sitting there trying to stop myself from falling asleep as up to now i aint slept a wink, it was almost time to board my flight to the party capital of the world. I love the Que for an Ibizan flight as its full of young and middle aged party heads all on one mission and thats to dance, listen to good music and enjoy themselves to the highest of standards…….great. I am now 50 min’s from touchdown.

18 TO 30'S JAKE. HE'S TALL

I arrive at ibiza airport smiling from ear to ear and jump into a taxi destination the Laura apartments in San Antonio for club 18 to 30’s. Yes yes yes i know “what am i doing at a club 18 to 30’s?” well, after my last visit i met Jake (i’ve sort of known him for a while through friends) who looks after all things 18 to 30’s and is generally boss man and a top man. He told me that if i ever wanted somewhere to stay on the island he always has spare rooms then i was welcome to have one. I took him up on the offer and he sorted me out with the Laura apartments which was extremely nice of him and i’m forever grateful of his generosity. I know some of you are thinking fucking 18 to 30’s but seriously i met some really nice down to earth people in that hotel and had a good laugh with them along with the reps who were all amazing. Dont listen to what the pathetic media tell you because it was ace and better still everyone was working class and i’m all for that rather than spending my time with pompous minted idiots. I came for a laugh and got it in abundance here.

 

I went to my room had a quick shower and went downstairs for a pint with Jake and Ayi one of the reps who’s from Scotland. They don’t serve pints here they serve something which resembles a bucket and all for €4 happy days. I finished my pint and my next mission was to meet my party partner and good friend Alex Symonds (if you read my last ibiza write up you’ll know he was with me last time for his first trip to the island) at the port for the Judgment Sundays boat party. His plane was arriving just in time for him to jump in a taxi and get him to the port in time but typical Ryanair fucked up and the plane was late, gutted. I walked down to the port to meet Lee John ready for another onslaught of a boat party and to date i’m glad i did because apparently it was the best boat party of the season. Put it this way, i got off buzzing, sweating & lost my voice. Time to go and meet Symonds and get right on it. As soon as the two of us met up we resembled that of 2 kids in a sweet shop, ace. The moment you loose that excitement of something that you love about life then whats the point hey?????

WITH LEE JOHN BEFORE THE BOAT PARTY SAILS

Its sunday night so its blatantly obvious where i’m going tonight and thats Judgment sunday. i’ve written about this night so many times i’m not going to bore you with it again so why not read about it from someone els’e point of view and thats the ledgendary Dj Wankers blog www.djwanker.com im a real big fan of his blogs. I met Dj Wanker out here the last time i came and like myself he’s a massive fan of the island but unlike me he can dj and is very good at it. He was at Judgment and i even got the chance to listen to one of his set’s and have a boogie right in front of his face as he played in Hed Kandi bar, i’m sure the sight of my arse in his face whilst i danced on the speaker was a highly entertaining moment for him haha.

WITH PADDY

My night at Judgment was ace as always and it was good to catch up with judge jules and his wife amanda along with my Ibizan dad big Nik, also good to meet Marco V who was a very friendly chap and posed for a pic with me. I cant remember what happened after judgment but i can guarantee it involved being in a right mess somewhere.

 

I had Sunday night on the island and monday night as i had to fly back to the Uk for Tuesday night for a gig in Berties nightclub in Newquay but i was flying back to the Island the next day. Flying from Ibiza on the Tuesday in a right 2 and 8 wasn’t the best of things but i managed the Ryanshair flight to bournemouth where i got picked up by aid, Daint and rob then headed to Newquay sharing some stories of my last few days.

 

We arrive in Newquay and decided to go and meet up with a long time friend and Etnies shoe rep dave SPIG. I haven’t seen Spig for a long time so it was good to catch up over some food at a lovely restaurant overlooking a cliff called the lewenic lodge. Spig is a great character and becomes more entertaining the more booze that goes down his neck. He only came out for one but ended up staying with us all night hahaha bloody ace, love people like that as they just cant help themselves.Its our third year at Berties and tonight we were doing it for a load of 16 to 18 year olds so there was no nakedness and they weren’t allowed to drink. Anyway, a great night was had and i had another flight to look forward to to get back to Ibiza and carry on the party.

 

Bristol airport and feeling very fucked in the head from days of being on it as i didn’t really sleep last night and all i wanted to do was hide and i tried my best by sitting behind a big huge pillar at the restaurant but it didn’t work haha. I waited for the gate call then headed to that plane full of fresh heads and one pickled one but never the less we were all going to Ibiza and it wont be long before were all in a heap.

ZANE LOWE

I arrive and head straight to the Laura apartments to meet Symonds who by the sounds of things had a mental night at clubland with everyone and as i walk into the bar and greeted with the sight of Symonds, the night before was written all over his face then i find out the night before is still going for him hahahaha ledgend. Never one to let the side down that boy……..BATMAN. I sat with him and a few others and began my party mission. Don’t know what the plans are going to be for tonight but i know i remember saying we were gonna have a quietish one as it was a big night tomorrow night for Eddie Halliwel at Amnesia.

 

I find out it’s Zane Lowe & Mark Ronson at Ibiza Rocks hotel tonight so the “quiet one” might just go out of the window in a very big way which i found out later on that it did haha.  Myself and alex were sitting on the rocks outside cafe mambo as per usual nursing our bottle of vodka and fanta orange whilst watching the sun set until my phone rang. it was a spanish number so i answered and it was stu from ibiza rocks bar, “pritch im with someone who wants to speak to you” ……….. “yes pritch its paddy from the gumball, im on the island and im looking after mark ronson do you fancy coming to the gig?” fucking no way man. Paddy was a good man and we had one hell of a party on the gumball rally with him in monaco so of course i was gonna go over and meet him.

MARK RONSON

We strolled over and ibiza rocks hotel was full to the brim with a great atmosphere and before we knew it we were back stage with Paddy watching Zane & Ronson smashing the living shit out of the place. Gig done then we ended up in their changing room for a few drinks. it was good to catch up with Zane as i havent seen him for a few years since his Gonzo days on mtv and i think its fair to say that he’s done really well for himself over the years which is good to see.

 

They told us that the after party was at Pikes hotel which is now Ibiza Rocks new boutique hotel. Back in the day ledgends like Freddie Mercury used to stay at this hotel and throw wild party’s and its the same hotel Freddie threw the legendary party where he had midgets walking round with trays full of cocaine under their chins. They also filmed the club tropicana video here. I am a massive fan of Queen and was in their fan club when i was young so as you can imaging this was compleate music to my ears. We went to Linikers to meet Sam & Lita (Sam & Lita have been doing seasons in Ibiza Linikers for years and are a great couple) and some of the hed kandi bar staff and headed up to Pikes for the party. We arrive and instantly could tell this was a very exclusive party. Greeted with huge door men in the car park quite a walk from the hotel itself so i had to phone Paddy to come and get us and in we went. There was a dj in a downstairs bedroom with a bed in the middle of the dance floor “apparently” Freddie’s bed so i had to have a lay on it and lo and behold i did and what happened next??????? i bloody broke it, trust me. It wasnt just me it was jade from hed kandi too haha passing on the blame there. All in all a great party and was good to be invited, thank you paddy.

SHIPWRECKED BOAT PARTY

We left pikes then we went to Hush in the west end and thats when someone mentioned there was a boat party called shipwrecked leaving at 7am from the port till 12pm. I’ve heard about this boat party over the years but never have i been on it so tonight is the night, well this morning more like. In a mess heading for the meeting place outside Eden nightclub with Symonds (dont forget Symonds is now on his second night straight through with no sleep) we find fellow party heads waiting to dock the boat. We arrive at the boat and it has like a catamaran front to it so all the last nights messes are all lying down on it in a right pickle haha. We sail out and on goes the music and the whole boat starts dancing, there’s a great atmosphere on this boat and i for one was loving it. I danced for the whole 5 hours non stop as the dj played some ace tracks and just as we were coming in he blasted a load of 80’s hits and we all just sang our hearts out. It was a great ending to a great boat party. The next mission was to get back to our apartment and get Symonds and myself to bed as tonight we were going to cream at Amnesia but that didn’t happen, we ended up drinking vodka in our apartment till about 4pm until we finally flaked out.

WITH SAM DJING AT LINIKERS

8pm and i wake with a banging head but at the same time some great memories of last nights shenanigans. Tonight mind i was really looking forward to. I havent been to Amnesia since last year when i went to see Deadmouse but i really do like this club, 2 big rooms with the VIP balcony above going from room to room a sounds system that could deafen you and great lighting and of course the Co2 cannon. Firstly we went to go and meet Eddie and his girlfriend helen at ibiza rocks bar as Eddie was playing a warm up set there before hitting Amnesia. It was good to catch up with them both as i haven’t seen them since Ibiza last year. I love going to watch Eddie Halliwel play as he really gets stuck in plays some ace tunes and loves to wind the crowd up. I don’t just like him for his music but as a person he’s a really nice guy and very down to earth, considering he’s a superstar dj  he’s a very grounded character. I first saw Eddie play at a festival in Cardiff years ago and his mother came to watch him play. I dont think his mother realized how popular he was and how much his fans loved him because his mother started crying with happiness as she couldn’t believe her eye’s, a very proud mother right there, now thats special. i’ll never forget that.

HALLIWEL

Off to Amnesia we went and Eddie was on in half hour, i grab my position up in the vip and await his entrance. Im there next to Symonds who by now is looking a bit worse for wear but refuses to let the island beat him so keeps the flame burning, good man. Eddie comes on and the crowd go fucking bananas, in true Eddie style he winds the living shit out of the whole crowd and then wallop, drops the tune, fireworks go off Co2 jet blasting the crowd and the atmosphere is nothing short of mental. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end and im buzzing, the crowds buzzing and the clubs bouncing, unreal. Helen comes over and gives me a different colored band and told me to follow her, it was only for behind the decks with Eddie i couldn’t believe it. They had a little fridge with booze too so that was nice to have a drink as there is no way im spending €25 for a drink at the bar. I dont think im being a skinflint but i think those kind of prices take the piss and i just don’t entertain ripping clubbers off in that way. I was happy enough anyway and loving every min of it watching Eddies set from his viewpoint. I dread to think what he’s feeling being up here playing music and in control of the whole crowd, he’s responsible for everyone having a good time and he’s doing it very well. Tonight was up there as one of my best ever nights out in ibiza hands down thanks to Helen and Eddie.

WITH THE HED KANDI BAR LADY'S, BEST BAR LADYS IN TOWN

It’s friday and its time to go home………….yeh right. Our plane was booked but we were in no fit state to fly and we just didn’t want to go home to tell you the truth. If we book a flight for monday that means we can squeeze in another Judgment Sunday????? oh go on then. We spend the next few days chilling and re-charging our battery’s for sunday so we could give the island a final kiss goodbye. Were here on the island partying our pants off and all of a sudden it dawns on us that in 2 weeks time we’ll be doing the ironman challenge haha oops.

WITH THE BROTHERS WHO OWN THE LAUREN APPARTMENTS. TOP GUY'S

we made it to another Judgment and once again had a blinder of a night. Its now monday morning and we haven’t slept a wink but it was time to go home and wave goodbye to Ibiza again. Until the radio 1 weekend i bid you farewell.

NO IBIZA WRITE UP GOES BY WITHOUT A PHOTO OF MY IBIZA DAD BIG NIK IN HIS BIG CHAIR. RESPECT

JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END

AT JOHN O'GROATS ABOUT TO SET OFF

LAST YEAR I DECIDED TO JOIN MY FRIEND MATHEW RYAN RUN FROM JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END. ITS SOMETHING IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SO WHEN HE TOLD ME HE WAS DOING IT TO RAISE MONEY FOR A LITTLE GIRL TO HAVE A MUCH NEEDED OPERATION IN THE U.S I ASKED IF I COULD JOIN HIM TO WHICH HE AGREED. AFTER A WHILE WE THEN HAD ANOTHER MEMBER TO OUR TEAM LEO SHARP, A SKATEBOARD PHOTOGRAPHER THAT WE’VE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME. BY THE TIME WE DID THE OFF WE HAD A GREAT TEAM OF 5 PEOPLE. 3 RUNNERS A FILMER AND LEO’S PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND WHO WAS COOKING OUR FOOD AND GENERALLY LOOKING AFTER OUR LIVING QUARTERS I.E THE CAMPER VAN. IT TOOK US 30 DAYS TO COMPLEATE RUNNING AN AVERAGE OF 34 MILES A DAY. THE FULL STORY IS ON THIS SITE IF YOU WISH TO READ THE FULL GOINGS ON.

DRIVING TO JOHN O'GROATS THROUGH LOCK NESS AT SUNRISE

THIS YEAR HOWEVER I DECIDED TO DO IT ALL AGAIN BUT THIS TIME BY BIKE. IN DECEMBER 2010 I SIGNED UP FOR THE BOLTON IRONMAN SOMETHING WHICH IVE WANTED TO DO FOR YEARS SO A LOT OF TRAINING NEEDED TO BE DONE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO RIDING A BIKE. IVE NEVER RIDDEN A BIKE FOR LONG DISTANCES EVER SO THE EXPERIENCE FOR ME IS A NEW ONE SO THAT WAS MY MAIN AIM TO GET AS MUCH CYCLING EXPERIENCE UNDER MY BELT BEFORE I ATTEMPTED IRONMAN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER GERAINT THOMAS FIND OUT THAT I WAS DOING IRONMAN AND AGREED TO HELP ME WITH MY RIDDING. HIS AGENT PHONED ME UP AND WE WENT FROM THERE. THANKS TO GERAINT AND GAYLE FROM SEREN PR THAT ALL MY CYCLING WORRIES WENT OUT THE WINDOW AS THE AMOUNT OF HELP WITH ADVICE AND CYCLING PRODUCT THAT CAME MY WAY ALONG WITH MY FELLOW IRONMEN WAS UNBELIEVABLE. NOT ONLY DID WE RECIVE GOLD MEDAL WINNING ADVICE BUT WE ALSO RECEIVED SOME OF THE BEST QUALITY BIKES FOR THE IRONMAN CHALLENGE WE COULD ASK FOR. DOLAN BIKES WERE NICE ENOUGH TO DONATE 4 OF THEIR BEST BIKES FOR OUR IRONMAN CHALLENGE. THESE THINGS AS YOU CAN IMAGING DONT HAVE A CHEAP PRICE TAG AND AT £3,500 A PEICE ITS WALLET BREAKING.

 

NOW THAT WE HAD THE BIKES I THOUGHT THE BEST WAY TO GET THE BEST TRAINING FOR OUR IRONMAN CHALLENGE IS TO CYCLE THE 900 MILES FROM JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END AND IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT WAY OF RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR CHOSEN CHARITY THIS YEAR TY-HAFAN www.tyhafan.org . I ASKED ALEX SYMONDS IF HE WANTED TO JOIN ME AND HE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE. CONSIDERING HE’S OFF SEASON FROM HIS ICE HOCKEY HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THE J.O.G.L.E. I WOULD HAVE LOVED IT IF THE 4 OF US (MY BROTHER TRIGG AND NATHAN) COULD HAVE DONE IT BUT TRIGG & NATHAN HAD WORK COMMITMENTS. THIS RIDE WAS VERY LAST MINUTE AS I HAD TO FIND AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN MY DIARY WHERE I DIDNT HAVE GIGS ETC TO DO IT PLUS WE THEN HAD TO FIND A VAN AND SOMEONE TO DRIVE THE SUPPORT VEHICLE. 3 DAYS BEFORE THE OFF DANIEL SYMONDS (ALEX’S TWIN BRO) AGREED TO GET THE TIME OFF WORK TO HELP US OUT WHICH WAS A GOD SEND AS WITHOUT A DRIVER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. WELL, WE COULD HAVE DONE IT WITH A BACK PACK AND TENTS ON OUR BACK BUT TRUST ME, AFTER DOING IT WITH A HUGE SUPPORT VAN IT WAS HARD ENOUGH. THE THOUGHT OF DOING IT WITH TENTS IS SOUL DESTROYING. NOW THAT DAN AGREED TO DRIVE ALL WE NEEDED WAS A BIG VAN AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT TRADE CENTRE WALES CAME TO OUR RESCUE AND DONATED A HUGE VAN WHICH WAS NOT ONLY BIG ENOUGH FOR OUR BIKES BUT ALSO BIG ENOUGH TO SLEEP IN IF NEED BE. OK, ITS NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE BUT ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN SLEEPING IN A TENT AFTER A LONG DAYS RIDDING AND SWEATING WHICH WE WERE TO FIND OUT AT A LATER DATE.

OUR VAN/HOUSE FOR 8 DAYS

WE STARTED ON THE SUNDAY SO I WENT OUT FOR A FAMILY SUNDAY LUNCH THEN WENT TO PICK UP OUR VAN AND MADE OUR WAY TO JOHN O’GROATS AT AROUND 6PM. WE WERE STARTING OUR RIDE MONDAY BUT WE STILL HAD A 12 HOUR DRIVE BEFORE WE EVEN ARRIVED AT JOHN O’GROATS. THE RIDE UP WAS QUITE INTERESTING AND THE 3 OF US TOOK IT IN TURNS TO DRIVE UP. BY THE TIME IT WAS 3AM WE WERE ALL REALLY TIRED BUT WE HAD TO KEEP TRUCKING AS IF I DIDNT START ON THE MONDAY I WOULDN’T FINISH THE RIDE IN TIME TO MAKE IT FOR THIS YEARS GUMBALL RALLY. THE AVERAGE TIME FOR DOING J.O.G.L.E IS 11 – 13 DAYS BUT WE ONLY HAD 9 DAYS TO DO IT INN SO TIME WAS REALLY TICKING. WE EVENTUALLY ARRIVED AT JOHN O’GROATS AT AROUND 7AM AND DECIDED TO GET A FEW HOURS SLEEP IN THE BACK OF THE VAN BEFORE WE SET OFF ON OUR ADVENTURE DOWN THE COUNTRY.

ENERGY FOOD THAT CAME INN HANDY EXEPT THE HP SAUCE

IT WAS GREAT BEING AT JOHN O’GROATS AGAIN AS IT BROUGHT BACK SO MANY MEMORIES FROM WHEN I WAS HERE LAST YEAR ALL READY TO RUN THE COUNTRY. I TOOK IT ALL IN AND HAD A FEW MOMENTS TO MYSELF TO REMEMBER THE TASK THAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME THIS TIME AND THE DISTANCE I HAD TO COMPLEATE BEFORE I COULD SAY ‘IVE CYCLED THE COUNTRY”. I LOVE A CHALLENGE AND I LOVE PUTTING MY BODY AND MIND THROUGH A GOOD GRUELING CHALLENGE TOO, IT MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE AND EVERY DAY BRINGS MANY HURDLES. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT SOME DAYS WILL MAKE YOU THINK “WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING” AND “IM IN SO MUCH PAIN IS THIS WORTH IT” BUT ITS THOSE KIND OF DAYS WHICH GIVE YOU THAT SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND JOY WHEN YOU FINALLY REACH THAT FINAL POST. HEY, NOTHING IN LIFE IS EASY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO SUCH CHALLENGES. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BECAUSE WITHOUT THE “PAINFUL” DAYS YOU WONT GET YOUR “EUPHORIC” DAYS. IT’S LIKE A YO-YO SOME DAYS YOUR UP AND SOME YOUR DOWN BUT THATS PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT YOUR MIND HAS TO GO THROUGH TO ACHIVE THAT GOAL YOU SET YOURSELF. I FIND DAY DREAMING IS A VERY GOOD WAY TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF CHALLENGE AND BELIVE ME IVE BEEN GOOD AT DAY DREAMING SINCE THE MOMENT I POPPED OUT OF MY MOTHER MANY YEARS AGO, I KNOW THAT FOR SURE AS MY SCHOOL REPORT ALWAYS SAID IT. WHEN YOU REALIZE ‘WHY’ YOUR DOING THESE CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE FAR LESS LUCKY THAN YOURSELF THATS WHEN THINGS LIKE MOANING YOUR IN AGONY REALLY COME INTO PLAY, WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HAVE TO GO THROUGH SO SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET ON WITH IT.

ENJOYING A BEER AT ONE OF OUR STOP OFFS

THE 3 OF US WENT INTO THE CAFE NEXT TO THE START LINE AND FILLED UP ALONG WITH SIGNING THE BIG BOOK THAT MANY OVER THE YEARS HAVE SIGNED ALONG WITH JAMES CRACKNEL WHO ALSO HAD A PHOTO UP ON THE WALL ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS. I HAVE NOTHING BUT ADMIRATION FOR THAT GUY HE TRUELY IS A GREAT ROLL MODEL FOR MANY PEOPLE AND WHAT HE’S ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE IS NOTHING BUT AW INSPIRING. HE’S SOMEONE I DEFINITELY LOOK UP TOO AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAS GIVEN ME THE INSPIRATION TO DO THESE KIND OF CHALLENGES.

 

BOOK SIGNED AND ON OUR BIKES WE GO FOR OUR 900 MILE TRIP TO LANDS END. MOST CYCLISTS START AT LANDS END AS THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE WIND BLOWS IN A NORTHERLY SO YOU HAVE THE WIND BEHIND YOU BUT I DIDNT WANT TO FINISH ALL THE WAY UP NORTH TO COME ALL THE WAY BACK WHEN I FINISHED. DRIVING HOME FROM LANDS END IS FAR EASIER. MIND YOU, A FEW DAYS INN AND I WISHED I STARTED AT LANDS END BECAUSE OUR HEAD WIND WAS TERRIBLE ALMOST EVERY DAY WE RODE HAHAHA DICK HEAD. THE RIDE FROM JOHN O’GROATS ALL THE WAY TO INVERNESS (IF THE WEATHER IS NICE) IS AMAZING AS ITS ALL COASTAL ALL THE WAY AND THE ROADS ARE GENERALLY QUIET. ACTUALLY, RIDING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF SCOTLAND ITSELF IS JUST BEAUTIFUL AS THE SCENERY IS SECOND TO NONE. MILES OF FIELDS AND LOVELY SNOW TOPPED MOUNTAINS IS VERY SOOTHING AND PLEASING TO THE EYE MAKING THE RIDE SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. THERE ARE MANY PLACES I RIDE THOROUGH THAT COME INTO MY MIND FROM WHEN I RAN IT LAST YEAR AND MOST OF THEM I ONLY REMEMBER AS THEY WERE PLACES WHERE I FELT AGONY AND EVEN PASS THE PLACE WHERE I HAD  A NATURE SHIT HAHAHA. THERE ARE A LOT OF SHEEP ON OUR TRAVELS AND I GUARANTEE YOU NOW THAT WHEN YOU DO THESE THINGS YOU FIND YOURSELF TALKING TO THE BUGGERS. MIMICKING THEIR NOISES BBBBBAAAAAHHHHH AND MOOOOOO WHEN PASSING COWS THEN COCKLE DOODLE DOOO WHEN YOU SEE A LOAD OF CHICKENS AND KWACK KWACK WHEN YOU PASS THE ODD DUCK HAHA IM BEING FUCKING SERIOUS. HEARING SYMONDS DOING THE SAME WAS MAKING ME LAUGH.

WHAT A PLACE TO FALL ASLEEP

OUR FIRST DAYS RIDDING WE MANAGED 120 MILES OF CYCLING AND FELT GOOD SO WE FOUND A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT AND GOT SOME DECENT FOOD INSIDE OF US. WE ACTUALLY WENT TO A BELLA PASTA AND I REMEMBER EATING A STARTER, 2 MAIN MEALS AND A MASSIVE DESSERT. WHEN RIDING SUCH DISTANCES YOU REALLY NEED TO FUEL YOUR BODY BECAUSE IF YOU DONT YOU AINT GOING ANYWHERE FAST AT ALL. EVERY DAY WE’D HAVE A VAN FULL OF NUTS, RAISINS, BANANAS, CEREAL BARS AND OF COURSE OUR GLADIATOR NUTRITION PRODUCTS KINDLY DONATED TO US BY THE GUY’S AT GLADIATOR WHICH CAME IN VERY HANDY.

GLADIATOR NURTITION

TODAY WE WAKE IN AGONY. OUR ARSE’S ARE AS TENDER AS AN ABERDEEN ANGUS STEAK AND THE THOUGHT OF PLONKING OUR ARSES ONTO OUR SOLID BIKE SEATS WAS FAR FROM APPEALING BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE AS WE HAD ANOTHER 120 MILE RIDE TODAY. THE BOTH OF US SAT DOWN AND ALL YOU COULD HEAR WERE MOANS & GROANS SO FUNNY. AFTER A WHILE YOU GOT USED TO IT AND WE WERE OFF. IT WAS WINDY AS HELL TODAY AND IT CONSTANTLY KEPT SMACKING US IN THE FACE. IF YOU CYCLE QUITE A BIT YOU’LL UNDERSTAND WHAT IM ON ABOUT. WHEN YOUR TRYING TO GAIN MILES BUT ALL THE WIND IS DOING IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PUSH YOU BACK ALL DAY LONG IT DRIVES YOU CRAZY. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT PISSED ME OFF THAT MUCH I WAS SHOUTING & SWEARING AT THE TOP OF MY VOICE TO THE WIND AS THOUGH HE WAS MY WORST ENEMY, BELIVE ME TODAY HE WAS. WE MANAGED THE 120 MILES AND AGAIN SETTLED INTO A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. AFTER RIDING ALL DAY THERE IS NOTHING MORE WELCOMING THAN A NICE HOT SHOWER, IT IS COMPLEATE PARADISE.

WE ARE HEADING FOR FORT WILLIAM WHICH WILL TAKE US THROUGH LOCKNESS. FORT WILLIAM WAS 140 MILES AWAY SO WE HAD A LONG DAY AHEAD BUT IT WAS TO BE OUR BEST DAY RIDING. ONCE AGAIN WE JUMPED ONTO OUR SEATS AND THE GROANS STARTED HAHA. AS WE RODE WE STOPPED FOR A WHILE TO GET SOME LUNCH INSIDE US THEN AS WE SET OFF DAN PHONED US TO SAY THE VAN HAD BROKEN DOWN AND WOULDN’T START. TO TOP IT OFF IT STARTED RAINING SO ALL WE WANTED TO DO IS GET GOING SO MYSELF AND ALEX JUST CARRIED ON RIDING WHILE DAN WAITED TO BE RESCUED. HE SAT IN THE VAN FOR 5 HOURS UNTILL IT GOT FIXED WITH LIMITED PHONE BATTERY AND NO STEREO PLUS THE WINDOW WAS OPEN AND NO POWER TO DO IT UP AND IT WAS PISSING IT DOWN HAHA, POOR SOD. ME AND ALEX HAD A LONG DAY AHEAD BUT WE WAITED IN A MORRISONS CAFE FOR HIM. WE STAYED IN THAT CAFE FOR HOURS AND I CANT BELIVE NO ONE TOLD US TO MOVE ON. IN THE END HE TURNED UP BUT BY NOW IT WAS LATE BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP RIDING OUR BIKES TILL WE FINISHED OUR 140 MILES. IT WAS HEADS DOWN AND OFF WE WENT. WE GOT TO LOCHNESS JUST BEFORE IT WAS GETTING DARK AND IT WAS STUNNING. THE ROADS WERE EMPTY AND BEST OF ALL REALLY SMOOTH, IT WAS SILENT AND THE SCENERY WAS SHOCKINGLY AMAZING. THE 2 OF US COULDN’T STOP SMILING AND ITS DAYS LIKE THESE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORTH WHILE. WE WERE ON A MISSION AND GOING AT A REALLY QUICK PACE WHISTLING, SHOUTING AND LOVING EVERY MIN OF IT. IT WAS NOW SO DARK THAT WE COULDN’T SEE IN FRONT OF US SO DAN PUT ON THE FULL BEAMS AND GUIDED US ALL THE WAY, TOP MAN. WE CYCLED ALL THE WAY UP TILL 2AM AND FINISHED 140 MILES. WE WERE SOAKED THROUGH AND TONIGHT WE HAD TO SLEEP IN THE BACK OF THE VAN AS THERE WERE NO HOTELS OPEN HERE AT THIS TIME. WE DIDNT EVEN BOTHER GETTING OUR CLOTHES OFF AND FELL ASLEEP IN WET CLOTHES.

AAAAAAHHHHHH THE COMFORT OF THE HILTON

TODAY WE WAKE FREEZING, STIFF AS A BOARD AND STILL WET. FILL UP WITHA FULL SCOTTISH BREAKY AND HIT THE ROAD. BY NOW I WAS GETTING BAD PILES AND OUR UNDERCARRIAGES I.E GOOCH’S WERE IN A RIGHT STATE, AGONY. PLUS SYMONDS KNEE WAS PLAYING UP BIG TIME FROM REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY. HOW THESE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLIST MANAGE IS BEYOND ME. ANYWAY, DESTINATION GLASGOW AND WHAT WAS GOING TO BE THE WORST RIDE OF OUR TRIP. FROM THE BEST DAY WE HAD TO THE WORST AND WHEN I SAY WORST I MEAN TERRIBLE. IT STARTED OFF QUITE PLEASANT THEN WE HIT HUGE MOUNTAINS, STEEP CLIMBS AND THEN THE WEATHER CAME INN. IT STARTED OFF WITH DRIZZLE AND THEN AN ALMIGHTY STORM. WE WERE IN THE BACK END OF NOWHERE STUCK IN THE MOORS OF SCOTLAND FREEZING COLD TO THE BONE AND THE WIND WAS HOWLING ALONG WITH HUGE LORRIES SCREAMING PAST US AT SPEED. TODAY OF ANY DAY I WAS CLOSE TO TEARS. I CANT EXPLAIN IN WRITING HOW HORRIBLE IT WAS AND DANGEROUS. I COULDN’T FEEL MY HANDS OR FEET BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP PEDDLING FOR GLASGOW. IN THE END IT BECOME THAT DANGEROUS AS WE WERE ALMOST KNOCKED OFF OUR BIKES BY THE WIND AND LORRIES WE HAD TO CALL IT A DAY. WE JUMPED INTO THE VAN AND DROVE TO GLASGOW TO GET A HOTEL. THANK FUCK DAN WORKS FOR THE HILTON HOTEL CHAIN AS HE RANG UP AND SORTED US OUT A DELUX SUITE FOR THE NIGHT, NICE ONE DAN AND HILTON HOTELS. YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR THAT COLD THAT YOU CAN STOP SHIVERING??? WELL, THAT WAS ME AND SYMONDS ALL THE WAY TO GLASGOW. I THINK WE HAD MINOR HYPOTHERMIA AND ALL WE WANTED WAS A HOT SHOWER. AS SOON AS WE CHECKED INN I RAN TO THE SHOWER AND MUST HAVE STAYED IN IT FOR HALF AN HOUR BUT STILL I WAS SHAKING. FOOD AND BED READY FOR ANOTHER DAY OF CYCLING.

A BIG MILES STONE

BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED AND AT LEAST TODAY THE WEATHER WAS A BIT KINDER. WE WERE HEADING TO CARLISLE TODAY AND LEAVING SCOTLAND AND CROSSING THE BOARDER TO ENGLAND. WHEN WE ARRIVE IN CARLISLE I HAVE A FRIEND WHO OWNS A HOTEL AND HE HAS AGREED TO PUT US UP FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE NIGHT WHICH WAS NICE OF HIM. A GOOD DAY RIDING AND ONCE AGAIN A GREAT DAY OF SUPPORT FROM OUR SUPPORT DRIVER DAN. FAIR PLAY TO DAN HE’S BEEN ON POINT EVERY DAY AND IS NEVER FAR AWAY FROM US IF WE EVER NEED ANYTHING. ALWAYS HAS A VAN FULL OF FOOD, WATER & GENERAL REFRESHMENTS FOR US WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AT LEAST EVER HOUR OF EVERY DAY. WE ARRIVE AT OUR HOTEL AND GET GREETED BY NEIL WHO SHOWS US TO OUR ROOMS. HE SAID “ITS THE RADIO 1 WEEKENDER STARTING TONIGHT DO YOU FANCY GOING OUT TO ONE OF THE PARTY’S??” WE LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER AS THOUGHT TO SAY “SHALL WE” BUT WE KNEW DEEP DOWN WE NEEDED TO SLEEP BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WOULD HAVE LOVED A NIGHT OUT SO WE SAID “FUCK IT” AND HEADED INTO CARLISLE FOR A CURRY THEN HIT UP WALKABOUT FOR A FEW BEV’S AND THEN OFF TO ‘THE WALL’ NIGHTCLUB AND CONTINUED TO GET ABSOLUTELY PISSED AS FARTS HAHA (SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD).

KISSY SELLOUT

FIRST DAY OF OUR TRIP AND WE WAKE UP WITH HANGOVERS KNOWING WE HAD ANOTHER 120 MILES OF CYCLING IN FRONT OF US. NO TIME TO HANG AROUND AND WERE OFF. BEFORE WE HIT THE ROAD MIND NEIL SAID THAT THE RADIO 1 WEEKEND REALLY KICKS OFF TONIGHT AS ITS FRIDAY AND ALL THE RADIO 1 DJ’S WERE IN TOWN TO PARTY, DID WE FANCY DRIVING BACK UP AFTER WE FINISHED TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. WE AGREED, ANYTHING FOR A PARTY. RIDING WITH A HANGOVER WASNT TO BAD REALLY AS I THINK WE SWEATED MOST OF IT OUT BUT WE DID TAKE ON MORE WATER THAN USUAL WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE AS WE WERE DEHYDRATED. WE WERE RIDING THROUGH THE LAKE DISTRICT TODAY AND ONTO PRESTON SO WE HAD QUITE A FEW STEEP CLIMBS TO HIT UP BUT AGAIN HAD GREAT SCENERY TO GO WITH IT. WE GOT TO PRESTON THEN DROVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO CARLISLE READY TO PARTY AGAIN.

WITH WALES VERY OWN JEN LONG

WE ARRIVE IN CARLISLE AND NEIL HAS GOT US A FREE STAY AT THE IBIS HOTEL SO WE CHECK INN CLEAN UP AND HIT THE TOWN. IT REALLY DOES HELP KNOWING PEOPLE AND THE SAYING “ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW ITS WHO YOU KNOW” REALLY CAME INTO PLAY TONIGHT AS WE HIT UP NANDOS AND WERE GREETED WITH FREE EVERYTHING. AS MUCH BOOZE AND CHICKEN WE COULD HANDLE THANKS TO NEIL’S DJ MATE (SORRY FORGOT NAME ALREADY) AND NANDOS FOR THAT IT WAS ACE. AFTER FOOD WE HEADED OFF TO WALKABOUT BAR FOR PRE CLUB DRINKS. FUNNILY ENOUGH I WAS HERE WITH DAINT A FEW MONTHS AGO TO DO A GIG SO THE MANAGER SORTED US RIGHT OUT TOO WITH A HUGE BOTTLE OF VODKA. NORMALLY I’D BE IN MY ELEMENT, DONT GET ME WRONG I STILL WAS BUT IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD I KNEW WE WERE HERE TO CYCLE THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND NOT TO PARTY BUT HOW CAN YOU SAY “NO”??? WE DIDNT AND GOT BANG ON IT. FROM WALKABOUT WE WENT TO THE VIP IN THE CLUB AND TOOK OUR SEAT AND WELCOMED WITH ANOTHER BOTTLE OF VODKA HAHA CHRIST ON A BIKE……..ERRR I WILL BE TOMORROW. ALL THE RADIO 1 HEADS WERE THERE I.E ANNIE MAC, CALVIN HARRIS, KISSY SELLOUT ETC SO WE SAID OUR HELLOS AND GOT ON WITH SOME SERIOUS PARTYING & DANCING. 4AM AND WE WERE STILL AT IT THEN WE MADE FRIENDS WITH A HELLS ANGEL DUDE WHO’S SON WAS ONE OF THE DOORMEN AT WALKABOUT. THEY CALLED A LOCK INN AT HIS PUB SO OFF WE WENT AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE WERE BEHIND THE BAR DRINKING TILL 9AM AND IN ONE HELL OF A STATE. THIS IS WHEN I SLAPPED MYSELF ACROSS THE FACE AND HAD A WORD WITH MYSELF AND GOT THE HELL OUT OF THERE BEFORE WE WERE TO FUCKED TO CYCLE.

HELLS ANGEL

IT’S 12PM AND I’VE ONLY HAD 3 HOURS SLEEP PLUS WE HAVE TO GET TO PRESTON AND START CYCLING AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT WAS THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO. WE ARRIVE IN PRESTON AND REALIZE WE HAD A 165 MILE BIKE RIDE TO BRISTOL IF WE WERE TO MAKE OUR FINISH IN TIME. TODAY WAS GONNA BE A VERY LONG DAY INDEED, WE STARTED OFF A BIT GROGGY BUT AS SOON AS WE HIT THE A49 GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH WALES WE WERE ON TOP FORM AND HAD A GOOD DAYS RIDING. WE SPENT AT LEAST 15 HOURS ON OUR BIKES TODAY AND OUR ARSE’S WERE AS SORE AS DALE WINTONS ON HIS HOLIDAYS IN SAN FRANCISCO BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. 165 MILES IN ONE DAY IS ONE HELL OF A FEAT BUT DOING IT WITH A HANGOVER AND 3 HOURS SLEEP IS SOMETHING ELSE HAHA “SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD”.

DANIEL SYMONDS GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE TRAVEL TAVERN AND DRIVE THE SUPPORT VAN HAHA

WE WAKE TODAY IN AGONY AFTER YESTERDAYS MISSION BUT TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY AND WE WERE HEADING JUST PAST EXETER TO HIT THE A30 WHICH WILL BE OUR FINAL ROAD TO THE FINISH. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WHEN YOU’VE COME ALL THIS WAY AND YOU CAN SMELL THAT FINISH LINE IT DOESNT MAKE YOUR MISSION MUCH EASIER AT ALL, IF ANYTHING IT MAKES IT WORSE. ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS CROSSING THAT LINE BUT WHAT YOU KEEP FORGETTING IS THAT ITS STILL A LONG LONG WAY A WAY. ITS A MIXTURE OF EXCITEMENT, TIREDNESS AND PURE EXHAUSTION AND ALL YOU WANT IS TO CROSS THAT LINE AND ENJOY A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE AND FEEL THE GLORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE JUST ACHIEVED BUT FIRST YOU MUST PUT JUST AS MUCH EFFORT INN ON THESE LAST FEW MILES. TODAY I GOT LOST IN THE PICH BLACK ON THE DUEL CARRIAGEWAY ON MY OWN AS I TOOK A WRONG TURN, A 30 MILE WRONG TURN AT THAT. WE GOT COMMUNICATIONS WRONG WITH DAN AND I MUST HAVE TOLD HIM I WAS ON THE WRONG MOTORWAY (OBVIOUSLY). IT REALLY IS PITCH BLACK AND MY LIGHTS DONT WORK AND ITS REALLY SKETCHY. CARS ARE BEEPING ME AND SCREAMING PAST ME AT SPEED AND IM JUST LIKE A SITTING DUCK, TO TOP IT OFF MY BATTERY IS LOW ON MY PHONE SO I GET OFF MY BIKE AND STAND IN THE HARD SHOULDER. IM FUCKING SHITTING MYSELF AS ITS SO QUIET, DARK AND THE BUSHES BEHIND ME ARE RUSTLING. THE ONLY NOISE IS WHEN A CAR SPEEDS PAST, GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY WERE THINKING OF ME STOOD THERE FREEZING IN MY COLD SWEAT, I MUST HAVE LOOKED LIKE A MURDERER OR SOMETHING. IT WAS ALL GOING ON IN MY MIND “WHAT IF THEY DONT FIND ME?, WHAT IF MY BATTERY DOES??” BUT THEN COMING OVER THE HILL WITH LIGHTS FLASHING WAS THE TERRIBLE TWINS DAN & ALEX LAUGHING LIKE FUCK AT ME HAHA. I WAS SAFE BUT IT WAS LATE AND WE MANAGED TO FIND A PUB THAT HAD ROOMS FOR THE NIGHT. THE PUB WAS ABOUT 300 YEARS OLD AND FUCKING FREEZING PLUS MY SHOWER DIDNT WORK. I LEAPED INTO BED AND IT WOULDN’T SURPRISE ME IF I SAW A BLOODY GHOST.

 

TODAY IS OUR FINAL DAY BUT WE STILL HAD AT LEAST ANOTHER 100 MILES TO GO BEFORE WE COULD SAY WE CYCLED THE COUNTRY. THE A30 IS SO UNFORGIVING AND GOEAS ON AND ON AND ON WITH PLENTY OF STEEP HILLS TO CLIMB. WE ENTER PENZANCE AND THERE WAS A SIGN THAT SAID 15 MILES TO LANDS END AND MYSELF AND ALEX JUST CHIRPED UP AND HAD A BIT OF A SPRING IN OUR STEP. WE HAD ALMOST CYCLED THE WHOLE OF THE UK AND IT FELT GREAT. I KNEW FROM LAST YEARS EXPERIENCE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 15 MILES WE STILL HAD A BIT OF A MISSION ON OUR HANDS AS WHEN YOU GET 5 MILES FROM THE FINISH THERE ARE HILLS EVERY FUCKING WHERE BUT ITS ACE AS IT ADDS TO THE EXCITEMENT OF FINISHING.

 

1 MILE TO GO AND THE 2 OF US ARE SINGING, LAUGHING AND GENERALLY BUZZING LOOKING BACK AT WHAT WE HAVE JUST ACHIEVED IT’S THEN WE SAW THAT WHITE FINISH LINE IN THE DISTANCE AND OVER WE WENT. 8 DAYS AND 1,125 MILES (SHOULD HAVE BEEN 900 BUT WE WERE SHIT AT READING MAPS HA) HIGH FIVES ALL ROUND AND LISA ROGERS (BIG BREAKFAST PRESENTER, SCRAP HEAP CHALLENGE ETC) CAME TO WELCOME US WITH A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE WHICH WAS NICE OF HER.  WE WENT TO THE SIGN AND GOT OUR PIC TAKEN THEN HEADED OFF TO WATCH CARDIFF CITY PLAY IN THE PLAY OFFS WITH LISA AND HER DAD IN PENZANCE. CARDIFF LOST SO WE HEADED HOME GUTTED BUT DELIGHTED AT WHAT WE HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH.

8 DAYS 1,125 MILES AND FINISHED

THANKS TO ALEX FOR RIDING IT ALL WITH ME AND DAN FOR BEING AN AMAZING SUPPORT DRIVER AND SORTING FOOD, HOTELS ETC I HAD THE BEST TIME. THANKS TO ALL THAT PUT US UP AND HELPED OUT ON OUR TRAVELS AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THAT DONATED TO OUR CHARITY TY-HAFAN HOSPICE. YOU CAN STILL DONATE HERE www.justgiving.com/swyd-ironman . I’LL BE DOING IT ALL AGAIN NEXT YEAR BUT THIS TIME WITH A DIFFERENT MODE OF TRANSPORT. ALL WILL BE REVEALED SOON.

 

IBIZA

MAMBO SUNSET

WHERE ON EARTH DO I START TO WRITE ABOUT MY TIME IN IBIZA THIS YEAR??? SO MANY GOOD TIMES TO REMEMBER BUT SO MANY BRAIN CELLS LOST FOR GOOD. WELL, THATS WHAT THEIR THERE FOR HEY??? TO BE LOST IN SPACE FOR ETERNITY. ON THE SUBJECT OF SPACE THATS EXACTLY WHERE I SPENT 7 DAYS OF MY LIFE LIVING ON PLANET PLUTO AKA IBIZA. IF YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG YOU WILL KNOW THAT IBIZA TO ME IS COMPLEATE HEAVEN AND I ALWAYS MAKE THE EFFORT TO VISIT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO LET MY HAIR DOWN, DANCE, DRINK, LISTEN TO SOME GOOD TUNES AND LOOSE ALL SENSE OF REALITY. THIS YEAR HOWEVER I AM GOING TO TRY AND VISIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT CANT THINK OF ANYWHERE THAT MAKES ME AS HAPPY AS I AM WHEN IM IN IBIZA.

ME, BOOM BOX AND SYMONDS

THIS YEAR I HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING THE ISLAND WITH 2 IBIZAN VIRGINS, MY GOOD FRIEND ALEX SYMONDS AND AN AUSTRALIAN COURT WEBB WHO IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN LONDON TRAVELING AND WORKING AT WALKABOUT. VERY UNUSUAL FOR AN AUSTRALIAN TO BE WORKING IN WALKABOUT HE HE. I COULD SEE THE EXCITEMENT ON SYMONDS FACE AS WE WERE BOARDING OUR FLIGHT, HE KNEW HE WAS ABOUT TO ENJOY A FEW DAYS PARTYING AND COULDN’T WAIT TO GET STUCK INN. SYMONDS PLAYS ICE HOCKEY FOR THE CARDIFF DEVILS SO HE IS OFF SEASON AND ITS THIS TIME OF YEAR THAT HE ALSO GETS TO LET HIS HAIR DOWN. HE LOVES A GOOD PARTY LET ME TELL YOU AND HE’S VERY GOOD AT IT 110% EFFORT EVERY TIME, ALL OR NOTHING……….ACE.

LEE JOHN BEFORE HE SMASHED HIS CHIN

AIRPORT BAR, PINT AND A BIT OF FOOD WHICH WE CALLED OUR LAST MEAL FOR A GOOD FEW HOURS/DAYS AND ON THE BMI BABY FLIGHT TO IBIZA.

WE LAND AT AROUND 4PM ON THE SATURDAY AND MAKE OUR WAY TO OUR HOTEL WHICH HED KANDI BAR AND JUDGEMENT SUNDAY RESIDENT LEE JOHN SORTED US OUT WITH.  OF WE WENT TO http://www.esmitjorn.com/ TO SEE TONI (IF YOUR GOING TO IBIZA THIS IS A NICE HOTEL AND TONI IS A LEGEND. A CURLY HAIRED SPANIARD WHO LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE DIEGO MARADONNA WITH GOOD ENGLISH) AND THE FIRST THING HE NOTICES WAS MY ‘BOOM BOX’ AND WARNS ME STRAIGHT AWAY THAT ITS NOT TO BE PLAYED AT FULL BLAST WHILST STAYING IN THE HOTEL, I RESPECT HIS WISHES AS HE IS GIVING ME A REDUCED RATE PLUS IM COMING BACK SO I WANT SOMEWHERE DECENT TO STAY. ITS SMACK BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING I.E WEST END, CAFE MAMBO, EDEN, ES PARADISE AND THE PORT BUT QUIET ENOUGH WHEN YOU WANT TO CHILL.

THE GANG WITH HED KANDI BARS TOP DOOR MEN

WE CHECK INN AND MAKE OUR WAY TO THE PORT STRAIGHT AWAY AS THE FIRST JUDGMENT SUNDAYS BOAT PARTY LEAVES FOR SUNSET AT 7PM, LEE JOHN IS DJ’ING AND THE BOAT PARTY’S ALWAYS GO OFF. WE GOT TOLD THE BOAT PARTY WAS SOLD OUT BUT SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET ON AS 3 PEOPLE DIDNT TURN UP, PERFECT. AS WE SAILED TO THE OPEN SEAS THE MICROPHONE WAS TURNED ON AND ALL WE HEAR IS “LADYS AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO JUDGMENT SUNDAYS BOAT PARTY YOUR IN IBIZA” YEEEEEEES. TUNES KICK IN AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST PARTY. LITERALLY 5 MIN’S INTO THE PARTY EVERYONE WERE ON THEIR FEET DANCING, DRINKING AND GENERALLY HAVING A GOOD TIME SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR SUN SHINNING AND ABOUT TO SET, PERFECT. ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEONE GETS NAKED AND DANCES ON THE ROOF THEN DIVES INTO THE SEA. WORD OF ADVICE, AS MUCH AS I FOUND IT HILARIOUS YOU ARE NOT AT ANY TIME ALLOWED TO DIVE OFF THE BOAT AS ITS AN ARRESTABLE OFFENSE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY STOPS THE PARTY. WE SPENT THE NEXT HOUR SAILING TO THE PORT WITH NO MUSIC BUT PISSED AS A TRAMP ON DOLE DAY.

GREAT BEACH PARTY AFTER JUDGMENT. AFRO MADNESS NIGHT HA

OFF THE BOAT AND INTO HED KANDI BAR. LAST YEAR THE HED KANDI BAR WAS ‘THE EGG’ BUT NOW THE EGG IS A CAFE NEXT DOOR. WE STAYED IN HED KANDI TILL ABOUT 1AM AND I REMEMBER TRYING TO GET INTO THE HED KANDI OPENING PARTY AT ES PARADISE MORE THAN 3 TIMES BUT FAILED BIG TIME DUE TO A MASSIVE QUE AT FIRST THEN SECOND ATTEMPT MY BOOM BOX WAS TOO LOUD AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PUT IT AND THIRD TIME I HAD NO SLEEVES ON MY T’SHIRT AND HAD TO BUY A HED KANDI T’SHIRT TO GET INN, JESUS. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY BOOM BOX TO THE BEACH AND CREATED A ONE MAN PARTY WHICH WAS A RIGHT LAUGH. KEEP IN MIND IT WAS ABOUT 3.30AM BY NOW AND I WAS GETTING MORE BLIND BY THE MINUTE. I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR LEE JOHN AND DERMOT TO FINISH AT 4 AM AT HED KANDI BAR TO GET INTO ES PARADISE AS THEY HAD T’SHIRTS FOR THE 3 OF US TOO. THE DOOR MEN AT THE BAR WERE REALLY NICE GUY’S SO MUCH SO IVE FORGOTTEN THEIR NAMES (SPENT A WHOLE WEEK WITH THESE GUY’S AND FORGET THEIR NAMES…..TERRIBLE) BUT THEY CAME OUT WITH US TOO AND LOOKED AFTER US AS WE WERE IN A RIGHT SHAPE BY THEN. 4TH TIME LUCKY AND INN WE WENT, SYMONDS RESEMBLING A PINBALL HITTING WALLS AND STUMBLING EVERYWHERE UNTILL HE SAW THIS HOT CHICK. “PRITCH, CHECK HER OUT SHE’S HOT” NEXT THING I KNOW HE’S PRETENDING TO KISS HER ARSE BUT LITTLE DID HE KNOW IT WAS A MAN IN DRAG HAHAHA. HE WAS THAT OUT OF IT WHEN HE WENT TO THE TOILET HE WAS PISSING IN THE PLANT POT THINKING IT WAS THE URINALS. WE TRIED A DANCE BUT OUR LEGS AND MIND WOULDN’T LET US SO WE HEADED BACK TO OUR HOTEL. STRANGELY ENOUGH WE MANAGED A SLEEP WHICH IS TOTALLY UNHEARD OF FOR A FIRST NIGHT IN IBIZA BUT I KNEW WE HAD JUDGMENT SUNDAYS TONIGHT SO I WANTED TO BE FRESH SO I COULD EXPERIENCE IT IN A DECENT ENOUGH STATE.

ANOTHER GREAT MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE

WE WAKE LOOKING & FEEL LIKE DEATH BUT ITS IBIZA SO UP WE GET AND HIT THE HOTEL BAR. MICKY SLIM & HIS ENTOURAGE WERE HITTING THE ISLAND TODAY AS HE’S PLAYING THE JUDGMENT OPENING. I GET A TWEET OFF MATT WROE (MICKEYS MATE) SAYING THEY JUST LANDED AND DID WE FANCY MEETING AT KANYA FOR A FEW DRINKS. THE 3 OF US WENT TO SEE SUNSET AT CAFE MAMBO FIRST WHICH IS ONE OF MY IBIZAN HIGHLIGHTS. THERE IS NO SUNSET LIKE IT AND TO SHARE IT WITH A LOAD OF OTHER PEOPLE ALL SITTING ON THE ROCKS DRINKING ALONG WITH CAFE MAMBO, CAFE DEL MAR FULL TO THE BRIM WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING THE MOMENT IT’S AMAZING. THIS YEAR I WENT DOWN WITH THE BOOM BOX BLARING VILLAGE PEOPLE’S Y.M.C.A HAHA THE LOOK ON PEOPLE’S FACES WAS PRICELESS BUT EVERYONE SEEMED TO ENJOY IT. WE GOT OUR POSITION ON THE ROCKS AND WHACKED ON ‘AGIO FOR STRINGS’ AS THE SUN SET AND THE WAVE OF PEOPLE WHISTLING AND CLAPPING AS THE SUN SET OVER THE HORIZON TO WAVE GOODBYE TO ANOTHER DAY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WELCOME ANOTHER NIGHT OF MADNESS AND PARTYING.

THIS MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOUND IN MOST OF THE BIG IBIZAN CLUBS

WE WALKED ROUND THE CORNER TO KANYA TO MEET UP WITH MICKEY AND HIS CREW AND JOIN THEM FOR A FEW DRINKS WHILST GETTING TREATED TO SOME TOP QUALITY MAGIC FROM ‘AFRO THE MAGICIAN’. IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THIS GUY YET CHECK HIM OUT HE’S AMAZING. MOST OF MICKEYS MATES I KNOW BUT I WAS INTRODUCED TO MATT WROE WHO IS BUILT LIKE A BRICK SHIT HOUSE. 6,8FT AND FEET THE SIZE OF YATCH’S BUT A BIG FRIENDLY GIANT WHO ENJOYS A GOOD PARTY. A GOOD CREW OF US FOR THE NIGHT AND OFF WE WENT TO HED KANDI BAR TO WARM UP THEN JUDGMENT TO FINISH OFF THE NIGHT, WELL IT DIDNT FINISH THERE BUT MORE ON THAT LATER.

MICKEY SLIM ROCKED JUDGMENT AS PER USUAL

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW JUDGMENT IS MY FAVE NIGHT ON THE ISLAND SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD NIGHT, TUNES & DJ’S. CHECK OUT www.judgmentsundays.co.uk FOR THIS YEARS LINE UP. ALSO, TONIGHT WAS THE OPENING PARTY SO IT WAS SURE TO GO OFF AND IT DID. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE FACES I HAVENT SEEN SINCE LAST YEAR AND A GOOD CATCH UP WITH EVERYONE THEN IT WAS ON THE DANCE FLOOR FOR SOME RAVING. I THINK AT ONE POINT I FELL OF THE STAGE LUCKILY THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE BELOW TO CATCH ME AND IN THE END THEY ALL THOUGHT I WAS TRYING TO STAGE DIVE, GOT AWAY WITH THAT ONE THEN. WE STAYED RIGHT TO THE END AND THEN I CALLED A BEACH PARTY DOWN AT KANYA WITH THE GOOD OLD TRUSTY BOOM BOX FOR TUNES. SERIOUSLY, IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST PURCHASES IVE EVER MADE AS I CREATES A PARTY WHEREVER YOU ARE AND TONIGHT WAS JUST THAT. THERE WAS AT LEAST 20 OF US ALL SMASHED OUT OF OUR BRAINS DANCING ON THE BEACH THEN I TURN ROUND AS MADNESS IS PLAYING “ONE STEP BEYOND” AND AFRO THE MAGICIAN IS COMPLETELY IN THE ZONE DANCING LIKE A MAD MAN. WE ALL TRY CALLING HIS NAME BUT NOBODY WAS INN, HE WAS TOTALLY IN THE ZONE AND ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS OF THE TRIP. EVER SINCE THAT MORNING MADNESS NOW HAS TO BE PLAYED AT EVERY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY. ITS QUITE IRONIC THAT THEY ARE PLAYING IBIZA ROCKS HOTEL IN SEPTEMBER, NOW THATS SOMETHING NOT TO BE MISSED.

3 AMIGOS, SYMONDS, WEBB AND MYSELF

THE POLICE TURN UP AND TELL US TO TURN THE MUSIC OFF SO WE WENT A BIT FURTHER DOWN THE BEACH WHEN THEY TURN UP AGAIN AND TELL US THE SAME THING SO WE WENT TO ONE OF THE BOYS HOUSES THAT WE MET ON THE BEACH AND CARRIED ON THE PARTY THERE UNTILL HIS LANDLORD TURNED UP AND TOLD US TO TURN IT OFF OR GET EVICTED OOPS. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GO HOME, AFTER ALL IT WAS 2PM IN THE AFTERNOON.

 

IT WAS NOW MONDAY NIGHT AND I HAD TO GO TO THE HOTEL BAR FOR VODKA TO STOP ME FROM SHAKING. I WAS THAT BAD TONI LOOKED AT ME AND THOUGHT FOR ONE MINUTE HE WAS GOING TO SAY “ARE YOU OK” BUT HE LOOKED ON AS HE WATCHED ME TRY AND WRESTLE SOME MONEY OUT OF MY WALLET TO PAY FOR MY VODKA. 3 DOWN AND I STARTED COMING BACK TO NORMAL, I NEEDED TO AS WE WERE OFF FOR A MEAL WITH BIG NIK (HEAD HONCHO AT JUDGMENT ALONG WITH JUDGE JULES) AND CREW ALONG WITH MICKEY AND THE BOYS. IVE BEEN INVITED FOR THIS MEAL ON MANY OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS BUT NEVER HAVE I MADE IT DUE TO THE MESS IVE BEEN IN BUT THIS TIME I MANAGED IT YEEPEE. WE WENT TO THIS LOVELY RESTAURANT AND SAT DOWN FOR A CIVILIZED MEAL FOR ONCE. EVERYONE LOOKED A BIT WORSE FOR WEAR AFTER LAST NIGHT SHENANIGANS AND SOME NOT SLEPT BUT I COULD SLOWLY SEE THEY WERE FLAGGING. MICKEYS BROTHER AT ONE POINT WITH HIS HEAD FACE DOWN ON THE TABLE, WROE’S EYE’S CONSTANTLY LOOKING NORTH AND AFRO CWTCHED UP ON A HAMOCK SLEEPING AT ONE POINT HAHA. THE MEAL WAS NICE APART FROM BIG NIKS CROCODILE THAT HE ORDERED. IT WAS LIKE EATING A LEATHER BOOT. WHEN IM IN IBIZA MY MEAL IS A SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE FOR THE SIMPLE FACT ITS EASY TO EAT AND SO FAR SO GOOD AS IVE MANAGED TO EAT 3 IN 3 DAYS WHEN I NORMALLY MANAGE ONE A WEEK. WE ALL FINISHED UP AND HEADED FOR HED KANDI BAR FOR ANOTHER NIGHT ON THE TILES BUT THATS ALL I CAN REMEMBER FROM THAT NIGHT. IVE NOW SAT HERE FOR 10 MINS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT BUT CANT FOR THE LIFE OF ME SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD. AH, IVE JUST RELEASED THAT THIS WAS THE DAY WE ROCKED ALL NIGHT AND ALL DAY. I THINK WE WENT TO THE BEACH WITH THE BOOM BOX AND AS WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AT 3PM TO GET SOME SLEEP LEE JOHN WAS AT THE HOTEL BAR STILL PARTYING FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE TOO SO WE HAD A DRINK WITH HIM AS TODAY WAS HIS BIRTHDAY. ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND WE ENDED UP STAYING AT THE HOTEL POOL DRINKING TILL 9PM. WE WERE ALL IN A SHAPE TODAY AND I NEEDED SOME ATMOSPHERE QUICK FAST AS I WAS FINDING IT HARD TO STRING A SENTENCE TOGETHER AND IT AINT GOOD WHEN I GET IN THAT STATE. ITS MORE OR LESS A GAME OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. I REMEMBER LOOKING OVER AT SYMONDS TRYING TO DRINK HIS DRINK BUT HAD TO HOLD HIS GLASS WITH 2 HANDS HE WAS SHAKING THAT BAD SO THAT PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE. LEE JOHN HAD THE NIGHT OFF TONIGHT SO WE WENT TO THE WEST END. IF YOU HAVENT BEEN TO THE WEST END BEFORE ITS FULL TO THE BRIM OF BRITS ON THE PISS, SLIGHTLY RESEMBLING THAT OF A ZOO FULL OF MONKEYS AND TIGERS WITH AN ELEPHANT ADDED INN. THE GOOD THING WAS THERE WAS MUSIC AND A BIT OF ATMOSPHERE SO I COULD FEEL MYSELF COMING OUT OF THIS HOLE I WAS INN AND GOT INTO THE PARTY SPIRIT. I REMEMBER BEING IN A LAP DANCE BAR WHICH WAS BASED UPSTAIRS WITH A CORNER FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOW COMPLEATE WITH BIKINI CLAD WOMAN DANCING VERY EROTICALLY. I THOUGHT “I CAN DO THAT” SO WE WENT UPSTAIRS AND BEFORE YOU COULD SAY BARRY NORMAN I WAS NAKED AND DANCING EROTICALLY MYSELF TO THE DELIGHTS OR NOT TO THE PEOPLE BELOW.

MY IBIZAN DAD..........BIG NIK IN HIS BIG CHAIR AT HIS BIG CLUB HAHA

TONIGHT ITS THE OPENING OF CLUBLAND IN EDEN. YOU MUST BE THINKING “HE’S GONE ALL THE WAY TO IBIZA AND SO FAR HE HASNT LEFT SAN ANTONIO” WELL, YOUR RIGHT. IVE BEEN ALL OVER THE ISLAND OVER THE YEARS BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH GOING ON IN SAN ANN WHICH IS WHY I STAYED HERE. IM BACK FOR RADIO 1 WEEKEND SO I’LL TRAVEL AROUND THEN AS THERE’S A GREAT CHOICE OF DJ’S ON THAT WEEK.

 

ANYWAY, BACK TO TUESDAY NIGHT. WE LEFT LEE JOHN IN THE WEST END AND HEADED TO CLUBLAND. TONIGHT PROFESSOR GREEN WAS PLAYING ALONG WITH ONE OF THE ‘THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX’ DUDES. I BUMPED INTO JACK TWEEDY WHO IVE NEVER MET BEFORE AND HE SEEMED LIKE A NICE ENOUGH LAD SO I ENJOYED A FEW DRINKS WITH HIM AND HIS MATES. I ENDED UP ON STAGE AND THE MC SAID “WHO WANTS TO SEE PRITCHARD NAKED?” EVERYONE ROARED SO DOWN THEY WENT AND THE SAME TYPICAL DANCE WAS APPLIED. ALL IN ALL A GOOD NIGHT OUT.

 

WE FINALLY FOUND LEE JOHN AND ENDED UP AT SOME EARLY MORNING CAFE THAT HE KNEW OF WITH A RIGHT GANG OF US. THE OWNERS OF CLUB 18 TO 30 ALONG WITH BAR STAFF AND DJ’S FROM LINIKERS AND WE ALL GOT STUCK INTO ANOTHER MORNING OF PARTYING. I THOUGHT IT’D BE FUNNY TO LAY IN THE BACK OF A FRUIT SELLERS VAN UNTIL HE DIDNT SEE THE FUNNY SIDE AND CALLED THE POLICE SO IT WAS TIME TO GO GET THE BOOM BOX FOR ANOTHER PARTY ON THE BEACH THIS TIME AT THE FAMOUS KET COVE. ON OUR WAY LEE JOHN THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO DO 3 ROLLY POLLY’S BUT AS HE GOT UP TO CELEBRATE HE TRIPPED AND FORGOT TO PUT HIS HANDS DOWN AND………….. ‘WALLOP’. 5 STITCHES LATER AND HE TURNED UP AT KET COVE SHOUTING WHEEEEEEEEEEEY AND JOINED IN ON THE PARTY. STILL NO SLEEP BUT WE WERE FEELING FINE IF IN A LITTLE BIT OF A MESS. WE TURNED UP AT THE COVE TO ABOUT 10 PEOPLE THEN AS THE DAY WENT ON IT WAS JUST ME, SYMONDS AND COURT LEFT STILL TROOPING. BEING ON THE BEACH ALL THAT TIME WATCHING FAMILIES COME AND GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHILE THE BOOM BOX BLARED TUNES FROM QUEEN, ABBA, DAVID BOWIE, AC/DC AND PLENTY OF DANCE WAS A BIT WEIRD. ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS WHAT THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT OF US BUT SAYING THAT ITS IBIZA AND IM SURE THEY’VE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE. ITS NOW WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND OUR FLIGHT WAS LEAVING AT 11PM………….ERRRRRR “FUCK IT WERE STAYING HERE” WHY GO HOME WHEN WERE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES SO WE DECIDED TO STAY.

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND WE DECIDED TO GO AND HAVE A BLAST AT LINIKERS AND MY LAST MEMORY OF THIS PLACE WAS DANCING ON THE BAR WITH SYMONDS AND DJ IRONIC AND THE NEXT THING I WAS LYING ON THE PAVEMENT COMPLEATE WITH T’SHIRT FOR PILLOW AND SYMONDS, COURT WEBB ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER ME…….OOP’S. I MANAGED TO GET UP AND WE WENT FOR THE LAST HOUR IN EDEN FOR A RAVE.

 

THURSDAY AND OUR LAST DAY ON THE ISLAND. WE MANAGED TO GET UP QUITE EARLY AND ENJOY A DAY BY THE POOL CHILLING WITH A FEW IRISH FRIENDS FROM DUBLIN. IT WAS NICE TO CHILL OUT AFTER SUCH A CRAZY FEW DAYS AND NIGHTS SO WE ENJOYED SOME FOOD AND SWIMS IN THE POOL. 5PM CAME ALONG QUICK SO I GRABBED MY BOOM BOX AND WE WENT TO THE SHOP TO BUY SOME BATTERIES TO CHARGE THE BUGGER UP AND HEAD DOWN TO THE ROCKS AT MAMBO FOR ONE LAST SUNSET BEFORE HEADING HOME. SITTING DOWN DRINKING SOME VODKA OVERLOOKING THE SEA LISTENING TO SOME GOOD TUNES AND JUST RE-LIVING THE LAST WEEK IN IBIZA. AMBER ‘D’ (HARD HOUSE DJ) AND JAX CAME AND JOINED US WITH A FEW FRIENDS SO WE ALL SAT THERE WAITING FOR THE SUN TO GO DOWN BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A BIT CLOUDY IN THE DISTANCE SO THE SUNSET WASNT WHAT WE EXPECTED BUT NEVER THE LESS HAD A GREAT TIME. IF YOU CANT HAVE A GOOD TIME IN IBIZA NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS THEN YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE A WORD WITH YOURSELF.

JUDGMENT BOAT PARTY

WE SPENT OUR LAST NIGHT VISITING EVERYONE WE SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS/NIGHTS WITH TO SAY OUR GOODBYE’S. WE WERE FLYING OUT AT 4 AM SO HAD TO JUMP INTO OUR TAXI AT 2 AM TO MAKE OUR FLIGHT. I CAN TELL YOU NOW THAT LEAVING IBIZA IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I FIND DOING, I HATE IT BIG TIME. I DONT LIKE GOODBYE’S AT THE BEST OF TIMES BUT ITS A DIFFERENT STORY ON THIS GLORIOUS ISLAND.

 

ONCE AGAIN IVE MET A LOAD OF NEW FRIENDS IN IBIZA, SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT EVERYONE IS JUST SOUND AS FUCK AND YOU ALL SHARE THE SAME THING……..HAVING A GOOD TIME AND I CANT WAIT TO GO BACK AGAIN FOR RADIO 1 WEEKEND AND SEE THEM ALL AGAIN FOR MORE OF THE SAME. OUR TAXI TURNED UP AND IN WE WENT, DESTINATION AIRPORT. WE TOOK OFF AND I BID MY FAREWELLS.

WITH AMBER 'D' & JAX ON OUR LAST DAY

IBIZA, ONCE AGAIN YOU FUCKED ME UP, MADE ME DANCE, MADE ME SMILE, MADE ME LAUGH, MADE ME LOVE AND MOST OF ALL GAVE ME MORE GREAT MEMORIES AND STORY’S THAT’LL LIVE WITH ME FOREVER. ONE DAY I CAN HOPEFULLY CALL YOU MY HOME.

 

SEE YOU FOR THE RADIO 1 WEEKEND. I’LL BRING YOU YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING.

 

GUMBALL3000 2011

AFTER WAITING 2 YEARS FROM MY FIRST GUMBALL RALLY I DID IN 2009 WITH BUTTSY DOING COAST TO COAST (LA TO MIAMI) IT WAS TIME TO DO MY SECOND GUMBALL BUT THIS TIME WITH DAINTON, OUR TOUR MANAGER ADRIAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER RICHY WALTON.

I TOTALLY KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS FANTASTIC RALLY WHICH EXPLAINED MY EXCITEMENT LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. I DONT THINK THE BOYS COULD UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS SO WOUND UP ACTING LIKE A KID IN A SWEET SHOP WHEN I REALISED WE WERE DOING THIS RALLY BUT WITHIN TIME I KNEW THEY’D UNDERSTAND. AFTER ALL, THIS IS THEE BIGGEST AND BEST RALLY THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER AND NOT MANY PEOPLE GET THE OPPERTUNITY TO BE PART OF IT.

THIS YEAR THE RALLY WAS GOING FROM LONDON TO ISTANBUL, 3000 MILES STOPPING OFF IN VARIOUS CITY’S ALONG THE WAY TO PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY UNTILL ITS TIME TO WAKE AGAIN AND DRIVE OR SHOULD I SAY IN OUR CASE TO JUMP INTO THE VAN STRAIGHT FROM THE PARTY.

WE HAD EVERYTHING PLANNED FOR THE TRIP, A V8 DODGE VAN JUST LIKE THE SCOOBY DOO ONE AND ALL OUR DOCUMENTS READY FOR THE START IN LONDON ON MAY 25TH THEN I HAD A PHONE CALL OFF DAINT. “THE VAN HAS BEEN WRITTEN OFF IN A CAR CRASH AND WE DONT HAVE A VEHICLE FOR THE GUMBALL” SHIT. MY WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN ON ME LIKE A SACK OF SPUDS. AT THE TIME I WAS CYCLING FROM JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT SIT THERE IN SILENCE BY THE SIDE OF A ROAD SOMEWHERE IN BRITAIN NUMB. THE RALLY I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING HAS NOW JUST CRUMBLED AWAY BENEATH ME AND I WAS MORTIFIED. DAINT SAID “I’LL SORT IT, I’LL MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS AND TRY AND GET ANOTHER VEHICLE”, “BUT HOW?” I SAID “WE ONLY HAVE 2 DAYS TILL IT STARTS”.

LATER ON THAT DAY DAINT PHONED AND TOLD ME SOMEONE WAS SELLING A VW TRANSPORTER VAN AND WE COULD BUY IT FOR £850 SO WE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE. BY THIS TIME I WAS BACK HOME FROM THE CYCLE SO WE WENT INTO ACTION.

WE TOOK THE VAN UP TO ONE OF ADRIAN’S MATES (MATT AN EX PRO GOLFER) PLACES UP IN THE VALLEYS WITH A LOAD OF LAND AND A DRIVING RANGE ALONG WITH A GARAGE FULL OF TOOLS SO THAT WE COULD STRIP THE VAN AND MAKE IT LOOK MORE GUMBALL WORTHY. 2 DAYS OF STRIPPING, SANDING, STICKERING AND GENERALLY GETTING FILTHY AND WORKING OUR NUTS OFF JUST TO MAKE THIS THING LOOK GOOD ON THE ROAD AND AT EVERY GRID WE WERE TO STOP AT. THE DAY BEFORE THE GUMBALL WAS TO START WE MANAGED IT AND THE VAN LOOKED ACE AND WAS READY FOR THE 3000 MILES. DONT GET ME WRONG, A LOAD OF PEOPLE DOUBTED IT BUT DEEP DOWN IN OUR STOMACHES WE KNEW IT WOULD TAKE US ALL THE WAY THANKS TO VW CARDIFF FOR TUNING IT AND MAKING IT ROAD WORTHY.

WE WERE UP AT 5AM AND WE WERE MAKING OUR WAY TO LONDON TO REGISTER FOR THE 2011 GUMBALL RALLY AND WE WERE STOKED. FROM KNOWING WE WERE DOING IT TO NOT THEN BACK AGAIN WHICH GAVE US A BETTER FEELING INSIDE KNOWING WE REALLY EARNT OUR RIGHT TO DO IT AFTER ALL THAT HARD WORK. WATCH OUT EUROPE THE PVSD BEAST WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD FOR A ROCK’N’ROLL RIDE TO HELL.

 

REGISTERING FOR THE GUMBALL SEEMED TO GO ON FOR AGES. THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO I.E SIGN THIS AND SIGN THAT, GOODIES HERE GOODIES THERE, INTERVIEWS, PHOTOS ETC BUT IT ONLY TOOK AN HOUR OR 2. MY PROBLEM WAS IS THAT ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THE PARTY. WE WENT ONTO THE ROOF OF THE TRAFALGAR HOTEL IN THE BEAUTIFUL LONDON SUNSHINE SAT DOWN AND ENJOYED A FEW DRINKS AND MET SOME OF THIS YEARS GUMBALL ENTRANTS WHILST THE SAVIOR OF OUR TRIP………………THE BOOM BOX I BOUGHT PLAYED LOUDLY BY THE SIDE OF US ALL. I MUST SAY THAT BOOM BOX IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS IVE EVER BOUGHT AS IT TURNS A VERY DRAB PARTY INTO SOMETHING YOU WANNA BE AT. WHILST ON THE ROOF OUR SWEDISH BROTHERS ‘THE DUDESONS’ JOINED US FOR DRINKS. WE SPENT A WEEK ON TOUR WITH JUKKA, JARPI & JARRNO IN OZ MANY YEARS AGO BUT NEVER GOT TO MEET THEIR OTHER MEMBER ‘HP’ SO IT WAS GOOD TO MEET HIM. THEY ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF LADS AND ALWAYS A PLEASURE SPENDING TIME WITH THEM PARTYING. CHECK OUT THEIR SHOW ON MTV IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY. TONIGHT WE WERE OFF TO THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE GUMBALL AT THE PLAYBOY CLUB IN LONDON AND DID WHAT WE DO BEST……..PARTY. PLAYBOY BUNNIES EVERYWHERE AND A CASINO UPSTAIRS WHICH IN MY EYE’S SPELLS DANGER BUT FOR ONCE I DIDNT GIVE IT THE TIME OF DAY. A GREAT NIGHT OUT WAS HAD THOUGH BELIVE ME.

THIS MORNING I FEEL LIKE PLOP ON A STICK BUT I’D BETTER GET USED TO IT AS I HAVE 7 DAYS OF FEELING LIKE THIS AND ITS ONLY GONNA GET WORSE AS I GO ALONG. WE HEAD STRAIGHT DOWN TO COVENT GARDEN TO FIND OUR VAN AT THE START GRID AND WE ARE NUMBER 6 FOR THE OFF. AND WHO DO WE HAVE TO SET US OFF BUT THE HOFF WHO WAS WITH HIS WELSH GIRLFRIEND. WE ROCKED UP WITH BOOM BOX AT FULL VOLUME ROCKING MOTLEY CRU AND GOT ON WITH GETTING THE CROWDS IN A GOOD PARTY MOOD. MYSELF AND DAINT ON THE ROOF ROCKING OUT BEFORE JOINING THE DUDESONS, THE HOFF, BUN B, DJ MUGGS, MAXAMILLION & EVE ETC FOR THE OFFICIAL GUMBALL START PHOTO. AS SOON AS ALL PICS WERE DONE WE JUMPED INTO OUR VEHICLES AND HIT THE ROAD, DESTINATION ISTANBUL.

DJ MUGGS & JUKKA

AS IM WRITING THIS I’VE REALIZED THAT MY MEMORY FROM THIS TRIP IS REALLY BAD SO I WILL WRITE WHAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM THE TRIP. KEEP IN MIND A LOT OF BOOZE WAS DRUNK AND MY MEMORY IS SHIT AT THE BEST OF TIMES. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE I CANT EVEN REMEMBER GOING THROUGH THE CHANNEL TUNNEL. TAXI FOR PRITCHARD.

 

I DO REMEMBER TURNING UP IN PARIS AND THE STREETS BEING LINED WITH A CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO GREET US ALL. SLIDING SIDE DOOR OPEN BOOM BOX OUT MUSIC BLASTING UNTIL WE THEN JUMPED ONTO OUR ROOF SHOUTING GUMBALL GUMBALL GUMBALL AND CAMERA FLASHES GOING OFF LEFT RIGHT AND CENTRE. THIS WAS MORE OR LESS WHAT WENT DOWN AT EVERY STOP WE STOPPED AT, SOME BIGGER THAN OTHERS BUT WHAT A GREAT FEELING IT WAS BEING GREETED TO A CITY IN SUCH STYLE.

 

WE PARKED UP IN PARIS, CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL THEN WENT TO THE BAR FOR DRINKS BEFORE HITTING UP THIS GREAT RESTAURANT WITH A FEW BALLERS THEN HEADING TO THE PARTY.

THIS RESTAURANT WAS AMAZING.

ANOTHER MORNING IN THE SHED AND ANOTHER DAY ON THE ROAD THIS TIME WE WERE OFF TO BARCELONA AND TONIGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE DAVID GUETTA PARTY. DRIVING DOWN TO BARCA WAS ACE APART FROM THE AMAZING AMOUNT OF POLICE ON THE ROADS WAITING TO BOOK EVERY GUMBALLER IN SIGHT BUT WE WERE FINE AS OUR VAN COULDN’T REACH THE SAME SPEEDS AS THESE SUPER CARS. ACTUALLY WE NEVER GOT PULLED ONCE FOR THE WHOLE 7 DAYS OF DRIVING BUT I KNOW SO MANY CARS DID. THERE WERE TICKETS GIVEN OUT ON A DAILY BASIS NOT THAT HALF THE GUMBALLERS CARED AS THEY HAD NEVER ENDING WALLETS OF CASH. IT WAS LIKE PAYDAY FOR MOST COUNTRY’S. SOME GOT CAUGHT REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 190 MILES AN HOUR AND IM SURE SOME CARS GOT IMPOUNDED ON THE WAY AND SOME DRIVERS EVEN ENDING UP STRAIGHT INTO THE COURT ROOMS ONLY TO BE SEEN AT THE NEXT DESTINATION. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE WERE NO CRASHES ON THE RALLY AND NO ONE WAS HURT. IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S (CANT REMEMBER WHICH ONE) THERE WERE UNMARKED POLICE CARS WITH CAMERAS (PRETENDING TO BE INNOCENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC)  PERSUADING GUMBALLERS TO GO AT HIGH SPEED THEN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD PULLING THEM OVER AND SHOWING THEM THE VIDEO EVIDENCE AND BOOKING THEM, BUGGERS. THE BEST COUNTRY FOR LACK OF POLICE WAS ITALY, THEY JUST LETS US GET ON WITH IT SO A BIG THANK YOU TO THE ITALIANS.

MY FAVE CAR ON THE RALLY. THIS THING WENT LIKE SHIT OFF A SHOVEL AND SOUNDED AMAZING

ANYWAY, WE WERE HEADING TO BARCA AND WE ARRIVED AT THE ‘W’ HOTEL WHICH WAS AT THE PORT. WE TURNED UP AND TO A HUGE GREETING OFF THE PUBLIC WHICH WAS NICE AND THE HOTEL WAS AMAZING TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST HOTELS IVE EVER STAYED INN. OUR ROOM WAS HUGE AND VERY MODERN AND AS WE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW THE OUTDOOR POOL WAS FULL OF GUMBALLERS ENJOYING DRINKS. I COULDN’T WAIT TO GET DOWN TO JOIN THEM AND TO BEGIN THE PARTY BUT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO STAND IN THE WINDOW NAKED AND DANCE LIKE IDIOTS THINKING THAT THEY COULDN’T SEE US AS THE WINDOWS WERE MIRRORED………HOW WRONG WERE WE. AS I GRABBED MY DRINK I LOOKED UP AT THE HOTEL AND YOU COULD SEE EVERYTHING HAHA.

WE HOOKED UP WITH THE DUDESONS AND A FEW OF THE GUMBALL CREW AND HEADED OFF IN A 10 SEATER LIMO TO THE DAVID GUETTA PARTY AND INTO THE GUMBALL VIP PART FOR FREE BOOZE. DAVID GUETTA GOT ON STAGE AND STARTED HIS SET WITH HIS NEW TUNE FEAT SNOOP DOG WHICH I LOVE SO IT WAS PARTY ON. NEXT THING I KNOW WE GOT DRAGGED TO THE VIP BEHIND THE DJ BOOTH WITH A LOAD OF OTHER GUMBALLERS AND WELCOMED BY THE BIGGEST BOTTLE OF GREY GOOSE VODKA IVE EVER SEEN. NO LIE, THIS THING CAME UP PAST MY WAIST AND I COULD HARDLY PICK IT UP AND COST £30,000 JESUS FUCK. LETS JUST SAY WE MADE THE MOST OF IT AND WAS GUZZLING THE STUFF DOWN STRAIGHT HENCE WHY THE NEXT FEW HOURS I ONLY REMEMBER BECAUSE A FEW PEOPLE REMINDED ME. I WOKE THE NEXT DAY VERY CONFUSED AS TO HOW I GOT INTO MY BED THEN ADRIAN TOLD ME DAINT HAD ONLY JUST GOT INN???????

THIS BOTTLE IS THE REASON DAINT WOKE UP ON A BARCELONA STREET

HE WOKE UP ON THE STREET AT 11AM LYING IN HIS OWN POOL OF SICK WITH SHOPPERS WALKING AROUND HIM HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. THE UNFUNNY THING WAS IS THAT HE ALSO GOT ROBBED OF 2 IPHONES BUT MANAGED TO FIND 20 EUROS IN HIS POCKET TO GET THE TAXI BACK TO THE HOTEL. THIS STORY I WILL TAKE TO MY GRAVE, THE THOUGHT OF HIM WAKING IN A BARCELONA STREET CONFUSED TICKLED ME. EVERY TIME HE TELLS THATS STORY TEARS OF LAUGHTER FALL DOWN MY FACE. PRICELESS.

THANK YOU DUDESONS HA

IT WAS TIME TO HIT THE ROAD BUT NOT TO FAST AS I WAS GREETED WITH A VAN FULL OF POST IT NOTES CURTESY OF THE DUDESONS HAHA. IT TOOK A GOOD WHILE BEFORE WE GOT THEM OFF THEN I GOT BREATHALYZED BY THE GUMBALL LOT AND I WAS 4 TIMES OF THE DRIVE LIMIT, THANK GOD FOR OUR TOUR MANAGER ADRIAN WHO FAIR PLAY DID MOST OF THE DRIVING ALL WEEK. ACTUALLY I DID NO DRIVING ON THIS YEARS GUMBALL DUE TO MY INTAKE OF ALCOHOL AND THE FACT DAINT & AID DID NOT TRUST ME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

 

WE WERE OFF TO MONACO TODAY TO SAMPLE AND EXPERIENCE THE FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX. IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO MONACO LET ALONE HAVE THE FORMULA 1 CHUCKED INN TOO. TO TOP IT OFF WE ONLY HAD THE ROOF OF OUR HOTEL TO OVERLOOK THE HAIRPIN CORNER, ACE.

HAIRPIN CORNER

AS WE ARRIVED THE BUZZ OF MONEY WAS APPARENT EVERYWHERE AND I MEAN EVERYWHERE. I HAVENT WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY LIFE, IT SURE WAS AN EYE OPENER. THERE WERE A LOT OF MOMENTS WHERE I HAD TO PINCH MYSELF AND WHISPER THE WORDS “WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING HERE”. WE CHECKED INN AND WENT TO OUR ROOMS AND CONSIDERING THEY WERE £4,000 A NIGHT AND WE WERE THERE FOR 2 OF THEM I FOUND THAT INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT THE ROOMS WERE BUT HEY, ITS THE FORMULA 1 SO I GUESS THEY HIKED THE ROOMS UP FOR THE 2 DAYS OF RACING. I CHANGED INTO MY DISCO GEAR AND HEADED OUT TO WITNESS THE DELIGHTS OF MONACO AND FOUND MYSELF PLAYING A GAME OF SPOT A CAR UNDER THE PRICE TAG OF £100,000 BUT FAILED TERRIBLY. WHEN IT CAME TO SPOT THE TOP CLASS HOOKER MIND I WON HANDS DOWN AT EVERY CORNER, THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THEIR OWN STARTING GRID THERE WERE THAT MANY OF THEM.

PARTYING WITH SHANE AT SUNRISE. GOOD TIMES

TONIGHT WE WERE INVITED TO LEORNARDO DECAPRIO’S YATCH PARTY……….WHAT???? YEP YOU HEARD RIGHT. MYSELF AND WALTON HEADED DOWN WITH MAIA (DAMON HURSTS WIFE WHO IS A VERY LOVELY LADY WHO LOVES A PARTY) TARA, DUDESONS AND HAD TO WALK THROUGH THE FAMOUS MONACO TUNNEL AND PASSED A MILLION YATCH’S WONDERING WHEN WE WOULD ARRIVE AT DECAPRIOS ONE. WE WALKED AND WALKED THEN WE WERE FINALLY GREETED WITH THE YATCH IF THATS WHAT YOU CALLED IT. IT LOOKED MORE LIKE A CRUISE LINER TO ME. ON WE WENT WITH SHOE’S OFF MIND AND PASSED HUGE SECURITY MEN WHO DIDNT KNOW THE MEANING OF SMILING SO IT IMMEDIATELY PUT ME IN AN UNSTEADY MOOD. WE GOT TO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT AND IT WAS FREE CRYSTAL CHAMPAGNE, GREY GOOSE VODKA YOU NAME IT IT WAS THERE AND BY THE BUCKETLOAD. THE BOAT WAS FULL OF MODELS AND FAMOUS PEOPLE AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE, I EVEN HAD A DRINK WITH HOLLY VALANCE. DONT GET ME WRONG IT WAS GREAT TO BE IN MONACO AND TO BE EXPERIENCING IT THE WAY WE WERE BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PRETENTIOUS IDIOTS EVERYWHERE AND IT JUST WASNT MY SCENE BUT I MADE THE MOST OF WHAT I HAD AND WAS GRATEFUL TO BE THERE. I LOOSENED UP A BIT AND WHEN BUTTSY TURNED UP THEN YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GET INTERESTING AND NO DOUBT IT DID WHEN HE HELPED HIMSELF TO A BOTTLE OF GREY GOOSE BEHIND THE BAR AND THEN THE PARTY STARTED, NICE ONE BUTTS. OFF THE BOAT WE WENT AND HEADED TO THE BILLIONAIRS CLUB AT OUR HOTEL. THIS CLUB IS THE HIGHT OF BLING IN THIS TOWN ON GRAND PRIX NIGHTS AND THE PRICES OF DRINKS TOLD IT ALL. £37,000 FOR A NORMAL BOTTLE OF CRYSTAL, £45,000 FOR DOM PERIGNION VINTAGE AND £50 FOR A BOTTLE OF BEER HAHAHA JESUS ‘H’ CHRIST. WE MET UP WITH THE GUMBALL LOT AND PARTIED ALL NIGHT DANCING ON THE TABLES SWIGGING THIS EXPENSIVE PISS AND HAD A RIGHT LAUGH. SHANE LYNCH WAS WITH US AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A TOP MAN HE IS, I PINCHED A NEW BOTTLE OF DON PERIGNION FROM AN ICE BUCKET AND WENT TO THE HOTEL BAR WITH HIM AND JUKKA TO CARRY ON THE PARTY WHILST WATCHING THE SUNRISE OVER MONACO. SHANE SAID “GO GET YOUR BOOM BOX AND COME PARTY IN MY ROOM” SO THATS WHAT WE ALL DID. RAVING IN LYNCH’S ROOM TILL 10AM THEN ALL WE HEARD WAS THIS ALMIGHTY NOISE FROM THE PORCHE CAR RACE SO ONTO THE ROOF WE WENT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TIREDNESS FROM THE PREVIOUS DAYS PARTYING SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE AND I WENT DOWN LIKE A SACK OF SPUDS. I WENT TO GET 1 HOURS SLEEP HOPING IT WOULD SORT ME OUT AS I HAVENT COME ALL THIS WAY TO MISS THE GRAND PRIX AND TO HEAR THAT LEGENDARY NOISE OF THOSE ENGINE’S. I WOKE AND HIT THE ROOF BUT ONLY MANAGED 2 HOURS BUT AT LEAST I SAW SOME OF THE RACE AND BELIVE ME THE NOISE OF AN F1 CAR IS MENTAL. THE HEAT AND DEHYDRATION DID ME INN AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT IM IN BED. IF YOUR A PARTY HEAD YOU’LL KNOW WHAT I MEAN BUT I WAS GUTTED. MY LAST NIGHT IN MONACO WAS SPENT UNDER A PILLOW. BAH HUMBUG. GREAT EXPERIENCE THOUGH.

DECAPRIOS YATCH WE PARTIED ON

NEXT STOP VENICE, ANOTHER PLACE I HAVENT VISITED ON MY TRAVELS SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING THE DELIGHTS. A DAY’S DRIVING AND WE ARRIVED AT THE PORT TO CATCH OUR BOAT TO THE HILTON VENICE WHICH WAS ON AN ISLAND NOT FAR FROM OLD VENICE. TODAY WE WERE THE LAST PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AS WE DROVE THE WRONG WAY BUT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS WE HAVENT BEEN DOING TO BAD CONSIDERING WE HAVENT GOT A SUPER CAR. ALL THE GUMBALLERS KEPT ASKING US HOW DO WE GET TO THE DESTINATIONS BEFORE THEM IN A CLAPPED OUT VAN??? WE DIDNT KNOW OURSELVES BUT THE VW BEAST WAS SERVICING US WELL.

OUR GONDOLA

TONIGHT WAS THE BETSAFE POKER TOURNAMENT ON THE ROOF OF THE HOTEL BUT WE WANTED TO GO AND CHECK OUT OLD VENICE AND SPEND SOME TIME ON THE GONDOLAS. WE HEADED DOWN WITH THE DUDESONS, GRABBED SOME BEERS AND TOOK IN THE SIGHTS AND WHAT A LOVELY LOOKING PLACE IT WAS. ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS SEE IF IT DID ACTUALLY STINK OF SHIT AND IT REALLY DID. IVE BEEN TOLD ON MANY OCCASION THAT VENICE IS NICE BUT STINKS OF SHIT AND THEY WERE RIGHT BUT IF YOU GO TO THE POSH SHOPPING PART I.E PRADA, GUCCI ETC THEY PUMP A LOVELY SCENT INTO THE AIR. WE MANAGED TO GET A GONDOLA WITH THE DUDESONS AND I STOOD UP WITH A CORNETO IN MY HAND AND SANG “JUST ONE CORNETO, GIVE IT TO ME, DELIS-IOUS ICE CREAM FROM ITALY” TO DAINT HAHA.

A FEW BEERS WITH MUGGS, ESTEFAN, BUN B AND CREW THEN WE HEADED BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT.

ESTEFAN - JOKERBRAND

BUN B

TODAY WE WERE HEADING TO BELGRADE. WE HAD A LONG DRIVE AHEAD OF US GOING THROUGH COUNTRY’S LIKE SLOVINIA, CROATIA WHERE I EXPECTED BAD ROADS BUT HAD A BIG SURPRISE TO FIND THEY WERE SOME OF THE BEST ROADS OF THE RALLY. MIND YOU IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE YOU’VE GONE BACK IN TIME TO THE 1960’S BUT THATS WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE PLACE. iITS LIKE BUN B SAID “THE PLACE STILL LOOKS THE SAME FROM WHEN MY PARENTS CAME HERE ON THEIR HONEYMOON”. WE ARRIVE IN BELGRADE AND OUR ENTRANCE WAS THE BEST YET, BIG CROWDS, BOOM BOX FULL BLAST, FIREWORKS THEN BUTTSY TURNING UP AND DOING DONUTS AROUND ME. DAINT THEN GRABBED A GUITAR FROM OUR VAN AND SMASHED IT ON MY HEAD TO THE JOY OF THE AUDIENCE. WE HOOKED UP WITH BUTTSY ON THE WAY HERE AND THE 2 OF US DANCED TO THE SONG ‘HELLO’ HIM DRESSED IN ONLY HIS BOXER SHORTS AND MYSELF WITH A PAIR OF ZEBRA SPANDEX HAHA GOOD TIMES. FOR A GUMBALL NIGHT IT WAS A BIT ON THE QUIET FRONT FOR US IN BELGRADE , HEY HO IT’S THE LAST DRIVE AND NIGHT IN ISTANBUL TOMORROW SO THAT WAS GONNA BE A LOUD ONE.

BELGRADE

LAST DAY AND A HUGE DRIVE TO ISTANBUL. DRIVING THE MOTORWAYS WITH EVERY BRIDGE FULLOF PEOPLE EVEN ONE BRIDGE HAD A ‘GO SANCHEZ’ BANNER WHICH STOKED ME AND DAINT OUT BIG TIME. WE DIDNT KNOW IT BE WE WERE GONNA BE ON THE ROAD FOR 15 + TODAY AND THAT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE BUT THE ONLY THING THAT PUT US BEHIND WAS THE TURKISH BORDER. WE WENT THROUGH GOD KNOWS HOW MANY BORDERS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL AND AS SOON AS WE HIT TURKEY WE WERE THERE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT IT WAS CASH HERE, CASH THERE, SIGN HERE, SIGN THERE, GO BACK TO THE START AND DO IT AGAIN, THEN WE HAD TO FIND A POLICE OFFICER TO LET US GO AND IF THAT WASNT ENOUGH WE GET STOPPED WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE ON OUR WAY BY A MAN IN UNIFORM SAYING WE HAD TO PAY FOR A TURKISH FLAG ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WERE CON MEN GGGRRRRRRR. WE GOT TO ISTANBUL THEN GOT COMPLETELY LOST SO WE PAYED A TAXI DRIVER TO GIVE US AN ESCORT WITH FLASHING LIGHTS THE WORKS TO GET US TO THE HOTEL CAR PARK.

GETTING SQUASHED BY TAMMER HASSAN. GEEEEEEEZER

WE MORE OR LESS MISSED ALL THE CROWDS BUT ALL I WAS INTERESTED INN WAS THE FINAL PARTY AND SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH THE PEOPLE IVE JUST SPENT 7 DAYS AND NIGHTS ON THE ROAD WITH. I GET INTO ONE HELL OF A TIZZ IF IT MEANS I MISS A PARTY, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE IS STUPID BUT TO ME ITS COMPLETELY NORMAL. THERE’S NOTHING MORE THAT I LIKE MORE THAN A GOOD PARTY WITH GOOD FRIENDS AND COMPANY ITS THE PERFECT HAPPY PLACE FOR ME. IF EVERYONE’S HAPPY THEN SO AM I HENCE WHY I CANT STAND NORMALITY.

MAIA & TARA. TOP PARTY LADIES RIGHT THERE

IT WAS ALL OK IN THE END AS WE CHUCKED OUR STUFF IN OUR ROOM AND HEADED OUT TO THE BEST PARTY OF THE GUMBALL IN MY EYE’S. A TABLE FULL OF GUMBALLERS IN THIS HUGE OPEN AIR CLUB ALL DANCING, SINGING, DRINKING AND HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES………….PERFECT. TONIGHT WAS ALSO THE AWARDS NIGHT AND THE NIGHT WE FIND OUT WHO WINS THE LEGENDARY SPIRIT OF THE GUMBALL. ME AND DAINT WON VEHO CAMERAS BEST FOOTAGE AWARD WHICH WE WERE REALLY STOKED TO WIN AS WE DIDNT EXPECT ANYTHING. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THE SCOTS WON AN AWARD AND BUTTSY & HIS CO DRIVER KENETH. THE BIG WINNERS OF THE NIGHT AND THE WINNERS OF THE SPIRIT OF THE GUMBALL WENT TO THE DUDESONS, REALLY STOKED FOR THOSE GUY’S AND HIGHLY DESERVED AS THEY WERE GOOD FUN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EVENT.

NEXT STOP.....TAKE ME TO IBIZA PLEASE

TO FINISH OFF ID LIKE TO THANK MAXIMILLION FOR ANOTHER GREAT GUMBALL, TOP MAN. ID ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL THE GUMBALL STAFF FOR BEING SUCH GREAT HELP AND KAT FOR PUTTING UP WITH ALL OUR NONSENSE PRE GUMBALL AND NOT STRESSING. BIG UP TO DJ MUGGS, BUN B, ESTEFAN & MIKE WHAT AN AMAZING BUNCH OF GUY’S AND A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL. MAIA & TARA FOR BEING AMAZING PARTY HEADS. BLONDIE FOR PARTYING HARD AND DRIVING LIKE A MAD WOMAN AND OF COURSE OUR FINISH BROTHERS THE DUDESONS. ANYONE I FORGOT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ALL ARE. WHAT A WEEK, WHAT A PARTY, WHAT AN ADVENTURE AND WHAT AN EXPERIENCE I’LL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. UNTILL NEXT TIME……………S.W.Y.D

MAX & EVE

 

JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END

AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW IVE JUST FINISHED A 1,125 MILE RIDE FROM THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY JOHN O’GROATS TO THE VERY BOTTOM LANDS END WITH CARDIFF DEVILS ICE HOCKEY PLAYER ALEX SYMONDS ALONG WITH HIS TWIN BROTHER DAN SYMONDS AS SUPPORT DRIVER. WE DID IT FOR A GREAT CHARITY TY-HAVAN HOSPICE. AS SOON AS IM BACK FROM THE GUMBALL I WILL WRITE A BLOG OF OUR TIME ON THE ROAD. YOU CAN SPONSOR US HERE www.justgiving.com/swyd-ironman THANK YOU

GUMBALL 3000 2011

GUMBALL LOGO ON HOTEL IN LA 2009

THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE WORLDS MOST GLAMOROUS AND LEGENDARY RALLY WHICH IS THE GUMBALL 3000. 127 SUPER CARS AND ONE VEHICLE GUARANTEED TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING FOR THE WHOLE 3000 MILES THROUGH EUROPE…………..OUR VAN.

THE RALLY HAS SOME OF THE WORLDS RICHEST PEOPLE, CELEBRITIES AND CHARACTERS ALL SPENDING THEIR DAYS DRIVING TO THE NEXT DESTINATION WHERE THEY WILL STAY AT THE BIGGEST AND BEST HOTELS THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER AND PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY UNTILL ITS TIME TO WAKE (SOME WILL SLEEP) AND DO IT ALL AGAIN. FULL INFORMATION ON THIS YEARS RALLY VIA www.gumball3000.com

I WAS LUCKY TO GO ON THE GUMBALL COAST TO COAST RALLY IN 2009 FROM LA TO MIAMI AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST LIFE EXPERIENCES  IVE EVER BEEN ON. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PINCH MYSELF AS I FEEL SO PRIVILEGED TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I GET INVITED TO THESE EVENTS AND TRAVEL THE WORLD AND HAVE THE BEST TIMES.

THE LAMBO I DROVE ROUND MIAMI ON GUMBALL 2009

THE 2009 RALLY WAS A FULL ON 24 HR CARNAGE, MAYHEM, DRIVING AND PARTYING EXTRAVAGANZA WHICH WAS JUST MIND BLOWING. FLYING TO LA AND DRIVING THROUGH AMERICA ONLY TO END UP IN MIAMI WITH A MIND FULL OF STORY’S THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. BECAUSE I DID THE RALLY IN 2009 I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS YEARS SO IM SUPER STOKED TO DO IT ALL AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IM DOING IT WITH ‘DAINTON’. YEP, YOU HEARD RIGHT. DAINT IS JOINING ME ON THE RALLY SO ITS GUARANTEED TO BE FUCKING OFF THE HOOK. DAINT + CAMERA = DO NOT FALL ASLEEP AND WATCH MY BACK AT ALL TIMES. AFTER THE RECENT WANKGATE SCANDAL THAT HE STARTED I’D BETTER WATCH MY BACK. ON THAT NOTE SO SHOULD OTHER GUMBALLERS AS WE HAVE A LOAD OF AMMUNITION TO CAUSE AS MUCH CARNAGE AS POSSIBLE. ON THE SUBJECT OF CARNAGE THE DUDESONS ARE ON THE RALLY TOO SO THIS YEARS GUMBALL REALLY IS GUARANTEED TO KICK OFF IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.

HAHAHA LEE DAINTON AKA KEN DODD

FROM LONDON TO ISTANBUL 3000 MILES IN 7 DAYS COMPLEATE WITH 7 PARTY’S!!!!!!!!! THIS YEARS GUMBALL IS SURE TO FUCKING KICK OFF IN SPECTACULAR STYLE AND I FOR ONE CANT WAIT. LIFE’S FOR LIVING AND IM OFF TO LIVE IT.

BBC FOOTAGE

CLICK THE LINK TO CHECK OUT THE BBC SPORT WALES FOOTAGE OF OUR IRONMAN TRAINING BIKE RIDE WITH GERAINT THOMAS MBE

http://youtu.be/Cc8nAiozKQY

PVSD TOUR

DAINT, MYSELF & EXOTOPE

THE SAYING ‘SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD WAS GONNA’ COME INTO PLAY OVER THE NEXT 5 DAYS AS I HAVE 5 DAYS AND 5 PARTY’S TO ATTEND. FIRST I HAD THE PVSD (PRITCHARD VS DAINTON) TOUR OF GURNSEY, MIDDLESBOROUGH AND WREXHAM TO CONTEND WITH. AS FAR AS TOURS GO THIS WAS A BLINDER OF ALL BLINDERS. A DRIVE TO EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT AND A FLIGHT TO GURNSEY WAS FIRST. I’VE NEVER BEEN TO GURNSEY BEFORE AND HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND WITH THE WEATHER BEING LOVELY AND WARM IT ONLY MAKES THINGS THAT MORE FRUITFUL. ARRIVING IN GURNSEY WITH VIEWS OF HUGE HOUSES AND SWIMMING POOLS IN ALMOST EVERU BACK GARDEN IT REALLY DOES SAY TO YOU THIS ISLAND HAS A LOT OF £££££££ AND SO IT SHOULD CONSIDERING THE MAIN BUSINESS IS FINANCE. WE WERE PICKED UP BY ADAM WHO WAS THE PROMOTER AND HE TOOK US TO OUR HOTEL THEN IT WAS DOWNSTAIRS TO DO PRESS INTERVIEWS. AFTER A BEER WE WENT TO A LOVELY RESTAURANT AND HAD SOME OF THE BEST FOOD IVE HAD IN A LONG TIME. IF YOUR GONNA BE PARTYING LIKE A MAD MAN FOR DAYS A NICE BIT OF FOOD IS A TREAT FOR THE BODY LET ME TELL YOU.

POSH FOOD IN SALMON ROSE FORM

FOOD DONE THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE HOTEL TO GET OUR DRINK ON AND THEN HEAD OFF TO THE CLUB. THE PLACE WAS RAMMED AND AS PER USUAL THE PVSD FANS DIDNT LET US DOWN. A GREAT GIG WAS HAD BY ALL AND THEN OFF TO HOTEL WITH A LOAD OF SHITTY TAKE AWAY FOOD.

IN THE RED CORNER

THURSDAY MORNING AND A FLIGHT BACK TO EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT AND A FEW HOURS DRIVE UP TO MIDDLESBOUROUGH. DUE TO THE EASTER WEEKEND THE TRAFFIC WAS HORRENDOUS SO IT TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WE ARRIVED DUMPED OUR STUFF AND HEADED TO NANDOS FOR A NOSH THEN WENT TO THE VENUE ‘ARENA’ AND SAT DOWN BACK STAGE BEFORE WE WERE LET OFF OUR LEASH TO GO MENTAL ON STAGE. THE CROWD WERE WELL UP FOR IT TONIGHT AND AFTER WE FINISHED THE GIG I STAYED TO PARTY WITH EVERYONE THERE. THE DJ PLAYED SOME TOP TUNES AND WE ALL HAD A GREAT LAUGH. FROM CLUB TO HOTEL AND THE PARTY KEPT GOING UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO CHUCK EVERYONE OUT AND MANAGE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD TO WREXHAM.

IKEA FUN

MEETING ME IN WREXHAM IS FELLOW GUMBALL ENTRANT BLONDIE WHO WILL BE JOINING ME FOR THE NIGHT AND THE WEEKENDS PARTY’S IN CARDIFF. MY FRIEND JASON KONTEN WILL BE JOINING HER IN HER FERRARI ON THIS YEARS GUMBALL TO ISTANBUL.

THIS IS ABOUT TO DO 3000 MILES ON THE GUMBALL.

MEETING UP AND DRIVING THROUGHT THE ONE WAY STREETS OF WREXHAM IN A LOUD FERRARI TRYING TO FIND THE CAR PARK OF OUR HOTEL WAS QUITE FUN AS IT WAS REALLY HARD TO FIND BUT WE MANAGED IT IN THE END AND GOT READY FOR SOME PINTS AT THE HOTEL BAR BUMPING INTO A FATHER WHO HAD HIS LITTLE SON WITH HIM WHO WAS CALLED ‘DAINTON’ OF ALL NAMES. BEING IN THE SAME ROOM AS 2 DAINTONS ISNT REALLY MY IDIEA OF FUN LET ME TELL YOU HAHA, ONE IS ENOUGH. WE HAD SOME PICS WITH MINI DAINT THEN HEADED TO THE CLUB.

MINI DAINT

TONIGHTS GIG WAS A VERY SPECIAL ONE AS THE CROWD WERE REALLY SILENT AND LISTENED TO EVERY WORD WE SAID. IT WAS MORE LIKE A SPOKEN WORD WITH ADDED STUNTS AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT. IT WAS MORE COMEDY BASED AND WE CAPITALIZED ON THE COMEDY ASPECT OF OUR SET. AFTER A GOOD GIG CAME A GOOD PARTY AT MY HOTEL ROOM WHICH INVOLVED SNORTING LINES OF CUSTARD CREAMS, BOURBONS, TEA, COFFEE AND SOAP HAHA, GOD KNOWS WHAT WE WERE THINKING BUT IT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME.

ROCKING THE SWYD T'SHIRT AT WREXHAM

WAKING UP WITH A NOSE FULL OF A BISCUIT FACTORY IT WAS TIME TO MAKE THE DRIVE BACK TO CARDIFF IN THE FERRARI AND I WAS THE CHOSEN DRIVER. EXITED ISNT THE WORD. ITS NOT EVERY DAY YOU GET TO DRIVE A FERRARI ALL THE WAY HOME BUT IT DID WIND ME UP BEING STUCK ON ‘A’ ROADS BEHIND TRACTORS WHEN YOUR STUCK BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A SUPERCAR GGGRRRR. AS SOON AS I HIT THE MOTORWAY I WAS OFF AND ENJOYING THE ACCELERATION OF THIS BEAST AND I LOVED IT.

THE START OF CARDIFF WEEKEND PARTY'S

A GREAT 3 DAY TOUR AND NOW I HAD 2 NIGHTS IN CARDIFF TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHICH WAS AS CARDIFF NIGHTS OUT GO…..AMAZING.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND. IM OFF TO WIDNES, ST HELENS, ABERDEEN AND GLASGOW ON TOUR. TILL NEXT WEEK, BE SAFE BUT BE HAPPY

 

PRITCH

 


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