'My day out'
9.05 With my nurse. 'You will feel a little prick' she said to me. 'What's new?' I thought to myself. A flu jab for yours truthfully, just in case you have an alternative image in your mind

This last minute arrangement had scuppered my football plans slighty. A flu jab or a football match? The flu jab won and my team lost, which is the way it turned out anyway. Thankyou nurse for sparing me the anguish of Coventry City losing as it would have been a little rushed to get to Coventry for the early kick off.
9.30 Supermarket. Stock up with J20's for the meet, Now what flavour shall I get? No contest... Orange and Passion fruit won..which is more than Cov City did...have I already mentioned that last point?
10.00 Back home. A leisurely read of the papers and late breakfast followed immediately by an early lunch and twenty double checks to make sure I have everything I need for Gloucester. J20's - check guitar- check quiz sheet -check money- check clean underpants in case of accident (road accident that is - nothing incontinental here) - checked ( not checked underpants!!!!
road map and Linda's directions -check.
10.30 I think I'll just have a lazy morning... recharge my batteries before the long day ahead.
11.00 still recharging lazily
11.30 better just recheck everything check check check sorry, a recheck would be just check... not a triple check.
12.00 sport on tv What a lovely morning I'm having.
12.30 Coventry are kicking off.. 60 miles away. Keep an eye on the score on teletext.
12.40 Cov 1 cardiff 0 What a breeze
13.15 Cov 1 cardiff 3 What a collection of no hopers!!! Still, there are still another 45 mins. We ain't lost yet.
14.30 We lost 1-3. Thank g-d for the flu jab..much healthier
17:30 Arrive at the Harvester in Gloucester ( I spared you the details of driving down.
17.35 I ask a barmaid ' I'm looking for a Mrs Morris'. Barmaid eyes me suspiciously. I try to look all innocent.
18.00 I think I've been stood up. My Coca Cola is going flat and the barmaid is casting a cursory glance my way. I still try to blend into the surroundings

and, on cue, arrives Linda and John and Hazel soon followed by Lizzie and Peter and then Margaret, Andrew and Byron.
18.30 All present, including Rachel, and a good hearty meal enjoyed by all. A free, help yourself, salad from the salad cart with every main meal. Lizzie just wanted the free salad but she succumbed to a main meal in order to enjoy the said salad

. Andrew had 2 free salads ( I was counting

) and he had 2 bread rolls as well. It's a long way from Edinburgh!!!. Andrew and Rachel also disappeared when the bill arrived. I think the words Scottish and Student respectively come to mind

Our waitress only had to come to the table 4 times to see if we could cover the bill
We retrieved Andrew and Rachel and held them upside down over the table to empty their loose change. We didn't have to do the washing up.
19.45 Out we go. I call out, in an unassuming way 'We're just all going to a Leonard Cohen gathering where we will immerse ourselves in his works and tell Cohen jokes and have a really happy time' expecting the whole pub to rise in unison and shout ' show us the way, show us the way'. But all we heard was the continual munching of food and not one ounce of interest. They had their chance. Their lives will have to remain untouched.
20.00 We have our communal solitude and there are more j20's than I bought. J20 ought to have sponsored the event.
Linda has already produced an account of the proceedings. Yes, it was a most enjoyable evening and absolutely great to meet old and new friends.When I say old I mean those I have met before
and yes, Byron did give a hug and a photo was taken to prove it. You have wreaked your revenge Cia...we are now quits
Andrew and Peter singing So Long Marianne to Byron and I on the guitars was memorable, each verse getting louder and louder. I'm sure the whole of Gloucester went quieter and quieter. The rendition of tower of song is less memorable... we couldn't tell a verse from a chorus....but somehow, it didn't seem to matter. Byron and I did manage to get our chords in unison and our next performance is at the Albert Hall...tickets £45.
Henning was there in voice (hope he doesn't ask for royalties). What a cd!!!! absolutely brilliant..we made 6000 copies of it...only joking ( 5478 to be precise)
It was great to hear the poetry. I have read Andrew's poems here in the forum but to be there and hear him read some was truly superb..thankyou Andrew. I have heard Lizzie undressing Leonard before ( A POEM!!!!) and hope that it eventually finds it way here. Thankyou Lizzie for bringing all your vast collection.
Midnight. Short goodbyes before the caretaker had us sectioned.
Many many thanks to Linda for organising it, I look forward to future similar events. First we take Gloucester and then we take..... Chester? Matlock? Edinburgh?
Midnight + 5 mins On the road again. Music on full blast to while away the journey and stop me driving through the fields. Sorry, not Leonard as this may have slumbered me at the wheel ( no disrespect). It was Roger Waters and Gentle Giant for me.
2.00 home again. At the pc with my ovaltine to wind down. That rounded off the day perfectly.
3.00 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
BTW did I mention that Coventry City lost???
Pete