But spare a thought for absent friends

Not just those who couldn't find the time away from work, or families, to travel with us, but those who DID but erm, didn't!

First up, probably the unluckiest man in the squad Ian Gannon.



He broke his foot a month before we were due to travel, and was thus ruled out of a run out. But he'd booked his flight, paid for the hotel, and was planning a nice break away with his kids & sister in law. Broken foot, new customised boots bought for the trip, and then injured. What else could go wrong?
Erm, on getting to the airport there was a problem with his young daughters passport documents. So his older boy travelled on with his sister in law, and he would fly out with his girl the next day. A hiccup that could easily be overcome. Except that the very next day the Passport Office were beginning a three day strike, so trip cancelled for him. So Ian still remains a 'tour virgin'!

And what about Matt Hammond?



He was looking forward to another tour, having been on a number of the previous ones, including our first trip abroad, to Amsterdam, back in May 2002. But unlike Ian he never even got as far as the airport! He spent the entire twenty four hours before his flight searching in vain for his passport, and turned his house upside down in the process! Apparently he gave up searching at just before four in the morning, a few hours before his flight!

Whilst we might all smile at their 'misfortune' I was genuinely sad not to see them make the trip, and hope they are available for our next tour, wherever that may be.