So I walk out of my hotel....a Holiday Inn near the stadium in Columbus...to get a sandwich and relax a bit after another full day of driving. And kill some time before a friend arrives tonight after booking a last minute flight up for tomorrow's game. Ho hum.

So I walk back to the hotel, clutching my little bag from Subway, looking down to carefully pick my way over a speed bump and construction debris in front of the hotel. I hear some foreign accents, look up and see....Given and Speed lolling about. EH?!! I must have triple-taked. I know I'm tired and delirious after the long drive but... So I said hi to the Shay apparition, and it answered back. Ok, take a deep breath and keep walking into the lobby still not quite believing this.

Walk into the lobby to find it swarming with players. Hughes, Shearer, Dunc, etc... I couldn't walk anywhere without passing any of them. I went over to the desk to get an extra room key, since I had literally just found out about my friend before I walked out of the hotel. The staff were all lined up staring at the players and grinning like crazy. So I'm taking care of business, when I notice a form in black tracksuit bottoms and grey shirt(what they're all wearing tonight) wander up near me and kind of look over. It was Shearer!! Cheek! Well, now he knows what room I'm in...he better come visit me! ;-)

I just nodded and went off to the elevator, only thinking of getting back upstairs before I fall over from shock. Well who's standing there waiting for the elevator but Dunc, Harper and Gallacher! Had to hit the door open button when the door almost closed on Harper. I was in such shock, I couldn't even think. I just said hi to them as well.

Once David is here, I think a relaxing drink in the hotel bar is a must! ;-) Maybe by then I'll have recovered enough to be able to think and speak!

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

Answers

Ciara, I think that's what we commonly refer to as being 'gobsmacked'! Didn't any of the players recognise you from D.C.?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Dunno if they recognized me. I think Shearer did. Probably why he came over to see if I was really staying here. Just came back from the bar where we were drinking with some of the team staff. Apparently this was a last minute booking because their original hotel had been posted on the web somewhere so they wanted to switch so as not to be bombarded. Har. I did explain that we had actually set up a North American supporters rate here months ago. It was a good night. No training tomorrow, so next up is the game! Hopefully a little better performance, but they are definitely thinking more about Aug 20 and not so bothered about preseason results. This is more about watching different players together. And Dunc may get a run out tomorrow. Cort will probably not play as he's still bothered by blisters. Now off to pass out after a looooong day. Needed the drinks though!

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Ciara - you lucky, lucky girl!!!!!!!! You had you `gob` well and truly `smacked` last night then!!!! Now next time it happens you`ll be getting a bit blase about it all, so grab your laptop, grab a player, and set up a question and answer session on the BBs!!! Keep enjoying your holiday - this has to be about as good as you could have hoped it would get!!!

Yours Green with Envy Galaxy

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Very cool, but before any frolicking take the camcorder off LKD (c;

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Great story pet. I hope you gave them all your address:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-challenge.tcl?topic=Unoffic ial%20Newcastle%20United%20Football%20Club%20BBS

'twould be nice if they kept in touch!

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

WOW. Incredible!! I bet you're their lucky omen and we win!

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Latest update....DAvid and I went to the bar last night and wound up chatting with John Carver and a few other staff. Bobby was hanging out in the lobby talking to someone else. When JC heard about David's photo sob story(the pics of him with Bobby and Alan didn't come out so his saint of a wife sent him up here for this game and to try again) and how I'd driven in from DC and Boston, he told us to be in the lobby a few minutes before they were due to go out for their walk and he'd arrange a photo op for us. True to his word, as the lads came down he sent them our way! The pics are all on David's camera so we're both praying they come out! It was really great, we have mini-group pics. I know we missed a few players, but got most of them. Fingers crossed they all come out, I'll post em when I get my copies! :-)

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Oh, and forgot to mention that some of them played an impromtu softball game with one of the girls' teams staying here yesterday afternoon. Let's just say it was another humbling experience. ;-)))

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

All I can say ciara is I'm green with envy - you lucky girl.
I just can't begin to tell how much I'd enjoy talking footy with BR or AS.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Ciara, sounds fantastic! Can't wait to see your piccies. I've loaded up Real Player so will listen in tonight if I don't fall asleep first. What time doea the coverage start?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000