Peace before the party in Keighley

“I never want to touch another drink! I bet this statement is being echoed by practically the whole population over this festive period and by a leggy blonde on particular, I Hope John has plenty of TLC to give her and that she finally got her shoes on the right way round last night!

Gangsta Tony gets whiff of a party

Men at the bar

Tina wanted to throw a Christmas party for the Appy Wanderers on December 27th.  Sunday would see a gathering at the Wanderers clubhouse on the hill overlooking Keighley, snow was everywhere on the surrounding hills, it was crisp cold and clear, the thin grey cloud hung low and motion less, thankfully we were having a break from snowy downpours, cold air cleaned our lungs and turned warm breath into little cold clouds. The roads had cleared enough to allow cars reasonable passage. Julie and I drove the sixty odd miles from South Yorkshire in our little KA. Our new Wing still sat in the garage, had sat there eight weeks in fact, patiently waiting for the first dry days of 2010. We left the M62 and climbed higher and higher towards the clubhouse, an hour later we got there washed changed, had a drink or two and set off in the new Bulgarian Battlebus to a pub nr Leeds for a drink and a meal with a dozen wingers, it was a dry run for Tina’s party the next day …but not quite a DRY run!

Lets get the party started

08.00rs the next day found Barry and I chomping on thick bacon sarnies, as usual discussing club stuff for 2010, our Bulgarian road trip, bikes, bikes and other Wanderers trips. Time soon goes when we get our heads together. We were dispatched to the shops by the girls to get some last minute food and drink, It looked like Tina had done enough to feed Keighley, I’d done some mince pies that had myseriously mutated in the oven and now looked like bloody huge volo vons, and gave off strong vapours of brandy, Julie was putting these and her savouries with Tinas huge offerings.

Lovely ladies from Leeds

We returned presently from the shops, chucked the car keys away and grabbed a beer, Barry fired up the PC and gave Bulgaria a call, Mali and Janice joined us on screen, it was a live video feed, we could see Janice standing behind him on the screen with a drink, she was entering into the spirit of things good girl! We had minutes of banter and greetings before the first of the Wanderers arrived, we made Mali feel at home with warm cutting insults and general character deformations (who need families when we have each other!!)

 The first of 28 people began to arrive, I put my best “lizarding” shirt on and manned the door to relieve them of their beer and coats. The house soon filled up with Wanderers from the 2005.06 07 08 09 ride outs and tours, Heather the dog was going bonkers shouting at the top of her voice as yet another couple arrived, Nick the Freak arrived dressed to kill with a big bunch of flowers for Tina and sprouted a new red hairstyle, I felt like bowing and saluting he looked so smooth and dapper! Our Scooterboy brewer brought some wicked bottles of beer that tasted a bit special, men drunk it  and went silent OOOOH lovely! Tom you can come again,

Getting ready to view "The Grossglockner" disc

The clubhouse begins to fill

Three old dogs!

Little things......

 wifey Michelle brought lager and fluffy pink slippers bless! Brain bottled it with the shirt, he had put his lounge lizard shirt to begin with on but Janet wagged her finger and reminded him of his age, Brian cow tailed to her and wore summat  plain and really boring, topped off with a student scarf, so it was left just to me to look classy.  The premiere of Barry’s camera footage was rolled out and played on the huge lounge TV, it was “The Grossglockner”, we sat and watched in amazement as Barry banked and booted his Wing up and over the pass, the scenery was breathtaking, it came flooding back, folk began to recall particular corners and little incidents, this disc was played alternatively with my photo disc, I sat and enjoyed it as much as everyone even though I’d seen it a dozen times by now, it’s much better fun to sit with everyone and view it,

Michelle smiles for hubby Tom xxx

 the laughter got louder especially when C.C put in a couple of appearances here and there. Elaine and Russ turned up from Halifax, followed by Jane and Steve, they had just driven down from Scotland. It really was great to see EVERYONE, such is the pull that the Appy Wanderers has on folk!.

Greeting our pal Mali, live from Bulgaria

The back room filled as the new look APPY WANDERERS site was rolled out on the lap top and shown, Mali and Janice came back on line and was introduced to everyone, it must have been good for those two guys all that way over there to join in with us for a while!

Barry gets the food bill

Still more people arrived, Tony Walton breezed in, the knives came out some assassinating got underway, sharp wit got sharper, I fueled the debaters by passing “tinnies” around, other have tea or coffee, I think perhaps they have already reached the “I never want another drink” stage…unlike our Sharon! Insults were parried and thrown back, isn’t it odd how men insult the crap out of friends? The deeper the love the deeper the insult! Heather the dog skipped from one room to the other, nibbles were passed by more than one reveller, she was in her element, well at least she left me alone today!

Men talking serious stuff...blah, blah blah!

I don’t know how many times the discs went round but they got funnier each time, the month of toil and flustration spent in the making disappeared as everyone leaned left and right in unison to Barry’s speeding bike and giggled at the jokes and comments on my offering. The schnapps cabinet was opened and various tots were passed around puckering lips, I really am getting the taste for the stuff especially the peach kind. All too soon it was time for some to make their long journey home reuctantly folk began to drift off, Mark clung onto his pint as long as he could, his belly swelled by now, quite full from two nights celebrating.

Steve of Scotiland and Dave together again

 Chrissy kissed everyone and she “hoofed” him out of the door shouting “goodnight all” (ah ha! She was getting into wifey mode already)  Geoff and Christine followed, as did Heather and her “gangster”. Sharon was full of wine now but didn’t know it, asking people if they wanted tea of coffee…. in West Yorkshire Klingon, she was the only one that understood what she was saying, not a sway, totter or stagger in sight,just a complete lack of English coming from her lips! Near the end knew I was full of laker schnapps and stuff and wondered if I was beginning speaking Klingon because I suddenly understood what she was saying!

 Soon the house was empty silence filled the air, the TV fell silent Julie cleared up, I sat chewing the fat about more bike stuff and tours with Barry, it was after 02.30 before we turned in, I was quite sober by now, Tina had been catnapping during Barry rendition of a US bike trip, we could have gone on till dawn Im sure!

A worn out Wandererer sometime after midnight

Another worn out Wanderer!

I had a brilliant time and loved meeting up with everyone, old, older and new, it’s really nice to meet my huge bike family again especially during these bleak bike less times, roll on dry roads and longer brighter days when we can say hello to the bikes as well, so until then its…….

TILATERONTEN

                                                   THE SCRIBE