F1NGERS - Monaco 2003

I am awakened by my shower head holder packing up to go for his flight. "Fuckin hell" is how I greet my significant other to be replied to with, "Good morning to you sir". I leap from bed and look at the time. IDC's almost ready to go and it seemed (and still does) just plain weird.

Like, where the fuck does he think he's going? Why is he deserting the rest of the team? What's wrong with him? Oh, yeah - home day today. With a warm shaking of hands, a back slap and 2 of the widest grins we thank each other for a "hell of a week". IDC's off to London then to Oz for a party with his family in Melbourne. And that's it - with a poof he's gone.

Speaking of poofs, Toof has already left for his flight deeming it unnecessary to say Au revoiur. Sure, he was leaving early and didn't want to wake us, but nevertheless I am disappointed that I never got to say cheerio in person. Now we ALL have to pack except the Rotors who's flight isn't until Tuesday. They are to fly from Nice to Frankfurt then Frankfurt to Amentalca. Bob, Pat, Charlie, Elena and I all have 20:00 flights, so we're in no hurry. Oh, the only slightly pressing thing is that the Freaks don't have their airline tickets as yet, they are to collect them today from Air France's office just down the bottom of our street.

Packing now complete, single handed showers over (how I missed IDC) we leave for some lunch. We get to Air France to be told that they've not had a reply to a message which was sent on Friday (this is now Monday 12:00pm) and that they'll chase up the Fort Lauderdale office to get a response. Can we go back at 14:00. Again, I am struck by the calmness of the Soltau's and we all dine. Excellent food (as it always was - first night excluded) and some caffeine now perking us all up, we head to the ice cream parlour in old Nice as Bob is having some withdrawal symptoms. This is an incredible ice cream place with flavours such as "Sun dried tomato", "Rose", "Lavender" and "Chewing Gum". I plump for a 3 flavour combo with Baileys, Orange Chocolate and this berry yoghurt deal. Man - class!

It's nearing 14:00 so back to Air France we go. The unfortunate Soltau's had been told that there would be an admin charge of around $100.00 each for reissuing tickets. (DON'T ask why they never got electronic ones - that again is a story not of their doing) We get to the office to be told by some snooty French bitch that they have to re-buy their own seats back! You can imagine I'm sure how we all went a more than a little nuts at this, but the snooty French bitch was well - classically French in her level of courtesy. We all backed off as this was getting a bit too much for the poor buggers who had to pay for these SAME tickets again, and after an age we were out of there. Elena and Charlie had their way home - that's all that mattered at that moment in time. Suffice it to say, WE HEARTILY DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM USING AIR FRANCE - EVER.

Whilst in this office, there was much talk of a strike (well, how was I to know the French would be on strike - it's not like that happens a lot) and now Charlie and Elena were concerned that their flight out of Paris the next day would be cancelled. (They were flying Nice to Paris, then Paris to Miami on Tuesday) Back at the hotel, the Rotors too were concerned about their flight on Tuesday from Nice to Frankfurt. Giving the Hotel Kent some credit, the lady there went to bat for us and found that the Freaks flight was OK - the Rotors flight was cancelled! AW SHIT!

Now much rushing around trying to resolve this and there were several options on the table. A drive to Zurich for a Zurich to Amentalca flight or a train to Zurich! A train was eventually found whilst the rest of us bought some last minute gifts for out loved ones. Then in a frenzied flash it was over - the Rotors had to leave PDQ, and we had to be in a taxi to the airport. (Hope it's not an Australian at the wheel) Hearty goodbyes to the Rotor family and we're in a taxi to Nice. Charlie and Elena in Terminal 2 get out of the taxi first, then we head to Terminal one. Saying goodbye truly is such sweet sorrow. Now it hits me - it really is over. Everything we could have possibly done had been done - all the hype was over - and all we had left was a flight from Nice to Gatwick. At this point I call Mrs Monaco (as I had been all week) and she detects both excitement at coming home along with deflation at the adventure being over.

We get our flight back to London with ease and I sleep most of the way. Back at the hotel where the cars are parked for Bob & Pat, and I'm checked in for the night as my Scottish flight isn't until the next day. Goodbye to Pat and Bob and I head for me room. On the phone to Mrs Monaco again, I see Pat & Bob drive off from the car park.

I arrive home and get freshened up. Straight to school at 3:00pm to see Little Monaco and she is thrilled to see me. This of course had nothing to do with the copious amount of presents she was getting! :-) Back home I've unpacked and have looked through all 1757 pictures. We've still Bob & Toof's to get! HA! Mrs Monaco, Little Monaco and I all talk and talk and talk. I look through the mountain of stuff I've bought whilst on this adventure, and I separate out the best gifts.

What will stay with me for a long time will be the laughter, the friendship and the out and out enthusiasm for the whole 8 days. Regardless of what was thrown our way, regardless of all the above more than all that The Gang O Nine/Ten will forever make me smile. A riot from start to finish, never a dull moment, too much eaten, too much drank, too much walking, too little sleep (apart from the red car) and FAAAAR too much spent.