After almost 5 years in this business, lurking in the mists of the a4uforum without ever uttering a word, I finally find myself compelled to say something!!
Over the years I've been on quite a few superb days out courtesy of Buyagift. All have been great fun, some have been amazing but I
am still coming to terms with what I experienced in Las Vegas just over a week ago. I think I'm suffering from Post Ecstatic Stress Disorder! A heady mix of adrenalin, testosterone, booze and alot of laughter.
I've tried telling friends and family about the weekend. They say things like "wow, that sounds fantastic" and "jammy g*t" but I don't feel they really get HOW fantastic it was and just HOW jammy a g*t I
am to have been invited. Maybe only those of us who experienced it, the Vegas 8 (6 great affiliates and 2 amazing hosts), can ever really comprehend the events of that weekend.
I even missed almost a whole day of it. Feeling super human after driving super cars across the baron Nevada landscape at breakneck speeds on Saturday I slightly over indulged during the evening/morning session that followed which meant I missed the helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon (I was the 'one man down' from Wardy's helicopter photo). I was still struggling to digest food at 10pm on Sunday in the spinning Stratosphere restaurant (it was spinning wasn't it? it wasn't just me?). But normal service was soon resumed and Sunday evening's entertainment kept me up (oo-errr) til the early hours when my appetite returned just as MacDonald's started changing over to the breakfast shift.
The feeling of terror as I climbed into the Ferrari 550 as passenger to Richard who hadn't driven for 8 years and had NEVER driven abroad will stay with me even longer than the stain in my underpants. The feeling of relief at how brilliantly (and slowly) Richard drove will also stay with me. I wish I'd known before we set out you had a car phobia after being hit by one (I wondered why you were gripping the door handle so tightly!). Well done, I take my hat off to you.
I have lots of great memories from this weekend, some of them printable, some of them just for regurgitation at future meetings of the Vegas 8. It was great to meet some new faces and get to know some old faces much, much better ! I think it's rare for a bunch of people to get on so well, especially considering the exhaustion levels.
Huge thanks to Dan and Graham for coming up with such a great idea, being superb hosts and especially for inviting me. Thanks to everyone for making it such a laugh. Can't wait to see what Dan and Graham will come up with next but I better be invited........I'm sure I will be........I have the negatives!
