David is a muppet

We've just made it to Manchester, but before I discuss our next move, let me start with our near miss on the flight out. My flight was slightly delayed meaning by the time I arrived at the gate at JFK, the flight was already boarding. The bigger issue was that Bret had just landed and was still taxiing into his gate and it was in the next terminal.

I pleaded my case to the flight crew and they shook their head with pessimism about Bret's odds of making it. I asked about the next two flights out and they were booked solid so he was likely going to miss out till the next day, leaving me in London with no name on a hotel nor a lad to drink with...

Fortunately, Bret is still a skilled sprinter and made the flight by the hair of his chinny-chin-chin and we were off to London. Uneventful flight really...unless you consider eventful when a large group of about 40 hasidic jews can't stay seated for five minutes at a time, leading to the Captain coming on the PA system to instruct passengers that we have to follow TSA regulations and the flight attendant saying, "If you don't behave, we're going to have to set the plane down and take all of you off." Fun! Oh and somehow Bret's bag made the plane which is pretty remarkable considering he barely did.

Luckily that was all for the drama. Bret and I found our hotel with ease and spent the day waiting for a guy from a ticket service we used to buy tickets to the Manchester United-Blackburn match. After first telling us that he'd deliver them before we got in, he then told us that afternoon, then an hour and a half, then didn't show up at all. So Bret spent the night fretting with a massive stomach ache while I tried to assure him that we'd get the tickets the next morning before we left.

That brings us to today when we got a hold of him and he kept saying he'd get us the tickets later and he had to call us back in 10 minutes...yeah, sure...so we surprised him by making our next call from right outside his office with Bret saying, "we're right outside your door" and the guy probably wetting himself. He let us in and immediately said, "where are you staying in Manchester, I can have the tickets delivered to y..." Bret interrupted, "No, no, we're not doing that...you couldn't even get the tickets across town in London and you've told me a thousand lies already."

Bret then said, and I wish everyone could have watched this, "I want my money back, mate, 280 pound" and gave the 'give it to me gesture' to which David was actually speechless for a good 15 seconds. Luckily he succumbed at that point and we got our money back, but that left us with no tickets and a mission once we arrived here.

Train up here was uneventful and when we got to our 'luxurious' accommodation (pictured), the reality of our task set in...so we found this internet cafe and Bret happened to get an email from this guy he met through the supporters club who has two tickets. MIRACLE!!!

We will probably end up saving about 200 pound on the deal as well, so boy did things work out. (this is assuming he comes good on his promise, but he sounds legit)

So, all is good now and we can finally relax. More to come soon, I'll try to post every other day if I can.

Oh and p.s. David takes it up the ass, doo-dah, doo-dah.

About to Shove Off...

After burning the midnight oil to get all things lined up work-wise and trip-wise, I'm just about to head to bed for a healthy 3.5 hours of sleep before we head off to England tomorrow.

Bret and I meet up in New York and travel together the rest of the way to London where we'll stay the night Thursday before heading up to Manchester for four nights and then coming back to London for the final six nights.

I'll do my best to update this blog with tales of our journeys but I must warn you that if it becomes a hassle and/or I feel like my writing is about as entertaining as raking your back yard, then I'll cease and desist.

So bear with me...