Ian Watson
2.5K posts

Ian Watson
@WattsChelt
Product of Brockworth Comp' School and the riot torn streets of that 'village'. Man of Gloucestershire, loves sport and film. A keen, yet poor, golfer.
Cheltenham Bergabung Temmuz 2011
682 Mengikuti203 Pengikut
Ian Watson me-retweet

Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Aldaโs 90th Birthday
January 28, 2026.
Alan Alda turned 90.
His family planned a safe celebration at home.
Cake. Balloons. Grandkids.
Alan said no.
โI donโt want a party,โ he said.
His daughter frowned.
โDadโฆ youโre turning ninety. This is a big deal.โ
โI know,โ Alan said.
โBut I donโt want to celebrate here.โ
โThen where?โ
Alan didnโt hesitate.
โI want to go to the beach.โ
The room went still.
โThe beach?โ
โDad, youโre in a wheelchair.โ
โYou can barely stand.โ
Alan smiled.
That smile.
The Hawkeye Pierce smile โ the one that always meant something stubborn was coming.
โSo?โ
By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming.
โThe four of us,โ he said.
โThe last four.โ
Gary Burghoff.
Jamie Farr.
Mike Farrell.
And himself.
The final survivors of the 4077th.
โNo cameras. No interviews. No speeches,โ Alan said.
โJust us.โ
The phone calls began.
Gary answered first.
โHappy birthday, old man! Ninety!โ
โThanks. I need you to drive.โ
โDrive where?โ
โTo the beach.โ
A pause.
โAlanโฆ youโre in a wheelchair.โ
โSo are facts. They donโt stop me either.โ
Gary laughed.
That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years.
โFine. But Iโm not pushing you through sand.โ
โIโll crawl if I have to.โ
โYouโre insane.โ
โIโm Hawkeye. Same thing.โ
Jamie Farr was next.
โThe beach?โ Jamie said.
โIโm ninety-one and in a wheelchair.โ
โThen weโll have two wheelchairs at the beach.โ
โLike a parade?โ
โLike a victory lap.โ
Jamie laughed until his voice cracked.
โYou havenโt changed since 1972.โ
โAnd youโre still Klinger.โ
โFine. Iโm in.โ
Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered.
โLet me guess,โ he said.
โYou want me to push your wheelchair.โ
โYes.โ
โIโm eighty-six. I use a cane.โ
โBJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,โ Alan said.
โYouโll manage.โ
Long pause.
โโฆFine.โ
January 28. 6:00 a.m.
Gary arrived in a rented van.
Two wheelchair spaces.
He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
At Alanโs house, his daughter hovered.
โDad, are you sure?โ
โIโve never been more sure of anything.โ
โWhat if something happens?โ
โSomething is always about to happen at ninety,โ Alan said.
โMight as well happen at the beach.โ
Jamie was waiting outside his house.
Wheelchair. Sunglasses.
Hawaiian shirt.
โYou coordinated outfits?โ Gary asked.
โItโs tradition,โ Jamie said.
โThe 4077th always matched.โ
Mike showed up next.
Also in a Hawaiian shirt.
Four old men.
One van.
Heading west.
On the drive, memories filled the air.
Harry driving too fast.
Larry bringing his own wine.
Radar making everyone cry.
Klinger never sleeping.
When the MASH* theme song came on, no one spoke.
After it ended, Alan said quietly,
โThat song used to annoy me.โ
โNow?โ
โNow it just reminds me how lucky we were.โ
At Malibu, reality hit.
Wheelchairs donโt work on sand.
Jamie grumbled.
Mike rubbed his back.
Alan stared at the ocean.
Gary disappeared.
Fifteen minutes later, he returned with two lifeguards and two beach wheelchairs.
One lifeguard whispered,
โMy grandmother watched MASH* every night.โ
It took time.
Transfers were slow.
Hands trembled.
Bones protested.
But they made it.
To the water.
Alan closed his eyes.
The sound of waves.
Salt in the air.
Sun on his face.
โI forgot what this felt like,โ he said.
They talked about the ones who werenโt there.
McLean.
Wayne.
Larry.
Harry.
Bill.
David.
Loretta.
Jamie finally broke the silence.
โLetโs race.โ
Two wheelchairs.
Two pushers.
One rock.
They raced.
They tied.
People on the beach stared.
A teenager asked, โWhat are those old guys doing?โ
His mother said, โLiving.โ
As the sun set, Alan spoke.
โThis might be the last time.โ
No one argued.
โThatโs why it matters,โ he said.
โBecause we know.โ
He made a wish.
โOne more year.โ
โOne more adventure.โ
โKorea. Together.โ
They promised.

English


@WattsChelt @gloucesterrugby Piperโs Rest
El Jefeโs
Dishoom (for Breakfast)
Yamato
Worth trying to book all of these before.
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@jam_rugby @gloucesterrugby What are your restaurant recommendations? Thanks
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@gloucesterrugby We have got a few restaurant recommendations if anyone needs them. Remember the Rugby is only 80 minutes
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Ian Watson me-retweet

A magnificent afternoon at @CheltenhamRaces and the tide is turning. A pleasure to be racing again here, a brilliant afternoon with a happy crowd of all ages. No disorderly behaviour in sight. The pendulum has swung back in favour of racing fans of all ages. Well done all at HQ.

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Ian Watson me-retweet

Well these three days have been without doubt the most enjoyable three days' racegoing experience at @CheltenhamRaces I've had since before Covid. Full marks to Guy Lavender and his team for the tweaks made that have made our Mecca a joy to be at again. A brilliant weekend here.

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Joe Allon against Wimbledon opening game of the season Stamford Bridge 1990-1 his celebration if it wasn't for the fencing round the Shed you'd swear he was going to keep going and run into the Fulham Road ๐คฃ
Chelsea FC@ChelseaFC
What is the greatest first Chelsea goal scored? ๐ค ๐ Vote on our app!
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@whitewall618431 Agreed, no one comes close to him, but my silver medal would go to John Coady the Irish Postman Chelsea signed - laughable!
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David Mitchell is by far the worst Chelsea player I've ever seen couldn't trap a dead mouse and looks like the late dart player Andy Fordham who was probably a better footballer than Mitchell. He played for us in the old div 2 and that was at least 3 leagues above his level ๐คฃ.

Andy Bush@bushontheradio
If you had to go to a Halloween party dressed as the WORST PLAYER your football team has ever had who would you be?
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@TrumpsHurricane Huge fan, ideally pigs liver. Just delicious! ๐
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