Ian Watson

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Ian Watson

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
Metabolic Factor
Metabolic Factor@MetabolicFactorยท
Which steak level do you prefer? ๐Ÿฅฉ
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Mr PitBull
Mr PitBull@MrPitbull07ยท
Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Aldaโ€™s 90th Birthday January 28, 2026. Alan Alda turned 90. His family planned a safe celebration at home. Cake. Balloons. Grandkids. Alan said no. โ€œI donโ€™t want a party,โ€ he said. His daughter frowned. โ€œDadโ€ฆ youโ€™re turning ninety. This is a big deal.โ€ โ€œI know,โ€ Alan said. โ€œBut I donโ€™t want to celebrate here.โ€ โ€œThen where?โ€ Alan didnโ€™t hesitate. โ€œI want to go to the beach.โ€ The room went still. โ€œThe beach?โ€ โ€œDad, youโ€™re in a wheelchair.โ€ โ€œYou can barely stand.โ€ Alan smiled. That smile. The Hawkeye Pierce smile โ€” the one that always meant something stubborn was coming. โ€œSo?โ€ By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming. โ€œThe four of us,โ€ he said. โ€œThe last four.โ€ Gary Burghoff. Jamie Farr. Mike Farrell. And himself. The final survivors of the 4077th. โ€œNo cameras. No interviews. No speeches,โ€ Alan said. โ€œJust us.โ€ The phone calls began. Gary answered first. โ€œHappy birthday, old man! Ninety!โ€ โ€œThanks. I need you to drive.โ€ โ€œDrive where?โ€ โ€œTo the beach.โ€ A pause. โ€œAlanโ€ฆ youโ€™re in a wheelchair.โ€ โ€œSo are facts. They donโ€™t stop me either.โ€ Gary laughed. That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years. โ€œFine. But Iโ€™m not pushing you through sand.โ€ โ€œIโ€™ll crawl if I have to.โ€ โ€œYouโ€™re insane.โ€ โ€œIโ€™m Hawkeye. Same thing.โ€ Jamie Farr was next. โ€œThe beach?โ€ Jamie said. โ€œIโ€™m ninety-one and in a wheelchair.โ€ โ€œThen weโ€™ll have two wheelchairs at the beach.โ€ โ€œLike a parade?โ€ โ€œLike a victory lap.โ€ Jamie laughed until his voice cracked. โ€œYou havenโ€™t changed since 1972.โ€ โ€œAnd youโ€™re still Klinger.โ€ โ€œFine. Iโ€™m in.โ€ Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered. โ€œLet me guess,โ€ he said. โ€œYou want me to push your wheelchair.โ€ โ€œYes.โ€ โ€œIโ€™m eighty-six. I use a cane.โ€ โ€œBJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,โ€ Alan said. โ€œYouโ€™ll manage.โ€ Long pause. โ€œโ€ฆFine.โ€ January 28. 6:00 a.m. Gary arrived in a rented van. Two wheelchair spaces. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. At Alanโ€™s house, his daughter hovered. โ€œDad, are you sure?โ€ โ€œIโ€™ve never been more sure of anything.โ€ โ€œWhat if something happens?โ€ โ€œSomething is always about to happen at ninety,โ€ Alan said. โ€œMight as well happen at the beach.โ€ Jamie was waiting outside his house. Wheelchair. Sunglasses. Hawaiian shirt. โ€œYou coordinated outfits?โ€ Gary asked. โ€œItโ€™s tradition,โ€ Jamie said. โ€œThe 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, โ€œThat song used to annoy me.โ€ โ€œNow?โ€ โ€œNow it just reminds me how lucky we were.โ€ At Malibu, reality hit. Wheelchairs donโ€™t 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, โ€œMy 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. โ€œI forgot what this felt like,โ€ he said. They talked about the ones who werenโ€™t there. McLean. Wayne. Larry. Harry. Bill. David. Loretta. Jamie finally broke the silence. โ€œLetโ€™s race.โ€ Two wheelchairs. Two pushers. One rock. They raced. They tied. People on the beach stared. A teenager asked, โ€œWhat are those old guys doing?โ€ His mother said, โ€œLiving.โ€ As the sun set, Alan spoke. โ€œThis might be the last time.โ€ No one argued. โ€œThatโ€™s why it matters,โ€ he said. โ€œBecause we know.โ€ He made a wish. โ€œOne more year.โ€ โ€œOne more adventure.โ€ โ€œKorea. Together.โ€ They promised.
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Gloucester Rugby ๐Ÿ’
Gloucester Rugby ๐Ÿ’@gloucesterrugbyยท
๐—ก๐—˜๐—ซ๐—ง ๐—จ๐—ฃ ๐Ÿค PRB Systems #EDIvGLO | ๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿ’
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Ekitike
Ekitike@damzychillinยท
Juan Mata and Lukaku excluded , name a player that played for Manchester United and Chelsea . Impossible
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Grow Smarter
Grow Smarter@GrowSmarter_xยท
Please help me with this๐Ÿฅน
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Out of Context Human Race
Out of Context Human Race@NoContextHumansยท
Can you name one thing India gave to the world?๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
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Mike Parcej
Mike Parcej@MikeParcejยท
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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Mike Parcej
Mike Parcej@MikeParcejยท
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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Rumi
Rumi@rumilyricsยท
Write first word you see
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Ian Watson
Ian Watson@WattsCheltยท
@Matt_Pinner 9 of 10 - Never come across a dirty nappy! ๐Ÿ™‚
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Ian Watson
Ian Watson@WattsCheltยท
@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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Val
Val@TrumpsHurricaneยท
Is anyone really a fan of Liver and Onions ??
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Ian Watson
Ian Watson@WattsCheltยท
@Matt_Pinner Heat, itโ€™s barely cooked! ๐Ÿ˜ฆ๐Ÿซฃ๐Ÿ˜‚
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