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 가입일 Temmuz 2011
682 팔로잉204 팔로워
Ian Watson 리트윗함
Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Alda’s 90th Birthday
January 28, 2026.
Alan Alda turned 90.
His family planned a safe celebration at home.
Cake. Balloons. Grandkids.
Alan said no.
“I don’t want a party,” he said.
His daughter frowned.
“Dad… you’re turning ninety. This is a big deal.”
“I know,” Alan said.
“But I don’t want to celebrate here.”
“Then where?”
Alan didn’t hesitate.
“I want to go to the beach.”
The room went still.
“The beach?”
“Dad, you’re in a wheelchair.”
“You can barely stand.”
Alan smiled.
That smile.
The Hawkeye Pierce smile — the one that always meant something stubborn was coming.
“So?”
By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming.
“The four of us,” he said.
“The last four.”
Gary Burghoff.
Jamie Farr.
Mike Farrell.
And himself.
The final survivors of the 4077th.
“No cameras. No interviews. No speeches,” Alan said.
“Just us.”
The phone calls began.
Gary answered first.
“Happy birthday, old man! Ninety!”
“Thanks. I need you to drive.”
“Drive where?”
“To the beach.”
A pause.
“Alan… you’re in a wheelchair.”
“So are facts. They don’t stop me either.”
Gary laughed.
That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years.
“Fine. But I’m not pushing you through sand.”
“I’ll crawl if I have to.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’m Hawkeye. Same thing.”
Jamie Farr was next.
“The beach?” Jamie said.
“I’m ninety-one and in a wheelchair.”
“Then we’ll have two wheelchairs at the beach.”
“Like a parade?”
“Like a victory lap.”
Jamie laughed until his voice cracked.
“You haven’t changed since 1972.”
“And you’re still Klinger.”
“Fine. I’m in.”
Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered.
“Let me guess,” he said.
“You want me to push your wheelchair.”
“Yes.”
“I’m eighty-six. I use a cane.”
“BJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,” Alan said.
“You’ll manage.”
Long pause.
“…Fine.”
January 28. 6:00 a.m.
Gary arrived in a rented van.
Two wheelchair spaces.
He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
At Alan’s house, his daughter hovered.
“Dad, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
“What if something happens?”
“Something is always about to happen at ninety,” Alan said.
“Might as well happen at the beach.”
Jamie was waiting outside his house.
Wheelchair. Sunglasses.
Hawaiian shirt.
“You coordinated outfits?” Gary asked.
“It’s tradition,” Jamie said.
“The 4077th always matched.”
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,
“That song used to annoy me.”
“Now?”
“Now it just reminds me how lucky we were.”
At Malibu, reality hit.
Wheelchairs don’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,
“My grandmother watched MASH* every night.”
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.
“I forgot what this felt like,” he said.
They talked about the ones who weren’t there.
McLean.
Wayne.
Larry.
Harry.
Bill.
David.
Loretta.
Jamie finally broke the silence.
“Let’s race.”
Two wheelchairs.
Two pushers.
One rock.
They raced.
They tied.
People on the beach stared.
A teenager asked, “What are those old guys doing?”
His mother said, “Living.”
As the sun set, Alan spoke.
“This might be the last time.”
No one argued.
“That’s why it matters,” he said.
“Because we know.”
He made a wish.
“One more year.”
“One more adventure.”
“Korea. Together.”
They promised.
English
@WattsChelt @gloucesterrugby Piper’s Rest
El Jefe’s
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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Can you name one thing India gave to the world?🇮🇳
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Ian Watson 리트윗함
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 리트윗함
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.
English
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 🤣
Chelsea FC@ChelseaFC
What is the greatest first Chelsea goal scored? 🤔 💙 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 🤣.
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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