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Hitler a Schalke fan, the truth will out! (The Times Today!)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:21:15 +0000

Adolf Hitler was a Schalke 04 fan: the club responds

Our list of the 50 worst famous football fans received a great response from the public and Russell Brand in particular. The comedian was not at all flattered to be listed in second place behind Adolf Hitler. Therefore we were delighted to be sent the following letter from Schalke 04's head of Media & PR who clearly had a point to make, but took the exercise in the spirit it was intended.

Dear Editor,

Your article on 'The 50 worst famous football fans' on November 26 made interesting reading. Until then we didn’t know Adolf Hitler had a soft spot for Schalke 04 let alone was a fan of our club.

We were very curious to find out what made the well respected Times claim this as a fact. So we checked and double-checked whether the club board between 1933 and 1945 had named a stand the “Führer Stand”, for example, and we watched every episode of 'Allo 'Allo in a bid to find a clue. Nothing.

In fact, it turned out he must have been an armchair supporter because he never bothered to turn up at any of our games, even if it was a championship final right on his door step at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Perhaps he was too occupied with his genocidal policies, or… maybe he wasn't a football fan after all.

This is at least what a scientific study commissioned by the club revealed in 2004. The authors analysed the theory that the fact that Schalke won six national championships during the Third Reich was down to the special support of the Nazis. The result was quite clear: the theory is total rubbish. At best, the Nazis tried to bask in the sun of the great popularity of a team that had ranked among the best in the land since 1927.

Hitler himself never did so for two reasons. First, the physiognomy of footballers with their bow legs and knock-knees wasn’t exactly his idea of a superior German race. Second, he did go to a football match once during the Olympic Games in 1936, but Germany lost 2-0 to Norway. Bugger!

To conclude Hitler was a fan of Schalke 04 because they won most of the titles during his regime must make Margaret Thatcher a Liverpool fan. Funnily enough she didn’t make the list.

Best regards
Gerd Voss
Head of Media & PR
Schalke 04

Read how The Times reported Schalke's 9-0 drubbing of Admira in 1939, a match which Hitler may have listened to on the radio.

On the Occasion of a 50th Birthday.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:33:46 +0000

Been away for a while good people, having a little bit of post radiotherapy rewiring, if you will. It has actually been quite painful and involved two stays in hospital. Getting better now, but baby steps. Things in planet hospital improving, it has to be said, staff seem more caring, and that all important tea trolley makes the rounds every other hour. I felt like one of my fish at feeding time. Anyway work was, as always, very supportive and put me back on reduced hours on my return to work post hospitalisation.

Moving on I was returning to fitness well enough to enjoy my birthday. It being the 50th I planned to make it as much of an occasion as possible. I spent a couple of nights in North Berwick, Scotland, again, and very nice it was too. A little bit of P and Q away from the mad world.

Ros flew up to join me on the Friday night and we moved into a suite in the Witchery, a bizarre Gothic pile just yards from Edinburgh Castle. Initial comments from my photos compare it to a Harry Potter set which is pretty much truthful. The weather helped with a bitter cold snap and a forecast of snow for my birthday itself. This would have been lovely had we not had to get back home that day to attend a gathering of friends at the Welly in Shoreham.

Getting back to the Witchery, we stayed in the Library suite, which in recent weeks has seen such luminaries as Paul Gascoigne and Kate Moss (I slept in Kate Moss’ bed ladies and gentlemen.) The bathroom was the best, a super deep tub in a large room with a real fireplace and under tile heating. A treat after a day in the freezing cold. (Especially with Champaign delivered to the room each day.) Hot bath, bubbles and choccy, the way to go.

Dinner was lovely, the main part of the Witchery business. Another gothic styled large candlelit room, and some of the best food in town. Breakfast was delivered to our suite in a hamper, saving us all the fath of getting up. We amused ourselves by just slightly opening the curtains, and coming face to face with the top deck of the passing tourist buses arriving at the Castle.

I did manage to resort too type Saturday afternoon, Hearts v Falkirk in what felt like -5C. I have never been so cold, and that includes Finland last Christmas. Ros had even bought the thermals up. Most warming part was a cup of soup in a non descript café around the corner from Tynecastle (the ground) It was not the as expected Cup a Soup, but carefully prepared and really tasty. Well done Hearts fans!!

Back then Sunday to the Welly for my gathering, and a good turnout despite the weather and lack of trains. (Service replaced by buses.) We got there exactly on time for 20.30 and I was soon catching up with friends old and new. I had put together a collection of music for the evening, from 67 onwards, which was when I first discovered music. (Was there a finer year? I used to lie in bed on a Sunday listening to Kenny Everett.)

People started to drift around 22.30, not surprising when work was the next day, and the trains all over the place. The family stayed until midnight and pumped up the volume on the sound system. It was a good night, and I was amazed to be up reasonably sober the next day.

A Rather Special Night

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:15:53 +0100

Life got a little brighter this week when an unexpected email arrived, Yes the Mellenheads were unexpectedly back, here is a submission from the fan page which explains all,

''So there I was typing away in front of the computer, doing the thing I dread most in the year, the tax return, not a great way to spend your day. Outside its cold and grey, as it has been all summer, and now autumn is here no one has really noticed. Ah bring out the Willard Grant Conspiracy album! (Sorry Robert!)The newspapers are even gloomy than usual and everyone is now looking at working longer years because all the pension schemes we have been investing in have gone belly up because the City cannot understand basic mathematics, whilst still paying themselves massive bonuses for orchestrating this chaos in the first place. Oh happy days.

All of a sudden an unexpected email arrives from my dear friend Cindy in the States enquiring if I had heard John Mellencamp was in London, and set for playing a small closed event for the London music press. The adrenalin started to kick in, and before I trotted out the usual pleading email to the ever suffering Tony, had reached boiling point. Begging and pleading I managed to negotiate an hour off work and sat back waiting for the all important response. By late evening good news had been confirmed and a mad scramble through the laundry found my Mellencamp T shirt. (Freshly washed, whoever my neighbour at the show would be happy to hear. Just as well it was going on anyway.) My wife who is ever tolerant of a near 50 old jumping up and down like a small child on his fifth can of Pepsi Max, and watching with complete indifference had one word. Where? And for once was quite happy with the answer.

So off on another Mellenadventure this time to Johns’ first London appearance since the Thames froze. (Ok slight exaggeration.) was soon on Tottenham (Bottom of the league!) Court Road wandering through a pile of touts trying to sell me Travis tickets (They played the Apollo the same night, and I bet were bloody good, Travis not the touts.) The chosen venue was the Borderline, a small club, performance venue of a capacity of around 275.

The event was an industry album launch of Johns new album, with the very happy news that the great man himself would be in attendance to do a short set of five songs, with the CD played in full. No problems on arrival, I was on the guest list, and indeed as it was guest list only so no chance for touts or ebayers. I was third through the door and managed to snag three seats, just to the side in what looked suspiciously like it could be a VIP area. I awaited eviction but it didn’t come. Indeed I had the best seat in the house. (Ok there were only seven) My friend Perry returned from the bar, and if we didn’t think things were going well, the bar was free. How good!

John came on stage, cigarette in one hand, guitar in the other, striking a classic American pose, a little before seven. He was introduced by Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine, who gave a lovely introduction from a fans point of view. (I shall be renewing my subscription.) The crowd were encouraged to not do the London thing and hide at the back, and get down the front where the hard core of 20 real fans were gathered. The set extended to 9 songs lasting 50 minutes. John seemed to enjoy the very informal atmosphere and laughed and joked and chatted to the audience and responded individually to humour and comments as they were launched from the crowd. It really was more of a party than a concert, as I looked to my left were Paul from Q and Elaine (Johns’ wife), and no more than five yards in front of me John himself.

John mentioned at times he was a little too prolific at song writing, told a delightfully oddball story about his Grandmother and more worryingly the precautions that they have to take with Hud and Speck as a result of threats received as a result of his song writing.

Particularly nice to run into friends I hadn’t seen for ten years . We just picked up where we left off as if it only had been yesterday. To finish the perfect night I managed to find some quality Sussex ale, and supped one or two before heading home, though the bottle of wine on the train could have been deemed excessive, but hell I had something to celebrate.

We believe that there is a real chance of a full spring European tour. John if you are out there come to Brighton please. We would love to see you here. Lunch on me at Bill’s (http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/) Real food that would do Farm Aid proud.

There are many fan clubs out there, few work harder for their fans than ours. When they get you into such a special night, and one that you will remember for the rest of your life, you do appreciate it. Thanks Tony and Sharon and the rest of the moderators. See you in the Spring!''

If this link doesn't work go to http://www.etribes.com/video/mygallery/76335

PSA Latest

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:25:49 +0100

Latest test is 0.88 'Stable' next test in six months time. The reading is pretty much what it was last time. Basically we are monitoring trends within the readings, and what we have here illustrates treatment has taken the desired effect and the readings have leveled off. I will be monitored over a 5 year period and if it stays at this level there shouldn't be a problem.

See the revised link to Sussex Cancer Network

From a clients answer phone.

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:31:15 +0100

Welcome to the Psychiatric Hotline. If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press button 2. If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, and 6. If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line until we can trace the call. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press. If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

The long and somewhat alarming trip home!

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:00:33 +0100

We managed to negotiate another couple of hours of paradise at Tongsai and finally check out at 2PM, being accompanied to the airport by the manager and another member of staff who checked us all in and said farewell. Koh Samui airport is quite odd and rather delightful. Its all outdoors with a series of shops on a main street leading down to the gate. Once at the gate it is all deck chairs, cushions and sofas with complimentary soft drinks and snacks for all. (BAA eat your heart out.) You literally sit in a deckchair by the side of the runway. Even the toilet has a large tropical fishtank inside.

Bangkok Air back to Bangkok itself and fortunately a jet plane rather than the turbo props they use sometime. It turned out to be more than fortunate. As we approached Bangkok International we hit a major storm which buffeted the plane severely as we cam in to land, with the plane clearly struggling to make the runway in the crosswind. As we landed the plane came close to flipping over, inside the cabin absolute silence, which remained as we came to safe halt. The guy behind me crossed himself and winked. Had we had the turbo prop we could have had a major problem. We then had the curious departure from the plane with the stewardesses leading the passengers two by two off the plane with an umbrella, and ensuring everyone got to the bus dry. It took an age but was cute to watch.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi the new international airport is excellent. Nice cheap places to eat, plenty of useful shopping, TV and toilets at the gate. It has been loudly criticised but we found it user friendly, though immigration could have been faster.

Onbound to Dubai with the worst Emirates flight I have known. No drinks trolley until after the meal. Well done, though not as if any of it was edible. Our stewardess was AOWL and I had to crib water and drinks from the other aisle. A huge amount of attitude from the Dubai locals, enhanced when we had a medical emergency. When the medics were boarding the plane to assist a cardiac patient they could not get through as the locali refused to stay in their seats and were trying to push them to get to the front of the plane in preparation for departure. Some were standing as we were taxiing just after landing. Add to that a number of screaming children, at full volume for the whole flight leaving their nannies clueless. (The parents were of course up the front.)

Dubai airport at 3am is not a pretty site either. Clearly in desperate need of a make over. Two coffee bars, One pub, and a small food court for the whole airport. Very little seating most of which was taken up by people slumped across seats fast asleep.

The final sector back into London was a better effort, and I managed to catch some sleep.

A Fond Farewell

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:12:53 +0100

A final meal at The Shack, a New York owned Steak and Burger joint on the front helped us celebrate our last night on Samui and thus a return to Bo Phut for the evening. It also gave us a shameful meeting with some very loud and aggressive Brits a few tables away. An all male group (mid thirties) from London shouting and screaming, while staring around the restaurant desperately seeking eye contact with anyone who might object. The owner found his night all of a sudden very busy trying to keep the group in check. We left before things became to excited.

A fond farewell to Giab at the bar behind the Plaza. She seems unable to attract any more passing trade and I can see the bar moving on quickly, a shame.

Finally we set off some Fire Lanterns from the beach as a farewell to Thailand, one for each of us.

Tongsai

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:40:28 +0100

As a treat to the family our last couple of nights were in a Villa at the very high end Tongsai Bay. This beautiful hotel complex is more Amazonian lodge than Samui. The original rainforest has been maintained with a series of villas and rooms built in the grounds. Our Villa consisted of two large rooms and bathrooms separated by a very large balcony on which lay a full bathtub, a gazebo with day bed and a couple of loungers. A dining area and fridge were also outside. It was a lot of space. as befits nature a couple of loud birds visited during the day, usually after turndown service seeking titbits. If there were none there then would fly around the patio shrieking loudly in protest.

A notice asked us to be aware of other invaders including snakes after rain. The only other intruders we did get was a large millepede and an ants nest by the toilet. Some would freak but its just back to nature. The food at the restaurants was surprisingly reasonable, and a little coffee and cake shop a bargain. We just lounged by the pool for a couple of days, served by the water boy who came around hourly with bottled water and ice. Pure bliss. There was also a fruit bar at breakfast with a lady (looking suspiciously like the Pam Anne Singapore girl) slicing the fruit fresh to the plate. If it didn't look good it was straight in the bin. Mango and Mangosteen being my favourites.

Around the Island

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:39:46 +0100

Samui is under major development, with new hotels and flats springing up everywhere. It is not going to remain very Thai for much longer. The Island itself is circumnavigated in a couple of hours on its only major road. There are sights to be seen, amongst them a large 'Big Buddha' by the airport which is worth a visit. We hired a car for the day and went to the Buddha, a number of temples, Grandmother and Grandfather rocks, (a number of phallic shaped rocks, with a rather nice little beach bar situated in the middle.) the Samui Aquarium and the waterfalls on the other side of the Island.

There are of course snorkeling and diving trips, elephant riding, canoeing, and a curious combination of football and golf where you kick the ball into the holes. Plenty to do, but that feeling of being in Thailand has already to be sort out. Ryan and I did a cookery course, which involved a trip to the local market and gave us some secrets into Thai cuisine.

A sad sight was the seven eleven in Bangkak, just down the road, a car drove into it the other night with the impact bringing down electrical lines onto a van and causing a huge explosion leading to some serious injuries. The site looked as if a bomb had hit it.

Street of Candles

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:39:13 +0100

As stated on my last posting Bophut has a mixed nightlife. Some nights a bar is packed and sound system jumping, the next night it is closed, but there is one thing in common, all the bars are European themed and you wont find any Thai people anywhere near them. Ryan and I searched high and low for a bit of local colour, but found nothing which resembled the chance of a bit more of a mix with ethnic life.

Second night out however we found a bar tucked away down the back of Bophut Plaza, a small shopping Soi near the pier. Very basic with a few farang and some local people, now this was more like it. However we soon found ourselves on our own as the evening progressed. The bar needed some more custom, so Ryan and I set to work with some tea lights and soon we had a street of light leading from the main street, through the plaza to the bar. Despite Ryans' best efforts at bar hustler we could not entice any more people down the alley to get things going. The locals were having fun keeping the lights going everytime the flames blew out, and were taking great amusement from the spectacle, but still no more trade.

We liked it and intend to be giving Giab some more trade over the next few days.

Bo Phut

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:38:38 +0100

Onwards then to Ko Samui and the Waterfront Hotel in Bo Phut, which just as it says is Ocean front with beautiful views of the surrounding Islands. We have a family cottage on the beach, it is simple but all we need. The hotel is very friendly and is British owned, and thus most of the guests are British. A friendly lot but it does feel a Brit enclave amoungst the French, who are also here in numbers.

Bo Phut is a very nice little town full of fine restaurants and bars, each with a theme. Aussie (odd as there are none of them here, according to their governments advisory Thailand is too dangerious to visit????) ,French, Irish etc. There are note no girlee bars, they are firmly banned, if you want that sort of bar you go 10 minutes down the road to Chaweng, whose Soy Reggae is a full on strip. (It also has an Ice Bar, which the boys loved as a real get away from the heat.) Imagine Southport v Blackpool in the entertainment stakes.

The Waterfront though is number one on trip advisor for Koh Samui, and makes an excellent base, with a poolside bar which seems to serve usually to 2am. Bit pricey on the cocktail front, but that would be my only critisicm. Very good value otherwise.

Frog on a Stick

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:14:29 +0100

For our final night in the Hotel De La Paix we decided to eat in the hotel, very well known for its traditional food. Remind me never to let Ros loose on a tasting menu again. By the time the rest of us had had two very fine courses, Ros had despatched a snake salad, several species of fish, before the encore of a frog, on a stick. I am told it tasted of chicken. yeah OK!

I managed to recover my nerves in the very lovely bar afterwards. The central areas seating is basically four very large beds, perfect for a chill out. However bear in mind the walls of the bar are currently exhibiting some paintings of the pictures of the victims of the civil war. Cambodia leaves its mark.

We now leave and head back to Thailand and the more tourist friendly resort of Koh Samui.

Therapy Khmer Style

A Nation of Orphans

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:25:39 +0100

Any knock off Nigel would have fun here. All the local interest books and of course every edition of Lonely Planet have been photocopied and rebound and put in a sealed cover to ensure you don't see the quality before you buy. We got a nice edition of the Cambodia guide, and a history on the nation for all of $10. Perfectly useable. You don't actually have a choice, all the bookshops here sell knocked off copies as well, so you might as well buy off a street peddler. They are quiet happy to give you a leaflet advising how they have been set up in their own business, (knocking off copies of books) and please buy from them to help them feed their families. Photocopy repair men must be making a fortune in this nation.

In one such book shop I found a leaflet advertising for volunteer workers in a nearby Orphanage, this nation has a lot of orphans a dreadful amount. The twist here was he was looking for people with professional travel skills, I made a call. Within an hour I was talking to Nick who set up the project a couple of years ago, and needs a travel person to work with him advising on tactics to bring in new business and donations from the huge amount of new tourists arriving in the area. The kids also need training in essential skills to handle the incoming crowds. With the whole of the coastline set to be redeveloped for the Westen tourist market the potential is huge. I hope to be able to help and will liaese with him again on my return. With my employers encouraging its workers to get involved in voluntry projects in compant time I sense an oppertunity in the future.

It goes without saying I left the meeting excited that I could be getting involved and helping in this beautiful country in the future.

Temples, Temples, Temples.

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:17:26 +0100

The Hotel are of course happy to provide a driver and car with air con for the day, so all four of us headed off to explore the legendary Angkor Wat series of temples just five miles outside the town. The effeciency soon comes to light again, and within 5 minutes of arrival have our day passes complete with photo id for the princly sum of $20 each.

In the morning we tackle the main series at Angkor, the one in all the photos. It is a huge site (the largest religious site in the world.) and very little is restricted access wise. The weather is kind and overcast so as to provide shade and a cooler day than expected. A lot of photos are taken and results will be posted on our return.

Onto Angkor Thom, notable for its huge faces carved into the temple rocks. The whole area is littered with temples, arches etc, and seems to go on forever. We are exhausted and take time over a traditional Cambodian lunch, Amok, a fruity, meaty concocotion served in a coconut. Khmer food is similar to Thai but without the chilli and perhaps a little sweeter.

Our final venue is Ta Prohm. This temple is largely unrecovered from nature, leaving a spectacular combination of trees and foliage with the ruins of the temple visable beneath. You are again allowed alomost unrestricted access to the site and thus we have wonderful photographic oppertunities.

We are greatful to return to the hotel, and its uber cool spaces and some well deserved pool time before another assault on bar street.

Holiday in Cambodia

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:09:33 +0100

Once a song title and now a reality. How times change. We feel as if we have landed on an entirely different planet here. My first time in Indochina, and I am besotted. We are now in Siem Reap (thats Thais Out in Khmer by the way). Thais aren't liked much around here. There is in fact a military stand off on the border as I type. Keeps life interesting I guess.

Our arrival was painless, I expected utter confusion and in fact it was the most efficent border control I have come tp in a long time. They even have big widescreen Tvs showing football, behind the desks should you have to wait to long. We had evisas which despite being a nightmare to organise in advance did get us to the front of the queue, and as everyone else began visa on arrival procedures we were already on the way to our hotel, which not only sent a car to meet us we had a member of staff waiting as well to say hello.

The Hotel De La Paix is in the town centre, and is a very smart hotel, full of art deco urban chiq. Lots of cool places to while away your day, IPods playing selections from the Buddha Bar series in your room and all around the hotel, the smell of Jasmine floats in the air.

The town itself is rapidly expanding, it was quiet hip prior to the war, when it was all but destroyed along with its people, but the survivors have got back on their feet quickly in the ten years since it finished. New business are opening all the time with western style coffee bars and art galleries being added to the original indochinese mix. One thing that definantly isn't western are the prices, 40p for a beer. Full meals in good restaurants from two pounds. They are still learning though, last nights venue offered a peanut satay to Owen ten minutes after we asked the manager to ensure there were no peanuts anywhere near his food preparation. By which time the two cochroaches playing under our table had acquired nicknames. Won't be going back there again.

The old market has a collection of original souvenirs and clothing, and thus there is time for a lot of shopping. I sit watching the buses pulling out to Phnom Penh and thus connecting to Hanoi and Saigon to give them there proper names. We are a long way from home.

The delightfully named Bar Street is the gathering area, with a global food choice and a collection of international beers. I note it is sealed off by armed guards at both ends. Hmm! The boys are taking it there stride, Owen occasionally looses confidence and drops to a diet of Pizza and bread, but then tries for something more adventurious.

The one thing that gathers people here are of course the temples, the biggest collection of ruins in the world. We are spending the next couple of days exploring them before heading back into Thailand.

Evening in the chilled spaces of the De La Paix