Arrived just in time for breakfast thanks to a blue piece of card in the window and lots of staff waving me through the queues to the car park next to the gates. We [business partner and self] found the others on the top floor of the Motorsport Vision Centre and were duly processed by the hospitality Nazis who took our details, issued instructions and tagged us with 'Suck up to me' wrist bands. I had ciabatta bread with grilled bacon and a herb sausage topped off with tomato ketchup. All washed down with coffee and orange juice with bits in. This sure beat the pit walk that was also available. We then went shopping despite the fact that the bar was now open as 10:30 is too early even for me although it's a good way to stop the sweats and the shakes. Being the last meeting of the season there were bargains galore to be had so clutching a large wad of expenses I dived in. First kill was an HM Plant Honda fleece with free hat. A bit black and orange but as long as I don't wear the hat and the fleece at the same time I'll be okay. Next stop the DeWalt tooling stand. My partner really fancied the automatic nailgun but at 500 quid he was feeling a bit shy. I finished the deal at 370 ukp plus case, belt clip, an extra battery, 4 sets of ear plugs, 4 key rings and 2500 nails. Sorted. Still not sure why he wanted it. No bike meet is complete without a trip to Anglo American Eyewear. Their sunglasses have kept me going for years since I kicked the RayBan habit. 10 ukp later I am furnished with some moulded, mirror wrap arounds that make me look like an insect. A few hundred yards further, past the ordinary people queuing for the sort of food which is responsible for their physical hideousness, and I strike gold. An Anti-yid leather merchant is clearing retro leather jackets, armoured and lined, for silly money. A quick negotiation later and Abdul is lighter on stock and not so full of pocket. Lunch: The bar is free but I'm driving so my usual 'bankrupt the event organiser' effort is left to my business partner who sets a new record in pre lunch beer and wine consumption. Being a weak willed person I decided to forget about the laws in this country regarding driving totally cunted and matched the pisshead pint for pint. A fabulous chinese style buffet was then laid out before us and fueled buy alcohol [and coffee] we all manage numerous visits and nearly finish all of the wine in the building to boot. Next up, a visit and chat with the riders from Airwaves Ducati. One is some Spanish prick who fancies himself as a bit of a ladies man whilst the other is a small troll type thing with the personality of a cheap family car. The questions from the audience were only out dulled by the answers. Thankfully this didn't last long and we we're soon back at the bar. I love bars that don't want any money. At this point I realised that I was actually quite wankered and still needed to drive another drunk person from Kent to Essex. I had to clear my head and hatch a plan. Thankfully a further three pints of Kronenburg did the trick. I noted that Tea was served at 16:00. Naturally a cup of tea and piece of cake would reverse the effects of a massive all day drinking binge. Armed with this 'cure' I suggested to my, now comatosed passenger to be, that we should leave well before everyone else. He concured and we staggered off to the car park while motorcycling history was being made in the background. Having missed the rush and the traffic we were at the pub for 17:00 with plenty of time to impress the landlord and the girlies with our huge haul of corporate freebies. I even gave one of the pens away. I love being a biker ;-)
