Good luck Sweet Chariot

Thanks to Ben's kind invite I joined Toby & their dad, David, at the newly branded O2 Arena (ex Millennium dome) in Greenwich. Together with a few hundred O2 supporters we celebrated the England rugby team's World Cup retention bid in France next month.
I arrived early to nose around the stadium until Ben rang to say I could get in without the ticket Toby was carry for me, as my name had also be put on the door!!

I meet David in reception & together we slide into the VIP area for a couple of warm up ales before being escorted to the stage side table to watch the proceedings ..........

Ben had to work for some of the evening so I had the pleasure of chatting to amongst others his co host; Kirtsy Gallagher, who of course I knew nothing about until I Googled her name (to check I'd spelt her name right) & came up with this link !!!
http://www.tccandler.com/talent_file_kirsty_gallagher.htm


Ben interviewed Brian Ashton, & a number of players including this interview with Lawrence Dalligio & Captain Phil Vicery. Click on the picture to play







In between dinner, Ben's player interviews & Jools Holland's fantastic stage show Toby, David & I attempted a few of the numerous charity auctions that were taking place. It was during the on stage Auction of the "The Rugby Nut package" that I came within a Nat's whisker of bidding £7,000 for a huge number of rugby tickets.

Toby was taking a picture of me pretending to bid with a big England inflatable hand when the auctioneer took my £7k bid as read, I was left sweating or a few seconds until I was outbid but it still took me a good few minutes to cool down & get over a potentially expensive photograph pose. The package eventually sold for +£9k!!

To celebrate my luck escape I later took the liberty of sitting in Ben's interview chair, I think I look quite the part, even if it was a just a bottle of wine that I was clutching & not the required microphone!!!