DeeKnow’s Grotto

Today was the first full-stage day of racing in this years edition of the tour de France, so straight after dinner tonight I leapt eagerly into Kym's car and roared round the corner (literally) to the Dinsey to catch Sky-sport's daily half-hour coverage on the big screen.

The car park was pretty much empty, not suprising given its a Monday, but as I pushed confidently through the saloon doors into the 'sports' bar I was suprised to see a dozen or so patrons sitting about the place. Three old-timers propping up the bar talking dog-racing, and 9 or so 'smokers' sitting out in the beer garden.

The big-screen was already tuned into the tour coverage so thankfully there was no awkward negotiating to be done with punters who would normally be watching golf, or track-side. Got meself a jug of Waikato (what else) and wedged myself up against a leaner near the telly for some relaxing and hopefully uninterupted cycling watching.

It can't have been more than 5 mins into the coverage when one of the patrons came stumbling over, parked his jug (of Waikato) next to mine and proceeded to talk about what sort of odds the TAB were paying for another Lance Armstrong victory this year. I nodded and grunted politely without appearing to be too rudely focused on the TDF coverage.

Next thing this dude starts telling me that the only sport he's into is motor-sport, and that he's actually a stock-car driver, and proceeds to launch into a painfully detailed discussion of his amatauer stock-car driving career thus far, including details about all the guys car's he'd wrecked by ramming them, and the fights he'd almost gotten into trackside after the events.

Thank Allah he finally got the message after I'd ignored him for two seasons of his racing history and next thing he'd picked up his jug and sauntered off out to the smokers to annoy them.

Kym laughed hysterically when I recalled the incident on coming home just now, and informed me I have this uncanny ability to attract weirdos in almost any situation. They'll pick me out in a big crowd and zero in on me from amazing pub-ish distances. No doubt Stocky-Jim will be there tommorow, I hope not for his sake as I may be foreced to kick his smelly stock-car racing butt.

9:02:43 PM