Back to the future
Flying to London tonight, a quick visit to the parents, and then on Wednesday ten of us will meet in the morning at Gatwick departures lounge over a Guinness no doubt and embark on a long overdue boy’s trip.
Almost 40 years ago the same group minus two or three went on our first foreign lads holiday to Magaluf. We rekindled that group to re-visit Majorca in 2011, and now as we close in on the next big birthday milestone, a couple have already passed it, we are together once again a little greyer, balder and less energetic.
Now far too suave and sensible for Magaluf, and attempting to act our age and not shoe size, we chose Vilamoura in Portugal for our 5-day excursion where golfing, boating, mahjong and good port is du jour.
I have to say I am really looking forward to it, and I am incredibly grateful that we’ve all stayed good mates from school despite wherever our individual lives have taken us.
Described as a modern and sophisticated holiday destination and the Monaco of Portugal, Vilamoura is in the Algarve region situated between Albufeira and Faro. Known mostly for having the largest marina in the country it looks as if most day and night activities surround the waterfront area.
Cerro da Vila archaeological museum has a ruined Roman villa with bathhouses and mosaics close by. I’ll see how that suggestion goes down for some cultural sightseeing.
hope you all a great time!!!
Bon voyage… bon vacances and I hope you and your friends have a really great time…
Villamoura!! You’ll thoroughly enjoy being there!
Early 90’s my two golfing friends
and I spent 4 successive years
playing golf there! The Marina back
then was so nice to wander after
our evening meals! Expect it’s changed..or got
bigger!!??
Thank you for your always
enjoyable CAFC Blog..I first
started attending when I
grew up in SE7…first game I
attended, as a 9 year old,
was back in 1956…with my
grandad! The ground was just a 15 minute
walk from our house…now living in Surrey, I
still have my Season Ticket, renewed
for next season…together with the
140 Mile round trip on match days!!!
I’m approaching my 80th….asked my sons
about ‘should I renew’? Their quick answer was
“What else would you do on a Matchday’!!!
‘Out of the mouths…..etc etc!
I played school football with a certain hero of ours..
a guy by the name of Billy Bonds! We were both
‘spotted’ back then…and invited for a trial!
He went….my father said a big no to me…get yourself proper
job’! Billy is part of the history of our ‘
‘beloved team’…sadly died about 2-3 years ago
up in Chislehurst where he lived!
Enjoy yourselves out there!
…and have a safe flight!
All the best..Derek Perkins
Derek. Thank you for the great comment. Your son’s are right, and wonderful that you are still a regular at games. Enjoy your summer.
Great that you and you old mates still get together for a trip. I still have many mates from school. Our first boys’ holiday was to Belgium in 1973 and I still see some of the guys on that trip to this day, though one is dead, one is in New Zealand and one in the Philippines.
We started the Boys’ weekend in 1982, when, with wives and girlfriends on the scene, an annual boys’ holiday was not viable, and we are coming up to the 45th year, the only year without a trip being 2021 due to covid. The lineup varies and I missed several trips whilst in Thailand (still managed a few though), but there are still usually at least three or four that went to school together from 1968!
And I’m the only Addick among them!
Have a good one
That’s brilliant, Steve.
Two Addicks on this trip and a Lion with his tail between his legs!
Good luck on your trip !
Will be quite hot at this time of year ? About 6 of us go in Oct/ March every year and the weather conditions are normally fantastic .We have noticed over the last two years a more varied climate .. climate change no doubt .
From your post it sounds as though Vilamoura might be your first visit ? You simply must try to play the ” Old Course ” …since the ARROW group have bought it , and large swathes of the Marina , etc etc its improved beyond recognition .Best restaurant in the Marina , without doubt , Akvavit .
Have enjoyed your Charlton related posts , particularly your summing up of the season ..bang on !Lots of work ahead ..my fear is that they will be unable to offload sufficient numbers to free up enough budget for high quality incomings .
Enjoy ! Mike
Great tips, thanks Mike.
It will be hot, but not as hot as Florida. I brought a jumper 😀