Day 68 : Adulation, humiliation and generosity in equal measure

Location: Chengdu

High Point: Being treated like celebs and receiving £500 in donations and some items to auction.

Low Point: Taking an absolute hiding from the Chinese firemen

Now this might surprise you but despite all being very talented sportsman (yes even Steve……so he tells me…at what I’m not sure?) we haven’t previously represented Blighty in competitive sport. What a disgrace!

So imagine our excitement when we learn that the firemen at Chengdu Fire Station had challenged us to a game of Basketball, table tennis and snooker at our planned visit that afternoon.

This was it. DOMINATE! East vs West, Communism vs Capitalism and we were determined to smash the oppo for Sir Winston, the Queen and for England James (James is actually welsh but you get the picture)!

So we arrive at Chengdu Fire Station to a reception which quite rightly befits our celebrity status? All at home please take note – that’s now how we roll! A TV crew, 2 journalists, several photographers, the firemen all looking magnificent in their uniform and a large crowd. It was so overwhelming that Ross and Jim skulked behind the truck for the first 10 minutes to keep out the limelight…first time these boys have been camera shy so it gives you an idea.

Before we knew it me and Steve were being hoisted 50 metres into the air on the Chengdu Fire Engine platform. I think they were just showing off that theirs was bigger than ours and it certainly was. I’m not afraid to admit I was hanging on for dear life much to the amusement of Chinese fireman at the controls.

Next came the press interview. It was conducted like Bill and Ted’s Excellent adventure when translating Socrates. “We love Chengdu”, “Many pretty Girls” was Steve’s grinning (or gurning) reply to two giggly journalist girls that followed him around like poodles. Next was the TV crew “We love China” was once again mentioned more than once all to a back drop of flash bulbs from the melee of photographers and a crowd that was growing by the minute.

Eventually we made our way into the station and out the back to the basketball court. I have no interest in recounting the next hour but suffice to say we were smashed. We had a considerable height advantage that on occasions was utilised but this was too few and far between. Following this debacle we scooped what was remaining of our self respect off the floor and headed in for table tennis and snooker! “Come on boys we’re still in this”.

Whether we believed this rallying call or not, I’m not sure, but we were once again soundly beaten, although Steve and Jim did push them close in the snooker.

The Firemen then laid us on a splendid meal and our thanks must go to them and Karen at NAVO for all the preparations making the afternoon such a success, if not a sporting one.

In the evening we drove Martha to a local bar with her lights and sirens on full tilt.

We collected £500 and were given some items to auction by Astrid who is head of the German chamber of commerce in Chengdu.

What a Day!

Paul Barham

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