This week, we continue our Jack Outpost series with an update from Nick Rees in deepest Russia.
Jack Outpost - Sakhalin, Russia
It's been nearly eighteen months now since I learnt that life without living within driving distance of the Vetch is possible.
Over this time many things have changed. We've had more Managers than Aidan has had injuries and more ups and downs than Gazza's had beers.
Nevertheless, the life as a ex-pat Jack who has travelled 24 cities in Russia during the last 18 months has it's good points, none which have been any better than the win against our Welsh rivals on the 22nd Nov.
For the first time I used the "Chat" facility on the Internet (which can be accessible via GM's site or others via his "Links" page).
As it was 10pm here (9 hours forward) when the big game kicked off, I had the chance to indulge in a few pre match beers (medicinal of course) and then "logged on" with Jacks and others from Oz, Denmark, Manchester, Cardi** and West Wales to name a few.
I sat, beer in hand, watching, as radio updates were typed in and rec'd almost immediately on my screen. I am self confessed idiot when it comes to computers but there is one more thing I've learnt since that day....don't try typing, smoking and drinking beer at the same time....especially when The Swans score (unless you have 3 hands that is). It's not good for your keyboard ;-)
With Gary standing in the crowd with his mobile, we all thought it'd be a good idea to call him, but all we could hear for 15 mins was "Johnny Hollins Barmy Army" and then loud screams of excitement when we scored. As Max Boyce NEARLY said "I was ALMOST there". It was unbelievable as at the same time, Eric the Red (not a Jack !) was typing "SWANS SCORED, THOMAS" and then later, "SWANS SCORED AGAIN, BOUND".
Thanks to the 2 players sponsored by the Swans List
Nobody in my office could understand my excitement and no words of explanation could get close
to the truth.
Thank You Swansea City, the Internet, Gary Martin, who's spare time (and being a teacher, he
has enough of that) is spent keeping his site up to date for both Local Jacks and the likes of
myself, Jannik (Denmark), Mattias (Denmark), Dave (Texas), Big Andy (Texas) Gavin (Greece),
Neil (Cayman Isles) and also Paul (Sahara Jack) to name but a few.
Russia can be a lonely place to live (especially in the Far East...50 miles from Japan) so spare
a thought on a Sat afternoon for us ex-pat Jacks around the World who have to sing into a
computer twice a week! Sad eh ?
All this leaves me to say is...."2-1...we beat the scum 2-1"
Nick Rees. Sakhalin, Russia.
Links to all Official and Unofficial sites are available at my Swansea Internet Web site. The address is
http://www2.prestel.co.uk/gmartin or use the easy-to-remember version http://come.to/swanseacity
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