Journal Entries
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Joey Dunlop
Posted Jul 17, 2000
It has been just over 2 weeks now since Joey passed away and like many others who knew of him I still feel that something valuable in this world has been lost. To those who have not heard of him it is difficult to explain why the loss of someone I have never met means so much to me. In all honesty, I find it difficult to understand myself, but I will try to put it into words. So here goes.
From an outsiders perspective, he was a man who died as he lived, racing motorbikes. But that is only the half of his story. Firstly, he looked just like an ordinary bloke yet he had a unique talent that lasted for 31 years. Despite being 48, he still could find the skill and stamina to not only survive one of the most demanding road circuits in the world (the Isle of Man TT) but to conquer it for the 26th time this year. In doing this he demanded no publicity, didn't need to sign a contract with anyone and simply returned to serve in his pub in Northern Ireland when not racing. He was a man of few words and understatement as witnessed in the commentary on the video "V4 victory" where all the comment he had to offer on a part of the TT course where he was riding at something approaching 180 mph was "It's a bit quick, this bit". If you wanted the very antithesis of the sporting celebrity then you couldn't find anyone better. And yet he was a celebrity to those involved in motorcycling and to the general public in both Northern and the Republic of Ireland. Around him had built a number of myths and legends that simply emphasised his down-to-earth character. There are too many to mention here.
All I have left to say to try to get across the extent to which he touched so many people was that 50,000 people attended his funeral. How many other sporting stars can you name who would attract such a response? Enough said.
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Latest reply: Jul 17, 2000
Back to 4 wheels
Posted Jun 13, 2000
Weird, it feels like I've just cast off my alternate personality for the last 2 weeks and have turned back into a grey suit. This time last week I was zooming (sedately,of course) around the Isle of Man on my motorbike wearing bits of dead cow and drinking Guinness. Is there anyone else out there who suffered from the vagaries of the weather out there just to watch some nutters thrash bikes around the roads? It would be nice to talk (just don't ask about my habit of falling over when stationary, I can't help having little legs).
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Latest reply: Jun 13, 2000
Feeling vaguely human again
Posted May 16, 2000
But for how much longer? Having survived the ravages of an OU exam I am now feeling too old to be doing such things. But the joke is that we are all supposed to be actively pursuing 'personal development' if we are to be taken seriously in the workplace. This just adds to the stress of working anyway as most of us have to undertake this development outside of normal office hours i.e. our own free time. It is also less than personal as it actually usually relates to work. I am sure my boss would not appreciate it if I said my personal choice would be to do a short story writing course! So when do we get off this treadmill? When we retire? Who's life is it anyway?
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Latest reply: May 16, 2000
More news from the world of grey suits
Posted Jan 6, 2000
Nearly the end of another mind-bogglingly fascinating working day and I'm glad it's Thursday. It has taken me all week (and a plentiful supply of chocolate) to feel vaguely human again.
Life? Don't talk to me about life. I've got this pain in the diodes all down my left side. Perhaps I should change my nickname to Marvin?
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Latest reply: Jan 6, 2000
Back to the keyboard
Posted Jan 4, 2000
Tis no longer the season to be jolly and I'm slightly less snotty than I was a few days ago. I'm staring blankly at a computer screen in a vain bid to get my brain back into gear (that's if I can find a brain amongst all the alcohol still lodged in my skull).
I've spent some of the festive period contemplating a book on Neuro Linguistic Programming and found it all a bit Californian. From what little I have gleaned so far I'm supposed to figure out what I am passionate about and make that my mission. This pre-supposes that I am passionate about something. Just at this moment that seems rather difficult and I don't know what to make of it all. Oh well, at least I can ramble away to my heart's content here in the safe knowledge that no-one really gives a toss about any of this.
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Latest reply: Jan 4, 2000
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Ethel the Aardvark
Researcher U106415
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