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Colin Smedley's avatar

In this article, Neil Manthorp unwittingly introduced me to something I have never before experienced. Feeling sorry for Richard Branson. That whole blokeish humour thing involving the feeble and ancient Richard or Dick line, was nearly enough to make me reconsider my views on Branson. But only nearly. Ultimately, sanity prevailed.

Still, in Neil's hands, even blokeish humour can be transformed into beautiful story telling.

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Neil Manthorp's avatar

Cheers Colin...needless to say none of us called him 'Dick' during the journey. I think I will spend more time retelling these 'lighter' stories. This one seemed to go dowm pretty well...

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David Thomson's avatar

nice one Neil. Branson- a real character! I rafted and was a so-called 'long swimmer', but it was an incredible experience. The hardest part was retaining the 2 beers that were quickly drunk after the steep climb out- on a very bumpy truck. Sweated blood for that!

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Neil Manthorp's avatar

Yeh - how long and steep is the climb out of the gorge?! I fear we may have had a couple more than two beers by the time we got to the top!

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Leon Atterbury's avatar

Great article - thanks

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Neil Manthorp's avatar

Cheers Leon! Do you think there is appetite for more 'light' columns in future? This one seemed to go down reasonably well...

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Leon Atterbury's avatar

Yip I do, indeed.

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Alex Steinberg's avatar

Wonderful! Only in the sport of cricket is there such writing, love it!

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Neil Manthorp's avatar

Many thanks, Alex... although there wasn't much 'cricket writing' in it this week!

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Margaret Stark's avatar

Wow, what a great story! 😆Did you keep in touch!

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Sarah Barret's avatar

Great story, Neil 😁

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Neil Manthorp's avatar

Ha! Thank you, Sarah, pleased you enjoyed it. Just felt like taking a break from the 'breaking news' this week...

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