“Just a perfect day
Problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
It’s such fun
Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was someone else
Someone good
Oh, it’s such a perfect day
I’m glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on”
(Lou Reed )
There are certain things that work, but really shouldn’t. Brown bread ice cream, having chips and rice with a curry, putting a few Tayto cheese and onion crisps in a ham sandwich, a four string quartet playing Radiohead songs in a candle lit church, Monaghan being the True Centre of The Universe…and so on.
Of all the places I was to discover the magic of Lou Reed’s song ‘Perfect Day’ the old Novitiate of The Holy Ghost Fathers in Kilshane, Co. Tipperary, wouldn’t have been anyone’s guess, especially mine. But my fellow novitiate, John O’Connell, did indeed introduce me to Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, and Lou Reed. He did this out of love…and to stop me playing U2, Simple Minds, Big Country and especially Frankie Goes To Hollywood, whom he loathed.
After the initial euphoria of having nothing to do and all day to do it, learning about meditation for the first time, and Theology & Philosophy For Dummies, I began to miss my girlfriend, and I listened to ‘Perfect Day’ a hell of a lot.
I left the Holy Ghosts.
After many twists and turns, (regularly referenced in the blog), my former girlfriend became my Soulmate. I stopped listening to Lou Reed.
And then in 1997 , the year we married , the BBC decided to record several different artists all singing Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’. It was Number 1 here for 7 weeks. And once more I loved it completely…and , my Soulmate would argue , annoyingly, as I insisted on singing along, in the style of each different artist.
Again it was something that shouldn’t have worked , but did. Magnificently so. Who would have thought that throwing Boyzone, The Fun Loving Criminals, Shane McGowan, Elton John, Emylou Harris, Tammy Wynette, Bono and Elton John together would be a good idea. Adding in David Bowie, who’d actually produced the song for Lou Reed back in 1972, was genius.
And again , after a while it drifted out of my consciousness, and I forgot about it.
Last Friday my Soulmate and I got up at 3am to drive to Dublin to catch a 7 am flight to Switzerland. In a moment of weakness I’d agreed to join her, and some of the crew we’d gone to New York with in March, in running a half marathon, in the Alps. We had met up with some more of the group in November and December for training runs in the Dublin Mountains behind Johnny Fox’s pub, and had gotten an inkling of each other through our training WhatsApp group which was conducted seriously by Jamie, our intrepid leader, and undermined by the rest of us goofing about.
We’d been issued with hoodies , with ‘Arosa 25’ on the front, and The Good Glow embossed on the sleeve, and were encouraged to wear them while travelling so that we’d recognise each other. But they were redundant really, as we all recognised each other in the airport at 5am because we were the ones who were all giddy with excitement and hugging each other. I love a good hug. Before Christmas we went over to visit our daughter , Robyn, in Edinburgh, and when she introduced us to some of her work colleagues I gave them a hug and one of the girls , said, in a wonderfully warm Edinburgh accent “ Oh ! Your Da’s a huggerrrrr “. All of our fellow Good Glow runners were grrrrreat huggerrrrrs.
Before we’d even got on the plane we met Georgie, had hugs and , opinion is divided, she either made us cry, or we made her cry. Just to be clear, they were happy tears. We’ve all kept in touch since going to New York together last year, and kind and cherished messages have regularly been exchanged. That’s the kind of group it is, taking it’s lead from her….and Jamie , of course!
On the plane I was sure I’d sleep the whole way over, but I stupidly started reading Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Slapstick’ and was almost half way through by the time we landed in Zurich. After we’d collected our bags Jamie did his best to shepherd us to the trains and get us all on the right one. This one only took us into Zurich itself where we changed for a train to Churro. Whilst we waited we started chatting with members of the group we’d met before, minding each other’s bags, recommending coffee shops, and , strangely, lending each other spoons.
Most of us managed to get on the correct train to Chur on our first attempt, it took Victoria and Emma two. Eileen and I found ourselves in a carriage at the front, with no other group members around…but we could hear them several carriages back. We changed again in Chur for the train to Arosa. Jamie led us to a lovely quiet carriage, which turned out to be first class, so by the time we got into the correct carriage there were two seats left on either side of the aisle. I sat with Telio and Colm and became calm and happy. Telio and Colm have this effect on everyone. It’s hard to decide which one is the nicer, but I can say that it is impossible to sit opposite Telio for more than a minute and not smile all the time. Eileen sat with Niamh and the Hooban’s , who hogged the window and kept slagging us about the views they had while we looked at snow covered retaining walls. Don’t get me wrong, as snow covered retaining walls go, they were class…just didn’t have quite the same cachet as the viaducts, bridges and snow peaked mountains the girls were busy photographing.
The ticket inspectors got a little fed up with us all telling them that Jamie had our tickets. But they , with typical Swiss panache and flair told us how pleased they were with how our group had stowed away our bags. This may very well be the strangest compliment I’ve ever received.
The train snaked uphill, and even our retaining walls became more spectacular the higher we got.
We arrived in Arosa , a village with a frozen lake in the middle and surrounded on all sides by fancy chocolate box mountains. We spent a few moments gawking open mouthed at the beauty of it all. Then Jamie whipped us all together for a photo, before marching us up the hill to our hotels. Our hotel, The Wald, was at the top of the resort. We had plans to check in , throw our bags in the room and go explore before we met everyone for dinner at 6.30. When we checked into the room, I said that I’d just lie down for a few minutes…and Eileen called me at 6 to get ready for dinner.
We met in the Bel Arosa hotel and had a hugfest with Helen, Niamh, Mags, another Helen, Avril, Teresa, two Fionas, an Aisling , and a Lolita. We sat for dinner with Karen and Mairead, whom we’d met in passing in New York, but never got to chat with much, and Shane , who we saw in the distance on all our training runs, and Rebecca , his much, much better half. We were having a great chat when Karen , the manager of the Bel Arosa , summoned us to get our pasta from the buffet. Everyone in front of me chose the bolognaise , despite Karen’s best efforts to get us to try their traditional local dish , älplermagronen, which was white , creamy and had bits in it. I said I’d try it, which seemed to please her. It was delicious !
Although there were 50 in our group , and we were all carbing up for our half marathon the next day, Karen had overestimated our pasta needs and there was loads left. We were encouraged several times to have some more, and I couldn’t handle the look of disappointment when my tablemates said ‘no’ , so I said I’d take some more. This time I was met with a beaming Karen who put two large dollops of älplermagronen on my plate and said I should have apple sauce with it, as that’s what the Swiss would do. So I did.
I have regrets. Apple sauce does not belong on a plate of pasta. That is something that shouldn’t work, and I can now confirm, certainly does not.
Jamie gave us a pep talk of sorts. It wasn’t an Al Pacino “Any Given Sunday” motivational screamfest, it was more like Christopher Robin telling Tigger, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga , Roo, Owl and Rabbit, not to be scared, to enjoy themselves and that he loved them very, very much. Georgie added a poignant few words , asking us ‘when was the last time you did something for the first time ?’ and then saying something sweet in a toast , and making Eileen and I cry again…
Then we trudged back up the hill, in the -12 stillness, and went straight to bed.
We woke to snow falling.
We had a nervous breakfast. The before race breakfast is always odd, do you eat a lot to have ‘something in the tank’ , or go light, so you aren’t sluggish at the start. I risked scrambled egg and a croissant..and a bagel with spiced beef, a coffee, another coffee, and a chocolate croissant. I’d opted to go light!
We all met up again at the Bel Arosa , took selfies, and then headed to the bag check area , collected our race bibs, went to the loo, got good luck hugs, went to the loo again just to be safe and then headed to the start line. There was an Alpine brass band playing who were delighted that 50 Irish people started jiving and bopping to. Another group photo was taken and then we were told there was a minute to go to the start.
We all wished each other well. Eileen and I took a moment to ourselves to look around at the mountains we’d shortly be waddling up, the smiling faces of our giddy group, and realised how damn lucky we were to just be there.
And then we were running..in snow…in Switzerland…up the Alps !
It’s hard to describe what it’s like. It’s tiring, even after a short while, because the snow is fresh, and you’re running up a 2,882m mountain. But anytime you think you’re tired , you just look up and the sky is a piercing blue, the air is crisp, and it’s simply wonderful. There are also black squirrels ! My first stop after 2 or 3 km was to photograph a family feeding monkey nuts to a squirrel to get him to come down the tree and take them from their hand. Brilliant ! I ran on again and caught up with Eileen, The Hoobans, Grainne , stopped them for a photo and then plodded along in their footsteps. I knew I was falling a little further behind at each turn , but could also just about keep them within sight. I did turn one corner after a long climb and could see in the distance, like ants, runners…still climbing. I did question what the heck I was doing there in the first place, but I plodded on.
At times we had to run across ski slopes and the race stewards stopped the snow boarders and skiers to let us pass. The water at the water stations was warm, which was weird. And the other drink offered was Rivella, a soft drink made from leftover whey , from cheese making, which is something else that is now on the list of things that shouldn’t work but does.
I soldiered on, smiling despite myself at the grandeur and magnificence of our surroundings. I was trudging to the top of the highest hill in our race when I started to meet some of the real runners heading back down..smiling..the bastards ! I received high fives and cheers of encouragement, and then witnessed Shane’s assassination attempt on Annette. He’d flown a wee drone over the runners and was bringing it in to land when he crashed it into the back of Annette’s head.
Oddly this cheered me up , and I ran on.
When I got to the top there were a group of our runners all there. I thought, Jeez, this is some group, they all waited to make sure I was OK, and I was about to thank them and say it wasn’t necessary, that they should go on, when Telio dropped to one knee and proposed to Hooban #1, aka Geraldine.
OH MY GOD !
The cheers and outpouring of sheer joy from the rest of us is a memory I will treasure forever.
After congratulating them, Eileen and I said we’d run on, and were thoroughly enjoying running downhill, when my tummy rumbled. The next time it rumbled Eileen heard it. “You OK ?” she asked . “I think I need a loo.”
Luckily around the next corner was a bar, so I darted in there and asked if I could use their toilet. I was directed through a door , and forgetting that I’d come in from blinding blue light o a dark hallway, missed the three steps to the mens bathroom. It was occupied. I danced from foot to foot, which didn’t help then coughed in the international way to say, stop looking at you phone in there I need to go ! It worked.
I came back out a few moments later, a chastened man. Mairead had waited with Eileen , so we set off again together. And then disaster struck…we had to go uphill again ! We made it to the top of the next hill confused by some of the mile markers which seemed to bear no relation to the distance we felt we’d run. After the next water stop, the marshalls said it was mostly down hill from there, so we knew we had another hill to climb. At the top of that one I needed to go to the loo again, so I told Eileen and Mairead to go on.
I ran the rest on my own.
It was beautiful. I stopped a few times to take photos so I’d always remember just how brilliant it all was. ‘Perfect Day’ was playing in my head. Towards the end I was running through snow covered trees and the sunlight was dancing on the path in front of me, like goldfish playing and I thought of Speedy, Eileen’s brother. I thought how lucky we are to be able to see and feel all this, the joy, the tiredness, the beauty. I thought Speedy would love this, and then I imagined his reply “No I wouldn’t , Man, the foods down at the bottom of the hill where you started..and you owe me a beer !”.
I smiled and ran on. I passed walkers who smiled at me, concern on their faces for this dishevelled man who wasn’t quite walking or running , and laughing to himself. Another song popped into my head, or snatches of it , I’ll look it up later.
At the last water stop the marshalls were sitting on the veranda on the bar next door having coffee. They hurried back , and a nice lady handed me some warm water , and fizzy whey juice, and asked “What went wrong ?” I replied “I crossed the start line”, she looked confused , but I gave her a hug and she slapped me on the back and said “Schnell !” .
“I’m schnelling as fast as I can !” I said as I ran away laughing.
I stuck my tongue out at the photographer at the next corner, waved at a squirrel, and then someone was calling my name. I thought I was still 4k from the finish, but I was only 200m away. Twelve or so of my Glowing racemates were waiting at the finish and cheering. I turned around to make sure that Telio and Geraldine weren’t behind me, but no, the cheers were for me. I crossed the line , Jamie gave me a hug, Eileen came over to me, she’d been crying, worried, we hugged , she asked if I was OK, I said, “Don’t ever let me have älplermagronen again !”, we laughed and hugged some more.
Everyone was tired and exhilarated at the same time. It was weirdly wonderful.
A lot of our group went to a bar to celebrate, but we went back to our hotel for a shower and a lie down. We were happy exhausted, physically and emotionally. Our ‘Arosa 2025’ WhatsApp group was constantly pinging with everyone sharing photos from the day and thankful and thoughtful comments. I was flicking through them and listening to some songs on my headphones.
Georgie sent me a wee video of Eileen and I hugging on the finish line , with a note saying “ I hope you don’t mind me capturing this special moment”.
I replied :
Thanks. This song popped into my head while I was out there today, these lyrics in particular _
‘But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way?
And tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?’
And the answer was yes, I danced along to that stunning light of day today. And I was listening to the song when your message arrived. Thanks to you both for a wonderful day.
We all met up again in the Bel Arosa for dinner at 7pm. We joined Lolita in a bottle of Champagne, and had a lovely natter before being joined by Kathryn, Ryan, Annette, Jim, Gerry and Karen. We discovered little extras about each other, and could have happily sat there all evening , but we were called in to dinner. Jamie had arranged for Teilo and Geraldine to be held back, so they entered to a standing ovation and loud applause.
This time we were sitting with Karen and Gerry, Ciara and Michael, and Emma and Victoria. We had a lovely and wide ranging chat which included Swiss hospitality, Monaghan, the colour blue, diamond encrusted rustic teddy bears, Rangers, great kids, teenagers, Monaghan, the Norwegian economy…and Monaghan.
Towards the end of the meal Jamie hooshed us all around David’s table so that we could wish him a ‘Happy Birthday’ and embarrass him into saying a few words. He left us all speechless and glowing. He told us what this group meant to him, what we meant to him, and how grateful he was to to be here with us. He said some other lovely things, but it was very dusty there and my eyes had started to water, and I missed his last sentence.
We went back to our table where we were joined by Niamh, and were regaled with tales of nudie saunas and wild, wild Glowers.
We were the last table to leave the restaurant.
We headed down to Lindeman’s Overtime Bar, where Jamie had booked us a bar upstairs. We chatted and hugged Brendan, Grainne, Maud, Mags, Helen , again, other Helen, Niamhs, Kathryn, Brid , Eugene, Michelle, Sinead, congratulated Archie on his time, and greeted Tom, Aislinn, Aisling and yes, even Jamie with big giddy grins.
We even had an award ceremony, with extravagant awards.
Karen got ‘Most Miles Travelled’ to get there.
Emma got ‘Mountain Goat’.
Kathryn got ‘Hall of Fame’
Good Glow Convert was Ryan.
Glow BFFs were Annette and Eugene who got matching snow globes so they could think of each other when they shook them.
Gerry got ‘Laugh Out Loud’ which was a fix.
Soul Sister was Helen , ( not the one from Meath !)
MVP was Colm, who should also have got ‘Most Stylish’ for his dungarees !
And the Posh & Becks award , of course went to Telio and Geraldine.
We mingled and laughed, drank shots, hugged , and just basked in the amazing atmosphere.
There were 50 of us. That’s too big a group to possibly forge any kind of individual or meaningful relationships in over a weekend. The ages ranged from almost 15 to almost 60. There were friends, siblings, couples. Some people who knew each other before, and some people who arrived not knowing anyone , except Georgie.
There was no way that group should work.
And yet.
I would be honoured to consider each and every one there a true friend, and for them to consider me as theirs. It was , sorry, is such a genuinely warm and embracing group of wonderfully supportive and friendly folk. And did I mention the hugs ???
Last weekend we all got to do something for the first time, and we got to do it in such great company Arosa was gorgeous. The race was stunning. But it was the people we enjoyed it all with that made it truly wonderful.
And none of it would have happened without Georgie and Jamie.
Toodles,
Paul
P.S. For the Arosa 2025 crew, this is ‘Perfect Day’ , the BBC version, I see Georgie singing the Heather Small parts, and Jamie as Huey. I am glad I spent it with you.
P.P.S. Some of the crew mentioned that they were running the half marathon in Killarney in May…we booked it as soon as we came home.
