Loftus Road: QPR vs MAN UTD

Nak percaya ke taknak, the fact is I was really at the Stadium watching QPR vs Manchester United from directors box!

First I was welcomed to the executive lounge (I don't really know what they called it but channel on tv is all about football), up there Tony Fernandes personally greeted me. WOW. We had picture, he then tweeted it. WOW lagi. Offered a drink, I asked for wifi password and went for a toilet. It's only 11am+ by that time. Oh wait, did I tell you Sir Bobby Charlton was also there?! Siap salam tangan lagi neh! Coolness eh? David Gill pun ada with his children. We had brunch then straight heading to the game.

At the C-Club, the most exclusive hospitality within QPR

View from the stadium is the best ever lah! Tony actually give his designated seat to me. Lost count on my WOWness already. Within two minutes to the game, Rooney scored! The fact he is my captain in Fantasy League this week really fired me up! I got it right once again. Hee.. Try to cover the excitement as much as I can but yeah Tony knows I'm United fan anyway. Between Tony and I was Mike Jones (also a MUFC fan). Another cool guy; Vice President of GE Aviation, based in Singapore. In front of me was Philip Beard, a QPR CEO. So passionate I can tell you. So does the fans. Malaysia football needs to emulate this.

By the time Carrick scores (after many years?), United slow downed the game; yes SAF already looking for the next match. Welbeck, Rooney and Nani out for Chicharito, Giggs and Ashley Young respectively. And yes Manchester United won 2-0. Happy

 After the game. He is OK with the result (come January, Warnock lost his job)

Back to executive lounge, post match refreshment. Bit conversation with Tony (he told he will be in Labuan somewhere in January). I thanked him and went downstairs and met few more AirAsia/ Tunes top guns. And everyone was like "Oh, this is the twitter guy!" Awesome :)

Later I met Rozie, she wanted to pass up the theater tickets (Rooney Shrek the Musical). Chit chat, gossip here and there, I'm back at Victoria station then to the Gatwick airport.

Balik. And I write all of these while flying. Sangat unbelievable the whole experience.

Gatwick 18 Dec 2011 ETD 2250 hrs

Road to Loftus Road Pt 3

Immediately after we arrived and took our luggage, we went to Gatwick train station to get a ticket to Victoria (I bought return ticket actually). It was already dark by then.

Being a winner, I think I did well in promoting the BIG card. It just sometimes photo taken where my face looked hideous, especially the first picture just before departure. Ahaha.. Did I care? Hell NO! Janji gi London tengok bola kan..

So after Victoria station, we split and went to our hotel, mine at Central Park Hotel, so near to Malaysian Hall (I had Nasi kandaq kambing twice). Upon check in, I get assisted by Rozie (a friend doing PhD in UCL) which leads me to Whitelys (a mall). At there, I ended up with Zara winter coat; the customer service was tip top. The manager (Jorge) helped me out to find which coat suits me well. With tips, opinions and what not, I feel appreciated so yeah I bought one. Was looking for a decent winter coat actually. So case closed.

Back at hotel, so tired I sleep early. Woke up in the midnight, called my wife, sleep back and by 4.30am I'm already up. Eager for the game!

Road to Loftus Road Pt 2

I CANNOT SLEEP
As if it requires technically gifted person to do so. The more I tried the harder it became. I text my wife every one hour I think. Went to toilet for numbers of time.

Now I kinda regret it. I should calm down a bit and take it easy. Apparently I was accompanied by one of BIG staff, a marketing guy I believe; sebijik muka cam Eric Casa Idaman ~Surprise..!!
Tak tahu plak. Dok risau all the way alone, meet up TF, how to behave etc

Still I prefer my dearest wife to be around.

So far everything just fine, you shouldn't be complaining much when you get stuff for free. The custom officer I deal with was nice. "2 hari je? Tengok bola, minat QPR ke?" Err.. United :)

I sit beside one lady (from Liverpool) who just finished her 14 months stay in Vietnam, teaching English. Her boyfriend wants her to return (and settle down as one family; ok ni aku memandai :P). Basically my respond "Yeah, I understand long distance relationship challenges"

Her name? Stephanie

Gatwick 17 Dec 2011 ETA 1440 hrs

Road to Loftus Road

Incredibly unbelievable!!!
Out of all people, I am the lucky winner of twitter contest by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (TF). Hard luck. I have no qualm or blame anybody as I never won any lucky draws, contest etc previously. The one I remembered most, masuk peraduan Mamee berangan menang PlayStation or something. Of course I didn't win. The other one zaman makan junk food tikam2 I actually managed to get a card that entitled me kereta control tapi tauke kedai tukar dengan extra keropok. Sigh. That's me being such a good boy.

But when I get DM from TF I was like OMG! OMG! He told me I just won the contest but don't tell anyone just yet, send him an email for details. The rest is history (until i come back lah). To be honest I just tweet without putting any real hope. Stan Bowles. Got to remember that name for a long time.

I told my wife, friends (currently housemate), my brother and the other family members. The reaction? Quite funny and interesting. Most of them terkejutlah, so do I. "Confirm ke bukan penipuan sms@internet!" Haha that's from Along.

Come on, to win a seat in directors box, who would ever thought that? To watch BPL; Manchester United plak tu?? Via Twitter only!!
Fuh, still cannot believe my luck.

TBC