I`ve posted these a long time ago,
just thought some of the newer members with a interest in this stuff may like to see them
so here they are again.
And here’s a link to some more reading from the Saudi Aramco World WEBSITE
Wasn’t ■■■■ the the guy they had to pull out of the sand in Destination Doha.
I seem to remember they refered to the guy as “Snowy” and he was traveling on his own.
Thanks for posting that mate. It was an awsome read. It amazes me how they did it. True veterans.
Cheers, Nige.
Wasn’t ■■■■ the the guy they had to pull out of the sand in Destination Doha.
The film crew asked him to get stuck in the sand so they could make the film more interesting.It was a matter of trailer brakes on & lots of welly.
There was quite a number of events on that film I think you’ll find were staged.
Stripping all the wheel hubs down in Belgium,on the way out because they thought there was a brake problem?
Do me a favour!I knew some firms that may have been that bad,but not Astran.
Just looking back through the old pages and found this link. Any chance of posting the pictures again please?
Mr 141:
Just looking back through the old pages and found this link. Any chance of posting the pictures again please?
All sorted for you now Mr 141
bestbooties:
There was quite a number of events on that film I think you’ll find were staged.
Stripping all the wheel hubs down in Belgium,on the way out because they thought there was a brake problem?
Do me a favour!I knew some firms that may have been that bad,but not Astran.
Hi Ian (bestbooties)
Don’t think you will remember me but my dad was Arthur Sproston - Carmans/Brit Eurpoean).
I just watch the “Destination Doha” DVD.
I think I recognised one of the drivers that they talked to at the National in Belgrade. I am sure it was
another Carmans Driver, the first one to to do a Middle East run for Carmans - Gilbert Harding.
Am I right ■■
Steve Sproston.
SSPROS1965:
bestbooties:
There was quite a number of events on that film I think you’ll find were staged.
Stripping all the wheel hubs down in Belgium,on the way out because they thought there was a brake problem?
Do me a favour!I knew some firms that may have been that bad,but not Astran.Hi Ian (bestbooties)
Don’t think you will remember me but my dad was Arthur Sproston - Carmans/Brit Eurpoean).
I just watch the “Destination Doha” DVD.
I think I recognised one of the drivers that they talked to at the National in Belgrade. I am sure it was
another Carmans Driver, the first one to to do a Middle East run for Carmans - Gilbert Harding.Am I right ■■
Steve Sproston.
Hi Steve,
Yes I remember your dad well,never saw him when he wasn’t laughing about something.The last time I saw him was in the “National” in Belgrade in the early '80’s,I think I was working for Expo Freight at the time.He was on his was back from Romania with a fridge trailer on.He joined me in the restaurant and said to me,“Taylor,I’ve had a good trip up till now,and Mr. Carman is going to buy you dinner tonight!”
I was saddened to hear of his passing,a good mate.
Yes,that was the well known Gilbert Harding on the DVD,I believe we lost him a few years ago.
I met another former Carman’s driver some time ago working for the same agency as myself,Reg Fallows,don’t know if you knew him.I think he’s now retired because of his health.
I see you’re based in Pretoria.I was there in 1994 doing some work for the H.& R.Johnson tile factory at Elifantsfonteigne.
Click on my link for some pics of Brit European in the Middle East.
Cheers.
bestbooties:
SSPROS1965:
bestbooties:
There was quite a number of events on that film I think you’ll find were staged.
Stripping all the wheel hubs down in Belgium,on the way out because they thought there was a brake problem?
Do me a favour!I knew some firms that may have been that bad,but not Astran.Hi Ian (bestbooties)
Don’t think you will remember me but my dad was Arthur Sproston - Carmans/Brit Eurpoean).
I just watch the “Destination Doha” DVD.
I think I recognised one of the drivers that they talked to at the National in Belgrade. I am sure it was
another Carmans Driver, the first one to to do a Middle East run for Carmans - Gilbert Harding.Am I right ■■
Steve Sproston.
Hi Steve,
Yes I remember your dad well,never saw him when he wasn’t laughing about something.The last time I saw him was in the “National” in Belgrade in the early '80’s,I think I was working for Expo Freight at the time.He was on his was back from Romania with a fridge trailer on.He joined me in the restaurant and said to me,“Taylor,I’ve had a good trip up till now,and Mr. Carman is going to buy you dinner tonight!”
I was saddened to hear of his passing,a good mate.
Yes,that was the well known Gilbert Harding on the DVD,I believe we lost him a few years ago.
I met another former Carman’s driver some time ago working for the same agency as myself,Reg Fallows,don’t know if you knew him.I think he’s now retired because of his health.
I see you’re based in Pretoria.I was there in 1994 doing some work for the H.& R.Johnson tile factory at Elifantsfonteigne.
Click on my link for some pics of Brit European in the Middle East.
Cheers.
Hi Ian
Yes, I live now here ion sunny South Africa. Been here since 1999.
Do you mean you were in Olifantfontein ■■ (means Elephants Fountain 
)
That is near to my office here in Midrand.
Yes I can remeber Reggie Fallows, sorry to hear about his ill health but I guess it catches up with us all sometime.
I think his son worked for Carmans too.
My dad - Arthur - passed away in 1996. Too soon as now I would love to hear more of his stories.
One of my best summers was went I went with him for 6 weeks solid before they put a stop to passsengers.
Can you remember the F88 he had with the Orange Van Hool Tri-axle Orange Tanker. No one liked that trailer as it had a self steering axle.
Only my dad could master it !!!
And the little DAF’s he had - 2300’s but they took him all over Europe. Rumania is about as far as he got.
I saw your pics on Toprun. I have to confess the one I saw oif you in front of the Transconti reminded me so much of Phil Cox !!! Sorry , LOL !!
I thought it was Gilbert on the DVD - I remember he drove the only Scania Carmans had at the time. He was involved in that accident on the M6 in the contra-flow. Was never the same so I understand after that.
Do you remember Ron Snape, Bob Matthews, Davey Jones, Dave Adby, Ron and Kenny Goodwin, Gerry Norris, Johnny Pugh,
Here’s a bigger surprise. I now manage warehouses for the IT company I work for in UAE and Saudi !!. In about 2 months times I will be in DUBAI, ABU DHABI, JEDDAh, RIAYDH and DAMMAM !!! Small world
Hope you keep well and write that book PLEASE !!!
Steve
SSPROS1965:
Hi IanYes, I live now here ion sunny South Africa. Been here since 1999.
Do you mean you were in Olifantfontein ■■ (means Elephants Fountain
That is near to my office here in Midrand.
Yes I can remeber Reggie Fallows, sorry to hear about his ill health but I guess it catches up with us all sometime.
I think his son worked for Carmans too.My dad - Arthur - passed away in 1996. Too soon as now I would love to hear more of his stories.
One of my best summers was went I went with him for 6 weeks solid before they put a stop to passsengers.Can you remember the F88 he had with the Orange Van Hool Tri-axle Orange Tanker. No one liked that trailer as it had a self steering axle.
Only my dad could master it !!!And the little DAF’s he had - 2300’s but they took him all over Europe. Rumania is about as far as he got.
I saw your pics on Toprun. I have to confess the one I saw oif you in front of the Transconti reminded me so much of Phil Cox !!! Sorry , LOL !!
I thought it was Gilbert on the DVD - I remember he drove the only Scania Carmans had at the time. He was involved in that accident on the M6 in the contra-flow. Was never the same so I understand after that.
Do you remember Ron Snape, Bob Matthews, Davey Jones, Dave Adby, Ron and Kenny Goodwin, Gerry Norris, Johnny Pugh,
Here’s a bigger surprise. I now manage warehouses for the IT company I work for in UAE and Saudi !!. In about 2 months times I will be in DUBAI, ABU DHABI, JEDDAh, RIAYDH and DAMMAM !!! Small world
Hope you keep well and write that book PLEASE !!!
Steve
Hi again Steve,
Sorry for reminding you of Phil Cox,amI too old for plastic surgery?
I remember the fleeting views of Ron Snape ((RIP),the man that could do Italy and back virtually non stop.
I did my first two M/E trips,both to Baghdad with Bob Matthews,good mate,very laid back.
I remember Davey Jones,(someone told me he had died?),and Kenny Goodwin both of who I think only did one M/E trip and decided it was not for them.Ken’s brother Roy,I last saw in Newcastle about 12 years ago,I know he went to work for Hoyers,didn’t he have something to do with Hoyers starting up in the UK?.
I also remember Johnny Pugh from when he came to Carmans from Dixons.The only transport manager I ever met who had the balls to tell you to run home empty from somewhere like Newcastle on Tyne as there was a load in the yard,rather than have you sit in a 'phone box for three days waiting for a backload.
I think it was two people got killed in that contra flow on the M6 with Gilbert Harding.That would be enough to make anyone park up for good I think.
Here is a pic of the Scania sometime later when Barry Critchlow was running with me down through Turkey.(Barry’s son has since contacted me on this BB,small world aint it?)
The book is coming on,hope I live long enough to finish it!.
Oh happy days!
bestbooties:
SSPROS1965:
Hi IanYes, I live now here ion sunny South Africa. Been here since 1999.
Do you mean you were in Olifantfontein ■■ (means Elephants Fountain
That is near to my office here in Midrand.
Yes I can remeber Reggie Fallows, sorry to hear about his ill health but I guess it catches up with us all sometime.
I think his son worked for Carmans too.My dad - Arthur - passed away in 1996. Too soon as now I would love to hear more of his stories.
One of my best summers was went I went with him for 6 weeks solid before they put a stop to passsengers.Can you remember the F88 he had with the Orange Van Hool Tri-axle Orange Tanker. No one liked that trailer as it had a self steering axle.
Only my dad could master it !!!And the little DAF’s he had - 2300’s but they took him all over Europe. Rumania is about as far as he got.
I saw your pics on Toprun. I have to confess the one I saw oif you in front of the Transconti reminded me so much of Phil Cox !!! Sorry , LOL !!
I thought it was Gilbert on the DVD - I remember he drove the only Scania Carmans had at the time. He was involved in that accident on the M6 in the contra-flow. Was never the same so I understand after that.
Do you remember Ron Snape, Bob Matthews, Davey Jones, Dave Adby, Ron and Kenny Goodwin, Gerry Norris, Johnny Pugh,
Here’s a bigger surprise. I now manage warehouses for the IT company I work for in UAE and Saudi !!. In about 2 months times I will be in DUBAI, ABU DHABI, JEDDAh, RIAYDH and DAMMAM !!! Small world
Hope you keep well and write that book PLEASE !!!
Steve
Hi again Steve,
Sorry for reminding you of Phil Cox,amI too old for plastic surgery?
I remember the fleeting views of Ron Snape ((RIP),the man that could do Italy and back virtually non stop.
I did my first two M/E trips,both to Baghdad with Bob Matthews,good mate,very laid back.
I remember Davey Jones,(someone told me he had died?),and Kenny Goodwin both of who I think only did one M/E trip and decided it was not for them.Ken’s brother Roy,I last saw in Newcastle about 12 years ago,I know he went to work for Hoyers,didn’t he have something to do with Hoyers starting up in the UK?.
I also remember Johnny Pugh from when he came to Carmans from Dixons.The only transport manager I ever met who had the balls to tell you to run home empty from somewhere like Newcastle on Tyne as there was a load in the yard,rather than have you sit in a 'phone box for three days waiting for a backload.
I think it was two people got killed in that contra flow on the M6 with Gilbert Harding.That would be enough to make anyone park up for good I think.
Here is a pic of the Scania sometime later when Barry Critchlow was running with me down through Turkey.(Barry’s son has since contacted me on this BB,small world aint it?)
The book is coming on,hope I live long enough to finish it!.
Oh happy days!
Hi Ian
I know Kenny and my dad did the sugar run for a while together. Kenny always had a Merc with
a French tanker behind it. Lovely aluminium French one of IIRC.
Ron did move to Hoyers and was one of the first subbies for them.
I did hear on this site somewhre about Davey Jones. I can always remember him having a
rubber ring - LOL - for a long time. Something to do with farming !!!
My dad and a number of drivers follwed Johnny to Dixons based at Jubilee Garage along the A34 towards Congleton.
When my dad went back to Carmans a short time later he went straight back onto his F88 and tanker. Remeer
his F88 had a black grill and was the only tractor with a black stripe instead of the normal blue one.
I have heard that Carmans/Brit have gone “corporate” now and do alot of tractor and JCB movements from the UK.
Steve
Ian, were you aware that I also drove for Ron Carman with the very first truck with “bet” on the side, it was an F88Volvo 240 Reg: AEH???H. I have remembered this number for years and when I want to quote it, I cannot remember it. The truck had no cab lift, had to be lifted by hand, which was a struggle, it had a habit of doing fan belts because the jockey pulley was slightly out of line and I always had to carry a spare as they went pretty frequently. Would that number be AEH 754 H.
I was an outbased driver, living in Bristol, but attached to the Trowbridge depot. I did the same job all the time, which was load at Mitcheldean, Glos at Rank Xerox for Italy. Always loaded and shipped on a Sunday and Monday morning at Rank Xerox, Venray, Nr Venlo where the paperwork was changed to show the load came from Holland and then I would leave for Milan, clearing at Central Dogana, Via Valtelina. Once cleared tipped at Rank Xerox Milan and the usuallyh loaded washinmg machines from Bergamo back to Canterbury. I di this trip every week for over a year. I knew Gilbert Harding, John Goldsworthy and I forget the name of the driver who did the Holland trip with an f86 road train for many years.
I used to telephone Anne with my hours for the week and she was as good as gold.
I can remember Brit European starting the Midlle East and I did bump into John Goldsworthy on a trip.
Colonel:
Ian, were you aware that I also drove for Ron Carman with the very first truck with “bet” on the side, it was an F88Volvo 240 Reg: AEH???H. I have remembered this number for years and when I want to quote it, I cannot remember it. The truck had no cab lift, had to be lifted by hand, which was a struggle, it had a habit of doing fan belts because the jockey pulley was slightly out of line and I always had to carry a spare as they went pretty frequently. Would that number be AEH 754 H.I was an outbased driver, living in Bristol, but attached to the Trowbridge depot. I did the same job all the time, which was load at Mitcheldean, Glos at Rank Xerox for Italy. Always loaded and shipped on a Sunday and Monday morning at Rank Xerox, Venray, Nr Venlo where the paperwork was changed to show the load came from Holland and then I would leave for Milan, clearing at Central Dogana, Via Valtelina. Once cleared tipped at Rank Xerox Milan and the usuallyh loaded washinmg machines from Bergamo back to Canterbury. I di this trip every week for over a year. I knew Gilbert Harding, John Goldsworthy and I forget the name of the driver who did the Holland trip with an f86 road train for many years.
I used to telephone Anne with my hours for the week and she was as good as gold.
I can remember Brit European starting the Midlle East and I did bump into John Goldsworthy on a trip.
Colonel,
Well now,doesn’t the world get smaller on here?
AEH 754H was the first truck I had on Carmans.I did a few weeks tramping,pulling unaccompanied trailers out of and back to Dover.
After a couple of weeks,I was asked if I had a passport,I said of course,and thought great,It looks as if I might be doing some European work.Then I was told I’d be shipping out for Baghdad in a weeks time,with AEH 754H!
I spent a week in the garage working with big Collin,doing a full service,fitting a Hatcher top tank,removing shims from under the fifth wheel to drop the hight.
I did my first trip with Bob Matthews and Johnny Mudd.After the trip,Bob and I refused to travel with Muddy again,and I don’t think he went out M/E again.
I met “Goldy” on either my first or second trip.He had fallen in love with some Ausie bird he had picked up who told him her old man had a trucking business back in Oz and if he went back with her she’d makesure he got a job,never saw him again!
After my first trip,during which it was found that the diff lock on AEH had been removed,and I nearly lost her going over Mardin,I suggested that she ws a bit long in the tooth for M/E and she was pensioned off,for my second and subsequent trips I had Muddy’s motor.
Other drivers I got to know from the Trowbridge depot were Jimmy Withers who drove an old F88 road train,and Dave Prosser,in fact when Carmans had a pair of Transcons,I had one and Dave Prosser had the other.
Ron Carman is still alive and well,I spoke to him a few months ago,he’s in his 80’s now.Jean died a few years ago I gather.
Here’s a pic of AEH bound for Baghdad,somewhere between Gaziantep and Urfa.
All for now.
Hi all
I remember Gilbert Harding. We came across him on a return trip from Bagdad when we were on for Chapman and Ball in 1976.We run on and off with him all the way back. I say that lightly as he would just pull up when he felt like it and have the odd hour in the sack.then catch up again later.He was a true gent and I met him quite a few times over the next years then after not seeing him for a while I made enquires and was told of his accident. Apparently there had been problems with the ignition switch on his truck so a seperate switch had been fitted to the steering lock.When he crossed the central ress in the contraflow the steering locked up and he plowed into the oncoming lane.I was told he was then just doing UK but was never the same again.It seemed a unfitting end to a good man RIP.
Regards Keith.
bestbooties:
Colonel:
Ian, were you aware that I also drove for Ron Carman with the very first truck with “bet” on the side, it was an F88Volvo 240 Reg: AEH???H. I have remembered this number for years and when I want to quote it, I cannot remember it. The truck had no cab lift, had to be lifted by hand, which was a struggle, it had a habit of doing fan belts because the jockey pulley was slightly out of line and I always had to carry a spare as they went pretty frequently. Would that number be AEH 754 H.I was an outbased driver, living in Bristol, but attached to the Trowbridge depot. I did the same job all the time, which was load at Mitcheldean, Glos at Rank Xerox for Italy. Always loaded and shipped on a Sunday and Monday morning at Rank Xerox, Venray, Nr Venlo where the paperwork was changed to show the load came from Holland and then I would leave for Milan, clearing at Central Dogana, Via Valtelina. Once cleared tipped at Rank Xerox Milan and the usuallyh loaded washinmg machines from Bergamo back to Canterbury. I di this trip every week for over a year. I knew Gilbert Harding, John Goldsworthy and I forget the name of the driver who did the Holland trip with an f86 road train for many years.
I used to telephone Anne with my hours for the week and she was as good as gold.
I can remember Brit European starting the Midlle East and I did bump into John Goldsworthy on a trip.
Colonel,
Well now,doesn’t the world get smaller on here?
AEH 754H was the first truck I had on Carmans.I did a few weeks tramping,pulling unaccompanied trailers out of and back to Dover.
After a couple of weeks,I was asked if I had a passport,I said of course,and thought great,It looks as if I might be doing some European work.Then I was told I’d be shipping out for Baghdad in a weeks time,with AEH 754H!
I spent a week in the garage working with big Collin,doing a full service,fitting a Hatcher top tank,removing shims from under the fifth wheel to drop the hight.
I did my first trip with Bob Matthews and Johnny Mudd.After the trip,Bob and I refused to travel with Muddy again,and I don’t think he went out M/E again.
I met “Goldy” on either my first or second trip.He had fallen in love with some Ausie bird he had picked up who told him her old man had a trucking business back in Oz and if he went back with her she’d makesure he got a job,never saw him again!
After my first trip,during which it was found that the diff lock on AEH had been removed,and I nearly lost her going over Mardin,I suggested that she ws a bit long in the tooth for M/E and she was pensioned off,for my second and subsequent trips I had Muddy’s motor.
Other drivers I got to know from the Trowbridge depot were Jimmy Withers who drove an old F88 road train,and Dave Prosser,in fact when Carmans had a pair of Transcons,I had one and Dave Prosser had the other.
Ron Carman is still alive and well,I spoke to him a few months ago,he’s in his 80’s now.Jean died a few years ago I gather.
Here’s a pic of AEH bound for Baghdad,somewhere between Gaziantep and Urfa.
All for now.
Yes Ian, it certainly does. I was with Carmans in 1970/71 having previously driven for Hardings of Avonmouth doing the ships stores all over Europe from 1968. I then met a driver in Heston Services who was doing Istanbul by the name of Dusty Miller from Dartmouth and he got me a job with an outfit in Isleworth doing Istanbul. Another fellow driver at this company was a well know name - Tyrone Jarvis from Weston-super-mare, who later became an owner driver on the Middle East about the same time as me with a 2600 DAF.
I ended up driving an Scammel Crusader with a 280/90 Rolls Eagle Reg No. SLA 3 L. An excellent truck for the job as it rode the bumps in Yugo and Bulgaria much better than my later Scania 110 ever did. This outfir was totally bent with the finest of permit forgeries one could ever wish to run with, never a problem on that score. I was told that the company was owned by the Krays, but I have no idea whether this was true or not. I will say, however, that they were brilliant with your money.
I like the photograph, the scenery around that part of Southern Turkey was a revelation. We must have both been doing Baghdad at the same time, one way to check is that when I first ran Baghdad in 1976, having given up doing Tehran, the customs in Baghdad were at Abu Graib, you know, paring on the dustbowl. They later moved out to Falujah and then ASswar, but I never had to go out to either of the last two customs as my agent managed to do the work without me or the truck being there. I used to park poutide the British Club, opposite the Moulin Rouge. Tip first day of arrival, load second day, then two days rest enjoying myself in the pool of the British Club then hit it for home. A round trip Baghdad for me was always exactly 18 days. Did you ever meet Robin Earith with the Transcon, he was a regular on that run at the time.
Colonel:
Yes Ian, it certainly does. I was with Carmans in 1970/71 having previously driven for Hardings of Avonmouth doing the ships stores all over Europe from 1968. I then met a driver in Heston Services who was doing Istanbul by the name of Dusty Miller from Dartmouth and he got me a job with an outfit in Isleworth doing Istanbul. Another fellow driver at this company was a well know name - Tyrone Jarvis from Weston-super-mare, who later became an owner driver on the Middle East about the same time as me with a 2600 DAF.I ended up driving an Scammel Crusader with a 280/90 Rolls Eagle Reg No. SLA 3 L. An excellent truck for the job as it rode the bumps in Yugo and Bulgaria much better than my later Scania 110 ever did. This outfir was totally bent with the finest of permit forgeries one could ever wish to run with, never a problem on that score. I was told that the company was owned by the Krays, but I have no idea whether this was true or not. I will say, however, that they were brilliant with your money.
I like the photograph, the scenery around that part of Southern Turkey was a revelation. We must have both been doing Baghdad at the same time, one way to check is that when I first ran Baghdad in 1976, having given up doing Tehran, the customs in Baghdad were at Abu Graib, you know, paring on the dustbowl. They later moved out to Falujah and then ASswar, but I never had to go out to either of the last two customs as my agent managed to do the work without me or the truck being there. I used to park poutide the British Club, opposite the Moulin Rouge. Tip first day of arrival, load second day, then two days rest enjoying myself in the pool of the British Club then hit it for home. A round trip Baghdad for me was always exactly 18 days. Did you ever meet Robin Earith with the Transcon, he was a regular on that run at the time.
Colonel,
My first Baghdad was in early 1975.As you said,the customs in the early days was at Abu Graib,here it is:
After a couple of trips the customs moved further up the road,then it was out at Fallujah right up until the last one I did sometime in the '80’s.
Bob Matthews and I found a nice little hotel just out of the centre of Baghdad called The Opera Hotel,where I always stayed on subsequent trips.In fact it was not far from the British Club,but I only went in there onone occasion.
It seems strange to hear these place names you talk about as a place you traveled to as part of your work. Where now we hear them on the news as places that are getting blown to kingdom come. How times change.
I never took the trouble of taking many photographs and that is a shame now, after all who wants to look at photos of trucks - only truckers. The Opera Hotel was just around the corner from the British Club.
There was quite often trouble at the British Club with a few of the drivers with sawn off jeans jumping into the swimming pool, so they introduced a membership card fort a select few and this one needed to get in, being checked by Sammy on the gate. Seeing as I used to be in Baghdad every month I was entrusted with bringing out all the small things the expats could not get there, like Cornflakes, Baked Beans and so on. I liked Baghdad having been taken to some really lovely restaurants and it was an easy town to drive around being all dual carriageways and roundabouts, of course we all know that some of the Iraqis drove on the pavements to avoid any sort of delay.
I don’t know who your agent was in Baghdad, but I used a small company run by a nice man called Sabbah Bourachian and he gave me plenty of Arabic Manifests for me to fill in prior to myself and my drivers reaching the border at Zahko. I was always first throught the gate and the first down to the Garage at the corner where you turned right to go over the mountain to Mosul, where we used to go to customs for a first clearance. His office was on Saadoun Street. The name esccapes me now but it was either Orient Transport or Trading Transport. Of course, as you know all these trading companies were nationalised when Saddam got organised and they became the Public Land Transport Company, what a mouthful.
I was in his office one day and I needed the toilet so I asked him where it was and he told me where to go and said that there was a western one and a bomb aimer in opposite corners, him being a christian arab he had the western toilet installed. When I get in there I realise to my dismay that there is no paper, so I quickly run back to his office to tell him and he went into a fit. Saying "Those filthy "*******Arabs they are always nicking my toilet paper. I couldn’t stop laughing, in fact I am laughing now as I type this.