Mike had taken with him his 52 oz thermal insulated 'Big Red Mug' which he would get the bar staff to fill with water and ice to sip on throughout the day to keep cool in the blazing Caribbean sun.
I was so impressed with Mike's mug that I asked him if he would buy me a similar mug on his return to the USA and mail it to me. But Mike, whose heart is as big as the mug, told me he wanted me to have HIS big red mug... and that's where the mug's adventures began!
No sooner had 'Big Red' reached the UK than it found itself being photographed in all kinds of places, and amidst all kinds of drunken craziness. I even roped in David Blaine and a Page Three Girl in to help (clothed). These pictures were of course emailed to Mike in the USA, and the ones that are suitable for publication are below.
First Big Red was unpacked from the car after the trip home
Then it went to the pub with us
The following weekend Big Red went to the beach
Into Colchester to see the castle
A night out in Wivenhoe watching some bands on the playing field
My daughters, now both grown up, made a special effort for July 4th
Big Red took it's first trip to London, along with a real life Page Three Girl
There's that model again
Then we popped along to Tower Bridge where David Blaine was living in a box for 44 days suspended over the Thames
On holiday to Side in Turkey
Christmas
Big Red has some company now
