Lessons in Humility I have Kevin B to thank for keeping me in my shoes. Kevin has been taking me to the airport and back in his nice 535M taxi for nearly two years now. These trips have been frequent; he must have driven me more than 100 times, so we chat during the journey. I never cease to be amazed at how accomplished K is. As he has told me, he is a golf pro (plays at Sunningdale, a very upmarket, prestigious club well beyond my reach), has been a consultant at one of the top five firms, has been a senior police officer, has been in the arctic and has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. I compare that with my 13 handicap, the only time I have come close to the police force in recent times is when I get a speeding ticket and the farthest I have been from home in the last few months is Watford! So a weekly dose of this keeps me sane. But yesterday’s conversation really took the cake. Going to Heathrow: Me: Been well, Kevin? K: Sadly no, Mr Smit. I was just recovering from a bad chest infection and was watching the BMW PGA at Wentworth with my friend Paul McGinley (the current Ryder Cup Captain, a pretty big pro at his peak). We went to the corporate tent and a woman reversed her buggy on my foot! Me: Watching golf with Paul McGinley would be wonderful (I have only been to this tournament with my three poor golfing friends, and we wouldn’t lurk anywhere near corporate tents lest they should set the dogs on us!). But a pity about the foot, I hope the injury isn’t too bad. K: Unfortunately yes, three toes broken. So I have to have a slipper on left foot for the next six weeks. Me: At least it’s not too cold now, heh, heh. K: No, but I have to go to the Buckingham Palace in two weeks time to meet the Queen and it would be most embarrassing to not have both feet properly shoed. Me: Very impressive, Kevin, how come the Queen? K: Oh, it’s an award for bravery. You see I pulled this woman and her two kids out of their burning car. This scar on my cheek, most people think it’s a mere scar but it’s actually a burn mark; the car exploded when I was pulling the second child out. Me: I worship the ground on which you walk. Return Journey: Me: That’s a nice looking car, Kevin, the Z4? K: No, useless. Me (timidly): Why? K: It’s useless. What do you do with this, nothing! Me: Well, as long as I can get my golf bag in the boot, I would love to have it. K: You cannot. Me: You don’t think the boot would take a golf bag? K: I KNOW. I used to have one, sold it. Me. Hmmm. K: Now the BMW M6 Coupe, that’s a good car. Me: You think so? (I bow to your superior knowledge) K: Yep, had one, sold it as I just didn’t drive it enough. Me: May I kiss your feet. Trust me, each such exchange extinguishes any little spark of arrogance that might be beginning to raise its head in the subconscious.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:14:50 +0000
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