P-DAY#10.9

Hi all,

I'll continue with the activities post P-DAY#10 at Hammer's place in Brisbane, typing this from Sinapore airport on my way home to Germany.


Wednesday morning. Time to leave Hammer's home for the Friedell family and Jose. Time kept running so quickly...


I was "shotgun" in Hammer's ride on the way to the airport. Speed limits are strong and tickets for speeding are crazy down under...! Better not pushing the pedal to the metal... bugger!


View from the departing area of Brisbane International. The weather conditions didn't let anyone leave back home easily where the temperatures were much lower already.


Happy faces, even when the "good bye" was near: Jose, Hammer and the Friedell family behind.


Some watches had to be muled over the pond. Before they were put into their travel bags, I was able to take a close look at them and caught a few shots. A black Linde Verdelin with a cool strap on. Never saw one of these LWs in real before.


Jose and Alan chattin'.


Another one of Alan's selfmade Seiko Divers. I like the sweeping central second a lot and the Nato is giving it a great "tool watch" look.


M8TES IS GREAT!


The P-DAY#10 charity watch and THE MAN right behind.


On the way back to Hammer's home he took me for a little tour thru Brisbane, showing a few of his special places. Beside the hospital he was in after the accident for a long time, we went also to the home of the sporting wheelies, where the charity auction result is going to. At both institutions - hospital and sporting wheelies - Hammer is often to speak with people about the challenges their life will come against them. I am still impressed how much energy Alan has to do this and how much power and will he even more gives to those who need it now...


Back at Hammer's home I spotted this nice sun watch in his frontyard - nice!


I spotted some "familiar faces" in his appartment. Lots of memories for me on these items once sent quite some time ago to him. Now I was there as well and able to see these items again "live"... unreal - but actually ...real!!!


Time for our passion, time for the Panerai watches. Instead of making a tourist style runaround trip thru downtown Brisbane, I really enjoyed spending time together with Alan just chatting with him at his place, going thru his library, collectible items...


6152/1 and 6154 in da house! I was just thinking: "what would be, if there were no Panerai watches and no paneristi.com...?" All this would have never happened...!


Back in Hammer's workshop where he spends many time enjoy working with his own hands on the watches. I was lurking above his shoulders, the walls and corners are full of paneristi memorables... He got the Panerai bug so badly, youbet!


Increasing the accuracy of his 6154 (careful mate...you got balls! LOL)


The time to leave came closer and before Alan drove me to the Brisbane International airport, we went outside on that beautiful thursday morning for a few last photos in the bright summer sun... "can't touch this, its hammer time!"


Paneristi DU RULES! During the days after P-DAY at his home I got a view from a different ankle of Hammer's life. Before my trip to Australia I was never in touch with people who have to be in a wheelchair, and being together with him and his kind family for a few days, being a little part of his life there, was very important for me. I was looking forward to this for a long time with great excitement, and I won't miss a second of this experience.


It became real, skipper.


Another special moment I will never forget. Friendships don't come with a pricetag, but their value is priceless. Such moments surely are. It will hard to explain to friends, families and people around me at my place when I returned home - I wonder if they will understand. But I am sure, many paneristi here will...

Thanks all for looking my personal reports on P-DAY#10 DU. I hope you enjoyed as much as I did. Also my thanks to all the DU organizers for their perfect performance - you did a great job for all of us who were guests. My greetings to all those who were with me at Hamilton Island. Last but not least thanks to Alan's family who treated me like a member of their family - Danke!

And the best thing is: everytime I look at my Panerai watch on my wrist - I will remember all this. These watches are telling me more than just the time... youbet!

Cheers! Volker



representin' the DNA of Panerai