One year to the day after the terror attack on Glasgow Airport, John Smeaton talks from New York City 30th June, 2008.
“Thank you everybody. Without your support it would have been a lot harder to get through this unbelievable year. It’s been absolutely brilliant, fantastic – I’ve met so many people. I’ve been to places I never ever thought I’d see in my life… New York… London… Barcelona… New York… New York! Manchester… Leeds… all over the world.
It just shows you how great the human race is… so many wonderful people… its been very humbling… but your support and the thousands of messages over this whole crazy year has been brilliant… and along the way if I’ve given you all a laugh… its all been worth it… every second of it…
I’ve quit my job, and I am on a wee journey right now… in more ways than one. I am in New York and then I am going to the West Coast.
I don’t know where it’s going to take me but one thing’s certain… I will always go home to Scotland… to Glasgow… always. Make no mistake about that. The other day someone wrote me an email and said ‘You can take the Smeato out of Scotland, but you can never take The Scotland out of Smeato.’ and that’s the truth.
My great Uncle Stevie, when I was a lad, he’d take me fishing, and he always told me ‘John what’s for you… will never go by you.‘ But you know, sometimes you have to stick your hand out and grab it.
It’s there and it’s for you…
But if you don’t notice it… it’ll go by you.”
September 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Dear Jon.
All the very best of luck on your trip.
I’ve always thought that people who have thrown cans of deodorant on bonfires are much more likely to have a go at homicidal nutters than most.
Throwing cans on bonfires, or even having bonfires, is an ASBO offence nowadays, as you know.
It’s interesting that none of the coverage of you after the first day used the quote:
“Anyone who’s thrown a lit can of deodorant on a bonfire will recognise the sound. Definitely gas.”
Do you think the anti-social implications were too embarrassing, perhaps?
All the best