I have thought of writing my SIHH report several times but then again all the collectors did an excellent job before me and with much better photography so it seemed futile at a certain point. What I would like to do is share my thoughts with you all about this Forum.
It is the Medium that simply changed my life. And I am not referring to the many hours at front of my laptop I enjoy reading Nad's posts or studying MF's, Jack's, Cellar's, and pretty much everyone's since I am currently still a novice. I speak IWC again on a lower level but I can get along with the professors at least most of the times.
This Forum gave me the opportunity to participate in such interesting discussions with other Forum Members from sports to politics and as to a well respected Forum Member "everything we do is politics" and pretty often with IWC watches being the start and finish point of every debate and argument. IWC watches, too often people fail to recognise these three letters they haven't heard or do not really know anything about it.
But if you show them people can tell, just an initial small introduction and they get addicted. Like I was. And of course where else than the Forum can you discuss all these aspects?
And then you want to say a little more so you email certain Members and they get back to you. Next thing you ll be trying to get in touch with them have a beer (Cheers David) or some wine (sorry Michael). So you now know a couple of things about them and they know some things about you except from watches.
It is obvious that you were not a lonely person and you had friends lifetime good old friends but at a point it was never the same. You have suddenly became this boring guy talking not only watches but IWC watches and nobody seems to have a clue about things like AquaTimers and Ingenieurs and Aventurine and Perpetual Calendars they are OK to talk about Pireli Calendars but Perpetual? So if you live in a small city up in the Greek North like I do you can only hope to such rare meetings or try to get in one of these IWC Collector Forum Meetings, or try to organise some holidays with other Forum Members (Roberto I ll get back to you).
But then again when travelling abroad you have so many friends all over the world from North and South America to Europe (hi guys) and Asia, (Cellar if it weren't to all this venomous flora and fauna...).
My life has changed. To such an interesting context. And I don't want my old life back please. I am so fortunate to find this Forum in my way.
It is really much more than IWC watches it was always have been and still reflecting the virtues and qualities of Probus Scafusia to our every day life.
So a thank you from the heart to IWC for giving me the sheer pleasure to ba a proud Member of this Forum.
Thank you to all Forum Members who have accepted me in (Andrew and Richard).Thank you guys for your great company.
Thank you Alan for being always out there.
Thank you Bill for organising everything (keep off MY WATCH LOL)
Thank you Ross I will get back to you
Thank you Antonio for your knowledge
Thank you Bob for the little walk in SIHH we had
Thank you Nad my friend
Thank you Tonny great sense of humor
Thank you Roberto words cannot express
Thank you David to Isakaya...
Thank you Michael, IWC, this Forum and we all owe you so much, it was a privilege to meet again.
Best regards
Argiris
