2 replies to this topic

[wattenscheid09]

Hi everybody. Your faithful wattenscheid09 with a little report. A few days ago I gave a talk at the Ian Fleming Ski Challenge in Kitzbühel, a skiing event in honour of Fleming and his roots in Kitzbühel.

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I'd say a 70 persons from Germany and Austria, plus some members of the Fleming family (they were unfortunately around on Saturday where I was gone already, so they missed my talk)

Here's a pic of Andy Fleming from their facebook page:

http://www.facebook....306177546086177

Basically we met at the Villa Mellon (where Fleming sometimes hung out in the fifties) and had a relaxed evening with Vodka Martini (shaken not stirred) at an open fire (where Fleming had sat, visiting his friend Chappi Seilern). There even was a Casino table arund. Then, sitting in a grandfather chair near the crackling fire, I held my talk. I read passages from OCTOPUSSY (from a Chopping edition, nothing less) and OHMSS with traces of Kitzbühel and led into the parallels in James Bonds and Ian Flemings life concerning Kitzbühel. Then I basically pointed out all the biographical links of Fleming to Kitzbühl and Austria. And finally, to unsettle everybody, I read some passages from Pearsons Bond biography about that winter of 1938 when Fleming met the handsome, young Bond in Kitzbühel. That got everybody confused (that and the Martinis).

Next day, saturday, there was a crazy Bond.themed ski race down the famous slopes of Kitzbühel. and a grand Saturday evening party (by then there were close to 100 people). In brief, lots of fun. and a chance to throw some light on the Fleming books (something I always go for).

Signing off from Austria

wattenscheid09

[Dustin]

Sounds like splendid fun! I had no idea there was something like this even planned, hope there will be another event next year. Thanks for reporting this, wattenscheid09!

[Eric Stromberg]

Very interesting, indeed. Thank you for sharing. Andy does look very related!