For 5 years I worked at the lovely Delta London Armouries Hotel in a variety of roles. First off I was a dishwasher, working side by side with my main man Mohammed Kanu, then I was a breakfast porter, where I set up the breakfast buffet and would cook a mean omelet for guests. After that I worked in room service, then I was a waiter in the Armouries Grille. If anyone semi-famous stayed in London (next to nobody) they stayed at the Delta, for the most part when big acts came to the John Labatt Centre....errr Budweiser Gardens they would PTFO or would stay in their tour bus, which was 1000 times better than any hotel rooms in this city. Anyhoo, I did get the opportunity to rub shoulders with some celebrities when I worked there, there was a strict policy to treat them like you would any other guest. This was really cracked down on when K-Dawg tried his damndest to get Motley Crue's autograph. These are the two stories that really stick out at me, I didn't include serving my all-time favourite hockey player Dougie Gilmour, because there really isn't a good story besides me walking by his table every 3 seconds with the biggest shit-eating grin on earth. I also delivered room service to Scott Thompson, Jean Chretien, Don Cherry, Bif Naked, Sass Jordan, Sam Roberts and a bunch of other random former and current hockey players but nothing exciting came from that. The two stories I have involve George Carlin and John Dunsworth aka Mr. Lahey.
George Carlin
I was pretty pumped to find out George Carlin was staying at the hotel, I love and appreciate all his stand-up comedy, on top of that Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is one of my favourite movies of all time. Anyways he ordered room service the night he stayed and I was so very stoked to meet him. He gave his order directly to the Front Desk, which was unusual (aside: I still get nightmares about the Front Desk, with their asinine Rates and Favours and constantly harassing me on the walkie-talkie "Control to Room Service!! Control to Room Service!!). He asked for a sandwich and 3 cans of Diet Coke, he was very specific about having cans, no fountain bullshit. I don't blame him for that, pop tastes the best coming from a can. Unfortunately, we didn't have cold Diet Coke cans ready, so I took $1.50 out of my own pocket and got him those cans from our staff vending machine. Anyways, we were supposed to write the guests name and room number on the bill for them to sign, so I decided to pay homage to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and wrote "Rufus" on the bill. So I go up to deliver his food and 3 cans of Diet Coke, and I am very nervous, without a few beers in me I tend to be a little shy. I went into his room and dropped his food off and gave him his bill to sign, and he goes "Ahhhh I'm glad somebody recognizes Rufus", at this point I am pretty sure I muttered something about Bill and Ted's being my favourite movie. He then signs his bill and gives me an American $10 bill and says "here go buy some fucking weed with this". I said "Thank you Mr. Carlin, I will!" and I did...best dime bag ever. I wish I had kept that bill with his autograph, or at least got it photocopied. This is easily a story I will tell for the rest of my life. RIP George Carlin.
John Dunsworth aka Mr. Lahey
Trailer Park Boys is easily one of my all time favourite shows. I have quotes from that show etched in my brain and will throw them out whenever need be. One night when I was working room service I got word that Mr. Lahey and Randy were staying there. The front desk clerk told me they came in REEEEKING of dope, pretty much like Otto's Jacket or my place at 1148 Richmond St. in University. I was waiting all night for them to order room service, but no dice. As usual, after our shift a few of us went to the Crabby Joe's across the street to blow all our tip money. We were just sitting there having our usual asinine conversation when all the sudden we look over and Lahey and Randy and their posse come sauntering in. I was so pumped to see them! We left them alone at first, then we cracked and went up and talked to them, we got a picture taken with Randy, he said "guts out boys" and we all had to lift up our shirts for the pic. I never did end up seeing that picture. Originally my plan was to only go "for one" as I had to work early the next morning, but "just one" turned into "multiple" along with a joint or 3 we went outside to smoke. Anyways, Randy and Lahey actually tried to stay in character at first, but then I went outside to "smoke" with Lahey, and talked to him one-on-one for a good half hour to 45 minutes out of character about the show. I wish I remember the details, but as I said booze and trees. I do remember him being a really nice guy and I enjoyed the conversation, although I probably just sounded like a Trailer Park Boys fanboy. Anyways, I did surprisingly make it to work the next morning, hung over as fuck, and at about 10:30 Lahey and Randy show up for breakfast, I was portering the buffet at the time, so I went and said hello. Mr. Lahey said he was shocked to see me there as I was absolutely shit-faced the night before. Frankly, I was surprised that I was there myself. Almost a year later I went visit my old room-mate and good friend Mike "Okotoks" Gaudet in Calgary, we were walking down 7th Ave. which is the big party area in Calgary. We saw Mr. Lahey and Randy drinking on a patio, we stopped and said hello, that is when Mr. Lahey said "you're Didymus, you work at the Delta in London" I was shocked he remembered me! We chatted for a minute or two, the picture above is one from that encounter (PS I was there during Calgary Stampede, that's why I am wearing that ridiculous cowboy hat). About a year after that, shortly after my beloved Uncle Johnny passed (which was 5 years ago to this day - February 8th) I was sitting in the Cantata Lounge at the hotel having a beer after my shift, I had no idea that they were there that night, my old non-UWO room-mate Dave was working the bar, and he saw them and must've told him what happened and Mr. Lahey came up to me and offered his condolences. We then bro-hugged. I haven't seen him since, I worry about him because I have heard he is actually a legit alcoholic and does have a gambling problem. Hopefully he is over that.
Well that is my brushes with celebs, hopefully you guys enjoy reading these blogs as much as I like writing them!! I love tracking the stats on this, I'm flabbergasted that people in Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt read my dumb musings. As usual follow me on twitter @didhenley
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