Winter's here

They say that time flies when you're having fun, I must be having a ball!
I can't believe that I've been doing this for 8 months now.

Since summer I've spent plenty of time in London, staying at the Ritz.
I managed to find a climbing gym, where I go bouldering most week-days when I'm there and I love going down to Brixton to catch a movie in the evenings.
but have had little time to Ride Melinda or time off.

I managed to get away for two nights last week. Had a catch-up with the guys and girls from ICU.
It's good to meet up with mates.  And a bit of silliness is good for the soul.
I also got time to fit the parts I had bought Melinda and get a ride in, not that you can get very far in Guernsey.
I feel she's a much safer bike and ready to tackle Europe and Scandinavia, crash bars and driving lights amongst the upgrades.  Our road presence has been greatly increased.
If she were a woman she's no super petite, anorexic, stick-insect, super-model she's more like a bench-pressing, crew-cut sporting, flat shoe, wife-beater wearing, truck-driving, tattooed lesbian.  Scary!

I was supposed to get over to Guernsey on the boat, but with the change in weather, high seas and F8+ winds, the boats were cancelled.  So, they took me over in the helicopter (it wasn't put on just for me, but if you choose to believe that I won't correct you)

My actual birthday was a bit of a quiet one.  I picked up Melinda from BMW (The computer had to be updated after I fitted the driving lights), Went for a ride around the coast, not the best idea at high tide, with high winds, with pools of sea water on the roads and waves crashing over the sea-walls, but you gotta ride when you can.  I gave her a wash and put her away.  Then time for an awesome birthday Galette at my favourite cafe.
Then in the afternoon I returned to Brecqhou, by helicopter, of course.

That evening, by chance, was the Annual Brecqhou Poker championship.  Through the year we meet for a weekly game, £5 a go, but just before Christmas we have the "Big One".  I won once, early in the year. I remember it was an extra game and I won £75.  So I thought I'd give it a go, lash out on my birthday and have a bit of a laugh.  The two warm up games, I lost. But when we got to the Final, everyone put their £50 on the table and things started to get serious.  I really didn't think I had a chance. I was down to around 10 chips at one stage.  But then I started to win hands and the others began losing.  I looked around and there were 3 of us left (from 9 starters). Harry, a regular who I thought would probably win; Sookie, the manager's young daughter who had only started in the past few months; and myself.  Then there were 2, somehow my chips had grown and I'd managed to bully Harry into losing all his chips. And then Sookie fell, I had won. I couldn't believe it! by that time it was after 1am and it was no longer my birthday but what a pressie for myself.

Now, we're just waiting around for the Family to arrive (the weather is not conducive to travelling by plane or helicopter), Christmas to happen and to leave for Switzerland.
I actually am looking forward to getting there.
Mountains, Snow, German speakers, good beer, winter sports, I might even find another climbing gym.

I'd better go, have some calls to make before lunch.

Next time I write, I should be in the mountains.

Piccadilly, from my latest room.

Sunday Lunch at Gordon's Wine bar. 

Christmas decorations in the foyer, The Ritz.

Get-together on Guernsey. Moustaches NOT optional

Still new, not improved.

Quick ride around Guetnsey

A helicopter ride back? Don't mind if I do.

The annual Brecqhou Poker winner, with the cup and my winnings.

Almost Winter, but not quite

If summer's gone and winter's not quite here, it must be autumn!

It's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride.  Back and forth between the Island and London since my last blog.  Not much to tell though...
Every day is pretty much the same as the last and also the one to follow.
At least when I go to London the scenery changes.

The Ritz, nice if you like that sort of thing.  But not easy to meet new people.
I've found a climbing (bouldering) gym in SE London and try to get there as often as I can.
I'm not as good as I used to be, but at least it's something to occupy my time.

Currently, we're on the Island but will probably be heading for London shortly
It's funny, when I check-in now, the staff welcome me HOME.

Tell you the truth, I spend a lot of my time tinkling about what I'm going to do when I leave here.
I wonder how long the ferry is to Tenerife?

End of Summer

September - What a month it's been...
At the beginning of August I was still on the Yacht, making daily trips betwek Monaco and St Tropez.
No sign of having a break.  then it was off the Yacht, into the Appartment for a week.
Then back here, to Brecqhou.
Out of the blue, my Boss approves 2 weeks holidays.
I had been talking about the new BMW R1200 GS - water cooled.
even had a bit of a gander at one.
Nice bike, modernised, more controls and buttons than you could shake a stick at, aggressive appearance, I wanted one.
I made an appointment with the dealer for 1030 am, the first day of my leave.
I wanted that bike, he had a day off.  so, I told him it would be worth it, he came in to meet me
30 min test ride and I loved it.
When we got back to BMW, Demi made me an offer for Nicole (trade-in) that I couldn't refuse.
Demi offered me about 2/3 of what I originally paid.  Not bad after 5 years, 60,000 miles (100,000 kms) and just having over £2000.00 spent on her by the insurance company.

A loyal companion

So the new bike...

So, two weeks off, what to do.
Day one, I caught the Ferry across to St Malo, France. Then I rode about an hour south to the outskirts of Rennes, I stayed there overnight.  A nice slow introduction to the new bike.  The next day I rode across France and on to Karlsruhe.  To catch up with Nathan, Monica, meet Emma and see Mum & Dad.  I visited them for a few days then it was on the road again.
North up to see the Whaley's and spend some time with Jonah.  A short visit, the next day I was off to the UK.  So, through Germany, Holland, Belgium and France, through the Tunnel and into the UK.
For the next day I was about to experience insanity!
As usual, I was to attempt an IBA ride - 4 corners.  One has to ride around the UK visiting 4 bespoke places - Lowestoft, in the East; Land's End, in the South; St Davids, Wales, in the West; and John O'Groats, obviously in the North.  Depending on direction and order the ride can be anywhere from 1400 - 1900 miles, time limit is 36 hours (24 for the Gold)
As I was already in the East, Folkestone is where the tunnel exit is, I started at Lowestoft and rode an anti-clockwise route.  I had hoped to complete the ride within 24 hours, but instead of keeping to my planned route (riding into Wales to St Davids and out again, same route) I decided to ride across Wales.  Never a good idea if you have a time constraint.  in the end I completed the 4 corners in a time of 29 hours and 45 minutes, a total distance of 1452 miles.  Despite not achieving the "Gold" I'm still proud of my achievement.  A brand new bike, who I didn't really know and who didn't yet have a name.
I now understand why pressure-area-care is so important in intensive Care, after nearly 30 hours on the bike (breaks for petrol and food only) I had started to develop pressure areas on my bum and upper legs.  indeed, before the ride began proper, I rode from Folkestone to Lowestoft  about 3-4 hours.
It was an amazing ride, but every time I get to the north of Scotland I get frustrated.  It's beautiful but desolate (is that possible?) the roads seem to stretch on for ever, two lanes only and excruciatingly low speed limits, on top of that it seems that the Scots are afraid to do the speed limit, generally travelling 5-10 mph under.  I guess that's ok if you're just running down the shops for your haggis and whisky, but not awesome if you've been sitting on a motorcycle for the past 28+ hours.

The last time I stayed just near John O'Groats and it was ... not all that pretty.
This time I had booked a hotel just a bit further at Castletown.  You could still tell that unemployment was a problem but it didn't seem so desperate.
It was good to have a bath, some food=d and some cider.
I slept like a baby.

The next day, no rush, I headed south.  Mainly because you can't go any further north.
My goal was Liverpool, England.  about a 8-10 hour ride.  I took it easy as, unlike the day before, it was raining.
I arrived in Liverpool in the evening and stayed with Niki and Jig for 4 nights.  It felt good not to have to ride anywhere.
We rode around a bit, explored the area, got some errands done and on the Saturday Went to Alton Towers.  One of the biggest and best amusement parks in the UK.  We managed to get in 8 rides including some of the biggest roller-coasters I've ever been on.  I forgot how much fun this was.
Then on Sunday I rode south, once again, to Poole.  I was to get the Ferry to Guernsey the next day and catch a boat across to Brecqhou in the afternoon.
But it wasn't to be.  Sunday evening I was contacted by work and summoned to London.  Wait, I'd just ridden past London.
So, monday morning I missed the ferry and headed back to London and work.  Riding in London is like no-where else.  but once you get into the rhythm, you're rock-&-roll.
So, a week in London.  I managed to catch some of the Tour of Britain, some art in the form of Lowry, catch up with some old mates and recover from the "4-corners"
Then, time to return to the island.  Catch up with Charl, Wash Melinda and put her away till next time.
3 weeks, 4165 miles - I guess the bike's run-in.

City Rider...LDN

Cheeky Monkey

Ready for work

Dudes!

Liverpudlian Friends

Monaco...and back

Monaco, what a truly amazing place.  Not that I'd ever choose to live there, I couldn't afford it for a start.  But hey, I don't have to pay the bills.
From the F1, way back in May to the Jazz festival just this month.
And Outdoor cinema, set against the prison, which in turn is in one of the nicest places of all Monaco, next to the palace.  Strange, for a principality with less than 2 square kilometres, the put a prison next to a museum and with great see views.
Money everywhere, this is where billionaires come to mingle with other wealthy types.  I was just along for the ride.
But we didn't stay in monaco the whole of the 3 and a half months I was on the boat.  Day trips to St John, St Tropez.  Along with a trip down the west coast of italy and 3 weeks in Sardinia.
An amazing summer.  It made me acutely aware that I could never enjoy that sort of thing.  I couldn't wait to get off the boat, have my own space again and not be constantly watched.  My every move seen and scrutinised.
Now, we're back on Brecqhou and to tell you the truth. It feels like I've come home.
I can have my own space.  No one watching me come and go, not that I can go anywhere.  I guess maybe I've got the clinic to maintain and re-stock, orders to make and personal stuff to take care of.  Means I'm less bored.  It was an awesome summer, but it's nice to be back here.
and maybe it's because I'm that little bit closer to Nicole...

Jazz, Jazz and more Jazz

My last sunset in Monaco

And sunrise

Fountain to commemorate Princess Grace 

North West Italy

The North western Italian coast...

The Italy I've never before experienced.

From Portofino (Berlusconi's hideout)

to Portovenere

Beautiful villages that I never knew existed...

St Trop...

So, right now life is good

Spending time between Monaco and St. Tropez.

Seeing the sights, catching up with old friends

Spending way too much time in my room

and in the bars

There's supposed to be a yacht race starting from St. Tropez today

I hope to catch some of the start, should be interesting.

then it's back to Monaco tonight

and after that???

Maybe a couple of weeks sailing around the med.

Down to Sardinia

who knows.

Catching up with mates

Buddha Bar

A Very silly Harley

And I thought it was only an island

sunset and home

boys' toys